MO- Cape Girardeau woman shoots, kills would-be rapist at her home

10-31-2008 Missouri:

A Cape Girardeau woman shot and fatally wounded Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender who had broken into her home early this morning with the intention of raping her a second time, Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said today.

Swingle said he will not be charging the victim, an older woman who positively identified Preyer this morning as the man who raped her on Saturday.

"It is clear that under Missouri's self-defense law the woman was justified in using deadly force upon the intruder in her home because he was in the process of burglarizing her home when she shot him," Swingle wrote in a letter to police chief Carl Kinnison.

Cape Girardeau police had been keeping a close eye on the woman's home, in the southwest part of Cape Girardeau, since she reported the rape nearly a week ago.

In that instance, she'd heard the glass break in a basement window around midnight on Saturday, and decided to make a run for it through her front door, according to police reports of the incident. When she opened the door, Preyer attacked her.

He punched her in the face and forced her into the bedroom, where he raped her.

She reported the rape that night, and described her rapist.

Police were actively working the unsolved rape case, Swingle said, and had been frequently driving past the woman's home in case her attacker returned.

This morning, the woman called 911 after hearing a car door close near her residence. An officer responded, checked the doors and windows, including the one that had been broken during the first attack.

Her landlord had recently repaired the window for her, Swingle said.

Once the officer determined that no one had entered the home, he left.

About two hours later, the woman was at home watching television, when Preyer broke the same basement window and came in, getting the still-wet calking on his clothing as he did so, police reports said.

He found a main fuse panel in the basement and shut off the electricity. The victim immediately tried to call 911, but the phone would not work because there was no electric.

Having recently purchased a shotgun, she grabbed the weapon and when Preyer began banging on the basement door, she was ready for him. When he crashed through the basement door into her kitchen, she shot him once in the chest and ran, heading for a neighbor's house, where she called the police.

It only took officers 45 seconds to respond to the 911 call, Swingle said.

When they arrived, they saw Preyer stumbling away from the home, and an officer ordered him to stop. When he didn't, a female officer drew her own weapon and they forced him to the ground.

He was transported to Saint Francis Medical Center where he died several hours later.

Early Friday morning, the victim identified Preyer out of a photo line-up as both the man who raped her on Saturday and the man who broke into her house today.

Preyer's criminal history is speckled with home invasions and assaults, and he has been convicted of failing to inform the county of his change of address in compliance with registered sex offender laws. Swingle was getting ready to charge him with rape, attempted rape, burglary and attempted burglary this morning, armed with the positive eyewitness identification, when he learned around 9:30 a.m. that Preyer was dead.

Preyer was convicted in 1989 of raping and robbing a woman in New Madrid County and he served 15 years in prison on both charges.

He was also arrested last December and charged with attempted rape and second degree felony assault, but Swingle's office dismissed the charges because he did not think he could get a conviction, he said.

The victim in that case, a woman in her early 30s, allegedly went for a drive with Preyer, knowing of his sex offender status, and he attacked her while in the car.

After talking with the victim in that case, Swingle decided to dismiss the charges because the woman did not use a nearby phone to call for help, and because she went with Preyer because she was "bored," even though he was a sex offender, he said.

"We know in at least one case, he did a good job of picking his victim, this time, he didn't do such a good job," Swingle said. ..News Source.. by Bridget DiCosmo, Southeast Missourian

Accused molester shot dead

10-30-2008 Jamaica:

An 18-year-old youth, who had been accused of molesting a five-year-old relative, was shot dead in Montego Bay, St James, on Tuesday.

It is believed that his death might have been a reprisal.

Dead is Keneil 'Ticky' Simons of Salt Spring, Montego Bay, St James. He was shot dead at the Cornwall Courts housing scheme in the parish.

Reports are that at 4:35 p.m., Simons alighted from a taxi at the housing scheme and was approached by a lone gunman who asked his name. Shortly after he responded, the gunman opened fire, hitting him several times.

He died on the spot. The police were alerted, the crime scene processed and the body removed to the morgue for post- mortem. The Montego Bay CIB is investigating.

What is this world coming to?

A man, who pleaded guilty to wining on his six-year-old grand niece until he had an orgasm, was remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

The accused appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown where he pleaded guilty to indecent assault.

The court heard that the accused wined on the child until he ejaculated.

His fingerprints were ordered taken and he was ordered remanded until December 2 when the matter is to be sentenced. ..News Source.. by The Jamaica Star Online

TX- UPDATED: Deputy Shoots, Kills Suspect

10-27-2008 Texas:

MERIDIAN - News Channel 25 has learned that the Bosque County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a sexual assault suspect at the DS Ranch near the Bosque County town of Meridian.

