Once again, a family in total denial that a male member of their family would slaughter a woman and children.
Dad is identified as BRANDON JIVIDEN.
http://www.adn.com/article/20150603/missing-family-likely-died-murder-suicide-kenai-police-say
Missing family likely died in murder-suicide, Kenai police say
Megan Edge|
June 3, 2015
Findings from the State Medical Examiner Office suggest a family of four, missing on the Kenai Peninsula for nearly a year before their remains were discovered in March, were the victims of a murder-suicide, Kenai police said Wednesday.
In a release, the Kenai Police Department said the findings are consistent with findings from their own investigation and that of the FBI, which indicate that “Brandon Jividen shot and killed Rebecca Adams, Michelle Hundley, Jaracca Hundley, the dog Sparks and then committed suicide by shooting himself."
The mystery surrounding the family's disappearance may have come to a close, but family members said Wednesday they’re far from finding closure.
“We thought there would be closure when we buried them,” Rebecca Adams’ uncle Dennis Gifford said. “But no. I don’t even know what closure is.”
The family went missing on May 31, 2014.
Family, friends, volunteers and law enforcement searched for months for signs of their whereabouts but came up empty-handed -- until March, when remains were discovered in a low, grassy area about 15 yards off a trail packed down for vehicles and four-wheelers.
On Wednesday, police said investigators found two handguns “in close proximity” to Jividen’s remains, five spent shell casings and fired bullets.
Rebecca Adams’ aunt Kim Gifford said when the family went missing, a conclusion like this was “the furthest thing” from her mind.
“As we learned more information, this path was one we saw, but we prayed it wouldn’t be it,” Dennis Gifford said. “Brandon’s mom and sister have become a part of our family and we love them dearly. We hoped none of this would happen.”
The Kenai Police Department said any theory about a motive at this point would only be “speculative.”
In a statement, the family of Jividen expressed condolences to the families of Adams and the Hundleys and said the result of the investigation "was not what our family had anticipated."
"These acts are unthinkable, unimaginable, and not consistent with the father, son, brother, and friend that so many of us knew and loved," the statement said.
Kenai police declined to provide any additional comment on the case Wednesday.
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Dad murders 4-year-old son, 17-month-old daughter, and their mother (Anchorage, Alaska)
Note that dad CURTIS YOUNG III had a history of domestic violence against the mother.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3091522/Police-Deaths-couple-2-kids-appear-murder-suicide.html
Alaska man, 24, shot dead his girlfriend and their two toddlers before turning gun on himself in murder-suicide
Curtis Young III, 24, Desiree Gonzales, 27, and their children, Zaiden, 4, and 17-month-old Zarielle, were found dead at their Anchorage home May 13
Police say evidence suggests Young shot dead his family before ending his own life
Zaiden and Zarielle's grandfather went to check on family and found them all dead
Young was convicted of domestic violence assault involving Gonzalez in 2010
By Associated Press and Snejana Farberov
For Dailymail.com
Published: 12:26 EST, 21 May 2015 | Updated: 03:36 EST, 22 May 2015
Police in Alaska say a couple and their two young children who were found shot dead at their home in Anchorage last week died as a result of a murder-suicide carried out by the mother's boyfriend.
In a statement released Thursday, investigators said that evidence points to Curtis Young III, 24, shooting and killing his girlfriend, 27-year-old Desiree Gonzales, and their children, 4-year-old Zaiden Young and 17-month-old Zarielle Young, before turning the gun on himself.
'While the investigation is still [ongoing], with lab results pending, the evidence supports the theory that this was a contained scene and that this was a murder/suicide,' said Police spokeswoman Anita Shell in a statement.
Earlier, authorities had called the deaths an isolated domestic violence incident but stopped short of saying they suspected a murder-suicide.
A relative who went to check on the family at their apartment in Alaska's largest city found the four dead from gunshot wounds May 13.
The children's father usually dropped Zaiden and Zarielle off at their grandparents' home in the mornings before the grandmother took them to the babysitter, Police Sgt. Mike Couturier said during a press conference last week.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3091522/Police-Deaths-couple-2-kids-appear-murder-suicide.html
Alaska man, 24, shot dead his girlfriend and their two toddlers before turning gun on himself in murder-suicide
Curtis Young III, 24, Desiree Gonzales, 27, and their children, Zaiden, 4, and 17-month-old Zarielle, were found dead at their Anchorage home May 13
Police say evidence suggests Young shot dead his family before ending his own life
Zaiden and Zarielle's grandfather went to check on family and found them all dead
Young was convicted of domestic violence assault involving Gonzalez in 2010
By Associated Press and Snejana Farberov
For Dailymail.com
Published: 12:26 EST, 21 May 2015 | Updated: 03:36 EST, 22 May 2015
Police in Alaska say a couple and their two young children who were found shot dead at their home in Anchorage last week died as a result of a murder-suicide carried out by the mother's boyfriend.
In a statement released Thursday, investigators said that evidence points to Curtis Young III, 24, shooting and killing his girlfriend, 27-year-old Desiree Gonzales, and their children, 4-year-old Zaiden Young and 17-month-old Zarielle Young, before turning the gun on himself.
'While the investigation is still [ongoing], with lab results pending, the evidence supports the theory that this was a contained scene and that this was a murder/suicide,' said Police spokeswoman Anita Shell in a statement.
Earlier, authorities had called the deaths an isolated domestic violence incident but stopped short of saying they suspected a murder-suicide.
A relative who went to check on the family at their apartment in Alaska's largest city found the four dead from gunshot wounds May 13.
The children's father usually dropped Zaiden and Zarielle off at their grandparents' home in the mornings before the grandmother took them to the babysitter, Police Sgt. Mike Couturier said during a press conference last week.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Dad arrested for possessing, distributing child porn (Anchorage, Alaska)
Is JAMES LAPLANTE a single dad? Notice that his custodial status is not clarified in this article, but there is no mention of a mother in the home either.
http://www.ktva.com/anchorage-dj-faces-child-pornography-charges-295/
Anchorage DJ faces child pornography charges
By KTVA CBS 11 News 11:12 AM December 5, 2014
ANCHORAGE – A well-known Anchorage DJ is accused of possessing and distributing child pornography to dozens of people and for soliciting pornographic images from children directly, authorities say.
James Laplante — also known as “Jimmy O’Brien” on country station KASH 107. 5′s morning drive time show — was arrested late Thursday and charged with five counts related to distributing and possessing child pornography and online enticement of a minor, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Law. He’s scheduled to be arraigned at the Anchorage Jail Court Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Laplante, a father with biological and adopted children, was taken into custody after the Anchorage Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Technical Crimes Unit served search warrants of his home and office at the Dimond Center, the DOL said.
APD learned of the 48-year-old’s alleged crimes Oct. 2 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) filed two “Cybertip” Anchorage area reports, according to charging documents.
In one case, Instagram — a photo-sharing phone application — reported through NCMEC that user “thematthewwhartley” uploaded 13 images of child sexual exploitation to the account, the charges say. Authorities determined the account belonged to Laplante and that one of the IP addresses used to upload the pictures originated from his home address.
In a second instance, an image flagged by Google was linked to an IP address that originated at Clear Channel Communications, Laplante’s employer, located in the Dimond Center.
A search by authorities of Laplante’s home and office revealed more than 1,000 images of child sexual exploitation on the external hard drive connected to his work computer. Investigators also found evidence he used the social media texting app “KIK” to “solicit child pornography images from children directly,” charging documents said.
In a non-custodial interview with authorities in his work office, Laplante admitted to creating the Instagram account and allowing about 50 other users to also access it. He denied producing images of child exploitation involving his own children — biological and adopted.
“Investigation is ongoing as to any potential sexual abuse that may have occurred,” the charges say.
http://www.ktva.com/anchorage-dj-faces-child-pornography-charges-295/
Anchorage DJ faces child pornography charges
By KTVA CBS 11 News 11:12 AM December 5, 2014
ANCHORAGE – A well-known Anchorage DJ is accused of possessing and distributing child pornography to dozens of people and for soliciting pornographic images from children directly, authorities say.
James Laplante — also known as “Jimmy O’Brien” on country station KASH 107. 5′s morning drive time show — was arrested late Thursday and charged with five counts related to distributing and possessing child pornography and online enticement of a minor, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Law. He’s scheduled to be arraigned at the Anchorage Jail Court Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Laplante, a father with biological and adopted children, was taken into custody after the Anchorage Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Technical Crimes Unit served search warrants of his home and office at the Dimond Center, the DOL said.
APD learned of the 48-year-old’s alleged crimes Oct. 2 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) filed two “Cybertip” Anchorage area reports, according to charging documents.
In one case, Instagram — a photo-sharing phone application — reported through NCMEC that user “thematthewwhartley” uploaded 13 images of child sexual exploitation to the account, the charges say. Authorities determined the account belonged to Laplante and that one of the IP addresses used to upload the pictures originated from his home address.
In a second instance, an image flagged by Google was linked to an IP address that originated at Clear Channel Communications, Laplante’s employer, located in the Dimond Center.
A search by authorities of Laplante’s home and office revealed more than 1,000 images of child sexual exploitation on the external hard drive connected to his work computer. Investigators also found evidence he used the social media texting app “KIK” to “solicit child pornography images from children directly,” charging documents said.
In a non-custodial interview with authorities in his work office, Laplante admitted to creating the Instagram account and allowing about 50 other users to also access it. He denied producing images of child exploitation involving his own children — biological and adopted.
“Investigation is ongoing as to any potential sexual abuse that may have occurred,” the charges say.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Dad charged with murdering 2-year-old son (Tununak, Alaska)
Once again, a situation where Daddy killed a child before some big Daddy Drama standoff with the cops. Notice there is not one word about the boy's mother living in this home or anywhere else. In fact, no mention of the mother at all. WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM? And why does the media refuse to tell us?
So how did this crazy piece of sh** with a HISTORY of violent drama (threatening people in public while randomly shooting a gun) get access to a 2-year-old child? Is this a custody/visitation situation? What? Much that is NOT told here...
Dad is identified as EDWARD MOSES.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130914/young-father-western-alaska-charged-first-degree-murder-2-year-old-sons-death
Alaskan father charged murdering 2-year-old son
Jerzy Shedlock| September 14, 2013
A 24-year-old Tununak man has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge for the death of his 2-year-old son, who died from a gunshot wound, according to Alaska State Troopers. After the alleged shooting occurred, Edward Moses displayed his emotions on Facebook.
Bethel-based troopers responded Friday to the report of a child death in Tununak, a village of 327 on the northwest side of Nelson Island in the Bering Sea. They discovered Moses had barricaded himself inside a building.
Troopers reportedly convinced Moses to come out, and they were talking to the man later Friday about the death of his child, Kyle Moses.
Troopers’ spokesperson Megan Peters was unable to immediately contact the post’s sergeant to obtain more details Saturday. Moses began airing his emotions on Facebook on Friday. “I should never be forgiven,” he initially wrote. “I love my family.”
Sometime later, he posted, “I think today is the last day of my life. I lived a bad one …” Friends offered words of encouragement but Moses responded with terse, matter-of-fact statements about not being able to reverse an unspecified wrong.
“Ay just calm down. Everybody makes mistakes man,” Facebook friend Aat Aday wrote.
“The one I made … there’s no going back …,” Moses responded.
“Come on once its made it can be fixed,” Aday said. “Everything can be fixed.”
“Not what I did last night. It can never be fixed,” Moses said.
Others offered condolences and advice on the same post, but Moses’ responses remained short and unforgiving to himself. Then, his final Facebook post Friday night read, “Rest in peace my little son. Kyle felton inakak moses … I love you. Say hi to my mom while your up there.”
According to online court records, charges filed Saturday indicate Moses is being charged with first-degree murder, as well as first-degree robbery. Moses was arraigned early Saturday morning at the Bethel Courthouse, during which a public defender was appointed to represent the 24-year-old.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 24 in Bethel.
Moses pleaded no contest to a minor consuming alcohol charge in January 2005 in Anchorage. He later was convicted of crimes in Tununak in August 2007, including a second-degree weapons charge and third-degree theft. The 2007 conviction stems from an incident during which the then-18-year-old Moses and another village teenager, Clarence James, reportedly went through the small town firing a shotgun and threatening villagers, which sent Tununak into lockdown for about an hour. A village police officer and several others eventually wrestled the boys into submission.
