Suicide » The man then turned the gun on himself.
By Lindsay Whitehurst
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 11/21/2009 07:48:28 PM MST
A Sandy man killed his girlfriend, then turned the shotgun on himself following a police standoff in West Jordan early Saturday morning, officers said.
The 43-year-old man called a friend and confessed to shooting Michelle Welch, 54, once with a shotgun at her house on the 6800 block of Triumph Lane (1050 West), said West Jordan police Sgt. Drew Sanders. He also threatened to kill himself.
The man's friend called police about 2:50 a.m. When officers arrived, he barricaded himself inside the house with the gun. Police reached him on the phone and he told negotiators he had shot her accidently, Sanders said. As the morning wore on, he stopped talking to police and officers heard him shoot himself. Police believe he had been drinking alcohol.
Welch was a 911 dispatcher for the Salt Lake City fire department until her retirement this summer, said friend and dispatch supervisor Linda Christensen.
"She was a good person and she didn't deserve this," Christensen said. "She was generous to a fault, and that's what did her in."
She'd been with her boyfriend on and off for about six years, she said. Police hadn't released his name, pending notification of relatives.
The boyfriend had a temper, Christensen said. Once, she said, she asked why she didn't break up with him. Welch, Christensen said, replied: "Well, I'm a little afraid of him."
On occasions when she did try to end the relationship, they fought and the
Advertisement
police ended up at the house, she said. She described him as a heavy drinker who had difficulty finding steady employment.
"I think we all worried about her when we saw the police outside, but she'd say, 'Oh, no, he didn't hurt me,'" she said. "She'd say things like, 'Well I'm trying to get him gone' or 'Where else would he go? ' ... She'd worry about him."
As a dispatcher for 30 years, mainly on the night shift, Welch was particularly good at talking callers through psychiatric problems. Welch was also a caretaker among her friends. After Christensen had a heart attack, it was Welch who stopped by with gifts.
"Anybody that had problems at home, she'd always take care of them," she said. "She'd take them in, give them a room to stay in."
Welch had never been married. She built her home herself after picking a lot on Triumph Lane, a gated street of new, well-kept homes. She had four dogs, two toy fox terriers and two Chinese crested.
The dogs Saturday were being taken care of by friends, including Christensen, who took in the two Chinese crested. They skittered about late Saturday morning in similar blue and pink dog shirts to protect their sensitive, hairless skin. Another friend took the terriers.
Christensen knew something was wrong Saturday morning when she saw the dogs running loose.
"I thought, something's not right ... because they were her life," she said. "She was a kind, generous woman, and always took in strays, which is why she had [him]."
Next-door neighbor Cheryn McNicol said he was the first person to talk to her after she moved into the neighborhood.
"He seemed like a bit of an oddball," she said, but friendly, and helpful with projects at her house. "You just can't ever tell what people are like."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bristol, VA: Bristol man kills his wife before turning gun on himself
BRISTOL, Va. – Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a call for help early today found a woman dead in her yard and her husband dead in the home. Investigators said Dean Clayman, 47, shot his wife, Rebecca Ellen Clayman, 46, then turned the gun on himself inside their mobile home on Miller Hill Road, off of Gate City Highway.
Deputies found Rebecca Ellen Clayman in the yard with gunshot wounds to her face and chest. Paul Dean Clayman was in the bathroom with a single gunshot wound to the head and a .38-caliber Special handgun nearby.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
“A domestic situation appears to be the motivating factor in the incident,” Sheriff Fred Newman said in a news statement released today. “Also, based on the initial emergency call that came into our dispatch center, alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this tragic incident.”
Hours after the shootings, dozens of family members gathered at Becky Clayman’s father’s house, just next door to the home where the couple lived and died. Paul and Becky Clayman, John S. Battle High School sweethearts, had two sons, 18 and 21 years old. The 18-year-old just started his freshman year at University of Virginia College at Wise. The older brother lived at home with his parents while looking for work.
Relatives said they are all still in shock.
“It’s just like a story right now, something you hear about,” Becky Clayman’s niece, Carla Lilly, said. “The worst is yet to come – when they bring the bodies back, when it all sinks in. And next week’s Thanksgiving.”
For more on this story, see Sunday’s Bristol Herald Courier.
Deputies found Rebecca Ellen Clayman in the yard with gunshot wounds to her face and chest. Paul Dean Clayman was in the bathroom with a single gunshot wound to the head and a .38-caliber Special handgun nearby.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
“A domestic situation appears to be the motivating factor in the incident,” Sheriff Fred Newman said in a news statement released today. “Also, based on the initial emergency call that came into our dispatch center, alcohol may have been a contributing factor in this tragic incident.”
Hours after the shootings, dozens of family members gathered at Becky Clayman’s father’s house, just next door to the home where the couple lived and died. Paul and Becky Clayman, John S. Battle High School sweethearts, had two sons, 18 and 21 years old. The 18-year-old just started his freshman year at University of Virginia College at Wise. The older brother lived at home with his parents while looking for work.
Relatives said they are all still in shock.
“It’s just like a story right now, something you hear about,” Becky Clayman’s niece, Carla Lilly, said. “The worst is yet to come – when they bring the bodies back, when it all sinks in. And next week’s Thanksgiving.”
For more on this story, see Sunday’s Bristol Herald Courier.
Queens, NY: Queens Man Accused of Killing His Wife and Son
By AL BAKER
Published: November 21, 2009
A Queens man was charged with killing his wife and 14-year-old son on Saturday after their bodies were found in a closet of the family’s three-room apartment with their throats cut, the authorities said.
“They were wrapped in black plastic,” said Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, who visited the building, at 39-02 111th Street in Corona.
The names of the woman, who was 54, and the boy were not immediately released.
The man, Otto Herrarte, 48, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder after he was questioned at the 115th Precinct station house on Northern Boulevard, the police said.
During questioning, Mr. Herrarte, a cleaner at a Manhattan hotel, indicated that he had killed his wife and son by slashing their throats on a mattress on Friday before he hid the bodies, the police said.
Neighbors described the family as quiet and conservative. One neighbor said the family was Peruvian and that another son, 15, also lived there.
“They were really calm,” Juan Espinoza, the building superintendent, said through a translator. “This is weird because he was a really passive guy.”
The police said they were called to Mr. Herrarte’s apartment by one of his co-workers, who dialed 911 about 12:54 p.m. to say that she was with Mr. Herrarte and that he had told her about the bodies.
Earlier in the day, the police said, Mr. Herrarte had asked the woman to join him in taking the 15-year-old to a relative’s house.
The woman did so and returned with Mr. Herrarte to the apartment, where he told her about the bodies in the closet, the police said. It was in the apartment’s living room, which was also serving as a bedroom.
In his account to detectives, Mr. Herrarte said that when his 15-year-old son arrived home on Friday and asked where his mother and brother were, he said they had been in a car accident and would not be coming home.
At one point in the questioning, Mr. Herrarte made statements indicating he had a dual personality, said a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.
The father and surviving son stayed in the apartment overnight, with the boy unaware that the bodies were in the closet, the police said.
State Assembly José R. Peralta, who represents part of Queens, said he had heard that the killings occurred while the victims were asleep, but police said they could not confirm that report.
Brunilda Soler, 67, who lives across the hall from the Herrartes, said she saw members of the family return home on Friday evening but did not hear anything unusual until the police arrived on Saturday afternoon. “I thought it was a fight,” she said. “But when I saw the forensics men in white, I thought someone was dead.”
Elizabeth Labron, 43, a probation officer who lives on the first floor of the four-story building, said she often saw the woman who was killed. “It was just hi and bye,” she said. “I never really had a conversation with her. I guess I was one of the lucky few whom she spoke with. I guess she was shy. It took a little while for her to warm up just to say hello.”
Colin Moynihan and Rebecca White contributed reporting.
Published: November 21, 2009
A Queens man was charged with killing his wife and 14-year-old son on Saturday after their bodies were found in a closet of the family’s three-room apartment with their throats cut, the authorities said.
“They were wrapped in black plastic,” said Richard A. Brown, the Queens district attorney, who visited the building, at 39-02 111th Street in Corona.
The names of the woman, who was 54, and the boy were not immediately released.
The man, Otto Herrarte, 48, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder after he was questioned at the 115th Precinct station house on Northern Boulevard, the police said.
During questioning, Mr. Herrarte, a cleaner at a Manhattan hotel, indicated that he had killed his wife and son by slashing their throats on a mattress on Friday before he hid the bodies, the police said.
Neighbors described the family as quiet and conservative. One neighbor said the family was Peruvian and that another son, 15, also lived there.
“They were really calm,” Juan Espinoza, the building superintendent, said through a translator. “This is weird because he was a really passive guy.”
The police said they were called to Mr. Herrarte’s apartment by one of his co-workers, who dialed 911 about 12:54 p.m. to say that she was with Mr. Herrarte and that he had told her about the bodies.
Earlier in the day, the police said, Mr. Herrarte had asked the woman to join him in taking the 15-year-old to a relative’s house.
The woman did so and returned with Mr. Herrarte to the apartment, where he told her about the bodies in the closet, the police said. It was in the apartment’s living room, which was also serving as a bedroom.
In his account to detectives, Mr. Herrarte said that when his 15-year-old son arrived home on Friday and asked where his mother and brother were, he said they had been in a car accident and would not be coming home.
At one point in the questioning, Mr. Herrarte made statements indicating he had a dual personality, said a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.
The father and surviving son stayed in the apartment overnight, with the boy unaware that the bodies were in the closet, the police said.
State Assembly José R. Peralta, who represents part of Queens, said he had heard that the killings occurred while the victims were asleep, but police said they could not confirm that report.
Brunilda Soler, 67, who lives across the hall from the Herrartes, said she saw members of the family return home on Friday evening but did not hear anything unusual until the police arrived on Saturday afternoon. “I thought it was a fight,” she said. “But when I saw the forensics men in white, I thought someone was dead.”
