9:25 PM CDT, August 23, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City police have arrested a man for the fatal shooting of his former girlfriend at a park.
Officers called to Red Andrews Park northwest of downtown found the body of 25-year-old Ashley Barnett about 8:40 p.m. Sunday.
Investigators say Barnett was sitting a picnic table with some friends when 28-year-old Brandon Freeman allegedly walked up to her and shot her. No one else was hurt in the shooting.
Police say Barnett and Freeman had been romantically involved.
Officers found Freeman near the shooting scene a short time later and took him into custody. He was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on a first-degree murder complaint.
He hasn't been formally charged.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Santa Cruz, CA: Pregnant Ben Lomond Market cashier found slain 4 years ago was strangled with a rope, deputies testify during Michael McClish murder hearing
By Jennifer Squires - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 08/23/2010 07:59:30 PM PDT
SANTA CRUZ - Joanna "Asha" Veil, the pregnant Ben Lomond Market cashier found murdered nearly four years ago, was hit in the back of the head, then strangled with a rope.
The new information about the slaying of Veil emerged Monday, the first day of the preliminary hearing for the man accused in the September 2006 killings that shocked the close-knit Ben Lomond community.
Michael McClish, 41, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder for the deaths of Veil, a 28-year-old Polish immigrant, and her 7-month-old fetus. McClish and Veil, both of whom were married, worked together at the market and also had a personal relationship.
Although sheriff's detectives have said McClish was not the father of her child, Veil reportedly believed he could have been and listed McClish as the possible father when she went to a doctor for a pregnancy test, according to sheriff's deputies. She was estranged from her husband, Richard Veil, when she died.
The hearing, in front of Judge Paul Burdick, is expected to last most of the week. Burdick will decide if there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
Monday, a parade of sheriff's deputies testified about Veil's disappearance - a supervisor at the market reported her missing after she didn't show up to work after two days - and the discovery of her decomposing body 2½ miles outside of Ben Lomond on Love Creek Road on Sept. 14, 2006.
Veil was found face-down on a log next to the creek and about 20 feet down an embankment, deputy Robert Gidding, a crime scene investigator, said. The red and yellow rope was still knotted around her neck, the back of her head bloody.
Several of McClish's relatives and friends attended the hearing, as well as a couple of San Lorenzo Valley residents who came in support of Veil.
McClish, who is serving an 18-year-prison sentence for an unrelated sex crimes conviction, was dressed in black slacks, a light blue shirt and a purple tie, seated next to his attorney, Tom Wallraff, and an investigator. McClish fiddled with his salt-and-pepper goatee and had animated reactions to some of the testimony.
Veil was last seen leaving work the night of Sept. 9. McClish also was at the store that evening. A receipt showed he purchased something on his employee account about 20 minutes before Veil clocked out, according to Joe Ramsey, a former sheriff's detective who now works for the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department.
Early in the missing-person investigation, McClish allegedly told deputies he only knew Veil through work and had helped her with her car, but sheriff's Sgt. Robin Mitchell told the judge Monday she subpoenaed cell phone records for both of them - as well as several others associated with the case - and discovered the two had called each other frequently in early 2006.
Sgt. Mike MacDonald, who conducted surveillance on McClish as the investigation unfolded, testified that he saw McClish wash his Ford pickup twice in less than two days, focusing on the grill and front bumper of the truck.
Ramsey said he interviewed another female market employee who told him she had seen McClish and Veil together at the Felton Cemetery in February 2006. After Veil vanished, McClish allegedly asked the woman not to tell anyone the two had been with each other outside of work.
"He did not want the Sheriff's Office to know he had ever been with Asha in a secluded place," Ramsey said.
McClish was married and had three young children when Veil's body was found. The double-homicide investigation turned up allegations of sexual assault and McClish was arrested. A jury convicted McClish of rape, sodomy and making threats against a woman with whom he was having an affair.
MacDonald testified Monday that the woman McClish had the affair with said McClish had threatened to kill her if she made their relationship public.
"He wouldn't allow anything to come between his family or his job," MacDonald testified.
His wife, Melissa, has since divorced McClish and moved out of the area with their children.
McClish could have faced the death penalty if convicted, but the District Attorney's Office chose not to pursue a capital case and instead is seeking life without the possibility of parole, prosecutor Jeff Rosell said Monday.
The hearing resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Posted: 08/23/2010 07:59:30 PM PDT
SANTA CRUZ - Joanna "Asha" Veil, the pregnant Ben Lomond Market cashier found murdered nearly four years ago, was hit in the back of the head, then strangled with a rope.
The new information about the slaying of Veil emerged Monday, the first day of the preliminary hearing for the man accused in the September 2006 killings that shocked the close-knit Ben Lomond community.
Michael McClish, 41, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder for the deaths of Veil, a 28-year-old Polish immigrant, and her 7-month-old fetus. McClish and Veil, both of whom were married, worked together at the market and also had a personal relationship.
Although sheriff's detectives have said McClish was not the father of her child, Veil reportedly believed he could have been and listed McClish as the possible father when she went to a doctor for a pregnancy test, according to sheriff's deputies. She was estranged from her husband, Richard Veil, when she died.
The hearing, in front of Judge Paul Burdick, is expected to last most of the week. Burdick will decide if there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
Monday, a parade of sheriff's deputies testified about Veil's disappearance - a supervisor at the market reported her missing after she didn't show up to work after two days - and the discovery of her decomposing body 2½ miles outside of Ben Lomond on Love Creek Road on Sept. 14, 2006.
Veil was found face-down on a log next to the creek and about 20 feet down an embankment, deputy Robert Gidding, a crime scene investigator, said. The red and yellow rope was still knotted around her neck, the back of her head bloody.
Several of McClish's relatives and friends attended the hearing, as well as a couple of San Lorenzo Valley residents who came in support of Veil.
McClish, who is serving an 18-year-prison sentence for an unrelated sex crimes conviction, was dressed in black slacks, a light blue shirt and a purple tie, seated next to his attorney, Tom Wallraff, and an investigator. McClish fiddled with his salt-and-pepper goatee and had animated reactions to some of the testimony.
Veil was last seen leaving work the night of Sept. 9. McClish also was at the store that evening. A receipt showed he purchased something on his employee account about 20 minutes before Veil clocked out, according to Joe Ramsey, a former sheriff's detective who now works for the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department.
Early in the missing-person investigation, McClish allegedly told deputies he only knew Veil through work and had helped her with her car, but sheriff's Sgt. Robin Mitchell told the judge Monday she subpoenaed cell phone records for both of them - as well as several others associated with the case - and discovered the two had called each other frequently in early 2006.
Sgt. Mike MacDonald, who conducted surveillance on McClish as the investigation unfolded, testified that he saw McClish wash his Ford pickup twice in less than two days, focusing on the grill and front bumper of the truck.
Ramsey said he interviewed another female market employee who told him she had seen McClish and Veil together at the Felton Cemetery in February 2006. After Veil vanished, McClish allegedly asked the woman not to tell anyone the two had been with each other outside of work.
"He did not want the Sheriff's Office to know he had ever been with Asha in a secluded place," Ramsey said.
McClish was married and had three young children when Veil's body was found. The double-homicide investigation turned up allegations of sexual assault and McClish was arrested. A jury convicted McClish of rape, sodomy and making threats against a woman with whom he was having an affair.