So how did this crazy piece of sh** with a HISTORY of violent drama (threatening people in public while randomly shooting a gun) get access to a 2-year-old child? Is this a custody/visitation situation? What? Much that is NOT told here...
Dad is identified as EDWARD MOSES.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130914/young-father-western-alaska-charged-first-degree-murder-2-year-old-sons-death
Alaskan father charged murdering 2-year-old son
Jerzy Shedlock| September 14, 2013
A 24-year-old Tununak man has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge for the death of his 2-year-old son, who died from a gunshot wound, according to Alaska State Troopers. After the alleged shooting occurred, Edward Moses displayed his emotions on Facebook.
Bethel-based troopers responded Friday to the report of a child death in Tununak, a village of 327 on the northwest side of Nelson Island in the Bering Sea. They discovered Moses had barricaded himself inside a building.
Troopers reportedly convinced Moses to come out, and they were talking to the man later Friday about the death of his child, Kyle Moses.
Troopers’ spokesperson Megan Peters was unable to immediately contact the post’s sergeant to obtain more details Saturday. Moses began airing his emotions on Facebook on Friday. “I should never be forgiven,” he initially wrote. “I love my family.”
Sometime later, he posted, “I think today is the last day of my life. I lived a bad one …” Friends offered words of encouragement but Moses responded with terse, matter-of-fact statements about not being able to reverse an unspecified wrong.
“Ay just calm down. Everybody makes mistakes man,” Facebook friend Aat Aday wrote.
“The one I made … there’s no going back …,” Moses responded.
“Come on once its made it can be fixed,” Aday said. “Everything can be fixed.”
“Not what I did last night. It can never be fixed,” Moses said.
Others offered condolences and advice on the same post, but Moses’ responses remained short and unforgiving to himself. Then, his final Facebook post Friday night read, “Rest in peace my little son. Kyle felton inakak moses … I love you. Say hi to my mom while your up there.”
According to online court records, charges filed Saturday indicate Moses is being charged with first-degree murder, as well as first-degree robbery. Moses was arraigned early Saturday morning at the Bethel Courthouse, during which a public defender was appointed to represent the 24-year-old.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 24 in Bethel.
Moses pleaded no contest to a minor consuming alcohol charge in January 2005 in Anchorage. He later was convicted of crimes in Tununak in August 2007, including a second-degree weapons charge and third-degree theft. The 2007 conviction stems from an incident during which the then-18-year-old Moses and another village teenager, Clarence James, reportedly went through the small town firing a shotgun and threatening villagers, which sent Tununak into lockdown for about an hour. A village police officer and several others eventually wrestled the boys into submission.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Dad indicted for assaulting 5-week-old daughter (Juneau, Alaska)
Dad is identified as MICHAEL T. WILLIAMS.
http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-04-24/18-year-old-father-indicted-injuring-5-week-old-infant
18-year-old father indicted for injuring 5-week-old infant
Defendant Michael T. Williams pleads not guilty
Posted: April 24, 2013 - 12:01am
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire - By EMILY RUSSO MILLER
JUNEAU EMPIRE
An 18-year-old father has been accused of injuring his then-5-week-old baby and not providing her immediate medical attention.
A Juneau grand jury indicted Hoonah resident Michael T. Williams on Friday. He is facing one felony count of third-degree assault and one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault.
Prosecutors say Williams ultimately admitted to squeezing the infant and causing injuries to her face. Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp described the injuries in court as “significant,” adding the baby had bruising on her face and eye. The baby, who was born on Dec. 13, 2012, received medical attention several days after the Jan. 17 incident, she alleged.
Williams, on the other hand, said the injuries were a result of an accident — he said he almost dropped the baby, but grabbed her before she fell. He accidently squeezed her too hard when he was catching her, he told a magistrate in court after being arrested in Hoonah on Saturday, according to court documents.
The mother of the child also could not be reached for comment by press time.
The allegation of intentionally or knowingly injuring the child is not encompassed in either of the two charges Williams is facing. Rather, both charges allege that Williams “did recklessly cause physical injury” to the child. The felony assault charge contains the additional element that says the injury “would cause a reasonable caregiver to seek medical attention from a health care professional in the form of diagnoses or treatment.”
Third-degree assault is a class ‘C’ felony that can carry up to five years in prison. Fourth-degree assault is a class ‘A’ misdemeanor that can carry up to a year in prison.
Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in Juneau Superior Court before Judge Louis Menendez. The judge scheduled a jury trial to take place this summer in July.
Williams’ attorney Assistant Public Defender Timothy Ayer declined to comment on the case, but Williams’ father said in a phone interview that his son is innocent. Mike Williams, 39, said that the baby’s bruising was consistent with his son’s story, but the family of his son’s girlfriend “blew it out of proportion” and wanted to press charges since they don’t like his son.
“It ain’t fair at all, not at all,” the elder Williams said. “They’re taking stuff out on him.”
The father added that his son was being “railroaded” by the police chief in Hoonah, saying the chief promised his son that charges would be dropped if he admitted it was an accident.
Hoonah Police Chief Kelly Swihart could not be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.
Williams is currently being held in custody in lieu of $5,000 cash performance bond. Ayer told the judge he will likely request a bail hearing in the next few days
http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-04-24/18-year-old-father-indicted-injuring-5-week-old-infant
18-year-old father indicted for injuring 5-week-old infant
Defendant Michael T. Williams pleads not guilty
Posted: April 24, 2013 - 12:01am
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire - By EMILY RUSSO MILLER
JUNEAU EMPIRE
An 18-year-old father has been accused of injuring his then-5-week-old baby and not providing her immediate medical attention.
A Juneau grand jury indicted Hoonah resident Michael T. Williams on Friday. He is facing one felony count of third-degree assault and one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault.
Prosecutors say Williams ultimately admitted to squeezing the infant and causing injuries to her face. Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp described the injuries in court as “significant,” adding the baby had bruising on her face and eye. The baby, who was born on Dec. 13, 2012, received medical attention several days after the Jan. 17 incident, she alleged.
Williams, on the other hand, said the injuries were a result of an accident — he said he almost dropped the baby, but grabbed her before she fell. He accidently squeezed her too hard when he was catching her, he told a magistrate in court after being arrested in Hoonah on Saturday, according to court documents.
The mother of the child also could not be reached for comment by press time.
The allegation of intentionally or knowingly injuring the child is not encompassed in either of the two charges Williams is facing. Rather, both charges allege that Williams “did recklessly cause physical injury” to the child. The felony assault charge contains the additional element that says the injury “would cause a reasonable caregiver to seek medical attention from a health care professional in the form of diagnoses or treatment.”
Third-degree assault is a class ‘C’ felony that can carry up to five years in prison. Fourth-degree assault is a class ‘A’ misdemeanor that can carry up to a year in prison.
Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in Juneau Superior Court before Judge Louis Menendez. The judge scheduled a jury trial to take place this summer in July.
Williams’ attorney Assistant Public Defender Timothy Ayer declined to comment on the case, but Williams’ father said in a phone interview that his son is innocent. Mike Williams, 39, said that the baby’s bruising was consistent with his son’s story, but the family of his son’s girlfriend “blew it out of proportion” and wanted to press charges since they don’t like his son.
“It ain’t fair at all, not at all,” the elder Williams said. “They’re taking stuff out on him.”
The father added that his son was being “railroaded” by the police chief in Hoonah, saying the chief promised his son that charges would be dropped if he admitted it was an accident.
Hoonah Police Chief Kelly Swihart could not be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.
Williams is currently being held in custody in lieu of $5,000 cash performance bond. Ayer told the judge he will likely request a bail hearing in the next few days
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Dad gets probation for waterboarding four children; is this a custodial father? (Jefferson County, Montana)
Dad WILLIAM PROVINCE sounds like a very dangerous man, but he's gonna be coddled anyway.
Did this creepy psycho have custody??? We first posted on this case back in December, and there was no mention of a mother at that time either. Just the "girlfriend."
So what happened to Mom? When you have gun nut who is into domestic violence and inflicting torture on children, you got to wonder about the mother's whereabouts, whether she is alive and safe, and how Daddy managed to secure access to these kids.
Funny how all he gets is probation for all this, when a mother doing the same would be denounced as an unfeeling monster.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2292537/Father-waterboarded-sons-children-learning-experience-given-probation.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Father who waterboarded his sons and two other children as a 'learning experience for them' is given probation
William Province admitted using the technique on four boys as young as 9
Was given two years' probation after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors
Province was arrested after his then girlfriend contacted police
She said he broke her wrist and some fingers as she tried to stop him
Waterboarding simulates drowning and can cause brain damage
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED:04:13 EST, 13 March 2013| UPDATED: 04:13 EST, 13 March 2013
A father has admitted waterboarding four children - including his two sons - after claiming it was a learning experience for them.
William Province, 42, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and was given two years' probation.
Province from Jefferson County, Montana, carried out the torture, which simulates drowning, on his nine and 12-year-old sons and two other children aged 13 and 15, according to court documents filed by prosecutors.
His girlfriend at the time said he broke her wrist and some fingers on December 5 when she tried to stop him from punishing the children, court records said.
She said Province straddled each boy with his hands over the child's face and mouth and dumped water on their faces to simulate drowning.
The woman told investigators that the man described it as a learning experience for the boys.
Waterboarding is an extreme form of torture which can result in oxygen deprivation to the brain and lungs.
Prosecutors dropped felony charges that included making threats against public officials and others.
In keeping with the plea agreement, District Judge James B. Wheelis sentenced the man to 180 days in jail for each charge, all suspended.
That amounts to two years of probation, minus the 80 days he has already spent in custody, the Independent Record reported.
Prosecutors said in court records that a witness had reported that the man had body armor, assault rifles and armor-piercing ammunition.
Investigators found some ammunition and three rifles that may have belonged to Province.
Authorities did not elaborate on what kinds of weapons specifically were found or suspected.
Jefferson County Attorney Mathew Johnson said the plea deal was reached after a thorough review of the evidence.
The agreement calls for deferring prosecution of the man on a charge of partner or family member assault.
Police launched a hunt for Province after his girlfriend told them about the punishment.
He was arrested when he exited a plane at Helena Airport on his return from travelling in Alaska.
Did this creepy psycho have custody??? We first posted on this case back in December, and there was no mention of a mother at that time either. Just the "girlfriend."
So what happened to Mom? When you have gun nut who is into domestic violence and inflicting torture on children, you got to wonder about the mother's whereabouts, whether she is alive and safe, and how Daddy managed to secure access to these kids.
Funny how all he gets is probation for all this, when a mother doing the same would be denounced as an unfeeling monster.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2292537/Father-waterboarded-sons-children-learning-experience-given-probation.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Father who waterboarded his sons and two other children as a 'learning experience for them' is given probation
William Province admitted using the technique on four boys as young as 9
Was given two years' probation after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors
Province was arrested after his then girlfriend contacted police
She said he broke her wrist and some fingers as she tried to stop him
Waterboarding simulates drowning and can cause brain damage
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED:04:13 EST, 13 March 2013| UPDATED: 04:13 EST, 13 March 2013
A father has admitted waterboarding four children - including his two sons - after claiming it was a learning experience for them.
William Province, 42, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and was given two years' probation.
Province from Jefferson County, Montana, carried out the torture, which simulates drowning, on his nine and 12-year-old sons and two other children aged 13 and 15, according to court documents filed by prosecutors.
His girlfriend at the time said he broke her wrist and some fingers on December 5 when she tried to stop him from punishing the children, court records said.
She said Province straddled each boy with his hands over the child's face and mouth and dumped water on their faces to simulate drowning.
The woman told investigators that the man described it as a learning experience for the boys.
Waterboarding is an extreme form of torture which can result in oxygen deprivation to the brain and lungs.
Prosecutors dropped felony charges that included making threats against public officials and others.
In keeping with the plea agreement, District Judge James B. Wheelis sentenced the man to 180 days in jail for each charge, all suspended.
That amounts to two years of probation, minus the 80 days he has already spent in custody, the Independent Record reported.
Prosecutors said in court records that a witness had reported that the man had body armor, assault rifles and armor-piercing ammunition.
Investigators found some ammunition and three rifles that may have belonged to Province.
Authorities did not elaborate on what kinds of weapons specifically were found or suspected.
Jefferson County Attorney Mathew Johnson said the plea deal was reached after a thorough review of the evidence.
The agreement calls for deferring prosecution of the man on a charge of partner or family member assault.
