Pat LaLama Reports: The Murder Of Sherri Rasmussen

February 06, 2012

[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history.  Follow Pat's daily coverage of the Stephanie Lazarus Trial.    Read her Bio >> ]

 

 

>>Day 1 of The Stephanie Lazarus Murder Trial<<

 

“A bite, a bullet, a gun barrel and a broken heart.” That is the essence of the prosecution’s case against once revered LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus, now on trial for the brutal murder of a beautiful nursing supervisor 26 years ago. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Shannon Presby passionately delivered his opening statement Monday morning to a jury of 8 women and 4 men. “This killing was personal”, he told the panel.

Presby portrayed Lazarus as a ruthless killer, obsessed over a case of unrequited love.  In 1986, Lazarus was a patrol officer who prosecutors say was devastated over a breakup with her boyfriend, John Ruetten. When Ruetten married another woman, 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen, Presby says Lazarus showed up at Rasmussen’s townhome, brutally beat the newlywed, bit her on the arm and shot her three times at close range. Prosecutors say Lazarus, trained in lock picking, snuck into the home. They also contend that Lazarus used a gun she had purchased from the LAPD and utilized her police knowledge of fingerprints to destroy evidence at the crime scene. Presby also contends that Lazarus used a robe to muffle the sound of gunshots.

At the time, LAPD detectives concluded the crime was a burglary gone wrong. Lazarus continued as a police officer and worked her way up the ranks—ultimately becoming a detective in the LAPD elite Commercial Crimes division. She married a fellow cop and they adopted a little girl.

The case remained unsolved for nearly two decades, until cold case detectives took a second look. Now, using DNA analysis, they determined the bite mark belonged to a woman. Upon further analysis, Presby told the jury the DNA “matched to the exclusion of every other single person on this planet”.

As Presby laid out his case, photographs of a smiling Sherri Rasmussen flashed on a giant screen. They quickly dissolved into images of her battered body. Her father Nels, sitting behind me, broke into tears.

Lazarus didn’t look up from the counsel table where she is seated with her attorney Mark Overland. Her hair was neatly pulled back. She wore a black suit and glasses as she pored over documents and took notes. It was easy to imagine her as a diligent detective. She has the look. Except now, she is a murder defendant.

Overland used the morning in his opening statement to dispute the reliability of the evidence against Lazarus. He told the jury that over the years, the bite mark DNA has been compromised by a questionable chain of custody. “It violated every procedure”, Overland said. He showed the jury pictures of a torn evidence bag and an unsealed tube. In Overland’s words, “the prosecution utterly failed to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt. Not even close.”

First witnesses are up next.   

>>Read Pat's Day Two Coverage Of The Trial

 

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Photo credit: AP Photos

 

Conrad Murray Had No Remorse For His Patient, Michael Jackson

November 29, 2011

A personal friend and physician of Michael Jackson, Dr. Patrick Treacy offers his thoughts on the today's sentencing of Dr. Conrad Murray.  (Read his bio)

 

 

 Dr. Murray has just received four years for his involvement in the death of Michael Jackson. He will also have to pay substantial restitution to the young family and estate of the late singer. During the weeks of the trial and the utterly tasteless documentary in which he later participated, the doctor expressed no remorse for his patient's death and attempted to blame his client and others instead for his passing. This was of concern to many people as his total lack of empathy for his victim was considered contrary to the normal doctor-patient relationship.

At times, especially during the post trial documentary , Murray's self-serving behaviour, his grandiose sense of self, his pathological lying, as well as his lack of remorse shame or guilt caused many commentators to feel that the doctor displayed possible sociopathic type tendencies. 

I felt Judge Pastor gave the appropriate sentence with a sense of fairness and decency. He said "There are those who feel Dr. Murray is a saint," "There are those who feel Dr. Murray is the devil. He's neither. He's a human being. He stands convicted of the death of another human being'. These words were indeed profound and gave a great sense of humanity to the proceedings. The amount of money that Dr. Murray has to pay Michael's young family and his estate means he is very unlikely to profit in the future from book sales etc. The Judge reminded everyone that Murray worked as a doctor for 20 years, with "no prior contacts with the law," and many of his patients were elderly in low-income, under-served communities. It does seems reasonable that the transgression for which he is to be judged should be viewed within the context of the larger life of which it is a part. .

The judge also said that while he had considered the entire "book" of Murray's life, he also had "read the book of Michael Jackson's life." "Regrettably, as far as Dr. Murray is concerned, the most significant chapter, as it relates to this case, is the chapter involving the treatment, or lack of treatment, of Michael Jackson." and those words summed up the reality of the situation. Whatever justice Michael may have now legally, this sad episode will never bring him back and the world will have to get used to a world without him. He will be forever remembered in his musical legacy and as I sit here writing this comment in Ailesbury, at times I think I can hear his gentle laughter still in the air. 'Treacy, I don't know whether you're trying to wind me up or not'

 

Alas, poor Michael, until we all meet again....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Links:
Conrad Murray: Wreckless and a danger
Timeline: Michael Jackson's Legal Woes

Conrad Murray: Reckless And Dangerous

>>NEWS UPDATE<<

Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s physician, found guilty this month for involuntary manslaughter has been sentenced to four years imprisonment L.A. County Jail Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

 

Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s physician, found guilty this month for involuntary manslaughter will be sentenced Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court. 

Murray, 58, has spent the last three weeks of the six-week trial behind bars. The trial presented the most detailed account yet of the popstar’s final hours but left many questions about Murray's treatment of Jackson with an operating-room anesthetic as he battled chronic insomnia.

Under new statewide policies in California, certain nonviolent offenders are held in county to lessen inmate overcrowding. In L.A., jail terms are often cut significantly, as county facilities are overfull.