The sheriff's office had received a report of a sexual assault that took place at gunpoint at the Meridian State Park. The suspect in the case was described as a Hispanic male driving a truck.

A Bosque County deputy located a vehicle and man matching the suspect's description at the DS Ranch along SH-22. The deputy ran the vehicle's plates which came back as stolen out of Fort Worth.

As the situation escalated, the deputy drew his gun and called for back- up. The suspect, Thomas Aguirre, refused to comply with the officer's orders, went to the rear of his truck and pulled out a gun, aiming it at the officer.

The deputy then shot Aguirre twice, killing him.

The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene at 3:07 p.m.

Aguirre had an extensive criminal history and was a registered sex offender in Bosque County.

The Deputy is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. ..News Source.. by News Channel 25

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Caught On Tape: Suspect Shot, Killed By Police

11-12-2008 Texas:

ember 12, 2008)—It all started the afternoon of Oct. 8, when sheriff’s deputies in Bosque County were following up leads in the report of a sexual assault.

After spotting a car that matched the description of a vehicle used in the sexual assault, Deputy Jeff Hightower attempted to identify the driver.

What happened next was caught on Hightower's dashboard camera; News 10 obtained the graphic footage from the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office.

The video shows Hightower and the suspect, later identified as 52-year-old Thomas Aguirre fighting, as Hightower attempts to search Aguirre.

As Aguirre breaks free and goes around his vehicle, Hightower can be heard ordering the man to get down then calling for backup from the Sheriff’s Office.

Moments pass and then Aguirre comes back around his vehicle; a gun is in Aguirre’s right hand pointed toward the deputy.

Hightower fires twice, hitting Aguirre in the chest; Aguirre immediately goes down out of camera frame.

A grand jury later cleared Hightower of any wrongdoing. ..Source..

NZ- Murder-accused admits razing stepfather's house

10-21-2008 New Zealand:

A man accused of murdering his convicted sex offender step-father has admitted burning down his house.

Jamie Stewart Davies, 31, of Raglan, yesterday admitted a charge of arson at the start of his murder trial in the High Court at Hamilton.

Davies is charged with murdering his stepfather, Allan Wallace Davies, 57, whose body was found in his burned-out house in Struve St, Ngaruawahia, on September 28 last year.

Police arrested Davies four days later, in Tauranga.

An autopsy on Allan Davies showed he died before the fire, allegedly from injuries inflicted by the accused.

In his opening address, Crown prosecutor Ross Douch said Jamies Davies had arrived at his stepfather's home in the early hours of September 28 with the intention of confronting him.

The court heard that Allan Davies was due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court for historic sex offending. He had earlier been found guilty of five representative charges of committing indecencies with a girl under the age of 12.

Mr Douch told the court that in a taped interview at the Tauranga police station on October 2, Davies said he had "lost control" when confronting his step-father over his historic sex offending.

Davies admitted punching Allan Davies between 20 to 40 times.

During the taped interview, however, Davies insisted he had not gone round to the house to kill his stepfather but instead "to talk to him".

Mr Douch - citing a pathologist report - said Mr Davies' injuries included a 4cm fracture across his breast bone, an injury to the back of his head and neck injuries consistent with strangulation.

He said Davies had meant to cause the death of his step-father.

"He wanted him dead," Mr Douch told the jury.

The Crown is expected to call 18 witnesses, including a taxi driver who drove Davies to his stepfather's home on the day of the incident.

Defence counsel Paul Mabey QC, in his opening address, told the court that while Davies denied murdering Allan Davies, he did not deny killing him.

Mr Mabey said it was the jury's task to decide if Davies was guilty of murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter.

He said it was not a case of whether Davies could walk away free at the end of the trial.

The trial, before Justice Lang and a jury of six men and six women, continues. ..News Source.. by AARON LEAMAN

MA- Sex Offender Killed By Jeep That Left Scene

10-17-2008 Massachusetts:

Police Searching For Driver In Fatal Crash

BOSTON -- A Level 3 sex offender who was riding a bike in Lawrence Thursday night was struck and killed by a driver who allegedly fled the scene, according to the Eagle Tribune.

Robert Lagasse, 43, of Lawrence, was riding a bike at about 6:30 p.m. on Merrimack Street when he was struck by a blue 2008 Jeep Cherokee, the newspaper reported. He was flown to Boston Medical Center, where he died Friday morning.

A man driving a taxicab behind the Jeep witnessed the crash, wrote down the license plate number and brought it to police. Lawrence police Chief John Romero said the car was traced to a rental company in Methuen.

