Friday, October 28, 2005
CNN: Body hanging in tree thought to be a Halloween decoration
"FREDERICA, Delaware(AP)--The apparent suicide of a woman found hanging from a tree went unreported for hours because passer-by thought the body was a Halloween decoration, authorities said.
The 42-year-old woman used rope to hang herself across the street from some homes on a moderately busy road late Tuesday or early Wednesday, state police said.
The body, suspended about 15 feet above the ground, could be easily seen from passing vehicles.
State police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham and neighbors said people noticed the body at breakfast time Wednesday but dismissed it as a holiday prank. Authorities were called to the scene more than three hours later.
'They thought it was a Halloween decoration,' Fay Glanden, wife of Mayor William Glanden, told 'The (Wilmington)News Journal.
'It looked like something somebody would have rigged up,'she said."
The 42-year-old woman used rope to hang herself across the street from some homes on a moderately busy road late Tuesday or early Wednesday, state police said.
The body, suspended about 15 feet above the ground, could be easily seen from passing vehicles.
State police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham and neighbors said people noticed the body at breakfast time Wednesday but dismissed it as a holiday prank. Authorities were called to the scene more than three hours later.
'They thought it was a Halloween decoration,' Fay Glanden, wife of Mayor William Glanden, told 'The (Wilmington)News Journal.
'It looked like something somebody would have rigged up,'she said."
Friday, October 21, 2005
ABCNews/AP: Corpse strapped to motorcyclist's back
"MEXICO CITY Oct 21, 2005- Police discovered on Friday that a passenger on a motorcycle involved in an accident in the rough Mexican border city of Tijuana was in fact a corpse which the driver had been carrying through the city strapped to his back.
The motorcycle driver lost control and skidded in the downtown area and when a policeman approached to investigate the mishap, the driver fled.
The police officer checked the passenger, who had been seated behind the driver and found it was the corpse of a man who had died some time before."
The motorcycle driver lost control and skidded in the downtown area and when a policeman approached to investigate the mishap, the driver fled.
The police officer checked the passenger, who had been seated behind the driver and found it was the corpse of a man who had died some time before."
ABCNews/AP: Man puts lewd photos on cars
"WEST BEND, Wis. Oct 21,2005-A 40 year old man faces charges accusing him of placing photographs of his genitalia on the cars of women who parked at shopping centers.
The criminal complaint filed Thursday against Jeffrey J. Hein of Hartford said he told investigators he placed the photos on their cars because he thought they 'would find it funny.'
Hein was charged Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court with eight counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and five counts of disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.
The complaint alleges Hein placed the photographs on cars seven different times, with the first occuring on Aug. 25 at a Shopko store in West Bend and the most recent Tuesday at Hobby Lobby in West Bend.
...
The criminal complaint said Hein told investigators he was inspired by a pornographic Web site to photograph his private parts and then sell the pictures to the Web site.
But, when he was unable to do that, he 'came up with the idea to play a joke on strangers' by putting the photographs in envelopes and attaching them to cars belonging to women, whom he picked at random whenever he went shopping, the complaint said.
...
Investigators said Hein told them some of the women laughed when they looked at the photos.
If convicted on all counts filed Thursday, Hein could be imprisoned up to five years and nine months and fined up to $85,000...."
The criminal complaint filed Thursday against Jeffrey J. Hein of Hartford said he told investigators he placed the photos on their cars because he thought they 'would find it funny.'
Hein was charged Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court with eight counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and five counts of disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.
The complaint alleges Hein placed the photographs on cars seven different times, with the first occuring on Aug. 25 at a Shopko store in West Bend and the most recent Tuesday at Hobby Lobby in West Bend.
...
The criminal complaint said Hein told investigators he was inspired by a pornographic Web site to photograph his private parts and then sell the pictures to the Web site.
But, when he was unable to do that, he 'came up with the idea to play a joke on strangers' by putting the photographs in envelopes and attaching them to cars belonging to women, whom he picked at random whenever he went shopping, the complaint said.