Elizabeth Labron, 43, a probation officer who lives on the first floor of the four-story building, said she often saw the woman who was killed. “It was just hi and bye,” she said. “I never really had a conversation with her. I guess I was one of the lucky few whom she spoke with. I guess she was shy. It took a little while for her to warm up just to say hello.”
Colin Moynihan and Rebecca White contributed reporting.
Walterboro, SC: Man pleads guilty to beating woman to death
WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 36 years in prison in the beating death of his ex-girlfriend's mother last year.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that 35-year-old Haskell Frasier III of Walterboro pleaded guilty during his murder trial Thursday.
Frasier also pleaded guilty to first degree burglary and grand theft. He had faced a possible life prison term.
Forty-seven-year-old Brenda Bailey was killed in her home on Sept. 12, 2008.
Authorities say Frasier wrapped Bailey's body in a blanket and dumped it in a road before he wrecked her car.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that 35-year-old Haskell Frasier III of Walterboro pleaded guilty during his murder trial Thursday.
Frasier also pleaded guilty to first degree burglary and grand theft. He had faced a possible life prison term.
Forty-seven-year-old Brenda Bailey was killed in her home on Sept. 12, 2008.
Authorities say Frasier wrapped Bailey's body in a blanket and dumped it in a road before he wrecked her car.
Middlesex, MA: Judge delays burial of woman; family to argue for 2d autopsy
By Milton J. Valencia
Globe Staff / November 21, 2009
The family of Joan Baruffaldi, a 45-year-old veterinarian who was found hanged earlier this month in the US Virgin Islands, continues to suspect that her husband, Robert Harris, 47, killed her.
A hearing has been scheduled for Monday to determine whether Baruffaldi’s family has any say in what should happen to her body, though Harris’s lawyer said he has the sole authority as her husband. Harris’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, said he was not part of yesterday’s court proceeding and that a full hearing will be held on Monday.
“In this case, they’ve already done an autopsy,’’ Reddington said yesterday. “This is just total speculation and guesswork.’’
Baruffaldi’s death was initially declared a suicide after authorities in the US Virgin Islands found her hanging from a shower curtain rod by the belt of a bathrobe. Harris told authorities that Baruffaldi locked herself in the bathroom after they had been arguing, and minutes later he heard a crash.
Security officials found her in the bathroom, hanged and slouched against a wall.
The Baruffaldi family’s lawyer, Donald McNamee, said the couple had a history of domestic violence.
Authorities in the US Virgin Islands sent McNamee a letter Thursday saying the death remains under investigation, and the family has called for a second autopsy to be performed.
Baruffaldi’s former husband hired an attorney to represent their two children, hoping the court will allow them to contract an outside pathologist.
Reddington said he would have agreed to hold off burial until a hearing could be heard anyway. But he rejected claims that Harris planned to have the body cremated. He said Harris will abide by his wife’s wishes to be buried in Lynnfield, near where her children live.
“I understand it’s horrible to think a loved one would do that to herself, and it’s easy to put the blame on someone else,’’ said Reddington, “but the bottom line is he did not kill her.’’
He said authorities in the US Virgin Islands only agreed to keep the case open because the family had asked and that toxicology results are still pending. He also questioned the objectivity of the medical examiner that the family said it wanted to hire, celebrity pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, host of the HBO series “Autopsy’’ and a former chief medical examiner in New York.
Globe Staff / November 21, 2009
The family of Joan Baruffaldi, a 45-year-old veterinarian who was found hanged earlier this month in the US Virgin Islands, continues to suspect that her husband, Robert Harris, 47, killed her.
A hearing has been scheduled for Monday to determine whether Baruffaldi’s family has any say in what should happen to her body, though Harris’s lawyer said he has the sole authority as her husband. Harris’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, said he was not part of yesterday’s court proceeding and that a full hearing will be held on Monday.
“In this case, they’ve already done an autopsy,’’ Reddington said yesterday. “This is just total speculation and guesswork.’’
Baruffaldi’s death was initially declared a suicide after authorities in the US Virgin Islands found her hanging from a shower curtain rod by the belt of a bathrobe. Harris told authorities that Baruffaldi locked herself in the bathroom after they had been arguing, and minutes later he heard a crash.
Security officials found her in the bathroom, hanged and slouched against a wall.
The Baruffaldi family’s lawyer, Donald McNamee, said the couple had a history of domestic violence.
Authorities in the US Virgin Islands sent McNamee a letter Thursday saying the death remains under investigation, and the family has called for a second autopsy to be performed.
Baruffaldi’s former husband hired an attorney to represent their two children, hoping the court will allow them to contract an outside pathologist.
Reddington said he would have agreed to hold off burial until a hearing could be heard anyway. But he rejected claims that Harris planned to have the body cremated. He said Harris will abide by his wife’s wishes to be buried in Lynnfield, near where her children live.
“I understand it’s horrible to think a loved one would do that to herself, and it’s easy to put the blame on someone else,’’ said Reddington, “but the bottom line is he did not kill her.’’
He said authorities in the US Virgin Islands only agreed to keep the case open because the family had asked and that toxicology results are still pending. He also questioned the objectivity of the medical examiner that the family said it wanted to hire, celebrity pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, host of the HBO series “Autopsy’’ and a former chief medical examiner in New York.
Indianapolis, IN: Boyfriend questioned in strangling death
A woman whose body was found at an Eastside home was strangled to death, police said Friday.
Sgt. Paul Thompson, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said Deneisha Watford, 28, was found about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the floor of a home in the 1800 block of Bauer Road.
Police on Friday questioned Watford's boyfriend, Robert Sarver, in connection with her death.
Officers have not charged Sarver in Watford's death, but Thompson said detectives arrested him Friday in connection with domestic battery allegations involving another woman on the Eastside two weeks ago.
Sarver faces preliminary charges of strangulation, criminal confinement, domestic battery, battery and being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, Thompson said.
Police say Sarver, 32, attacked Tiesha Williams, 35, at a home in the 2100 block of North Catherwood Avenue.
Sgt. Paul Thompson, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said Deneisha Watford, 28, was found about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the floor of a home in the 1800 block of Bauer Road.
Police on Friday questioned Watford's boyfriend, Robert Sarver, in connection with her death.
Officers have not charged Sarver in Watford's death, but Thompson said detectives arrested him Friday in connection with domestic battery allegations involving another woman on the Eastside two weeks ago.
Sarver faces preliminary charges of strangulation, criminal confinement, domestic battery, battery and being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, Thompson said.
Police say Sarver, 32, attacked Tiesha Williams, 35, at a home in the 2100 block of North Catherwood Avenue.
Seattle, WA: 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
A man who fatally stabbed his girlfriend last year while riding in a car on Interstate 5 in Seattle gets 31 years in prison.
By Jennifer Sullivan and Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporters
Christel Murphy pleaded guilty in September to first-degree murder for the October 2008 stabbing death of his longtime girlfriend, Jane Kariuki, 42.
Kariuki's family asked King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson to hand down the harshest sentence possible. Rosemary Kariuki, the slain woman's mother, told the judge that she wanted to know why her daughter was murdered.
While asking Robinson for leniency, Murphy said he wasn't sure why he killed Kariuki.
Murphy, 42, has a manslaughter conviction in North Carolina and a string of assault convictions here. He served a 60-day jail sentence three years ago for third-degree domestic-violence assault after beating Kariuki, cutting her with broken glass and threatening to kill her with knives.
Seattle police said Kariuki had told Murphy earlier the day of the slaying that he would have to move out of the Kent residence they shared.
"It just got bigger than I thought I could handle," Murphy said about his relationship with Kariuki. "I don't know. I don't know. This is just not me."
Kariuki was riding in the front seat of a car driven by another man on Oct. 16, 2008, when Murphy, who was in the back seat, reached forward, put her in a headlock and stabbed her repeatedly in the face and chest, according to police and King County prosecutors.
The driver of the car pulled over and called 911 while Murphy got out of the vehicle, threw the knife on the ground, lit a cigarette and calmly sat down on the guardrail to wait for police, according to court documents.
At least two no-contact orders had been issued in an attempt to protect Kariuki from Murphy, but in 2007 Kariuki successfully petitioned the court to lift the order issued earlier.
Prosecutors had asked for a 32-year prison sentence. Defense attorney Paula Peach asked the judge for a sentence of about 22 years.
Murphy's mother, brother and aunt also spoke during the sentencing, each asking for leniency.
Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
Information in this article, originally published November 20, 2009, and corrected November 20, 2009, incorrectly stated the number of years Murphy received in sentencing. He was sentenced to 31 years in prison.
Y
By Jennifer Sullivan and Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporters
Christel Murphy pleaded guilty in September to first-degree murder for the October 2008 stabbing death of his longtime girlfriend, Jane Kariuki, 42.
Kariuki's family asked King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson to hand down the harshest sentence possible. Rosemary Kariuki, the slain woman's mother, told the judge that she wanted to know why her daughter was murdered.
While asking Robinson for leniency, Murphy said he wasn't sure why he killed Kariuki.
Murphy, 42, has a manslaughter conviction in North Carolina and a string of assault convictions here. He served a 60-day jail sentence three years ago for third-degree domestic-violence assault after beating Kariuki, cutting her with broken glass and threatening to kill her with knives.
Seattle police said Kariuki had told Murphy earlier the day of the slaying that he would have to move out of the Kent residence they shared.
"It just got bigger than I thought I could handle," Murphy said about his relationship with Kariuki. "I don't know. I don't know. This is just not me."
Kariuki was riding in the front seat of a car driven by another man on Oct. 16, 2008, when Murphy, who was in the back seat, reached forward, put her in a headlock and stabbed her repeatedly in the face and chest, according to police and King County prosecutors.
The driver of the car pulled over and called 911 while Murphy got out of the vehicle, threw the knife on the ground, lit a cigarette and calmly sat down on the guardrail to wait for police, according to court documents.