Police questioned a man who said that he rented the car for a female friend who lives in Salem, N.H. Officials are searching for the vehicle that has Massachusetts license plate 83F S93.

The victim was a Level 3 sex offender who was convicted in 1989 of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, the newspaper reported. ..News Source.. by WCVB TV

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Woman named as 'person of interest' in hit-and-run death of a bicyclist

10-17-2008 Massachusetts:

LAWRENCE - The car believed to be involved in last night's hit-and-run death of a bicyclist was located in Hudson, N.H. today and a person of interest in the case has been named.

Police Chief John J. Romero says the Jeep Cherokee has been towed to Lawrence and has damage that would be consistent with such an accident.

Romero says Charlene Traficante, 34, formerly of Salem, N.H., is expected to be questioned later today as a "person of interest" in the death of Robert Lagasse, 43, of 77 S. Union St.

Police questioned a Haverhill man who had rented the car that struck Lagasse. Michael Mehrman, 38, told police he did rent the car, but had loaned it to Traficante.

Lagasse was struck while riding his mountain bike at about 6:30 p.m. on Merrimack Street. Witnesses said the car drove, leaving Lagasse's bike and body in the street.

Lagasse was flown by medical helicopter to Boston Medical Center, where he died early this morning.

"A taxi cab driver who was a good citizen is the real hero that really made this case for us and gave us the information we needed to go forward with our investigation," Lawrence police Chief John Romero said. "He was driving behind the Jeep Cherokee when he literally saw the guy flying through the air. The guy wrote down the plate number of the vehicle and drove right to the police station. ... We were able to trace the car to a rental company in Methuen."

Police were able to identify the victim after two friends walked up to officers at the accident scene.

"They said the man was their friend and that he was going to the package store to get some beer for them. They had been drinking under the Central Bridge and he was going for some more, Romero said.

Lagasse was a Level 3 sex offender. Police said Lagasse was convicted in 1989 of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and in 2002 on a charge of open and gross lewdness. ..News Source.. by The Eagle Tribune

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Police: Man may have been driving in hit-and-run fatal

10-21-2008 New Hampshire:

LAWRENCE — A Hudson, N.H., man is the second being named as a "person of interest" in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist, based on surveillance video and more recollections from an eyewitness.

Police want to question Edward Couture of Hudson, N.H., about the Thursday night accident. The car believed to be involved was found at his home Friday morning. He is an acquaintance of Charlene Traficante, 34, of Woburn, the woman police named Friday as a person of interest.

A cab driver who saw the aftermath of the accident, which killed 43-year-old Robert Lagasse of 77 S. Union St., said he believes there were two people in the car and a male was driving.

Police Chief John Romero said surveillance video taken from businesses on South Broadway shows the rented Jeep Grand Cherokee as it left the parking lot of a local bar. Romero said police are working to enhance the video to identify who was behind the wheel of the sport utility vehicle moments before the crash.

"We have some video footage that could shed some light on who as driving at the time of the accident,'' he said.

Traficante was named as a person of interest in the case after the man who rented the Jeep told police he let her borrow it. Police were hoping to speak to her Friday night but she has yet to show up for questioning.

The 2008 Jeep with fresh damage to the front passenger side was found at Couture's New Hampshire home Friday morning.

Lagasse was riding a bicycle on Merrimack Street about 6 p.m. Thursday, when he was hit from behind by the Jeep, which fled the scene. The cab driver told police he did not witness the hit, but did see Lagasse flying in the air.

Friends of Lagasse, who identified him at the scene, told police they had been drinking beer under the Central Bridge, and that Lagasse was bicycling to the package store to get some more when the accident occurred. ..News Source.. by Jim Patten

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NH- Man gives 'useful information' in fatal hit-and-run

10-23-2008 New Hampshire:

LAWRENCE — A New Hampshire man identified as a person of interest in a fatal hit-and-run crash has given police phone records in an attempt to prove he was at home when the man (RSO) on a bicycle was run down.

Edward Couture, of Hudson, N.H., was interviewed by city police Tuesday about the Oct. 16, accident that killed Robert Lagasse (RSO), 43, of 77 S. Union St. Lagasse was hit while riding a bicycle on Merrimack Street around 6 p.m., while going to buy beer.

A city cab driver witnessed the accident and gave police a description of the vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was later recovered at Couture's house. The cab driver also said he saw two people in the Jeep, and a man was driving.

Charlene Traficante, formerly of Salem, N.H., and a female acquaintance of Couture, remains a person of interest in the case. A Haverhill man identified her as the woman for whom he had rented the Jeep.