Prosecutors emphasized the vulnerability of Michael Jackson, created by Dr. Murray and said: “this is a crime in which the end result was the death of a human being.” They asked the judge to consider Murray’s “lack of remorse” in his sentencing and asked the judge for the maximum sentencing of four year in state prison.

>>A Look Back At Murray's Trial<<

Murray’s lawyers contested the King of Pop’s vulnerability and said Michael Jackson was a “drug seeker” and though Dr. Murray was wrong in providing it, he was not the only one at fault. They asked for the most lenient sentence, arguing that the physician has already been punished enough with the loss of his medical license and public contempt.

>>Timeline: Michael Jackson's Legal Woes<<

"I do wonder, though, to what extent the court considers the entirety of a man's book of life, as opposed to just one chapter," defense attorney Ed Chernoff said. He described Dr. Murray’s life as coming from a poor childhood to becoming a cardiologist who helped treat the poor.

“Does any of that matter?” Chernoff asked.

The judge said that the Murray’s lawyers’ argument that if it wasn’t for Dr. Murray someone else might have done the same was, an “insult to the medical profession” and disregarded good deeds done by Dr. Murray before the treatment of Michael Jackson. 

>>Dr. Patrick Treacy: Murray Had No Remorse For Jackson

The judge found that Dr. Murray was the one at fault in the death of Michael Jackson and said “that’s the chapter to which I refer.”

The judge also talked about the lies that Dr. Murray had told, including attempts to hide evidence and found that Dr. Murray continues to be a danger to society.

 

NY Woman Arrested for Videotaping Police Traffic Stop

June 24, 2011

A controversy is arising after a video was posted online earlier this week showing a New York woman being taken into police custody for videotaping a police traffic stop from her front yard.

The video, which is expected to go viral, was shot in Rochester on the night of May 9 by Emily Good. In it, officers with the Rochester Police Department are seen conducting a search of a man's vehicle on Aldine Street. Roughly 40 seconds into the four -and-a-half-minute video, one of the officers directs his attention at Good and asks her if she needs something.

"This is my front yard. I'm just recording what you're doing. It's my right," Good replies.

"Actually, not from the sidewalk," the officer responds.

The officer tells her on the video that he does not "feel safe" with her standing behind him. He then asks her to go inside her home.

The verbal exchange continues until the office finally says, "You know what? You're gonna go to jail. That's just not right."

Good was taken into custody and charged with obstructing governmental administration.

The arrest has sparked a lot of debate online, and the police department announced that an internal investigation is underway to determine whether the arrest was justified. The case, however, may not be so cut and dried, according to one expert.

"While our protagonist-antagonist had a right to videotape in a public place where there is no expectation of privacy and where generally police officers don’t have an expectation of privacy in any event, she could have been a little more – shall we say – reasonable," famed Seattle attorney and legal analyst Anne Bremner told Investigation Discovery.

"Here's the law: her videotaping was legal. Standing in her yard was legal. She was within her rights to do what she did and stand where she stood," Bremner said.

According to the veteran attorney, Good could argue that the police officer's demand that she go in her house was an unlawful order, as she had a right to stand her ground in her yard, which could put her in a good legal position.

On the other hand, police officers do not like to allow any interference in their arrests or turn their backs on anyone.

"Their arrests command their total attention," Bremner said. "That is why we see officers telling people, 'Get back in your house' ; 'Step back' ; 'Please, don't cross this line' ; etc. Officers can give out orders for their own safety, the safety of the arrestee(s) and bystanders, … and [they] have latitude in making attendant orders and arrests."

Good is scheduled to appear in court on June 27. According to local media reports, her public defender is hoping to get the case dismissed. In the event it is not, Bremner said it could prove to be a good "legal balancing test."

"Does anyone really want to test this out in court?" Bremner asked. "Could everyone have acted a little more reasonably? Could she have cooperated? Could they have not arrested her?"

Michael Jackson's Death Causes Shark-Like Media Frenzy

June 25, 2009

I was not much of a Michael Jackson fan when I was growing up, although the video for "Thriller" did catch my eye when I was in fifth grade or thereabouts. Being a huge horror fan, anything with zombies in it was cool to me both then and still is now. That being said, I was not going to write anything about Michael's death, as it is not a crime to die; however, after watching the news for an hour, I became annoyed by some of the coverage of his death.

I watched heart specialists describing what Jackson's final moments would have been like, financial experts debating the value of his estate, psychologists speculating on how his children will cope, and lawyers speculating on who will obtain custody of the kids. One commentator even went so far as to question whether Jackson - an alleged believer in cryogenics - would be frozen. Then, of course, you have all the live feeds of his home and the hospital to which he had been taken.

Must see TV, for sure.

I am all about freedom of the press, but I also believe there is a certain way to tell a story at a time like this. Why not report the facts in a respectful and sensitive manner? Just because someone is a celebrity does not mean that when he or she dies, the person’s entire life should be picked apart on live TV while the family is trying to cope with the loss. If you really feel the need to know all of those things, fine, but now is not the time to pick apart his entire life. Give the family some space.

On the flipside of mainstream journalism, several Internet forums and sites have already begun celebrating Jackson's death. Some of the headlines I have seen include: The Pedophile Freak is Dead, Famous Pedo Bites the Dust, and Reclusive Pedophile Dies.

I'm sorry, but does anyone but me see a problem with those headlines? Was Jackson a criminal? I don't know. I was not there; however, a jury of his peers did acquit him on all counts. Regardless of whether he was guilty, hateful articles about him do nothing but hurt his family and children, who are entirely innocent of the allegations. I'm sorry, but I am not one who believes that the children should bear the sins of their father. Jackson's past should have no relevance to anything that happened today.

In closing, it is unfortunate that the King of Pop's family must bear not only the burden of his death, but also the weight of all the publicity they are facing at a time when they should be allowed to mourn in private. To cover his death in a tasteful manner is one thing, but to exploit it for ratings and page views is something altogether different, and those outlets which do that should be ashamed of themselves.