At least two no-contact orders had been issued in an attempt to protect Kariuki from Murphy, but in 2007 Kariuki successfully petitioned the court to lift the order issued earlier.
Prosecutors had asked for a 32-year prison sentence. Defense attorney Paula Peach asked the judge for a sentence of about 22 years.
Murphy's mother, brother and aunt also spoke during the sentencing, each asking for leniency.
Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
Information in this article, originally published November 20, 2009, and corrected November 20, 2009, incorrectly stated the number of years Murphy received in sentencing. He was sentenced to 31 years in prison.
Y
Portland, OR: Man convicted of 1993 Portland killing arrested in connection with Colorado prison death
By The Associated Press
November 21, 2009, 10:31AM
CANON CITY, Colo.-- A man convicted 16 years ago of killing his former girlfriend in Portland has been arrested in connection with the death of an inmate in a Colorado prison.
Authorities say 50-year-old Ronald Ferguson died Wednesday in a prison in Canon City. They haven't said how he was killed.
He was serving a 25-year term or kidnapping and sexual assault convictions after a 1996 conviction in Arapahoe County.
Investigators say inmate Kevin Carl Lust was arrested in the death and has been transferred to another state prison. It's not clear what charges he might face or whether he has a lawyer.
Lust, 50, is serving a life sentence without parole for aggravated murder. He pleaded guilty to the March 1993 killings of his former fiance, Bridgette S. Nelson, 28, and his second wife, Teia Pingree, 35. Lust shot Pingree in Pullman, Wash., then drove to Portland, where he fatally shot Nelson four times with a shotgun at a Portland hotel where she worked.
He was transferred to Colorado under an interstate agreement.
Authorities say Lust has been disciplined previously on allegations of fighting and making a threat.
-- The Associated Press
November 21, 2009, 10:31AM
CANON CITY, Colo.-- A man convicted 16 years ago of killing his former girlfriend in Portland has been arrested in connection with the death of an inmate in a Colorado prison.
Authorities say 50-year-old Ronald Ferguson died Wednesday in a prison in Canon City. They haven't said how he was killed.
He was serving a 25-year term or kidnapping and sexual assault convictions after a 1996 conviction in Arapahoe County.
Investigators say inmate Kevin Carl Lust was arrested in the death and has been transferred to another state prison. It's not clear what charges he might face or whether he has a lawyer.
Lust, 50, is serving a life sentence without parole for aggravated murder. He pleaded guilty to the March 1993 killings of his former fiance, Bridgette S. Nelson, 28, and his second wife, Teia Pingree, 35. Lust shot Pingree in Pullman, Wash., then drove to Portland, where he fatally shot Nelson four times with a shotgun at a Portland hotel where she worked.
He was transferred to Colorado under an interstate agreement.
Authorities say Lust has been disciplined previously on allegations of fighting and making a threat.
-- The Associated Press
Upper Deerefield, NJ: Police: Upper Deerfield man wounded girlfriend, killed himself
By The News of Cumberland County
November 20, 2009, 12:50PM
Police are continuing to investigate Thursday's shooting in Upper Deerfield that left one wounded and one dead.
By JEAN JONES
jeanjones@fast.net
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. — A Mallard Lane man died Thursday after apparently trying to shoot his girlfriend through his bedroom door, then shooting himself, according to state police.
John Darpino, 20, was found with a single gunshot to the head. He was taken to the South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The girl, an 18-year-old Vineland resident, suffered a superficial gunshot wound to the arm.
Police said the gun was found in Darpino’s room.
Authorities received a call for a medical assist at 9:25 p.m. from the victim’s sister, who said her brother was locked in his bedroom and had a gun. She said she had heard a gunshot.
Police found a bullet hole in his bedroom door, which investigators believe was the shot directed at his girlfriend.
The investigation is ongoing.
November 20, 2009, 12:50PM
Police are continuing to investigate Thursday's shooting in Upper Deerfield that left one wounded and one dead.
By JEAN JONES
jeanjones@fast.net
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. — A Mallard Lane man died Thursday after apparently trying to shoot his girlfriend through his bedroom door, then shooting himself, according to state police.
John Darpino, 20, was found with a single gunshot to the head. He was taken to the South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The girl, an 18-year-old Vineland resident, suffered a superficial gunshot wound to the arm.
Police said the gun was found in Darpino’s room.
Authorities received a call for a medical assist at 9:25 p.m. from the victim’s sister, who said her brother was locked in his bedroom and had a gun. She said she had heard a gunshot.
Police found a bullet hole in his bedroom door, which investigators believe was the shot directed at his girlfriend.
The investigation is ongoing.
West Jordan, UT: Man kills girlfriend before turning gun on himself
By Lindsay Whitehurst
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 11/21/2009 10:42:30 AM MST
A man killed his girlfriend and then himself in West Jordan early Saturday morning, police said.
The man talked with police negotiators for about four hours after he shot his girlfriend to death, but then turned the gun on himself on the 6800 block of Triumph Lane (1000 West), said West Jordan police Sgt. Drew Sanders.
The man called and confessed to a friend about 2:50 a.m. after shooting the woman, Sanders said. The friend called 911 and officers started talking with the shooter, who was suicidal, on the phone. He had barricaded himself inside his girlfriend's home, Sanders said.
He talked to officers until about 7 a.m., Sanders said.
"Without really telling us for sure, he opted to take his life," Sanders said. "Officers did hear a gunshot."
The couple has a history of domestic violence, Sanders said. Police believe alcohol was a factor. Officers are still confirming the identity of both the man and the woman and have not released their names or ages.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 11/21/2009 10:42:30 AM MST
A man killed his girlfriend and then himself in West Jordan early Saturday morning, police said.
The man talked with police negotiators for about four hours after he shot his girlfriend to death, but then turned the gun on himself on the 6800 block of Triumph Lane (1000 West), said West Jordan police Sgt. Drew Sanders.
The man called and confessed to a friend about 2:50 a.m. after shooting the woman, Sanders said. The friend called 911 and officers started talking with the shooter, who was suicidal, on the phone. He had barricaded himself inside his girlfriend's home, Sanders said.
He talked to officers until about 7 a.m., Sanders said.
"Without really telling us for sure, he opted to take his life," Sanders said. "Officers did hear a gunshot."
The couple has a history of domestic violence, Sanders said. Police believe alcohol was a factor. Officers are still confirming the identity of both the man and the woman and have not released their names or ages.
Columbia, IN: Ex-husband charged; wife's body still missing Cadaver dogs joins 3-day search
Updated: Friday, 20 Nov 2009, 8:12 PM EST
Published : Friday, 20 Nov 2009, 11:29 AM EST
Megan Stembol
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (WANE) - The Whitley County Prosecutor has charged Rodney Houser with the murder of his ex-wife, Debra Houser. Houser has been missing since Wednesday. Authorities in Northeast Indiana believe Rodney Houser killed Debra Houser on November 17 or 18.
Cadaver dogs from the Huntington County Emergency Management Department joined the massive 3-day search for Debra Houser's body on Friday. The body is presumed to be somewhere in rural Whitley County, near the rental home the couple shared.
In a probable cause affidavit filed Friday, November 20, by the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney, a confidential informant came to the Whitley County Sheriff's Department on November 18 and stated that Rodney Houser came to the informant's home in Waynedale in Fort Wayne and asked him to dispose of a bag of items and help him get rid of a Dodge Durango he was driving. Click on the probable cause affidavit under the video player to read the document.
Houser then took the bag and threw it away in a dumpster at the informant's home. Afterwards, the two drove to an American Legion Post where Houser took the license plate off the Durango and left the SUV in the parking lot.
During a ride back to Houser's home in Whitley County, the informant said Houser told him that he had killed his ex-wife, Debra Houser, and needed help burying her body which had been hidden a short distance from the home.
When they arrived at the Whitley County home, Houser got out of the informant's vehicle and said he was going in to change clothes and get a shovel. It was then the informant drove to the Whitley County Sheriff's Department to report what Houser had told him.
After the informant's report, Sheriff Mark Hodges went to the home, located at 4140 West Old Trail Road , where Houser was last seen and placed him into his custody.
The affidavit indicates Houser told the sheriff that Debra went to work early that day and he had not seen her since. Employees at the Post and Mail , where Ms. Houser worked, told authorities that she had not come to work, nor did she call in.
An interview with Debra's daughter revealed that Mr. Houser had been staying with Ms. Houser for about a month and a half, despite the fact that they had been divorced for several years. The two are parents to a nine-year-old boy.
The affidavit also included information about a bag that had been found inside the dumpster that the informant said had been put there by Houser. The bag contained Debra's purse, cell phone, women's pants, men's pants and shirt which had what appeared to be fresh blood stains, as well as a pair of cowboy boots.
Ms. Houser's body has not yet been found, but police continue to search the area around the home. The affidavit stated that all evidence indicates that Debra Houser is deceased.
Houser is scheduled to have an initial hearing on Monday, November 23, 2009.
Debra Houser was a mother of three. Co-workers at Post and Mail, a Columbia City newspaper , said Houser was an extraordinary generous person.
Bob Ewing, the mailroom manager at the Post and Mail, said Houser had worked there for about a year, and had made a big impression on her co-workers. Ewing said it wasn't unusual for Houser to buy a bag of groceries if a co-worker was in need. Ewing also said Houser helped organize a fundraiser for a co-worker facing eviction.
"She was a real hard worker," said Ewing. "She never missed work. She volunteered for any overtime. She was just a great person."
Carl Abbott said Houser was a great cook, that made everyone feel welcome. Abbott's son is married to one of Houser's grown daughters. Abbott shared some holiday dinners and cook-outs with Houser.
"Every time we had a meal, even when I brought my grandkids, she made them feel like they were part of the family," said Abbott, through tears.