"Edward Couture gave us some useful information, and related some information we are now following up," police Chief John Romero said.

Couture told police he had received several calls from Traficante throughout the afternoon and night, Romero said.

Couture told police Traficante returned to his home with the Jeep about 8:30 p.m., and never mentioned the accident, Romero said.

"Now the investigation brings us back to her," Romero said of Traficante. "We still need to interview her."

Based on the investigation so far, police know the Jeep was in her possession, Romero said. ..News Source.. by Jim Patten

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MA- Police: Woman refuses to cooperate in fatal hit-and-run probe

10-29-2008

LAWRENCE — A woman allegedly given use of a rented Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the hit-and-run death of a homeless man is refusing to cooperate with the investigation, police said.

It's been almost two weeks since Robert Lagasse, 44, was struck and killed while riding a bicycle on Merrimack Street. He was buried yesterday.

Police Chief John Romero said if Charlene Traficante, 34, of Woburn continues to refuse to cooperate, police could take the case to an Essex County grand jury through the district attorney's office. She has been declared a "person of interest" in the case.

"We have made several requests to speak to her, but her attorney says she is unavailable at this time," Romero said yesterday. Her attorney, Anthony Ortiz, did not return calls for comment.

During grand jury testimony, a person can testify freely, can invoke their rights against self-incrimination, or can be compelled to testify under a grant of immunity.

Meanwhile, Lagasse's mother, Lillian Lagasse of 77 S. Union St., said yesterday she is frustrated no one has been arrested in connection with the Oct. 16 hit-and-run.

"That was my son that got killed. I just buried him today," she said. "Whoever did it should pay."

A cab driver who witnessed the accident told police there were two people in the vehicle and said he believes it was a man behind the wheel.

Romero said the case depends on police being able to identify the person behind the wheel when the accident occurred. Right now, Romero said, police just don't have enough to charge someone.

"We have an accident where someone was killed, and the person responsible left the scene. We are taking the case very seriously. We want to get to the bottom of it and bring those responsible to justice," Romero said.

Robert Lagasse was hit while riding a bike on Merrimack Street about 5:57 p.m. He was struck from behind by a gray 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee that left the scene, but a witness was able to get the license plate.

Police later determined the car had been rented to Michael Mehrmann, 38, of Bradford. Mehrmann told police he had lent the vehicle to Traficante.

The Jeep was recovered the following morning at the Hudson, N.H., home of Edward Couture, who police also have called a person of interest in the case. Couture was interviewed by police and provided phone records he said showed he was at home at the time of the crash and that he had received numerous calls from Traficante during the afternoon and evening hours.

"Couture provided documentation that at this point seems to support his initial statements to us," Romero said. "But this case has taken so many twists and turns we are not ruling anybody out."

But Lillian Lagasse hopes the person who killed her son comes forward.

"But I doubt whoever did it will come forward,'' she said. ..News Source.. by Jim Patten

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MA- DA remains mum on three long-standing investigations

3-1-2009 Massachusetts:

Deborah Hoare, 39, was struck and killed by a snowplow driver who did not stop as she walked along Route 114 in North Andover in December of 2007.

Robert Lagasse, 44, was struck and killed by a Jeep as he rode his bicycle on Merrimack Street in Lawrence in October of last year.

And Mary Pina, 50, and her 6-year-old nephew Daquan Davis died in a house fire in Haverhill last November. One fire official said the fire was no accident.

There is a common thread linking these four tragic deaths — a lack of willingness by Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett to provide any information about the investigations or their progress. In some cases, the families have been kept in the dark as well.

For John Bacigalupo, it's been two months since he has heard from Blodgett's office about the death of his sister Mary Pina.

"I would expect the district attorney to at least tell me what the results of the investigation are," said Bacigalupo, during a telephone interview from his home on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Evidence has been seized to try and link the crimes to suspects in both Hoare's and Lagasse's deaths. Lawrence police seized the snow plow they believe struck and killed Hoare from a Methuen man in January 2008 and sent blood taken from the blade to the state police crime lab for testing.

In the Lagasse case, investigators know who rented the Jeep, who had possession of it and where it was found, but no one has come forward to admit they were driving it at the time of the accident, Lawrence police Chief John Romero said.

And in the case of the Warren Street fire, Haverhill deputy fire Chief Lewis Poore said the cause of the fire "was not accidental."

However, the only response from the district attorney's office since the fire has been that "it's under investigation."