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Photo Credit: Public Domain: White House Photo Office

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Case against accused serial kitty killer based on circumstantial evidence

June 17, 2009

A judge in Miami has approved the supervised release of Tyler Hayes Weinman, an 18-year-old man from Palmetto Bay, Fla., who was recently arrested for his alleged involvement in a recent series of cat mutilations and killings that occurred in two South Florida communities. In addition, new details have surfaced, suggesting Weinman's arrest was based on circumstantial evidence.

During today's court hearing, Judge John Thornton said that the results of a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation showed that Weinman does not pose a danger to himself or the public.

"He is competent to proceed and does not, at this time, appear to be at risk of harming himself or others," Thornton said.

Per the conditions of his release, Weinman must attend psychiatric counseling twice a week and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while he awaits trial.

"He's an innocent man," said his attorney, Michael Walsh. "There's no evidence. Obviously, there's been a public outcry to solve this crime, and you know that motivates police in certain directions. And now this young man has to sit there and bear the allegations. When the case starts to unfold, you'll see."

Weinman's divorced parents, Douglas and Aiba Weinman, posted his $249,500 bond.

"I'm absolutely sure that he is innocent," Doug Weinman told television reporters outside the courtroom. "Because I've raised a son for 18 years and I know who he is."

Weinman's lawyer and parents are not the only ones claiming he is innocent. Numerous social networking groups have been popping up on the Internet in support of him, and earlier today, the CBS4 I-Team raised serious questions about the case against Weinman, which they say is based "entirely on circumstantial evidence."

According to I-Team sources, a mid-May tip led police to focus on Weinman. When investigators first questioned him, they observed scratch marks on his body, which they felt were consistent with injuries someone would receive while holding a struggling cat. Of further interest to investigators was a "disturbing" description he allegedly gave them regarding a cat dissection that occurred in an anatomy class he had taken at Palmetto High School. Police used this and other circumstantial evidence to convince a judge to allow them to place a GPS tracking device on Weinman's car.

The police tracking device allegedly showed that Weinman was in certain areas that were consistent with the dates and times of the cat killings. When later questioned about his movements, Weinman – unaware of the tracking device – allegedly denied he was in those areas. Investigators found the denials suspicious; however, the areas also include routes he would reportedly travel between his parents' houses.

Based on the above and other unreleased information, investigators secured the search warrants for Weinman's parents' houses and his car. Police allegedly found several knives hidden inside his bedroom, which they confiscated, along with other miscellaneous items, including clothing and a computer, and sent off for forensic testing. Prosecutors are now waiting to see if tests on the knives or clothing come back with a positive match to blood from one of the murdered cats.

It remains unclear why police took Weinman into custody before getting the DNA test results back from the lab. Perhaps public pressure and evidence unknown to the public led them to make that decision. Despite the reason, much of their case appears to depend on the results of the forensic testing. If that is truly the situation, prosecutors appear to have taken a risky gamble, which could result in the unnecessary destruction of an innocent man’s reputation. For the sake of justice, let's hope this does not happen.

Regardless of how circumstantial the evidence against Weinman is, some owners of the feline victims remain convinced of his guilt and are unnerved by his unexpected jail release.

"It's disturbing that they would let him out, knowing that he has killed so many cats," Alicia Glatzer, whose cat, Sarah, was found dead in early May, told the Associated Press, adding, "Although he says he's innocent and his attorney says he's innocent, there haven't been any cat killings since he's been in jail. It's a concern of mine that he's let out, that's he's back on the street."

Weinman was arrested Sunday and charged with 19 felony counts of animal cruelty, 19 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of an animal body, and four felony counts of burglary related to the cat deaths.

Since May 11, at least two dozen domestic cats have been found dead in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay areas. Many of the feline victims were gutted and skinned, while others were found drained of blood and missing limbs.

Weinman is expected to appear in court for his arraignment on July 6. If convicted on all felony counts, he faces a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and six months in prison on each count.

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Related Link:
Florida Police Seek Kitty Serial Killer
Florida Police Arrest Tyler Hayes Weinman in Kitty Serial Killer Case

Photo Credit: Tyler Hayes Weinman: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office

Please note: Persons appearing in mug shots may not have not been convicted of the charges for which they are accused and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Thirteen-year-old Boy Accused of Murder-Necrophilia

June 03, 2009

Police in the Haizhu district of South China's Guangzhou province have arrested a 13-year-old boy for brutally murdering a three-year-old girl and then having sex with her corpse.

According to statements made by the victim's family, Wang Xiaoyi was playing outside on the evening of May 19, when she suddenly disappeared.

"When she didn't return till dark, we got worried," Xiaoyi's father, Wang Long, told the South China Metropolis Daily. "We went out to search for her, and at about 8 p.m. we noticed police barricades near an apartment building nearby. There was word that a little girl had fallen to her death from the building. We stepped closer and found it was our daughter."

The incident was initially believed to be a tragic accident; however, closer inspection of the body revealed trauma that was not consistent with a fall. A postmortem examination on May 21 confirmed those suspicions. According to the medical examiner, the girl was first murdered and then sexually assaulted. The criminal investigation then led police to a troubled teen, who they say has confessed to the crime.

"We have arrested the boy and are interrogating him to determine the motive of the murder," said a spokesperson with the Haizhu district public security bureau.

According to police, the boy, whom they have not identified, was walking home from school when he noticed Xiaoyi playing near his apartment building. When no one was looking, the accused grabbed the girl and took her to his house, where he allegedly bound her hands and feet before drowning her in a basin of water.

After killing the child, police say the suspect had sex with her corpse and then threw her body out the window of his fifth-floor apartment.

Neither of the suspect's parents was home at the time of the incident.

