Slam Dunks

The Silver Moon Diamond

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

An advantage to having been a "blogger" for some time now is that kind readers send me information for post ideas.

In other words, I don't have to struggle for things to write about.

Long time reader and online friend "Grannye" from Arkansas sent me this news item to awaken the treasure-hunter's-fire that is buried in just about all of us:

MURFREESBORO, AR – A rough diamond found at Crater of Diamonds last March, dubbed Silver Moon, was recently cut and appraised at $21,639.

Silver Moon was a 2.44 carat diamond found by Melissa and Kenny Oliver during the “supermoon” event last March. They had a jeweler in Fayetteville (Bill Underwood of Underwood's Fine Jewelry) cut the diamond down to a 1.06 carat, pear-shaped piece.

Crater of Diamonds State Park says that a rough diamond will typically lose between 40% and 60% of its weight in the cutting process...

This is an after and before shot of the Oliver's treasure find.

Photo Credit

Not bad, eh?

Crater of Diamonds State Park is comprised of about 37 acres of plowed field and, by surface area, is the eighth largest diamond-bearing deposit in the world.

Located in Southwest Arkansas, it is the world's only diamond-producing site open to the public, and an average of two diamonds are found each day at the park.

The best thing about Crater of Diamonds?

The park's policy is finder-keepers.

Bring your shovel, rake, and pail, because if you find a diamond, you keep it.

A few years ago, older boy and I spent some time digging at the famous diamond park.

We did not bring home any diamonds, but had lots of fun making a mess (anyone interested in that trip is welcome to go here for the old post).

I was smart enough to include time for additional digging at a quartz mine not too far away that is open to visitors as well--knowing that the odds were against us in finding a diamond.

With the quartz mine, we found so much, I had to pay extra to check the heavy bag of shiny rocks on the plane.

Good memories.

Thank you to Grannye for the article.

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Have a good weekend everyone.

My Signature

2012-02-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

On floor space between our dishwasher and cabinets.

By the children's art proudly displayed on our fridge.

If you were to stand in this one specific area for a few moments.

When the bright morning sun rays illuminate most of the kitchen.

At that time, if you look up, you'd be in for quite a sight.

Liquid stains on the ceiling.

Not many, but a few.

And, any is more than there should be.

No matter how many times we have scrubbed that ceiling, some of the stains remain.

I never would have guessed that a gallon jug of milk, dropped onto a floor from chest-high would create such an explosive force that milk would spray the ceiling and become a fixture.

So, sunny mornings from time to time, one or more of our observant kid crew will say, "Dad, look! I can still see that milk you spilled on the ceiling."

Gee, thanks.

When we moved into this house, several years ago it was new.

Milk displayed above appears to be my contribution as the "signature feature" that makes our house unique.

Now, we have others--the older kid's height chart marked with a pencil on a wall, trees and bushes that we planted outside to commemorate a birth or death, etc.

But, that milk residue is the most talked about one.

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So, do you have any "signature features" around your house, apartment, or residence?

One that you can boast about or are responsible for?

Hopefully, your contribution is much more appealing than mine.

Praying for the Stephanies

2012-01-31T05:01:00.000-05:00

While reading a 2006 article about difficulties the State of Michigan experiences in keeping track of runaway children under their care, I saw the story of Stephanie Draheim.

HCSO 2006

In 2001 at age 15, Draheim ran away from her foster care family in Michigan and fled to Florida.

After locating her in Florida, human services officials decided that she could stay there, and evidently some sort of arrangement was made where representatives from the two States would check on her well-being.

Unfortunately, this did not occur and both agencies lost track of her.

And later, Stephanie became a star in pornographic movies--some of the work believed to be done while she was still considered a "ward of the state."

The article provided background on the girl's (now woman) difficult life.

At two-years-old, her mom dropped off Stephanie and her young half-sister at their grandmother's house.

Stephanie's mom then told the grandmother that she was unable to care for them any longer:

...In a handwritten letter to Genesee County Family Court, Rushton, formerly of Montrose, said her daughter, Kristen Walton, called her in an "unstable condition in 1988, asking her to come immediately and take Draheim and her older half-sister back home with her.

"I flew the next morning and returned the same day with the understanding I would care for them until she could put her life in order," Rushton's letter said.

Neither her mother nor her biological or legal father did.

One caseworker wrote in a report that Draheim had "no contact whatsoever with her mother. ... No gifts ... no financial support ... no telephone calls."

Rushton, who could not be reached for this story, told the court that her granddaughter needed to know someone would be there for her.

"This baby needs love and stable living conditions," she wrote soon after taking Draheim in.

But Rushton, who had money problems, was later evicted from her own home. By 1996, Stephanie was living with her biological father, Robert Draheim, in a Flint mobile home park.

Court records indicate a caseworker started the process of taking her from her parents and putting her up for adoption after tips that Robert Draheim was leaving his daughter at home alone and driving drunk with Stephanie in his vehicle.

Like most children over age 11 in foster care, Stephanie Draheim was never adopted. She lived in six foster homes and ran away from at least two.

"She was intelligent, but the more intelligent they are, the more trouble they can get into," said Rodger Mead of Burton, one of the last foster parents Draheim stayed with...

Looking through some of the public arrest records for Florida, I saw that Stephanie was arrested at least seven times between 2006-2008.

The arrests were for driver's license infractions, assault, and fraud.

But I did not see any criminal charges in the last three-plus years.

This offers a glimmer of hope that she may have overcome the many obstacles she has faced since age two.

The article ends with Michigan authorities stating that they have made improvements to reduce the chance that others fall through the cracks in the future.

Let's hope so.

I am sure my life journey would have been much different had I walked in Stephanie's footsteps.

So my prayers are with the many "Stephanies," "Stephens", "Jaivers,"etc., that enter this world without stable family support systems.

As well as the organizations, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, trying to make an impact in young lives.

Because being a child and then teenager is difficult enough with parents/guardians who love and care about you--what an uphill climb it must be for those with very different realities.

Tuber of the Week #49: Diverse

2012-01-27T05:01:00.003-05:00

Diverse musical talent.

What is an example of an individual with diverse musical talent?

Hmmm...

How about this for diverse.

This musician performs the early 20th Century ragtime love song "Oh You Beautiful Doll" in a cello-piano duet with her mom.

And then dons a black t-shirt, shades, props her Fender amp in front of a dilapidated building, and blazes on her electric cello to the 1980s metal tune by the Scorpions "Rock You Like a Hurricane"--hair flying everywhere and all.

Yep, Rebecca Roudman is an excellent example of a diverse musical talent.

When not having fun with music videos, she is a member of the Oakland East-Bay Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony and also performs with the groups the Jazz Mafia and Dirty Cello.

Makes me wish I had learned to play the cello.

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Have a good weekend everyone.

Note: I got the idea for this post indirectly from reading talented writer and musician E.C. Stilson's book entitled The Golden Sky.

Unwanted Cooking

2012-01-26T00:02:00.007-05:00

I guess those looking for humorously dressed shoppers at Walmart did not expect to observe this:

Tulsa police arrest a woman for mixing chemicals to make meth inside a south Tulsa Walmart on Thursday.

Elizabeth Alisha Greta Halfmoon, 45, also known to go by Alisha Halfmoon, was arrested for endeavoring to manufacture meth at the 81st and Lewis store.

Police say surveillance video shows Halfmoon had been in the store since noon.

Six hours later security noticed she was acting suspicious, so they called Tulsa police...

”When I saw her she had just finished mixing sulfuric acid with starter fluid in a bottle,” says Officer Shelby.

They immediately got her, and the ingredients, out of the store before any of the shoppers got hurt.

No one was evacuated...

A responding officer didn’t know the bottle was active. As he was discarding the bottle the chemicals burned through the bottle and through his gloves.

Wow, I hope Ms. Halfmoon gets the help necessary to overcome her substance abuse issues.

But, I am not sure there is a more troubling drug than meth.

If the user is not dumping their homemade lab components on the side of the road, they are hanging out all day in Super Wallyworld (that is punishment enough for anyone, right?) trying their hand at "chemistry" as other shoppers buy groceries.

Now, tweakers have a new approach to overcome laws and enforcement efforts against their drug of choice: the meth shake-and-bake.

Not good for any of us.

Unfair

2012-01-24T04:05:00.004-05:00

What is the cruelest trick that nature can play on an elementary school student?

Well, I guess it is not so good for middle school or high school students either.

Give up?

A big storm that includes snow and ice.

One that drops its wintry load as predicted.

But does it on a SATURDAY or SUNDAY.

Poor weather that does NOT result in a school cancellation or delay.

By Monday morning, area roads are clear and school doors are wide open to welcome sleepy pupils.

This happened here last weekend--Saturday morning accumulation.

Of course, I get an earful from older boy about how unfair life is.

I respond with a typical show of my maturity. I throw several snowballs that strike his upper body.

Happy Saturday kiddo.

Rivera Report

2012-01-23T00:02:00.003-05:00

I offer this for a Missing Person Monday.
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Last week, authorities in Canton, GA released an independent report regarding their police department's handling of a missing person investigation conducted in December of 2011.

The case in question was that of seven-year-old Jorelys Rivera.

Photo Credit

Jorelys was lured into a vacant apartment (at the complex where she lived) by one of the complex's maintenance workers, Ryan Brunn. She was sexually assaulted and murdered there.

Brunn then dumped the child's body in a nearby trash compactor.

A few days after she was reported missing by her mother, authorities found the girl's body and arrested Brunn.

Brunn pleaded guilty in January, but was found dead last week in his prison cell after committing suicide.

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As with other cases, I would rather read the cited reports myself rather than depend on media summaries, and after some digging, I found what is entitled the Rivera Audit Report.

The consultant and author of the report is LaGrange (GA) Police Chief Louis Dekmar.

You can go here to read it (19 pages), but the following are three items that jumped out at me:

1) First Impressions

The responding officer told the consultant that, from the initial information, he believed the girl was a runaway. She had been missing more than once before.  Seemed like a runaway.  It appeared to be like many of the dozen or so other missing persons cases that the agency had handled previously that year. Those persons had all returned, and why would this one be any different?

In sum, the officers were looking for a what they believed to be a girl who had left by her own choice and not as someone who could be a potential crime victim.

At incident/potential crime scenes, first impressions are important, but keeping an open mind is essential.

As things aren't always as they seem.

When the young child was characterized as someone who had disappeared before, rather than leap to a label like "habitual runaway" (a seven-year-old habitual runaway makes little sense anyway), there is a more reasonable consideration.

A seven-year-old who goes missing regularly is one that likely suffers from lack of supervision.  Not having responsible eyes on her regularly would make her a more appealing target for an offender looking for an opportunity to abduct.

2) Supervision

The responding officer is fairly criticized for several shortcomings. Those include failing to follow departmental policy on securing the scene, and for not entering the missing girl's information into registries in a timely manner. But, I think the officer's supervisor should have shouldered this burden as well--even more so.

When the call was dispatched, the Canton Police Department was staffed with three officers and a supervisor--this was two officers below their minimum staffing level of five.

Because two of the on-duty units were out on other incidents at the time, the sergeant acted as the back-up officer on the missing girl call. So, the sergeant had to focus on other duties besides supervising the investigation of a missing girl.

In any event, it was the sergeant's job to ensure that the child's room was secured and processed, and that her information was entered into national databases in a timely manner--evidently this was not done.

The need for proper supervision does not vanish just because an agency is short-handed.

3) Location of the Command Post

When officers realized that this was going to be a prolonged incident involving multiple agencies, personnel established a command post to better coordinate activities. They chose the apartment complex's leasing office as their HQ. Unfortunately during the incident, the leasing office was open for business and security at the site was limited/non-existent.

Who was charged and convicted of killing the little girl?

Ryan Brunn was--a maintenance worker at the complex.

This is an individual who had access to the leasing office and in theory, the command post.

Could Brunn have overheard tips and information about the case?

Could he have learned what police actions were going to be and then moved evidence or planted false information to hinder officers?

You can see where this is a serious problem.

NOTE: The little girl was abducted and murdered prior to police arrival, so the issues discussed in the report were related to the investigation and not to actions taken to protect her. Nevertheless, Canton Police Chief Jeff Lance resigned shortly after the report's release--several parts of the review did not make him look professional.

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I hope the Canton Police Department and other departments will learn from this agency's mistakes, and where applicable, make changes to investigative practices as well as provide better training to improve services related to missing persons in the future.

My condolences to the family, and my appreciation to Chief Dekmar for his honest insights on what was a horrible crime.

Black Hills and Yellow Creeks

2012-01-20T05:01:00.003-05:00

Winter for us means our older son playing in basketball tournaments, and we make lots of drives to the Coal Region in January and February.

This is what it is like.

Note: None of the follow are my images--see the links for originals.
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Past the rolling hills and open fields where current New York Giants fullback Henry Hynoski used to bulldoze those who dared try and tackle him.

Photo Credit

Near the town that is on fire. I mean really on fire. Underground. Since 1962.

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Beyond America's largest free admission (pay per ride) amusement park--a place well off the beaten-path.

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Along side the mining operations that have dominated the landscape for so many years.

Photo Credit

Past the hidden secret of the ugliest side of unchecked strip mining: acid-mine drainage.

Photo Credit

Yes, that water is yellow.

We cross the bridge and enter coal town.

Photo Credit

Win or lose, we'll play two games, and then make the long drive home.

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Since we did win one, we will start our trek to Coal Town over again tomorrow.

And who said parents with kids don't get to see the world?

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Have a good weekend everyone.

No Thanks

2012-01-19T00:03:00.010-05:00

I am not certain about Jonathan Parisen's mental status, but I am surprised that the question of his gratitude is even an issue after this life-changing event:

The indie filmmaker saved from certain death after falling on the Staten Island Railway tracks repeatedly refused to thank the man who rescued him.

“I have nothing to say,” sniffed Jonathan Parisen, 40, at the 120th Precinct station house.

A Post reporter gave Parisen...several chances to say thanks to Steven Santiago, and he instead said, “No, no no.”

Parisen later made $2,500 bail on a criminal-trespass charge.

Santiago, 39, remains critically injured from the head wound suffered when he was hit by a train after pulling the drunken movie maker to safety at the New Dorp station at 1:30 a.m. Sunday...

Evidently, an intoxicated Mr. Parisen jumped down on the tracks to retrieve his shoe, fell, and was struggling to get up when Mr. Santiago assisted him and was struck.

After this NY Post article appeared, Mr. Parisen did issue two tweets about praying for his injured rescuer.

Whatever his motivations, the negative publicity will certainly not help his current film project entitled "Terrobot"; a film about a giant robot that attacks NYC.

Maybe I have a limited vision, but I don't think the disorderly robot-thing will have a large following.

My prayers are with Mr. Santiago.

A Zelda Mystery

2012-01-17T05:01:00.014-05:00

The text on the above Eukanuba advertisement image is:

She can swim to a life raft 1 1/4 miles offshore and swim back pulling it, and the thirty stranded passengers, with her.

Zelda. Half dog, half powerboat.

Bring out the extraordinary in your dog.

The ad had me hooked.

I wanted to know more about Zelda.

I went to Eukanubu's site to read additional about this amazing dog, and found...

Nothing.

I then turned to the trustworthy Google and searched for Zelda information.

Still nothing much; mostly repeats of the advertisement.

Finally, I found something useful.

Evidently, Eukanuba is partnering with others to create a new television show entitled "Extraordinary Dogs."

But after a brief search, I didn't see anything on Zelda--just a few clips and press releases on the program.

My message to company execs with this post?

Stirring consumer interest through an ad is fantastic, but it is only half of the process.

For those of us who want more on Zelda or whatever, always give it to us.

Because when you do, you'll have an "in" as to selling me your product or service.

Brianna Maitland: Reader Questions

2012-01-16T00:01:00.003-05:00

I am going to take a hiatus from the Nikki LaDue January death case.

My posts are beginning to get redundant, and I don't believe I am currently adding anything to the discussion.

When I have something to say that I believe is pertinent, I'll go back to it.

In contrast, the crime blogger over at Cold No More is discussing an excerpt from an interview conducted several years ago by a private detective who interviewed Nikki's husband Phil about the night he found her body.

It is a good read, and leaves a reader with lots of questions.

For today, I wanted to mention this missing persons case.
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A reader recently asked several questions regarding the Brianna Maitland disappearance case.

In 2004, then 17-year-old Brianna vanished from Vermont--authorities found her vehicle backed into an old abandoned farm house less than a mile from where she worked at a local inn/restaurant.

Maitland case guest blogger BobKat graciously helped to address three (all related) of the reader's questions:

QUESTIONS: How was it that employees saw her drive off in the car? Were they outside? If they were inside how was it that they were able to see her in her car outside?

ME: The specifics of the witness' statement (an employee) that discuss allegedly seeing Ms. Maitland leave the restaurant late that night were not released by investigators. The media's consensus is that he saw Brianna enter her vehicle just prior to midnight and drive away from the restaurant.

BOBKAT: The story goes a guy Brianna worked with was out having a smoke break. Where he was he could follow Brianna to her car, see she got in, and drove off.

BobKat also told me that he is not aware of the family speaking with this witness--as no additional details regarding his vantage point or other observations are known.

The witness' statement is essential in verifying the established timeline on the missing woman. If later it is learned that the employee was mistaken about what night he saw Brianna drive away from the restaurant and she did not leave around midnight, it could obviously open the door to other explanations as to her route and intentions the night/morning of her disappearance.

I'll have more questions and answers in a future post on the sad and strange case.
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For a list of all posts on the Maitland case (more than 20) that feature myself and/or BobKat, you can go here.

Also, for information on Investigation Discovery's recent segment on Brianna's Disappearance, go here.

Now that is Charitable

2012-01-13T05:01:00.004-05:00

I thought I would end the week on a positive.

I read lots of news, but did not see that this item attracted much attention.

Too bad.

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There are those who are charitable, and there are individuals like Stephanie Grant who deserve our utmost respect and admiration:

MIAMI, Fla. - A search that began on Craigslist.org has led Selina Hodge to a Miami operating room.

Hodge, 28, posted a plea online in July, looking for someone--anyone--to donate a kidney.

"That's when I turned to Craigslist, because I didn't know where else to turn to," Hodge said, adding that the first few responses arrived this summer.

Hodge received more than 800 responses from around the world -- one of which came from a woman who lives just miles away from her Palm Beach Gardens home.

"It just amazes me that somebody would actually lay down their life for a complete stranger," said Gina Evans, Hodge's mother.

Stephanie Grant, 23, was the person who saw Hodge's story on the news and decided to step in to help. Doctors say that is a very difficult decision to make.

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"Living donors are very unique individuals," said Dr. Linda Chen of the Jackson Memorial Hospital on the University of Miami Medical Center Campus, where Hodge and Grant arrived for transplant surgery Tuesday. "They are the true heroes in society because they are completely selfless and they have nothing to gain from the procedure and it's actually a gift of love."

Before any surgery, prospective donors and recipients must take a series of psychosocial and medical tests.

Hodge and Grant drove together to the Miami hospital several times to complete the evaluations. After months of waiting, the hospital gave the transplant the green light and early Tuesday, the women were prepared for surgery.

"It's never easy, and it's always difficult," said Chen.

Hodge and Grant will remain in the hospital for the next several days - possibly longer - to closely monitor their recovery.

So far, the families said, the women are doing fine.

Ms. Grant's selfless act should have been a national front page story.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the weekend.

Fashion

2012-01-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

To further diversify my blog, I thought today I would delve into the world of fashion.

Specifically, jewelry.

Now, I was thinking about a gift for a certain someone.

Something that was unique yet versatile.

Something natural yet made in America.

Like maybe these earrings.

Alaskan Moose Nugget Earrings

And I thought poop's best use was as fertilizer.