MacDonald testified Monday that the woman McClish had the affair with said McClish had threatened to kill her if she made their relationship public.
"He wouldn't allow anything to come between his family or his job," MacDonald testified.
His wife, Melissa, has since divorced McClish and moved out of the area with their children.
McClish could have faced the death penalty if convicted, but the District Attorney's Office chose not to pursue a capital case and instead is seeking life without the possibility of parole, prosecutor Jeff Rosell said Monday.
The hearing resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Portland, KY: Woman in Portland fire had been strangled, coroner says
BY CHRIS QUAY • CQUAY@COURIER-JOURNAL.COM • AUGUST 23, 2010
The Jefferson County coroner’s office has determined that a woman who was found dead after a Portland fire on Sunday had been strangled.
Joyce Browning, 53, and her husband Robert Browning, 65, were both found dead in their apartment in the 300 block of North 24th Street just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, following the fire. An autopsy performed Monday revealed Joyce Browning had been strangled, said R.D. Jones, a Jefferson County deputy coroner.
Jones said the cause of Robert Browning’s death is still under investigation.
Dwight Mitchell, a spokesman for Louisville Metro Police, said officers are looking into the possibility that it may have been a murder-suicide, and they have a person of interest in the strangulation.He would not elaborate on whether Robert Browning was that person.
“There is evidence to believe that there was a homicide that took place before” the fire, Mitchell said. “Now, exactly who the culprit is, we do not know.”
He said the fire has not been ruled out as the cause of Robert Browning’s death. Mitchell was also unsure about the amount of time that elapsed between Joyce Browning’s death and the start of the fire.
Barbara Browning, Robert Browning’s daughter and Joyce Browning’s stepdaughter, said she lives “just around the corner” and would check on the couple frequently. She said they had lived in the apartment about eight years and had been together for about 15 years.
She said they would have an occasional argument, but nothing that would turn physical. “I never physically seen him do anything to her. There was just a lot of arguments,” she said.
Most of those arguments took place early in the relationship, and more recently they would just keep to themselves and stay inside the apartment, she said.
There was no history of emergency protective orders or criminal activity between the couple, according to court records.
Joyce Browning lost a leg after a battle with diabetes and had to use a wheelchair and Robert Browning had been diagnosed with cancer on his face, his daughter said.
“It was hard for him to walk or try to drive by himself,” Barbara Browning said. The couple did not work and were on disability.
Barbara Browning said the last time she saw her father was about 1 p.m. Sunday as she was driving by the apartment. She said she visited with the couple Saturday night and everything seemed fine.
Browning also said she warned her father to make sure their front door was closed because at times he would leave it wide open. She said about a month ago he told her that two young males had entered the apartment after the door was left wide open and taking cigarettes.
Robert Browning refused to file a police report about the incident, because his daughter said he would have had a hard time identifying the individuals.
Reporter Chris Quay can be reached at (502) 582-4241.
The Jefferson County coroner’s office has determined that a woman who was found dead after a Portland fire on Sunday had been strangled.
Joyce Browning, 53, and her husband Robert Browning, 65, were both found dead in their apartment in the 300 block of North 24th Street just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, following the fire. An autopsy performed Monday revealed Joyce Browning had been strangled, said R.D. Jones, a Jefferson County deputy coroner.
Jones said the cause of Robert Browning’s death is still under investigation.
Dwight Mitchell, a spokesman for Louisville Metro Police, said officers are looking into the possibility that it may have been a murder-suicide, and they have a person of interest in the strangulation.He would not elaborate on whether Robert Browning was that person.
“There is evidence to believe that there was a homicide that took place before” the fire, Mitchell said. “Now, exactly who the culprit is, we do not know.”
He said the fire has not been ruled out as the cause of Robert Browning’s death. Mitchell was also unsure about the amount of time that elapsed between Joyce Browning’s death and the start of the fire.
Barbara Browning, Robert Browning’s daughter and Joyce Browning’s stepdaughter, said she lives “just around the corner” and would check on the couple frequently. She said they had lived in the apartment about eight years and had been together for about 15 years.
She said they would have an occasional argument, but nothing that would turn physical. “I never physically seen him do anything to her. There was just a lot of arguments,” she said.
Most of those arguments took place early in the relationship, and more recently they would just keep to themselves and stay inside the apartment, she said.
There was no history of emergency protective orders or criminal activity between the couple, according to court records.
Joyce Browning lost a leg after a battle with diabetes and had to use a wheelchair and Robert Browning had been diagnosed with cancer on his face, his daughter said.
“It was hard for him to walk or try to drive by himself,” Barbara Browning said. The couple did not work and were on disability.
Barbara Browning said the last time she saw her father was about 1 p.m. Sunday as she was driving by the apartment. She said she visited with the couple Saturday night and everything seemed fine.
Browning also said she warned her father to make sure their front door was closed because at times he would leave it wide open. She said about a month ago he told her that two young males had entered the apartment after the door was left wide open and taking cigarettes.
Robert Browning refused to file a police report about the incident, because his daughter said he would have had a hard time identifying the individuals.
Reporter Chris Quay can be reached at (502) 582-4241.
Morristown, NJ: Police: Accused Morristown, NJ killer Kleber Cordova gave differing versions of wife's death
BY PEGGY WRIGHT • STAFF WRITER • AUGUST 24, 2010
Accused killer Kleber Cordova at first told police he found his naked wife submerged in the bathtub of their Morristown apartment and tried futilely to lift her from the water.
Authorities say that Cordova, a now-31-year-old chef and maintenance man, ultimately confessed to drowning Eliana Torres, 26, on May 9, 2008, during an early-morning argument about her suspected infidelity.
A Superior Court hearing started Monday and will continue Tuesday on whether Cordova voluntarily and knowingly waived his right to remain silent or to consult a lawyer when he spoke to Morristown Detective Daniel Widdis and Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective David Frisk.
As of Monday, Judge Thomas V. Manahan heard testimony from Frisk and watched a 90-minute videotaped interrogation of Cordova that started less than three hours after he called 911 at 7:19 a.m. on May 9, 2008, to report his wife unconscious in the bathtub. During this first interview, Cordova stuck to his story of discovering his wife.
The judge also heard testimony from Morristown Officer Michael Andrisano, who as the first responder on the scene saw Torres nude and staring up with her head under water. When other officers and paramedics arrived to try to save Torres, Andrisano said, he took Cordova aside to try to understand what occurred.
Andrisano said that Cordova — whose first language is Spanish — told him in English that he entered the bathroom of his Western Avenue apartment and saw his wife lying in the tub with water from the shower pouring down on her. Andrisano said that Cordova minutes later told him that water was pouring into his wife's open mouth from the bathtub faucet.
"I clearly understood it was a different statement and that he was telling me something different," Andrisano said under questioning by county Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo.
Defense attorney Jessica Moses asked questions that suggested police should have called an interpreter before asking Cordova questions.
Cordova told Andrisano that he pulled his wife's arms to lift her from the tub but she went limp and fell backward, hitting her head on a tub nozzle. The officer also said that Cordova told him his wife knocked his arms aside when he tried to lift her.