Police have yet to comment on a motive in the case; however, local psychologists are pointing the finger at pornography and the Internet. At this time, there is no indication that the boy had access to either.

While the reason behind the crime remains unclear, it is painfully clear to the victim's family that their daughter's killer cannot be punished for taking her life.

"The court cannot punish anyone below the age of 14 with criminal sanctions," Huang Aihua, a lawyer at the Guangzhou Hebang Law Firm, said in an interview with chinadaily.com.

According to Aihua, the suspect, if found guilty, would only face civil liabilities.

"The victim's family can request compensation for mental anguish, death, and funeral charges," he said.

Since the suspect in this case - an individual who is obviously very troubled - will not serve a single day behind bars, one must wonder what further acts he is capable of committing and - most importantly - will he strike again? After all, his age gives him a free pass to murder...

Related Link:
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Photo Credit: Investigation Discovery

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Unsolved: The Missing and Murdered Women of Chautauqua County

May 13, 2009

Situated in the southwestern corner of New York State, Chautauqua County is the westernmost of New York's counties. The Web site of the visitors' bureau describes the area as a "gateway to the west," where visitors can enjoy "grapes, wineries, cultural, culinary, and resort centers." What you won't find on that Web site is information about the county's unsolved abductions and murders of women - some of which date to the 1980s.

Jane Doe: On Dec. 6, 1983, utility company employees discovered the partially clad body of a woman in a ditch along Route 17 in Ellery. The victim, who has never been identified, had been shot once in the back, twice in the chest, and once inside the mouth. Based upon the victim's characteristics, investigators believe she was a European; however, all attempts to identify her have been unsuccessful. She is described as a white female, 33-37 years of age, 5'4" and 128 lbs., with grayish brown hair and brown eyes. She had a wart above her left eye and a mole behind her left ear. The autopsy revealed that the victim had given birth to at least one child, some 15 years prior to her death.  The victim had bridge work on the right side of her mouth, which is believed to have been done in Europe. A handwritten note found with the victim was from the Blue Boy Motor Lodge in Vancouver, British Columbia; however, investigators have been unable to decipher the abbreviations and numbers written on it.

Kathy Wilson: Last seen on May 18, 1988, Kathy disappeared after an afternoon trip to Quality Markets in Falconer. Her vehicle was later found at another grocery store on the opposite side of town. On Sept. 24, 1989, Kathy's remains were found in a wooded area along Lindell Road in Warren County, Pennsylvania.  Her case remains unsolved.

Judith Lynn McElheney: The body of 27-year-old Judith McElheney was found on Oct. 8, 1990, at a rest stop on Route 5 in Sheridan. According to police, she had sustained a single gunshot to her head close to her left ear. Investigators have been unable to determine a motive in the case, and no suspects have ever been identified.

Rebecca Nicholson: On Dec. 13, 1990, Rebecca's body was discovered inside her Westfield home. According to police, she had been shot. To date, no one has been arrested in the case.

Melinda Juul: An on-duty police officer discovered the body of 32-year-old Melinda Juul on the morning of Jan. 20, 1993, along Marion Street in Jamestown. The victim had been shot, and a .40-caliber shell casing was found at the scene. Neighborhood residents reported being suspicious of a black car that had driven through the area, but it remains unclear if the vehicle was connected to the crime. Melinda's body was approximately two blocks from a resource center, where she had helped care for the developmentally disabled. Melinda was last seen when she left work to go on break. According to police, she used her bank debit card at a plaza shortly before her murder. She also purchased a magazine at the Foote Avenue Quality Markets. Melinda's husband and four children were at home during the incident. The motive behind the murder remains unknown, and police have yet to name a suspect in the case.

Lori Ceci Bova: On the evening of June 7, 1997, 26-year-old Lori Bova, her husband Tyrone Bova, and her sister went to dinner at Red Lobster in Lakewood. Lori and her husband left the restaurant at about 10:30 p.m. and returned home together. According to the initial statements Tyrone gave to police, he last saw his wife shortly after their return home, when they got into an argument and she went outside to smoke a cigarette. What happened to her after that remains a mystery. Lori is described as a white female, 5'4" tall, 106 pounds, with long curly brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt printed with the words "Freeport Bahamas."

Yolanda Bindics: Twenty-five-year-old Yolanda was last seen on the night of Aug. 10, 2004, when she left her job at the Family Dollar store in Jamestown. The following day, police found Yolanda's car in the parking lot of an Arby's restaurant on Fluvanna Ave., about half a mile from the Family Dollar store.  On Sept. 8, 2004, police found Yolanda's purse, keys, and other personal items in two separate storm drains in Jamestown. The search for Yolanda continued until Sep. 10, 2006, when hunters discovered her remains in a state forest in the Town of Charlotte. Yolanda's death has been ruled a homicide, and at least two persons of interest - both of whom maintain their innocence - have been named in the case; however, no one has been arrested, and the case remains unsolved.

Corrie Anderson: On Oct. 28, 2008, 36-year-old Corrie L. Anderson, a mother of three from Ashville, disappeared after visiting her boyfriend at the Lake County Dodge dealership on Washington Street in Jamestown. Items found at Corrie's house suggest she made it home before her disappearance. On Oct. 30, a hunter discovered Corrie's car abandoned at a gas well off Kortwright Road in the town of Busti, approximately two miles from Corrie's house. Multiple agencies have participated in a search effort. Authorities and members of the search and recovery group 3 View have used ATVs, helicopters, and dogs to inspect areas of interest; however, no sign of her has been found. Corrie Anderson is 5'11", 170 pounds, with green eyes and blond hair. She was last seen wearing black corduroy pants, a black leather jacket, and small wire-rimmed glasses. Her keys and black, 8" x 8" square purse, with a G.H. Bass & Company logo, are also missing.

