Stepdad TYLAR JAMES HOKANSON is charged with second degree murder in the death of his 17-month-old stepson. Stepdad admits to shaking the boy "10 to 15" times, which resulted in the boy developing fatal brain injuires. Stepdad is also the father to a newborn in the home.
http://kstp.com/news/stories/s1006821.shtml
Stepfather Charged in Toddler's Beating Death
Stepfather of Toddler Who Died Arrested for Homicide
A man has been charged with murder in the death of his 17-month-old stepson.
Tylar James Hokanson, 22, faces one count of second degree, or unintentional, murder.
According to the criminal complaint, Hokanson admitted shaking Nicholas Arthur Miller 10 to 15 times. He said he shook Miller after the boy threw a fit.
On June 23, officials in Pierce County, Wis. received a 911 call reporting Miller was having trouble breathing. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
The Pierce County medical examiner discovered signs of trauma and requested an autopsy by the Ramsey County medical examiner.
The autopsy showed multiple injuries to the child, including brain injuries. Previous injuries that had healed were also found.
Since the child was from Dakota County, Pierce County sheriff's officials reached out to the Dakota County Sheriff's Department for help.
Dakota County sheriff's deputies interviewed the child's family members and arrested Hokanson Saturday.
Hokanson is married to Miller's mother, who was identified in court documents as M.L.H. They have a newborn together and M.L.H has another child, a two-year-old who shared the same father as Miller.
According to the criminal complaint, M.L.H. said that she first noticed Miller acting differently on Friday, June 19. He didn't want to eat or stand. She said he became more lethargic over the following days. He couldn't hold up his head or walk and he screamed when she repositioned him in her arms.
Hokanson and M.L.H. took the children to Hokanson's mother's home in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin on June 22.. M.L.H. reported Miller's breathing changed.
On June 23 at 5 p.m., Miller was found unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital where he died.
Hokanson is being held on $500,000 without conditions or $350,000 with conditions.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Boyfriend/father being re-examined as suspect in 2005 murder of 5-year-old girl (Charles City, Iowa)
Former live-in boyfriend/father CASEY FREDERICKSON is being re-examined as a suspect in the 2005 murder of his former girlfriend's five-year-old daughter. One month ago, a federal drug indictment involving the manufacture of methamphetamine was filed against Frederickson, which has generated new leads on the murder case. In addition, Frederickson was sentenced to prison on child pornography charges in 2006 after investigators found more than 1,000 images on his computer hard drive, some of which included young girls with adult men. (Hmm. Sounds like a convincing investigative direction to me.)
The mom was working the night shift and Frederickson was babysitting on the night the little girl disappeared (her body was found five days later in the Cedar River). After the murder, the mom lost custody of her other two daughters, of which Frederickson WAS the father, to foster care.
http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/local/doc4a4aeaa4b4603245326687.txt
Sheriff sees ‘developments’ in Evelyn Miller’s murder
By MARY PIEPER, mary.pieper@globegazette.com
By Mary Pieper
CHARLES CITY — The investigation into the murder of 5-year-old Evelyn Miller of Floyd, which has been ongoing for the past four years, has been rejuvenated due to several recent developments, according to Floyd County Sheriff Rick Lynch.
Evelyn was reported missing from her home four years ago today. Her body was found in the Cedar River at Charles City five days later.
Lynch said some new technology to assist with the case has become available. He said he isn’t able to be more specific because doing so might compromise the investigation.
He also said a federal drug indictment filed a month ago against Casey Fredericksen — who was the live-in boyfriend of Noel Miller, Evelyn’s mother, at the time of the little girl’s death — has generated more tips in the murder case.
“We are pretty fired up right now,” Lynch said.
The drug indictment alleges Fredericksen, who was already serving a 14-year prison sentence on child pornography charges, conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine from 2004 through June 2005.
Fredericksen went to prison on the child pornography charge in 2006 after investigators found about 1,650 images on his computer hard drive, some depicting young girls having sex with adult men.
Lynch said he still has two deputies actively investigating Evelyn’s murder. Lynch and another deputy assist them when they can.
They have round-table discussions about the case periodically, according to Lynch.
They also work with Chris Calloway from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who took over from Bill Basler as the lead DCI agent on the case after Basler retired in 2006.
Lynch said Calloway was involved in the case from the beginning, even though he wasn’t the lead agent at the time.