When asked for comment about the seemingly slow progress and lack of information on these cases, Blodgett issued this two-sentence statement: "These investigations are active and ongoing and they are being conducted in a professional and thorough manner. We are using all of the resources available to us in an attempt to bring these investigations to a conclusion."

Lagasse's brother Randall, while acknowledging the slow pace of the probe into his brother's death, said the family remains confident that the case will be solved.

"I just want to say that although the investigation of the hit-and-run death of my brother Bobby appears to be slow going, we as a family know that sometimes solving such a case does not always happen overnight," Lagasse said. "We know that the case is still open and being investigated and we, along with others behind the scenes, are working diligently to assure that the person/persons responsible for Bobby's death will not go unpunished."

Romero said investigators completely understand the concerns of the families. He said the lawyer for one of those involved in the Lagasse case has refused to make his client available to talk to police.

"He has been holding us at arms' length," Romero said. "We need to move past that and consider what other options are available to us."

Attempts to reach a member of Hoare's family for comment for this story were unsuccessful. ..News Source.. by Jim Patten

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Woman accused of assault at Methuen bar

4-11-2009 Massachusetts:

METHUEN, Apr 11, 2009 (The Eagle-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A woman described as a "person of interest" in the October hit-and-run death of a Lawrence man was arrested after she assaulted another woman in a Broadway bar Thursday night, police said.

Charlene Traficante, 34, of 26 Budron Ave., Salem, N.H., was charged with assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon during the incident at Paul's Pub, 91 Broadway, about 11:10 p.m.

Officers Herb Stacy and Joseph Rynne were sent to the bar after police received a 911 call during which dispatchers could hear yelling in the background, police said.

Officers spoke to the victim who said she has had a problem with Traficante over dating men known to both of them. She told police Traficante began yelling at her over the bar and grabbed her hair over the bar, police said.

She told police that Traficante had a glass beer bottle in her hand and when they separated, Traficante threw the beer bottle at her but missed, police said.

The officers found a large clump of hair on the floor of the bar, which the victim said was hers, police said.

Lawrence police have sought, without success, to speak with Traficante about the Oct. 16, 2008, hit-and-run death of Robert Lagasse, 43, of 77 S. Union St., in Lawrence.

Lagasse was riding a bicycle on Merrimack Street about 6 p.m. to buy beer.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee that struck Lagasse did not stop, but a cab driver who was behind it gave police a description of the vehicle and told police there were two people in it.

The Jeep was recovered the day after the incident at the home of a Hudson, N.H., man who is an acquaintance of Traficante.

A Bradford man who rented the Jeep told police he had loaned it to Traficante.

The investigation into the fatal crash continues, police said. ..Source..

ME- POLICE APPEAL FOR HELP IN HOMICIDE (of former Registered Sex Offender)

10-18-2008 Maine:

AUGUSTA -- Police asked for the public's help as they spent Friday investigating the homicide of Michael A. Roderick, 52, of Augusta.

Roderick was found dead Thursday in the Eastern Avenue home he occupied for more than 25 years.

Maine State Police and Augusta police were at Roderick's home Thursday night and Friday collecting evidence.

Roderick was divorced in 1995. Police said he lived alone and was disabled after a 1981 fall at work. He most recently had worked as a worm digger and kept a boat on the coast, police and neighbors said.

Roderick's family members ******. His mother, *******, and one of his brothers, said they did not want to talk when contacted on Friday.

Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said Roderick was found dead after 7 p.m. Thursday by a friend who came to visit.

Roderick's body was taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta and an autopsy was conducted Friday.

"We know what the cause is," McCausland said. "We're not releasing the details."

McCausland said Roderick likely was killed during the day Thursday.

On Friday, yellow tape cordoned off the 1 1/2-story brown clapboard house and large detached garage as police cars lined the long, private dirt driveway off Eastern Avenue and several members of a state police evidence team worked outside.

McCausland said investigators worked until 3 a.m. Friday, then returned to the house about 8 a.m. to continue the investigation, he said.

Augusta police Lt. Keith Brann asked that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday to call Augusta police at 626-2370.

In particular, they said they believe motorists stopped for roadwork on Eastern Avenue on Thursday may have seen a person or a vehicle leaving Roderick's dirt driveway, just east of Lynn Road.

"Even the most minute thing might be important," Brann said.

Court records show Roderick was convicted in 1996 in Augusta District Court of three misdemeanor offenses: two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of unlawful sexual contact. A docket report indicates all the offenses occurred on Nov. 1, 1995.

He appealed the convictions to Kennebec County Superior Court, but they were upheld. He served his 60-day jail sentence in three-day increments during a period of 20 weeks.