Though investigators do not believe any of the cases mentioned here are connected, they have acknowledged that some of them have similar characteristics. Unfortunately, County Legislatures have repeatedly turned down funding requests for a cold case squad. As a result, it is unclear if any of these cases will ever be solved.

Anyone with information on any of the cases listed here should contact the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office at 716-753-2131 or the New York State Police at 716-665-3113.

Related Links:
Missing Mother of Three, Corrie Anderson, Needs Your Help
Who Killed Yolanda Bindics?

Photo Credits: Contributed

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Has an Ohio School Overstepped Its Authority?

May 11, 2009

A high school student from northwest Ohio was suspended from school because he attended prom at another school. Is the incident another case of a school district overstepping its bounds, or has the student been punished appropriately? Read the story and decide for yourself.

For over 25-years, Heritage Christian School in Findlay, Ohio, has operated according to several statements of faith, including the belief that "the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of God" and that it is the only rule in matters of faith and practice. To wit, the fundamentalist Baptist high school's handbook contains several policies that are generally not found in similar rule books at nondenominational schools. Relevant to this particular case is a rule stating that rock music is banned because it "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds." Dancing, hand-holding and kissing are also banned.

Students and their parents are required to sign a "statement of cooperation" at the beginning of the school year, indicating that they will follow the rules in the handbook. Among the students to sign the pledge was 17-year-old senior Tyler Frost.

Frost, who has attended Heritage since kindergarten, never had any problems abiding by the rules. However, that changed last week when his girlfriend, who attends nearby Findlay High School, invited him to her school's prom.

"Prom itself I don't see anything wrong with it," Frost said in an interview with keyc.com. "And I'm not going to change my viewpoints on something just because someone else doesn't like it."

Students who do not attend Findlay High School are required to have their principal sign a permission slip before they are allowed to attend the school's prom. Interestingly enough, Tim England, principal of Heritage Christian School, did sign the form; however, he also warned Frost about the potential consequences. Later, England took the matter before the school committee, which decided to threaten Frost with suspension.

"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God," England is quoted as saying by galioninquirer.com. "[Frost] chose one path, and the school committee chose the other."

Despite the warning, Frost attended the prom. He and his girlfriend enjoyed the night along with some 800 other attendees. Having caught wind of the conflict, several national news networks were on hand to film Frost's act of defiance.

In response to Frost's rebellious act, England sent a letter to his parents, which stated that he is suspended from school, is receiving an "incomplete" on all outstanding assignments, and is banned from attending the school's graduation ceremony that is scheduled to take place on May 24. If Frost wishes to obtain his diploma, England said that he will be allowed to complete his final exams the week after graduation.

England has not returned calls requesting a comment, but he did post a statement to the school's Web site in which he defends the decision. That statement reads in part:

"In the Old Testament, Joseph was in a place of temptation and he fled. Unlike this situation, he didn't put himself in that place. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." II Timothy 2:22 says, "Flee also youthful lusts but follow after righteousness faith charity and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." When the school committee, many years before I became the principal, set up the policy regarding dancing, I am confident that they had the principle of fleeing lustful situations in mind. The question as I see it is, should a Christian place themselves at an event where young ladies will have low cut dresses and be dancing in them? Isn't it contrary to the example of Joseph and the verses that I stated?"

Regardless of the school's policy and the reasoning behind it, Frost's stepfather, Stephan Johnson, wants the suspension and other punishments overturned because he does not feel the school's rules should apply outside the classroom. According to wtol.com, Johnson is planning to file a lawsuit against Heritage Christian.

Regardless of who is right or wrong, the media remains focused on the case. Earlier today, 92.5 KISS FM, a music station based in Toledo, Ohio, broadcast a live protest in front of the school. In addition Frost and Johnson are flying to New York later today, so that they can make an appearance on CBS's The Early Show tomorrow. The two have also been asked to appear on Inside Edition and ABC's Primetime.

It is interesting to note that some media outlets have already compared the story to the 1980s film Footloose, which has a plot similar to this story.

UPDATE
Prior to publishing this entry, Heritage Christian School posted a second statement to their Web site. It reads in part:

"At the beginning of the school year, every family must sign a statement of cooperation. Students in 7th through 12th grades must also sign it. It doesn’t say that you have to agree with them, but that we will all abide by them. What kind of a school would we be if we suspended a policy because it was convenient to do so? That would not be a Christ-like response ... This is a time for Heritage to shine as a light in this world. It isn’t easy, but it is right."

So what do you think? Does the school have the right to take this action, or has the committee overstepped its bounds? Vote in our poll and share your opinion on this case.

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Dallas DNA

April 30, 2009

Dallas DNA chronicles a pioneering unit within the Dallas County District Attorney's office where post-conviction DNA testing is being used to clear the innocent, as well as confirm the guilty.

When Craig Watkins ran for district attorney in Dallas County, he promised to fight for justice and through an innovative and unconventional new division he founded; he's been true to his word. In July 2007, Watkins created the nation's first Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) run by a DA's office and tasked it with re-examining hundreds of petitions submitted by inmates seeking post-conviction DNA testing and reinvestigating the cases that could be possible examples of injustice.

Dallas County has more exonerations than any other jurisdiction in the nation since state law began allowing post-conviction testing in 2001. In that time, more than 40 cases have received post-conviction DNA evidence analysis and the results have stunned the nation - to date, 19 cases were found to have wrongful convictions, and under DA Watkins' leadership ten innocent men have walked free.

The legal drama and the astounding ramifications including exonerations after men wrongfully spent decades behind bars is captured in Investigation Discovery's new six-part series DALLAS DNA, which is now on Investigation Discovery Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Click here to learn more about the show

Drunk Off-Duty Cops Lenient Punishment Angers Erie Clergy

April 22, 2009

Yesterday, Investigation Discovery brought you the story of James Cousins II, a police officer in Erie, PA, who was videotaped at a bar joking about a homicide victim. Since that time, the slap on the wrist punishment that Cousins received has caused many citizens and civil rights groups to demand an independent investigation of the Erie City Police Department and Mayor Joe Sinnott.