Lynch said Evelyn’s murder is the most difficult case he has ever had to deal with because it involves a child.“It’s tough on everyone,” he said. “Police officers are human beings and most of us are fathers.”He said he tells his deputies, “You need to look at it rationally, not emotionally.”
Evelyn was reported missing early July 1, 2005, from the apartment south of Floyd that her mother shared with Fredericksen.
Fredericksen was home with Evelyn and two other children while Miller was working a night shift. She returned home around 6 a.m. and reported her daughter missing.
Danny Slick, one of the last people to see Evelyn alive, was sentenced in February 2007 to one year and one day in prison for lying to FBI agents investigating the girl’s disappearance.
Miller served two days in jail in 2007 on a charge of going armed with intent. She also lost her bid to get custody of the two young sons she had with Fredericksen, who were put in foster care shortly after Evelyn’s murder.
Lynch said other family members have told him Miller is now living somewhere in California.
Lynch said the Sheriff’s Department is eager to hear any legitimate tips from the public regarding Evelyn’s murder, but people shouldn’t waste investigators’ time by giving false information.“Don’t call us up on a wild goose chase,” he said.
The mom was working the night shift and Frederickson was babysitting on the night the little girl disappeared (her body was found five days later in the Cedar River). After the murder, the mom lost custody of her other two daughters, of which Frederickson WAS the father, to foster care.
http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/local/doc4a4aeaa4b4603245326687.txt
Sheriff sees ‘developments’ in Evelyn Miller’s murder
By MARY PIEPER, mary.pieper@globegazette.com
By Mary Pieper
CHARLES CITY — The investigation into the murder of 5-year-old Evelyn Miller of Floyd, which has been ongoing for the past four years, has been rejuvenated due to several recent developments, according to Floyd County Sheriff Rick Lynch.
Evelyn was reported missing from her home four years ago today. Her body was found in the Cedar River at Charles City five days later.
Lynch said some new technology to assist with the case has become available. He said he isn’t able to be more specific because doing so might compromise the investigation.
He also said a federal drug indictment filed a month ago against Casey Fredericksen — who was the live-in boyfriend of Noel Miller, Evelyn’s mother, at the time of the little girl’s death — has generated more tips in the murder case.
“We are pretty fired up right now,” Lynch said.
The drug indictment alleges Fredericksen, who was already serving a 14-year prison sentence on child pornography charges, conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine from 2004 through June 2005.
Fredericksen went to prison on the child pornography charge in 2006 after investigators found about 1,650 images on his computer hard drive, some depicting young girls having sex with adult men.
Lynch said he still has two deputies actively investigating Evelyn’s murder. Lynch and another deputy assist them when they can.
They have round-table discussions about the case periodically, according to Lynch.
They also work with Chris Calloway from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who took over from Bill Basler as the lead DCI agent on the case after Basler retired in 2006.
Lynch said Calloway was involved in the case from the beginning, even though he wasn’t the lead agent at the time.
Lynch said Evelyn’s murder is the most difficult case he has ever had to deal with because it involves a child.“It’s tough on everyone,” he said. “Police officers are human beings and most of us are fathers.”He said he tells his deputies, “You need to look at it rationally, not emotionally.”
Evelyn was reported missing early July 1, 2005, from the apartment south of Floyd that her mother shared with Fredericksen.
Fredericksen was home with Evelyn and two other children while Miller was working a night shift. She returned home around 6 a.m. and reported her daughter missing.
Danny Slick, one of the last people to see Evelyn alive, was sentenced in February 2007 to one year and one day in prison for lying to FBI agents investigating the girl’s disappearance.
Miller served two days in jail in 2007 on a charge of going armed with intent. She also lost her bid to get custody of the two young sons she had with Fredericksen, who were put in foster care shortly after Evelyn’s murder.
Lynch said other family members have told him Miller is now living somewhere in California.
Lynch said the Sheriff’s Department is eager to hear any legitimate tips from the public regarding Evelyn’s murder, but people shouldn’t waste investigators’ time by giving false information.“Don’t call us up on a wild goose chase,” he said.
Custodial dad, stepmother sentenced in death of 13-year-old son (Tarboro, North Carolina)
Custodial father BRICE MCMILLAN and stepmom SANDRA MCMILLAN have been sentenced to prison in the death of the father's 13-year-old son from a previous marriage (unverified accounts have said that the boy's mother died from cancer). The boy had been tied to a tree for "punishment" and died from dehydration and heat stroke.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5476942/
NC father, stepmother sentenced in teen's death
Posted: Jun. 30 9:15 p.m.