Police launched a hunt for Province after his girlfriend told them about the punishment.
He was arrested when he exited a plane at Helena Airport on his return from travelling in Alaska.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Dad kills 3-month-old baby, stabs self (Hooper Bay, Alaska)
Dad MICHAEL KUPHALDT had an extensive history of violence, including an assault FROM JUST LAST MONTH. Why do people persist in thinking these kinds of daddies are just fine around 3-month-old babies? Sounds like Daddy lived in a different residence than Mom and was "babysitting."
http://www.alaska-native-news.com/article/Rural_News/Rural_News/Hooper_Bay_Mother_Finds_Dead_Baby_Childs_Father_with_Self_Inflicted_Chest_Wound/23895
Hooper Bay Mother Finds Dead Baby, Child's Father with Self Inflicted Chest Wound
GW Rastopsoff, Alaska Native News
Published 12/12/2011 - 4:01 a.m. AKST HOOPER BAY, Alaska-On Saturday, at about 10:40 am, Alaska State troopers received a report from the Hooper Public Safety office stating that they had been called to a residence for a unresponsive child and a man who had a knife in his chest.
The Hooper Bay Public Safety had been called by the 3-month-old child's mother. The man with the stab wound to his chest was the child's father. Beth Ipsen, a spokesperson for the Alaska State troopers, identified the man as Michael Kuphaldt, age 33. The home where the incident occurred was not the woman's residence.
Alaska State troopers responded to Hooper Bay to conduct an investigation. Their initial investigation showed that the adult male, Kuphaldt, had stabbed himself with the knife. He was flown to Anchorage to the Alaska Native Medical Center for treatment of his self-inflicted wound.
The baby was confirmed dead at the scene. The investigation at the scene was unable to determine the cause of death. The child's body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's office for autopsy.
Troopers report that alcohol and narcotics were found at the scene and that they were a contributing factor in the death of the baby. Investigation of court records shows that Kuphardt has a lengthy history in the court system with many violent charges on the books. As recently as last month, Kuphardt has had brushes with law on assault charges, the second such set of charges this year.
The trooper's investigation will continue.
Hooper Bay, a Western Alaska community, is located on the Bering Sea coast. It lies 20 miles from Cape Romanzof and 25 miles south of Scammon Bay. The town has a population of approximately 2,000. Hooper Bay is a damp village, where importation and sale is illegal, but consuming it in the village is not.
http://www.alaska-native-news.com/article/Rural_News/Rural_News/Hooper_Bay_Mother_Finds_Dead_Baby_Childs_Father_with_Self_Inflicted_Chest_Wound/23895
Hooper Bay Mother Finds Dead Baby, Child's Father with Self Inflicted Chest Wound
GW Rastopsoff, Alaska Native News
Published 12/12/2011 - 4:01 a.m. AKST HOOPER BAY, Alaska-On Saturday, at about 10:40 am, Alaska State troopers received a report from the Hooper Public Safety office stating that they had been called to a residence for a unresponsive child and a man who had a knife in his chest.
The Hooper Bay Public Safety had been called by the 3-month-old child's mother. The man with the stab wound to his chest was the child's father. Beth Ipsen, a spokesperson for the Alaska State troopers, identified the man as Michael Kuphaldt, age 33. The home where the incident occurred was not the woman's residence.
Alaska State troopers responded to Hooper Bay to conduct an investigation. Their initial investigation showed that the adult male, Kuphaldt, had stabbed himself with the knife. He was flown to Anchorage to the Alaska Native Medical Center for treatment of his self-inflicted wound.
The baby was confirmed dead at the scene. The investigation at the scene was unable to determine the cause of death. The child's body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's office for autopsy.
Troopers report that alcohol and narcotics were found at the scene and that they were a contributing factor in the death of the baby. Investigation of court records shows that Kuphardt has a lengthy history in the court system with many violent charges on the books. As recently as last month, Kuphardt has had brushes with law on assault charges, the second such set of charges this year.
The trooper's investigation will continue.
Hooper Bay, a Western Alaska community, is located on the Bering Sea coast. It lies 20 miles from Cape Romanzof and 25 miles south of Scammon Bay. The town has a population of approximately 2,000. Hooper Bay is a damp village, where importation and sale is illegal, but consuming it in the village is not.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Abducter dad with history of domestic violence arrested at Canadian border (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)
This is typical of the fathers who abduct or kidnap the kids. As you can see, UNNAMED DAD has a history of domestic violence. In this case, Mom had even filed for an order of protection. Thankfully, somebody was alert enough at the U.S.-Canadian border to catch Daddy. Hopefully, they won't let him out on bond, or otherwise these kids will just disappear again.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/10/09/bc-dad-arrest.html
Canadian officials arrest U.S. dad with 2 missing children
The Canadian Press Posted: Oct 9, 2011 1:04 PM PT
Last Updated: Oct 9, 2011 1:00 PM PT
An American man who told Canadian border officers he was moving to Alaska with his children has been arrested at the Surrey, B.C., border crossing.
Canada Border Services officers questioned the man when he arrived at the border with his two children on Thursday.
The 33-year-old father had several documents that said he had full custody of the children, but Canadian border officers made further checks.
It turned out the man had a domestic violence protective order filed against him by the mother of the children and that both the children were reported missing in May this year.
The children are now in custody of U.S. child-protection officials and their mother has been notified.
The man has been turned over to American officials to face charges.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/10/09/bc-dad-arrest.html
Canadian officials arrest U.S. dad with 2 missing children
The Canadian Press Posted: Oct 9, 2011 1:04 PM PT
Last Updated: Oct 9, 2011 1:00 PM PT
An American man who told Canadian border officers he was moving to Alaska with his children has been arrested at the Surrey, B.C., border crossing.
Canada Border Services officers questioned the man when he arrived at the border with his two children on Thursday.
The 33-year-old father had several documents that said he had full custody of the children, but Canadian border officers made further checks.
It turned out the man had a domestic violence protective order filed against him by the mother of the children and that both the children were reported missing in May this year.
The children are now in custody of U.S. child-protection officials and their mother has been notified.
The man has been turned over to American officials to face charges.
Monday, February 7, 2011
DASTARDLY DADS FROM THE ARCHIVES (Homer, Alaska - 2006)
I was sorting through all the email I've accumulated over, ahem, the past few years, when I found this item. I have posted the links, though they no longer work.
This case is so typical of the risks that mothers face in trying to get away from an abuser. Ignorant people are always asking moms, "well, why didn't you just leave?" As it turned out, the only way this mother could leave JASON KARLO JACOB ANDERSON, the father of her two children and a drug trafficker wanted on federal charges, was to escape on her own when the opportunity presented itself, and try to retrieve the children later. This woman states that this man regularly beat her and held a gun to her head. As soon as she was able, she contacted federal marshalls to help track this guy down and get her kids into safety. She warned them about how volatile he was, but like many battered women, she found her word was discounted and ignored. When the marshalls tried to arrest him at the Homer, Alaska airport, a gun fight broke out (just as Mom had predicted) which lead to the 2-year-old son getting shot in the head. Despite the fact that this situation was precipitated by a violent father and incompetent federal authorities who were willfully ignorant about domestic violence (and condescending towards women), it's MOM who is being punished by child protective services for "abandoning" the kids. Even though in her situation, escaping on her own was the only way she could obtain safety for all of them, since Dad never left her alone with the kids and had threatened to murder them if she ever called the police.
http://www.adn.com/front/story/7496264p-7406799c.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7493514p-7403615c.html
Girlfriend warned marshals of danger
Wounded boy's mother says she knew father could erupt; troopers investigate
By TOM KIZZIA
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: March 3, 2006)
HOMER -- A Minnesota fugitive wanted on drug charges pulled a handgun during an attempted arrest at the Homer airport Wednesday, touching off a gunfight that left him dead in the parking lot, Alaska State Troopers said. His two-year-old son remained in critical condition Thursday night from a bullet through the head.
Troopers are investigating the shootout involving U.S. marshals and Homer police outside the airport terminal, which was crowded with high-schoolers and their parents.
Jason Karlo Jacob Anderson, 31, of Duluth, Minn., had been living under an alias in Alaska with his girlfriend and their two small children for nearly a year, according to the girlfriend. He was wanted on federal drug trafficking charges involving methamphetamines and cocaine.
Two-year-old Jason Anderson II was under intensive care at Providence Hospital Thursday after being flown to Anchorage for surgery, according to his mother, Cherry Dietzmann.
The boy was shot while sitting in a car seat in the back of his father's rented Jeep, she said. The bullet entered the back of his head and exited through his face, destroying an eye. Doctors gave him only a small chance of survival, she said.
"They should have just backed off and waited for a new opportunity to catch him," said Dietzmann, 20, who described fleeing from Anderson repeatedly because of physical abuse. In the end, she helped federal marshals track him down. "I told them if you do it this way, he's going to freak and people are going to be hurt. They didn't take me seriously."
Her daughter, 6-month-old Darla, in a baby car seat, was not harmed in the shooting. Dietzmann was in Anchorage at the time of the shooting, having sneaked away from Anderson days earlier and left the children with him.
On Thursday, Dietzmann spent much of the day at Providence. She said her son, Jason, was heavily sedated and on life support. "His heart rate speeds up when I touch him and talk to him," she said.
State child protection services have taken custody of the two children, she said. Darla is in a foster home on the Kenai Peninsula, Dietzmann said -- that's all she knows. She said a custody hearing has been scheduled for today.
State officials would say only that the case is still under investigation, citing privacy laws.
Dietzmann was upset and angry. She said state workers told her she was an unfit mother for abandoning her children with a dangerous man.
"I tried to tell them I was working with the U.S. marshals to get my kids back," she said. "I tried to explain he was beating me and putting guns to my face. The marshals agreed with me, they said I was doing the right thing to get away and tell them."
But after she had worked closely with the marshals for days, Dietzmann said, they suddenly stopped talking to her after the shootout. She said she feels trapped, with no one to support her decision to leave her violent partner.
"They shot my child. Why won't they talk to me?" she said.
Investigators working with Dietzmann had tracked Anderson under his alias to the Homer area this week. He was lured to the Homer airport Wednesday night, supposedly to change out a rental Jeep with a broken windshield.
Plainclothes officers with the federal marshal's office and Homer police were waiting in the terminal and planned to stun him with a Taser gun when he went to the rental counter, according to the rental agent involved in the plan.
As it happened, the terminal was filled with high school choir members and their parents preparing to fly out on a trip to Italy. Anderson pulled up in the rental lot about 100 feet from the small terminal and called the agent on his cell phone, asking him to bring out the keys for the new car because he had his children with him.
Law enforcement officers in the parking lot then drove up behind and in front of the black Jeep. Anderson pulled a gun and shooting started, troopers said. Three Homer police officers and a federal marshal were involved. The three Homer officers have been placed on a minimum three-day administrative leave, the troopers said.
Anderson was indicted on the drug charges late last year by a federal grand jury in Minnesota. Three others, including a brother and uncle of Cherry Dietzmann, were also charged in the indictment. The other three were arrested and remain in jail or are free on bail.
By the time of the indictment, Anderson was living in Anchorage under the assumed identity of another Dietzmann brother, Brandon. Cherry Dietzmann said Anderson had stolen her brother's birth certificate on a visit.
She said she had nothing to do with his criminal activities. An aunt in Duluth, Colleen Murray, backed her up Thursday.
"I think the only reason she stayed with him was the babies," Murray said. "Pregnant at 17, and that's the way it goes."
Darla, the baby, was born last September in Anchorage, Dietzmann said.
Dietzmann described Anderson as "controlling, abusive and violent." A tattoo artist who spent time in prison, he beat her often but did not physically hurt the kids, she said.
"He was actually a good dad in a lot of ways," she said. "I wanted him to go to jail, not to die."
Anderson would hold tightly to the children as a way to control her, she said.
"He would never let me go anywhere with the kids. Nev-er," she said.
She tried to escape several times, she said, calling him and threatening to report his whereabouts to police if he didn't give her the children.
"He'd say, 'If you call the cops, I'm killing the kids.' Then I'd come back," she said. "I was totally stuck. I was completely, just utterly stuck."
Several months ago, she said, a neighbor called police after Anderson beat her. She said that when Anchorage police arrived, Anderson pointed a gun at her ankles while she stood at the door and told them she was all right. That night, she said, guessing (correctly) that she was going to leave again, he woke the family in the middle of the night and drove off in a loaded car to the Kenai Peninsula, where they settled in Sterling and then Soldotna.
