True Crime Updates
A Cape Cod trash hauler was charged Friday with murder in the 2002 stabbing death of a fashion writer, a case that turned a national spotlight on the isolated outer Cape and inspired a best-selling book. Christopher M. McCowen pleaded innocent and was ordered held without bail in the death of Christa Worthington. From CBS NewYork
Christa Worthington’s story is sad. The discovery of her stabbed and bleeding body is heart breaking. For Worthington’s two year old daughter, Ava, was found clinging to her dead mother’s body. The baby, hungry and desperate, had tried to breast feed from her dead mother. She was smeared with her dead mother’s blood.
The crime occurred over three years ago. Two men have been living in the shadow of suspicion for the entire time. One is Ava’s biological father, a Tony Jackett, a Truro fisherman who obligingly fathered Worthington’s child although he was very, very married. The other was Worthington’s recently estranged boyfriend, a Tim Arnold, who also discovered the body.
In a desperate move, the Truro investigators ordered all males in the tiny Cape Cod town to give a DNA sample. Christa Worthington was raped before being murdered. The murderer thus left a DNA sample.
A trash hauler, Christopher McCowan, obligingly gave a DNA sample after the crime. For reasons unclear, no match was made until just recently and McCowan was arrested for Worthington’s murder. Jackett and Arnold were very much in the investigators sights as possible perpetrators. As such, it’s possible the police didn’t concentrate enough on other possible perps.
Christa Worthington’s life had been exciting and promising. Schooled at Vasser and a fashion writer by trade, Worthington retreated to the tiny Cape Cod town of Truro to tend to her dying mother, have the child as her biological clock demanded, and nurse a renewed hatred for her philandering father. Whose girlfriend, we note, was also considered a suspect in Worthington’s murder.
Amazon Link to Book About This Case
Link to a Book by Christa Worthington
The Boston Channel also used to compose this part of this true crime Blog post.
Ava is being taken care of by a friend of Christa’s as indicated in her last will and testament. As I understand she has contact with her biological father but he lost the fight to gain custody of Ava permanently.
A child deprived of her mother, a tragic ending to an already unhappy life. At least Christa Worthington and her daughter will have closure to this horrendous and arbitrary crime.
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Ray Gricar, a Pennsylvania district attorney, was last heard from on 4/15/05. At 11:30 am he phoned his lady friend, Patty Fornicola, and told her he was taking the day off to do some antique shopping. He has not been heard from since though by all accounts his credit card, bank accounts and cell phone have not been used since.
Two things make this case intriguing. First is the eerie similarity to Baltimore prosecutor Jonathan Luna, who went missing and whose body was later discovered, bleeding from many shallow cuts but drowned in a small Pennsylvania creek.
I wrote an extensive account of Luna’s disappearance:The Strange Death of Jonathan Luna. His death is classified a homicide by Pennsylvania police; a suicide by the Baltimore FBI.
Even stranger is the story of Gricar’s brother. From America’s Most Wanted Web Site
Gricar's 53-year-old brother, Roy J. Gricar, vanished under similar circumstances in May 1996, and was later ruled to have drowned himself, The Centre Daily Times reported.
The West Chester, Ohio, resident told his wife he was going out on an errand and never returned, according to an account at the time in the Dayton Daily News. His car was found abandoned near a river, and his body was later pulled from the water.
Luna and Ray Gricar’s brother, both found dead in a body by water, both ostensibly by suicide.
Given that Gricar hasn’t used his credit cards, etc, it would seem he is no longer with us. His car was found unmolested on a parking lot of an antique store that abuts a small river. In the case of Jonathan Luna there were many clues to his disappearance, including reasons why he might want to kill himself. So far no such clues given about Gricar. Given time there will be more information. Given time, sadly, he or his body will be found.
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If ever a true crime story had a strange beginning and now a stranger middle that will lead to who knows what conclusion, it has to be the case of the closet murder. My original Blog post on this case HERE.