TARBORO, N.C. — The father and stepmother of a 13-year-old boy who died last year after spending the night tied to a tree have been sentenced to prison after entering pleas that acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.
Multiple media outlets reported that 37-year-old Sandra McMillan of Macclesfield was sentenced to a term of 13 years to 16 years behind bars after she entered an Alford plea to a charge of second-degree murder.
Her husband, 42-year-old Brice McMillan, had entered an Alford plea earlier. He was sentenced to between 10 and 13 years in prison. Their sentences reflect the time they've served.
The McMillans were arrested in June 2008 on charges of murder and felony child abuse after their son, Tyler, died of dehydration and heat stroke. Authorities said he was tied to a tree overnight as punishment.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5476942/
NC father, stepmother sentenced in teen's death
Posted: Jun. 30 9:15 p.m.
TARBORO, N.C. — The father and stepmother of a 13-year-old boy who died last year after spending the night tied to a tree have been sentenced to prison after entering pleas that acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.
Multiple media outlets reported that 37-year-old Sandra McMillan of Macclesfield was sentenced to a term of 13 years to 16 years behind bars after she entered an Alford plea to a charge of second-degree murder.
Her husband, 42-year-old Brice McMillan, had entered an Alford plea earlier. He was sentenced to between 10 and 13 years in prison. Their sentences reflect the time they've served.
The McMillans were arrested in June 2008 on charges of murder and felony child abuse after their son, Tyler, died of dehydration and heat stroke. Authorities said he was tied to a tree overnight as punishment.
Dad charged with attempted murder of his 4-week-old daughter (Grand Forks, North Dakota)
Dad STEVEN PAUL KLEIN was charged with attempted murder of his four-week-old daughter after it was found that the baby was suffering from severe brain swelling, hemorrhaging, and contusions that were not consistent with an accident. Mom was not at home at the time of the "incident," but called 911 after she got home and found the baby unresponsive. Despite the mother's quick response, the baby is now in the legal custody of Grand Forks Social Services.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/124873/
GF father accused of causing daughter's severe head injuries
A Grand Forks father has been charged with attempted murder months after his 4-week-old daughter was airlifted to a Fargo hospital with severe head injuries.
By: Archie Ingersoll, Grand Forks Herald
A Grand Forks father has been charged with attempted murder months after his 4-week-old daughter was airlifted to a Fargo hospital with severe head injuries.
Steven Paul Klein, 35, is set to appear in court today to seek a reduction in his bail amount, which is set at $10,000.
Klein was arrested earlier this month after an investigation into an Aug. 24, 2008, call concerning an unresponsive baby girl at the Valley Ho mobile home park at 1823 N. Washington St.
The girl’s mother told detective Michael Iwan of the Grand Forks Police Department that she’d gone shopping for about three hours. “When she returned home, she knew something was wrong with her child ... so she called 911,” Iwan’s report states.
According to Iwan’s report: Klein told police he had heard his daughter make gurgling noises, but did not pay much attention to them. Klein told others he performed CPR on his daughter for about 30 minutes before the girl’s mother came home. He did not call for emergency personnel during those 30 minutes.
The girl was flown to MeritCare in Fargo where Dr. Arne Graff, a child abuse expert, examined her. Graff determined the girl was suffering from severe brain swelling, hemorrhaging and contusions. The doctor ruled that her head trauma was not an accident.
Graff told police Klein’s version of events does not explain how the girl received her injuries. The doctor also said the girl’s injuries would have been inflicted in the window of time when the girl was home alone with her father.
Iwan’s report says Klein “has refused to allow this officer to interview him regarding the injuries that his daughter sustained.”
Prosecutor Meredith Larson, who is trying the case, said the girl is now in the custody of Grand Forks Social Services.
The girl's injuries, which will have a long-term affect on her, were not inconsistent with having been shaken, Larson said.
Klein has been technically charged with attempted murder or child abuse.
"I’m just asserting that there’s probable cause for either charge," Larson said, adding that Klein will ultimately face one charge in this case.
The maximum prison time for attempted murder is 20 years; the maximum for child abuse is 10 years.