Early last week, she said, she slipped away again. Federal marshals soon got in touch, she said. The U.S. marshal's office said they were tipped off by information from Minnesota.
"I told them everything," she said. "I told them if you do it this way, it's going to go good. If you do it this way, it's going to go bad. They did everything wrong."
Randy Johnson, U.S. Marshal for the Alaska district, confirmed Thursday that Dietzmann had been cooperating with his agency. Because she was essentially a victim of the shootout, the federal agents cannot get in direct contact with her during the state troopers investigation, Johnson said. He said marshals were talking to state child protection officers and sorting through a complex set of protective regulations.
But Johnson said he was assigning a deputy to help Dietzmann.
"We want to do whatever we could to help that young lady," he said. "We want to help her get the kids where she wants them to be."
This case is so typical of the risks that mothers face in trying to get away from an abuser. Ignorant people are always asking moms, "well, why didn't you just leave?" As it turned out, the only way this mother could leave JASON KARLO JACOB ANDERSON, the father of her two children and a drug trafficker wanted on federal charges, was to escape on her own when the opportunity presented itself, and try to retrieve the children later. This woman states that this man regularly beat her and held a gun to her head. As soon as she was able, she contacted federal marshalls to help track this guy down and get her kids into safety. She warned them about how volatile he was, but like many battered women, she found her word was discounted and ignored. When the marshalls tried to arrest him at the Homer, Alaska airport, a gun fight broke out (just as Mom had predicted) which lead to the 2-year-old son getting shot in the head. Despite the fact that this situation was precipitated by a violent father and incompetent federal authorities who were willfully ignorant about domestic violence (and condescending towards women), it's MOM who is being punished by child protective services for "abandoning" the kids. Even though in her situation, escaping on her own was the only way she could obtain safety for all of them, since Dad never left her alone with the kids and had threatened to murder them if she ever called the police.
http://www.adn.com/front/story/7496264p-7406799c.html
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7493514p-7403615c.html
Girlfriend warned marshals of danger
Wounded boy's mother says she knew father could erupt; troopers investigate
By TOM KIZZIA
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: March 3, 2006)
HOMER -- A Minnesota fugitive wanted on drug charges pulled a handgun during an attempted arrest at the Homer airport Wednesday, touching off a gunfight that left him dead in the parking lot, Alaska State Troopers said. His two-year-old son remained in critical condition Thursday night from a bullet through the head.
Troopers are investigating the shootout involving U.S. marshals and Homer police outside the airport terminal, which was crowded with high-schoolers and their parents.
Jason Karlo Jacob Anderson, 31, of Duluth, Minn., had been living under an alias in Alaska with his girlfriend and their two small children for nearly a year, according to the girlfriend. He was wanted on federal drug trafficking charges involving methamphetamines and cocaine.
Two-year-old Jason Anderson II was under intensive care at Providence Hospital Thursday after being flown to Anchorage for surgery, according to his mother, Cherry Dietzmann.
The boy was shot while sitting in a car seat in the back of his father's rented Jeep, she said. The bullet entered the back of his head and exited through his face, destroying an eye. Doctors gave him only a small chance of survival, she said.
"They should have just backed off and waited for a new opportunity to catch him," said Dietzmann, 20, who described fleeing from Anderson repeatedly because of physical abuse. In the end, she helped federal marshals track him down. "I told them if you do it this way, he's going to freak and people are going to be hurt. They didn't take me seriously."
Her daughter, 6-month-old Darla, in a baby car seat, was not harmed in the shooting. Dietzmann was in Anchorage at the time of the shooting, having sneaked away from Anderson days earlier and left the children with him.
On Thursday, Dietzmann spent much of the day at Providence. She said her son, Jason, was heavily sedated and on life support. "His heart rate speeds up when I touch him and talk to him," she said.
State child protection services have taken custody of the two children, she said. Darla is in a foster home on the Kenai Peninsula, Dietzmann said -- that's all she knows. She said a custody hearing has been scheduled for today.
State officials would say only that the case is still under investigation, citing privacy laws.
Dietzmann was upset and angry. She said state workers told her she was an unfit mother for abandoning her children with a dangerous man.
"I tried to tell them I was working with the U.S. marshals to get my kids back," she said. "I tried to explain he was beating me and putting guns to my face. The marshals agreed with me, they said I was doing the right thing to get away and tell them."
But after she had worked closely with the marshals for days, Dietzmann said, they suddenly stopped talking to her after the shootout. She said she feels trapped, with no one to support her decision to leave her violent partner.
"They shot my child. Why won't they talk to me?" she said.
Investigators working with Dietzmann had tracked Anderson under his alias to the Homer area this week. He was lured to the Homer airport Wednesday night, supposedly to change out a rental Jeep with a broken windshield.
Plainclothes officers with the federal marshal's office and Homer police were waiting in the terminal and planned to stun him with a Taser gun when he went to the rental counter, according to the rental agent involved in the plan.
As it happened, the terminal was filled with high school choir members and their parents preparing to fly out on a trip to Italy. Anderson pulled up in the rental lot about 100 feet from the small terminal and called the agent on his cell phone, asking him to bring out the keys for the new car because he had his children with him.
Law enforcement officers in the parking lot then drove up behind and in front of the black Jeep. Anderson pulled a gun and shooting started, troopers said. Three Homer police officers and a federal marshal were involved. The three Homer officers have been placed on a minimum three-day administrative leave, the troopers said.
Anderson was indicted on the drug charges late last year by a federal grand jury in Minnesota. Three others, including a brother and uncle of Cherry Dietzmann, were also charged in the indictment. The other three were arrested and remain in jail or are free on bail.
By the time of the indictment, Anderson was living in Anchorage under the assumed identity of another Dietzmann brother, Brandon. Cherry Dietzmann said Anderson had stolen her brother's birth certificate on a visit.
She said she had nothing to do with his criminal activities. An aunt in Duluth, Colleen Murray, backed her up Thursday.
"I think the only reason she stayed with him was the babies," Murray said. "Pregnant at 17, and that's the way it goes."
Darla, the baby, was born last September in Anchorage, Dietzmann said.
Dietzmann described Anderson as "controlling, abusive and violent." A tattoo artist who spent time in prison, he beat her often but did not physically hurt the kids, she said.
"He was actually a good dad in a lot of ways," she said. "I wanted him to go to jail, not to die."
Anderson would hold tightly to the children as a way to control her, she said.
"He would never let me go anywhere with the kids. Nev-er," she said.
She tried to escape several times, she said, calling him and threatening to report his whereabouts to police if he didn't give her the children.
"He'd say, 'If you call the cops, I'm killing the kids.' Then I'd come back," she said. "I was totally stuck. I was completely, just utterly stuck."
Several months ago, she said, a neighbor called police after Anderson beat her. She said that when Anchorage police arrived, Anderson pointed a gun at her ankles while she stood at the door and told them she was all right. That night, she said, guessing (correctly) that she was going to leave again, he woke the family in the middle of the night and drove off in a loaded car to the Kenai Peninsula, where they settled in Sterling and then Soldotna.
Early last week, she said, she slipped away again. Federal marshals soon got in touch, she said. The U.S. marshal's office said they were tipped off by information from Minnesota.
"I told them everything," she said. "I told them if you do it this way, it's going to go good. If you do it this way, it's going to go bad. They did everything wrong."
Randy Johnson, U.S. Marshal for the Alaska district, confirmed Thursday that Dietzmann had been cooperating with his agency. Because she was essentially a victim of the shootout, the federal agents cannot get in direct contact with her during the state troopers investigation, Johnson said. He said marshals were talking to state child protection officers and sorting through a complex set of protective regulations.
But Johnson said he was assigning a deputy to help Dietzmann.
"We want to do whatever we could to help that young lady," he said. "We want to help her get the kids where she wants them to be."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dad "suspect" in murder of wife, 8-month-old daughter (Anchorage, Alaska)
Dad KIP LYNCH is a "suspect" in the shooting death of his wife and 8-month-old daughter. This appears to be a failed murder-suicide attempt (Dad has so far survived, but is in critical condition). Obviously, the word "suspect" is a mere legal formality here, since authorities aren't investigating any other suspects.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/26/1163808/woman-child-killed-in-south-anchorage.html
Woman, child killed in south-side apartment
GRUESOME SCENE: Police find father, a Fort Rich soldier recently returned from war, suffering gunshot injuries.
By JAMES HALPIN and ELIZABETH BLUEMINK
Anchorage Daily News
Published: 04/26/1011:43 pm Updated: 04/27/1012:33 am
Military police looking for a soldier who failed to report for duty Monday found his wife and baby daughter shot to death in their South Anchorage home, and a short time later Anchorage police found the soldier there too, suffering a life-threatening wound.
The soldier, a 21-year-old military policeman identified as Spc. Kip Lynch, serves with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, at Fort Richardson. Just two months ago, he returned from the brigade's year-long deployment in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.
Lynch and his 19-year-old wife, Racquell Lynch, and their 8-month old daughter, Kyirsta Lynch, lived off base in the South Anchorage apartment just east of the intersection of the Old Seward Highway and East 100th Ave. After police discovered the gruesome scene, Lynch, of Jacksonville, Fla., was taken by ambulance in critical condition to Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for serious gunshot injuries.
Lynch joined the Army in September 2007 and returned with his unit from a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan in February, Army spokesman Chuck Canterbury said.
Detectives had not yet determined whether the incident was a murder-suicide attempt or whether a killer came from outside the home, police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said. Police were not looking for any suspects, Parker said.
Crime scene investigators arrived shortly before 10 a.m. and were still on scene along the Old Seward Highway collecting evidence into the evening. Parker said there did not appear to be signs of forced entry into the home.
The three were discovered about 7:30 a.m. in the 9900 block of William Jones Circle after Lynch failed to report for work, Parker said.
Two military police officers went to the soldier's home and contacted the landlord, who let them in after they knocked on the door and got no answer, he said.
The officers found the woman and child in one part of the house, realized they were in a crime scene and left to call police, Parker said. Anchorage police have authority for incidents involving soldiers off-base, though military police may assist or conduct parallel investigations for the Army.
The landlord called police and reported the two had been shot and killed, Parker said. Anchorage police officers arriving on the scene searched the home and found the soldier in another area.
It wasn't clear when the incident took place. Parker said Army officials reported seeing Lynch last week, but detectives had not yet determined when the shootings happened.
Several neighbors who live in the eight-plex said they didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
Lynch joined the Army in September 2007 and went to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before being stationed at Fort Richardson in March 2008, Canterbury said. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in February and March of 2009 and finished returning last month.
After a welcome-home ceremony at Sullivan Arena late last month, soldiers from the unit were cut loose for a month of leave. According to Kip Lynch's Facebook page, his family went down to Arizona and California in that time. Less than a week ago, Lynch posted pictures of the smiling family at a zoo, with Kyirsta sitting on a horse and feeding a giraffe and grinning in her father's arms. His daughter's name was tattooed on his left bicep.
Kip Lynch's mother, Terri Lynch, of Jacksonville, Fla., said she was flying to Anchorage today and didn't know much about what happened. She declined to comment further.
The deaths are the seventh and eighth homicides in Anchorage this year.
Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/26/1163808/woman-child-killed-in-south-anchorage.html#ixzz0mJNkuoiV
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/26/1163808/woman-child-killed-in-south-anchorage.html
Woman, child killed in south-side apartment
GRUESOME SCENE: Police find father, a Fort Rich soldier recently returned from war, suffering gunshot injuries.
By JAMES HALPIN and ELIZABETH BLUEMINK
Anchorage Daily News
Published: 04/26/1011:43 pm Updated: 04/27/1012:33 am
Military police looking for a soldier who failed to report for duty Monday found his wife and baby daughter shot to death in their South Anchorage home, and a short time later Anchorage police found the soldier there too, suffering a life-threatening wound.
The soldier, a 21-year-old military policeman identified as Spc. Kip Lynch, serves with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, at Fort Richardson. Just two months ago, he returned from the brigade's year-long deployment in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.
Lynch and his 19-year-old wife, Racquell Lynch, and their 8-month old daughter, Kyirsta Lynch, lived off base in the South Anchorage apartment just east of the intersection of the Old Seward Highway and East 100th Ave. After police discovered the gruesome scene, Lynch, of Jacksonville, Fla., was taken by ambulance in critical condition to Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery for serious gunshot injuries.