This past week Martha Freeman testified in court. For her husband Jeffrey had been brutally murdered by Rafael Perez in his own bathroom. As Martha testified the prevailing Judge became concerned. For Martha, as she testified, heard the brutal murder of her husband yet did not seek help for over 18 hours later. The Judge stopped Martha’s testimony and commanded that she have an attorney.
From WSMV.com:
"This is so bizarre," the judge said. "I have a problem allowing this (testimony) to go on without her having representation. She probably should be charged in this case."
Freeman told police that during the 18 hours between her husband's murder and the time she asked a neighbor to call police, she napped several times, walked the dog once and was heavily medicated for her bipolar mental disorder.
Freeman also testified that she first met Rocha-Perez at a Fourth of July fireworks display and that the two later had sex at a hotel. She testified she also had sex with two of his friends that night.
Rocha-Perez, it is alleged, was actually living in a closet in the Freeman home. On the surface it would appear Martha Freeman is not too bright. Do not forget, however, that the Freemans ran a credit reference firm for landlords wanting information on potential renters. Not the stuff of stupidity.
The Wise I must also wonder why on earth Tennessee authorities did not arrest her to begin with. Over 18 hours before she got help for her brutally murdered husband? Murdered by a man admittedly her lover and who lived in a closet in her house? She walked the dog once for God’s sake! And still did not summon help?
The Judge saw it immediately. What the hell were the investigators thinking by letting this woman run free?
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There’s a happy, albeit mysterious ending, to the Ashleigh Markley disappearance. She has been found alive but beyond that there’s not much available as to where she went, why and where is the strange woman with the barbed wire tattoos on her eyebrows. The latest I’ve heard is the child (14 years) was found in Michigan although she lives in California.
Original post on this case HERE.
Sarah Lunde was murdered by yet another sexual predator walking free and unfettered by rules and laws. Even more tragic in the case of Lunde is how the poor child was left alone to fend for herself. She returned home from a church retreat early one Saturday evening. The only one home was her brother Andrew, 17, who left to go get food, not to return until 4 am early Sunday morning. While he was gone a former amour of her mother, David Onstadt, stopped by. When Andrew returned home, his sister was missing and a strange beer bottle was on the table.
Lunde’s mother returned home late Sunday night. STILL, neither the mother or the brother reported Sarah as missing. Only until the church continued to question Sarah’s whereabouts did Kelly Mae Lunde phone Sarah’s school to discover she did not show up for class.
These people are keeping a low profile as well they should. If ever there was an irresponsible caretaker it would be Sarah Lunde’s mother.
I suspect this woman will probably face some sort of charges in the near future but maybe not. Perhaps the loss of a child will be deemed enough punishment.
This does not, however, help vivacious Sarah Lunde.
Jessica Lunsford’s story is perhaps the most horrendous of all. For she was not only abducted by a known child molester, it would appear she’d been tortured for days before she was stuffed into a garbage bag, and buried alive. Even more disturbing was that Deliverance crew who sheltered, hid and eventually aided the escape of Jessica’s tormenter, the kindly John Couey. These awful people will not be prosecuted as indicated by the Florida DA charged with prosecuting the case. They should be. Bill O’Reilly’s been on this on his Fox show “The O’Reilly Factor”.
Blog Post on How Jessica Died
Could these people possibly not have known poor Jessica was alive in that trailer? Who purchased a bus ticket for John Couey? Why aren’t they being called to account for THEIR crime?
Jessica might still be alive if they’d done the right thing.
Comments are welcome but no crazies please. Read the following before posting a comment TRUE CRIME COMMENT WARNING
Formerly Known as Cardinal Ratzinger
Now known as Pope Benedict XVI.
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A Lesson In Spin
Ladies and Gems, indulge me a minute.
For a week ago Sunday none other than the very honest and adorable Barney Frank was on Meet the Press. Railing on, of all things, the ethics of Tom Delay.