So, do you think the Mrs. would enjoy these earrings?

Or a better question may be: how long would I be banished to sleeping in the garage if I presented these treasures gift wrapped?
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This may have been my first and last fashion post.

Making Kids Laugh

2012-01-10T05:00:00.002-05:00

I enjoy making kids laugh.

One of my go-to gags around the house is sudden falling.

Do you remember the clumsy baker from Sesame Street?

The guy who climbs down a set of stairs, holding a dessert, and declares something like "Five Banana Creme Pies" before falling and launching the pies into the air?

My falling uses that model.

Well, but the Mrs. won't let me use real pies or cakes, so I usually employ papers and/or books. Wearing a hat that flies through the air as I crash to the floor is a valuable accessory as well.

Anyway, a sudden fall that includes paper, boxes, books, and a hat works for a giggle every time.

Because parents are supposed to be mature and not do such silly things.

I guess I ignored that memo.

This sight-gag also covers my klutziness in that when I really do trip and fall, everyone just assumes it is part of a clever routine I am rehearsing.

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. I know I could have made it big in vaudeville.

Criminal Injustice

2012-01-09T00:01:00.012-05:00

I am not finished with my next installment on the Nikki LaDue January case, so instead I offer this.
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In 2010, 19-year-old John Anczarski joined friends and began riding his bicycle across the United States.

Photo Credit

The former Eagle Scout, published poet, and honor society student was in his second year of an engineering program at the University of Colorado.

And, John and friends were not riding for personal glory.

Instead, they rode daily to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research through an initiative called "The Pink Pedal."

In June of that year, John's ride and life ended much too soon while cycling when he was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Gilbert Waconda in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico.

Because the collision occurred on tribal lands, tribal police investigated.

The accident scene was examined, witness statements were taken, evidence was collected, and the case file was given to a Federal prosecutor for review--since state authorities do not have jurisdiction on tribal lands.

But last week, a year-and-a-half after young Anczarski's death, Federal authorities announced that they would not pursue charges in the case.

Now, it would be unfair for me to criticize the US Attorney's Office for not prosecuting the felony charges against the driver since so little is known about the case.

Instead, I'll applaud the Tribal Police and thier local prosecuting attorney who made a meaningful announcement as well: they will pursue prosecution.

But, there is one problem.

A large problem.

Tribal authorities are only permitted to prosecute crimes as misdemeanors--meaning that the most punishment that Mr. Waconda could receive is one-year in the local jail.

Despite this, Laguna Pueblo Police Chief Michelle Ray had this to say to the victim's family:

"I want them to know that we haven’t stopped investigating this, we haven't stopped working on this, and something will happen with Mr. Waconda..."

Glad to hear that someone is fighting for victims and their families.

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What if he the driver is convicted for vehicular homicide and sentenced to a whopping 365 days in jail?

That would be a clear example of the American Criminal Injustice System.

Either way, I would hope that Mr. Waconda would become the most charitable individual in Laguna Pueblo.

That he grows from this experience and dedicates his life in service to others.

A terrible mistake that could be the starting point of something positive.

Cheering Cheaters

2012-01-06T00:01:00.006-05:00

While reading this Huffington Post article on accusations of cheating surrounding about 200 high school students in Texas, I noticed a Tweet that featured the story.

Huffington Post, like many websites, now shows a changing sample of persons who use Twitter to send the Post's news to others.

Anyway, this was the Tweet from a user named NotesforGirls:

NotesforGirls (01/03/12, 4:05 PM)
Dear Teachers, You call it cheating ... we call it teamwork. Sincerely, Students.

Insightful statement.

I think it says quite a bit about what others can expect from this person in all aspects of life.

Deceit.

Unfaithful romantic relationships.

Academic cheating.

Dishonesty with your employer and coworkers.

Lying to those who love you.

Looking to take the easy way out.

And best of all, encouraging others to do the same.

It does not sound like the most desirable way to live, eh?

And I believe I can discern all that from one Tweet.

At least the person behind NotesforGirls is smart enough to post anonymously--but I can still dismiss any other Tweet as something potentially deceitful.

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Have a great weekend everyone.

Will Never Lie Again

2012-01-05T05:02:00.022-05:00

In 2010, Lorene Turner's fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Jakadrien, ran away from home.

Recently, Dallas Police investigators helped her locate the missing teen.

Another case solved.

Except this one is different.

Really different.

Dallas Police detectives found Jakadrien in South America. Colombia to be exact.

She had been deported by US Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials to Colombia after being detained by authories in Houston.

Evidently, the young teen gave officers a fictious name--one that they matched to a 22-year-woman who was a Colombian native with active warrants.

Somehow, fingerprints or other identifiers were not compared.

And in 2010, Jakadrien, who does not speak Spanish, was flown to Colombia.

Based on the new information by Dallas police, federal officials investigated and learned that Colombia had issued the teen a "work card" and released her there.

The Colombian government has yet to return the teen, and is evidently still examining the case.

In the meantime, Ms. Turner waits and wonders how the system failed so miserably in this instance.

For her part in this fiasco, I doubt that Jakadrien will be telling more untruths anytime soon.

And for her, I hope she at least gets book and movie offers out of this ordeal.

What to Avoid in the Bathtub

2012-01-04T05:01:00.005-05:00

Note to self...

When playing hide-and-go-seek with kids, always remember to remove your socks prior to hiding in the bathtub.

Squishy cotton on the feet is never a good feeling.

Tuber of the Week #48: Crazy Train

2012-01-03T05:01:00.009-05:00

What is for certain?

No matter what generation, any song from the "teen years" that was associated with "extreme cool" and "rebellious" will be nothing more than future elevator music and corporate commercial jingles.

I thought this was very creative.*

People either enjoy the ad or hate it--which advertisers love, since it creates discussion.

I was curious to see how many takes it took to "get" this commercial, but I didn't see that information.

I am guessing more than a few.

*Note: The video is the extended version that is not usually shown on television.

A Resolution: Raven Run

2012-01-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

The youngest recovered from the coughs and sniffles so he was fresh for a stomach virus. Poor guy.

Anyway, I'll have my regular missing persons/crime series post next week.
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On January 1, 1975, Robert Kraft of Miami Beach, FL began keeping a New Year's resolution.

He had pledged that he would run eight miles daily for a year along the white sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.

Not a regular runner, Robert had been training for more than a year to achieve the eight-mile goal.

He had returned to Florida after an unsuccessful career as a songwriter--an experience that left him angry and depressed.

But on that January day Robert finished.

He found running to be good for his physical and emotional well-being.

Most of all, Robert wanted to teach himself discipline.

Then on January 2, he ran another eight miles. Despite weather, physical ailments, and other challenges, Robert met his goal--365 days of running eight miles.

So what did Robert complete on January 1, 1976?

An eight-mile run of course.

In fact, Robert never stopped. For more than 36 years he has run the same stretch of Miami Beach.

Every day. Eight miles.

A run that often includes a sunset.

For the first several years he ran alone.

But then others saw his daily commitment and asked if they could join him.

Robert creates a nickname for those who run with him--complete one and you are in the club.

The Raven Run was born.

Over 700 runners from more than 60 different countries and 48 states have completed at least one run with him.

Here is how one of his regulars describes the experience:

He runs eight miles on the beach in soft sand each afternoon. Beginning and ending at the same place...the sixth street lifeguard stand. What is so special about that?

...Perhaps more than the sheer doggedness of never failing to appear, of always finishing, is the manner in which this gentle man conducts himself. You see, this run takes place under the most beautiful skies....alongside the Atlantic Ocean...each day is a celebration of all time, of all days, each one special in itself, individual. ...

...It is as if by the act of running, Raven is drawing a portrait of each day, dignifying its grace, beauty, temporality, its thereness. Well, I guess you gotta be there. The thing is, it is not a race...this is a way of being, THERE...

So as we welcome a new year, I hope we all can commit ourselves to something positive.

Running or whatever.

Exercising our physical and mental well-being.

Fellowship with others.

And enjoying each day.

And the sunsets that we are blessed to see.

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This is the Raven Run group for New Year's Eve 2011.

Image Source

Blogger Holiday

2011-12-21T05:05:00.001-05:00

Kids bringing home colds.

Parents wiping noses, and then battling their own coughs and sniffles.

Snow flurries and colorful lights.

Early dismissals from school.

Yes, it must be close to Christmas.

As such, I'll be taking a blogger vacation until after the holidays.

I'll be back posting on Monday, January 2, 2012, but hope to visit lots of other blogs until then.

Thank you for stopping by in 2011, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays to all.

War Horse: The Inspiration

2011-12-20T05:01:00.001-05:00

I was able to grab and read my son's newly purchased copy of the book War Horse.

It is excellent (well developed characters, integrated historical research, and suspenseful), and is the story of Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, who is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the the first World War.

I am always interested in learning how authors develop a book idea.

The story behind the story.

Finishing War Horse in 1982, Michael Morpurgo's creative journey is an interesting one.

As a teacher, he decided to write books because he had difficulty finding works that interested his students.

Like: "if you want it done, do it yourself."

Reminds me of two other authors (J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) who were similarly motivated.

Years prior to that, Morpurgo listened to the stories of World War I veterans in the Devon Village of Iddesleigh (Britain).

A seed was planted--he wanted to create a story that would help others understand World War I, but target it to a children's audience.

Morpurgo wrestled with idea, but no approach seemed to work.

Until he observed this:

Then one evening he was at the farm he and his wife run in Devon, where poor children come to work with animals...

He was passing through the stable yard when he saw one of the children, a troubled boy who had a bad stutter and had not uttered a word in school in two years, standing head to head with a horse.

“He started talking,” Mr. Morpurgo recalled.

“And he was talking to the horse, and his voice was flowing. It was simply unlocked. And as I listened to this his boy telling the horse everything he’d done on the farm that day, I suddenly had the idea that of course the horse didn’t understand every word, but that she knew it was important for her to stand there and be there for this child.”

That became Joey’s role in “War Horse” — observer and witness as much as protagonist.

The book was a limited success, but in 2007, the work was adapted to a play that was a hit in London.

In 2010, the production moved to New York City, and a movie-version of the project premieres this Christmas Day.

I wonder if Mr. Morpurgo ever dreamed that the famous director Steven Speilberg would be moved to tears after seeing the play version of his work, and quickly purchase the rights to put his idea on the big screen?

Not bad for a farmer, teacher, and author with an idea.

A creative idea that he would not let slip away.

And that is the story behind the story.

This is the trailer for War Horse...

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part XV

2011-12-19T00:03:00.004-05:00

On my last LaDue January case post, super blogger and writer Stina Lindenblatt from Seeing Creative asked if the case was closed and could it be reopened.

Yes, Ms. LaDue January's case was closed and labeled a suicide after a brief investigation. Authorities do not like to reopen cases, but it does happen if information is received that places considerable doubt on the initial cause of death determination.

Unfortunately, appeals to local and state officials to take a second look at this death case have been unsuccessful.
_________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

Two primary reports by law enforcement exist that describe the death scene of Nikki LaDue January.

I previously covered, Sgt. Willie Davis' (the first responder) report, and now I'll focus on the lead investigator, Detective Tom Pustay of the Pass Christian Police Department.*

*Note: Det. Pustay no longer works in law enforcement, and is currently serving a multi-year prison sentence for the sexual abuse of a minor.

The following are excerpts from Det. Pustay's report.

STATEMENT #1

"On Monday, July 29, 2002, I received a call to go to Gulf Palm Villa Condos Unit 303 in reference to a suicide."

Unlike first responders, investigators are less likely to arrive at a fluid homicide scene. Along with contacting the detective, the dispatcher or person at the scene would provide him/her (him in this case) with a summary of the situation. The "it looks like a suicide" theory would have been introduced as soon as the detective was told about the case.

As with anyone, it sometimes can be difficult to think outside the box when a theory, backed with supporting evidence, is initially proposed.

STATEMENT #2

"There is post mortem lividity in her legs and the palms of her hands."

Post mortem lividity or livor mortis is the reddish purple discoloration of the skin due to the settling of thickened blood. In a body found supine or face-up, one expects to see livor mortis in the posterior parts of the body--while the opposite is true: face-down, lividity in the anterior parts.

Livor mortis can help investigators determine if a body has been moved after death.

STATEMENT #3

There was a Sterling .380 caliber pistol serial number B064298 partially under her left thigh on the chair. I secured and cleared the pistol.

Pistols at a crime scene should be "secured" immediately. When a pistol is "cleared" is dictated by the situation. Unless the firearm presents an immediate danger, like when it is in an area hostile to police, it should not be handled and cleared until it is being photographed and then processed. During the clearing process, an investigator would then note the number of rounds, whether the safety was on or off (if applicable), if a bullet was found in the chamber, the type of load, etc.

Strangely, these specifics about the bullets, load, and gun were not included in this report. One has to review the coroner's summary to learn that the pistol's safety was evidently found "off" and the hammer back.

---------------

I'll be back next time to discuss Det. Pustay's notations on blood spatter at the scene.

The spatter appears to be one of the many problems encountered in matching information contained in the reports to the other evidence available in the case.
__________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Unexplained Phenomenon

2011-12-16T00:02:00.002-05:00

After several years of testing my craftiness as a Dad playing indoor hide-and-seek, I recently had a startling revelation.

For some unexplained reason, it is not comfortable trying to access places of household concealment like it used to be.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I mean the feeling that the best places (e.g. under the beds, in the backs of junk-filled closets, inside curtain-covered windows, etc.) have shrunk over the years since I started hiding in similar spots in my childhood home.

It is crazy.

Like our house is getting smaller.

Could the beds in our home have somehow moved closer to the ground so that my body does not fit underneath?

I am not sure if you all have a sensible explanation, but I am favoring that alien invaders armed with shrink rays are responsible.

Any ideas?

Wait, maybe I don't want to here them.

____________________________________________

Have a good weekend everyone.

Juniata College Admin: Explaining to Do?

2011-12-14T05:01:00.001-05:00

I usually take Wednesday off from posting, unless something really bothers me.

Like this story.
__________________________________

It looks like officials at Penn State are not the only administrators that have some explaining to do regarding the activities of accused child molester and former coach Jerry Sandusky:

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky continued to coach football at Juniata College despite being denied an official coaching position there, CBS 21 News Sports Director Jason Bristol has learned.

Two Juniata College football players tell CBS 21 News that Sandusky was actively involved with the Eagles program in 2010, even though his volunteer coaching application was rejected because a background check revealed he was being investigated at a Clinton County High School...

The players' stories were then verified by another, independent Juniata College football player who was not previously aware of their claims...

Sandusky is charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse and prosecutors allege he met his victims through The Second Mile, a charity he founded in 1977 to help at-risk children. Sandusky, 67, denies being a pedophile and has vowed to fight the charges...

Sandusky's presence in the press box wasn't a one time thing, either. The players say he was there during every game of the season--even at home games, despite the school's former athletic director reiterating to the head coach that Sandusky was to have no connection with the team.

Juniata College said it has no documented evidence that Sandusky was in the team's press box, except for a sighting at Franklin and Marshall College on September 25, 2010.

Both players can't understand why.

"How do you not know he's here?" asked the second player in amazement. "It's not like the press box is some closed-off area. You just turn your head (around) and look up (into the windows)...you see all the coaches in the press box."

The players say Sandusky would wait in the press box until after the game and would leave once the stadium had cleared.

Juniata College spokesperson John Wall said that Juniata College senior leadership gave then-head coach Carmen Felus "three distinct orders" that Sandusky was not to be associated with the program. He added those officials were not fully aware of Sandusky's involvement in the program until the following semester.

Wall said that the school followed proper protocol and the "breakdown" in communication falls on Felus.

CBS 21 News has repeatedly tried to contact Felus, who is now the co-offensive coordinator at UT Martin in Martin, Tennessee.

The school's former athletic director Larry Bock, who is one of the top volleyball coaches of all-time and now heads the program at Navy, confirmed he reiterated the college's stance to Felus after the F&M incident in September 2010. He recalled that he never spoke to Sandusky directly -- Felus told him he would do it...

So, let me understand this.

College officials learned that volunteer coach Jerry Sandusky failed a standard background investigation conducted on anyone wanting to work with young people.

They then forbade Sandusky from working for the team, yet he evidently continued to assist behind the scenes.

Then the athletic director received a report during the season that Sandusky was still working with the team, reminded the head coach of the previous ruling, but Sandusky secretly continued his association through the entire 2010 season?

Wow, talk about colossal failure in oversight.

Why bother with the background check then?

Here are three actions that should occur immediately based on the serious allegations:

1) Juniata College should launch a public internal investigation

Having a spokesperson insist that administrators followed "all protocols" and blame a former coach is simply not adequate considering the charges facing Sandusky. The College's liability is already under scrutiny. Meanwhile, at least some of their current student athletes are fearful (they insisted on being anonymous when talking to the reporter) and evidently have much more details regarding Sandusky's involvement with the team--that is when college officials stop making excuses and get around to asking about it.

2) The NCAA should initiate an immediate investigation

The governing body and the public need to know why an individual who had failed a required background check was permitted to have contact with Juniata College's student athletes for at least several months.

3) The University of Tennessee at Martin should immediately place Coach Carmen Felus (the former Juniata coach) on administrative leave

Felus's former employer insists that he was solely responsible for allowing Sandusky to continue working with the team despite orders against it. If he did ignore the results of the required background check, he should face harsh disciplinary action from the NCAA--depending on the outcome investigation, I'd be comfortable with banishment from coaching.

Also, I would recommend that the Naval Academy place current coach Larry Bock, Juniata's former athletic director, on administrative leave as well until his involvement in this scandal can be determined.

In sum, the horrific allegations of child sexual abuse at Penn State and Syracuse should be a wake up call for other institutions that may have failed to or failed to adequately protect students and/or children.

The NCAA should be taking action and investigating sooner rather than later at places like Juniata College; an institution where an individual who should not have had been a volunteer coach was permitted to do so.

College and university administrators should be held accountable for management of these volatile situations.

The institutions that did act appropriately should be championed, while corrective and/or punitive action should be taken against those where skeletons are found hidden in closets.

To the NCAA and Juniata College: Please do the right thing today.

Marie Hanson Update

2011-12-13T05:05:00.002-05:00

I have been holding this post for awhile, and needed to publish it.

As such, I'll be back with the series on Nikki LaDue January next week.
_____________________________________________________

Missing person Marie Hanson's remains were found by authorities on October 9, 2011.

Photo Credit

Her body and jewelry were located buried in Skamania County, WA--about 1/2 mile from where she was last camped at the Rainbow Gathering's annual event.

Initial information from the autopsy was inconclusive as to a cause of death, and full toxicology reports were not available yet.

As one would expect, determining how the woman died is essential in clarifying the reported suspicious behaviors of the man and his girlfriend that Ms. Hanson attended the event with.

Because, if authorities cannot categorize the death as a crime, it will likely be closed (pending any additional information) and forgotten--similar to what was done in the missing person and then death case of Sgt. Patrick Rust.

So, though the "missing person" portion of the case has ended, the family's pain continues as they wonder whether someone got away with murder.

Picking Up Butch

2011-12-12T00:01:00.003-05:00

Today (well technically this weekend), I am guest blogging over at police officer Momma Fargo's place.

Initial feedback from the post is that I am making people cry.

Making people cry?

I have not been accused of that since the incident that led to the Mrs. revoking my permissions to choose my own wardrobe color combinations: After a particularly bad shirt and short selection, a teary-eyed Mrs. declared something about me being "fashion clueless."

Well anyway, you are welcome to jump over to Momma Fargo's blog here and read my guest post on the topic of youth motivation.

I call it Picking Up Butch; after an inspirational tradition at one college in Vermont.

Hope to see you there, and not crying, of course.