The videotaped interview conducted a few hours later was done with a Spanish-speaking detective translating Cordova's words in response to questions from Frisk and Widdis. Cordova told these detectives he tried to pull Torres from the tub but let go because he didn't think she was breathing. He said he wasn't sure who to call for help, but ultimately called 911 and his cousin.
"While your wife's in the tub you call your cousin?" Widdis asked incredulously.
The couple had two children, an infant and an 8-year-old girl, who told police she saw her father fighting with her mother in the bathroom and that her father told her to leave the room. Further taped interrogations of Cordova will be played as the hearing progresses.
Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@gannett.com.
Accused killer Kleber Cordova at first told police he found his naked wife submerged in the bathtub of their Morristown apartment and tried futilely to lift her from the water.
Authorities say that Cordova, a now-31-year-old chef and maintenance man, ultimately confessed to drowning Eliana Torres, 26, on May 9, 2008, during an early-morning argument about her suspected infidelity.
A Superior Court hearing started Monday and will continue Tuesday on whether Cordova voluntarily and knowingly waived his right to remain silent or to consult a lawyer when he spoke to Morristown Detective Daniel Widdis and Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective David Frisk.
As of Monday, Judge Thomas V. Manahan heard testimony from Frisk and watched a 90-minute videotaped interrogation of Cordova that started less than three hours after he called 911 at 7:19 a.m. on May 9, 2008, to report his wife unconscious in the bathtub. During this first interview, Cordova stuck to his story of discovering his wife.
The judge also heard testimony from Morristown Officer Michael Andrisano, who as the first responder on the scene saw Torres nude and staring up with her head under water. When other officers and paramedics arrived to try to save Torres, Andrisano said, he took Cordova aside to try to understand what occurred.
Andrisano said that Cordova — whose first language is Spanish — told him in English that he entered the bathroom of his Western Avenue apartment and saw his wife lying in the tub with water from the shower pouring down on her. Andrisano said that Cordova minutes later told him that water was pouring into his wife's open mouth from the bathtub faucet.
"I clearly understood it was a different statement and that he was telling me something different," Andrisano said under questioning by county Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo.
Defense attorney Jessica Moses asked questions that suggested police should have called an interpreter before asking Cordova questions.
Cordova told Andrisano that he pulled his wife's arms to lift her from the tub but she went limp and fell backward, hitting her head on a tub nozzle. The officer also said that Cordova told him his wife knocked his arms aside when he tried to lift her.
The videotaped interview conducted a few hours later was done with a Spanish-speaking detective translating Cordova's words in response to questions from Frisk and Widdis. Cordova told these detectives he tried to pull Torres from the tub but let go because he didn't think she was breathing. He said he wasn't sure who to call for help, but ultimately called 911 and his cousin.
"While your wife's in the tub you call your cousin?" Widdis asked incredulously.
The couple had two children, an infant and an 8-year-old girl, who told police she saw her father fighting with her mother in the bathroom and that her father told her to leave the room. Further taped interrogations of Cordova will be played as the hearing progresses.
Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@gannett.com.
Amarillo, TX: Amarillo-area developer charged in wife's death
Aug. 23, 2010, 7:43AM
AMARILLO, Texas — A developer in the Amarillo area is charged with killing his estranged wife and leaving her body in a vehicle.
Paul David Gillette was in the Potter County Detention Center on Monday on a murder charge, with bail set at $1 million. Jail records had no listing of an attorney for the 47-year-old Gillette, who was arrested Sunday at the couple's residence.
Gillette, who created a financially troubled housing development in Bushland, is accused of killing 44-year-old Sherri Gillette.
Deputies were called to the home early Sunday on a report of a woman being assaulted.
Officer Jimmy Rifenberg with Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit says Gillette allegedly put his wife's body in an SUV in the garage. Sherri Gillette filed for divorce last November.
AMARILLO, Texas — A developer in the Amarillo area is charged with killing his estranged wife and leaving her body in a vehicle.
Paul David Gillette was in the Potter County Detention Center on Monday on a murder charge, with bail set at $1 million. Jail records had no listing of an attorney for the 47-year-old Gillette, who was arrested Sunday at the couple's residence.
Gillette, who created a financially troubled housing development in Bushland, is accused of killing 44-year-old Sherri Gillette.
Deputies were called to the home early Sunday on a report of a woman being assaulted.
Officer Jimmy Rifenberg with Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit says Gillette allegedly put his wife's body in an SUV in the garage. Sherri Gillette filed for divorce last November.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Citrus Heights, CA: 2 found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Cirtrus Heights
hsangree@sacbee.com
PUBLISHED MONDAY, AUG. 23, 2010
A 28-year-old mother of three was the apparent victim of a murder-suicide in Citrus Heights on Sunday.
About 9 a.m., Citrus Heights Police officers responded to a report of two bodies inside a home in the 7200 block of Pleasant View Drive.
Out front, they found three children and an unidentified man waiting, officers said. In one of the bedrooms they discovered a woman's body on a bed and a man's body on the floor, Lt. Gary Hendricks said.
Both had gunshot wounds. A handgun lay next to one body, he said.
"Right now we're treating this as a homicide-suicide," Hendricks told reporters late Sunday afternoon. "It appears the man shot the woman and then killed himself."
By Sunday evening, neither police nor the Sacramento County Coroner's Office had released the identities of the dead man and woman. But friends said the woman was Melinda Mikita, whose children are ages 10, 5 and 4.
Family and friends gathered near the crime scene with law enforcement chaplains.
Heather Carr described herself as Mikita's best friend. She said Mikita was attending beauty school and planning to get married. "She's a very likable individual," Carr said.
She said she did not know the name of the dead man or his exact relationship to Mikita. "It was just somebody she knew," Carr said. "I don't know his name."
Scott Sillmann described himself as a close family friend and said he had heard from Mikita's relatives that her alleged killer was a man who had become "infatuated" with her but whom she'd rejected.
A silver Mercedes that police said was part of the investigation sat near the home where the bodies were found.
On her MySpace page, Mikita called herself a "Single mother of 3, living life to the fullest." She said her hometown was North Highlands, wrote that she graduated from San Juan High School in 2000, and listed her occupation as full-time student.
By Sunday afternoon, Mikita's friends were leaving memorial messages on the page.
"The family will always love and miss u," one person wrote. "You will always be remembered with love," wrote another. "Rest with god enjoy your peace fly like the angel you have been to us all."
Online court records for a woman named Melinda K. Mikita show she had a troubled past. She pleaded no contest in 2004 to driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
In 2002, she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor resisting an officer and was sentenced to six days in jail, according to the records.
In 2000, she was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery, court records show, and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery. She received a 60-day sentence.
The neighborhood where the shooting occurred, just off Fair Oaks Boulevard, is wooded with ranch homes and bungalows. Friends said Mikita had been staying in one of the homes, a tan ranch house, with the home's tenant.
Yellow crime scene tape stretched along Fair Oaks Boulevard on Sunday, while investigators and coroner's officials worked inside the house.
Neighbors stopped by to ask the reason for the heavy police presence. Others said they believed they heard shots.
"It's really unnerving," said neighbor Jody Woelflen. "This is a very quiet neighborhood. Nothing happens."
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
PUBLISHED MONDAY, AUG. 23, 2010
A 28-year-old mother of three was the apparent victim of a murder-suicide in Citrus Heights on Sunday.