From the Washington Post we have a bit of a background on Frank's past ethics' issues. It's a long quote but there's a logic.
Gobie's dream has come true. His accusation that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) knew that Gobie had operated a prostitution service out of Frank's Capitol Hill apartment became national news after it was first reported Friday by the Washington Times.
Frank, one of two openly gay members of Congress, confirmed Friday that he paid Gobie for sex, hired him with personal funds as an aide and wrote letters on congressional stationery on his behalf to Virginia probation officials, but Frank said he fired Gobie when he learned that clients were visiting the apartment.
Frank met the ad's author, Stephen Gobie, a 28-year-old hustler who had been convicted of drug possession and oral sodomy, for the first time on April Fool's Day. The sex cost $80. After several more encounters, the congressman offered Gobie a job cleaning his Capitol Hill apartment and chauffeuring him to the airport. Frank thought he was turning Gobie into a new person; Gobie, for his part, was turning Frank's pad into a house of prostitution.
Long after the affair ended, the details of the relationship seeped out in the press, putting Frank through the one experience he had always tried to fend off: humiliation. The full House voted to reprimand the man Tip O'Neill had predicted would be the first Jewish speaker in history, while his old ally, The Boston Globe, demanded his resignation. But, in the end, Frank held a press conference, answering every salacious question. Buoyed by his sister Ann's support, he explained that, though he had made "stupid" mistakes, he was unaware of the criminal activity -- a fact that the Ethics Committee eventually confirmed. His constituents responded by returning him to Congress with over 65 percent of the vote.
Now Frank did mention his investigation during his time with Russert. But it was brief and quick. Anyone tuning in later or after his short comment might not know about Frank's past.
Like my daughter.
I decided to do an experiment. The Democrats are relying on sound bytes to cast aspersions on a perfectly qualified man nominated for ambassador to the UN by the President, duly elected by the people to do such things. They are also trying to oust a very capable Majority Whip in the House of Representatives. I figured most people wouldn't know Barney Frank from anybody but the sound bytes of all the caterwauling by the Democrats as they calculate are enough to do in Tom Delay and John Bolton.
Below is a script of my IM conversation with my daughter.
Pat Fish1: Well got to take dogs outside. Answer me a quick question....what do you know about Barney Frank?
Liskabear: not a thing
Pat Fish1: okay, what do you know about Tom Delay? Anything at all, tell me.
Liskabear: He's the republican that's being accused of... i'm not sure
Liskabear: I thought that even the republicans don't like tom delay
(at this point I explain about how the Democrats are trying to fool her)
Liskabear: They're not fooling me.. although maybe they did.. because I did think that Tom Delay did some bad things.
Bear in mind, Ladies and Gems, that my daughter is not stupid, is somewhat acquainted with our political spectrum having me for a mother and everything.
Yet the Democratic attack machine is working judging by her comments. She had no idea Barney Frank was a pervert but hey, she did know Tom Delay and she knew, well actually she knew nothing about Tom Delay except he "did some bad things".
Reminds me of how I interpreted all the shouting over Newt Gingrich in his day. I heard the sound bytes and decided, hey, this Newt fellow must be bad news.
I was wrong about Newt and my daughter is wrong about Tom Delay.
We were both busy raising our children and being law-abiding citizens. There's employment, family, entertainment and some time for sleep. We don't have the time to sit and read the silliness of the congress critters.
They count on that, yon intelligent readers.
They count on the fact that if they yell enough, even if totally unwarranted and even if, hey, outright lies, that sooner or later us fools out here in La-La land will conclude exactly what they want us to conclude.
Tom Delay has committed no ethics violations and indeed, it is the Democrats who REFUSE to investigate him via committee.
Well, hey friends and foes, the Democrats don't really want to investigate the guy to come to some fair conclusion. They just want to throw innocent Tom Delay's name about so that Katie and Matt can comment on the controversy.
And decent busy people like my daughter make just the conclusion then Democrats want.