"The message they gave us today was a slap in the face," Rev. Curtis Henderson said at a press conference last night. "Especially as we're all trying to move forward."

Henderson's comments were echoed by Rev. Michael T. Williams, who made it clear that the issue was far from being resolved.

"We will not sit idly by without fighting this ruling," Williams said. "We do not plan to be appeased or pacified in any way, shape, form or fashion."

At another press conference held yesterday, National NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said that he had contacted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and asked the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the case.

"We need an independent investigative process, one that has teeth," Jealous said.

The U.S. Attorney General's office has not yet commented on the case. At this time it remains unclear if an actual investigation will take place.

Meanwhile, Cousins is hoping that a letter of apology - addressed to the victim's mother, Yvette Jennings, fellow police officers, the Mayor, and the community - will help put out some of the fires that his actions have started.

Drunk Erie Cop Receives Slap on Wrist for Dissing Murder Victim

April 21, 2009

A cop in Erie, Pennsylvania, recently left egg on the face of his department after a video was released that shows him drunk and jubilantly joking about a homicide victim. Nonetheless, his actions - as disrespectful and disturbing as they are - were not enough to get him kicked off the force, and he will be welcomed back in less than two weeks.

The video in question was made on the night of April 6 at the Treehouse Tavern in Girard, PA. In it, off-duty patrolman James Cousins II goes off on a profanity-laced rant about 31-year-old Rondale Jennings Sr., a man who was shot and murdered outside an Erie bar on March 28.

"It looked like (expletive) out of a movie. Right in the middle of the (expletive) forehead, right between the (expletive) eyes," James Cousins II says on the video that was posted online. "The mom's right on the scene. They (expletive) lift the (expletive) bag off his face, and (it is) like 'that's him.' We're looking at it like, 'One less drug dealer to deal with. Cool'"

The seven minute video was posted on YouTube by an individual from Australia who was visiting family in the area.

On April 14, Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin was informed about the existence of the video.  As a result, he instructed Erie police Internal-affairs Inspector James DeDionisio to determine whether Cousins' behavior had violated the agency's conduct standards.

Hours later, the brother of the man who posted the video was visited by Cousins and DeDionisio. During the meeting, the man was asked to have his brother remove the video from the Internet and was also allegedly told that the video could result in charges stemming from a federal wiretap violation.

"They were just kind of threatening that they had talked to the DA and that it is a federal wiretap charge, and I must get it off," the brother said in an interview with Erie Times-News.

Erie, Pennsylvania DA's Office Ensures No Justice in Brittany Steward Case

July 21, 2008

Justice in the United States is and has been elusive, particularly for those who commit some of the most heinous crimes. Every time I update a case I am reminded of that fact. Whether it is the judge who remains convinced that the offender can be rehabilitated or the jury who shrinks at the thought of sentencing someone to death or life without parole, we live in a country where killers often walk free or with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

If you read my work at Court TV's Crime Library, than you are familiar with the case of 20-year-old Brittany N. Steward, a college student from Waterford, Pennsylvania, who allowed two children to die under her care. Steward recently had her day in court and walked away with a sentence that is nothing more than an insult to the victims and their families.

For those of you not familiar with the case, the incidents surrounding the children's deaths occurred on Wednesday, May 28, 2007, when Steward was babysitting her halfsister, Jenna Walker, 20 months (photo here) and a neighbor's child, Maggie Kovski, 2 (photo here). Unbeknownst to the parents, Steward had been drinking at a bonfire the night before, which, according to witnesses, she did not leave until roughly 5:00 a.m., some three hours before her babysitting job.

Not long after she began watching the children, Steward fell asleep, only to awake a few hours later when the telephone rang. At that time, Steward realized that the children were missing and found the garage door open. When she went outside to look for them, Steward found both of the children dead in a fishpond, approximately 100 yards from the house.

In the days immediately following the incident, state police learned that Steward had contacted several people who were at the party she had attended on May 27, 2007 and allegedly asked them to change the statements that they had already given to the police.

On May 31, 2007, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook ruled that both the children had died from asphyxiation due to drowning. Steward was arrested and charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and recklessly endangering another person.

"Given the fact that she knew she had this obligation on Wednesday morning, she still went ahead and conducted herself in the manner in which she allegedly did on Tuesday evening into Wednesday, coupled with the fact that she knew of this open pond in close proximity to the house, was a major consideration in the filing of the more serious charges," Erie County District Attorney Bradley Foulk told the Associated Press following Steward's arrest.

Steward waived her first preliminary hearing, scheduled for August 2007, under the assumption that she was going to agree to a plea bargain; however those talks stalled and in March 2008, Steward appeared at a preliminary hearing before Summit Township District Judge James Dwyer. During the court proceeding, Dwyer ruled in favor of the defense and threw out the charges of involuntary manslaughter; however in April, those charges were reinstated by Greene Township District Judge Sue Strohmeyer. The defense later asked an Erie County Court judge to throw out the charges but the motion was denied.

In June 2008, Steward, roughly three months pregnant and free on bond, violated the terms of her release by staying out past her designated 11:00 p.m. curfew. It was later revealed that she had spent the night drinking. Apparently the fact that her actions had already cost the life of two children was not enough to persuade her from endangering the life of her own unborn child. As a result of her curfew violation, Steward was placed on house arrest.

This month, Steward's attorneys entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution, in which she pleaded guilty two counts of endangering the welfare of children. It remains unclear why prosecutors agreed to the plea bargain, essentially ensuring Steward would serve very little time behind bars.