...
Investigators said Hein told them some of the women laughed when they looked at the photos.
If convicted on all counts filed Thursday, Hein could be imprisoned up to five years and nine months and fined up to $85,000...."
Friday, October 14, 2005
CNN: Police: Woman prepared for child
"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (AP)- A woman accused of cutting her pregnant neighbor's abdomen with a knife in an attempt to steal her baby had a bassinet and a baby swing waiting at her home, police say.
Peggy Jo Conner, 38, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault and jailed without bail.
'Clearly, she was expecting a child coming in shortly,' prosecutor Scott Andreassi said. 'There's nothing to indicate she was pregnant.'
The attack Wednesday on Valerie Oskin was stopped before her baby was taken because a teenager on an all-terrain vehicle came across the women, police said.
Oskin, 30, underwent an emergency Caesarean section at a hospital. State police said Friday that Oskin was improving and doctors were expected to remove her breathing tube.
'She's coming around,' said Lt. Thomas Dubovi.
Oskin was believed to have been eight months pregnant, authorities said.
Thomas Wilks, who says he is Conner's husband but is separated from her, called the allegations against her 'impossible'and said she truly was pregnant.
'I got a sonogram saying she is pregnant,' Wilks told reporters. 'I felt the baby kick in her stomach.' He added that Conner is the mother of three children, ages 16, 14 and 11.
Conner and Oskin had a 'close friendship,' Wilks said. 'It was getting closer as the days went by. They were pregnant together. They were helping each other out.'..."
Peggy Jo Conner, 38, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault and jailed without bail.
'Clearly, she was expecting a child coming in shortly,' prosecutor Scott Andreassi said. 'There's nothing to indicate she was pregnant.'
The attack Wednesday on Valerie Oskin was stopped before her baby was taken because a teenager on an all-terrain vehicle came across the women, police said.
Oskin, 30, underwent an emergency Caesarean section at a hospital. State police said Friday that Oskin was improving and doctors were expected to remove her breathing tube.
'She's coming around,' said Lt. Thomas Dubovi.
Oskin was believed to have been eight months pregnant, authorities said.
Thomas Wilks, who says he is Conner's husband but is separated from her, called the allegations against her 'impossible'and said she truly was pregnant.
'I got a sonogram saying she is pregnant,' Wilks told reporters. 'I felt the baby kick in her stomach.' He added that Conner is the mother of three children, ages 16, 14 and 11.
Conner and Oskin had a 'close friendship,' Wilks said. 'It was getting closer as the days went by. They were pregnant together. They were helping each other out.'..."
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
CNN/AP: Python v Alligator in the swamps
"MIAMI, Florida (AP)--The alligator has some foreign competition at the top of the Everglades food chain, and the results of the struggle are horror-movie messy.
A 13-foot Burmese python recently burst after it apparently tried to swallow a live, six-foot alligator whole, authorities said.
The incident has heightened biologists' fears that the nonnative snakes could threaten a host of other animal species in the Everglades.
'It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top-down predator,' said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor.
Over the years, many pythons have been abandoned in the Everglades by pet owners.
The gory evidence of the latest gator-python encounter-the fourth documented in the past three years--was discovered and photographed last week by a helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher.
The snake was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.
In previous incidents, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw.
'There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons,' Mazzotti said. 'This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes the alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win.' "
A 13-foot Burmese python recently burst after it apparently tried to swallow a live, six-foot alligator whole, authorities said.
The incident has heightened biologists' fears that the nonnative snakes could threaten a host of other animal species in the Everglades.
'It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top-down predator,' said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor.
Over the years, many pythons have been abandoned in the Everglades by pet owners.
The gory evidence of the latest gator-python encounter-the fourth documented in the past three years--was discovered and photographed last week by a helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher.
The snake was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.
In previous incidents, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw.
'There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons,' Mazzotti said. 'This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes the alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win.' "
