By: By Ashley Martin, Forum Communications Co., The Jamestown Sun
Dirk J. Huber is believed to have used a pillow to kill his former girlfriend after allegedly arguing over the paternity of her daughter, officials said during his pretrial conference in Dickinson on Monday.
The 41-year-old pleaded not guilty Monday to murdering Nicole Lynn Radebaugh, 39, by suffocating her in her Belfield, N.D., apartment in August.
Special Agent Pat Helfrich with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations said Huber picked up Radebaugh’s junior high-aged daughter, Logan Huber, after he allegedly killed Radebaugh.
“Dirk had made the comment that he had hurt her mom and Logan … had asked, ‘Is she hurt bad?’ and Dirk had told her ‘I don’t know,’” Helfrich said. “And then Logan had asked, ‘Is she alive?’ and Dirk had said, ‘I don’t know.’”
Radebaugh was pronounced dead in her bedroom, Helfrich said.
Justin Mead, a friend of Huber’s who Helfrich said called 911, allegedly told authorities Dirk Huber confessed to him.
“He said ‘I killed Nikki,’” Helfrich said. “Justin stated he got a little emotional and said ‘Why the F did you do that?’ and he said Dirk said ‘I don’t know. I snapped.’”
Mead allegedly told officers Radebaugh told Dirk Huber a few months prior that Logan was not his daughter, which was a surprise to him, Helfrich said.
“He said that Logan was Dirk’s life,” Helfrich said. “He doted on Logan. Everything he did was for Logan.”
Mead also allegedly said Dirk Huber “had done everything for Logan,” and had “money set aside” for Logan, which allegedly was missing as well, Helfrich said.
Dirk Huber’s criminal complaint calls him Logan’s parent, but the girl’s paternity is unclear.
He was allegedly arguing with Radebaugh on Aug. 30, when Logan left the apartment for a school function, Helfrich said.
“She said she had obtained several texts from her dad, Dirk, saying ‘where are you,’ or ‘call me,’” Helfrich said. “She said she had gotten back to the apartment and couldn’t get in and had knocked on the door and tried calling and she said her mom didn’t answer.”
Dirk Huber allegedly called Logan and told her he was picking her up.
“He took her to her grandparents’ house, Nicole’s mom and dad’s,” Helfrich said.
Dirk Huber then evaded police until Sept. 2, when he was arrested in the Badlands, according to authorities. He was allegedly apprehended, on foot, 20 miles north of Medora and west of the Little Missouri River.
Helfrich said when Dirk Huber was arrested, officers heard him say, “I just want to die.”
Judge Zane Anderson found enough evidence was presented at the hearing to bind him over for further court proceedings.
Dirk Huber, his attorney Jay Greenwood and Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning declined comment after the hearing.
Dirk Huber is being held at the Stark County Multi County Correction Center on a $1 million bond.
He is charged with murder, a Class AA felony which has a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
Mead does not have a published phone number, so he could not be reached for comment.
Ashley Martin is a reporter
at the Dickinson Press,
No comments:
Post a Comment