The conviction put him on the state's Sex Offender Registry for a 10-year period. He came off the listing several years ago, according to McCausland.

Roderick was the third homicide victim in Augusta this year.


..Original News Article moved per request..
Any questions should be directed to eAdvocate.
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ME- A SILENCE-CLOAKED PROBE Police claim progress in investigating Augusta slaying, but remain mum otherwise

4-19-2009 Maine:

AUGUSTA -- Six months ago, 52-year-old Michael Roderick was slain in his home on the east side of the city, and most of the details remain a mystery.

Investigators have yet to charge anyone in the killing, and his daughter, ******, said she understands the reason.

"They don't want to release any information so they can catch the person," she said. "I don't have a problem with it."

******, and her family recently moved into her father's 11/2-story clapboard saltbox, where he had lived alone.

One wall -- the one a visitor sees first when entering the home -- will be dedicated to her father's memory.

She plans to hang up his trophy fish and deer, and even the award her father earned in high school for automotive troubleshooting.

"He was my best friend," she said. "He taught me how to drive. He taught me how to fish. At 4 o'clock in the morning, I had to put on 15 layers of clothing to go ice fishing. He taught me to hunt, shoot a bow and how to drive a standard."

Her father loved hunting and fishing, she said recently while sorting through a large box of photos that showed him with his trophy catches and with his family on holidays.

******* and her older brother, ******, who now lives with his family in **another state**, were Roderick's only children.

Michael Roderick died before he could meet his newest grandchild, *****'s son, ******, now 2 weeks old. She has other children, ******.

Her older children ask often about PŽp�re, or grandfather.

"***** has nightmares every night because she thinks whoever killed my dad is going to do the same thing to her," ******* said. "I gave my father most of his gray hairs; my children gave him the rest."

Michael Roderick -- a state-licensed worm harvester who operated a Wellcraft boat, which he kept on the coast -- went to Cony High School and the vocational school, but his true vocation was the great outdoors.

"He liked to do anything that was outside," she said. "He loved to be outside. He loved to teach. He taught neighborhood kids to shoot a bow and some boys to box. He loved to show people things that he knew. Anything to do with outside or teaching somebody something, that was his bread and butter."

She is proud of the house her father built.

"He and my mother drew up the blueprints," ******* said. "He dowsed for the well. It's an artesian well, so it will never go dry. I can hear him saying, 'Stop running that water; you're going to dry up the well.' "

She said her father could be stubborn, refusing to put the finishing touches on the house because he believed it would raise his property tax bill.

"He and the tax assessor went round and round," she said.

Even as a youngster, ****** fought to get the house finished. "I remember when I was 12 or 13, we'd argue. Dad's favorite line was, 'It doesn't matter. You'll get the house when I die anyway.' "

Now she's torn about whether to remove the orange countertop or keep it as another reminder of her father.

"Everybody's trying to convince me, '*****, let it go,' " she said.

As for the homicide investigation, little information is available.

Roderick's body was discovered by a friend who stopped to visit on the evening of Oct. 16, 2008.

"Investigators have made significant progress," said Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine State Police. "Augusta and state police have done more than 100 interviews and worked with a number of other police agencies in aftermath of his death."

McCausland said recently that authorities will not provide details about the manner of Roderick's death.

"There are only a limited number of people who know that: the investigators and those responsible for his death," McCausland said.

Augusta and Maine State Police cordoned off the area around Roderick's home, which is accessible by a long, unpaved driveway off Eastern Avenue just east of Lynn Road.

Detectives searched the area immediately around the home and appealed to the public to report anyone seen leaving Roderick's driveway between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. that day.

Motorists in the area had to travel particularly slowly at the time because of roadway construction.

"Our phone lines are still open for anyone who may have heard something that they think may not be critical," McCausland said. "That may be the thing that breaks this case wide open."

Roderick's mother, ******, recently declined to talk about her son or the investigation. She said the police also have advised her not to discuss the subject.

Michael Roderick, who was disabled after a fall at work in 1981, was convicted in 1996 of three misdemeanor offenses: unlawful sexual contact and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Those convictions placed him on the state's Sex Offender Registry for 10 years. He had come off the registry before his death.

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Police wrap up work at scene of killing

10-20-2008 Maine:

Investigators plan more interviews in connection with the killing of Michael Roderick of Augusta.

AUGUSTA — Augusta police and Maine State Police detectives have finished collecting evidence from the scene of the Thursday slaying of an Augusta man and have moved their investigation to state police offices on Hospital Street, Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said Sunday.

The team of 10 detectives worked through the weekend to collect clues and interview acquaintances of Michael Roderick, 52, who was found dead Thursday night in his Eastern Avenue home, according to McCausland.