Lynch joined the Army in September 2007 and returned with his unit from a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan in February, Army spokesman Chuck Canterbury said.
Detectives had not yet determined whether the incident was a murder-suicide attempt or whether a killer came from outside the home, police spokesman Lt. Dave Parker said. Police were not looking for any suspects, Parker said.
Crime scene investigators arrived shortly before 10 a.m. and were still on scene along the Old Seward Highway collecting evidence into the evening. Parker said there did not appear to be signs of forced entry into the home.
The three were discovered about 7:30 a.m. in the 9900 block of William Jones Circle after Lynch failed to report for work, Parker said.
Two military police officers went to the soldier's home and contacted the landlord, who let them in after they knocked on the door and got no answer, he said.
The officers found the woman and child in one part of the house, realized they were in a crime scene and left to call police, Parker said. Anchorage police have authority for incidents involving soldiers off-base, though military police may assist or conduct parallel investigations for the Army.
The landlord called police and reported the two had been shot and killed, Parker said. Anchorage police officers arriving on the scene searched the home and found the soldier in another area.
It wasn't clear when the incident took place. Parker said Army officials reported seeing Lynch last week, but detectives had not yet determined when the shootings happened.
Several neighbors who live in the eight-plex said they didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
Lynch joined the Army in September 2007 and went to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before being stationed at Fort Richardson in March 2008, Canterbury said. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in February and March of 2009 and finished returning last month.
After a welcome-home ceremony at Sullivan Arena late last month, soldiers from the unit were cut loose for a month of leave. According to Kip Lynch's Facebook page, his family went down to Arizona and California in that time. Less than a week ago, Lynch posted pictures of the smiling family at a zoo, with Kyirsta sitting on a horse and feeding a giraffe and grinning in her father's arms. His daughter's name was tattooed on his left bicep.
Kip Lynch's mother, Terri Lynch, of Jacksonville, Fla., said she was flying to Anchorage today and didn't know much about what happened. She declined to comment further.
The deaths are the seventh and eighth homicides in Anchorage this year.
Read more: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/26/1163808/woman-child-killed-in-south-anchorage.html#ixzz0mJNkuoiV
Monday, January 11, 2010
Dad accused to trying to get son to give him Vicodin (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Seems that the son of dad RANDALL L. MCCOY was scheduled for a little upcoming surgery. So Dad figured there'd be no harm done if Sonny forked over some of the Vicodin he'd getting to good old Dad. I mean an iPod for a few pills is a fair trade, right?
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Fairbanks+man+accused+of+trying+to+get+son+to+give+him+Vicodin%20&id=5467329&instance=home_most_popular
Fairbanks man accused of trying to get son to give him Vicodin
by Chris Freiberg / cfreiberg@newsminer.com 4 days ago
FAIRBANKS – A Fairbanks man has been accused of trying to get his teenage son to give him prescription painkillers the teen was going to get for an upcoming surgery.
Randall L. McCoy, 36, has been charged with second-degree solicitation to commit drugs misconduct, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The 14-year-old’s mother and stepfather told the Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement that they recorded all phone conversations between McCoy and his children because of concern for the children’s safety.
They contacted ABADE in June after listening to a conversation during which McCoy allegedly asked his son to meet him at a church and bring him Vicodin in exchange for an iPod.
McCoy used the word “movies” as code for Vicodin when speaking to his son on the phone, court documents allege.
He reportedly asked his son, “You know what I’m talking about with those movies?” and asked the teen if he was “afraid to get the movies,” according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
At one point in the conversation, the teen said he was getting “those” after an upcoming surgery, at which point McCoy hung up the phone.
McCoy called back a few seconds later and asked if the conversation was being recorded. He said he needed “those” because his leg was hurting, according to the complaint.
An ABADE investigator contacted McCoy on Monday. He initially claimed his son had thought of giving him Vicodin, but then admitted it was his own idea. He reportedly told the investigator he needed the pills for his brother.
McCoy has previously been convicted of obtaining prescription drugs by misrepresentation, also a felony.
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Fairbanks+man+accused+of+trying+to+get+son+to+give+him+Vicodin%20&id=5467329&instance=home_most_popular
Fairbanks man accused of trying to get son to give him Vicodin
by Chris Freiberg / cfreiberg@newsminer.com 4 days ago
FAIRBANKS – A Fairbanks man has been accused of trying to get his teenage son to give him prescription painkillers the teen was going to get for an upcoming surgery.
Randall L. McCoy, 36, has been charged with second-degree solicitation to commit drugs misconduct, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The 14-year-old’s mother and stepfather told the Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement that they recorded all phone conversations between McCoy and his children because of concern for the children’s safety.
They contacted ABADE in June after listening to a conversation during which McCoy allegedly asked his son to meet him at a church and bring him Vicodin in exchange for an iPod.
McCoy used the word “movies” as code for Vicodin when speaking to his son on the phone, court documents allege.
He reportedly asked his son, “You know what I’m talking about with those movies?” and asked the teen if he was “afraid to get the movies,” according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
At one point in the conversation, the teen said he was getting “those” after an upcoming surgery, at which point McCoy hung up the phone.
McCoy called back a few seconds later and asked if the conversation was being recorded. He said he needed “those” because his leg was hurting, according to the complaint.
An ABADE investigator contacted McCoy on Monday. He initially claimed his son had thought of giving him Vicodin, but then admitted it was his own idea. He reportedly told the investigator he needed the pills for his brother.
McCoy has previously been convicted of obtaining prescription drugs by misrepresentation, also a felony.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Dad charged in death of 15-month-old daughter; dad accused of slapping her head for throwing food (Wasilla, Alaska)
Dad CLAYTON PHILLIP ALLISON has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of his 15-month-old daughter. Apparently, Dad got a little bent because the little girl was throwing food and not eating, so he he slapped her on the head hard enough to cause a traumatic brain injury.
Clueless f---. I have photos of my own daughter from that age, sitting in her high chair surrounded by food everywhere. No big deal. You get a sponge and clean up. That's what toddlers do, idiot. Needless to say, Mom was at work when the child was assaulted.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/1020841.html
Dad charged in girl's slapping death
BRAIN INJURY: Daughter repeatedly threw food on the floor, refused to eat.
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
Published: November 20th, 2009 02:29 AM
Last Modified: November 20th, 2009 02:30 AM
A 15-month-old girl who died of traumatic brain injury more than a year ago died at the hands of her father, who slapped her head into a highchair repeatedly because she wouldn't stop throwing food on the floor, according to court documents.
Wasilla resident Clayton Phillip Allison, 26, was charged this week with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jocelynn Renee Allison, who died Sept. 24, 2008, at Providence Alaska Medical Center.
According to Alaska State Troopers, Allison claimed Jocelynn sustained the fatal injuries in a fall down the stairs. Troopers, however, say the injuries could not have been caused by falling down eight carpeted stairs, which were guarded with a baby gate, in the split-level home in the 4300 block of South Philie Drive in Wasilla.
Though Allison initially denied wrongdoing, he later told investigators he had been slapping the girl because she refused to eat, according to an affidavit filed in court by troopers investigator Sherry Ferno.
"Clayton stated he was slapping his daughter over a period of time, and began striking (Jocelynn) harder with time," Ferno wrote. "Clayton stated he was not angry with (Jocelynn), he just could not get her to eat otherwise."
According to the affidavit, earlier in her life, Jocelynn had been considered "failure to thrive" because of her low weight and muscle development. The girl could not stand on her own, her mother told troopers.
The day she died, Jocelynn and her father had been doing physical therapy in the living room while her mother and Allison's wife, Christiane Allison, was at work. Clayton Allison initially told troopers he clogged up the toilet and was working to clear it when he heard Jocelynn screaming and crying at the bottom of the stairs.
The injured child was flown by helicopter to Anchorage, where doctors found blood around her brain, a bruised lung and two dislocated vertebrae. The girl died that night.
An autopsy report in December declared the death a homicide, saying the injuries could not have been caused by the described fall.
In January, Clayton Allison told investigators Christiane would come home from work and weigh Jocelynn, asking if the girl had been eating well. Clayton Allison told investigators he tried to feed the girl oatmeal and peas to put weight on her but Jocelynn would throw it on the floor. He told investigators he felt like a failure as a father.
To stop her from throwing the food, Allison began slapping her, knocking Jocelynn's head against the back of a plastic highchair, according to troopers.
"Clayton said that at that time her head would snap forward striking the tray table," Ferno wrote. "The other blows would be a forehand slap followed by a backhanded slap causing her head to strike the side of the chair."
Charges were more than a year coming because infant death cases can be difficult to prove and require time to gather autopsy results, medical records and expert opinions, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
"You have to make sure all your ducks are in a row before you move forward," she said.
Allison, who has no criminal history in Alaska, according to court records, remains jailed at the Mat-su Pretrial facility. No one answered phone calls to the Allisons' home Thursday. The voice mail was not accepting messages because it was full.
Clueless f---. I have photos of my own daughter from that age, sitting in her high chair surrounded by food everywhere. No big deal. You get a sponge and clean up. That's what toddlers do, idiot. Needless to say, Mom was at work when the child was assaulted.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/1020841.html
Dad charged in girl's slapping death
BRAIN INJURY: Daughter repeatedly threw food on the floor, refused to eat.
By JAMES HALPIN
jhalpin@adn.com
Published: November 20th, 2009 02:29 AM
Last Modified: November 20th, 2009 02:30 AM
A 15-month-old girl who died of traumatic brain injury more than a year ago died at the hands of her father, who slapped her head into a highchair repeatedly because she wouldn't stop throwing food on the floor, according to court documents.
Wasilla resident Clayton Phillip Allison, 26, was charged this week with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jocelynn Renee Allison, who died Sept. 24, 2008, at Providence Alaska Medical Center.
According to Alaska State Troopers, Allison claimed Jocelynn sustained the fatal injuries in a fall down the stairs. Troopers, however, say the injuries could not have been caused by falling down eight carpeted stairs, which were guarded with a baby gate, in the split-level home in the 4300 block of South Philie Drive in Wasilla.
Though Allison initially denied wrongdoing, he later told investigators he had been slapping the girl because she refused to eat, according to an affidavit filed in court by troopers investigator Sherry Ferno.
"Clayton stated he was slapping his daughter over a period of time, and began striking (Jocelynn) harder with time," Ferno wrote. "Clayton stated he was not angry with (Jocelynn), he just could not get her to eat otherwise."
According to the affidavit, earlier in her life, Jocelynn had been considered "failure to thrive" because of her low weight and muscle development. The girl could not stand on her own, her mother told troopers.
The day she died, Jocelynn and her father had been doing physical therapy in the living room while her mother and Allison's wife, Christiane Allison, was at work. Clayton Allison initially told troopers he clogged up the toilet and was working to clear it when he heard Jocelynn screaming and crying at the bottom of the stairs.
The injured child was flown by helicopter to Anchorage, where doctors found blood around her brain, a bruised lung and two dislocated vertebrae. The girl died that night.
An autopsy report in December declared the death a homicide, saying the injuries could not have been caused by the described fall.
In January, Clayton Allison told investigators Christiane would come home from work and weigh Jocelynn, asking if the girl had been eating well. Clayton Allison told investigators he tried to feed the girl oatmeal and peas to put weight on her but Jocelynn would throw it on the floor. He told investigators he felt like a failure as a father.
To stop her from throwing the food, Allison began slapping her, knocking Jocelynn's head against the back of a plastic highchair, according to troopers.
"Clayton said that at that time her head would snap forward striking the tray table," Ferno wrote. "The other blows would be a forehand slap followed by a backhanded slap causing her head to strike the side of the chair."
Charges were more than a year coming because infant death cases can be difficult to prove and require time to gather autopsy results, medical records and expert opinions, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
"You have to make sure all your ducks are in a row before you move forward," she said.
Allison, who has no criminal history in Alaska, according to court records, remains jailed at the Mat-su Pretrial facility. No one answered phone calls to the Allisons' home Thursday. The voice mail was not accepting messages because it was full.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Dad found guilty of child sexual abuse against daughter (Anchorage, Alaska)
Dad SAMMY COHEN has been found guilty of sexually abusing his daughter. The fact that dad had possession of pornographic photos on his computer of his then 14-year-old daughter basically clinched the case.
Hat tip to my good Alaska friend for finding this.
Ex-cop Cohen guilty of child sexual abuse
DAUGHTER: Juror calls nude photos of Cohen's 14-year-old "proof."