About 9 a.m., Citrus Heights Police officers responded to a report of two bodies inside a home in the 7200 block of Pleasant View Drive.
Out front, they found three children and an unidentified man waiting, officers said. In one of the bedrooms they discovered a woman's body on a bed and a man's body on the floor, Lt. Gary Hendricks said.
Both had gunshot wounds. A handgun lay next to one body, he said.
"Right now we're treating this as a homicide-suicide," Hendricks told reporters late Sunday afternoon. "It appears the man shot the woman and then killed himself."
By Sunday evening, neither police nor the Sacramento County Coroner's Office had released the identities of the dead man and woman. But friends said the woman was Melinda Mikita, whose children are ages 10, 5 and 4.
Family and friends gathered near the crime scene with law enforcement chaplains.
Heather Carr described herself as Mikita's best friend. She said Mikita was attending beauty school and planning to get married. "She's a very likable individual," Carr said.
She said she did not know the name of the dead man or his exact relationship to Mikita. "It was just somebody she knew," Carr said. "I don't know his name."
Scott Sillmann described himself as a close family friend and said he had heard from Mikita's relatives that her alleged killer was a man who had become "infatuated" with her but whom she'd rejected.
A silver Mercedes that police said was part of the investigation sat near the home where the bodies were found.
On her MySpace page, Mikita called herself a "Single mother of 3, living life to the fullest." She said her hometown was North Highlands, wrote that she graduated from San Juan High School in 2000, and listed her occupation as full-time student.
By Sunday afternoon, Mikita's friends were leaving memorial messages on the page.
"The family will always love and miss u," one person wrote. "You will always be remembered with love," wrote another. "Rest with god enjoy your peace fly like the angel you have been to us all."
Online court records for a woman named Melinda K. Mikita show she had a troubled past. She pleaded no contest in 2004 to driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
In 2002, she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor resisting an officer and was sentenced to six days in jail, according to the records.
In 2000, she was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery, court records show, and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery. She received a 60-day sentence.
The neighborhood where the shooting occurred, just off Fair Oaks Boulevard, is wooded with ranch homes and bungalows. Friends said Mikita had been staying in one of the homes, a tan ranch house, with the home's tenant.
Yellow crime scene tape stretched along Fair Oaks Boulevard on Sunday, while investigators and coroner's officials worked inside the house.
Neighbors stopped by to ask the reason for the heavy police presence. Others said they believed they heard shots.
"It's really unnerving," said neighbor Jody Woelflen. "This is a very quiet neighborhood. Nothing happens."
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
West Columbia, SC: Ex-husband, new mate dead in SC murder-suicide
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. --
Investigators say a South Carolina man forced his way into the home of his ex-wife's boyfriend and killed him before driving away and committing suicide.
West Columbia Police Capt. Seth Zeigler says 28-year-old Gerald Heyward Copeland shot 39-year-old Clyde Jacob Yarborough several times Sunday morning after breaking out a window in the back door of Yarborough's home.
Zeigler says Copeland's ex-wife was also in the home, but wasn't hurt.
Richland County deputies say Copeland was found dead several miles away in a car suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities say the couple had been separated for several months and they are investigating whether Copeland and Yarborough had previous confrontations.
Investigators say a South Carolina man forced his way into the home of his ex-wife's boyfriend and killed him before driving away and committing suicide.
West Columbia Police Capt. Seth Zeigler says 28-year-old Gerald Heyward Copeland shot 39-year-old Clyde Jacob Yarborough several times Sunday morning after breaking out a window in the back door of Yarborough's home.
Zeigler says Copeland's ex-wife was also in the home, but wasn't hurt.
Richland County deputies say Copeland was found dead several miles away in a car suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities say the couple had been separated for several months and they are investigating whether Copeland and Yarborough had previous confrontations.
Albany, GA: Family ties link two murder-suicides
Posted: Aug 23, 2010 7:12 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 23, 2010 7:12 AM EDT
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – There's new information in that Worth county murder suicide over the weekend. Turns out, the victims, Billy and Sarah Miller, are related to Ronald and Bobbie Cox. If you remember Ronald Cox killed himself and his wife in Ft. Gaines exactly one month ago.
It's a bizarre family tragedy. Investigators say Billy Miller killed his wife Sarah and then himself Saturday night. And last month, Ronald and Bobbie Cox of Albany also died in a similar murder suicide at their vacation home.
How are the couples connected? Their children. The Miller's son is married to the Cox's daughter. Now both their parents are gone and no one understands why.
Neither investigators nor family members can say for sure what led 68-year-old Billy Miller to kill his wife, 66-year-old Sarah Miller, then take his own life at their Worth county home Saturday night, August 21st.
And here's the ironic twist. Exactly one month prior on July 21st, Miller's son's wife's parents, his in-laws committed an eerily similar act of violence.
Investigators say Ronald Cox shot and killed his wife, himself and their dog at their vacation home in Ft.Gaines after the couple was having financial problems. Now the Miller-Cox family is dealing with the loss of two sets of grandparents. And the family murder suicide cases just keep adding up.
Just three weeks ago in Grady county Marquis Simpson shot 31-year-old Lacretia Simpson multiple times in front of their kids then shot himself in the head.
And in Early county on July 17th Blakely man Matt Justice shot his wife, son, daughter and himself. The only survivor is his 11-year-old daughter Emily.
Four families forever changed in just one month's time.
We talked to people who know the Miller's son and wife, Matt and Denise Miller, and they say the couple is turning to God in this time of heartache and counting on friends and family support and a lot of prayer to get them through this.
The Miller's bodies will sent to the crime lab in Macon for autopsies. The GBI is investigating.
Updated: Aug 23, 2010 7:12 AM EDT
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – There's new information in that Worth county murder suicide over the weekend. Turns out, the victims, Billy and Sarah Miller, are related to Ronald and Bobbie Cox. If you remember Ronald Cox killed himself and his wife in Ft. Gaines exactly one month ago.
It's a bizarre family tragedy. Investigators say Billy Miller killed his wife Sarah and then himself Saturday night. And last month, Ronald and Bobbie Cox of Albany also died in a similar murder suicide at their vacation home.
How are the couples connected? Their children. The Miller's son is married to the Cox's daughter. Now both their parents are gone and no one understands why.
Neither investigators nor family members can say for sure what led 68-year-old Billy Miller to kill his wife, 66-year-old Sarah Miller, then take his own life at their Worth county home Saturday night, August 21st.
And here's the ironic twist. Exactly one month prior on July 21st, Miller's son's wife's parents, his in-laws committed an eerily similar act of violence.
Investigators say Ronald Cox shot and killed his wife, himself and their dog at their vacation home in Ft.Gaines after the couple was having financial problems. Now the Miller-Cox family is dealing with the loss of two sets of grandparents. And the family murder suicide cases just keep adding up.
Just three weeks ago in Grady county Marquis Simpson shot 31-year-old Lacretia Simpson multiple times in front of their kids then shot himself in the head.
And in Early county on July 17th Blakely man Matt Justice shot his wife, son, daughter and himself. The only survivor is his 11-year-old daughter Emily.
Four families forever changed in just one month's time.