Idea Thieves

2011-12-09T00:02:00.001-05:00

Recently, the Mrs. has been frustrated with those in authority at her work who steal ideas and claim them as their own.

I tell her not to worry for three reasons:

1) Fountains versus Showers

Creative employees are fountains of ideas while the intellectual property thief is like a passing rain shower. The person who developed the idea will likely have two or three more waiting in the wings. After the initial concept is in place, a fresh direction can then be pursued.

In contrast, the idea thief will ride the one "shower" initiative for as long as possible, and then be dependent on swiping another idea to continue impressing others.

2) Implementing is a Different Story

Initially, the idea thief will bask in the glory of something unique, but when it is time to implement the concept, he/she may struggle. When one did not develop a concept, as in the case of the idea thief, he/she will likely not have the same attachment, understanding, or passion necessary to transform the plan into action.

3) And the Veil Will be Lifted

Sooner or later, the idea thief will be discovered. Good supervisors learn who is dedicated, who is a team-player, and will eventually identify an employee solely interested in performing the least amount of work to gain individual recognition. In general, executives want to surround themselves with the best--the sooner those of questionable character are weeded out the better.

So, I told the Mrs. to hang in there and keep churning out the good ideas.

And with patience, one will be rewarded in watching the idea thieves fall from grace.

---------------------------

Have you ever had this problem: when someone else was taking credit for your hard work and creativity?

Lacey Gaines Remembered

2011-12-07T05:00:00.006-05:00

On December 7, 2009, Lacey Claire Gaines, a 20-year-old mother of one, was found murdered inside the kitchen of her Justice, IL apartment.

Reportedly, police found no evidence of forced entry, robbery, or sexual assault.

The victim was found strangled--an electrical cord wrapped around her neck and her throat cut.

Thankfully, her young son was visiting a relative at the time of death.

Authorities believe that Ms. Gaines knew her attacker, but no arrests have been made and the crime remains unsolved.

Information regarding this case can be sent to:

Detective R. Plotke
7800 S Archer Rd, Justice, IL 60458
Ph: 708-458-2191, Email: rplotke@justicepolice-il.org

As the holidays traditionally bring families together, please remember those who have empty places at their tables.

Loved ones who are noticeably absent.

My prayers are with the family and friends of Lacey Gaines on this day--the anniversary of her death.

A Teaching Moment?

2011-12-06T05:00:00.002-05:00

Is this what is referred to as a teaching moment?

MURRAY, Utah (AP) — At 7-foot-6, former NBA center Shawn Bradley needs just about everything custom-made, from clothes and chairs to countertops and doorways.

It's why he was bummed when his custom-build Trek road bicycle, complete with an 80 centimeter carbon fiber-aluminum frame, was stolen last Friday...

A random search of a residence by state probation and parole officials turned up the bike Thursday afternoon in the town of Murray, where Bradley has a home, police said. Joshua Carter, 34, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and felony theft, Murray police Sgt. Brian Wright said...

So, you, Mr. Thief, stole a custom bicycle owned by someone who is almost 8-feet tall?

I am certain police knew they had the right address when they encountered Mr. Carter using a step ladder to reach the top of the Trek, and saw him pounding on the bike seat with a wrench screaming: "Of all the bikes to jack in this city, and I gotta pick one that belongs to Goliath."

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part XIV

2011-12-05T00:02:00.004-05:00

One corrected programming note--tonight's episode (December 5, 2011) of Disappeared featuring the Brianna Maitland missing person case, will be shown on Investigation Discovery at 9 pm ET/PT rather than the 10 pm that I stated last week.

You can see the trailer here.

I hope it generates much discussion and new leads.

Ok, now for my next post on the death of Nikki LaDue January.
________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

...Nikki would have had to hold the gun at an awkward 30 degree angle to the side of her head (wrist bent forward, with the gun tilted slightly downward by around 10 degrees (even more awkward).

Keep in mind that the gun has a 3.5” barrel length and her hand would be this distance away.

Keep in mind that the gun used was a double action only gun (DAO), with a reported notoriously long and heavy trigger pull.

Keep in mind that Nikki would have to have done this with her head turned more than 50 degrees to the right.

Get a protractor and try to mimic these angles . . . they are uncomfortable (un-natural) and would have made pulling the trigger difficult at best!

One additional note to the author's above discussion of trigger-pull--evidently Nikki was also recovering from arm/hand surgery related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the weeks prior to her death. This surgery could have impaired her ability to pull the trigger; certainly making it more logical for her to choose another method of suicide that did not rely on finger strength.

In sum and with the information provided and inferred, The Logical Engineer argues that it is difficult to believe that a Ms. LaDue January would choose to commit suicide in this manner.

He/she even offers a different theory.

One that involves homicide.

The post is technical, but is an important part of this sad story.

It offers a foundation for others to challenge/enhance.

In this continuing tale of a deceased mother prematurely labeled by authorities as a suicide.

You can read The Logical Engineer's full post by going here.
__________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Seasoned Rather than Old

2011-12-02T00:04:00.002-05:00

The following is an excerpt from a conversation between my wife and our kindergarten-aged daughter.
__________________________________________________

THE MRS: Now Sissy, your father will be there tomorrow to watch your school's musical to honor grandparents. I am sorry, but I can't make this one. Are you ok with that?

SISSY: Sure mommy. Since daddy does not have any hair, everyone will think he is a grandpa anyway.

Kids.

On second thought and with a "when dealt lemons, make lemonade" attitude, perhaps I can capitalize on this.

Hmm. Since I am now eligible for the senior citizen discount, anyone want to join me for lunch, I'm buying?

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Have a good weekend everyone.

What Should I Have Been Thinking?

2011-11-30T05:01:00.007-05:00

What should have I been thinking when I read the following?

A Bronx cop allegedly fudged crime stats by undervaluing a stolen iPad – effectively downgrading a felony case into a misdemeanor.

Police Officer Damian McIntosh, assigned to the 52nd Precinct in Bedford Park, underpriced the stolen electronic tablet, it was revealed today during an NYPD departmental trial held at police headquarters...

Well, that law enforcement in some jurisdictions are pressured to limit the number of felonies reported so that their town/city appears to be more of a safe place to live and work.

Instead this is going through my mind:

The item in question is an iPad made by Apple and the officer's name is really McIntosh?

What are his supervisors' names: Sgt. Granny Smith and Lt. Honeycrisp?

Yes, it is official, I need to be going to bed much earlier.

-------------------------

Happy Wednesday everyone...

Brianna Maitland Update

2011-11-29T04:01:00.003-05:00

The Briana Maitland missing person case is one that I have spent countless hours researching and writing about.

Unfortunately, the case remains unsolved.

I am happy to announce that Investigation Discovery will air an hour-long episode of Disappeared about Brianna Maitland on Monday, December 5, 2011, at 9 pm.*

*Note: I corrected the time to 9 pm.

Producer Christopher Gidez and his associates have produced many quality programs regarding those missing and I am proud to have conversed with him multiple times as he studied this sad yet fascinating disappearance.

I was also thrilled to hear that two regulars here, guest blogger BobKat and content provider P., were able to make significant contributions to Mr. Gidez in his telling of Brianna's story.

It has been awhile since I wrote on the Maitland case, so for anyone interested, you can go here for my series.

This is the show's trailer...

Also, the following is a summary of the case:

On March 19, 2004 around 11:30 pm, 17-year-old Brianna Maitland left her dishwashing job at the Black Lantern Inn (now called the Montgomery House Bed and Breakfast) in Montgomery, VT.

It has been reported that Brianna had been invited to stay for a late dinner with coworkers, but she stated she was tired and had to work early the next day at a second job.

Maitland’s apartment was in a neighboring town and she was supposed to be headed there that night.

When she did not arrive that evening or the next day, her roommate was not specifically worried and had assumed she was staying back at her parent’s house. After not hearing from her for several days, the roommate called Maitland’s parents and it was then that they realized that she was missing.

Unknown to the family at the time, Maitland’s four-door green 1985 Oldsmobile had been found abandoned at an old abandoned farmhouse property--a location about a mile from the Black Lantern Inn.

Ms. Maitland's Car on the Morning of March 20, 2004

State police towed the vehicle on March 20 thinking it was related to a hit-and-run collision.

The Oldsmobile was found with minor rear end damage backed into an old barn on the property. Inside the vehicle were two of Maitland’s uncashed paychecks. Further, some of her belongings were found on the ground outside the car.

The family and investigators reported that she left behind her contact lenses, clothing, medicine, driver’s license, and other personal effects.

Authorities and volunteers searched the area of the farmhouse and other places in the region multiple times, but Brianna was never found.

------------------------

If you have an opportunity to watch, I think the Disappeared episode on Brianna Maitland will be worth your time.

My prayers are with Brianna's family in hopes that new information will be produced.

Syracuse University the next Penn State?

2011-11-28T00:01:00.047-05:00

I'll be back next week with my series on the Nikki LaDue January case.

If you want more on that case, blogger Holliston over at Cold No More is offering analysis and interviewing some of Nikki's friends.

In the meantime, I offer this.
______________________________

Late Sunday evening, it was announced that Syracuse University had terminated the employment of associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine as authorities continue to investigate allegations of child molestation against him.

Fine, who is 65-years-old, was in his 36th season at his alma mater, and had been placed on administrative leave after two alleged victims came forward. The two, adults now, had previously served for years as ball boys for the team.

When a third victim contacted police and an alleged tape recording between one of the victims and Laurie Fine (Bernie's wife) surfaced (excerpts from the transcript are here), university officials decided to act and fire Coach Fine.

Now, Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim, and ardent supporter of Fine, has egg on his face.

When the charges initially surfaced, Boeheim immediately criticized the two reported victims calling them "liars" to the media.

Boeheim's poor decision may be the equivalent of former Penn State president Graham Spanier's public relations blunder when Spanier insinuated that the victims in the Jerry Sandusky case were all lying in his media release.

As an administrator, issuing a statement that characterizes victims as "liars" is never a prudent move; especially silly when tempered speech should be used at the start of the investigation with so many unknowns.

In addition, an institution would not want to discourage other potential victims who might speak with authorities (as Boeheim's comments were seen as doing).

When will these folks learn the old adage: it is better to be thought of a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt?

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T05:00:00.002-05:00

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

I'll be away from the blog until Monday.

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Lucky Charms

2011-11-22T05:00:00.002-05:00

I am very disappointed that General Mills prints only limited nutritional information on the boxes of their top-selling Lucky Charms cereal.

Don't they know that I have a preschool-age son who carefully picks and then eats the colorful marshmallows out of his morning cereal--leaving just the bland oats floating in milk?

I want to know:

What is the nutritional value of 15+ mini-marshmallows?

You know, so that I can use reason to prevent this from happening in the future.

What?

You don't like my tone in this post?

Do I sound like a disgruntled father who just ate a slightly used bowl of Lucky Charms cereal minus the best part: the sweet marshmallows?

Yeah, ok I confess--I am busted.

Rebecca Zahau and Nikki LaDue January

2011-11-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

On July 13, 2011, Adam Shacknai reportedly found Rebecca Zahau (also known as Rebecca Nalepa) hanging from a balcony at the home of her boyfriend Jonah Shacknai in Coronado, CA. He stated he cut her down, and immediately contacted authorities.

Ms. Zahau was found nude with her hands and feet bound, and a blue t-shirt was stuffed into her mouth.

Sadly and only two days before at the house, Jonah Shacknai's young son Max was severely injured after what appeared to be a fall from the home's second floor banister. Max passed away in the hospital on July 16.

With Ms. Zahau's death, police launched a comprehensive investigation.

The scene was secured and evidence was collected.

Precise measurements were recorded regarding the placement of the body, and other items related to the death scene.

Potential witnesses were identified and interviewed.

San Diego Medical Examiner Jonathan Lucas performed an autopsy.

Forensic and toxicology tests were conducted.

Investigators analyzed phone records, reviewed messages, and conducted forensics on two computers found in the home.

And after about two months of investigating Ms. Zahau's death, officials from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department classified it as a suicide.

-----------

Ms. Zahau's family does not believe that their loved one took her own life. They maintain a website entitled Justice for Rebecca in the hope that new information on the case will be produced.

In the meantime, the family paid for a second autopsy to be conducted by distinguished pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht. Dr. Wecht stated that he found evidence of blunt trauma to Ms. Zahua's head, and believes the death should be classified as undetermined.

This weekend, the family's attorney, Anne Bremner, announced that a computer forensics report produced for police as part of the investigation indicated that one of the computers found at the house contained evidence that Asian pornography including bondage had been viewed the day before Ms. Zahau's death.

The computer analysis also found no indication that Ms. Zahau had researched anything related to suicide prior to her death.

What does all of this mean?

Well, Sheriff Bill Gore is open to any new information. Investigators can then take possible leads and compare them with the detailed case files to see if they support or contradict what is believed to be true regarding the case.

What is the complete opposite of the comprehensive Rebecca Zahau investigation?

The case of Nikki LaDue January of course.

New information in the January case cannot be compared to Pass Christian Police's investigative file.

The file contains no autopsy report. No detailed measurements related to the locations of the body, the gun, shell casings, or bullet fragments.

No forensic or toxicology reports.

Not even the gun or other key pieces of evidence can be located for testing.

So, despite frustration with the results of the Rebecca Zahau investigation, the family can still hope that a fresh set of eyes from the State Attorney's Office would result in a different classification other than suicide.

For those wanting a fresh set of eyes for the Nikki LaDue January case, they know that a comprehensive case file does not exist.

That a classification change is only possible if the case is reopened--so that new information could be developed to compensate for what was not investigated previously.

Opposite indeed.
_________________________

All posts on the LaDue January case can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Diaper Thieves

2011-11-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

There are certain things new parents should not have to worry about:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — The cooing and cuddling with a newborn is among the most precious memories any parent can have. But for Megan McGinnis, that peaceful moment was terribly interrupted when her little girl of only a week became a victim of crime.

“We were like, ‘Why are my dogs in the house?’ And then the door was open and then I saw all our stuff gone … our TV, everything,” McGinnis explained.

Thieves broke into the family’s St. Paul home around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. It happened just a short time after Megan and baby Bria had driven to a relative’s home.

McGinnis said they were gone only briefly, saying, “An hour, just an hour.”

By the time the mother and infant returned home, the burglars had carted off a big screen television, several electric guitars and a backpack filled with McGinnis’ college textbooks.

But the worst discovery was when McGinnis walked into the baby’s room. Ten large boxes of diapers and a closet full of baby clothes were all gone.

“This is what really hurts me — stealing stuff from my baby … really bad, because she’s my world,” added Megan, while fighting away the tears.

On Wednesday afternoon, the tears softened slightly when she and her grandmother visited the office of “Birthright,” a local non-profit that supports the needs of expectant mothers.

McGinnis was given an emergency supply of diapers, baby jumpers and blankets. The basket full of goods is just enough to help the family get by.

“It’s nice that we can help out,” said Mary Ann Gruba with Birthright.

Though the clearance rate for burglaries in the US is low (around 14% in the US annually), I sure would like for police to apprehend these diaper thieves.

When they do, I'll bring the tar if someone else can provide the feathers.

Occupy

2011-11-17T00:01:00.003-05:00

What can blogs offer us regarding the controversial Occupy Wall Street/Occupy (Insert City) movements?

Perspective.

So, what is it like for a student organizer in New York City?

MellyMac recently started a blog to share her thoughts. It is admirable to see someone explore their leadership potential.

What is it like for a veteran urban police officer?

It is just part of their job.

An excellent resource for the law enforcement view is the poetic and patient RainDog. He wrote several short posts on the Occupy in his jurisdiction: Observation #1, Observation #2, and Observation #3.

I always appreciate RD's wisdom and compassion.

Finally, what is it like for a young person who works in a Seattle neighborhood that has been a home base for one of the Occupy groups?

This blogger offers insights.

_______________________

In sum, blogs can offer unique perspectives often overlooked by the national media.

A Special Message for Dads

2011-11-15T05:01:00.002-05:00

Sunday afternoon.

Mom is off on an afternoon shopping trip, while I am at home with the energetic kiddos.

Dad will need all of his patience.

His creative energies.

And his peace-making skills.

But it is Sunday--pro football is on television.

How can a dad mediate those complex child disputes and promote physical activity, yet still see a touchdown or two?

Hire a skilled negotiator? A personal trainer?

Bribe the kids?

No.

One retro tool provides a father with a much needed solution.

A one-size-fits-all remedy.

Oh yeah: Socker or Sock'em Boppers.

Jab.

Pow.

Smack.

Three kids and three pairs of Boppers.

Dad sees some NFL action.

And the munchkins get some good exercise resolving their disputes.

Hospitals should issue these to new dads with instructions to open in three years.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part XIII

2011-11-14T00:02:00.003-05:00

This post will finish selected statements recorded by Pass Christian Police Sgt. W. Davis in his report on the death of Nikki LaDue January...
_______________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

Note: The following statements appear in the order as recorded by Sgt. Davis.

STATEMENT #8 (in reference to a shell casing being found by a maintenance man in the condo's swimming pool)

"When reporting officer looked up at the condo's (sic) reporting officer noticed Nicole's balcony was just above the pool."

"Just above the pool" appears to be a relative term. Those familiar with the layout of the Nikki's complex state that the swimming pool is three stories below and between 20 and 40 feet from the ledge of the balcony. According to authorities, the deceased woman died near instantly after shooting herself once in the head while seated at the wall away from the balcony's ledge.

As such, the ejected casing would have had to fly from the handgun, and with the assistance of a bounce or wind, fall the required distance away from the railing to reach the pool.

Add another to the list of occurrences in this case that would be listed as possible, but not probable.

STATEMENT #9

"...She heard a loud popping sound at approximately 0130 and did not know what it was. She stated that a few days ago she heard some popping sounds but that it was kids popping fireworks."

Sgt. Davis talked to this witness and another who stated that they heard a loud sound around 1:30 am. He also indicated that the witness described it as a windy night/morning--a factor that could support the location of the metal casing described above.

For follow-up activities, comparing Nikki's phone records to what was going on around 0130 would have been at the top of the list--but since the case was deemed a suicide, no follow-up work was conducted by police.

STATEMENT #10 (in reference to what Nikki's babysitter is alleged to have told police)

"...She stated that she baby sat Zachary last night for Nichole and that everything seemed fine except that Nichole seemed very energetic. She stated that Nichole dropped Zachary off at her house at approximately 1230 hours and returned later than she planned. She picked up Zachary, talked for a minute, and left. She seemed fine except for being energetic."

Remember the coroner's report indicating that Nichole's body contained amounts of alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines?

Having someone describe Nikki hours before her death as "energetic" would certainly support authorities in their belief that she was under the influence of substances that would have impaired her judgment (thus, making her more likely to take her life).

A private investigator hired by the family reinterviewed everyone mentioned in the police reports--including the babysitter described by Sgt. Davis. She recounted what she told to police that morning in their very brief exchange, but did not characterize Nikki as "energetic"--rather as sorry that she was late in retrieving her son.*

Strangely, the babysitter denied that Nikki was more active than usual as well as ever saying "energetic."

What if the babysitter said "apologetic" but it was misheard by Sgt. Davis?

There is a big difference between "apologetic" and "energetic."

Recording a witness' statement accurately is essential. When there is a mistake, it can make or break a case.

In this investigation, the detective evidently digested Sgt. Davis' conversation with the babysitter as another factor that supported suicide, when in essence it did not.

*Note: A neighbor phoned the babysitter about Nikki's death and she drove to the scene that morning. She stated that she spoke only briefly to an officer who was in his car (evidently Sgt. Davis), and provided him with her phone number and information. She stated that no one contacted her for a detailed interview.
______________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

More on the Penn State Scandal

2011-11-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Since Sunday's initial post on The Pennsylvania State University child sex scandal, I have lots more to say--finding the time to research a post properly has been the issue on this fluid story.