On July 15, Steward appeared in court for her sentencing hearing, before Erie County Judge John Garhart. During the proceeding, Steward read an apology she had written for her family and for the family of Maggie Kovski.

"I had a huge responsibility to protect Maggie and Jenna that day and failed horribly," Steward said. "This is all very difficult to say because my actions haven't shown any guilt or remorse over the past year, but I'm honestly not sure how to show it."

Garhart was unmoved by Steward's apology and sentenced her to 11 1/2 to 23 months in jail, the stiffest sentence that is recommended under sentencing guidelines.

"If I were to hold you fully accountable for the harm you have done, then you would never be free," Garhart said, adding, "My job is to sentence you for recklessness."

In addition to her jail term, Garhart ordered Steward to attend victim-empathy classes and to undergo any mental-health or drug-and-alcohol treatment that the jail staff deems necessary. Steward was also ordered to serve 44 months of probation and to perform six hours of community service a week during the term of her probation.

"You are going to have to remember that there are other people in the community than you," Garnhart said.

Only time will tell if Steward, who is pregnant and due to deliver in December, will change her ways and become a productive member of society. In the meantime, the victim's families are left with a lifetime of heartache and the knowledge that the person responsible for the death of their children received nothing more than a slap on the wrist for her actions.  Had the prosecution not agreed to the plea bargain, Steward could have received up to ten years in prison for each of the manslaughter charges alone.

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Brittany Steward Photo Credit: 2006 Fort LeBeouf High School yearbook

Ashley Snowden Get's Slap On The Wrist for Her Role in Toddler's Murder

July 02, 2008

A judge in St. Clair County, Indiana, has sentenced a mother for her role in hiding the body of her one-year-old son in the Fort Wayne home that she shared with boyfriend.

On Dec. 18, 2007, Fort Wayne police went to a home in the 3500 block of Raymond Avenue to investigate a tip that a dead child's body was hidden inside. One of the residents of the home, Ashley Marie Snowden, 23, signed a consent-to-search form; however, when officers stepped inside, her boyfriend, John William Gonzales, 38, grabbed their 2-year-old daughter and fled into another room, telling police, "I have a knife. I have a child. Back off."

Police officers were eventually able to subdue Gonzales, and he was charged with criminal recklessness, neglect of a dependent and resisting arrest. During a subsequent search of the home, investigators made a gruesome discovery, the mummified remains of a toddler hidden inside a storage container.

The toddler's remains were taken to the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center, where Allen County Coroner Dr. Jon Brandenberger identified the toddler as 18-month-old Braylon Bishop Gonzales. Brandenberger speculated that Braylon had died approximately two years ago from blunt force trauma to the head. In addition, evidence found on Braylon's body suggested he had been encased in concrete for an unknown period of time.

The murder is believed to have taken place in Port Huron, Mich., at a home Gonzales and Snowden shared at 2533 Maple St. before moving to Fort Wayne. This move was allegedly made to escape an investigation by Child Protective Services.

On Dec. 21, 2007, Indiana police arrested Snowden and prosecutors from St. Clair County, Mich., charged her as an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors there also charged Gonzales with open murder, first-degree child abuse and being a habitual offender. In light of the Michigan charges, Allen County prosecutors decided not to pursue the original charges against him for criminal recklessness, neglect of a dependent and resisting arrest.

Gonzales has a prior criminal record: He was arrested in 1997 and later convicted on three counts of sexual misconduct for having sex with a minor and was also arrested in October 2007 for child neglect and felony battery to a juvenile. According to court records, Gonzales had kicked Snowden's 5-year-old son and pushed him into a wall, causing a laceration on the back of the boy's head from an exposed nail.

It remains unclear why Child Protective Services allowed the children to remain in the same home with Gonzales.

Snowden waived her extradition hearing on Dec. 27, 2007. The following day, Gonzales also decided not to fight the extradition and agreed to voluntarily return to Michigan.

In a December interview with Thetimesherald, Gonzales' sister, Marlo Harley, said she had spoke with Snowden prior to her arrest and that Snowden had allegedly told her that on the day her son received the injury to his head, she had performed CPR on him, but Braylon died about an hour and a half later. Afterwards, she said that she dressed the toddler in a tuxedo and slept in the...

Continue Reading Ashley Snowden Get's Slap On The Wrist for Her Role in Toddler's Murder

Photo Credits: Police File Photos

County Commission Orders Lisa Hohman's Mother to Move Daughter's Remains

June 06, 2008

Neighbor says dead teen should be placed where "it was found."

A county board of commissioners in Maxton, North Carolina, has ordered the mother of a murdered teenager to move her daughter's remains because of resident complaints and a county ordinance, which they say stipulates that the current location of the body fails to meet local requirements.

It has been a long and difficult road for Samantha Locklear. On May 28, 2005, her 16-year-old daughter, Lisa Hohman, disappeared after leaving to take a nephew of her mother's fiancé home. The following morning, Samantha filed a missing person report with police. Investigators conducted a search of the area and interviewed Lisa's family members and friends, some of whom suggested that she had made recent comments about running away.

"She was having problems at school, and she didn't want to talk about it, but we had been getting along good," Samantha said in an interview with Crimelibrary.com, adding, "She didn't have a reason to run away."

Unfortunately, the seed was already planted in the minds of investigators, and her case was tagged "endangered runaway." Regardless, Lisa's family continued to search neighboring counties, and they regularly posted missing person flyers in area stores.

And so the case went until January 1, 2008.

"The dogs don't bark unless someone is in my yard," Samantha told Robesonian.com. "My fiancé [Gary Ransom], my brother, and our cousin went out to see who they were barking at. They were walking in the woods when they stumbled across something. They shined the light on it and brushed the leaves off and saw it was a head . . . a skull. They also saw a bra. They came in and called the law. They won't let me out there."