We talked to people who know the Miller's son and wife, Matt and Denise Miller, and they say the couple is turning to God in this time of heartache and counting on friends and family support and a lot of prayer to get them through this.
The Miller's bodies will sent to the crime lab in Macon for autopsies. The GBI is investigating.
Little Rock, AR: Man charged with murder in Garland County shooting
By Gavin Lesnick
LITTLE ROCK — A 35-year-old man is charged with second-degree murder in the Sunday night shooting death of his girlfriend's ex-husband outside her Garland County home, authorities said.
Charles Wideman was arrested without incident shortly after the 8:49 p.m. shooting.
Police say the victim, 37-year-old Shawn Guthrie, showed up at his ex-wife's home, 742 Hughes Road, and got into an argument with Wideman.
Deputies responded and found Guthrie dead in the front yard from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a Garland County Sheriff's Department news release.
LITTLE ROCK — A 35-year-old man is charged with second-degree murder in the Sunday night shooting death of his girlfriend's ex-husband outside her Garland County home, authorities said.
Charles Wideman was arrested without incident shortly after the 8:49 p.m. shooting.
Police say the victim, 37-year-old Shawn Guthrie, showed up at his ex-wife's home, 742 Hughes Road, and got into an argument with Wideman.
Deputies responded and found Guthrie dead in the front yard from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a Garland County Sheriff's Department news release.
Richmond, KY: Jan. trial date set for Ky. man in wife's death
A January trial date has been set for a central Kentucky man charged with shooting his wife in the chest and killing her.
The Richmond Register reports that Judge William C. Clouse Clouse set the Jan. 18 in the case of 45-year-old Hugh Phillip Skidmore III.
Skidmore is accused of shooting and killing his wife, Kimberly, at their Berea home on Aug. 24, 2009.
Prosecutors say Skidmore shot his wife in the chest with a .45-caliber handgun. He placed a call to 911 which brought officers, and emergency responders to the scene after the shooting.
Skidmore has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Richmond Register reports that Judge William C. Clouse Clouse set the Jan. 18 in the case of 45-year-old Hugh Phillip Skidmore III.
Skidmore is accused of shooting and killing his wife, Kimberly, at their Berea home on Aug. 24, 2009.
Prosecutors say Skidmore shot his wife in the chest with a .45-caliber handgun. He placed a call to 911 which brought officers, and emergency responders to the scene after the shooting.
Skidmore has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Rockdale, GA: Judge set to hear three murder trials
Two 2009 cases, one 2010 specially set for September
Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation arranged to hear several murder trials next month, in an effort to get through murder cases that are pending.
Reporter: By Alena Parker, Staff Reporter
Email Address: alena.parker@rockdalecitizen.com
CONYERS — Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation arranged to hear several murder trials next month, in an effort to get through murder cases that are pending.
Rockdale County District Attorney Richard Read told the Citizen that three murder cases were specially set for the week of Sept. 20 through 27.
“Judge Nation indicated he had some extra time on his calendar and we’re endeavoring to use some of that time to move those cases,” Read said.
Read said the number of murder cases is more than the judicial circuit has seen in recent times. Read also indicated that the state is not seeking the death penalty in any of the three murder cases.
Defendants in the murder cases scheduled to be on trial next month are Jokari Carter, 25, of Atlanta, Hakim Muhammad, 43, of Conyers and Ntyono Pennie, 21, of Conyers.
Read said it was possible that one of the cases could be continued after Nation excused one of the defense attorneys for the set dates.
• Carter was arrested in October as a suspect in the shooting death of 30-year-old Stewart Elvin Tabb Jr. at the Brandon Glen apartment complex. Authorities found the victim face down in the grass with multiple gunshot wounds. Carter was possibly stalking his girlfriend and watching her apartment, according to law enforcement. Authorities suspect Carter saw the victim come out of Carter’s girlfriend’s apartment about 4 a.m. and then shot the victim as he was leaving. Carter’s formal charges are malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and making false statements, according to court records. Decatur attorney Akil Secret is defending Carter. Assistant District Attorney Dabney Kentner is prosecuting the case.
• Muhammad was accused of strangling his estranged wife, Shelia Renee Muhammad, 43, in November at the Indian Ridge subdivision and making her death appear to be connected to a burglary. Muhammad’s formal charges are malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. Chief Public Defender Steven Purvis is representing Muhammad and Assistant District Attorney Debra Sullivan is the state prosecutor.
• Pennie faces murder charges relating to the February traffic death of 56-year-old Shirley Akins of Covington after Pennie and co-defendant Torrence Sanders were fleeing an alleged armed robbery and trying to elude law enforcement. Pennie was suspected to be in the passenger seat when their getaway car ran a red light and crashed into the victim’s vehicle. Sanders, the suspected driver, is still at large. Pennie’s charges include murder, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and possession of marijuana less than an ounce. Covington attorney Brian Ross is Pennie’s lawyer. Chief Assistant District Attorney Bob Houman is prosecuting the case.
Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation arranged to hear several murder trials next month, in an effort to get through murder cases that are pending.
Reporter: By Alena Parker, Staff Reporter
Email Address: alena.parker@rockdalecitizen.com
CONYERS — Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation arranged to hear several murder trials next month, in an effort to get through murder cases that are pending.
Rockdale County District Attorney Richard Read told the Citizen that three murder cases were specially set for the week of Sept. 20 through 27.
“Judge Nation indicated he had some extra time on his calendar and we’re endeavoring to use some of that time to move those cases,” Read said.
Read said the number of murder cases is more than the judicial circuit has seen in recent times. Read also indicated that the state is not seeking the death penalty in any of the three murder cases.
Defendants in the murder cases scheduled to be on trial next month are Jokari Carter, 25, of Atlanta, Hakim Muhammad, 43, of Conyers and Ntyono Pennie, 21, of Conyers.
Read said it was possible that one of the cases could be continued after Nation excused one of the defense attorneys for the set dates.
• Carter was arrested in October as a suspect in the shooting death of 30-year-old Stewart Elvin Tabb Jr. at the Brandon Glen apartment complex. Authorities found the victim face down in the grass with multiple gunshot wounds. Carter was possibly stalking his girlfriend and watching her apartment, according to law enforcement. Authorities suspect Carter saw the victim come out of Carter’s girlfriend’s apartment about 4 a.m. and then shot the victim as he was leaving. Carter’s formal charges are malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and making false statements, according to court records. Decatur attorney Akil Secret is defending Carter. Assistant District Attorney Dabney Kentner is prosecuting the case.
• Muhammad was accused of strangling his estranged wife, Shelia Renee Muhammad, 43, in November at the Indian Ridge subdivision and making her death appear to be connected to a burglary. Muhammad’s formal charges are malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. Chief Public Defender Steven Purvis is representing Muhammad and Assistant District Attorney Debra Sullivan is the state prosecutor.
• Pennie faces murder charges relating to the February traffic death of 56-year-old Shirley Akins of Covington after Pennie and co-defendant Torrence Sanders were fleeing an alleged armed robbery and trying to elude law enforcement. Pennie was suspected to be in the passenger seat when their getaway car ran a red light and crashed into the victim’s vehicle. Sanders, the suspected driver, is still at large. Pennie’s charges include murder, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and possession of marijuana less than an ounce. Covington attorney Brian Ross is Pennie’s lawyer. Chief Assistant District Attorney Bob Houman is prosecuting the case.