Debra Houser was open with co-workers about her relationship with her ex-husband, Rodney Houser. She said he had abused her in the past. The couple had been divorced for about five years.
The Whitley County Sheriff's Department says the search for Deb Houser's body will continue on Saturday morning.
Published : Friday, 20 Nov 2009, 11:29 AM EST
Megan Stembol
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (WANE) - The Whitley County Prosecutor has charged Rodney Houser with the murder of his ex-wife, Debra Houser. Houser has been missing since Wednesday. Authorities in Northeast Indiana believe Rodney Houser killed Debra Houser on November 17 or 18.
Cadaver dogs from the Huntington County Emergency Management Department joined the massive 3-day search for Debra Houser's body on Friday. The body is presumed to be somewhere in rural Whitley County, near the rental home the couple shared.
In a probable cause affidavit filed Friday, November 20, by the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney, a confidential informant came to the Whitley County Sheriff's Department on November 18 and stated that Rodney Houser came to the informant's home in Waynedale in Fort Wayne and asked him to dispose of a bag of items and help him get rid of a Dodge Durango he was driving. Click on the probable cause affidavit under the video player to read the document.
Houser then took the bag and threw it away in a dumpster at the informant's home. Afterwards, the two drove to an American Legion Post where Houser took the license plate off the Durango and left the SUV in the parking lot.
During a ride back to Houser's home in Whitley County, the informant said Houser told him that he had killed his ex-wife, Debra Houser, and needed help burying her body which had been hidden a short distance from the home.
When they arrived at the Whitley County home, Houser got out of the informant's vehicle and said he was going in to change clothes and get a shovel. It was then the informant drove to the Whitley County Sheriff's Department to report what Houser had told him.
After the informant's report, Sheriff Mark Hodges went to the home, located at 4140 West Old Trail Road , where Houser was last seen and placed him into his custody.
The affidavit indicates Houser told the sheriff that Debra went to work early that day and he had not seen her since. Employees at the Post and Mail , where Ms. Houser worked, told authorities that she had not come to work, nor did she call in.
An interview with Debra's daughter revealed that Mr. Houser had been staying with Ms. Houser for about a month and a half, despite the fact that they had been divorced for several years. The two are parents to a nine-year-old boy.
The affidavit also included information about a bag that had been found inside the dumpster that the informant said had been put there by Houser. The bag contained Debra's purse, cell phone, women's pants, men's pants and shirt which had what appeared to be fresh blood stains, as well as a pair of cowboy boots.
Ms. Houser's body has not yet been found, but police continue to search the area around the home. The affidavit stated that all evidence indicates that Debra Houser is deceased.
Houser is scheduled to have an initial hearing on Monday, November 23, 2009.
Debra Houser was a mother of three. Co-workers at Post and Mail, a Columbia City newspaper , said Houser was an extraordinary generous person.
Bob Ewing, the mailroom manager at the Post and Mail, said Houser had worked there for about a year, and had made a big impression on her co-workers. Ewing said it wasn't unusual for Houser to buy a bag of groceries if a co-worker was in need. Ewing also said Houser helped organize a fundraiser for a co-worker facing eviction.
"She was a real hard worker," said Ewing. "She never missed work. She volunteered for any overtime. She was just a great person."
Carl Abbott said Houser was a great cook, that made everyone feel welcome. Abbott's son is married to one of Houser's grown daughters. Abbott shared some holiday dinners and cook-outs with Houser.
"Every time we had a meal, even when I brought my grandkids, she made them feel like they were part of the family," said Abbott, through tears.
Debra Houser was open with co-workers about her relationship with her ex-husband, Rodney Houser. She said he had abused her in the past. The couple had been divorced for about five years.
The Whitley County Sheriff's Department says the search for Deb Houser's body will continue on Saturday morning.
Conch Key, FL: Man shoots girlfriend, then himself
CONCH KEY, Fla. -- A Florida Keys couple is dead after detectives say the man apparently shot his girlfriend and then himself.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports that a friend of the couple found them dead Friday night, and neighbors had heard gunshots from the Conch Key trailer earlier that evening.
Detectives say 55-year-old Christine Petros had told her boyfriend and business partner, 62-year-old Robert Babic, to move out. Detectives believe she was helping him remove clothes from a closet when he shot her in the back of the head with a .357 caliber revolver. He then turned the gun on himself.
Autopsies were scheduled for Saturday.
The couple had lived together for several years and owned a Key Largo sign business called Sign Guyz.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports that a friend of the couple found them dead Friday night, and neighbors had heard gunshots from the Conch Key trailer earlier that evening.
Detectives say 55-year-old Christine Petros had told her boyfriend and business partner, 62-year-old Robert Babic, to move out. Detectives believe she was helping him remove clothes from a closet when he shot her in the back of the head with a .357 caliber revolver. He then turned the gun on himself.
Autopsies were scheduled for Saturday.
The couple had lived together for several years and owned a Key Largo sign business called Sign Guyz.
Press Re;ease from the Family of Ashley and Theren Kendall
PRESS RELEASE
November 21, 2009
The immediate family of 22 year old domestic violence victim Ashley (Berning) Kendall has issued a statement, and friends of the family have set up a benefit fund to assist Ashley and her 5 month old son Theren.
Ashley Kendall was shot in the back by her husband Travis Kendall on the evening of Tuesday, November 17th after she met with her lawyer to discuss an upcoming child custody hearing and divorce proceedings, according to R. Paul Frasier, Coos County, Oregon district attorney.
Authorities say Travis Kendall gained access into her parked car, a Jeep Cherokee, and hid in the very rear compartment awaiting her return. Ashley, after leaving her attorneys office, got in her car and was unaware that Travis was hiding in the rear. She drove off and was shortly thereafter shot by her estranged husband, who pushed her out on to the street, and then left the scene in her car.
Police say Travis Kendall was later spotted by police, and lead them on a 100 mph high-speed chase ending at his home in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Kendall pointed a gun at the officer, which forced the officer to fire wounding him in the leg. He ducked around the corner of a building and was later found dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF ASHLEY (BERNING) KENDALL:
We would like to take the time to thank everyone who has been so supportive through this tragic event.
We respectfully ask for privacy at this time, and do not want to comment on the specifics of this incident.
Ashley Kendall is fighting for her life and remains in extreme critical condition at the ICU Trauma Unit at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
We are so grateful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that are providing superb around the clock care for our daughter. She has undergone numerous surgeries, and her future is still on a guardedly optimistic, day-by-day hopeful basis. We would also like to say a special thank to her attorney Sharon Mitchell, concerned citizen Greg Brecheisen who came upon the scene, E.M.T.’S, Dr. Tersigni and his medical staff, and all the countless people who got her here alive. We also want to thank God who has graciously carried her in his arms. We will be forever grateful.
Thankfully, due to the ongoing threats, Ashley’s five-month old son Theren had been taken into protective custody the previous day of this incident by the Oregon Department of Human Services, and thus was unharmed. He has since been returned to the custody of Ashley’s immediate family.
Thank you for your compassion and understanding, and for keeping Ashley, Theren and all of our family in your prayers.
Sincerely,
The Family of Ashley and Theren Kendall
Friends of the family have set up a fund to provide financial help dedicated solely to assist Ashley and Theren. You may contribute to the “Ashley Kendall” Donation Fund at any U.S. Bank branch and request your donation be credited to this account.
THANK YOU !!!
November 21, 2009
The immediate family of 22 year old domestic violence victim Ashley (Berning) Kendall has issued a statement, and friends of the family have set up a benefit fund to assist Ashley and her 5 month old son Theren.
Ashley Kendall was shot in the back by her husband Travis Kendall on the evening of Tuesday, November 17th after she met with her lawyer to discuss an upcoming child custody hearing and divorce proceedings, according to R. Paul Frasier, Coos County, Oregon district attorney.
Authorities say Travis Kendall gained access into her parked car, a Jeep Cherokee, and hid in the very rear compartment awaiting her return. Ashley, after leaving her attorneys office, got in her car and was unaware that Travis was hiding in the rear. She drove off and was shortly thereafter shot by her estranged husband, who pushed her out on to the street, and then left the scene in her car.
Police say Travis Kendall was later spotted by police, and lead them on a 100 mph high-speed chase ending at his home in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Kendall pointed a gun at the officer, which forced the officer to fire wounding him in the leg. He ducked around the corner of a building and was later found dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF ASHLEY (BERNING) KENDALL:
We would like to take the time to thank everyone who has been so supportive through this tragic event.
We respectfully ask for privacy at this time, and do not want to comment on the specifics of this incident.
Ashley Kendall is fighting for her life and remains in extreme critical condition at the ICU Trauma Unit at Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
We are so grateful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that are providing superb around the clock care for our daughter. She has undergone numerous surgeries, and her future is still on a guardedly optimistic, day-by-day hopeful basis. We would also like to say a special thank to her attorney Sharon Mitchell, concerned citizen Greg Brecheisen who came upon the scene, E.M.T.’S, Dr. Tersigni and his medical staff, and all the countless people who got her here alive. We also want to thank God who has graciously carried her in his arms. We will be forever grateful.
Thankfully, due to the ongoing threats, Ashley’s five-month old son Theren had been taken into protective custody the previous day of this incident by the Oregon Department of Human Services, and thus was unharmed. He has since been returned to the custody of Ashley’s immediate family.
Thank you for your compassion and understanding, and for keeping Ashley, Theren and all of our family in your prayers.
Sincerely,
The Family of Ashley and Theren Kendall
Friends of the family have set up a fund to provide financial help dedicated solely to assist Ashley and Theren. You may contribute to the “Ashley Kendall” Donation Fund at any U.S. Bank branch and request your donation be credited to this account.
THANK YOU !!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Reading, PA: Pa. man charged in girlfriend's stabbing death
The Associated Press
READING, Pa. - Police in eastern Pennsylvania have charged a man with stabbing his girlfriend to death early Tuesday.