"There have been a number of interviews that have been conducted," he said. "There will be more."

State police continue to withhold information about Roderick's cause of death and the results of an autopsy conducted Friday by the state Medical Examiner's Office. They have not yet named a suspect or made any arrests in connection with the homicide.

"A lot of work has been completed in the last three days," McCausland said. "And a lot more work remains."

McCausland said detectives focused their interviews on friends, neighbors, relatives and others who knew Roderick.

"That's usually the circle we concentrate on and then we expand from there," he said.

McCausland noted that multiple people responded to police appeals for information about vehicles or people in Roderick's driveway Thursday. He urged those with information to call state police at 624-7076. ..Source.. by MATTHEW STONE, Kennebec Journal

UK- Strangled paedophile may have been the victim of a vigilante

10-10-2008 United Kingdom:

A convicted paedophile who was found strangled and dumped in a wood may have been the victim of a vigilante attack.

Gordon Boon, 73, was found by walkers who saw his body partly hidden under old fencing panels in an area popular with fly-tippers.

The former cider factory worker, from Norwich, was jailed for six years in December 2001 for indecent assaults on a girl aged eight and two others aged 13.

He had plied one of the 13-year-old girls with alcohol and played strip poker with her, before taking explicit photographs and subjecting her to sexual abuse.

Boon admitted indecent assault and two serious sex offences against the youngster, two assaults on the second girl and one on the third.

But after his case was heard at Norwich Crown Court Judge Paul Downes told him that he had "failed to accept" responsibility for his actions.

He was jailed then placed on the sex offenders register for life and ordered to serve an extended licence of five years on his release. Police would not confirm how long he had been out of prison.

Detectives are keeping an "open mind" about the motive but are looking into the possibility that he could have been killed in a vigilante revenge attack.

A Norfolk Police spokesman said: "His past is a natural line of inquiry."

It is believed Boon, who was married, was reported missing by his son when he failed to meet for a drink as arranged. He was last seen on Friday October 3.

His body was found in Great Witchingham, just yards from the Bernard Matthews turkey factory, at about 12.45pm on Monday October 6. He had one sock and one shoe missing and there was blood around his nose and mouth. A post mortem later found he had been strangled.

Det Ch Insp Steve Strong, of Norfolk Police, said: "The investigation into the death continues and officers are following up a number of lines of inquiry." ..News Source.. by Lucy Cockcroft

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Phone and t-shirt of murdered sex offender found in park

10-24-2008 United Kingdom:

documents believed to belong to murdered paedophile Gordon Boon have been recovered from Eaton Park.

Officers carried out a search of the South Park Avenue area found the collection of items near to the tennis courts. The documents included a band card, a rent card and shopping receipts.

The 73-year-old strangled to death and his body was discovered at Rabbit Lane in Great Witchingham on Monday, October 6.

Mr Boon was last seen alive near the Maids Heads Hotel in Norwich on Friday, October 3.

DCI Steve Strong, who is leading the investigation, said: “We'd appeal to anyone who saw this property being discarded in the area to come forward and tell us. You may be someone who found it in another location and moved it, leaving it in the Eaton Park area or you may remember seeing the property lying on the ground while passing the location.”

Police have now reopened up the area of Eaton Park which had been cordoned off as part of the investigation.

DCI Strong added: “At this stage the motive for the murder of Gordon Boon is unclear. It is very important that we catch and charge the person responsible for this crime.

“Your information could lead us to identify the murderer, bring that person to justice and remove a dangerous criminal from our communities. Whilst the public can be reassured that an individual has been arrested, I need the assistance of the public to further this enquiry.”

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Boon in and around Eaton Park between Friday, October 3 and Monday, October 6. Anyone with information should call DCI Strong on 0845 456 4567. ..News Source.. by LUCY BOLTON

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Police plea over paedophile murder

10-26-2008 United Kingdom:

A detective leading the investigation into the murder of a 73-year-old paedophile last night pleaded with the public to forget his past, saying: “we cannot allow vigilante rule on our doorstep”.

It has now been more than three weeks since Gordon Boon's body was found discarded beneath a pile of rubbish on Norfolk wasteland but officers are still struggling to piece together exactly what happened.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail but Norfolk police's major investigation team admit progress has been slow as potentially key witnesses are reluctant to come forward, apparently lacking sympathy for the registered sex offender.

But Det Chief Insp Steve Strong spoke out to encourage witnesses to speak to the police saying that, no matter what people thought of Mr Boon's past, a dangerous killer is on the loose.

