Note: Cross posted from [wp angelfury] A Human Rights Issue-Custodial Justice.

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A compilation of daily news articles about intimate violence homicides and suicides from around the United States. I wonder when society is going to realize intimate violence makes victims of us all.

http://domesticviolencenews.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pulaski, TN: Fatal Fire Involved Dispute Over Girl, Says Teen

Teen Says Two Other Victims Simply In Wrong Place At Wrong Time

Reported by Sara Dorsey

POSTED: 3:58 pm CDT October 26, 2009

UPDATED: 9:44 pm CDT October 26, 2009

PULASKI, Tenn. -- A teen said on Monday that a male suspect injured committing a fatal fire in Giles County on Friday was jealous because his ex-girlfriend might have been dating one of the victims.

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Tessia Tibbs said she dated one of the victim's, Jerrod Thornton, 16, on-and-off for two years.

"The last text message I got from Jerrod said, 'I love you,'" said Tibbs.

Tibbs said on Monday that a boy currently in Vanderbilt's Burn Center was jealous because he thought his ex-girlfriend was dating Thornton. Tibbs said the boy even asked her about the situation at school on Thursday.

"He just asked if they were fooling around, if they had anything, if I thought they would ever. I told him, 'No,' because me and Jarrod were dating, but I guess he didn't believe me," said Tibbs.

Tibbs said she thinks that Thornton's mother, Desere, and 9-year-old brother, Anthony, were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The arrest warrant for William Charles Angel Jr., 18, seems to confirm that notion, saying that Desere and Anthony Thornton were killed as an act committed in the killing of Jerrod Thornton.

Authorities arrested Angel on Friday and charged him with three counts of murder in connection with the fatal fire. A hearing for Angel is scheduled for Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Giles County Courthouse.

The name of the boy currently at Vanderbilt Medical Center has not been released because he has not been formally charged. Police in Giles County have said they expect a second arrest to be made in the case.

Posted by Cathy Church at 7:35 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 26, 2009

Shawano, WI: Police investigate Shawano murder-suicide

SHAWANO (WKOW) -- The deaths of a man and woman in their eighties is being investigated as a murder-suicide by Shawano Police.

Investigators say they received a call around 4 P.M. Monday that lead to the discovery of the 87-year-old man and 82-year-old woman's bodies.

Chief of Police Ed Whealon says a relative discovered their bodies after being unable to reach them for days.

Police are in the process of notifying the family.

An autopsy is planned for Tuesday.

Posted by Cathy Church at 9:54 PM 0 comments

Tecumseh, KS: Domestic violence preceded shooting

ANTHONY S. BUSH/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department was still on the scene at 2835 S.E. Shawnee Heights Rd. as of 2 p.m. Monday where Gerald S. Eberhardt, 51, was killed on Sunday.

Four charged in slaying

Suspect, victim had violent past

Deputies dispatched 14 times this year to home where man was shot

BY ANN MARIE BUSH

October 26, 2009 - 3:57pm

TECUMSEH -- Shawnee County Sheriff's deputies were searching Monday at an undisclosed location for the weapon used in the shooting death of a 51-year-old Topeka business owner.

Gerald S. Eberhardt, who owns Wizz By Auto Sales in North Topeka, was pronounced dead at his home, 2538 S.E. Shawnee Heights Road, in southeast Topeka on Sunday morning, said Sheriff Richard Barta. Two of his family members -- his wife, Michelle L. Eberhardt, 43, and her son Scott M. Mosher, 19, who lived with Gerald Eberhardt -- and Stephanie A. Menard, 21, of Topeka, were arrested Sunday evening.

On Monday, a fourth person, 20-year-old Derrick Dewayne Haase, of Topeka, was arrested. All four on Monday were charged with premeditated murder in the first degree, an off-grid person felony, and conspiracy to commit premeditated murder in the first degree, a severity-level 2 person felony.

"On the surface, it appears to be a domestic problem," Barta said Monday afternoon at a news conference.

Since January 2009, deputies have responded to the Eberhardt's house 14 times, Barta said, including five times for domestic reasons.

"We have responded to that residence numerous times," he said.

A neighbor said she has noticed several sheriff's vehicles at the residence in the past month, but she also said the area is usually fairly quiet.

The house remained a crime scene Monday and wasn't scheduled to be released until Monday night, Barta said.

On Monday afternoon, a deputy patrolled the perimeter of the home on foot and a crime scene investigation van was sitting in front. Yellow crime scene tape was stretched around the residence.

"Our investigation from top to bottom is very thorough," Barta said.

Michelle Eberhardt made a 911 call Sunday shortly before 3 a.m., the sheriff said, but he wouldn't elaborate. He did say deputies knew something was wrong at the scene when they discovered "it was not a suicide."

Gerald Eberhardt was pronounced dead at the scene.

A search warrant was obtained for the house, which sits north of a Shawnee Heights Fire District station, and an investigation began.

"Numerous interviews have been conducted," Barta said. "These people have been interviewed extensively. The individuals, at this time, have been cooperative."

Dakota Loomis, a spokesman for the Shawnee County District Attorney's office, told a judge Monday that Mosher confessed to shooting Eberhardt. Mosher was being held on $750,000 bond.

Michelle Eberhardt and Haase were being held on $300,000 bond, while Menard was held on $200,000 bond.

Barta said Haase and Mosher were acquaintances and were known gang members. The defendants did not have legal representation when they appeared before a judge via a live secure video feed from the jail.

Loomis said Mosher and Haase were members of a Topeka gang affiliated with the Folks Nation, a larger collection of gangs that operate throughout the Midwest. However, Barta said investigators see no reason that the shooting was "gang related."

Mosher has a history of violence, including a conviction in September for domestic battery, court records show. In that case, Eberhardt paid $114 in court and probation fees for her son.

Haase was sentenced in June to 90 days in jail for a domestic battery charge and was given credit for time served. He remained on probation.

A six-month period in 2005 highlights a tumultuous relationship between Gerald Eberhardt and his wife, court records show.

A peek at court records shows a history of violence for Gerald Eberhardt -- at least 15 criminal cases filed against him in the last 17 years. Many of them were for battery against a law enforcement officer. Many others were for domestic battery.

In July 2005, he was arrested for domestic violence and witness intimidation of Michelle Eberhardt. One month later, in August 2005, she filed for divorce. In September, he was formally charged with the crimes.

But by December of that year, Michelle Eberhardt had changed her mind about divorce, and she withdrew her petition. One month later, in January 2006, Gerald Eberhardt was convicted of the domestic battery charge.

They weren't the first domestic battery convictions for the man. In 1998, he pleaded no contest to the charge, and in 1999, he was found guilty by a jury of domestic battery and criminal restraint. That all led to the 2006 conviction, which netted him one year in county jail.

Gerald Eberhardt is the owner of Wizz By Auto Sales, 1316 N.W. Topeka Blvd. Monday afternoon, a white piece of paper was taped in the window of the business notifying customers that the business was closed because of a death in the family.

Posted by Cathy Church at 6:41 PM 0 comments