Note: For more background on the case, you can go here.

As such, I am using Saturday, my usual blogging-day-off, for a follow-up.

First, I wanted to recognize JJ from Phila as he was the first person (that I am aware of including local and national media) to post the connection between former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's arrest and the unsolved missing persons case of former District Attorney Ray Gricar.

Despite blogging being his unpaid side-job, JJ continues to provide fresh insights to Gricar's strange disappearance.

Second and in general with Penn State, when the allegations initally surfaced that involved football coaches, the athletic director (Tim Curley), a vice president (Gary Schultz), and the university's president (Graham Spanier), all of these folks should have immediately been placed on administrative leave (the VP retired and the athletic director were).

With these persons on leave, university executives could have then started to manage the crisis. Instead, the institution's leadership, through the board of directors, was not seen as doing anything until voting to dismiss President Graham Spanier and legendary Head Coach Joe Paterno on Wednesday night.

Rather than speculating as to what Joe Paterno knew or did not know, I selected several quotes/summaries of testimony by the folks involved in this situation to examine:

1) The President (now former)

"...With regard to the other presentments, I wish to say that Tim Curley and Gary Schultz have my unconditional support. I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee.

Tim Curley and Gary Schultz operate at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and compassion. I am confident the record will show that these charges are groundless and that they conducted themselves professionally and appropriately."

--An excerpt from Graham Spanier's initial statement

I think this statement will be used by journalism classes in the future as an example of "What Not to Say."

Dr. Spanier failed to grasp that by saying the charges are "groundless," he implies that those who testified to the grand jury are lying; including the young victims of the alleged abuse.

This is not the type of message the leader of a nationally respected institution should be providing on a case that centers around child sexual assaults.

Since these two administrators were charged criminally, the statement should have been limited to "this is a serious matter" and "cooperating fully with authorities" and "this university is initiating it's own inquiry."

2) The Head Coach (now former)

"If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers."

-- Coach Joe Paterno

Coach Paterno could be referring to "scores of professionals" involved with Sandusky at The Second Mile foundation.

But, what if he is saying that Sandusky had received professional counseling previously for what was characterized by others as multiple inappropriate behaviors around children?

3) The Graduate Assistant

No direct quote, but in sum from the Grand Jury's Report--then 28-year old graduate assistant Michael McQueary (now a full-time coach on the team) testified that he saw Jerry Sandusky molesting what appeared to be a ten-year old boy in the shower at a Penn State football facility. He fled the shower area, called his father, and then reported the incident to the head coach the following day.

Much has been said regarding what McQueary should have done rather than leaving. Instead of belittling his reaction, I'd encourage others to try to make a positive from his story in that they could prepare themselves mentally for that one moment in their lives when they need to take immediate action to save a life/stop violence--so that they shine.

Anyway, I would rather ask a question of Coach McQueary that I have not heard discussed:

After witnessing a graphic sexual attack in a facility shower, telling the person in charge, repeating the story to his bosses, and then watching nothing happen to the perpetrator, why would you want to continue to work for that employer?

This incident was allegedly observed in 2002, yet Coach McQueary is still employed by Penn State almost a decade later.

You evidently accepted that it was ok for the perpetrator, again a man that you saw victimizing a child, to continue using the team's facilities, have an office in the athletic buildings, and according to the Altoona Mirror's Cory Giger, bring young boys to Penn State football events as late as 2007.

When he is permitted to discuss the incident, I hope that someone asks Coach McQueary why on earth he would remain at a university that, based on his own awful encounter, failed so miserably at protecting the innocent.

4) The Athletic Director

Again summarizing a part of the grand jury report, resulting from the 2002 incident, athletic director Tim Curley stated that Sandusky had been prohibited from bringing children onto campus--but later admitted that the ban was unenforceable.

Attorney and sports guy Jay Bilas nailed this one.

He said that the university's so-called punitive action, in general, translates into we are not interested in what you are doing Mr. Sandusky, just don't do it in our facilities.

He also said (as the Penn State officials acknowledge) that, at the least, administrators knew an older man was showering in the football facility with what looked to be a ten-year old boy. How much more information do you need to take action?

So, Sandusky moved his football camps to another satellite PSU campus (where officials were unaware of the allegations), and he allegedly continued targeting children. For several years.

--------------------

This is a sad story that touches the lives of so many.

I don't see how the non-profit involved in the scandal, The Second Mile, can survive--despite many years of good work. I'd expect the agency to dissolve and try to reorganize under a new name.

Meanwhile, authorities are still searching for the identity of the alleged ten-year old victim from the 2002 shower scene; since Penn State officials failed to investigate or have others investigate as to who that young man was.

Dark days in Happy Valley indeed.

When I Dated and A New Book by Jessica Bell

2011-11-11T05:01:00.001-05:00

Yep, this commercial pretty much sums up my dating life prior to the Mrs.:

Thank goodness she bailed me out all those years ago--and even lets me keep the sandwich.

And the drink.

And the cookie as well; unless it is chocolate chip. The line must be drawn somewhere.

--------------------------

Also, today I am helping author Jessica Bell with her book release. She is a talented Australian living in Greece. Must be quite an adventure.

____________________________________________________

Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut, STRING BRIDGE, hit the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!

All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and then email the receipt to:

jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com

She will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!

To purchase the paperback:

Amazon USA

To purchase the eBook:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.

If you are
not familiar with String Bridge,
check out the book trailer:

Rave Reviews for String Bridge:

“Jessica Bell’s STRING BRIDGE strummed the fret of my
veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with Bell’s narrative.” ~ Kathryn Magendie, author of Sweetie and Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal

“Poet and musician Jessica Bell's debut novel String Bridge is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world
begins to unravel … String Bridge is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a
hint of magic.” ~ Magdalena Ball, author of Repulsion
Thrust and Sleep Before Evening

“Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. She doesn't pull back from the difficult scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel.
I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next.” ~ Karen Jones Gowen, author of Farm Girl, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds

Connect with Jessica:

String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell

Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/

Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell

Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com/

____________________________

Best wishes to Jessica, and I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Yes, They Will Steal Anything

2011-11-10T00:02:00.001-05:00

I would not have predicted this theft:

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- A bizarre theft has Rock Hill police searching for 200 gallons of grease.

Police said thieves pried open waste containers behind the Wing King Restaurant on Wednesday and pumped out the used cooking oil.

It’s the second time in two days that a restaurant reported a similar theft in Rock Hill, police said.

The store’s manager, Mike Wilson, said he thinks someone is stealing the oil and trying to sell it by converting it to bio-diesel fuel.

“People are doing everything they can to earn extra money, make extra money,” Wilson said. “One man’s trash is money for someone else.”...

Thieves stealing used grease from restaurants--stuff that the owner likely pays to have disposed?

What is next someone swiping my bags of collected dog feces?

Actually, I am all for that. I'll even leave my hand-held shovel so they can directly remove it from the lawn.

-----------------

On a related note, if you need extra cash to pay for an upcoming wedding you can sell copper as scrap.

Just make sure it is your copper.

Unguarded: Careful What You Wish For

2011-11-08T05:01:00.001-05:00

What if you could live the dream?

What if the dream was also a nightmare?

So is the story of Dan Herren.

Hometown Hoops Hero, Professional Basketballer, and International Sports Star.

Husband, Father, and

Addict.

Unguarded; a film by Jonathan Hock.*

Chris Herren: Photo Credit

The documentary aired last week on ESPN, and I thought it was excellent.

The show follows Herren, from Fall River, Massachusetts, as he became famous and then struggled with addictions that nearly robbed him of everything that mattered.

The contrast is sharp: Herren as the celebrity adored by basketball fans to a guy pawning his children's toys for $30 so that he could shoot-up.

The show works on several levels.

Herren is candid about his failings, and he is a gifted speaker.

The director was able to weave cuts of the former star telling his life's story to a variety of audiences including school groups and persons under criminal court-supervision.

Herren's life also reminds us of how difficult battling substance abuse can be.

For someone with a dependency, rarely is there one incident, a rehabilitation, and then an ending where all is forgotten.

Reality is more like Herren's story in that addicition is a long and painful journey involving one step forward and two steps back--as loved ones watch a promising life spiral out of control.

A viewer could select many positive themes from Unguarded.

One that I most appreciated was that of dreams.

It is easy to look at celebs, sports figures, or even friends and wish that we had their life.

The money. The power. The fame. Or the "ideallic" relationships and family.

But looks are notoriously deceiving.

As illustrated by Herrin's life, a "dream" as defined by perceived wealth may actually represent a nightmare.

When comparing your life to another, be careful what you wish for.

---------------------------

*Note: I took some liberties with the advertising quip for this show to make it best fit the post's message.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part XII

2011-11-07T00:02:00.013-05:00

Continuing with the statements recorded by Pass Christian Police Sgt. W. Davis regarding the death of Nikki LaDue January.

For those who have been reading this series, some of the information is redundant, but I feel it is important to consider what led authorities to label the case a suicide.
_______________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

Note: The following statements appear in the order as recorded by Sgt. Davis. He spoke with Nikki's husband Phil (found the body), her friend Nancy Burge (entered the condo and then called 911), and others described below.

STATEMENT #5

"Reporting Officer asked who did the pistol belong to that she used and he (Phil January) stated it was his. He stated that he was going to take it with him but she (Nicole) insisted that he leave it with her for protection, it puzzled him because she did not like guns."

Verifying that the gun found at the scene, the bullet found on an adjacent balcony, and the casing recovered from the complex's swimming pool (which I discuss in a moment) supported law enforcement's theory of suicide would have been invaluable in defending the decision by police to close the case.

But, as with the phone records, all this "extra work" was not performed since the case was quickly labeled a suicide.

Even more disturbing, all three pieces of evidence (gun, bullet, and shell casing) disappeared. It is unknown which items actually made it to the police property room or their disposition after being collected by authorities at the scene.

STATEMENT #6

Mr. Phillip then contacted the child's natural father and he came and picked the child up at the scene. The child was not interviewed.

By not interviewing the child, I believe authorities missed an opportunity to learn if others had been in the condo that morning with the deceased woman, if the front door was locked or unlocked when it was believed that the child let Nancy Burge enter, what sounds if any he heard, etc.

In a previous post, guest blogger police officer Momma Fargo articulated the need to interview children at the scene of violent crimes--it may have made a difference as to what is believed to have happened to Ms. LaDue January.

STATEMENT #7

Reporting officer was then approached by the condo's president...he was cleaning the pool this morning...0600 hours he found a shell casing in the pool...so he put it in the pool area drawer. Reporting officer and Coroner Hargrove went...to retrieve the casing. Hargrove took a picture of the casing and the swimming pool where he found the casing.

Sgt. Davis also indicated in the report that the casing was collected.

Unfortunately, a description of the casing was not included.

Was it from a .380 like the one found at the scene? Was it at least from a semi-auto handgun?

Where is the casing now? What happened to the coroner's photo?

Authorities have not answered any of these questions satisfactorily.

------------

I'll stop there.

Next week I'll discuss a statement made by Nikki's babysitter to Sgt. Davis and how a misunderstood term, can be used as support for a theory--when the correct word actuality means something entirely different.

______________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Sandusky Charges

2011-11-05T09:01:00.000-04:00

Jerry Sandusky, a Pennsylvania football coaching legend, was charged with 40 criminal counts--some being sex crimes:

After a two-year grand jury investigation, sexual abuse charges have been filed against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky, the Nittany Lions' former defensive coordinator, is facing 40 counts, including felony charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of someone under 16, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault of someone under 16, indecent assault of someone under 13, and corruption of minors, The Patriot-News reported Friday.

The offenses were allegedly committed between 1996 and 2005. The grand jury investigation began when a teen alleged inappropriate contact against the 67-year-old former coach in 2009.

When news of the grand jury investigation broke in March, Sandusky denied the allegations, saying he "steadfastly maintains his innocence."

Sandusky was an assistant coach at Penn State for 32 years before retiring in 1999. He was also once considered the logical successor to Penn State's legendary coach Joe Paterno, who broke the record for victories by a Division I coach when his team overcame Illinois last Saturday.

The Second Mile, an organization founded by Sandusky to help underprivileged kids...

Sandusky's old non-profit, The Second Mile, has been doing good work for years and it will be a difficult time for that organization as this story and their name are discussed nationally.

And, the org will want to put their statement about the incident on the agency's homepage as soon as possible.
________________

Thanks to JJ from Phila for the story.

Two Homicides: Found in the Backyard

2011-11-04T00:01:00.005-04:00

Note: A special thank you to Granny who has graciously commented and otherwise offered encouragement for many years.
___________________

Long time reader and online friend "Granny" from Central Arkansas has kept me updated on an unfolding pair of homicide cases there:

BENTON, Ark. (KTHV) -- Authorities say one of the bodies found buried at a Traskwood home is Joe Lee Richards, Jr. Homeowner Marissa Wright is under arrest.

Capital murder charges have been filed against Wright, 50, in relation to the disappearance of Richards. She was taken into custody without incident at a local hospital.

In 1989, Wright was arrested for murder but was turned into a state's witness against Frank Pilcher who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Jeff Rhoades.

In a press release from Benton Police, this investigation centered on Richard's missing person report filed in October of 2010. His family was concerned when he disappeared without a trace and leaving his personal belongings behind. Recent information recently let them to the home in Traskwood...

The second body was later identified Arkansas resident Randal Anderson--who sadly had not been reported missing by anyone.

Marissa "Rissa" Wright

Not many details had been released by prosecutors, so the public was just going to have to wait until the court hearings began to learn more details.

That is until investigative journalist Mara Leveritt became involved.

The murders reminded her of the unsolved murders of teens Don Henry and Keven Ives, also from Central Arkansas.

Two murders that she had detailed in her 2001 book, The Boys on the Tracks.

With Henry and Ives, the teens appeared to have been struck by a train.

With the deaths appearing to be drug related and not appearing to be related to foul play, authorities classified the incidents as "accidental" and closed the cases.

And they stayed that way until the victims' parents had the bodies exhumed and independent autopsies were conducted.

Remind anyone of the Nichole LaDue January case?

Anyway, the fresh set of eyes came to a very different conclusion: these were not accidental deaths but homicides.

The police reopened the investigations, but unfortunately they remained unsolved.

So flash forward to now--journalist Ms. Leveritt filed a petition under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act to view the search warrants involved in the Marissa Wright arrest.

After being initially denied, her request was granted.

She examined the documents, and made them available.

And now, the public knows quite a bit about what is believed to have happened at Ms. Wright's home including:

1) How does a smaller person move a 6'2, 200+ lbs. man?

2) How did police learn about the homicides?

3) What did the accused woman do when she learned that authorities were serving search warrants on her property?

4) How do authorities believe the victims died?

The answers to all of these questions and more are available on Mara Leveritt's site here.

______________________

Why do I believe releasing information like this to the public important?

Connections.

Defendant Marissa "Rissa" Wright is accused of two murders.

She was allegedly involved in another several years ago, but acted as a "state's witness" to testify for the prosecution.

It leads one to ask--how many others are there?

Since US law enforcement is comprised of 17,000+ agencies, it is difficult to share information adequately--though information exchange has improved greatly in the past few decades.

Therefore, the more information available to the public, the better the chance that someone will see a similarity to another unsolved case and perhaps link a detail to an action by Wright.

The more connections for law enforcement investigating unsolved missing persons or homicide cases, the better.

-----------------

Update: A couple of days ago, a second individual, Jay Beeson, was charged in the death of Anderson.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Beeson is currently on federal parole from a 1991 2nd degree murder conviction.

Travel Tips: Endangering Public Safety

2011-11-02T04:00:00.002-04:00

Last week, journalist and travel website owner George Hobica wrote an article for the Huffington Post based on tips from airline gate agents.

He relayed information about holding planes for late connecting passengers, upgrading tickets, and changing seats.

Oh, and he also included this about Federal Air Marshals:

Do you know who the federal air marshals are?

Yes, we call them FAMs. We typically board them first, and they are almost always sitting in an aisle seat in first class. They are not on every flight though. The flight crew's typically informed who the FAM is, but passengers can easily spot them since they're usually sitting on the plane already when everyone else boards. Kind of defeats the purpose in my opinion, but that is the procedure.

---------------

Now, I understand that everything is discussed somewhere online.

But, legitimate journalists should be held to high standards.

Is discussing how to spot an armed federal agent on an airplane helping or hindering public safety?

Is endangering the lives of others a responsible practice for a professional?

So what's your next article Mr. Hobica?

Is it:

--Where are the soft spots on ballistic vests worn by police officers?

--How to weaken a building's roof to maximize fire fighter losses at the scene of a three alarm blaze?

--What are two actions teachers are guaranteed to take during a critical incident at school?

I realize that there is pressure to attract readers, but not at any price.

Good grief.

On a positive note, I know administrators of these federal agencies are well versed regarding the intelligence available on their tactics. As such, any information that compromised the safety of air marshals would result in immediate program changes.

But still.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part XI

2011-11-01T04:40:00.016-04:00

As the series continues, I transition from discussing the case's evidence to examining the related statements.
_________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

The following are selected statements recorded in the report by Sergeant W. Davis who was a first-responder with the Pass Christian Police Department.

It is one of the two known police reports that describe the death scene of Nikki LaDue January.

Sgt. Davis spoke with Nikki's husband Phil (found the body) and her friend Nancy Burge (entered the condo and then called 911).

---------------------

Note: The following statements appear in the order as recorded by Sgt. Davis.

STATEMENT #1

"Reporting officer asked if Nicole had any problems and Burge stated that Nicole had a cocaine problem."

One would expect this standard probing question asked at the scene of every potential suicide. If the sergeant followed-up with Nancy on her statement about the drug problem and asked specifics about frequency of use, the deceased's mental state, money issues related to a supposed dependency, etc., it is not recorded.

STATEMENT #2

"As reporting officer talked to Phillip in conversation Phillip told reporting officer that he was a police officer in Texas for twenty years."

A private investigator hired by the family was unable to confirm this employment claim. In general, law enforcement agencies limit information on workers to verification of employment dates, and something similar to "will the agency rehire the individual: yes or no." Also, if the agency's employment files are subject to open records laws, a person could be granted permission to view the personnel file of a current or previous employee.

In essence, whether an individual was a police officer in Texas for two decades should be simple to confirm--but it was not.

STATEMENT #3

"He stated that he had been gone for two weeks and he had just talked to his wife on the phone at approximately 0145 hours this morning."

If the death case was not closed so quickly, statements like this could be properly evaluated based on traditional investigative work.

Review the police reports. Collect phone records. Digest what makes sense.

Unfortunately, Ms. LaDue January's death was classified a suicide, so no follow-up work was deemed necessary.

STATEMENT #4

"Phillip stated that his wife Nichole had a cocaine problem and was addicted to pain pills, but he was trying to help her with her drug problem."

Since the deceased's death certificate lists cocaine and other substances in her body at time of death--though the amounts were not noted--gathering information on this topic is relevant.

How might have her judgment been impacted that night/morning?

Related to Mr. January's statement--Sgt. Davis recorded that Mr. January's help included moving Nikki to Louisiana away from drug suppliers in Mississippi.

But with the revelation that Nikki evidently did not plan to move to Louisiana, and had planned to (again evidently) end the marriage, one wonders how the conversation went between them at 0145 that morning.

--------------------

I'll have more on the recorded statements next time, including the explanation as to why the gun used was in the condo the morning Ms. LaDue January passed away.
______________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Scaring Me

2011-10-31T00:01:00.012-04:00

I am delaying my regularly schedule post on The Death of Nikki LaDue January until Tuesday.

I thought this would be more appropriate for Halloween.
_______________________________

As a child, I attended a friend's birthday party, and his parents took the group of boys to the movies. I had no idea what we were going to see, it was just always fun enjoying the tub of popcorn and a large soda there; especially since I wasn't paying.