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Cruising for a Bruising
It's described as a "freak" seven story wave. Goodness, a seven story wave I would hope would be freakish. Although I've never heard of seven story waves attacking cruise ships before.
The folks unfortunate enough to be on this cruise didn't like it one bit. I've always dreamed of going on a cruise. I may have to re-think this.
From APNEWS
A freak seven-story wave that slammed into a cruise ship sent furniture sailing through the air, knocked Jacuzzis overboard and forced some passengers to sleep in hallways in life jackets.
The Norwegian Dawn docked in the Charleston harbor for repairs after running into the rough weather Saturday while returning to New York from the Bahamas. The 965-foot vessel departed early Sunday after a Coast Guard inspection and was expected in New York at midday Monday.
"The ship was hit by a freak wave that caused two windows to break in two different cabins," Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement. It said 62 cabins flooded and four passengers had cuts and bruises. The wave reached as high as deck 10 on the ship, company spokeswoman Susan Robison said Sunday.
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Political Cartoon of the Week
American Idol Update
The theme was “70’s Dance Music” on Tuesday, 4/19/05 in this year of our Lord. A subject I should know something about but beyond Donna Summer and the BeeGees I discover I am woefully ignorant. For some of the songs sung by American Idol contestants were either completely unknown to me or were, to my complete surprise, considered 70’s dance music. More on this later.
Vonzell, still a contender, was, as always, stylishly attired and sang a song congruent with her voice and range. Anwar, who was voted off this week, was okay as I assessed it. I saw Randy Jackson on late night TV. This American Idol Judge asserts that Anwar Robinson was “technically” the best singer in this year’s competition. Evidently the viewers didn’t see it that way.
Scott Soval has never been one of my personal favorites in this competition but the big fellow stole a piece of my heart this past week. For he sang one of my all time favorite songs-“Everlasting Love”. While I still don’t think he’s a top three contender, should he make it I’ll be happy because he sang this song and did a wonderful job of it.
Anthony Federov, who still reminds me too much of Clay Aiken, sang a song I never heard of. Federov was one of the bottom three but hung on for another week.
Constantine Maroulis, a contender for the top three as I see it, did a fabulous job with the BeeGees’ song “Nights on Broadway”. By me he sounded better than the BeeGees in his rendition. I really wish he would wash his hair. He’s got smoldering bedroom eyes and dresses reasonably well. So why the greasy hair?
Carrie Underwood, my favorite for the winner, committed two errors. One, dear Lord, she sang the worst song EVER. “MacArthur Park”, which I would never have guessed as being considered “dance music” no matter the decade, is widely considered a terrible song with no meaning. Two, what on earth was that child wearing? She donned some sort of froufrou skirt that did not match her top at all. Simon Cowell commented on her attire as well and not kindly.
But hey, there were some incredible high notes in the song and Underwood hit them all. She aptly demonstrated her voice range and almost made that tune worth a listen. Carrie needs to talk to her fashion stylist about star clothing.
Bo Bice gave a good rendition and still seems a contender for the top three, possibly the top spot itself.
Predictions
Third-Constantine Maroulis
Second-Bo Bice
First-Carrie Underwood
TV This Coming Week
Reminder: American Idol Finals continue on Tuesday, 4/26/05, Fox, at 8 pm, with the elimination on the following night, Wednesday, 4/27/05, Fox, at 9 pm. The Apprentice is down to four finalists. It airs on Thursday, 4/28/05, NBC, at 9 pm.
On Friday, 4/29/05, at 8 pm, Fox is featuring the movie “Spiderman”.
On Saturday, 4/30/05, at 8 pm, ABC is featuring “Harry Potter”.
Both of the above good viewing for the children. Adults might enjoy them as well.
True crime buffs might want to tune in to the “48 Hours” episode on Saturday, 4/30/05, CBS, at 10 pm. Below the promo blurb for this show:
Saturday, April 30 10:00 PM
The murder of a tough journalist who may have known too much.
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