Klein is slated for a preliminary hearing on July 22. He remains in custody at the Grand Forks County jail.
A message left for Klein’s attorney, Public Defender Rebecca McGurran, was not immediately returned this afternoon.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/124873/
GF father accused of causing daughter's severe head injuries
A Grand Forks father has been charged with attempted murder months after his 4-week-old daughter was airlifted to a Fargo hospital with severe head injuries.
By: Archie Ingersoll, Grand Forks Herald
A Grand Forks father has been charged with attempted murder months after his 4-week-old daughter was airlifted to a Fargo hospital with severe head injuries.
Steven Paul Klein, 35, is set to appear in court today to seek a reduction in his bail amount, which is set at $10,000.
Klein was arrested earlier this month after an investigation into an Aug. 24, 2008, call concerning an unresponsive baby girl at the Valley Ho mobile home park at 1823 N. Washington St.
The girl’s mother told detective Michael Iwan of the Grand Forks Police Department that she’d gone shopping for about three hours. “When she returned home, she knew something was wrong with her child ... so she called 911,” Iwan’s report states.
According to Iwan’s report: Klein told police he had heard his daughter make gurgling noises, but did not pay much attention to them. Klein told others he performed CPR on his daughter for about 30 minutes before the girl’s mother came home. He did not call for emergency personnel during those 30 minutes.
The girl was flown to MeritCare in Fargo where Dr. Arne Graff, a child abuse expert, examined her. Graff determined the girl was suffering from severe brain swelling, hemorrhaging and contusions. The doctor ruled that her head trauma was not an accident.
Graff told police Klein’s version of events does not explain how the girl received her injuries. The doctor also said the girl’s injuries would have been inflicted in the window of time when the girl was home alone with her father.
Iwan’s report says Klein “has refused to allow this officer to interview him regarding the injuries that his daughter sustained.”
Prosecutor Meredith Larson, who is trying the case, said the girl is now in the custody of Grand Forks Social Services.
The girl's injuries, which will have a long-term affect on her, were not inconsistent with having been shaken, Larson said.
Klein has been technically charged with attempted murder or child abuse.
"I’m just asserting that there’s probable cause for either charge," Larson said, adding that Klein will ultimately face one charge in this case.
The maximum prison time for attempted murder is 20 years; the maximum for child abuse is 10 years.
Klein is slated for a preliminary hearing on July 22. He remains in custody at the Grand Forks County jail.
A message left for Klein’s attorney, Public Defender Rebecca McGurran, was not immediately returned this afternoon.
Boyfriend charged with murder of 2-year-old; boyfriend's son is witness (Norman, Oklahoma)
Caretaking boyfriend DONALD REESER has been charged with first degree murder in the drowning death of his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter. Charges are partially based on the testimony of Reeser's five-year-old son, who was apparently warned to keep quiet as to what he had witnessed.
http://www.themooreamerican.com/local/local_story_182121757.html?start:int=0
NEW: DA charges Reeser with murder
By M. Scott Carter
The Moore American
NORMAN —
The man accused in the drowning death of a 2-year-old girl was charged with first degree murder, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said last week.
Mashburn said Donald Reeser, 29, was charged with first degree murder by using unreasonable force in the drowning death of 2-year-old Allie Croom.
Croom died last Thursday at a Midwest City hospital.
“He was so rough with this child in the water that it caused her to drown,” Mashburn said. “Whether or not he was trying to kill her or torture her remains to be seen. But either way, he’s guilty of murder in the first degree.”
Reeser, the boyfriend of Allie Croom’s mother, is being held in the Cleveland County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. Mashburn said he decided to file the charges after visiting the crime scene and talking with a witness.
“Based in part on a forensic interview with one of the child witnesses and based on information given to me by the Oklahoma City Police Department, I felt that we had the information necessary to file the charges,” he said.
Mashburn said he and “a couple of staff members” from his office went to the crime scene last week. “We took some measurements, looked at some of the information from the Oklahoma City police detectives.”
Additionally, the state medical examiner ruled Croom’s drowning was the result of a homicide.
The girl’s mother claimed Allie was fine when the group left the water. She said after they returned to their car, the child began throwing up water.
Mashburn said that claim didn’t agree with the facts. He said the testimony of a 5-year-old witness played a key role in his decision to file murder charges.