Reading police say they responded just before 2 a.m. to reports of a domestic disturbance and found 39-year-old Maria Albers-Cosme lying on the front steps of a neighbor's home. They say she had been stabbed in the chest in her own home and then walked outside and collapsed. Albers-Cosme was pronounced dead shortly afterward by a Berks County deputy coroner.
Police say 40-year-old Brian Henderson, who lived at the same address, was charged with first- and third-degree murder and aggravated assault. Detectives said he would be arraigned and then taken to Berks County Prison without bail; it was unclear whether he had an attorney.
READING, Pa. - Police in eastern Pennsylvania have charged a man with stabbing his girlfriend to death early Tuesday.
Reading police say they responded just before 2 a.m. to reports of a domestic disturbance and found 39-year-old Maria Albers-Cosme lying on the front steps of a neighbor's home. They say she had been stabbed in the chest in her own home and then walked outside and collapsed. Albers-Cosme was pronounced dead shortly afterward by a Berks County deputy coroner.
Police say 40-year-old Brian Henderson, who lived at the same address, was charged with first- and third-degree murder and aggravated assault. Detectives said he would be arraigned and then taken to Berks County Prison without bail; it was unclear whether he had an attorney.
San Luis Obisbo, CA: Man blames dog in wife’s shooting death
A California man is blaming his dog for the fatal shooting of his wife.
John Aaron Norris, 25, of San Miguel said his dog ran underneath his feet, tripping him and causing the semi-automatic rifle he was holding to fire.
Norris is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the July 9 shooting death of 24-year-old Tasha Dawn Norris. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to resume today.
Norris pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge and to a charge of possessing an illegal weapon at his home — a semiautomatic rifle found by investigators, according to The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
Sheriff’s deputies testified Wednesday that Norris stated he was standing on the stairs when the dog ran under his feet and tripped him. He told authorities he was holding the gun because he was planning to remove the ammunition before fire inspectors came to his home to examine new sprinklers in the condominium.
Tasha Norris was seated on a couch in the home when she was shot, according to investigators. Medics attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
John Aaron Norris, 25, of San Miguel said his dog ran underneath his feet, tripping him and causing the semi-automatic rifle he was holding to fire.
Norris is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the July 9 shooting death of 24-year-old Tasha Dawn Norris. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to resume today.
Norris pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge and to a charge of possessing an illegal weapon at his home — a semiautomatic rifle found by investigators, according to The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
Sheriff’s deputies testified Wednesday that Norris stated he was standing on the stairs when the dog ran under his feet and tripped him. He told authorities he was holding the gun because he was planning to remove the ammunition before fire inspectors came to his home to examine new sprinklers in the condominium.
Tasha Norris was seated on a couch in the home when she was shot, according to investigators. Medics attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Washington, DC: D.C. man charged with murder in wife's death Suspect threatened to kill victim in July, prosecutors say
By Keith L. Alexander
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Northeast Washington man has been ordered held without bond, accused of using a vase to beat his wife to death Sunday, four months after prosecutors said he had threatened to kill her.
Kenneth L. Ross, 52, wearing a white prison jumpsuit and booties, stood before D.C. Superior Court Magistrate Judge Joseph E. Beshouri on Tuesday as a federal prosecutor described the bloody scene and evidence in the case.
According to charging documents, Ross's wife, Rosa May Fludd-Ross, 55, was found Sunday on the living room floor in her home in the 3100 block of 35th Street NE. She had been beaten, and an autopsy showed that she might have been dead since Friday or Saturday.
The owner of the home, George McKoy, was also found beaten. He was in critical condition Wednesday at a local hospital.
Blood was splattered on the living and dining room walls and ceilings, according to the documents. The living room furniture, including the coffee table, was covered in blood. The phone cord in the living room looked as if it had been pulled from the wall jack, the documents say.
Police said that Ross was picked up Monday and that he initially denied being married. But then he said he was separated. He finally told police that he and Fludd-Ross had argued at the house and that he struck her with a vase, the papers say. Ross said that McKoy tried to break up the argument and that he pushed McKoy, the documents say.
Ross was also arrested in July, accused of threatening to kill his wife and yanking the phone from her as she tried to call police.
In another case, he pleaded guilty to simple assault after police responded to a 911 call for domestic abuse at the house on 35th Street. At the time, Fludd-Ross told police that "he's trying to kill me so, I ran out of the back door."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Cobb said Tuesday that Ross was guilty of premeditated first-degree murder because he had threatened his wife months before the slaying.
Ross's attorney, Ronald Horton of the District's Public Defender Service, said there was no evidence that Ross planned to kill his wife before what he described as a "brief scuffle" among his client, his client's wife and McKoy.
Beshouri reduced the charge to second-degree murder and ordered Ross to be held at the D.C. jail until a hearing Nov. 30.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Northeast Washington man has been ordered held without bond, accused of using a vase to beat his wife to death Sunday, four months after prosecutors said he had threatened to kill her.
Kenneth L. Ross, 52, wearing a white prison jumpsuit and booties, stood before D.C. Superior Court Magistrate Judge Joseph E. Beshouri on Tuesday as a federal prosecutor described the bloody scene and evidence in the case.
According to charging documents, Ross's wife, Rosa May Fludd-Ross, 55, was found Sunday on the living room floor in her home in the 3100 block of 35th Street NE. She had been beaten, and an autopsy showed that she might have been dead since Friday or Saturday.
The owner of the home, George McKoy, was also found beaten. He was in critical condition Wednesday at a local hospital.
Blood was splattered on the living and dining room walls and ceilings, according to the documents. The living room furniture, including the coffee table, was covered in blood. The phone cord in the living room looked as if it had been pulled from the wall jack, the documents say.
Police said that Ross was picked up Monday and that he initially denied being married. But then he said he was separated. He finally told police that he and Fludd-Ross had argued at the house and that he struck her with a vase, the papers say. Ross said that McKoy tried to break up the argument and that he pushed McKoy, the documents say.
Ross was also arrested in July, accused of threatening to kill his wife and yanking the phone from her as she tried to call police.
In another case, he pleaded guilty to simple assault after police responded to a 911 call for domestic abuse at the house on 35th Street. At the time, Fludd-Ross told police that "he's trying to kill me so, I ran out of the back door."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Cobb said Tuesday that Ross was guilty of premeditated first-degree murder because he had threatened his wife months before the slaying.
Ross's attorney, Ronald Horton of the District's Public Defender Service, said there was no evidence that Ross planned to kill his wife before what he described as a "brief scuffle" among his client, his client's wife and McKoy.
Beshouri reduced the charge to second-degree murder and ordered Ross to be held at the D.C. jail until a hearing Nov. 30.
Saraland, AL: 68-year-old Saraland man kills wife, self; couple married less than a year
By David Ferrara
November 18, 2009, 5:30AM
SARALAND, Ala. -- Married less than a year, 68-year-old Robert Lathan shot and killed his wife, Shelby Lathan, 65, in their Saraland home and then turned the gun on himself, police said Tuesday.
His daughter from a previous marriage discovered their bodies Monday evening inside their red brick, ranch-style home on Pake Road and called authorities, according to neighbors and Saraland Police Chief Kevin Anderson.
The couple were in separate rooms, the chief said, and police found a handgun on Robert Lathan's body. Anderson would not say what kind of gun was used, where the two had been shot or how many shots were fired.
Shelby Lathan, formerly Shelby Giglio, had lived in the home for about 15 years, according to neighbor Nettie Kenny.
"She was just as nice as she could be," Kenny said.
Kenny said she did not see Robert Lathan often.
Estelle Langam, who lives across the street, said the neighborhood, with moderate homes on broad property in the northwestern part of the city, was normally quiet.
"We never see any trouble around here," Langam said.
There were no signs of the murder-suicide outside the Lathan's home Tuesday morning. Two white rocking chairs rested motionless on the front stoop, and a gray Chevy Silverado was parked in the driveway.
Robert Lathan had assisted funeral directors at the Radney Funeral Home's three Mobile-area locations for the past two years, according to general manager Bill Smithweck.
Smithweck called Lathan a "wonderful employee. He came to work every day with a smile on his face."
"We're all very saddened and grieve for Bobby and the family," Smithweck said.
Anderson said there was no history of domestic violence at the home. The couple married Jan. 17, and Shelby Lathan had filed for divorce May 8, citing an "incompatibility of temperament," according to court records. But she asked the court to dismiss the divorce three weeks later, saying the couple had reconciled.
The double shooting marked the fourth homicide this year in Saraland, Anderson said. That's an unusual rise for the relatively quiet north Mobile County city, which he said typically sees no more than one murder a year, but the chief said that each was a "random, isolated incident."
November 18, 2009, 5:30AM
SARALAND, Ala. -- Married less than a year, 68-year-old Robert Lathan shot and killed his wife, Shelby Lathan, 65, in their Saraland home and then turned the gun on himself, police said Tuesday.
His daughter from a previous marriage discovered their bodies Monday evening inside their red brick, ranch-style home on Pake Road and called authorities, according to neighbors and Saraland Police Chief Kevin Anderson.
The couple were in separate rooms, the chief said, and police found a handgun on Robert Lathan's body. Anderson would not say what kind of gun was used, where the two had been shot or how many shots were fired.
Shelby Lathan, formerly Shelby Giglio, had lived in the home for about 15 years, according to neighbor Nettie Kenny.
"She was just as nice as she could be," Kenny said.
Kenny said she did not see Robert Lathan often.
Estelle Langam, who lives across the street, said the neighborhood, with moderate homes on broad property in the northwestern part of the city, was normally quiet.
"We never see any trouble around here," Langam said.
There were no signs of the murder-suicide outside the Lathan's home Tuesday morning. Two white rocking chairs rested motionless on the front stoop, and a gray Chevy Silverado was parked in the driveway.