He added: “Whilst I can understand some people's disinterest in this investigation given Mr Boon's history, a murder has been committed and we need to solve this case.

“As things stand a killer whose motive remains unclear is still out there and while they remain at large there must be serious concerns for the public in general. If this person has killed once, they may well kill again and there is nothing to suggest that they don't pose a threat to the rest of the community.

“We cannot live in a vigilante society and law and order must be maintained. Whatever the circumstances, we cannot minimise any murder.”

Mr Strong added that, as well as being put off coming forward by concerns about Mr Boon's past, some witnesses may be under the mistaken belief that because an arrest as been made, the case has been solved.

He said: “We have identified a suspect but we need as much evidence as possible if we are to bring a successful prosecution and get this person off our streets.”

Mr Boon, of Westwick Street, Norwich, was found dead on October 6 at Rabbit Lane, Great Witchingham. He had been strangled and buried beneath fence panels and a car wheel.

Police say the isolated spot is regularly frequented by dog walkers, horse riders, fly-tippers and couples. They are keen to speak to whoever may have dumped the items used to bury Mr Boon - and have promised immunity from prosecution to any fly-tippers who come forward.

The victim was last seen near the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich on October 3 and it is thought he died that day or the following day.

Property belonging to Mr Boon has since been found in the Eaton Park area and officers would like to speak to anybody who saw him during his final days.

Mr Strong said: “We need to hear from friends, acquaintances or anybody who knew Mr Boon in anyway. Even if you don't think you have any information that can help, you may have one small detail which could prove crucial.”

Contact the major investigation team at Norfolk police 0845 4564567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. ..News Source.. by BEN KENDALL

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Norwich sex offender murder accused had killed before

3-4-2010:

A man accused of strangling a man in Norfolk had been jailed in the 1980s for killing a teenage boy, Norwich Crown Court has heard.

Jurors were told Royston Jackson, 43, of Pettus Road, Norwich, was convicted of murdering Stephen Raven in Dagenham in 1989.

He denies murdering Gordon Boon, 73, a convicted sex offender, in 2008.

His body was found under fence panels in a remote lane near Great Witchingham, the court heard.

Partially clothed

The men met at a bail hostel in Norwich following Mr Jackson's release from prison and both had moved out to separate properties shortly before Mr Boon's death.

Prosecutor Timothy Spencer QC said Mr Jackson murdered Mr Boon by strangulation on 3 October.

His partially clothed body was found three days later.

"This defendant drove the dead body to the remote location, dumped it and then covered it with some fence panels - no doubt in an attempt to cover it up for a short while at least," he added.

He told the jury that only Mr Jackson knew why Mr Boon was killed.

"We suggest that a possible motive is that there is some sort of sexual overtone given Mr Boon's state of undress," he added.

"We know that Royston Jackson had made sexual approaches to other males he had been at the hostel with, which had been rebuffed."

Speaking of Mr Jackson's earlier conviction, Mr Spencer said: "There are a number of important similarities between the death of Stephen Raven and Gordon Boon.

"Both were males - of course there is a big difference in age - Stephen Raven showed signs of attempted strangulation and we know how Gordon Boon was killed.

"Stephen Raven's clothing had been interfered with; although he was wearing clothes, they had clearly been taken off prior to his killing because his underpants had been put on inside out and back to front.

"Both men had been dumped in remote country lanes."

The trial continues. ..Source.. by BBC

KY- Victim of Lyndon area murder identified

10-7-2008 Kentucky:

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The victim of a Monday afternoon murder in the Lyndon area has been identified.

Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jack Arnold says that 45-year-old Francisco Fernandez died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Fernandez was found around 4 p.m. Monday afternoon at a storage facility in the 8000 block of Warwick Avenue. Arnold tells WAVE 3 Fernandez was the manager at the facility and lived in an apartment above the business.

Few other details have been released about what led Fernandez's death. If you have any information about this crime, you are asked to call the Metro Police Crime Tip Line at 574-LMPD (5673). ..News Source.. by WAVE3.com

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Man found shot to death in Lyndon storage facility was a registered sex offender

The man found shot to death Monday in a Lyndon self-storage facility has been identified.

The coroner has identified the man as 45 year old Francisco “Frank” Fernandez.

The cause of his death was multiple gun shot wounds to his head.

WHAS11 News discovered that he is a registered a sex offender.

He is on the sex offender registry for committing federal and/or military sex crimes.

WHAS11 News asked police about this matter and they won’t comment at this time.

Police say they found Fernandez in the Extra Space storage facility Monday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you have any information call 574-LMPD. ..News Source.. by WHAS.com