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney@adn.com
Published: October 29th, 2009 02:39 PM
Last Modified: October 30th, 2009 07:32 AM
Sammy Cohen sat, stoic, Thursday afternoon beside defense attorney John Cashion as he listened to the word "guilty" come from the jury box 16 times.
The Anchorage Superior Court jury convicted the former city police officer on charges that included second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, child exploitation and possessing child pornography, all of which involved his then-14-year-old daughter.
Cohen, 55, was an 11-year veteran of the Anchorage Police Department and was teaching at the police academy when he was arrested in 2005. His first trial last year ended in a mistrial practically before it began, before the jury heard any testimony, after the victim, who couldn't be located beforehand, showed up at the last minute.
For this one, jurors listened to testimony for more than three weeks on the total of 21 charges. After five days of deliberation, they couldn't reach a decision on three of 10 sex-abuse charges and found Cohen not guilty of a fourth.
They also found him not guilty of one of six counts of possessing child pornography. While the rest involved topless and naked photographs of his daughter, this one was of an unknown child and was by far the most graphic. It was found on a Zip drive, which the defense said he'd bought used online and didn't even know the image was there.
The three abuse charges resulting in a hung jury and the other not-guilty verdict involved touching and groping claims, including one that Cohen held one of his daughter's breasts while she did topless pull-ups because he wanted to feel her muscles work.
"There was reasonable doubt" on those four counts, juror Sandy Knipmeyer said outside the courtroom after being released from duty. "The first charges had everything to do with just (the daughter's) testimony, and I'll tell ya, everybody's sort of telling the truth and everybody's sort of lying, and 10 years have passed ... and just taking (her) word was tough for the people that went that way. It was definitely split.
"Cohen was part of a very dysfunctional family, in our opinion. There was so much to take in, and just (his daughter's) word was not enough."
The topless and nude computer photos found in his possession were a different story.
"The computer ... spoke for itself, and that's where a lot of those guilties came in," Knipmeyer said. "The computer stuff became sort of a solid one for us because of computer evidence. Proof helps."
The jury of three women and nine men began deliberations late on Oct. 22. In delivering Thursday's verdicts, the panel was missing one juror, who had been kicked off for using an electronic dictionary in the deliberation room to look up the word "touching." Jurors are given specific instructions forbidding them from doing independent research on a case.
Other than that, Knipmeyer said, they all worked really well together. And they worked hard.
"Even our bailiff said, 'It seems like you guys processed for a long time.' "
"What you don't realize when you're reading the newspaper and you're like, 'Fry 'em' ... is it's someone's life and it's real. It's overwhelming and it makes me emotional.
"And you know, think I made the very best educated decision I could make with 11 other people."
After the verdict, Cohen, who continues to be out on bail, left the courthouse accompanied by his attorney. Superior Court Judge Michael Wolverton set sentencing for Feb. 5.
Hat tip to my good Alaska friend for finding this.
Ex-cop Cohen guilty of child sexual abuse
DAUGHTER: Juror calls nude photos of Cohen's 14-year-old "proof."
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney@adn.com
Published: October 29th, 2009 02:39 PM
Last Modified: October 30th, 2009 07:32 AM
Sammy Cohen sat, stoic, Thursday afternoon beside defense attorney John Cashion as he listened to the word "guilty" come from the jury box 16 times.
The Anchorage Superior Court jury convicted the former city police officer on charges that included second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, child exploitation and possessing child pornography, all of which involved his then-14-year-old daughter.
Cohen, 55, was an 11-year veteran of the Anchorage Police Department and was teaching at the police academy when he was arrested in 2005. His first trial last year ended in a mistrial practically before it began, before the jury heard any testimony, after the victim, who couldn't be located beforehand, showed up at the last minute.
For this one, jurors listened to testimony for more than three weeks on the total of 21 charges. After five days of deliberation, they couldn't reach a decision on three of 10 sex-abuse charges and found Cohen not guilty of a fourth.
They also found him not guilty of one of six counts of possessing child pornography. While the rest involved topless and naked photographs of his daughter, this one was of an unknown child and was by far the most graphic. It was found on a Zip drive, which the defense said he'd bought used online and didn't even know the image was there.
The three abuse charges resulting in a hung jury and the other not-guilty verdict involved touching and groping claims, including one that Cohen held one of his daughter's breasts while she did topless pull-ups because he wanted to feel her muscles work.
"There was reasonable doubt" on those four counts, juror Sandy Knipmeyer said outside the courtroom after being released from duty. "The first charges had everything to do with just (the daughter's) testimony, and I'll tell ya, everybody's sort of telling the truth and everybody's sort of lying, and 10 years have passed ... and just taking (her) word was tough for the people that went that way. It was definitely split.
"Cohen was part of a very dysfunctional family, in our opinion. There was so much to take in, and just (his daughter's) word was not enough."
The topless and nude computer photos found in his possession were a different story.
"The computer ... spoke for itself, and that's where a lot of those guilties came in," Knipmeyer said. "The computer stuff became sort of a solid one for us because of computer evidence. Proof helps."
The jury of three women and nine men began deliberations late on Oct. 22. In delivering Thursday's verdicts, the panel was missing one juror, who had been kicked off for using an electronic dictionary in the deliberation room to look up the word "touching." Jurors are given specific instructions forbidding them from doing independent research on a case.
Other than that, Knipmeyer said, they all worked really well together. And they worked hard.
"Even our bailiff said, 'It seems like you guys processed for a long time.' "
"What you don't realize when you're reading the newspaper and you're like, 'Fry 'em' ... is it's someone's life and it's real. It's overwhelming and it makes me emotional.
"And you know, think I made the very best educated decision I could make with 11 other people."
After the verdict, Cohen, who continues to be out on bail, left the courthouse accompanied by his attorney. Superior Court Judge Michael Wolverton set sentencing for Feb. 5.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
16 Alaska kids died by abuse in 7 years
Among the victim identifed are Kaydence Lewinski, who was killed by her UNNAMED DAD in 2007; and Ashton Burns, who was strangled to death along with his mother by dad CHRISTOPHER KEVAN in 2005.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/988312.html
16 Alaska kids died by abuse or neglect in seven years
WARNINGS: Lack of staff, resources caused cases to slip through.
By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: October 26th, 2009 09:22 PM
Last Modified: October 26th, 2009 11:06 PM
A new report says 16 Alaska children died from abuse or neglect during a seven-year span, and the true count likely is much higher.
The report, released last week by the national advocacy group Every Child Matters, looked state-by-state at deaths, child protection spending, child abuse rates and other indications of risks to children and responses by the states. Nationwide, the official count of child abuse and neglect deaths from 2001 to 2007 was 10,440.
Around the country, many who died were age 3 or younger; four in 10 were under age 1. Children were shaken and beaten, drowned and strangled, suffocated and starved.
The group says the deaths are preventable and that states' efforts to help children in troubled families are falling short. The report is called "We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America."
"In thousands of these cases, people reported the danger facing the child to authorities. For a variety of reasons -- especially child protective agency budgets and staff capacity stretched dangerously thin in comparison to the problem -- the response to these warnings failed the child," the report said.
The new report includes a photograph of a child from each state who died and a quick description of what happened; the grim list includes the case of 5-month-old Kaydence Lewinski from Wasilla.
Kaydence suffered bruises all over her body before she died in 2007, troopers have said. Her father shook her and threw her on a couch, troopers said. Last year, he was sentenced to 30 years for second-degree murder.
For Alaska, "the 16 deaths, the official deaths, may belie the fact that there are many more," if the problem is looked at more broadly, said Michael Petit, president of Washington, D.C.-based Every Child Matters.
For instance, Alaska public health researchers in 2008 reported that 114 Alaska babies had died over an 11-year-period from abuse, neglect or "gross negligence." Some suffocated in their sleep. Some didn't get needed medical care. Six were shaken to death; seven were killed by being thrown, dropped, hit or kicked.
"We do not need to meet a legal definition for conviction but rather ask, was neglect or abuse a likely part of the causal chain that contributed to death? If so, we count it. Using this type of reasoning, we find levels of maltreatment-related deaths something like 10 times higher than reported numbers," Brad Gessner, an epidemiologist with the state Division of Public Health, wrote in an e-mail.
The state medical examiner's office classified the deaths of 27 Alaska children from 2004 to 2007 as homicides. Excluding 10 killed by gunshots, at least some of the remaining 17 appeared to be related to abuse or neglect: six were killed by trauma to the head, three were strangled, one died from neglect of an unspecified medical condition, another from hypothermia.
Some of the abuse and neglect deaths are well known; others happen as private family tragedies hidden from the public.
One Alaska baby who died was Ashton Burns, strangled along with his mother by his father in 2005. Just weeks before he was killed, the baby suffered a fractured skull, which was investigated by the state Office of Children's Services. But both parents insisted to investigators that the mother had tripped and fallen while carrying the baby, and OCS didn't find abuse. After Ashton was killed, his father admitted he also caused the earlier head injury, according to news reports. The father, Christopher Kevan, was sentenced to 198 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his son along with the baby's mother.
OCS officials said they couldn't discuss individual deaths, even when state workers were previously involved with the family, unless the state Department of Law reviewed the matter first.
"While every child fatality is tragic -- whether the child protection system had prior knowledge/involvement with the family or not -- prevention programs and strong community collaborations are the most effective tools to improve child and parent outcomes," OCS director Tammy Sandoval said in an e-mail.
While the report says some hard-pinched states are slashing child protection budgets, that isn't happening in Alaska. The budget for the Office of Children's Services is growing, officials said.
But challenges continue, including, Sandoval wrote, "retention of staff that can do the work; the difficult, complex, stressful and emotionally exhausting nature of the work; and the availability (of) services on a statewide basis that adequately meet the increasingly complex and unique needs of each Alaskan family."
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/988312.html
16 Alaska kids died by abuse or neglect in seven years
WARNINGS: Lack of staff, resources caused cases to slip through.
By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: October 26th, 2009 09:22 PM
Last Modified: October 26th, 2009 11:06 PM
A new report says 16 Alaska children died from abuse or neglect during a seven-year span, and the true count likely is much higher.
The report, released last week by the national advocacy group Every Child Matters, looked state-by-state at deaths, child protection spending, child abuse rates and other indications of risks to children and responses by the states. Nationwide, the official count of child abuse and neglect deaths from 2001 to 2007 was 10,440.
Around the country, many who died were age 3 or younger; four in 10 were under age 1. Children were shaken and beaten, drowned and strangled, suffocated and starved.
The group says the deaths are preventable and that states' efforts to help children in troubled families are falling short. The report is called "We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America."
"In thousands of these cases, people reported the danger facing the child to authorities. For a variety of reasons -- especially child protective agency budgets and staff capacity stretched dangerously thin in comparison to the problem -- the response to these warnings failed the child," the report said.
The new report includes a photograph of a child from each state who died and a quick description of what happened; the grim list includes the case of 5-month-old Kaydence Lewinski from Wasilla.
Kaydence suffered bruises all over her body before she died in 2007, troopers have said. Her father shook her and threw her on a couch, troopers said. Last year, he was sentenced to 30 years for second-degree murder.
For Alaska, "the 16 deaths, the official deaths, may belie the fact that there are many more," if the problem is looked at more broadly, said Michael Petit, president of Washington, D.C.-based Every Child Matters.
For instance, Alaska public health researchers in 2008 reported that 114 Alaska babies had died over an 11-year-period from abuse, neglect or "gross negligence." Some suffocated in their sleep. Some didn't get needed medical care. Six were shaken to death; seven were killed by being thrown, dropped, hit or kicked.
"We do not need to meet a legal definition for conviction but rather ask, was neglect or abuse a likely part of the causal chain that contributed to death? If so, we count it. Using this type of reasoning, we find levels of maltreatment-related deaths something like 10 times higher than reported numbers," Brad Gessner, an epidemiologist with the state Division of Public Health, wrote in an e-mail.
The state medical examiner's office classified the deaths of 27 Alaska children from 2004 to 2007 as homicides. Excluding 10 killed by gunshots, at least some of the remaining 17 appeared to be related to abuse or neglect: six were killed by trauma to the head, three were strangled, one died from neglect of an unspecified medical condition, another from hypothermia.
Some of the abuse and neglect deaths are well known; others happen as private family tragedies hidden from the public.