Robert Lathan had assisted funeral directors at the Radney Funeral Home's three Mobile-area locations for the past two years, according to general manager Bill Smithweck.
Smithweck called Lathan a "wonderful employee. He came to work every day with a smile on his face."
"We're all very saddened and grieve for Bobby and the family," Smithweck said.
Anderson said there was no history of domestic violence at the home. The couple married Jan. 17, and Shelby Lathan had filed for divorce May 8, citing an "incompatibility of temperament," according to court records. But she asked the court to dismiss the divorce three weeks later, saying the couple had reconciled.
The double shooting marked the fourth homicide this year in Saraland, Anderson said. That's an unusual rise for the relatively quiet north Mobile County city, which he said typically sees no more than one murder a year, but the chief said that each was a "random, isolated incident."
Duncan, IL: Standoff ends in tragedy for Duncan native
Estranged husband with a history of domestic assault is charged with murder, kidnapping
By Kristin Buehner,For the News-Tribune
A former North Iowa woman was killed in Des Moines last Wednesday, the victim of domestic abuse, family members confirmed.
Des Moines police found a woman identified by family members as TereseAnn Marie Lynch, 30, a native of Duncan, inside an apartment Wednesday. She was found shortly after a shotgun-wielding man surrendered to end a standoff that lasted more than an hour and left one police officer injured.
The suspect was identified by police as her estranged husband, Randall Todd Moore, 38, Des Moines.
He has been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and attempted murder, police said.
Lynch had filed a petition for protective relief from domestic abuse against her estranged husband in Polk County on Oct. 13, according to Iowa Courts Online.
The couple had an 8-month-old son at a day care center at the time of the shootings, police reported.
Police Sgt. Lori Lavorato said the standoff began about 4:30 p.m. when officers received a report of a woman possibly being abducted. Their investigation led them to the Ashley Square apartment complex.
More than 30 police units and tactical teams surrounded the building where the man was holed up.
One police officer was shot in the hand and was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The officer, who has not yet been identified, was in the apartment complex's parking lot when the gunman reportedly shot him from an apartment balcony.
Lavorato said only two shotgun blasts were heard: one that wounded the officer and the other that presumably killed the woman inside the apartment.
A hostage negotiator persuaded the gunman to put his weapon down and come out, Lavorato said. The gunman surrendered peacefully, she said.
“That was at the point our tactical unit decided that since we believed a female was possibly shot, it was imperative that we got in there as soon as we found that information out,” Lavorato added. “We wanted to get to her. It just so happened that when he put the weapon down, that's when our entry team met him at the door.”
Moore was taken into custody around 5:30 p.m.
Court records indicate that Moore was convicted of assault in 1999, 2002 and 2006, and received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and one year's probation for third-degree harassment in 2000. Court records also disclose that Moore has been accused of domestic abuse in civil lawsuits four times by four different women since 2005 and had a protective order issued against him that expired Oct. 26.
TereseAnn Lynch was a 1998 graduate of Garner-Hayfield High School and a 2001 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College.
She graduated from Iowa State University in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in child, adult and family services.
She is the daughter of Tim Lynch of Duncan.
By Kristin Buehner,For the News-Tribune
A former North Iowa woman was killed in Des Moines last Wednesday, the victim of domestic abuse, family members confirmed.
Des Moines police found a woman identified by family members as TereseAnn Marie Lynch, 30, a native of Duncan, inside an apartment Wednesday. She was found shortly after a shotgun-wielding man surrendered to end a standoff that lasted more than an hour and left one police officer injured.
The suspect was identified by police as her estranged husband, Randall Todd Moore, 38, Des Moines.
He has been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and attempted murder, police said.
Lynch had filed a petition for protective relief from domestic abuse against her estranged husband in Polk County on Oct. 13, according to Iowa Courts Online.
The couple had an 8-month-old son at a day care center at the time of the shootings, police reported.
Police Sgt. Lori Lavorato said the standoff began about 4:30 p.m. when officers received a report of a woman possibly being abducted. Their investigation led them to the Ashley Square apartment complex.
More than 30 police units and tactical teams surrounded the building where the man was holed up.
One police officer was shot in the hand and was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The officer, who has not yet been identified, was in the apartment complex's parking lot when the gunman reportedly shot him from an apartment balcony.
Lavorato said only two shotgun blasts were heard: one that wounded the officer and the other that presumably killed the woman inside the apartment.
A hostage negotiator persuaded the gunman to put his weapon down and come out, Lavorato said. The gunman surrendered peacefully, she said.
“That was at the point our tactical unit decided that since we believed a female was possibly shot, it was imperative that we got in there as soon as we found that information out,” Lavorato added. “We wanted to get to her. It just so happened that when he put the weapon down, that's when our entry team met him at the door.”
Moore was taken into custody around 5:30 p.m.
Court records indicate that Moore was convicted of assault in 1999, 2002 and 2006, and received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and one year's probation for third-degree harassment in 2000. Court records also disclose that Moore has been accused of domestic abuse in civil lawsuits four times by four different women since 2005 and had a protective order issued against him that expired Oct. 26.
TereseAnn Lynch was a 1998 graduate of Garner-Hayfield High School and a 2001 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College.
She graduated from Iowa State University in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in child, adult and family services.
She is the daughter of Tim Lynch of Duncan.
Rome, GA: 1 dead, 1 injured; shooting suspect surrenders after manhunt
FLOYD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT Statement released at 12:51 a.m. Wednesday by Investigator Sabrina Hall:
"On November 17, 2009 at approximately 4:45 pm, Robert Timothy Spriggs, Jr. went to the residence of John Gregory Davis at 4565 Old Dalton Road. An altercation ensued in the front yard, and Spriggs, age 26, shot Davis, age 46, several times, fatally wounding him. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Spriggs fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle and traveled to 127 East Clinton Drive, in attempt to locate his ex-girlfriend, the daughter of the victim. Spriggs forcefully entered the residence and shot the homeowner, Scott Sulsberger, age 32, seriously injuring him. The accused then fled on foot into a wooded area near the second scene.
Following several phone conversations with his father and law enforcement, Spriggs emerged from the woods and surrendered himself to officials who transported him to the Floyd County Police station for questioning. Spriggs was later booked into Floyd County Jail on the following charges: Murder, 2 counts Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Theft by Taking, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Cruelty to Children."
Tim Spriggs is led into the Floyd County Jail by Floyd County Police Officers for booking. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Rome and Floyd County police, along with SWAT team officers, surround a house on East Clinton Drive during a search for a gunman on Tuesday night. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Rome and Floyd County police, along with SWAT team officers, surround a house on East Clinton Drive during a search for a gunman on Tuesday night. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Map data ©2009 Google - Terms of Use
4 p.m. update: The Floyd County Sheriff's Office has issued the following statement:
"Sheriff Tim Burkhalter and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office staff would like to extend our sincerest condolences for the victims of yesterday’s shooting. As a father of a young daughter I can appreciate what Mr. Davis was feeling over the last few days, and I truly sympathize with the families involved in this tragic incident. Some things are hard to understand. We pray that the families find comfort in knowing that we care. "
Burkhalter, a family friend, helped convince alleged gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. to turn himself in Tuesday evening.
3 p.m. update: Teresa Davis, the wife of slain shooting victim John Gregory Davis, said that Scott Sulsberger, who also was shot in the incident, is recovering at Floyd Medical Center and would likely be discharged in the next few days. "He's doing fine," she said. "He's up and walking around."
2 p.m. update: Police have reported little new information today about a shooting in Armuchee last night that left a man dead and another wounded. Investigator Sabrina Hall with the Floyd County Police Department said this afternoon that officers are examining a car driven by suspected gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. She also said officers interviewed Spriggs last night at the police station.
10:30 a.m. update: Shorter College -- where the alleged shooter had played football and the daughter of victim John Gregory Davis was a student -- issued this statement Wednesday:
"The Shorter College community was saddened to learn of yesterday's tragic events. We are very concerned about those who have been affected, especially the Davis family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. Campus ministers, Dr. Aaron Werner and Rev. David Roland, met with the family and a group of students last night and are remaining in contact with them. Faculty and staff are providing support for students in classes and other group settings. In addition, our director of student support services is available for students who feel the need to talk with a counselor about this situation."
10:15 a.m. update: Rome police reports indicate there was an altercation between suspect Robert Timothy Spriggs and the daughter of the victim, John Gregory Davis, on Saturday night.
According to Rome police reports:
Davis had contacted police about an incident Saturday night. Police opened a case file and spoke with both Spriggs and the daughter, and took photographs of both of their injuries.
Police did not detail what allegedly happened between the two on Saturday.
9:30 a.m. update: Floyd County Schools officials have confirmed that the man killed in a shooting last night, 46-year-old John Gregory Davis, worked in the system's maintenance department.
Lynn Plunkett, superintendent of the system, said Davis was a wonderful person who loved his job and the school system and took pride in everything he did.
"We're very sad, that really goes without saying," Plunkett said Wednesday morning. "We've lost one of our family, and we are a family at Floyd County Schools. Our hearts hurt right now."
She said Davis' family will be in her prayers.
According to police, Davis' daughter was the ex-girlfriend of alleged gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. Police say Spriggs was trying to locate the woman at an East Clinton Drive home when he shot and injured the homeowner, Scott Sulsberger, 32. Sabrina Hall with the Floyd County Police Department was Sulsberger is the husband of the woman's sister.
12:50 a.m. update: The Floyd County Police Department has issued a press release. Scroll to the bottom of this story to read it.
Shooting suspect surrenders after manhunt
Two shootings in Floyd County on Tuesday rocked the local community, left one man dead, one injured and a third man charged with murder.
The first shooting occurred in the 4500 block of Old Dalton Road around 4:45 p.m. The second, related, shooting took place on East Clinton Drive off of Burnett Ferry Road.
Click here to see a Google map of the shooting locations reported.