That was until the boy's dad got us in to see The Amityville Horror.

All I knew was that it was based on a true story.

And the movie had a predictable effect on me--I was scared silly.

Despite hiding my eyes from the screen as much as possible, I still slept with the light on for a couple of years.

I never told my parents, and they had no idea why adequate lighting became so important for me.

Based on a true story and real life experiences, still get to me.

As such and on Halloween, I thought I would select two previous posts that illustrate what scares me:

1) The Blogger

He hits the snooze multiple times when his alarm goes off.

His breakfast included a granola bar at his work desk.

He sees a police car and wonders if the officer recognizes him.

Why is this online writer and his blog, Blogging the Fifth Nail, different?

Well it is the author, not the content.

You can go here to read about Mr. Duncan.

2) The Deception

When speaking to youth on dangerous situations, I am a firm believer that if I create a PowerPoint presentation of things not to do and talk in generalities, my message will not be well received.

The audience will yawn and spend the time texting and daydreaming.

As such, offering powerful examples of an issue are essential in creating an appealing message.

Like with the dangers of social media; specifically people may not always be who you think they are.

This was illustrated, via a hammer, in the case of a teen named Justin Bloxum--and his unfortunate encounter with Brian Douglas Horn.

To read about this deadly deception, you can go here.

_______________________

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it.

American Picker

2011-10-28T05:00:00.041-04:00

Background Notes for this Post:

1) For my international readers, Goodwill Industries International, host of the site "ShopGoodwill" that I discuss in this post, is a non-profit active in the US and Canada that focuses on helping to employ folks. They are very active in assisting persons with disabilities find meaningful work.

2) Though the item described below is a religious item, I did not select it specifically to condone such a practice. It just so happens that the item best illustrated my lesson.

3) I did not receive any compensation or benefit from mentioning the site ShopGoodwill in today's post. Actually, I'll probably be in the doghouse when older son learns that I describe his favorite treasure hunting website--thinking that it will somehow increase the number of bidders there.

Ok, now that is out of the way...
_________________________________

Though my interest in crime and investigations are generally not an appropriate topic for our ten-year-old son, it still does not mean that the same approach to solving mysteries cannot be used in other areas of life.

His most recent hobby is to pretend he is a "picker" and visit yard sales looking for a discarded item that is really a hidden treasure.

One of the local dog and cat rescue organizations recently had an indoor yard sale, and he came home with a few vintage toys, lamps, and an old Looney Tunes watch. These items were purchased for pocket change, but are worth much more.

To help him understand how real pickers research and assign value to items, I used this example involving a painting that just sold on ShopGoodwill's auction site--a place online where Goodwill sells items that were donated to their organization.

-----------------

ITEM: Original Framed Painting

ITEM DESCRIPTION: 1918 Crown of Thorns Oil Ptg. Signed Hagenaber. First initial appears to be an "R", but I am uncertain. Condition issues: one scratch resulting in loss of paint on upper right edge; square indentation to canvas caused by stretcher bars; two white marks on left portion of image; whitish residue on lower edge; canvas loose within frame....piece measures approx. 14 1/8" x 19 3/4", framed.

So, it is appears to be an old painting by an unknown artist.

Step #1: Examine the Artist's Signature

It is important to realize that the good folks at Goodwill do the best they can, but they are not experts and spend the day busily posting items for sale online. They have limited time to research paintings and other potential antiques--as there is a pile of stuff waiting to be processed for sale.

So, to learn more about this painting and the artist, start with the signature: "Hagenaber."

In the photo, the letters are difficult to decipher. Maybe it is Hagenaber, maybe not.

Step #2: Search for the Artist

When the name "Hagenaber" is Googled, the results reveal, well, nothing. No painter. No artist. Actually no information on anyone by that name. A red flag.

If the name is spelled correctly, certainly someone somewhere with that name would have been returned.

Step #3: (if Step #2 reveals nothing) Modify the Artist's Name and Conduct Additional Searches

So, begin trying other possible combinations of the letters.

With a keen eye and/or some luck, the name "Hagenauer" is tried, and we learn there was an artist by that name with the first initial "R."

One of the search records reveals this gem of information:

Smithsonian Institution
Painter: Hagenauer, R.
Medium:oil: Oil on canvas. canvas
Type:Paintings
Date:1800-1914
Topic:Religion--New Testament--Christ
Control number:IAP 9A450004
Notes:Owner, 1990, 1997
Summary:Half-length figure of Christ in white and red robe; stigmata evident on Christ's palms

So, none other than the Smithsonian Institute possesses an oil painting by R. Hagenauer, and the theme of the work is Christian.

Unfortunately, there is no image online where one could compare the signatures, but it is strong circumstantial evidence (name, time frame, technique, subject matter, etc.) that the painting at Goodwill and the one in the Smithsonian's collection are by the same artist.

Step #4: Assign a Value

Obviously, this is difficult.

E-Bay's selling history database or other tools can be used to determine what folks have paid for specific works of art. Also, one could find current selling prices for paintings by the artist to get a feel for value (remembering that what people pay for something and the price on an unsold item are two very different concepts).

In this case, that information does not appear to be available online, so using a pay-for art research service or having an expert examine it would be a next step if valuation is necessary.

-------------
I do believe that the Shop Goodwill buyer of this early 20th Century work by "R. Hagenauer" got a fantastic deal in that the purchase price was a whopping $21.

Twenty-one bucks for an artist whose work is featured in the Smithsonian?

I'd say that was an overlooked treasure; and not the last to be found at yard sales or online, if someone uses a well-designed approach and has the patience.

And the son had fun with this exercise as well.

Extreme Cannonballer

2011-10-27T00:02:00.002-04:00

Watching this incident unfold, must have been quite a shock:

A man who fled an ambulance Thursday and dropped 80 feet into the Oklahoma River was captured by authorities and identified as someone wanted on a robbery charge in Colorado.

...police first responded to reports that a man had been hit by a car in the parking lot of Walmart in the 5500 block of Tinker Diagonal.

An ambulance from Midwest Regional Medical Center responded and was transporting the man to OU Medical Center when the incident at the bridge occurred.

Larry Terry, director of Midwest Regional Emergency Medical Services, said the patient assaulted a paramedic while en route.

The paramedic was not seriously injured, but in response to the disturbance the driver of the ambulance stopped in the westbound lanes of the I-40 bridge.

Paramedics and police, who were following the ambulance, then saw the patient (Eugene David Overton) exit the vehicle, lower himself from the edge of the bridge and drop 80 feet into the water.

He then swam to the shoreline and ran off.

The average depth of the Oklahoma River is 7 or 8 feet.

Jumping 80 feet and taking your chances that you are going to hit a deep spot?

Wow, that is spinning the roulette wheel with your life.

I think it is safe to say Mr. "Extreme Cannonballer" Overton now has less than nine lives.

Messin with the Spouse

2011-10-25T05:01:00.002-04:00

Waiting at pick-up time in the lobby of the church that houses our youngest son's preschool, I entertain myself by reading the bulletin boards.

Potluck Dinner on Wednesday.

An exercise class for senior adults is seeking new members.

Information on collecting used eyeglasses.

With just me, myself, and I to talk to, I look outside. All is quiet.

I realize that being alone here is odd.

I get that worrisome feeling.

Where is everyone? Did the kids take a field trip today and I forgot that the pick-up location had changed?

No kids. No teachers. No parents.

Strange.

By the door the church's security alarm is visible, and I see the clock "11:15 am."

11:15 am? That can't be right! I left my car to walk in this door at 11: 20 am.

The car's clock.

The Mrs. must have changed it.

The clock had been 4-5 minutes slow for sometime, and she must have changed it.

The new time displayed is 10 minutes fast.

She got me--inadvertently of course.

But still.

Well, I twiddled my thumbs for a little while longer, and eventually teachers, parents, and noisy little ones appeared.

And as a typical husband, I immediately began plotting my revenge.

Hmm.

Should I leave my muddy grass-covered mowing shoes on the front porch near the entry door to greet all visitors who enter? How about that?

Um, no, that is where my shoes are right now.

Ok, should I leave the toilet seat lid in the upright position for an entire week?

Wait, no, I have been doing that for the more than a dozen years of marriage.

Well, I'll just leave my razor clippings partially cleaned-up in the sink.

Yeah.

Hold on. Man, I thought I cleaned up all those tiny disgusting hairs this morning. I guess I missed a few on the porcelain...

Well.

On second thought, perhaps resetting the car clock is no big deal, and the Mrs. deserves to give me 50 or 60 more "gotchas" just to call it an "Even Stephen" between us.

Now to go clean that sink...

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part X

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

LaDue January Death Scene (Cropped): Photo Credit

Related to the bullet--the maintenance man who recovered a shell casing from the pool near Nikki's condo, believed it to be from a 9 mm handgun and not a .380.

Again, and unfortunately, the caliber of the bullet described in the police report and the type of shell casing recovered from the pool were not listed by authorities.

In sum, authorities describe a bullet and a shell casing found at the scene.  No specifics about either piece of evidence was recorded, and the items have apparently disappeared (unclear whether they made it to the police property room or not)--so testing is not possible.

2) Nikki's Car

Nikki owned a convertible and took excellent care of it.  Reportedly, Nikki was very security conscience--making sure that her vehicle and her music selections were secured.  On the morning police had arrived and were investigating the woman's death, Nikki's babysitter (the woman who had taken care of her son the night before her death) was told that Nikki had been found dead, and drove over to the condo to speak to authorities.

Though police determined that a statement from the babysitter was unnecessary, the woman noted that Nikki's car was parked in the condo's lot with the top down.

Evidently, Nikki had left all of her music and other personal items unsecured that night.

The family argues that if Nikki had meant to spend the night at the condo, she would not have left the top down in her car--exposing the interior to the elements and to potential thieves.

3) The Condo

Prior to the night of her death, Nikki and her son had been staying with Nikki's friend Nancy. Nikki provided no specifics to her family, but indicated that she was afraid to stay at the condo.  Reportedly, she was also afraid of guns, but knew her husband carried one--and authorities believe she found that gun and used it to end her life after arguing with her husband on the phone.

So, the condo represented a place of fear--yet Nikki decided to go back there with her young son the night before she moved out of state.

Did she go back just because it was more convenient to handle the move in the morning or was she there to meet someone?

Or, was she at the condo simply to have a private place to talk on the phone?

Family members stated that the condo was crammed full of items that were boxed and ready to be moved in the morning.

The beds did not even have sheets on the them.

Seemingly not the best place for her five-year old son to sleep.

So, it is reasonable to ask:

Did Nikki return to the condo that evening with the intention of staying the night or was she just there temporarily with plans to go elsewhere to sleep?

The scene as described would appear to favor the latter explanation.
______________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

On Penn State Beaver

2011-10-23T23:26:00.000-04:00

And even a rare Sunday night post from me...
_________________________

I saw this weekend that officials at Penn State Beaver had enacted parts of their safety plan after an apparent threat was made by a former student.

The ex-student and former member of their basketball team, Michael Mollett, reportedly made threatening comments on Twitter referencing VA Tech--concerning enough for the school to cancel all activities this weekend and involve local, state, and federal (the FBI) law enforcement.

Authorities continue to search for Mollett who has outstanding criminal warrants.

Since it was supposed to be an open house at Penn State Beaver this weekend, I went over to the university's website to see what information they had regarding this potentially violent situation.

And, I found nothing.

The lead story on the homepage was "Fall Open House Click for Info" with the status of "Postponed: To Be Rescheduled."

I clicked on the story and it described the event with a canceled note and just this: "Watch this space for new date and time."

Nothing on why the event was canceled.

Nothing on the potentially violent situation involving the campus.

Nothing on who police are looking to apprehend--despite the guy having warrants.

No information whatsoever for individuals arriving on campus.

Now, I am certain university administrators acted in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act--in that officials disseminated campus safety information to students, parents, and employees.

But what about visitors interested in the open house or others traveling to the university this weekend?

Wouldn't posting some relevant information to their website been appropriate?

For university leaders--avoiding unnecessary bad publicity is understandably an issue, but those administrators certainly could have done more to inform others about the potential dangers the campus was/is facing.

Errant Fax

2011-10-21T05:02:00.002-04:00

Talk about an early Christmas gift for a group of newspaper reporters.

They are working hard trying to develop several stories, when this falls into thier laps (or more like into their "Fax Received" tray):

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department (IL) records clerk Joann Reed wanted a speeding ticket for the son of a deputy dismissed, but she didn't go to a judge or jury in traffic court.

Instead, Reed faxed a copy of the Centreville Police Department's ticket from the Sheriff's Department's fax machine to Centreville village attorney Carmen Durso, with a handwritten message: "Dismiss this case."

The problem is, she didn't fax the ticket to Durso. Reed accidentally faxed it to the Belleville News-Democrat's newsroom.

"Guilty. Period," Reed said after a reporter questioned her about the errant fax.

The three-page message, signed by Reed, included a notice to appear because the 18-year-old alleged traffic violator failed to show up for court. The new court date is set for today.

"The guy is the son of one of our deputies," was handwritten on the notice to appear.

Reed, who unsuccessfully ran for Alorton mayor in 2009, told a reporter that statement wasn't true. She was doing it to help out a college student. She only wrote that to make sure the ticket was dismissed, she said.

Though one number of the address on the ticket was omitted and the last name wasn't the same as the deputy, reporters discovered the ticket was issued to the son of Cerether White, a St. Clair County sheriff's deputy.

The Centreville officer who wrote the ticket on Aug. 18 stated the 18-year-old motorist, Jonathon Yates, was driving 43 in a 20 mph zone, a ticket that carries a $175 fine.

Durso prosecutes municipal tickets in Centreville, but said he can't dismiss violations of state law -- such as speeding tickets...

When researching this story, I saw that some theorized that the clerk may have faxed the information to the newspaper on purpose--acting as a covert whistle-blower.

I say: "No way."

When acting as a whistle-blower and providing a news outlet with potential evidence on a criminal or unsavory practice, the last thing the individual wants to do is cast a negative light on themselves.

In this case, Ms. Reed will likely lose her job, and raised the anger of every citizen in Illinois who has received a traffic citation in the last decade.

Certainly not the outcome that someone simply looking to report an unfair practice would desire.

Anyway, I am unsure who is more embarrassed here, the clerk involved or her boss--Sheriff Mearl Justus, who launched an investigation into the incident.

_____________________

Have a good weekend everyone.

A Last Post

2011-10-20T00:02:00.002-04:00

I was sorry to read that blogger Julie had lost her mother recently (Julie writes at the Midlife Job Hunter).

Her mom, Bernice Sucha, was 85-years old and also had a personal blog ( Old? Who? Me? ) that she had maintained for three years.

On her mom's blog, Julie posted Bernie's obituary, and a farewell note from another family member.

Bernie's readers now know that her blog has reached the end.

It reminded me about last posts for bloggers.

What if I suddenly passed away?

I have thought about about writing a brief last post, and then leaving specific instructions so that it can be posted here, but I have not finalized that plan.

Since I have been doing this blog thing for several years now, I'd want readers to know why the posts here suddenly stopped--rather than you all assuming that I won the lottery and now spend my free time playing shuffleboard on an island in the South Pacific.

So how about you?

If you have a blog, do you have a final post written and someone to post it for you?

Have you thought about your last post?

-------------------------------------

My prayers are with Julie and her family.

Tuber of the Week #46: Road Trip

2011-10-18T05:01:00.002-04:00

Hearing automobile marketers tell us that their car is energy efficient, and a driver will rarely need to stop for fuel is, well, yawn-inducing.

Fortunately, the folks at Volkswagen used this creative approach in convincing us regarding the message above:

I have vivid memories of an 8 am Spanish class in high school--sleepy students who were less than excited to be there.

Listening to first part of the commercial and the blah pronunciations of "vamonos" and "gracias," gave me flashbacks to that time.

Nothing like hearing 30 high schoolers butcher a foreign language first thing in the morning.

Those were the days.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Interviewing Children

2011-10-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

I am honored to host Momma Fargo from The Boogie Man is My Friend as a guest writer today.

She is a veteran police officer in the Western United States, and readers of her blog are instantly attracted to her humor and candor.

Momma Fargo is a former investigator and a certified forensic child interviewer, and I asked that she share her expertise on whether or not police should talk with a child who may or may not have been exposed to a violent incident.

I believe this topic to be relevant in the context of the death of Nikki LaDue January--when authorities chose not to speak to Nikki's five-year-old son who was present in the condo when his mother passed away.

And now, Momma Fargo.
____________________________________________________

Witnesses can help an investigator include or exclude evidence, information, or facts.

Whether they are considered material or immaterial witnesses…shouldn’t be weighed until court time. Their statements should be obtained as soon as possible after an incident.

Children are witnesses often forgotten.

Mostly, investigators may overlook their importance because they are small and their minds are underdeveloped. However, when they are present during an incident, they hold pieces to a puzzle that may make all the difference in a case.

I learned of their value when I became a forensic child interviewer and for many years investigated crimes against children. Finding that children behold valuable information at a young age is an understatement.

Taking the training one step further, I used my skills in homicides when the children were witnesses to a crime.

What age is too young to gather information?

I don’t think we really know a definite age, but we do know it depends upon the cognitive skills of a child. In a homicide case, I interviewed a child who was only 3 years old and her brother was only 4 years. They were both below the age I had ever interviewed a child before for any reason. It was a shot in the dark.

Forensic interviews are geared to be child friendly and gather information that doesn’t harm the child. They focus on only what is real, not allowing pretend or to introduce things to the child they didn’t experience or see. These methods were designed to obtain a true statement.

In 2002, two young children were present in the home when their mother was brutally killed by their father.

They watched this happen, this I am sure. The interviews took place at our Children’s Advocacy Center where the forensic interviews were conducted.

Using forensic interviews in a homicide case was new to us and we were treading on unknown territory in the legal realm as well. The children’s information was used to obtain a search warrant. The search warrant was crucial in getting into the home where we later found the woman’s body inside a duffel bag. The interviews did not come up in trial.

The children’s interviews were video and audio taped.

I still have them. I don’t need to watch them to know what they said. It will be forever ingrained in my head and I have spoken of it often in trainings.

The daughter stated things in her interview such as “mommy, daddy fight“, “ mommy’s face was red,” “daddy shoot”, “ mommy cry“ , “mommy fell down the stairs“, “mommy sleep”, and “daddy cleaned the house”.

She told the story while demonstrating and drew a picture of her father shooting her mother. Her brother stated, “daddy used a bat, hit mommy”, “blood everywhere”, “mommy have owies on her head”, “mommy not wake up“, and “mommy dead.” He also drew pictures.

Here is actually what happened…

The husband and wife got into an argument because she was leaving him the next day and divorcing him because of his drug problems. During the argument, the two became physical. He grabbed a shotgun and swung it like a bat, hitting her in the head. She tried to defend herself and the confrontation continued for quite some time until her death from blunt force trauma. He had beaten her over and over, using the shotgun like a bat. He had shoved the barrel into to her head, leaving an imprint of it which was found at autopsy. She had fallen down the stairs. No shots were fired.

How do you interpret what happened from the children’s statements given which were not “exact” or “factual” matching the evidence like an adult’s statement may have been or an older child’s?

Both the children’s stories were correct in the perspectives from how they saw the confrontation.

The girl saw her father shove the barrel into her mother’s head and she saw the action of the gun as appropriate to its use…pointing, hand on the butt of the gun, aiming it forward.

The boy saw the gun being swung and viewed it as a bat would be used. Both saw their mother fall down the stairs after getting beaten. The mother’s face was red from blood. She was asleep…permanently.

One child knew the mother was dead. They both saw her fall down the stairs, an action they could comprehend. The other information they may not come to understand until later if they remember. They both had years of therapy. They both lost both of their parents.