Oklahoma City, OK: City man arrested in slaying at Red Andrews Park had troubled past with victim, friend says
Brandon Lee Freeman 28, of Oklahoma City, was arrested on a complaint of first degree murder in connection with the Friday night shooting death of his former girlfriend.
BY MATT PATTERSON 0
Published: August 22, 2010
A man arrested Friday night on a murder complaint had a troubled history with the victim, who was his former girlfriend, a friend of the victim said Saturday.
City man arrested in slaying at Red Andrews Park had troubled past with victim, friend says
Ashlay Barnett, 25, was shot to death about 8:40 p.m. Friday at Red Andrews Park, a police spokeswoman said. Oklahoma City police later arrested Brandon Lee Freeman, 28, in connection with the killing.
Freeman had three children with Barnett, all of whom are in the custody of the Department of Human Services, Barnett's friend Tameka Kemp of Oklahoma City said.
Barnett and Freeman had known each other about 10 years and had moved to Oklahoma City together from Texas.
Kemp said Barnett was homeless and had been staying at shelters around the city.
Red Andrews Park, a place where homeless people in Oklahoma City often congregate, was a place she frequented.
Freeman was convicted of domestic abuse in April 2002, court records show.
Kemp said Freeman and Barnett still talked occasionally.
"She would text him to try to keep the peace,” Kemp said. "She was really scared of him.”
BY MATT PATTERSON 0
Published: August 22, 2010
A man arrested Friday night on a murder complaint had a troubled history with the victim, who was his former girlfriend, a friend of the victim said Saturday.
City man arrested in slaying at Red Andrews Park had troubled past with victim, friend says
Ashlay Barnett, 25, was shot to death about 8:40 p.m. Friday at Red Andrews Park, a police spokeswoman said. Oklahoma City police later arrested Brandon Lee Freeman, 28, in connection with the killing.
Freeman had three children with Barnett, all of whom are in the custody of the Department of Human Services, Barnett's friend Tameka Kemp of Oklahoma City said.
Barnett and Freeman had known each other about 10 years and had moved to Oklahoma City together from Texas.
Kemp said Barnett was homeless and had been staying at shelters around the city.
Red Andrews Park, a place where homeless people in Oklahoma City often congregate, was a place she frequented.
Freeman was convicted of domestic abuse in April 2002, court records show.
Kemp said Freeman and Barnett still talked occasionally.
"She would text him to try to keep the peace,” Kemp said. "She was really scared of him.”
Little Rock, AR: Man fit for trial in wife’s death
Husband faces first-degree murder charge
By: Jim Williamson - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 08/22/2010
A Little River County, Ark., man accused of killing his estranged wife at a deer camp is mentally compentent to stand trial in October on a first-degree murder charge.
During a recent competency hearing at Little River County Courthouse, J.T. Wright, 44, was ruled mentally competent to help in his defense. Judge Tom Cooper of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court made the ruling.
Cooper set pretrial hearings for Sept. 14 and Oct. 19 to present evidence and conduct hearings to finalize documents.
The trial date is Oct. 25, said Andrea Billingsley, Little River County.
By: Jim Williamson - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 08/22/2010
A Little River County, Ark., man accused of killing his estranged wife at a deer camp is mentally compentent to stand trial in October on a first-degree murder charge.
During a recent competency hearing at Little River County Courthouse, J.T. Wright, 44, was ruled mentally competent to help in his defense. Judge Tom Cooper of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court made the ruling.
Cooper set pretrial hearings for Sept. 14 and Oct. 19 to present evidence and conduct hearings to finalize documents.
The trial date is Oct. 25, said Andrea Billingsley, Little River County.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
St. Petersburg, FL: St. Petersburg woman charged with manslaughter in stabbing death
Posted: Aug 21, 2010 10:23 AM
A St. Petersburg man died after being stabbed early Saturday by his live-in girlfriend, police said.
Officers who were called at 983 13th Ave. S arrived at 12:57 a.m. to find Dale Coleman bleeding from a stab wound to his upper body. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where he died. Investigators determined that the girlfriend, Lakeyshia R. Thomas, stabbed Coleman following a fight, police said.
Thomas, 30, was charged with manslaughter.
A St. Petersburg man died after being stabbed early Saturday by his live-in girlfriend, police said.
Officers who were called at 983 13th Ave. S arrived at 12:57 a.m. to find Dale Coleman bleeding from a stab wound to his upper body. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where he died. Investigators determined that the girlfriend, Lakeyshia R. Thomas, stabbed Coleman following a fight, police said.
Thomas, 30, was charged with manslaughter.
Macon, GA: Macon man sentenced following girlfriend's death
Associated Press - August 20, 2010 5:24 PM ET
MACON, Ga. (AP) - A 28-year-old Macon man will spend life in prison for his role in the December 2008 murder of his pregnant mistress.
A Bibb County jury found Melvin Washington Jr. guilty of murder in the death of 24-year-old Tanisha Hardman. He also was convicted of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Bobbitt says he won't be eligible for parole for 30 years.
A man rummaging through trash found Hardman's body. Police said it appeared Hardman died of a gunshot to the head.
Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macontelegraph.com
MACON, Ga. (AP) - A 28-year-old Macon man will spend life in prison for his role in the December 2008 murder of his pregnant mistress.
A Bibb County jury found Melvin Washington Jr. guilty of murder in the death of 24-year-old Tanisha Hardman. He also was convicted of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Bobbitt says he won't be eligible for parole for 30 years.
A man rummaging through trash found Hardman's body. Police said it appeared Hardman died of a gunshot to the head.
Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macontelegraph.com
San Antonio, TX: Police arrest man 7 years after girlfriend's murder
Last Update: 8/20 8:44 am
John Johnstone is led away by police. Johnstone is accused of killing Darla Hughes back in 2003. (News 4 WOAI)
SAN ANTONIO -- After more than 7 years, police have made an arrest in the beating death of a South Side woman.
John Johnstone, 55, is accused of killing Darla Hughes back in 2003. Johnstone was Hughes' boyfriend at the time of the killing. Investigators say they have been able to gather enough evidence to allow them to issue an arrest warrant for Johnstone.
We caught up with Johnstone as he was being taken into custody.
News Crew: "Who killed her Johnny?"
John Johnstone" "I don't know. I think I know, but nobody is listening to me."
Darla Hughes was beaten to death in her home in the 300 block of Avondale on June 13th, 2003. Hughes and Johnstone lived together at the time. Police questioned Johnston the night of the crime but did not arrest him.
John Johnstone is led away by police. Johnstone is accused of killing Darla Hughes back in 2003. (News 4 WOAI)
SAN ANTONIO -- After more than 7 years, police have made an arrest in the beating death of a South Side woman.
John Johnstone, 55, is accused of killing Darla Hughes back in 2003. Johnstone was Hughes' boyfriend at the time of the killing. Investigators say they have been able to gather enough evidence to allow them to issue an arrest warrant for Johnstone.
We caught up with Johnstone as he was being taken into custody.
News Crew: "Who killed her Johnny?"
John Johnstone" "I don't know. I think I know, but nobody is listening to me."
Darla Hughes was beaten to death in her home in the 300 block of Avondale on June 13th, 2003. Hughes and Johnstone lived together at the time. Police questioned Johnston the night of the crime but did not arrest him.