One fatality has been confirmed, and Floyd County police detectives questioned the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Tim Spriggs, at the law enforcement center. He was booked on felony murder charges around 10 p.m.
Floyd County Deputy Coroner Ernie Studard identified the fatality as 46-year-old John Gregory Davis of 4565 Old Dalton Road.
Police and emergency crews responded to that location late Tuesday afternoon after reports that a man had been shot multiple times in the front yard of the residence there.
Floyd County police and Georgia State Patrol officers, as well as fire and rescue units, arrived on the scene to find Davis with several gunshot wounds.
Dispatchers from 911 reported that Spriggs, suspected of that shooting, was possibly heading toward a residence off Burnett Ferry Road. Rome police responded there about the same time that a call came into 911 from a female at 127 E. Clinton Drive.
Capt. Mark Wallace of the Floyd County Police Department said a “domestic issue” spilled over when Spriggs, the alleged gunman, went to that address around 5 p.m.
“He forced his way into the East Clinton address and got into an altercation with a male there. He then shot that male,” Wallace said.
The Rome-Floyd SWAT team, as well as police negotiators, were called to that location. It was unknown at the time if Spriggs was still in the house or had fled the residence.
Police later determined he had left the home, and EMTs were allowed to enter to tend to the man, Scott Sulsberger, who was shot. Dr. Paul Brock later told the Rome News-Tribune he had operated on the injured survivor.
Also at the East Clinton Drive residence were two women and an infant, according to police. Wallace said the women and baby were not injured but were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The Rome Police Department and Floyd County Police Department are co-investigating the shootings and thanked all the agencies on the scene, including RPD, FCPD, Georgia State Patrol and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
“It was a combined effort, and we needed it with this kind of crime,” Wallace said.
Floyd County Chief Deputy Tom Caldwell confirmed that Spriggs turned himself in to Floyd County police investigator Jeff Jones after Sheriff Tim Burkhalter talked to the fleeing man.
An obviously distraught Burkhalter was reeling Tuesday night from the long-distance negotiation where he talked to Spriggs via cell phone as the young man fled through the woods near the Hidden Valley subdivision off Burnett Ferry Road.
Spriggs was being pursued by local law enforcement in the wake of the two shootings.
Burkhalter is an old family friend of Spriggs and said he’s never in all of his 26 years of law enforcement had something hit so close to home.
“My primary concern was seeing this come to an end without him hurting himself or hurting a law enforcement officer,” said Burkhalter.
He said he has known Spriggs his whole life and described him as "a good kid who has never been in trouble.”
Spriggs is an Armuchee High graduate who served four years in the Air Force, which included deployment to Iraq. He later played football with the Shorter College Hawks.
Burkhalter said he knew Spriggs was “upset over an issue with his ex-girlfriend” after talking with him a couple of days ago.
The sheriff said Spriggs was troubled about a temporary protective order that had been issued against him.
On Tuesday, Burkhalter was in Savannah for a professional conference. When he got out of his sessions in late afternoon, he saw that he had several missed calls from Spriggs but no messages. Then he got a call from a family member who was concerned Spriggs might harm himself.
Just minutes later, the sheriff was notified of the shootings, Spriggs’ suspected involvement and the manhunt under way for him.
“I tried to call him a couple of times, and he finally answered his phone. He was running through the woods and said he was unarmed,” said Burkhalter. The sheriff was able to communicate with the SWAT team on site at the East Clinton Drive house, so that they could enter the house and handle the situation there that included the injured man.
“He was running the whole time he was talking to me. I was just trying to get him to stop and turn himself in,” said Burkhalter. “I was really worried he might try ‘suicide by cop.’ Even if he was unarmed, carrying a cell phone might look like he was armed. I told him that.”
He said Spriggs was adamant that he would only turn himself in to Burkhalter.
“I told him I was out of town and hours away, and this could not wait that long. I was worried someone else might die,” said Burkhalter.
So the sheriff contacted detective Jones and then talked to Spriggs and arranged for Jones to call him and handle his surrender.
Jones spoke with him, and Spriggs was taken into custody, without incident, ending a frantic several hours for local law enforcement agencies and a tragic night for the families.
Spriggs, of 4885 Old Dalton Road, is charged with felony murder, two counts of felony aggravated assault, felony burglary, felony theft by taking, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and cruelty to children.
Staff Writers Jeff Gable and John Bailey and Editor Charlotte Atkins contributed to this report.
Click here to see a previous report about Tim Spriggs.
"On November 17, 2009 at approximately 4:45 pm, Robert Timothy Spriggs, Jr. went to the residence of John Gregory Davis at 4565 Old Dalton Road. An altercation ensued in the front yard, and Spriggs, age 26, shot Davis, age 46, several times, fatally wounding him. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Spriggs fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle and traveled to 127 East Clinton Drive, in attempt to locate his ex-girlfriend, the daughter of the victim. Spriggs forcefully entered the residence and shot the homeowner, Scott Sulsberger, age 32, seriously injuring him. The accused then fled on foot into a wooded area near the second scene.
Following several phone conversations with his father and law enforcement, Spriggs emerged from the woods and surrendered himself to officials who transported him to the Floyd County Police station for questioning. Spriggs was later booked into Floyd County Jail on the following charges: Murder, 2 counts Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Theft by Taking, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Cruelty to Children."
Tim Spriggs is led into the Floyd County Jail by Floyd County Police Officers for booking. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Rome and Floyd County police, along with SWAT team officers, surround a house on East Clinton Drive during a search for a gunman on Tuesday night. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Rome and Floyd County police, along with SWAT team officers, surround a house on East Clinton Drive during a search for a gunman on Tuesday night. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)
Map data ©2009 Google - Terms of Use
4 p.m. update: The Floyd County Sheriff's Office has issued the following statement:
"Sheriff Tim Burkhalter and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office staff would like to extend our sincerest condolences for the victims of yesterday’s shooting. As a father of a young daughter I can appreciate what Mr. Davis was feeling over the last few days, and I truly sympathize with the families involved in this tragic incident. Some things are hard to understand. We pray that the families find comfort in knowing that we care. "
Burkhalter, a family friend, helped convince alleged gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. to turn himself in Tuesday evening.
3 p.m. update: Teresa Davis, the wife of slain shooting victim John Gregory Davis, said that Scott Sulsberger, who also was shot in the incident, is recovering at Floyd Medical Center and would likely be discharged in the next few days. "He's doing fine," she said. "He's up and walking around."
2 p.m. update: Police have reported little new information today about a shooting in Armuchee last night that left a man dead and another wounded. Investigator Sabrina Hall with the Floyd County Police Department said this afternoon that officers are examining a car driven by suspected gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. She also said officers interviewed Spriggs last night at the police station.
10:30 a.m. update: Shorter College -- where the alleged shooter had played football and the daughter of victim John Gregory Davis was a student -- issued this statement Wednesday:
"The Shorter College community was saddened to learn of yesterday's tragic events. We are very concerned about those who have been affected, especially the Davis family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. Campus ministers, Dr. Aaron Werner and Rev. David Roland, met with the family and a group of students last night and are remaining in contact with them. Faculty and staff are providing support for students in classes and other group settings. In addition, our director of student support services is available for students who feel the need to talk with a counselor about this situation."
10:15 a.m. update: Rome police reports indicate there was an altercation between suspect Robert Timothy Spriggs and the daughter of the victim, John Gregory Davis, on Saturday night.
According to Rome police reports:
Davis had contacted police about an incident Saturday night. Police opened a case file and spoke with both Spriggs and the daughter, and took photographs of both of their injuries.
Police did not detail what allegedly happened between the two on Saturday.
9:30 a.m. update: Floyd County Schools officials have confirmed that the man killed in a shooting last night, 46-year-old John Gregory Davis, worked in the system's maintenance department.
Lynn Plunkett, superintendent of the system, said Davis was a wonderful person who loved his job and the school system and took pride in everything he did.
"We're very sad, that really goes without saying," Plunkett said Wednesday morning. "We've lost one of our family, and we are a family at Floyd County Schools. Our hearts hurt right now."
She said Davis' family will be in her prayers.
According to police, Davis' daughter was the ex-girlfriend of alleged gunman Robert Timothy Spriggs Jr. Police say Spriggs was trying to locate the woman at an East Clinton Drive home when he shot and injured the homeowner, Scott Sulsberger, 32. Sabrina Hall with the Floyd County Police Department was Sulsberger is the husband of the woman's sister.
12:50 a.m. update: The Floyd County Police Department has issued a press release. Scroll to the bottom of this story to read it.
Shooting suspect surrenders after manhunt
Two shootings in Floyd County on Tuesday rocked the local community, left one man dead, one injured and a third man charged with murder.
The first shooting occurred in the 4500 block of Old Dalton Road around 4:45 p.m. The second, related, shooting took place on East Clinton Drive off of Burnett Ferry Road.
Click here to see a Google map of the shooting locations reported.
One fatality has been confirmed, and Floyd County police detectives questioned the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Tim Spriggs, at the law enforcement center. He was booked on felony murder charges around 10 p.m.
Floyd County Deputy Coroner Ernie Studard identified the fatality as 46-year-old John Gregory Davis of 4565 Old Dalton Road.
Police and emergency crews responded to that location late Tuesday afternoon after reports that a man had been shot multiple times in the front yard of the residence there.
Floyd County police and Georgia State Patrol officers, as well as fire and rescue units, arrived on the scene to find Davis with several gunshot wounds.
Dispatchers from 911 reported that Spriggs, suspected of that shooting, was possibly heading toward a residence off Burnett Ferry Road. Rome police responded there about the same time that a call came into 911 from a female at 127 E. Clinton Drive.
Capt. Mark Wallace of the Floyd County Police Department said a “domestic issue” spilled over when Spriggs, the alleged gunman, went to that address around 5 p.m.
“He forced his way into the East Clinton address and got into an altercation with a male there. He then shot that male,” Wallace said.