“The facts that we have, and the crime scene, do not lead itself to a dry downing situation. The 5-year-old said he saw Reeser — his biological father — take the 2-year-old victim into what he called the deeper part, which we now know is about two feet deep. From what he described, (Reeser) continued to drown the victim repeatedly and, as she was screaming, continued to do that until the victim wasn’t screaming anymore.”
After the child died, Mashburn said, Reeser attempted “to cover his tracks by telling the 5-year-old to say it was an accident.”
He said the 5-year-old’s testimony corroborated the evidence.“We are very confident that, in the evidence that we were able to gain from him, that he did witness what he said he saw. It matches with the other physical evidence at the scene.”
While Mashburn said Reeser was the only person he was charging Friday, he said he had not ruled out the possibility of charging others.
“At this point in time that’s all the people we’re filing charges on today. We have not ruled out the possibility of maybe charging some other people, but I’m not going into to that at this point. Still, as we continue to gather information, certainly, we’re going to be looking at anyone else who had a part to play in this and hold them criminally responsible as well.”
Mashburn said he had yet to decide whether to ask for the death penalty.
“The death penalty is a very real possibility at this point. But we will continue to look at everything before I make that decision.”
http://www.themooreamerican.com/local/local_story_182121757.html?start:int=0
NEW: DA charges Reeser with murder
By M. Scott Carter
The Moore American
NORMAN —
The man accused in the drowning death of a 2-year-old girl was charged with first degree murder, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said last week.
Mashburn said Donald Reeser, 29, was charged with first degree murder by using unreasonable force in the drowning death of 2-year-old Allie Croom.
Croom died last Thursday at a Midwest City hospital.
“He was so rough with this child in the water that it caused her to drown,” Mashburn said. “Whether or not he was trying to kill her or torture her remains to be seen. But either way, he’s guilty of murder in the first degree.”
Reeser, the boyfriend of Allie Croom’s mother, is being held in the Cleveland County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. Mashburn said he decided to file the charges after visiting the crime scene and talking with a witness.
“Based in part on a forensic interview with one of the child witnesses and based on information given to me by the Oklahoma City Police Department, I felt that we had the information necessary to file the charges,” he said.
Mashburn said he and “a couple of staff members” from his office went to the crime scene last week. “We took some measurements, looked at some of the information from the Oklahoma City police detectives.”
Additionally, the state medical examiner ruled Croom’s drowning was the result of a homicide.
The girl’s mother claimed Allie was fine when the group left the water. She said after they returned to their car, the child began throwing up water.
Mashburn said that claim didn’t agree with the facts. He said the testimony of a 5-year-old witness played a key role in his decision to file murder charges.
“The facts that we have, and the crime scene, do not lead itself to a dry downing situation. The 5-year-old said he saw Reeser — his biological father — take the 2-year-old victim into what he called the deeper part, which we now know is about two feet deep. From what he described, (Reeser) continued to drown the victim repeatedly and, as she was screaming, continued to do that until the victim wasn’t screaming anymore.”
After the child died, Mashburn said, Reeser attempted “to cover his tracks by telling the 5-year-old to say it was an accident.”
He said the 5-year-old’s testimony corroborated the evidence.“We are very confident that, in the evidence that we were able to gain from him, that he did witness what he said he saw. It matches with the other physical evidence at the scene.”
While Mashburn said Reeser was the only person he was charging Friday, he said he had not ruled out the possibility of charging others.
“At this point in time that’s all the people we’re filing charges on today. We have not ruled out the possibility of maybe charging some other people, but I’m not going into to that at this point. Still, as we continue to gather information, certainly, we’re going to be looking at anyone else who had a part to play in this and hold them criminally responsible as well.”
Mashburn said he had yet to decide whether to ask for the death penalty.
“The death penalty is a very real possibility at this point. But we will continue to look at everything before I make that decision.”
Dad grabs rifle, shoots son to death (Horsham, Pennsylvania)
Dad DAVID JANUS was experiencing some "family arguments" (read: conflict over his abuse?) and decided to take care of things by gunning down his son.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090630_Horsham_man_charged_with_killing_son.html
Horsham man charged with killing son
By Derrick Nunnally
Inquirer Staff Writer
A Horsham man has been charged with killing his 28-year-old son Sunday after a series of family arguments.
Montgomery County prosecutors said David Janus had confessed to shooting son Brian Janus in the chest at 7 p.m. Sunday after the son had argued with his mother and younger brother.