Monroe, LA: Monroe man convicted in 2008 death
Associated Press - August 21, 2010 2:24 PM ET
MONROE, La. (AP) - A Monroe man has been convicted in the beating and stabbing death of another man in 2008.
The News-Star reports that a jury in Monroe convicted Lavern "Pee Wee" Hampton of second-degree murder on Friday. The crime carries a mandatory life sentence.
The victim was 58-year-old Otis King, who was killed on Aug. 14, 2008, in front of a Monroe house. According to testimony, Hampton had argued earlier in the day with his ex-girlfriend. King defended the woman, leading to a disagreement with Hampton.
Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com
MONROE, La. (AP) - A Monroe man has been convicted in the beating and stabbing death of another man in 2008.
The News-Star reports that a jury in Monroe convicted Lavern "Pee Wee" Hampton of second-degree murder on Friday. The crime carries a mandatory life sentence.
The victim was 58-year-old Otis King, who was killed on Aug. 14, 2008, in front of a Monroe house. According to testimony, Hampton had argued earlier in the day with his ex-girlfriend. King defended the woman, leading to a disagreement with Hampton.
Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com
Silicon Valley, CA: Man who jumped to death at Mountain Winery was facing domestic violence charges
By Sandra Gonzales, Joe Rodriguez, Jim Harrington
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 08/20/2010 08:19:34 AM PDT
Updated: 08/21/2010 08:07:27 AM PDT
For a few moments, it almost seemed like part of the show. As the crowd enjoyed a midsummer concert on a balmy Thursday evening at Saratoga's serene Mountain Winery, a man suddenly leapt from the shingle-tiled roof above the stage, landing a few feet from the lead singer.
But just as quickly, concertgoers realized what had happened was horrifyingly real. And the image of the dead crumpled body on the stage haunted concertgoers Friday as questions swirled and answers emerged: The suicide victim was a troubled San Jose man with a violent past, out on bail after threatening to kill his girlfriend and himself.
Concert promoters insisted there was no need to tighten security for the many upcoming shows at the upscale performance venue, despite indications that the man had climbed onto the roof from the back. But shaken band members of The Swell Season said they would not play Mountain Winery again, although they promised to return to the Bay Area for a benefit concert for suicide prevention.
Witnesses, meanwhile, continued to text, tweet and talk about the disturbing events that ended the concert and left many distraught.
"It was spooky, you're at this concert with beautiful music," said Will Hector, who was at the concert Thursday night. "It felt pretty intimate and powerful and then this completely invasive thing happens. I'm not sure I can go back to the Mountain Winery. It's too hard. The image of that man on the stage was too
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horrific."
The death of Michael Edward Pickels, perhaps, was foreshadowed by an earlier violent incident.
During a New Year's Day argument with his girlfriend, Pickels pointed a loaded shotgun at her and declared he was going to kill both of them, according to authorities.
Pickels, 32, was out on $150,000 bail at the time of his death, and scheduled to be in court on Oct. 5 on charges of assault with a firearm, domestic violence and false imprisonment.
Thursday night, however, he was attending The Swell Season concert with a friend when he left the audience about 10 p.m., leaving behind some "personal items," according to Sgt. Rick Sung, a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
The friend "didn't think too much of it," Sung said.
Soon after, Pickels appeared out of nowhere on the roof. Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Swell Season, had just finished a song and was bantering with the crowd, poking fun at a guitar player in his band when witnesses say the man suddenly jumped off the roof near the lighting rig. He landed near Hansard.
No one else was physically injured.
Kyle Rivers, who attended the concert with his wife, said at first he thought the man on the roof was part of the act.
"And then he took off running and jumped, did a couple of flips and landed on the stage," Rivers said. "It was pretty traumatic."
Witnesses said that after the man hit the stage, Hansard put down his guitar and walked over to his body while several others, including doctors in attendance, tried to revive him. Sung said the doctors, EMTs and firefighters worked on the man for about 30 minutes. A doctor who was attending the concert pronounced him dead.
Hector said he was surprised that the venue was not more adequately prepared to handle emergencies on site. He said concertgoers were told to stay at the venue so that they would not clog up the two-lane, winding road and block incoming medical personnel.
Sung
said the girlfriend told investigators that during the New Year's Day argument over "personal matters" at a house in South San Jose, Pickels tied her hands and legs. The girlfriend pleaded with him to spare her life, promising that she wouldn't tell anyone. Eventually, he agreed to let her go.
Sung said the girlfriend went to a friend's house in Campbell and called the sheriff's office.
Deputies went to the first house on Lost Ranch Road. Contacted by phone, Pickels told deputies he wasn't coming out, but after 90 minutes of negotiation, he surrendered, Sung said.
Friday, The Swell Season mentioned the possibility of returning to the Bay Area to raise money for suicide-prevention programs. The band was planning to play as scheduled Friday night at a sold-out show at the Oregon Zoo in the Portland area.
"We are just in shock and grief and full of bewilderment," said Howard Greynolds, the band's manager. "Clearly, next year, we are going to come back to the area and do a show for a suicide prevention or something, if it turns out to be a suicide. Maybe at the Warfield or someplace -- I don't think we'd want to go back to the Mountain Winery."
He said that "no one should have to witness" what happened Thursday night at the Mountain Winery. "That's the kind of venue that people bring their kids to. There were 10- and 11-year-old kids there in the third and fourth rows."
Live Nation, the concert promotion company overseeing Thursday's concert, said it is working with the sheriff's office.
"The company is looking to determine how the concert attendee accessed the roof as part of the investigation," according to Live Nation spokesman Chris Plunkett. "The company believes it has ample security in place at every event."
That means that all the shows will go on. And there are plenty scheduled at the Mountain Winery in the upcoming days and every night through Aug. 29. No refunds are being offered to ticket-holders who, in light of the incident, do not wish to attend an upcoming concert.
Friday, some concertgoers attending the Hippiefest at the venue shrugged off the incident while others felt a sense of dread.
"It's no big deal, just some nut case who jumped off the edge," said Gary Crist of San Bruno as he climbed the steep hill to the venue.
"It's kind of eerie," said Lilliana Martinez, who was there Friday with friends. "It does make me feel kind of weird."
Bay Area News Group writer Kristen Marschall and Mercury News staff writers Mark Gomez, Sean Webby and Dennis Akizuki contributed to this report.
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 08/20/2010 08:19:34 AM PDT
Updated: 08/21/2010 08:07:27 AM PDT
For a few moments, it almost seemed like part of the show. As the crowd enjoyed a midsummer concert on a balmy Thursday evening at Saratoga's serene Mountain Winery, a man suddenly leapt from the shingle-tiled roof above the stage, landing a few feet from the lead singer.
But just as quickly, concertgoers realized what had happened was horrifyingly real. And the image of the dead crumpled body on the stage haunted concertgoers Friday as questions swirled and answers emerged: The suicide victim was a troubled San Jose man with a violent past, out on bail after threatening to kill his girlfriend and himself.
Concert promoters insisted there was no need to tighten security for the many upcoming shows at the upscale performance venue, despite indications that the man had climbed onto the roof from the back. But shaken band members of The Swell Season said they would not play Mountain Winery again, although they promised to return to the Bay Area for a benefit concert for suicide prevention.