One Alaska baby who died was Ashton Burns, strangled along with his mother by his father in 2005. Just weeks before he was killed, the baby suffered a fractured skull, which was investigated by the state Office of Children's Services. But both parents insisted to investigators that the mother had tripped and fallen while carrying the baby, and OCS didn't find abuse. After Ashton was killed, his father admitted he also caused the earlier head injury, according to news reports. The father, Christopher Kevan, was sentenced to 198 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his son along with the baby's mother.
OCS officials said they couldn't discuss individual deaths, even when state workers were previously involved with the family, unless the state Department of Law reviewed the matter first.
"While every child fatality is tragic -- whether the child protection system had prior knowledge/involvement with the family or not -- prevention programs and strong community collaborations are the most effective tools to improve child and parent outcomes," OCS director Tammy Sandoval said in an e-mail.
While the report says some hard-pinched states are slashing child protection budgets, that isn't happening in Alaska. The budget for the Office of Children's Services is growing, officials said.
But challenges continue, including, Sandoval wrote, "retention of staff that can do the work; the difficult, complex, stressful and emotionally exhausting nature of the work; and the availability (of) services on a statewide basis that adequately meet the increasingly complex and unique needs of each Alaskan family."
Friday, September 25, 2009
Dad on trial for sexually abusing daughter (Anchorage, Alaska)
Dad SAMMY COHEN is on trial for sexually abusing his daughter. Note the typical defense attorney hostility and sarcasm directed towards the victim--unfortunately, the defense attorney point of view has become the dominant cultural viewpoint. Which is why a lot of victims refuse to prosecute because they feel they will not be able to withstand being revictimized in court. This is one very brave young woman to try to confront an ex-cop dad in court, because frankly, the cards are stacked against her. Juries just don't want to believe that cops or dads do these things (e.g. classic denial), which gives molester dads a lot of cover.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/948523.html
Jury hears, sees details of molestation charges against ex-cop
DAUGHTER: Mother never knew; defense claims story is a lie.
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney@adn.com
Published: September 24th, 2009 09:37 PM
Last Modified: September 25th, 2009 12:07 AM
Sammy Cohen's daughter flew halfway across the world, from active duty in Iraq, to tell an Anchorage jury that her ex-cop father molested her and took pictures of her topless and naked when she was 14.
Now 23, she took the stand wearing military fatigues, her black hair pulled back neatly in a bun. She answered the prosecutor's basic questions with standard-issue "Yes, sir," "No, sir" and "Roger."
The more personal ones, she answered with long, difficult pauses as a room full of strangers stared straight at her. She fidgeted. She sighed. She struggled to keep her composure and finally lost it when asked why she didn't tell her mother about the abuse.
She paused a long time before answering, then leaned into the microphone.
"I didn't want her to think bad of me," she said. "I didn't want anyone to know."
Cohen, 55, was an 11-year Anchorage police officer teaching at the police academy when he was arrested in 2005 on 21 charges: 10 counts of second-degree abuse of a minor, five counts of exploiting a minor and six counts of possessing child pornography. His first trial ended in a mistrial last year before testimony began.
After more than a week of jury selection and procedural matters, his second trial got under way Thursday morning.
As prosecutor John Skidmore outlined the state's case, Cohen, who is ex-military, sat at attention, hair closely cropped, with a bald spot and a well-groomed mustache, looking tan and fit. Other than being the discipline dispenser, Cohen didn't pay much attention to his daughter until she reached puberty, Skidmore told the jury. After that came escalating gawking and groping.
He'd comment on how nicely her breasts were developing. He'd offer to help her dry off after a shower. He'd have wrestling matches with her and her sister.
"He insisted she and her sister take their shirts off when they wrestled because, you know, he didn't want them to get too hot," Skidmore said.
He bought her "lingerie."
"I use that word intentionally because I'm not talking about going to Fred Meyer and buying your little girl Disney panties," Skidmore said. "No, no, no. I'm talking about lingerie. Matching bra and panty sets made of materials like satin."
And he'd have her try them on.
"He sits down on her bed, and a good three or four feet away, has his 13- or 14- year-old daughter strip naked in front of him and put on a bra and panty set ... You know, just to make sure it fits."
"But that's not the end of it," Skidmore kept saying, as he piled on the creepy allegations.
Skidmore told the jurors they'd be hearing testimony from other victims, underage at the time, including one who claims Cohen gave her alcohol and then sexually assaulted her when he was in his late 20s and she had just turned 15.
When the defense's turn came, Cohen's attorney, John Cashion, made it clear he didn't appreciate Skidmore's sarcasm.
He told the jury that Cohen was no predator. He was a 22-year retired veteran of the National Guard, a devoted patriot, and a committed police officer and father who tried to make a stable home for his family.
His daughter had behavioral issues, he said. And school issues. She needed a lot of attention and counseling.
When Cohen's now second ex-wife got an overseas teaching job with the Department of Defense, she moved to Europe with the girls. When the daughter got into some trouble there -- Cashion said he didn't know what kind, only that military police were involved -- the abuse story came out.
She's trying to escape responsibility for what she's done, he said. So she blames the one person who's not there to defend himself.
THE PHOTOS
During openings, with Cohen's daughter not yet in the room, Skidmore showed some of the photos to the jury, projecting them onto a screen turned away so people in the spectator section of the courtroom couldn't see it. They showed her in various positions, he said. Arms at her side. Arms out. Arms up the way cops make bad guys do in the movies.
"He comes over to her and poses her, places her arms in the positions he wanted, her legs, her feet, and tries to get her to smile. He poses her like this, and this, and this, and this ..."
Cashion told the jury he doesn't know who took those pictures, some clothed, some topless, some naked, but it wasn't Sammy Cohen. She may have taken them herself, he said. She was in trouble and made up the abuse stories to redirect the heat, then created photographic evidence to back her tale.
"(She) is a confused girl and a manipulator," he said.
And those other alleged victims are not going to pan out, he predicted.
"This trial should not be about mockery," Cashion said. "The nature of the charges in this case are far too serious. Sammy Cohen did not violate the trust that we put in him as a soldier. He didn't violate the trust we put in him as a policeman. And he didn't violate the trust given every father. He is not guilty of every charge in this case."
The trial continues Monday.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/948523.html
Jury hears, sees details of molestation charges against ex-cop
DAUGHTER: Mother never knew; defense claims story is a lie.
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney@adn.com
Published: September 24th, 2009 09:37 PM
Last Modified: September 25th, 2009 12:07 AM
Sammy Cohen's daughter flew halfway across the world, from active duty in Iraq, to tell an Anchorage jury that her ex-cop father molested her and took pictures of her topless and naked when she was 14.
Now 23, she took the stand wearing military fatigues, her black hair pulled back neatly in a bun. She answered the prosecutor's basic questions with standard-issue "Yes, sir," "No, sir" and "Roger."
The more personal ones, she answered with long, difficult pauses as a room full of strangers stared straight at her. She fidgeted. She sighed. She struggled to keep her composure and finally lost it when asked why she didn't tell her mother about the abuse.
She paused a long time before answering, then leaned into the microphone.
"I didn't want her to think bad of me," she said. "I didn't want anyone to know."
Cohen, 55, was an 11-year Anchorage police officer teaching at the police academy when he was arrested in 2005 on 21 charges: 10 counts of second-degree abuse of a minor, five counts of exploiting a minor and six counts of possessing child pornography. His first trial ended in a mistrial last year before testimony began.
After more than a week of jury selection and procedural matters, his second trial got under way Thursday morning.
As prosecutor John Skidmore outlined the state's case, Cohen, who is ex-military, sat at attention, hair closely cropped, with a bald spot and a well-groomed mustache, looking tan and fit. Other than being the discipline dispenser, Cohen didn't pay much attention to his daughter until she reached puberty, Skidmore told the jury. After that came escalating gawking and groping.
He'd comment on how nicely her breasts were developing. He'd offer to help her dry off after a shower. He'd have wrestling matches with her and her sister.
"He insisted she and her sister take their shirts off when they wrestled because, you know, he didn't want them to get too hot," Skidmore said.
He bought her "lingerie."
"I use that word intentionally because I'm not talking about going to Fred Meyer and buying your little girl Disney panties," Skidmore said. "No, no, no. I'm talking about lingerie. Matching bra and panty sets made of materials like satin."
And he'd have her try them on.
"He sits down on her bed, and a good three or four feet away, has his 13- or 14- year-old daughter strip naked in front of him and put on a bra and panty set ... You know, just to make sure it fits."
"But that's not the end of it," Skidmore kept saying, as he piled on the creepy allegations.
Skidmore told the jurors they'd be hearing testimony from other victims, underage at the time, including one who claims Cohen gave her alcohol and then sexually assaulted her when he was in his late 20s and she had just turned 15.
When the defense's turn came, Cohen's attorney, John Cashion, made it clear he didn't appreciate Skidmore's sarcasm.
He told the jury that Cohen was no predator. He was a 22-year retired veteran of the National Guard, a devoted patriot, and a committed police officer and father who tried to make a stable home for his family.
His daughter had behavioral issues, he said. And school issues. She needed a lot of attention and counseling.
When Cohen's now second ex-wife got an overseas teaching job with the Department of Defense, she moved to Europe with the girls. When the daughter got into some trouble there -- Cashion said he didn't know what kind, only that military police were involved -- the abuse story came out.
She's trying to escape responsibility for what she's done, he said. So she blames the one person who's not there to defend himself.
THE PHOTOS
During openings, with Cohen's daughter not yet in the room, Skidmore showed some of the photos to the jury, projecting them onto a screen turned away so people in the spectator section of the courtroom couldn't see it. They showed her in various positions, he said. Arms at her side. Arms out. Arms up the way cops make bad guys do in the movies.
"He comes over to her and poses her, places her arms in the positions he wanted, her legs, her feet, and tries to get her to smile. He poses her like this, and this, and this, and this ..."
Cashion told the jury he doesn't know who took those pictures, some clothed, some topless, some naked, but it wasn't Sammy Cohen. She may have taken them herself, he said. She was in trouble and made up the abuse stories to redirect the heat, then created photographic evidence to back her tale.
"(She) is a confused girl and a manipulator," he said.
And those other alleged victims are not going to pan out, he predicted.
"This trial should not be about mockery," Cashion said. "The nature of the charges in this case are far too serious. Sammy Cohen did not violate the trust that we put in him as a soldier. He didn't violate the trust we put in him as a policeman. And he didn't violate the trust given every father. He is not guilty of every charge in this case."
The trial continues Monday.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Dad charged with murder for shaking 7-month-old son (Teller, Alaska)
Dad FRANK "PUNCHY LEE has been charged with murder in the shaking death of his 7-month-old son. Dad has quite the rap sheet, too.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/873204.html
Man charged with murder for shaking 7-month-old son
TELLER: Infant showed signs of trauma when he was flown to hospital.
By JAMES HALPIN
Published: July 22nd, 2009 03:24 PM
Last Modified: July 22nd, 2009 09:42 PM
A Teller man has been arrested on murder charges following a nine-month investigation that concluded he shook his son to death last fall, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Frank "Punchy" Lee, 35, was taken into custody Tuesday on a $100,000 arrest warrant charging him with first- and second-degree murder in the death of the 7-month-old baby.
The child, Harley Dickson, was flown from Teller to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage on Oct. 12, 2008, a day after he was allegedly shaken.
Upon the child's arrival at the hospital, Anchorage police notified troopers that he was exhibiting signs of trauma, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. The boy died at the hospital Oct. 13 after he was removed from life support, Peters said.
"The baby showed classic signs of shaken baby syndrome," Peters said. "It was just a long process of collecting evidence."
A grand jury in Nome indicted Lee on the murder charges July 17.
Specific details on how Lee allegedly caused his son's death were not immediately available.
According to the indictment, Lee "with criminal negligence, inflicted serious physical injury on the child by at least two separate acts, and one of the acts resulted in the death of the child."
Lee remained in custody Wednesday at Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome.
According to court records, Lee has a lengthy criminal history including arrests for numerous assaults, burglaries, thefts and bootlegging.
In 1992, he was charged with first-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Court records indicate he pleaded no contest to the abuse charge and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was charged again with first-degree sexual assault in 2003, but the charge was later dismissed, court records indicate.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/873204.html
Man charged with murder for shaking 7-month-old son
TELLER: Infant showed signs of trauma when he was flown to hospital.