"I'm sorry I shot my son," David Janus told Horsham police at his New Road home, according to a statement from the District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said the younger Janus had been involved in "a very contentious family situation" but would not describe its cause.
"This was not a situation where there was one argument, and this was the result," Ferman said.
David Janus told investigators that after his wife and younger son had left the house, he began arguing with Brian Janus. During a break in the dispute, the father retrieved a rifle and one bullet, then returned to confront the son in a basement bedroom.
The father cocked the loaded rifle and pointed it at his son. He told police the gun went off. Brian Janus died at Abington Memorial Hospital, and David Janus was charged yesterday with third-degree murder.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090630_Horsham_man_charged_with_killing_son.html
Horsham man charged with killing son
By Derrick Nunnally
Inquirer Staff Writer
A Horsham man has been charged with killing his 28-year-old son Sunday after a series of family arguments.
Montgomery County prosecutors said David Janus had confessed to shooting son Brian Janus in the chest at 7 p.m. Sunday after the son had argued with his mother and younger brother.
"I'm sorry I shot my son," David Janus told Horsham police at his New Road home, according to a statement from the District Attorney's Office.
District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said the younger Janus had been involved in "a very contentious family situation" but would not describe its cause.
"This was not a situation where there was one argument, and this was the result," Ferman said.
David Janus told investigators that after his wife and younger son had left the house, he began arguing with Brian Janus. During a break in the dispute, the father retrieved a rifle and one bullet, then returned to confront the son in a basement bedroom.
The father cocked the loaded rifle and pointed it at his son. He told police the gun went off. Brian Janus died at Abington Memorial Hospital, and David Janus was charged yesterday with third-degree murder.
Dad convicted a SECOND time of murdering pregnant wife (Hudson, New York)
Dad WARREN POWELL is convicted a SECOND TIME for strangling his pregnant wife, then dumping her body in the Hudson River.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=810717&TextPage=1
25 years to life for wife-killer
In retrial after first conviction was tossed, Warren Powell gets maximum for 1996 murder
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published in print: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
HUDSON -- His first murder conviction was overturned, but Warren Powell didn't fare any better the second time around.
A dozen years after his first trial, Powell was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum of life in prison for strangling his pregnant wife. The sentence of 25 years to life begins after he serves 15 to 30 years for an unrelated drug conviction.
The 1997 murder verdict was overturned by an appellate court in 2004 because of an error in jury selection.
Columbia County Assistant District Attorney David Costanzo told Judge Jonathan Nichols that Powell is still a danger to society and the murder sentence should run consecutive to the drug term. "He only cares about himself," the prosecutor continued. "He only cares he was caught and convicted. He has blamed everyone else," including the police.
Powell's attorney, Stephen Coffey of Albany, made an unsuccessful bid that the murder term run concurrently with the drug sentence.
Powell, 38, showed no emotion as the judge pronounced sentencing. He will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.
In April, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder in the Oct. 1, 1994, death of Mary Ann Powell, 22, in their Halfmoon apartment.
"Back in 1997, the court sentenced Warren Powell to 25 years to life, the maximum," Costanzo said to a packed courtroom before sentence was imposed. The prosecutor noted that Powell has been in prison continuously since then.
"One would have hoped," he said, that Powell would have accepted responsibility, shown remorse or somehow rehabilitated himself, "but he's as dangerous now as he was in 1997."
The strangulation of Mary Ann Powell "was intentional and calculated," Costanzo said. "He pulled the rope so tight it broke the bones in her neck."
Coffey called Costanzo's remarks "a political speech from the district attorney's office."
"Warren Powell to this day will stand before you and assert his innocence," Coffey said, acknowledging the jury didn't accept Powell's testimony that he was not involved in his wife's murder.
The judge asked Powell if he wanted to make a statement. "No, I don't think I have anything to say. Thank you," Powell said.
Two of the jurors, a man and a woman who declined to give their names, were in the courtroom for sentencing.
After the proceeding, the female juror hugged the victim's mother, Barbara Tasick of Rotterdam. The juror had tears in her eyes as Tasick thanked her.
As Tasick and her husband, Joseph, left the courtroom, Neal Conolly, the lead prosecutor, told them, "Hopefully we'll never see him again."
Barbara Tasick said, "I'm just happy it's over and he got what he deserved."
"We're missing a part of our family," Joseph Tasick said.