Witnesses, meanwhile, continued to text, tweet and talk about the disturbing events that ended the concert and left many distraught.
"It was spooky, you're at this concert with beautiful music," said Will Hector, who was at the concert Thursday night. "It felt pretty intimate and powerful and then this completely invasive thing happens. I'm not sure I can go back to the Mountain Winery. It's too hard. The image of that man on the stage was too
Advertisement
horrific."
The death of Michael Edward Pickels, perhaps, was foreshadowed by an earlier violent incident.
During a New Year's Day argument with his girlfriend, Pickels pointed a loaded shotgun at her and declared he was going to kill both of them, according to authorities.
Pickels, 32, was out on $150,000 bail at the time of his death, and scheduled to be in court on Oct. 5 on charges of assault with a firearm, domestic violence and false imprisonment.
Thursday night, however, he was attending The Swell Season concert with a friend when he left the audience about 10 p.m., leaving behind some "personal items," according to Sgt. Rick Sung, a Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
The friend "didn't think too much of it," Sung said.
Soon after, Pickels appeared out of nowhere on the roof. Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Swell Season, had just finished a song and was bantering with the crowd, poking fun at a guitar player in his band when witnesses say the man suddenly jumped off the roof near the lighting rig. He landed near Hansard.
No one else was physically injured.
Kyle Rivers, who attended the concert with his wife, said at first he thought the man on the roof was part of the act.
"And then he took off running and jumped, did a couple of flips and landed on the stage," Rivers said. "It was pretty traumatic."
Witnesses said that after the man hit the stage, Hansard put down his guitar and walked over to his body while several others, including doctors in attendance, tried to revive him. Sung said the doctors, EMTs and firefighters worked on the man for about 30 minutes. A doctor who was attending the concert pronounced him dead.
Hector said he was surprised that the venue was not more adequately prepared to handle emergencies on site. He said concertgoers were told to stay at the venue so that they would not clog up the two-lane, winding road and block incoming medical personnel.
Sung
said the girlfriend told investigators that during the New Year's Day argument over "personal matters" at a house in South San Jose, Pickels tied her hands and legs. The girlfriend pleaded with him to spare her life, promising that she wouldn't tell anyone. Eventually, he agreed to let her go.
Sung said the girlfriend went to a friend's house in Campbell and called the sheriff's office.
Deputies went to the first house on Lost Ranch Road. Contacted by phone, Pickels told deputies he wasn't coming out, but after 90 minutes of negotiation, he surrendered, Sung said.
Friday, The Swell Season mentioned the possibility of returning to the Bay Area to raise money for suicide-prevention programs. The band was planning to play as scheduled Friday night at a sold-out show at the Oregon Zoo in the Portland area.
"We are just in shock and grief and full of bewilderment," said Howard Greynolds, the band's manager. "Clearly, next year, we are going to come back to the area and do a show for a suicide prevention or something, if it turns out to be a suicide. Maybe at the Warfield or someplace -- I don't think we'd want to go back to the Mountain Winery."
He said that "no one should have to witness" what happened Thursday night at the Mountain Winery. "That's the kind of venue that people bring their kids to. There were 10- and 11-year-old kids there in the third and fourth rows."
Live Nation, the concert promotion company overseeing Thursday's concert, said it is working with the sheriff's office.
"The company is looking to determine how the concert attendee accessed the roof as part of the investigation," according to Live Nation spokesman Chris Plunkett. "The company believes it has ample security in place at every event."
That means that all the shows will go on. And there are plenty scheduled at the Mountain Winery in the upcoming days and every night through Aug. 29. No refunds are being offered to ticket-holders who, in light of the incident, do not wish to attend an upcoming concert.
Friday, some concertgoers attending the Hippiefest at the venue shrugged off the incident while others felt a sense of dread.
"It's no big deal, just some nut case who jumped off the edge," said Gary Crist of San Bruno as he climbed the steep hill to the venue.
"It's kind of eerie," said Lilliana Martinez, who was there Friday with friends. "It does make me feel kind of weird."
Bay Area News Group writer Kristen Marschall and Mercury News staff writers Mark Gomez, Sean Webby and Dennis Akizuki contributed to this report.
San Antonio, TX: 40 years for woman who killed ex-husband's girlfriend
Reported by: Janet Kwak
Email: JanetKwak@woaitv.com
Last Update: 8/20 4:05 pm
SAN ANTONIO -- A judge sentenced 36-year-old Leticia Arcos to 40 years for the shooting death of her ex-husband's girlfriend, 32-year-old Kristy Appleby.
Appleby was killed on a February morning last year just outside her workplace at the Bulverde Creek Animal Hospital.
Investigators say Arcos waited for Appleby to show up, then the two argued before Appleby was shot several times.
The two women had run-ins before, but Appleby's protective order against Arcos didn't qualify under Texas law at the time.
Senator Carlos Uresti will be pushing for "Kristy Appleby's Bill" for the second time next year. The bill, which never made it to the House floor the last legislative session, would allow people to get protective orders against their significant others' exes.
Email: JanetKwak@woaitv.com
Last Update: 8/20 4:05 pm
SAN ANTONIO -- A judge sentenced 36-year-old Leticia Arcos to 40 years for the shooting death of her ex-husband's girlfriend, 32-year-old Kristy Appleby.
Appleby was killed on a February morning last year just outside her workplace at the Bulverde Creek Animal Hospital.
Investigators say Arcos waited for Appleby to show up, then the two argued before Appleby was shot several times.
The two women had run-ins before, but Appleby's protective order against Arcos didn't qualify under Texas law at the time.
Senator Carlos Uresti will be pushing for "Kristy Appleby's Bill" for the second time next year. The bill, which never made it to the House floor the last legislative session, would allow people to get protective orders against their significant others' exes.
Little Rock, AR: Little Rock woman convicted of running down and killing boyfriend during Independence Day rage
By Associated Press
1:09 PM CDT, August 21, 2010
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Little Rock woman has been convicted of killing her boyfriend by running him down with her sport utility vehicle.
Thirty-two-year-old Jakita Sealine Murphy was convicted Friday of first-degree murder and sentenced to 37-years in prison for the Independence Day 2009 death of 38-year-old Bobby Poindexter.
Prosecutors said Murphy intentionally hit Poindexter after the two argued. Murphy testified that she hit Poindexter accidentally while reaching for her cell phone.
A Pulaski County jury deliberated four hours before finding Murphy guilty. The jury deliberated another 90 minutes before recommending the 37-year sentence that was imposed by Circuit Judge Marion Humphrey.
1:09 PM CDT, August 21, 2010
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Little Rock woman has been convicted of killing her boyfriend by running him down with her sport utility vehicle.
Thirty-two-year-old Jakita Sealine Murphy was convicted Friday of first-degree murder and sentenced to 37-years in prison for the Independence Day 2009 death of 38-year-old Bobby Poindexter.
Prosecutors said Murphy intentionally hit Poindexter after the two argued. Murphy testified that she hit Poindexter accidentally while reaching for her cell phone.
A Pulaski County jury deliberated four hours before finding Murphy guilty. The jury deliberated another 90 minutes before recommending the 37-year sentence that was imposed by Circuit Judge Marion Humphrey.
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