The man was convicted of murder.

How do you (the investigator) balance the child's trauma while obtaining case information?

Forensic interviews are designed to bring out information and avoid traumatic harm to the child. At the same time, information can be gathered to assist Victim’s Services in therapy or other need for the child and their family. Child advocacy centers are set up to provide all these services and have been established to investigate as a multi-agency process.

Is it often best to conduct the interview as soon as possible or wait until the loss can be addressed through family support and/or counseling before talking with the child?

Not only are children’s statements important, it is crucial to get them right away. You have to take into effect contamination, coaching, threats, and also alertness, attention span, and sleep. Perhaps you need to take their statements first thing in the morning versus at 11 o’clock at night. However, they must not be tainted by other persons in the meantime, so the investigator must weigh which is best for their case.

Waiting is detrimental to the case and to the validity of the child’s statement. Family can taint the child’s statement or memory and they can cause more trauma without first getting what we investigators call a “clean” statement. This can be unintentional.

If a child does not give a statement, counseling can sometimes provide that release. However, it depends on the situation whether the statement can be used. The Crawford decision limits these statements in court. Statements given to a doctor or counselor in the means of treatment can sometimes be brought into court. If the counselor or doctor is acting as an agent for police, the statements would not be admissible. Other exceptions exist as well.

In many of my cases, the perpetrator took a deal after seeing the audio and video of the child talking about the allegations against them in a child molestation case.

In the homicides I have worked, the child witness took the stand once. She recalled nothing because at the age of 18, she did not remember what happened when she was 3 years old.

However, the psychiatrist was able to bring her statements into court because she was seeing this doctor for treatment outside the scope of the case and law enforcement was not involved.

Whatever comes forward in court is a matter for the prosecutor. The investigator must gather the facts and evidence. This includes witness statements. It is important for a thorough investigation to remember everything…even when they are small and innocent.
_________________________________________________

As Momma Fargo stated, it is imperative to get statements from children sooner rather than later.

Sadly, no attempt was made to talk with Nikki LaDue January's young son. As such, no information was gleaned about the case or the potential need to refer the boy and his surviving family members to available counseling services.

Anyway, thanks to Momma Fargo--you can read more at her blog here.

Or,to view additional on the Nikki LaDue January case, go here.

Corn Maze Visit: Do Not Forget the...

2011-10-14T05:01:00.003-04:00

Fall in the Northeastern United States mean lots of fun things, and corn mazes are at the top of our family's list.

To be prepared for your corn maze visit, be sure to pack water, a hat, a GPS, and comfortable shoes (or boots if it has been rainy).

Oh, and you are this family from Massachusetts, a flare gun is essential as well:

DANVERS, Mass. - Authorities in Massachusetts say a family that got lost in a seven-acre corn maze called 911 for help, apparently taking advantage of the police department's motto that says "We Want To Be Bothered."

The maze at Connors Farm in Danvers has pathways totaling seven-miles long and can take up to an hour to navigate.

A police officer and his dog entered the maze with a farm manager on Columbus Day to search for the disoriented father, mother and two children, including a three-weeks-old infant. The family didn't realize they had almost made their way out and were just 25 feet from the street.

It took the search party about 10 minutes to find the family. They were helped by a police dispatcher who stayed on the phone with the caller and asked the couple to yell for help to enable those looking for them to identify their location.

"Never again!" the woman is heard telling the dispatcher on police tapes. "We thought this would be fun, instead it's a nightmare."

I am glad that the K-9 officer helped to rescue this disoriented family and prevent them from starring in a future episode on the Animal Planet Show: I Shouldn't Be Alive.
____________________________

On Monday, the talented and always entertaining Momma Fargo will be guest blogging on the topic of interviewing children at violent crime scenes as part of my series on the death of Nikki LaDue January.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Blogs as Evidence

2011-10-13T09:04:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the two posts in one day, but...

For anyone arriving here who is researching the felony stalking case involving Toni Jo Silvey and Peter Main (Ms. Silvey is accused of calling her ex-boyfriend over 1,000 times in a month and smashing his windows with a sword), the blogs that authorities describe are apparently at the following links:

The Real Peter Main Leather Artist Beyond Artist the Man (Primary)

The suspect apparently started this blog as well, but abandoned it: Wounded Poetic Soul.

Since the accused used the online name of "wounded poetic soul", I am sure others will find additional information about the case.

It is certainly an example of how blogs can and will be used as evidence in a criminal case.

Note to Self

2011-10-13T00:03:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, I got into trouble twice for inadvertently speaking what I was thinking.

Two moments of head-scratching and wondering, "Wow, did I just say that aloud?"

As a result of my goofiness, I reminded myself of the old adage:

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Wait... Better yet:

If you can't think anything nice, don't think anything at all.

I am sure that this is a universal husband lesson that I failed to retain.

Domestic Violence Decriminalized?

2011-10-12T00:01:00.017-04:00

E. D. Cain, a contributor for Forbes magazine, recently reported on a controversial law enforcement issue.

His story appeared with this eye-catching title:

Topeka Kansas Considers Decriminalizing Domestic Violence

Now that is a troubling headline, eh?

A community that would allow domestic violence?

And Mr. Cain's article appears convincing in stating that domestic violence enforcement is on the chopping-block in Topeka.

That is at least on the surface.

Here is an excerpt:

In Topeka, Kansas city officials are considering a controversial move to decriminalize domestic violence in the city after the Shawnee County government offloaded domestic violence enforcement on to city governments. Cities facing budget cuts and lost revenue are turning to many different cost-cutting measures, but this is perhaps the most extreme.

Already, the county government has turned away at least 30 domestic violence cases.

Most domestic violence cases go unreported. Decriminalizing domestic violence will simply push these cases further into the shadows.

Considering that marital rape was legal in almost every state until 1976, perhaps this is simply an illustration of our society slipping backwards, toward the days when men had total domination over the wives...

...Even advocates of austerity (and I am not one of them) should realize that this is wrong-headed, both in terms of raw economics and simple morality.

Hopefully the bill will die in a flurry of outrage and indignation. Women are already facing an uphill battle with few good choices in situations of domestic violence. In Topeka, a grim picture will become a great deal more bleak if this law is passed.

So what happened last night at Topeka's City Council Meeting?

Did officials kill the proposal as Mr. Cain argued they must?

No.

The measure passed 7-3, and Topeka's domestic violence ordinance was repealed.

What?

The reality is that domestic violence enforcement was not crippled with the "Yea" votes.

The realization that Mr. Cain missed was that each state, as mandated by the federal government, has domestic violence laws.

Whether local ordinances exist or not is irrelevant.

It is not the norm for police to arrest for domestic violence based on local charges.

If an officer arrives at the scene of domestic violence, he/she can arrest for a misdemeanor or felony based on that state's law (or Commonwealth, but I'll try to keep it simple).

Topeka not having a local ordinance banning domestic violence should have no impact on the problem there.

If anyone is putting domestic violence victims at risk, it would be county prosecutor Chad Taylor.

But I believe Mr. Taylor's statement that he does not have the funds to prosecute misdemeanor domestic violence cases as just managerial maneuvering.

The district attorney wants more money for his office, but it looks like Topeka's council called his bluff.

And I have no doubt that the DA will continue to prosecute misdemeanor domestic violence cases in his county

If he chooses the alternative, the nationwide backlash that he would face from citizen groups in combination with the jurisdiction's liability of letting potential repeat violent offenders go would be overwhelming.

Expect the county attorney to find another way to deal with his office's budget constraints.

It sounds like the city council made a rational decision despite what those who failed to grasp the full extent of the situation would lead us to believe.

What Animals Eat: A Clarification

2011-10-11T05:02:00.002-04:00

Under a cloudless azure sky, the youngest, Luca, and I were enjoying play time at a local park.

After exhausting our usual concert of pushing-on-the-swing singing tunes (Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Wheels on the Bus, etc.), I transitioned to a different line of conversational engagement.

______________________________________

ME: Hey Luca. What does a cow eat?

LUCA: Grass.

ME: Good. How about horses?

LUCA: Apples.

I feel the breeze from the swing as Luca tries to touch the treetops with his feet. The chain rubbing the set's hinge creates a staccato rhythm.

ME: What does a rooster eat, Luca?

LUCA: Umm...umm...ummm...worms.

ME: Excellent. What does a dog eat?

Luca stares, obviously lost in thought, but says nothing. I give him a moment and follow-up.

ME: So what does a dog eat? What does your dog Chuckie like? What does that yellow-buffalo-of-a-dog eat?

Luca finally breaks the silence.

LUCA: Ice cream.

ME: What?

LUCA: Ice cream. Ice cream cones.

ME: Ahh yes. Your dog Chuck aka "yellow buffalo" sure is good at stealing little kid ice cream cones. You got me there man.

---------------------------

You never know what children think until you ask.

Marie Hanson, Missing

2011-10-10T00:02:00.005-04:00

Anything I touch lately seems to break.

We are down two computers, so I don't have the next post on the Nikki LaDue January case.

Instead, I wanted to discuss the search for another missing person.
________________________________

Case Summary

Marie Collelo Hanson: Photo Credit

Fifty-six year old grandmother Marie Hanson was last seen at July 6, 2011. She and a friend had been camping at a large gathering at the Skookum Meadown near Stevenson, WA organized by the "Rainbow Family."

It was Marie's first time attending the Rainbow Family's annual event, and reportedly she had been ill during her time there.

Because the gathering involved more than 20,000 attendees, Marie's friends searched for her for a few days before returning home with her belongings.

Authorities and the woman's family have conducted several searches of the rugged forested area around where her camp was, but have not found any new leads as to her whereabouts.

Though members of the Rainbow Family (the Family is considered the largest non-organization in the world) are usually a closed-knit society, they have been supportive in providing information and assisting the woman's relatives in searches of the area.

---------------

I am currently reviewing Marie's case, and will have an additional post on specifics of the investigation later.

I do have several concerns after listening to this recent podcast that included an interview with Marie's family--one being with a "psychic" trying to help.

At about 12:01 of the show, the "clairvoyant" tells members of the family that Marie is "not alive" and "...being under the assumption that she is alive and will pop-up is being in denial."

Its not bad enough that the loved ones of a missing person are saddled with having to navigate the investigation with little guidance, using their own creativity to generate awareness, contacting and meeting with persons who may have information, and organizing searches.

But to also have to sit and listen to a person claiming to have mystical powers criticize you, and say to get over it (stop hoping that she is alive) that your loved one is deceased must be infuriating.

I just have this image of a sunglasses-wearing clairvoyant with her feet propped up in a recliner, eating Doritos, next to a phone that is labeled "Psychic Friends Network" making all of these predictions.

Interestingly, the psychic eliminated certain pieces of case information as irrelevant; arguing this on the basis of feelings.

Nice.

Anyway, the family held their composure during the interview and it provided lots of useful information--a credit to them and something I would not have been able to take.

Searchers for information involving Marie's disappearance have been hampered by bad weather, but were still able to use dogs in certain areas.

I'll have additional information on this case in the coming weeks.

Kudos to family members for their patience.

More also can be found on the family's site here.

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UPDATE OCTOBER 10, 2011: The family announced that the Skamania County Sheriff told them that human remains and jewelry were discovered near the campsite by searchers.

A positive indentification is pending.

I stand by the post. If I were in their situation--my loved one is not dead until I am convinced he/she is no longer.

No psychic is going to crush my spirit.

My prayers are with the Hanson family.

Baseball Loses, Marching Band Gains

2011-10-07T05:01:00.001-04:00

I usually don't need to borrow humorist family exchanges from others, but this one relayed to me by the Mrs. seemed worth it.

In the story below, Dr. Jolly's ten-year-old son is afraid that a decision may disappoint his father, but that is not the case. As every supportive father should, the Dr. just wants his children to be happy.

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DR. JOLLY'S SON: Dad, I don't want to play baseball this year.

DR. JOLLY: Why not son? You were hitting the ball well last year and having fun.

DR. JOLLY'S SON: I just don't like it. Sorry dad.

The son bows his head thinking he has disappointed dad who played baseball in college. Dad pats his son on the head to comfort him.

DR. JOLLY: Ahh, no worries son. Your mom and I do expect you to be involved. You'll need to pick another activity.

DR. JOLLY'S SON: Ok.

DR. JOLLY: How about scouts or soccer or something? .

DR. JOLLY'S SON: No, I don't think so.

DR. JOLLY: How about the school band? You could pick up an instrument now, and be ready for the marching band in a few years.

The son lifts his head, smiles, and stares out the car window.

DR. JOLLY'S SON: Yeah Dad! That is what I want to do. And I know what instrument I can learn to play for the marching band.

DR. JOLLY: Wonderful son, I am proud of you. What instrument?

DR. JOLLY'S SON: Dad, I want to play the ukulele.

The father lets out a playful chuckle, but quickly composes himself to address his son's dream.

DR. JOLLY: Now, I am not a musician, but I am certain that the marching band does not have a first and second chair ukulele player.

DR. JOLLY'S SON: I don't care. I am going to be a ukulele star.

-----------

And so it was.

Several weeks later Dr. Jolly's grade schooler sits with an instructor and three other ukulele players--the next youngest aspiring musician being twenty-five years old.

Perhaps he will become the first marching ukulele performer.

___________________________________

Thumbs-up to everyone who still has a dream.

Have a good weekend everyone.

What a Captain Should Not Say

2011-10-06T00:02:00.001-04:00

It was wonderful to hear that missing person David La Vau was rescued last week.

The 68-year-old man had survived six days on his own after his car veered off a California road and plunged down a 200 foot ravine. La Vau had survived on creek water and bugs, and is currently recovering from multiple injuries in the intensive care unit of a Santa Clarita hospital.

Sadly, another missing person, Melvin Gelfand an 88-year old veteran, was found dead in his vehicle in the same ravine--Mr. Gelfand had been missing for almost two weeks longer than Mr. La Vau.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Not content with sitting and waiting, La Vau's family found David after launching their own ground search for him:

...A sheriff's detective helped them determine a general area to look by tracing Lavau's cellphone, but it was a large and remote mountain area with canyons and ravines that could barely be seen from the road.

Once they had that information, they found him quickly, which was essential because he had been living on bugs, leaves and creek water and borrowing Gelfand's glasses for nearly a week.

"It seemed like forever, but it wasn't, we're talking hours," Lavau's son-in-law Jesse Hooker, one of the six in the family search party, said Saturday.

Hooker said family members took matters into their own hands not because they had a big problem with the response of the Sheriff's Department, but they didn't have the patience for police procedure.

"I don't think they did a bad job," said Hooker, husband of Lavau's daughter Chardonnay Hooker. "I know that we weren't willing to wait the time periods we were going to have to."

And Hooker had only praise for Diane Harris, the sheriff's detective who gave the family direction. Hooker said "if she didn't do that, we wouldn't have been able to do what we did."

In the same article, I was disappointed that authorities included this in response to the search effort:

...Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Mike Parker said the department did everything it could on a missing persons case with no evidence of foul play, and called the rescue "remarkable"...

Really?

Captain Parker of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arguing that the "department did everything it could" when family members spearheaded the investigation and search to find their elderly loved one trapped in a life-threatening situation that involved him eating bugs for almost a week?

Now that is ridiculous.

One would expect the sheriff department's spokesman to, at the least, state that his agency's policies and procedures are currently being reviewed to determine if improvements can be made for future missing person investigations.

That the agency's response would be driven by urgency--as in this urgent case considering the man's age and that his cell phone trace resulted in a "ping" leading the family to him in the remote area.

Please Captain, save the CYA talk for the lawyers, the public deserves better.

Tuber of the Week #45: Are You with Me?

2011-10-04T05:02:00.001-04:00

Our youngest's (who is on the spectrum) current fixation is farm animals.

He can't get enough of Old McDonald Had a Farm, The Farmer and the Dell, or any other song/show/book that mentions cows, horses, pigs, sheep, or roosters.

The following video, sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board, is one of his favorites (no, he has not seen the movie that the commercial pokes fun at).

We recruit his stuffed animals for a fun reenactment, and I add my best Scottish English accent--and voila, we can play along with this one.

If you want more "Happy Cows" entertainment, you can go here and meet Alicia.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part IX

2011-10-03T00:02:00.001-04:00

Continuing with the LaDue January case.
____________________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

E) Unknown Pieces

The photographs taken of the Nikki LaDue January death scene are poor (e.g. looks like an old Polaroid instant camera was used despite it being 2002, context was not included so it is guess work in estimating relationships, size, and distance, a foreign object was visible in some of the shots, etc.).

But, that does not make the scene images useless.

They do provide a glimpse as to what was and what was not present when authorities arrived to find Ms. LaDue January seated on her balcony with a single-gun shot wound to the head, and a handgun underneath her leg.

Authorities recorded the general position of some of the items photographed.

Like the woman's hands.

Blood spatter on the floor and wall.

The gun on the chair.

But what about objects photographed that were briefly mentioned or omitted?

I previously discussed the phone on the table--and that the lead investigator was unsure how it became covered with blood.

Look at the image of Nikki's feet that I posted previously.

In the upper-right hand corner of this image, a white object is visible on the balcony floor. Though the quality of the photo is lacking, if you look closely on the floor between the victim's legs another piece of white is visible.

Also, in a photo of the glass table in front of Ms. LaDue January there are some small bits of white visible next to the phone. It is unclear if the pieces of white are present on the table or on the floor underneath it.

From images of the balcony that I have viewed before and after Nikki's death, it appears that the balcony area was kept clean--just tables, chairs, plants, etc.

In any event, these pieces of white are not described in the police reports.

So what are these white objects visible on the balcony floor?

Accidental droppings from when the condo was last painted?

Small bits of paper?

Possibly, but the larger piece of white sure looks like plastic.

How about this: the white debris is the result of the woman's broken white phone.

If you recall, the police dispatcher tried to call directly into the condo, but got no answer even though Nikki's husband Phil was there and waiting for authorities.

It is reasonable then to believe that the phone was not operational because pieces of it were scattered on the balcony.

Now, if the phone was broken, was it being held by Ms. LaDue January when she was shot and then dropped on the ground?

Would a three to four foot drop onto a floor be enough to shatter the phone, or was the cordless thrown down in a fit of rage?

If so, how did the phone become covered with blood and then placed on the table?

Unfortunately, I am left with more questions than reasonable responses.

In sum, the unknown white pieces visible in the crime scene photos are one more reason to question the suicide classification that authorities assigned to the LaDue January case.
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All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Odd Suspensions

2011-09-30T05:02:00.007-04:00

Police officers make the news for a variety of reasons.

Obviously, not all of them positive.

But is it always bad when officers who are given suspensions, take their case to reporters?

Not in every situation, as this story details:

Even before the NYPD was embroiled in a dustup over dirty dancing, four cops got caught up in a Fourth of July football-throwing fiasco, the Daily News has learned.

Two of the officers are fighting the discipline raps they received for tossing around a football with a young boy at a Bronx housing project - charging oversensitivity from police brass jeopardizes community relations.

"I don't think throwing a football to a 7-year-old boy is misconduct," said Officer Catherine Guzman, a 17-year veteran of the force. "It was the Fourth of July, it was 96 degrees out and we were interacting with the community.

Photo Credit

"Everybody was happy," she added.

That is, everybody except Deputy Chief James McNamara, the commanding officer of the Bronx Housing Bureau. He witnessed the football tossing and gave the cops a dressing-down worthy of Vince Lombardi.

"He was irate and berated us in front of everyone," Guzman recalled. "He said, 'What are you doing? Do you realize you are on overtime?'"...

The four officers involved in the 2010 football-throwing incident at the Webster Houses were slapped with command disciplines, and two accepted a penalty of two vacation days.

But Guzman and Officer Mariana Diaz are appealing the ruling and taking their case to the department trial room.