Outside the courtroom, Costanzo said the parents "have been through so much. Your heart goes out to them."
Powell concealed his pregnant wife's body inside a hockey equipment bag loaded with rocks, then sank it in the Hudson River in Columbia County, where he grew up. The bag washed ashore at a waterfront campground in Columbia County on Memorial Day weekend in 1996. Mary Ann Powell's remains were fairly intact.
Watching the sentencing were several State Police investigators along with Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen and two of his investigators, Mike Zurlo and Kevin Mullahey.
Zurlo took the initial missing person report on Mary Ann Powell.
He eventually called the State Police Troop G Major Crimes Unit.
Evidence produced at trial showed Powell purchased a boat the same day he killed his wife, and that was what he used to carry the body to the middle of the river, prosecutors said.
Jurors rejected Coffey's assertions that State Police manufactured evidence against his client, including marks on the boat seats that forensic experts testified matched ridges on the hockey bag.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=810717&TextPage=1
25 years to life for wife-killer
In retrial after first conviction was tossed, Warren Powell gets maximum for 1996 murder
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published in print: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
HUDSON -- His first murder conviction was overturned, but Warren Powell didn't fare any better the second time around.
A dozen years after his first trial, Powell was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum of life in prison for strangling his pregnant wife. The sentence of 25 years to life begins after he serves 15 to 30 years for an unrelated drug conviction.
The 1997 murder verdict was overturned by an appellate court in 2004 because of an error in jury selection.
Columbia County Assistant District Attorney David Costanzo told Judge Jonathan Nichols that Powell is still a danger to society and the murder sentence should run consecutive to the drug term. "He only cares about himself," the prosecutor continued. "He only cares he was caught and convicted. He has blamed everyone else," including the police.
Powell's attorney, Stephen Coffey of Albany, made an unsuccessful bid that the murder term run concurrently with the drug sentence.
Powell, 38, showed no emotion as the judge pronounced sentencing. He will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.
In April, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder in the Oct. 1, 1994, death of Mary Ann Powell, 22, in their Halfmoon apartment.
"Back in 1997, the court sentenced Warren Powell to 25 years to life, the maximum," Costanzo said to a packed courtroom before sentence was imposed. The prosecutor noted that Powell has been in prison continuously since then.
"One would have hoped," he said, that Powell would have accepted responsibility, shown remorse or somehow rehabilitated himself, "but he's as dangerous now as he was in 1997."
The strangulation of Mary Ann Powell "was intentional and calculated," Costanzo said. "He pulled the rope so tight it broke the bones in her neck."
Coffey called Costanzo's remarks "a political speech from the district attorney's office."
"Warren Powell to this day will stand before you and assert his innocence," Coffey said, acknowledging the jury didn't accept Powell's testimony that he was not involved in his wife's murder.
The judge asked Powell if he wanted to make a statement. "No, I don't think I have anything to say. Thank you," Powell said.
Two of the jurors, a man and a woman who declined to give their names, were in the courtroom for sentencing.
After the proceeding, the female juror hugged the victim's mother, Barbara Tasick of Rotterdam. The juror had tears in her eyes as Tasick thanked her.
As Tasick and her husband, Joseph, left the courtroom, Neal Conolly, the lead prosecutor, told them, "Hopefully we'll never see him again."
Barbara Tasick said, "I'm just happy it's over and he got what he deserved."
"We're missing a part of our family," Joseph Tasick said.
Outside the courtroom, Costanzo said the parents "have been through so much. Your heart goes out to them."
Powell concealed his pregnant wife's body inside a hockey equipment bag loaded with rocks, then sank it in the Hudson River in Columbia County, where he grew up. The bag washed ashore at a waterfront campground in Columbia County on Memorial Day weekend in 1996. Mary Ann Powell's remains were fairly intact.
Watching the sentencing were several State Police investigators along with Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen and two of his investigators, Mike Zurlo and Kevin Mullahey.
Zurlo took the initial missing person report on Mary Ann Powell.
He eventually called the State Police Troop G Major Crimes Unit.
Evidence produced at trial showed Powell purchased a boat the same day he killed his wife, and that was what he used to carry the body to the middle of the river, prosecutors said.
Jurors rejected Coffey's assertions that State Police manufactured evidence against his client, including marks on the boat seats that forensic experts testified matched ridges on the hockey bag.
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