According to Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey, his department is treating the case as a homicide. An official cause of death remains unclear, and no new details have been released since the discovery.

When the county medical examiner released Lisa's remains, Samantha had her daughter placed in a mausoleum on her property. Not long thereafter, neighbors like Denita Locklear began to complain about the location and demanded the mausoleum be moved, not off the property, but to another location on the property where it would be out of sight from passersby. On Monday, the county commissioners...

Continue Reading County Commission Orders Lisa Hohman's Mother to Move Daughter's Remains

Lisa Hohman Photo Credit: NCMEC

Dean Cage Freed from Prison After Serving 12 Years for a Crime He Didn't Commit

May 30, 2008

DNA testing has exonerated a man who has served 12 years of a 40-year prison sentence. According to a spokesperson for the New York-based Innocence Project, which investigates wrongful convictions, the state attorney's office in Cook County, Illinois, has vacated the conviction of 41-year-old Dean Cage and has dismissed all charges against him stemming from the alleged rape of a teenage girl in 1994.

"I have my life back," Dean said during an interview with the Chicago Tribune. "It means the world to me. I never had a doubt. I am happy and blessed."

Dean's arrest and subsequent conviction came after the victim of an alleged rape identified him as her attacker.

According to court records, the victim, a 15-year-old girl, was walking to a school bus stop on the morning of November 14, 1994, when a man wearing a black leather jacket and hat grabbed her and pulled her into an alleyway. It was there, she later testified, that the man pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her. Afterwards, the man fled on foot, and the girl notified police.

Using the girl's description of the attacker, police investigators created a computer-generated sketch of the suspect and circulated it throughout the neighborhood where the crime had occurred. Approximately one week later, police fielded a call from a tipster who told them that a man matching the description of the suspect was employed at a local meat-packing plant.

Armed with the tipster's information, police took the victim to Dean's place of work, and...

Continue Reading Dean Cage Freed from Prison

Photo Credit: Illinois Department of Corrections

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...

To get more information, click here.

Ten-year-old Jayci Yaeger Losing Battle with Brain Cancer while Awaiting Father’s Release from Prison

March 27, 2008

Earlier this week, I brought you the story of Jason Yaeger, an inmate at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, who has been seeking an early release to a halfway house so that he can be with his daughter, Jayci Yaeger, a 10-year-old girl who is dying of brain cancer at a hospital located less than four hours from the prison.  Yesterday, Jayci's Uncle, Ed Yaeger, told Action3news.com that Jayci's health is continuing to decline. 

"She's having respiratory problems and continues to have them," Ed Yaeger said.  "Last night, they think she had a stroke.  One side is colder than the other, and her blood pressure has been low.  Her body is trying to shut down."

Despite the fact that Jason has served the bulk of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction, Warden J. D. Whitehead refuses to grant Jason's request for an early release.  According to a statement the prison released last week, the case does not meet the criteria of the prison's extraordinary circumstances policy.

In addition to the warden's denial, President George W. Bush has yet to respond to Jason's recent request for clemency.  The case is currently in the office of Judge Karen Schreier in Rapid City, South Dakota.  According to Jason's family members, Whitehead has until April 7 to issue a response.

To read the complete article, click here.

What You Can Do

Sign the Petition: Help Jayci be with her Dad as she dies, sponsored by Gifted Hands Mended Hearts, Nurses for Compassion.

You can find numbers for Whitehead and other government officials listed at the petition Web site.  In addition, you can contact the White House with your concerns.

To help the Yaeger family with medical expenses, send donations to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Federal Prison Warden Denies Inmate Early Release to be with Dying 10-year-old Daughter

March 24, 2008

The prison system in the United States is as flawed as the prison systems in most third world countries.  We are frustrated and saddened by reports of severe overcrowding and staff misconduct.  However, as rampant as those abuses have become, they pale in comparison to the lack of compassion shown by the warden of the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota.

Jason Yaeger is one of 837 convicts currently serving time at the Yankton prison.  Jason has nearly a year left to serve on a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction, and prison officials plan to release him to a halfway house in August.  Jason's case differs little from the cases of other inmates serving time at the minimum-security facility.  However, unlike most other inmates, Jason's daughter, 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger, is dying of brain cancer and is not expected to live long enough to see her father be released from prison.  Jayci's health is rapidly declining and her doctors say that nothing can be done to save her. 

It is truly heartbreaking when a child falls ill with a terminal illness, but it is even more distressing when that child is denied her dying wish.  In Jayci's case, her wish is to have her father by her side, holding her as she passes from this life to the next.  Although this request seems simple enough, Warden J. D. Whitehead does not see fit to grant her final wish, and has denied repeated requests by her father for an early release to a halfway house.

In a statement to the press released on Thursday, a Yankton prison spokesperson said: "Bureau of Prisons officials have reviewed Inmate Yaeger’s request for a compassionate release and have determined his situation does not meet the criteria...Our agency's mission is to protect society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community based facilities which are safe, humane, and appropriately secure."

"I am sorry for what I have done,'' Jason said in a interview with ABCnews.com.  "I'm not asking to get out of my sentence — just to go from one place of imprisonment to another so I can be with my family.  Jayci is sitting in a hospice fighting for her life and [her mother] thinks she is holding on for me to get there.  She wants me and needs me and I want to be there with her on her last day."

To read the complete article, click here.

I urge everyone to take a moment to contact Whitehead and let him know your own thoughts on this case. His telephone number is (605) 665-3262, his fax number is (605) 668-1113 and his e-mail address is yan/execassistant@bop.gov.  Snail mail letters should be addressed to:  Warden Whitehead FPC, Yankton Federal Prison Camp, P.O. Box 680, Yankton, SD 57078.

In addition to contacting the Warden, you can also help the Yaeger family with medical expenses by sending donations to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.