Suspended for throwing a football with a seven-year-old boy in your zone?

Yikes.

Police officers simply can't be effective crime fighters if they are seen as faceless storm troopers who never have positive interactions with the community. Under most circumstances, throwing a ball with a child "on the clock" is not something that should be discouraged.

With it now in the media, I think police administrators will be highly scrutinized by the public for this apparent case of injustice against the pigskin throwing officers.

I'd expect the charges to be reduced or even dropped.

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Have a good weekend everyone.

On Steve Bartman

2011-09-29T00:02:00.006-04:00

On Tuesday night, I watched the ESPN documentary Catching Hell directed by Alex Gibney.

The film debuted at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, and it was excellent.

The show's premise is to explore how society typically tries to simplify failure. Rather than see all of the miscues that contribute to not succeeding, people tend to focus on one shortcoming or perceived shortcoming to create a "scapegoat."

"Catching Hell" focuses on two such scapegoats in baseball history--one being that of Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman.

In October of 2003 at a Cubs playoff game, Bartman, along with seven other fans reached out to catch a foul ball that was hit near the stands.

Bartman's hand was closest and interfered with Cubs outfielder Moises Alou causing the player to miss the ball--and what would have been an out.

What happened next to Steve Bartman, in the short and long term, was shameful.

Television coverage and announcers singled out Bartman.

A near riot at the stadium ensued.

His face invoked anger among fans.

Talking heads like ESPN and ABC's Michael Wilbon spoke of "hatred" for Steve. Really, hatred...

He received multiple death threats.

Then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (the same character who was later impeached and convicted of a range of crimes) fueled the fires by trying to be funny in announcing that there would be "no pardon" for the young man.

The press published Steve Bartman's name and home address--police then had to provide 24 hour security at his residence.

His life was forever altered.

Even almost ten years later, Bartman lives the life of a hermit living and working in the Chicago area.

His friends say that he put the incident behind him, but to preserve his family's privacy, he won't even apply for a credit card--trying to prevent some still angry fan from tracking him down.

All this for simply trying to catch a foul ball at a game.

Something almost anyone else in the same situation would have done.

Strange how life is.

One unsung hero from this sad tale was Erika Amundsen who worked security during the game. She helped Steve escape the angry mob at the stadium and hid him in a secured area until the game ended.

She then helped him to change his appearance, and led him away from the stadium where she tried to secure a cab--so that Steve could get home.

When Steve was recognized on the streets, the pair fled to Erika's nearby apartment where she allowed him to take refuge until the early hours of the morning.

She risked her personal safety and offered her own residence to someone that she had never met--a person who could have been a serial killer for all she knew.

But, she just saw him as a person in need.

Erika was finally able to get a vehicle to shuttle Steve home.

With the show detailing her compassion and courage, I hope that Erika's actions are now recognized and rewarded.

It is not something that many folks would have done.
_____________________________

In any event, the documentary is moving and well worth your time.

Though if you are a sports fan like me, it will have you reflect on priorities and how low on the list that sports should actually be.

I Like

2011-09-27T05:02:00.001-04:00

Last week, the Mrs. showed me an in-class assignment that "Sissy" our kindergartener had completed.

The teacher asked each student to: "Complete the following sentence and then draw a picture that represents what you like."

The top of the paper had this sentence, and the bottom was her corresponding crayon drawing:

I like _________________________.

So, how does Sissy finish the sentence?

With this:

I like my hair .

And then she drew a picture of her playing outside her home in pig-tails.

Yes, she is evidently geeked about her long brown hair.

A glam girl spreads her wings, and leaves the nest.

And no, I would not have answered the same way.

I'd need to alter the sentence to something like: "I miss my hair," and then it would be representative of my current situation.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part VIII

2011-09-26T00:02:00.002-04:00

This is second half of my post on the 911 call from the Nikki LaDue January case.

You can read Part One here.
____________________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

D) The 911 Call (Part Two)

As discussed last time, the family produced a reenactment of the call, and it can be listened to by going to this post.

In cases that are quickly closed, as in Nikki LaDue January's death, follow-up is deemed unnecessary.

As such, actions like reviewing audio from the 911 call may not occur until well after the determination has been made--if at all.

If authorities had reviewed the call audio prior to classifiying the death as a suicide, I believe several parts of the conversation would have been of interest to them:

--The Caller: "Terrified" but Had Limited Information--

Family friend Nancy Burge, the woman who made the call to police, stated that Phil January (Nikki's husband) had asked her to call 911. She said that she was unsure exactly what had happened inside, but that "somebody I am concerned about, I am terrified, committed suicide"  (1:29).

Why was she terrified? Allegedly and prior to her death, Nikki had been staying at Nancy's residence because she (Nikki) was afraid to be by herself in the condo.

Nancy also told authorities that Nikki was on the balcony, and that she could see Phil (also on the balcony) from where she was.

--The Caller: "He Came in Tonight"--

Referring to Phil, Nancy stated that "he came in tonight" (3:01). It was believed that Phil had just arrived at the condo that morning after driving from Louisiana. With the husband and Nikki arguing on the phone a few hours before she was discovered deceased, it would be imperative for investigators to have definitive timelines for the activities of various persons from the previous night and the morning in question.

--The Caller: "Just Take Him Out to the Car"--

Nancy tells someone to "just take him out to the car" (2:30)--evidently referring to Nikki's five-year old son.

Who was at the scene?  Did anyone else enter the condo?

When authorities respond to a death scene with a child as a potential witness (and, as in this case, may be the only witness), I believe that it is imperative that an investigator speak to the young person.

Obviously, speaking to a child is not always immediately possible due to circumstances involving the death, the child's age, etc., but it is essential as children tend to be the most honest witnesses that authorities can hope to find.

In this case, the decision was made to not speak to Nikki's son about the death--he has never been interviewed.

Also, removing the child from the scene (as Nancy describes) is a reasonable action, but authorities need to know where he is so that plans can be made to speak with him.

In addition to asking if anyone else was at the condo, information that the investigator would hope to glean from an interview would include:

--What did mom tell you before you went to sleep?

--Did mom say if you all were staying the night at the condo?

--Was the door unlocked when you let Nancy inside?

--The Dispatcher: Calling the Condo--

The dispatcher closes the exchange by obtaining the condo's phone number, and then stating that he will call there directly.

Remember the bloody phone that was photographed on the table in front of the deceased?

After authorities disconnected with Nancy, the dispatcher tried unsuccessfully to reach Phil inside the condo.

Evidently, the portable phone was inoperable.

-----------------------

In sum, certain parts of the 911 call are unusual or incomplete, and the tape of the call would be helpful to detectives investigating this case--generating several follow-up activities and questions.

If it had not been closed.

But back to the dispatcher's inability to call into the condo.

Was that blood-covered telephone not working because the battery was dead, or is there another explanation?

I believe it was the latter, and I'll explain why next time.
_________________________________________________

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

At the Accident Scene

2011-09-23T05:01:00.001-04:00

Another example of the most frequently apprehended type of criminal: The Moron...

Tampa, Fla. -- A Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy was injured in an altercation with a man who tried to steal a pickup truck from a witness at the scene of a crash that killed two people.

Authorities say 20-year-old Colby Wade Cardoso stopped his vehicle early Monday near the crash site on U.S. Highway 301 and tried to start a truck belonging to a witness.

Deputies say Cardoso ran when the truck didn't stop and was pursued by 53-year-old Deputy Carl Luis. The deputy caught up with Cardoso and tried to detain him. Cardoso violently resisted, hitting the deputy in the hands and neck. The suspect, who tried to take the deputy's gun, received upper body injuries.

Both were taken to the hospital. Cardoso now faces multiple charges, including resisting arrest with violence.

Really?

Trying to steal (allegedly trying I mean) a truck at the scene of a double fatality?

A scene crawling with law enforcement and other emergency responders?

Wow.

I wish the deputy a speedy recovery.

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Have a good weekend everyone.

Star Wars and Tourism

2011-09-22T00:02:00.001-04:00

Well, the revolution ended earlier this year and the despised dictator has been deposed.

And what is one hope for Tunisians try to start anew?

Capitalize on the country's place in the Star Wars saga:

TATOUINE, TUNISIA – Residents of the town that sprouted the Rebel Alliance in the "Star Wars" saga say they hope their country's own revolution, combined with Friday's Blu-Ray re-release of the classic movies, will bring a much-needed economic boost to this North African nation.

The original 1977 "Star Wars," later given the expanded title of "Episode IV: A New Hope," put this scruffy, sprawling desert oasis on the map when the surrounding region was used for principal photography.

The director, George Lucas, even took Tatouine's name as inspiration for the sandy, twin-sunned home planet of lightsaber-wielding hero Luke Skywalker. The spelling and pronunciation are slightly different in the films than in real life: Tatooine ("Tatoo-een") versus Tatouine ("Tat-ween").

Today the town is a casual stop-off point on desert tours for curious French and German tourists and foreign journalists streaming into Libya to cover the fall of yet another toppled Arab dictator, Muammar Qaddafi...

There are no dedicated tour companies serving the "Star Wars" sets, which are connected by some 600 miles of poorly-signed, potholed roads and open desert.

Four-wheel-drive off-road trips briefly take in the occasional site along the way, such as the subterranean Skywalker homestead at Matmata - once a home for members of the Berber tribe - and the alien-infested Cantina at Adjim on the island of Djerba. The spaceport of Mos Espa was built to scale for "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" in 2000, and the huge set remains intact at Oung Jmel, 24 miles from the southwest town of Tozeur...

Photo Credit: Set of Mos Espa in Tunisia

With the universal popularity of Star Wars, William Shatner excluded, I think Tunisia may have a potential tourism gem.

I mean if New Richmond, Ohio can make the Cardboard Boat Museum a success, while Georgia Southern University can promote their hosting of the U.S. National Tick Collection, the combo of Tunisian desert and Star Wars sounds downright appealing to me.

Song of the Wild Goose

2011-09-20T05:01:00.001-04:00

I don't claim to be a mind-reader.

As such, the following is just based on a true story.

Note: The term Chillisquaque in the post below is pronounced "Chill-ih-squaw-gey."

____________________________________________________

I never thought it would be like this.

The tall and slender woman with a weathered face thought as she stood on her raised front porch taking deliberate sips from a mug.

Printed on the side of the mug was "Grandma."

Steam from the coffee floated in front of the woman's eyes as she listened to nearby geese verbally greet the sunrise with their unmistakable chorus.

She continued her thoughts.

What does the local tribe call the geese singing?

Hmmm...

...Chillisquaque?

Meaning "Song of the Wild Goose" or something like that?

Yes, beautiful.

Across the street and past several reflective lawns thanks to the morning dew, she can see the white marble headstone.

She had just planted flowers in front of her husband Tom's resting place.

To the side of Tom's grave, was a single American flag and a metal marker that signified his service in the Vietnam War.

Tom, I hope you can see how fast your grandkids are growing.

She missed her husband, but was relieved that his suffering had recently ended after a long battle with kidney disease.

She took another sip of coffee and this time noticed the "Grandma..." label.

Grandma huh?

She shook her head.

The woman never much felt like a grandmother.

Practically, she was the only "mom" that the sleeping nine-year-old granddaughter and six-year-old grandson had ever known.

Years of substance abuse had rendered their birth mother incapable of caring for the two children, and they have been living with "grandmother" for years now.

A recent court proceeding had changed her title from "grandma" to "custodial guardian" or acting mom, but the kids would not notice the difference.

She was the one who loved them and cared for their daily needs.

Even though this was grandma's second time around--having raised four children already.

The geese sang again.

Chillisquaque.

And, good morning to you my friends, she whispered.

She took one last glance at Tom's grave, smiled, and entered the soon-to-be-bustling home.

A full day of school and after-school activities awaited this acting mom/grandma, and she was ready to help these children excel.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part VII

2011-09-19T00:01:00.004-04:00

Last time, I wrote about the victim's feet and how they add to the litany of details that make this death case unusual.

Today, I want to discuss the 911 call.
____________________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

C) The 911 Call--an Introduction (Part One of two on the 911 call)

Regular readers of my missing persons and crime posts know that I tend to bore with my repeated use of the disclaimer: "The public (me included) knows less than 1/2 of the details of an investigation."

As such, it is generally irresponsible for me to make strong judgments about witnesses, authorities, evidence, leads, etc.

Generally that is.

The death of Nikki LaDue January presents an exception to this rule.

Since authorities declared the case "Closed," they have released much more about the investigation.

The family obtained photos from the scene.

They have reports from the responding sergeant, the lead investigator, and the county's coroner.

In contrast to most cases, much is known about the investigation into the death of Nikki LaDue January.

Using these documents, the family learned what actions were taken as well as what was not done.

Most importantly, the released information allowed the family to understand the rationale of authorities who had declared the death of Nikki LaDue January a suicide.

Not that knowing the basis for a determination has been comforting--as the documents leave many questions about Nikki's death unanswered.

One other case aspect obtained by the family was a recording of the 911 call made that resulted in the Pass Christian Police responding--the initial call reporting that Ms. January's body had been found.

As with many 911 calls, the audio is not the best quality. The dialogue between Nikki's friend Nancy Burge and the police dispatcher is sometimes difficult to comprehend.

Rather than just post the original hard-to-decipher 911 call, what do the family and representatives working with them do?

They make/obtain a written transcript from the original call, and use it to create an audio recording of that 911 call--one that matches the conversation and the emotional/non-emotional responses of the participants.

The audio was then inserted into a video, and a simulated timeline was added.

The video is below.

---------------------------
This week, I wanted to let folks listen to the call (again this is a reproduction).

What things catch your attention?

--Nancy's (the caller) relatively calm presence?

--She stating that "he came in tonight"? (3:01)

--Nancy telling someone to "...just take him out to the car"--evidently referring to the dead woman's child? (2:30)

--The dispatcher obtaining the condo's phone number, and then stating that he will call there directly?

--Something else?

Simulated Timeline and 911 Call from Nikki LaDue January on Vimeo.

About this video: now that is innovation.

I'll talk more about the 911 call next week.

----------------------------------------

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

What Not to Do at 430 AM

2011-09-16T00:05:00.000-04:00

On things not to do at 4:30 a.m. :

If you're going to mow your lawn at an odd hour in Oklahoma City, you might make sure all of your neighbors think it's a reasonable time first.

Phil Gage, 40, of Oklahoma City, ran into trouble Friday when he mowed his yard at 4:30 a.m., drawing complaints from at least one neighbor.

City officials said a man arrested last week after a neighbor complained about him mowing his lawn at 4:30 a.m. is charged with violating the city's noise ordinance.

A section of the ordinance prohibits noise that “annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities.”

It will be up to the city's municipal court system to decide if such a person would be annoyed by Phil Ray Gage, 40, mowing his lawn in the early hours of Aug. 26.

His first appearance in court is scheduled for Sept. 26, a court spokesman said...

...Gage's house has a lawn in slightly better shape than many of the other drought-ravaged lawns on his middle-class street in the 2500 block of NW 33...

Where was this officer on Saturday mornings when I was a really sleepy high schooler, and our next door neighbor would power-up his monster riding lawn mower to work on his yard at a dreadful waking hour?

Where is the justice for my lost slumber?

What?

Say it again?

I slept until noon back then?

And, he started mowing after 10 am on Saturday mornings back in the good ol' days?

Well...er...uh...yes...I guess it was around ten am, but...but... it was still way too early.

Ok, nothing to see here move along.

Note: As always, there is more to the story, but it is unrelated to the theme of my post. Here is the officer's report--it does contain very offensive language, just so you know.

_______________________________

Have a good weekend everyone.

Just Lightly Tether the Child

2011-09-15T00:02:00.002-04:00

I was glad to hear that missing child Joshua Robb was found:

An 8-year-old autistic boy who ran away from school to look for his mom and dad was found in relatively good shape more than 24 hours after he went missing, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"He's drinking water ... eating ... it's elation ... relief," San Bernardino County sheriff's Lt. Rick Ells told reporters.

The boy, Joshua Robb, took off from a playground at his elementary school in Twin Peaks just after 11 a.m. on Monday, outrunning teachers who chased him and vanishing into San Bernardino National Forest, officials said.

"He's rather quick and this kind of behavior where he runs off is typical," the San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman told the Associated Press at the time.

Joshua is "severely autistic," officials say, and he doesn't respond well to loud voices or people calling his name...

The article included a troubling aspect of Joshua's home life:

...Joshua's parents had recently lost their house to foreclosure, according to local reports.

He was taken into protective custody after a realtor called social services to report that the boy had been restrained while the family moved out of their home, according to NBC Los Angeles.

"We had to lightly tether him while we were moving stuff out of our house," the father, Ron Robb, said...

"Lightly tether", huh?

When I hear an excuse like that, I immediately imagine other scenarios when a child was "lightly" tethered.

So that one could squeeze in 30 minutes of Farmville?

When one needed an hour nap?

During that fun cookout the family hosted?

When the big game was on Sunday?

I think I can make such a proclamation--having a child on the spectrum, who may or may not respond to his name being called, is unpredictable, and who has running speed similar to my observations of the Roadrunner from the old Looney Tunes cartoon, I believe there is no substitution for "watching" such a child.

Watching means attentive with eyes on the little one.

When I am watching our youngest, I can't be blogging, enjoying the television, napping, or whatever. I best be in the room with him and cognizant of his actions--so that I am not trying to portray, to a national audience, poor parenting involving an inhumane restraint as a viable child-care approach.

Happy Anniversary from a Clueless Husband

2011-09-13T05:45:00.003-04:00

What does a predominantly clueless husband say when his wife greets him with "Happy Anniversary" on the morning before he thinks is the actual celebration day of over a dozen years of marriage?

I mean after giving his best deer-in-headlights immitation?

And, conducting a couple second brain search through multiple mental databases to test his strong feeling that: "Man, isn't the 8th on Monday?"

Well, this scatterbrain husband enthusiastically responds as predicted:

"Happy Anniversary, ma'am," and I quick step to the next room to retrieve the prepared gift.

The exchange made for a good laugh a few hours later when the Mrs. confessed that we were celebrating our anniversary a day early.

As any husband does, I'll just save the memory of this minor mishap for later to cancel out one of my future screw-ups--hopefully it will be enough.

Smell-O-Vision

2011-09-12T00:02:00.000-04:00

With the flooding we have been battling this week, I did not have time to write a post for the Nikki LaDue January series.

For anyone wanting more information on the case, blogger True Crime Diva recently posted thoughts on it.

I'll talk more about that case next Monday.
___________________________________

Thanks again to everyone for their prayers and kind words.

Our family dodged a bullet last week as the flood waters reached within five yards of our porch before receding. The high water damaged many of neighbors' homes so we spent much of the weekend helping them and cleaning up.

The kids continued to make the most of incident. Big brother got his fishing rod out and tried to hook a big one by casting his line from our porch into the liquid filled yard and street.

Little Luca called the high water his "beach" and drew chalk starfish, crabs, and beach blankets on the little space of driveway that was not submerged--though he was not actually allowed to touch the muddy water.

Sissy, played with the neighbor's dog and sat on their truck's tailgate sipping lemonade.

Since we moved most of our stuff to the second floor, while waiting and watching, the Mrs. declared the day "a cleaning day" after discovery all of the yuck that was hiding behind the furniture that we had moved (I tried to be invisible as best as possible after this declaration was made).

And me?

I realized that, though going without a shower for a few days has been fun and reminds me of some teenage guy summer camp that I attended many years ago, the green cloud of funk that follows me wherever I go is probably close to burning holes in the ozone, and will limit my future positive social interactions with folks unless an intervention occurs.

Just be glad this blog does not include a smell-o-vision app.

Note: I had no idea there was a history of smell-o-vision, and that someone cleverly wrote an article on top movies they would like to see with this concept.