By JAMES HALPIN
Published: July 22nd, 2009 03:24 PM
Last Modified: July 22nd, 2009 09:42 PM
A Teller man has been arrested on murder charges following a nine-month investigation that concluded he shook his son to death last fall, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Frank "Punchy" Lee, 35, was taken into custody Tuesday on a $100,000 arrest warrant charging him with first- and second-degree murder in the death of the 7-month-old baby.
The child, Harley Dickson, was flown from Teller to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage on Oct. 12, 2008, a day after he was allegedly shaken.
Upon the child's arrival at the hospital, Anchorage police notified troopers that he was exhibiting signs of trauma, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. The boy died at the hospital Oct. 13 after he was removed from life support, Peters said.
"The baby showed classic signs of shaken baby syndrome," Peters said. "It was just a long process of collecting evidence."
A grand jury in Nome indicted Lee on the murder charges July 17.
Specific details on how Lee allegedly caused his son's death were not immediately available.
According to the indictment, Lee "with criminal negligence, inflicted serious physical injury on the child by at least two separate acts, and one of the acts resulted in the death of the child."
Lee remained in custody Wednesday at Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome.
According to court records, Lee has a lengthy criminal history including arrests for numerous assaults, burglaries, thefts and bootlegging.
In 1992, he was charged with first-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Court records indicate he pleaded no contest to the abuse charge and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was charged again with first-degree sexual assault in 2003, but the charge was later dismissed, court records indicate.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Molester grandpa found guilty of 1st degree sexual assault of 5-year-old (Lemonweir, Alaska)
Molester grandpa DONALD WENDT is found guilty of first degree sexual assault and child enticement of his 5-year-old granddaughter.
This paternal grandpa tried a novel, pro-active defense: he tried to blame the sexual abuse on the child's mother's family (Wendt was the paternal grandfather, and the mother and father had had a "nasty separation and custody battle"). So Grandpa saw this as a clever way to simultaneously help Dad's custody battle and deflect blame off Grandpa.
Didn't exactly work: the father was furious that Grandpa had returned the child to people that Grandpa claimed had molested the girl, while the mother sought out the police and medical help immediately. The little girl has consistently blamed "Grandpa Don" for the abuse.
Probably didn't help Grandpa's case when he claimed that the 5-year-old girl "enjoyed" the sexual abuse allegedly dished out by her maternal relatives. Or that Grandpa consistently used profanity with investigators. Or that Grandpa was charged with molesting a DIFFERENT granddaughter back in 1998.
Fathers Rights folks say that moms manufacture false charges. Actually, research suggests that the actual molester lies and manufactures countercharges FAR MORE OFTEN.
http://www.wiscnews.com/jcs/news/458031
Donald Wendt is guilty of molesting his granddaughter
Peter Rebhahn/Star-Times
By Peter Rebhahn, Star-Times
A Juneau County jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday in the case of a town of Lemonweir man charged with molesting his 5-year-old granddaughter.
Donald R. Wendt, 74, faces a maximum prison sentence of more than 60 years following his conviction for the crimes of first degree sexual assault of a child and child enticement.
The jury of 10 women and two men needed just 90 minutes to find Wendt guilty — a period that included lunch.
The verdict came early Thursday afternoon after closing arguments from attorneys on both sides that capped two days of graphic testimony and evidence.
The evidence included recorded interviews in which Wendt told investigators before his arrest that his granddaughter had falsely accused him to cover up sexual abuse by other relatives that he said she had grown to enjoy.
"It's infuriating to listen to a grandfather accuse his granddaughter of making such disgusting statements," Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth told the court.
Wendt was charged with molesting the girl while babysitting her at his trailerhome near Mauston March 1, 2008.
"It hurts down there and it makes me really sad," the victim told a nurse at Meriter Hospital in Madison days after the crime.
The victim, now 6, took the witness stand for about 25 minutes Wednesday. The Star-Times generally does not reveal the identities of sexual assault victims.
A few weeks after the crime Wendt told investigators from Juneau County and Sauk County, where the girl's mother and other relatives live, that he had only inspected her for signs of sexual activity after she told him that she had been repeatedly forced into sex acts with five family members in Sauk County.
In two recorded videos laced with profanity and sexual language played in court Wednesday, Wendt told Juneau County Sheriff's Department investigators Leigh Neville-Neil and Tom Czys that he waited a day to tell his son Jacob Wendt, the girl's father, so he could deal with the supposed abusers himself.
"Where I come from we kill our own snakes," Wendt told the investigators.
Wendt told his son about the girl's alleged claims the day after the crime as they left the girl in the custody of her relatives in Sauk County.
On the witness stand Wednesday Jacob Wendt told the court that he became angry at his father for allowing him to proceed with an exchange of his daughter that left her in the custody of the very people his daughter had allegedly identified as abusers the day before.
"I was pretty hot," Jacob Wendt told the court.
Jacob Wendt said that he and the child's mother had experienced a nasty separation and custody battle but that he had no reason to believe his daughter had been sexually abused by anyone at the mother's Sauk County home.
The victim's mother learned of her daughter's claims when Donald Wendt confronted a family member in the parking lot of a Sauk County business where the exchange had been pre-arranged. The mother sought medical help for her daughter immediately. In statements to her father, health care professionals and her mother the victim identified abuse only from "Granpa Don" — the defendant.
"I believe her," Jacob Wendt said on the witness stand.
Mark Frank, Wendt's attorney, pointed to evidence gathered in a physical examination of the victim that proved she could not have experienced sexual intercourse or penetration simulating intercourse.
"You can't take her word for those things because we know those things did not happen," Frank told the court in his closing argument Thursday. "So why would you believe the third thing [sexual contact without penetration]?"
Other evidence obtained during a physical examination of the victim could plausibly be attributed to hygiene issues her parents acknowledged the girl was experiencing at the time, Frank said.
Frank conceded that Wendt was a dislikable man but said his version of events had been a misguided attempt to play a helpful role in his son's custody battle by employing the "nuclear bomb" of allegations of abuse at the mother's Sauk County home.
But Southworth told the court that Wendt was "a pedophile" who concocted a story "too incredible to believe" in order to deflect attention from himself in the event the girl divulged what truly happened.
Wendt did not testify during the trial and showed no emotion as the verdict was read Thursday. He spoke only to interrupt Southworth during a particularly graphic moment in the district attorney's closing argument. "Oh you're sick!" Wendt said.
Wendt was charged with a similar crime in Juneau County in 1998. The alleged victim, a different granddaughter, was 8 years old at the time. That case was dismissed when the alleged victim moved out of state. But authorities reopened the 1998 case last April and charged Wendt with two counts of sexual assault of a child.
The 1998 case against Wendt was prosecuted by then District Attorney John Roemer, now a Juneau County judge. Roemer recused himself from last week's court case, which was presided over by Sauk County Judge James Evenson.
After Thursday's verdict Evenson revoked bond for Wendt and ordered sentencing in four to six weeks.
Wendt, who was convicted of felony burglary and robbery in Illinois in 1958, was also charged with possession of two guns. He pleaded no contest to those charges Tuesday before the start of the trial. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun in Wisconsin.
This paternal grandpa tried a novel, pro-active defense: he tried to blame the sexual abuse on the child's mother's family (Wendt was the paternal grandfather, and the mother and father had had a "nasty separation and custody battle"). So Grandpa saw this as a clever way to simultaneously help Dad's custody battle and deflect blame off Grandpa.
Didn't exactly work: the father was furious that Grandpa had returned the child to people that Grandpa claimed had molested the girl, while the mother sought out the police and medical help immediately. The little girl has consistently blamed "Grandpa Don" for the abuse.
Probably didn't help Grandpa's case when he claimed that the 5-year-old girl "enjoyed" the sexual abuse allegedly dished out by her maternal relatives. Or that Grandpa consistently used profanity with investigators. Or that Grandpa was charged with molesting a DIFFERENT granddaughter back in 1998.
Fathers Rights folks say that moms manufacture false charges. Actually, research suggests that the actual molester lies and manufactures countercharges FAR MORE OFTEN.
http://www.wiscnews.com/jcs/news/458031
Donald Wendt is guilty of molesting his granddaughter
Peter Rebhahn/Star-Times
By Peter Rebhahn, Star-Times
A Juneau County jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday in the case of a town of Lemonweir man charged with molesting his 5-year-old granddaughter.
Donald R. Wendt, 74, faces a maximum prison sentence of more than 60 years following his conviction for the crimes of first degree sexual assault of a child and child enticement.
The jury of 10 women and two men needed just 90 minutes to find Wendt guilty — a period that included lunch.
The verdict came early Thursday afternoon after closing arguments from attorneys on both sides that capped two days of graphic testimony and evidence.
The evidence included recorded interviews in which Wendt told investigators before his arrest that his granddaughter had falsely accused him to cover up sexual abuse by other relatives that he said she had grown to enjoy.
"It's infuriating to listen to a grandfather accuse his granddaughter of making such disgusting statements," Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth told the court.
Wendt was charged with molesting the girl while babysitting her at his trailerhome near Mauston March 1, 2008.
"It hurts down there and it makes me really sad," the victim told a nurse at Meriter Hospital in Madison days after the crime.
The victim, now 6, took the witness stand for about 25 minutes Wednesday. The Star-Times generally does not reveal the identities of sexual assault victims.
A few weeks after the crime Wendt told investigators from Juneau County and Sauk County, where the girl's mother and other relatives live, that he had only inspected her for signs of sexual activity after she told him that she had been repeatedly forced into sex acts with five family members in Sauk County.
In two recorded videos laced with profanity and sexual language played in court Wednesday, Wendt told Juneau County Sheriff's Department investigators Leigh Neville-Neil and Tom Czys that he waited a day to tell his son Jacob Wendt, the girl's father, so he could deal with the supposed abusers himself.
"Where I come from we kill our own snakes," Wendt told the investigators.
Wendt told his son about the girl's alleged claims the day after the crime as they left the girl in the custody of her relatives in Sauk County.
On the witness stand Wednesday Jacob Wendt told the court that he became angry at his father for allowing him to proceed with an exchange of his daughter that left her in the custody of the very people his daughter had allegedly identified as abusers the day before.
"I was pretty hot," Jacob Wendt told the court.
Jacob Wendt said that he and the child's mother had experienced a nasty separation and custody battle but that he had no reason to believe his daughter had been sexually abused by anyone at the mother's Sauk County home.
The victim's mother learned of her daughter's claims when Donald Wendt confronted a family member in the parking lot of a Sauk County business where the exchange had been pre-arranged. The mother sought medical help for her daughter immediately. In statements to her father, health care professionals and her mother the victim identified abuse only from "Granpa Don" — the defendant.
"I believe her," Jacob Wendt said on the witness stand.
Mark Frank, Wendt's attorney, pointed to evidence gathered in a physical examination of the victim that proved she could not have experienced sexual intercourse or penetration simulating intercourse.
"You can't take her word for those things because we know those things did not happen," Frank told the court in his closing argument Thursday. "So why would you believe the third thing [sexual contact without penetration]?"
Other evidence obtained during a physical examination of the victim could plausibly be attributed to hygiene issues her parents acknowledged the girl was experiencing at the time, Frank said.
Frank conceded that Wendt was a dislikable man but said his version of events had been a misguided attempt to play a helpful role in his son's custody battle by employing the "nuclear bomb" of allegations of abuse at the mother's Sauk County home.
But Southworth told the court that Wendt was "a pedophile" who concocted a story "too incredible to believe" in order to deflect attention from himself in the event the girl divulged what truly happened.
Wendt did not testify during the trial and showed no emotion as the verdict was read Thursday. He spoke only to interrupt Southworth during a particularly graphic moment in the district attorney's closing argument. "Oh you're sick!" Wendt said.
Wendt was charged with a similar crime in Juneau County in 1998. The alleged victim, a different granddaughter, was 8 years old at the time. That case was dismissed when the alleged victim moved out of state. But authorities reopened the 1998 case last April and charged Wendt with two counts of sexual assault of a child.
The 1998 case against Wendt was prosecuted by then District Attorney John Roemer, now a Juneau County judge. Roemer recused himself from last week's court case, which was presided over by Sauk County Judge James Evenson.
After Thursday's verdict Evenson revoked bond for Wendt and ordered sentencing in four to six weeks.
Wendt, who was convicted of felony burglary and robbery in Illinois in 1958, was also charged with possession of two guns. He pleaded no contest to those charges Tuesday before the start of the trial. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun in Wisconsin.
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