Members of Mayday-Mob Arrested in Connection with Washington Arson Fires

March 31, 2008

Two promising young skateboarders from Yakima County, Washington have been arrested and charged in connection with a string of arson fires. Investigators are now trying to determine if another arson fire, set just days after the two suspects were arrested, is connected to the young men’s skating group, identified in court documents as the "Mayday-Mob."

"It’s kind of coincidental that early this morning we have a fire and they made two arrests earlier during the week. So I think there's still more to come," West Valley Fire Chief Dave Leitch said in a March 30 interview with KNDO.com.

According to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, the previous arson cases, dating back to April 2006, caused nearly $100,000 in damages. Investigators said they began investigating the two teens, identified in court documents as Nicholas Heilman, 18, and Eric Protsman, 19, after an informant came forward and identified them as the arsonists.

Last week Heilman was arraigned on five counts of second-degree arson for fires set between April 2006 and October 2007. Days later, Protsman was charged with one count of second-degree arson...

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Ten-Year-Old Jayci Yaeger Succumbs to Cancer After Seeing Imprisoned Father

March 28, 2008

It is with deep sorrow and regret that I must announce the passing of 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger. According to family members, Jayci died late last night, just one day after a visit from her father.

"She was hanging on for daddy, and she got her daddy, and then she let go," Jayci's uncle, Ed Yaeger, said on The Early Show Friday.

Jayci's father, Jason Yaeger, is housed at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, where he is serving out the final year of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction. Prison officials, who claimed the case did not meet the criteria of the prison's extraordinary circumstances policy, recently denied Jason's request for an early release to a halfway house. As a result, Jason asked President George W. Bush for clemency, however the White House never issued an official response to the request. The entire ordeal has left a bad taste in the mouth of Jayci's family, however they are grateful she is no longer suffering.

"We're happy that it was peaceful and that she is now no longer in pain, and her suffering is over," Ed told Kolnkgin.com. "We really wish Jason could have been there by her side to be with her in her last moments, but we're going to continue to fight and have Jason there for the funeral."

Federal prison officials have yet to comment on whether Jason will be allowed to attend his daughter's funeral. It remains unclear if a recent statement released by the prison was issued before or after Jayci's death. The statement read in part:

"The institution has taken unusual steps to be accommodating during this difficult time...After careful review of the security needs of the community and the offender, the warden determined that a furlough was not a viable option."

The visit Jason had with Jayci earlier this week came after federal authorities received a deluge of emails, letters, and phone calls from around the globe.

The campaign for Jason's early release is over, however you can still help by contacting the prison and asking them to allow Jason to attend his daughter's funeral. Please contact Linda Asher, Yankton FPC public relations officer, at 605-665-3262.

You can also help the Yaeger family with medical expenses, by sending a donation to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Federal Prison Inmate Jason Yaeger Allowed Visit With Dying Daughter, Ten-Year-Old Jayci Yaeger

Pressured by growing media coverage and a deluge of emails, letters, and phone calls from around the globe, federal authorities allowed Jason Yaeger to visit with his dying daughter, 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger yesterday afternoon.

According to family members, the only people allowed in the room with Jayci during the visit were Jason and his federal prison escorts.  Nonetheless, they report that despite the fact that Jayci is unresponsive she was aware of her father's presence, something they say was evident by a noticeable increase in her breathing and a spike in her heartbeat during the visit.

Ketv.com reports that the visit lasted several hours.  However, other media outlets, including FoxNews.com are reporting the visit only lasted for 30 minutes.  At the completion of the visit, Jason was transported back to the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, where he is serving out the final year of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction.  Prison officials have yet to release an official comment on the visit.

I think it is important that those of you who took time to place a call or send a letter to federal authorities should be commended for your actions. Without each and every one of you this visit may have never taken place...

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