The Rome-Floyd SWAT team, as well as police negotiators, were called to that location. It was unknown at the time if Spriggs was still in the house or had fled the residence.
Police later determined he had left the home, and EMTs were allowed to enter to tend to the man, Scott Sulsberger, who was shot. Dr. Paul Brock later told the Rome News-Tribune he had operated on the injured survivor.
Also at the East Clinton Drive residence were two women and an infant, according to police. Wallace said the women and baby were not injured but were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The Rome Police Department and Floyd County Police Department are co-investigating the shootings and thanked all the agencies on the scene, including RPD, FCPD, Georgia State Patrol and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
“It was a combined effort, and we needed it with this kind of crime,” Wallace said.
Floyd County Chief Deputy Tom Caldwell confirmed that Spriggs turned himself in to Floyd County police investigator Jeff Jones after Sheriff Tim Burkhalter talked to the fleeing man.
An obviously distraught Burkhalter was reeling Tuesday night from the long-distance negotiation where he talked to Spriggs via cell phone as the young man fled through the woods near the Hidden Valley subdivision off Burnett Ferry Road.
Spriggs was being pursued by local law enforcement in the wake of the two shootings.
Burkhalter is an old family friend of Spriggs and said he’s never in all of his 26 years of law enforcement had something hit so close to home.
“My primary concern was seeing this come to an end without him hurting himself or hurting a law enforcement officer,” said Burkhalter.
He said he has known Spriggs his whole life and described him as "a good kid who has never been in trouble.”
Spriggs is an Armuchee High graduate who served four years in the Air Force, which included deployment to Iraq. He later played football with the Shorter College Hawks.
Burkhalter said he knew Spriggs was “upset over an issue with his ex-girlfriend” after talking with him a couple of days ago.
The sheriff said Spriggs was troubled about a temporary protective order that had been issued against him.
On Tuesday, Burkhalter was in Savannah for a professional conference. When he got out of his sessions in late afternoon, he saw that he had several missed calls from Spriggs but no messages. Then he got a call from a family member who was concerned Spriggs might harm himself.
Just minutes later, the sheriff was notified of the shootings, Spriggs’ suspected involvement and the manhunt under way for him.
“I tried to call him a couple of times, and he finally answered his phone. He was running through the woods and said he was unarmed,” said Burkhalter. The sheriff was able to communicate with the SWAT team on site at the East Clinton Drive house, so that they could enter the house and handle the situation there that included the injured man.
“He was running the whole time he was talking to me. I was just trying to get him to stop and turn himself in,” said Burkhalter. “I was really worried he might try ‘suicide by cop.’ Even if he was unarmed, carrying a cell phone might look like he was armed. I told him that.”
He said Spriggs was adamant that he would only turn himself in to Burkhalter.
“I told him I was out of town and hours away, and this could not wait that long. I was worried someone else might die,” said Burkhalter.
So the sheriff contacted detective Jones and then talked to Spriggs and arranged for Jones to call him and handle his surrender.
Jones spoke with him, and Spriggs was taken into custody, without incident, ending a frantic several hours for local law enforcement agencies and a tragic night for the families.
Spriggs, of 4885 Old Dalton Road, is charged with felony murder, two counts of felony aggravated assault, felony burglary, felony theft by taking, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and cruelty to children.
Staff Writers Jeff Gable and John Bailey and Editor Charlotte Atkins contributed to this report.
Click here to see a previous report about Tim Spriggs.
Coos Bay, OR: Man lies in wait to shoot estranged wife after she meets with a divorce lawyer in Coos Bay
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
November 18, 2009, 4:10PM
After three domestic murder-suicides in the Portland area this month, a fourth attempt has bloodied the state but this time in Coos County.
Ashley Kendall, 22, was shot Tuesday night by her husband who hid in their Jeep Wagoneer while she was meeting with a divorce attorney, according to R. Paul Frasier, Coos County district attorney.
When she got back in her car, he shot her in the back and then later killed himself after a police chase, Frasier said.
He said Coos County has seen other domestic deaths during his 25-year-old career as a prosecutor, but nothing like this.
"We've had cases where the husband kills the wife or the wife kills the husband but this is the first time I've had one where they're trying to separate and he's lying in wait to kill her," Frasier said.
Kendall, who lives in Myrtle Point, was transported by Life Flight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Medical Center in Portland in "extremely critical condition," Frasier said. A spokeswoman at Legacy refused to comment on the case.
On Nov. 4, a woman was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend, who also killed himself and their son in his Southeast Portland home. Six days later, a Gladstone man killed his estranged wife and himself at a Legacy drug testing lab in Tualatin where she worked. The third-murder suicide in the Portland area involved a family with financial troubles. Police, who found their bodies in their Bethany home Nov. 11, said the husband shot his wife, child and then himself.
Police in Coos Bay were alerted to the shooting of Ashley Kendall by her sister, who called 9-1-1. The sister, who was not named, told an emergency dispatcher that while she was talking to Ashley on the phone her sister started screaming that "he" was in the car with her.
Then the phone went dead.
The 9-1-1 center in Coos Bay received two other calls, one about a gunshot and screaming and the second reporting that a bleeding woman was lying in the 1900 block of Koos Bay Boulevard in Coos Bay.
Police identified the suspected shooter as her husband, 26-year-old Travis Roy Kendall, who was spotted by Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels driving towards Myrtle Point.
A police chase ensued, ending with Kendall pulling into the home of relatives in Myrtle Point, Frasier said.
Kendall pointed his rifle at Dannels, who shot him in the leg. Kendall then ducked around a corner and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head with a .30-06 caliber rifle, Frasier said.
Dannels was put on paid administrative leave.
Court records show Kendall was convicted of burglary in 2003 and of being a felon in possession of a firearm at the beginning of this year.
Investigators suspect that the rifle was one Kendall's grandfather gave him when he was a kid.
Frasier said the couple were married in September 2008 and had a baby. This October, Travis Kendall was jailed on a domestic abuse allegation. He was released but ordered not to have contact with his wife.
Last month their child was taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Services.
On the morning of the shooting, Ashley Kendall obtained a restraining order against her husband and then made an evening appointment to see an attorney about a divorce, Frasier said.
She was shot about 8:30 p.m.
Travis Kendall was convicted three times of violated a restraining order against a previous girlfriend, who he lived with from 2004 to 2007, Frasier said.
They, too, had a child.
This is the second death in less than a week in Coos County. On Friday, police found the body of a Coquille woman who was strangled to death and buried in rugged terrain near the town. Her brother-in-law faces murder charges in her death.
Frasier said the county is struggling to keep up with back-to-back death investigations.
"It's very taxing on the limited resources that we have to deal with incidents like this," he said.
Lynne Terry
lynneterry@news.oregonian.com
November 18, 2009, 4:10PM
After three domestic murder-suicides in the Portland area this month, a fourth attempt has bloodied the state but this time in Coos County.
Ashley Kendall, 22, was shot Tuesday night by her husband who hid in their Jeep Wagoneer while she was meeting with a divorce attorney, according to R. Paul Frasier, Coos County district attorney.
When she got back in her car, he shot her in the back and then later killed himself after a police chase, Frasier said.
He said Coos County has seen other domestic deaths during his 25-year-old career as a prosecutor, but nothing like this.
"We've had cases where the husband kills the wife or the wife kills the husband but this is the first time I've had one where they're trying to separate and he's lying in wait to kill her," Frasier said.
Kendall, who lives in Myrtle Point, was transported by Life Flight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Medical Center in Portland in "extremely critical condition," Frasier said. A spokeswoman at Legacy refused to comment on the case.
On Nov. 4, a woman was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend, who also killed himself and their son in his Southeast Portland home. Six days later, a Gladstone man killed his estranged wife and himself at a Legacy drug testing lab in Tualatin where she worked. The third-murder suicide in the Portland area involved a family with financial troubles. Police, who found their bodies in their Bethany home Nov. 11, said the husband shot his wife, child and then himself.
Police in Coos Bay were alerted to the shooting of Ashley Kendall by her sister, who called 9-1-1. The sister, who was not named, told an emergency dispatcher that while she was talking to Ashley on the phone her sister started screaming that "he" was in the car with her.
Then the phone went dead.
The 9-1-1 center in Coos Bay received two other calls, one about a gunshot and screaming and the second reporting that a bleeding woman was lying in the 1900 block of Koos Bay Boulevard in Coos Bay.
Police identified the suspected shooter as her husband, 26-year-old Travis Roy Kendall, who was spotted by Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels driving towards Myrtle Point.
A police chase ensued, ending with Kendall pulling into the home of relatives in Myrtle Point, Frasier said.
Kendall pointed his rifle at Dannels, who shot him in the leg. Kendall then ducked around a corner and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head with a .30-06 caliber rifle, Frasier said.
Dannels was put on paid administrative leave.
Court records show Kendall was convicted of burglary in 2003 and of being a felon in possession of a firearm at the beginning of this year.
Investigators suspect that the rifle was one Kendall's grandfather gave him when he was a kid.
Frasier said the couple were married in September 2008 and had a baby. This October, Travis Kendall was jailed on a domestic abuse allegation. He was released but ordered not to have contact with his wife.
Last month their child was taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Services.
On the morning of the shooting, Ashley Kendall obtained a restraining order against her husband and then made an evening appointment to see an attorney about a divorce, Frasier said.
She was shot about 8:30 p.m.
Travis Kendall was convicted three times of violated a restraining order against a previous girlfriend, who he lived with from 2004 to 2007, Frasier said.
They, too, had a child.
This is the second death in less than a week in Coos County. On Friday, police found the body of a Coquille woman who was strangled to death and buried in rugged terrain near the town. Her brother-in-law faces murder charges in her death.
Frasier said the county is struggling to keep up with back-to-back death investigations.
"It's very taxing on the limited resources that we have to deal with incidents like this," he said.
Lynne Terry
lynneterry@news.oregonian.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)