Anyway, we hope to have our services restored this week sometime--and I'll be first for an appointment with the bar soap.

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-09-09T05:03:00.002-04:00

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and kind words via the email and post comments yesterday.

Still busy pumping water here, but at least the kids and dog are having fun with the new and unplanned "backyard swimming pool."

Splish, Splash.

Older boy even asked: "Hey dad, if we run out of toilet water can we fill the bowl with Pepsi? Will it still work then?"

Give a young mind a day off from school, and he really has no idea what to do with himself.

Well, we expect to lose power (including Internet) overnight sometime, so have a nice weekend everyone, and I hope to be back next week.

Accidental Discharge

2011-09-08T05:02:00.002-04:00

Note: The rain continues to fall here, flood waters are rising, and the our humble abode is beginning to resemble a houseboat. That said, I may or may not be a very active blogger over the next few days--I'll be focused on bailing water instead.
___________________________________________________________

I saw this sad story from Georgia last week:

Tiffany Bishop (Photo Credit)

JACKSON, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking for answers after an apparent accidental shooting at a Butts County firing range that left a probation officer dead.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Tiffany Bishop, a staff member at the Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson was killed on Wednesday after an apparent accidental discharge of a gun during a classroom training exercise.

John Bankhead of the GBI said, "For whatever reason, the instructor's weapon discharged and hit a probation officer who was in the class, and that probation officer has died."

Bishop, 24, was transported to an area hospital but officials said she died on the way.

The GBI and the Department of Corrections continue to investigate why the instructor used a live firearm in the training session...

Previously, I blogged about the DEA agent who was careless with his firearm and shot himself in the foot in front a classroom of children.

Sadly, these mistakes happen and are even committed on occasion by a firearms instructor.

Though my agency's trainers harped on gun safety, even placing posters up in the range house (where officers cleaned their guns after practice shooting) to recognize the bullet holes in the walls (yes, plural) that resulted from previous accidental discharges, it always seemed to be viewed with just humor by personnel.

Missed in the jokes was that it only takes one lackadaisical moment with gun training to alter so many lives forever.

My prayers are with the family of Probation Officer Tiffany Bishop.

Tuber of the Week #44: Forgot Something?

2011-09-07T05:01:00.007-04:00

Thief Checklist:

1) Get-away-car with tinted windows CHECK

2) Get-away-car driver CHECK

3) Tinted license plate cover CHECK

4) Easily accessible target location CHECK

5) Comfortable and stylish clothes CHECK

6) Hat to pull over face CHECK

7) Running shoes CHECK

Wait...

It seems like I am forgetting something...

I think it is important, but I am drawing a blank...

Hmmm...

How could I forget to include a BELT!

I can't make a clean get-away while sagging!

Argh, I'll update the thief list to include something to hold my pants in place next time.

____________

Don't worry, an alert Polk County (FL) Sheriff's deputy later nabbed our bungling thieves after their failed attempt to acquire two 18-packs of Bud Light beer.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part VI

2011-09-06T00:02:00.010-04:00

Last week, I wrote about a blood-covered phone found near Ms. LaDue January, and this time, I'll continue discussing the scene...
____________________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

B) Feet

Each of us has likes and dislikes.

Characteristics about us that may be odd, but denote our uniqueness.

As such, at a death and/or crime scene, it is important for investigators to be cognizant of a victim's preferences.

For instance, if I was found dead at my dinner table and a plate with a medium-rare steak was in front of me, the specific meal would not mean much to someone who does not know me.

But, detectives speaking to family members would quickly ascertain that the Mrs. and I prefer steaks as close to well-done as possible (yes, our motto is "burn it")--indicating that the food found in front of me was likely not mine.

I am also very routine-oriented. If I were to go missing, the Mrs. could match the time and date that I was last seen to wherever/whatever was on my schedule, and provide authorities with specifics about what I was doing just prior to disappearing.

Ok, enough about me.

The same approach would also apply to the death of Nikki LaDue January.

In correspondence written by Nikki's husband (Phil January) to authorities in which he is dissatisfied with the investigation and asks questions about the scene and circumstances surrounding his wife's death, he makes the following statement:

"...Also out of character was the the fact that the new shoes that she had purchased that day were in our living room and she was barefoot. She never went barefoot for any reason."

Never?

What if other family members verified this observation?

One relative agreed and described Nikki's preference for shoes as an "idiosyncrasy" that she had developed later in life. The relative added that Nikki would only go barefoot when she had to--bedtime, shower, at the pool, etc.

Phil stated Nikki's new tennis shoes, that he referred to previously, were located in the living room.

None of the crime scene photos show shoes on the balcony, but the entire balcony was not included in the shots--nor was the area near the balcony door.

Yet, she was found dead wearing no shoes or socks on her balcony.

Death Scene of Nikki LaDue January

Near a phone that was almost certainly moved more than once prior to police arriving.

With a handgun that was recovered in a highly unlikely place--under her leg.

Now, we can't eliminate every scenario that would send Nikki out on her balcony without shoes; or every situation in which that medium-rare steak would be in front of me.

But...

If an investigator is looking for only one reason to be suspicious of an apparent suicide, learning that a victim never went without shoes yet was found dead in his/her bare feet is certainly enough to question the stated premise.

In this case, the bare feet are just one of a litany of characteristics that scream: "Let's slow down, process this scene, and see what direction the evidence leads."

Unfortunately, the "scream" went unheard.

------------------

Oh, and last week I mentioned a strange object located on a table that was photographed at the scene by the investigator, but not listed in any of the police reports.

About that unidentified object?

It was later determined to be the detective's camera case that was placed on a table and inadvertently included in the series of scene photographs.

I'll cover another aspect of the case next week.
----------------------------------------

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Domestic Violence? Still Gonna Tow Your Car

2011-09-02T05:01:00.002-04:00

Last week, I wrote about a bus driver who was fired for policy violations after aiding three police detectives who had car trouble during a fierce storm that had caused flash flooding in the NYC area.

The bus driver's treatment by company officials was disturbing, but kind blogging friend Miss Caitlin S. from Candyfloss and Persie provided me with a story about an incident from December 2008 with an even larger dose of injustice that had to be righted:

WILSONVILLE, Ore. (12/10/2008 AP) - Neither a bloody face nor a deputy's plea could stop a tow-truck driver from doing what he's paid to do.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said a Wilsonville woman fled her apartment Monday night after getting assaulted by her boyfriend. With blood running down her face, she got in her car and sped across the parking lot to her grandmother's place, where she called 9-1-1.

The 25-year-old provided a statement to the responding sheriff's deputy and then stepped outside to find her car getting towed. The tow driver would not leave the car without making the woman pay a "drop fee."

"I explained to the tow driver that the woman was the victim of domestic violence," Deputy Wes Hall told The Oregonian newspaper. "I told him there was no place to park, so she left the car with its four-way flashers going, because she was trying to get away."

The deputy's arguments failed to persuade.

The driver, who works on commissions, was completely within his rights to tow the car or charge a drop fee to leave it, said Charles White, general operations manager for Retriever Towing. The amount the woman paid has not been disclosed, but White said the fees run as high as $160...

Yes, Mr. White, the driver was within his legal rights to tow the domestic violence victim's auto. You know the one she used to flee her attacker and call police as blood dripped down her face?

But Mr. White, sometimes there is a significant difference between what is legal and what is right.

And, doing what is within one's legal rights may not be good for business.

So...

Guess what happened that day--in just a few short hours after this story was publicized?

WHAM. Six hundred electronic complaints.

POW. Dozens of irate phone callers.

SMASH. The loss of one towing contract and other customers vowing to evaluate their relationship with the company.

By that evening, the media reported that company officials had reversed their decision about the incident, refunded the victim's $165, and "pledged to make a $500 donation to Rafael House of Portland, a shelter for battered women and children."

We, the public, can make a difference in correcting injustices.

We may not be able to always rationalize with the culprits, but they certainly understand the real and potential loss of cash flow.

I am glad management at Retriever Towing decided to do what was right.

Thanks again to Miss Caitlin S. for the post idea.

Note: Again, this story happened back in 2008, but I thought it was still relevant to my point.

___________________________________________

With the holiday weekend, I'll be back on Tuesday with my next post on the Nikki LaDue January case.

Happy Friday and Labor Day to everyone.

Three

2011-09-01T00:03:00.012-04:00

While trudging through Burlington and battling heavy rains earlier this month, Big Brother, Sissy, and I had a wet walk with our umbrellas to the dock where our Lake Champlain sight-seeing boat awaited us.
__________________________________________

BIG BROTHER: Three

ME: What's that son?

BIG BROTHER: I said Three, Dad.

ME: Ok, I'll play your game, three what?

BIG BROTHER: I was just counting the number of public parking lots that are closer to the dock than the one where you parked our car.

ME: Ahh. Your mother's son.

BIG BROTHER: Wait... Dad, look!

(points to an orange "Park Here: First Two Hours Free" sign ahead and across the street)

BIG BROTHER: Four! Now it is Four!

SISSY: What did Big Brother say, Dad?

(I balance the umbrella handle between my shoulder and neck and use both of my hands to cover my ears)

ME: Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala!
_________________________________

Responding to criticism in a childish manner?

Works for me.

Tuber of the Week #43: Dream Proposal

2011-08-30T05:03:00.001-04:00

Do women and men think about things differently?

Um...well...ok, a definite "yes" to that one:

The Mrs. and I both got a laugh out of the commercial.

Though my execution of the marriage proposal (on a Valentine's Day carriage ride through big city where I used to live) was much better than Mr. "Go Tigers" in the video, the Mrs. is still critical of my overall engagement request.

The question: "What took you so long?" is her usual starting point.

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part V

2011-08-29T00:02:00.034-04:00

Last week, I looked at the gun in relation to the victim's body.

In this post, I want to discuss another item at the scene: a cordless telephone.
____________________________________________________

Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

--------------------------------------

B) The Telephone

Near the end of Pass Christian Police Department detective Tom Pustay's investigative narrative, a report where he describes the death scene of Ms. LaDue January, he makes the following curious statement:

"...There is a cordless phone on a table that is covered with blood. It is unknown how it got there or how the blood got on it..."

As the report continues, a reader expects the detective, who has introduces a seemingly out of place bloody phone, to clarify that initial statement.

He does not.

Strangely, no additional information about the phone is included in Pustay's report, but he photographed it (shown below).

Blood Covered White Phone (Photo Credit)

The family allowed me to review a second police report on the case--that of one of the police first responders that morning: Sgt. Willie Davis.

Sgt. Davis' description of the scene does not mention the bloody phone on the table.

So, two detailed reports of a death scene thought to be a suicide, and an object that was evidently covered in blood and lying on a table about five feet from the body, is barely mentioned.

But, why is the phone important?

Remember, the pathologist hired by the family to examine Nikki's body stated that death occurred "immediately or very rapidly after immediate loss of consciousness."

So, a bloody phone on a table would have been either placed there by the woman immediately as she was dying or, and here we go again, moved there by someone else.

Now, the phone was evidently moved once by Nikki's husband, Phil January.

According to documents provided by Nikki's family, Phil stated that he initially saw the phone "in the middle of her lap."

Mr. January evidently added that the phone was covered in blood (as in the photo), not near Nikki's hand, and was in an area of her lap that had no blood stains.

In addition, the family states that Phil was also confused by the source of the blood on the phone, spoke with Detective Pustay about it, and was concerned over the investigator's dismissal of the detail.

When authorities arrived it was said that the phone's battery was dead.

In sum, a woman's death is declared a suicide. The gun believed to be used in the death is found in a chair partially under one of the victim's legs. A portable phone covered in blood, is seen on a table in front of the woman--but it is unknown how the blood got there.

It is reasonable to argue that the gun was moved and later placed between the victim's legs.

The telephone was moved at least once before the body was photographed--and it is likely that the item was relocated twice prior to police arriving.

That said, this renders more questions than anything:

--How did the phone get covered in blood?

--Was she holding the phone at the time of death?

--Who moved it (how many times) and why?

This "open-and-shut suicide" case appears to be anything but that.

I'll have more next Tuesday--including another strange item photographed on Ms. LaDue January's table, but not mentioned in police reports.

----------------------------------------

All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

Fired for What?

2011-08-26T05:01:00.002-04:00

Firing employees based on a a policy violation without considering the entirety of the situation has always bothered me.

Refuse to let people use common sense, and you are often left with a mess.

Here is a prime example:

A school bus driver on Long Island is fighting to regain his job after being fired last week for being a Good Samaritan, apparently against company policy.

George Daw claimed he was terminated because he helped three Nassau County police detectives during last Monday's hail and rain storm.

"I felt this was something anyone would do under the circumstances," said Daw, 58.

Daw was driving a mini-bus carrying a teenage passenger and a bus matron last Monday as golf ball-size hail and torrential rain pelted New Hyde Park. On Hillside Avenue, Daw came upon on a stalled unmarked police car carrying detectives, according to Detective Lt. Raymond Cote. The car had been filling with water.

"They're saying, you've got to help us, you've got to help us," said Daw. "You've got to get us to the third precinct. We're police officers."

Daw did just that, pushing through the flood waters to pick up the detectives and deliver them to their precinct.

"I felt they were in danger," explained Daw.

Daw's employer, Educational Bus Transport of Copiague, didn't agree.

After Daw filed a report about what happened, he was terminated from his job of nine months.

Company paperwork supplied by Daw showed he was fired in part because he violated policy prohibiting drivers from picking up unscheduled passengers...

So canning a worker who was helping stranded motorists during a hail storm is the type of media story that you want to link your firm to Mr. and Mrs. bus company executives?

Forget that those helped were police detectives.

What if the stranded driver and passengers were elderly folks or a parent with two small children?

Would the employee still have been fired? They still would have violated the same company policy, right?

I hope Mr. Daw finds a much better job--one with wise executives who will recognize and reward his willingness to help someone else in need.

The Nightmares of Frank Bender

2011-08-25T00:03:00.003-04:00

My condolences to the family of forensic artist Frank Bender. Mr. Bender passed away in his hometown of Philadelphia on July 28 at the age of 70.

During his career, Bender worked with numerous law enforcement and families by creating clay head sculptures to help identify unclaimed bodies. He also created time-forward sculptures--predicting what fugitives look like who have not been seen in years.

In February of last year, I wrote about Frank's last work--a 3-D sculpture of an eight-year old boy's head whose body had been found in North Carolina, but was never been identified.

Frank, battling cancer, agreed to do the work at no charge.

A film about his life is scheduled to be released next year: "The Recomposer of the Decomposed."

In reading more about the former Navy man and photographer, I saw this in the NY Times:

...Interviewers often asked Mr. Bender whether his life among the dead gave him nightmares. Yes, he replied, but not in the way you think. For years, he explained, his dreams had been peopled by the dead, and by sinister men.

The sinister men invariably attacked him, Mr. Bender said, and whenever they did, the unnamed dead rose up in his defense.

Wow.

Now that is a strong confirmation that your life work was valuable and truly an investment in helping victims and families who could never repay you.

Tuber of the Week #42: Growing Up

2011-08-23T05:01:00.013-04:00

With a daughter who starts kindergarten this week, I am several years away from the scenario depicted in the following video.

I have been told by parents "who have been there," that time flies and young children will become a distant memory sooner than any mom or dad wants.

Well done commercial by Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis and the folks at Subaru.

Interesting tidbit with the video--the actor portraying the concerned father is Andy Lyons.

The two girls in the video are his real-life daughters Georgie (the younger) and Lanna Lynch (the driver).

The Death of Nikki LaDue January: Part IV

2011-08-22T00:02:00.066-04:00

Before I start the next post in this series: when writing on crime, I prefer to speak in probabilities.

I was not at Ms. LaDue January's condo the morning she was discovered. I did not speak to anyone at the scene. I do not have access to all the investigative reports and do not know everything that authorities and the family know.

Smarter and more experienced folks have examined this case.

As such, I'll describe my observations as more likely or less likely or something to that extent.
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Case Summary

In July of 2002, the body of Nikki LaDue January was found seated on the balcony of her condominium in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Officers stated that she had a single gun shot wound to her right temple area.

A Sterling .380 caliber pistol was partially under her left thigh on a chair, her right leg was propped up against the table in front of her, and a cordless phone on the table was covered in blood.

There were two different brands of cigarettes and two different lighters on the table in front of her.

A bullet was located in a chair on the next balcony, and a shell casing was later found by a maintenance man in the condo's pool.

Ms. January had apparently been deceased for several hours, and her five-year old son was found in the residence unharmed.

Authorities at the scene quickly classified the death as a suicide.

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On the family's site, they identify multiple issues that warrant clarification, but rather than repeat their discussion in the next few posts, I'll offer perspective on some of the specifics concerning Nikki's death.

A) The Gun

In the photo taken by Detective Pustay, the firearm believed to have killed Ms. LaDue January is seen on the chair partially under her left thigh. The family, several readers, and I am sure most anyone else who has examined this case, has asked, "how did a gun, allegedly used by someone to commit suicide, end up in that unusual position?"

Photo Credit

Why would the gun not be on the floor beside or somewhere behind her?

Questions about the handgun become even more disturbing after learning the pathologist hired by the family to examine this case concluded that death occurred "very rapidly" due to a gunshot to the head. The professional believed that the gun was in contact with her skin when fired.

Again, if Nikki died almost instantly, why is the gun between her legs?

As regular contributor Sue stated in a comment last time: "My husband and I tried to re-enact this and couldn't at all come up with how the gun was found *under* her left thigh, partially or completely, inside or outside, whether she was standing or seated during time of impact."

I am with you Sue--I'd describe it not as impossible, but certainly as highly unlikely.

Strangely, the family includes a statement that Nikki's husband, Phil January, described the gun as "sitting beside her on a small padded wicker stool with rod-iron railing."

Whoa.

Scene photos and the detective's report describe the gun in one place, but the person who discovers Ms. LaDue January's body allegedly says the .380 was in another spot.

So, the gun was very likely moved.

How many times though? Once? Twice?

Who Knows.

But why?

Here are three possible reasons:

Note: This list is not comprehensive as there are other possible explanations (panic, deceit, etc.).

1) An Accident

Death/violent crime scenes are often chaotic. Family and friends inadvertently contaminate the scene and evidence. First responders performing their life-saving duties enter and exit the area.  As such, the gun could have been accidentally moved by family, friends, or initial responders. But this seems less likely: first responders are trained to do whatever it takes to keep from disturbing a scene; and would have been especially cautious due to the post mortem lividity visible (she was obviously deceased) in her legs and the item in question was a gun.   Family or friends could have moved the gun without intent, but you'd think that this would be included in statements--I did not see it.

2) On Purpose: Safety

If someone else was in the condo when the woman died, and knew about her five-year old being asleep in another room, an unknown person could have relocated the gun to prevent the son from finding it. Whether the death was a suicide or something more, it is reasonable to argue that the gun was hidden partially under the body for the safety of others.

3) On Purpose: A Message

In Stacy Horn's excellent work on the NYPD's Cold Case Unit entitled "The Restless Sleep," she details the unsolved strangulation murder of Jean Sanseverino.  At the time of her death, Sanseverino had multiple dating relationships, and was separated from her husband. She was found deceased in her bed. One key piece of evidence was feces. Sanseverino's killer wiped human waste on her--not the perp "accidentally had a bowel movement during the incident," but the person intentionally wiped lots of feces all over her body. Detectives theorized that this was done by someone she knew to send a message.  Similarly, could a handgun placed in the crotch area of a deceased woman be construed as some type of message? I say reasonable again.

In sum, the gun was apparently moved. If the case is ever reopened, follow-up interviews with those at the scene may shed some light as to the when and the why.

I'll have more next Monday.

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All posts on this topic can be viewed by clicking here: Nikki LaDue January.

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