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There is sad news to report in the case of missing teen, Jamie Lynn Drake . With the
help of Kevin Wayne Newland, who is in custody in connection with Jamie’s disappearance, he informed police where to find her body. Another teens life ends so tragically early, far before her time.
A body believed to be a missing 19-year-old woman has been located with the help of a man arrested in her disappearance, sheriff’s deputies said today.
Deputies from Spokane and Stevens counties were told by Kevin Wayne Newland, 20, to look beneath the floorboards of a cabin near the town of Addy, the sheriff’s offices said in a press release.
Newland was returned to Spokane on Thursday and under interrogation he directed deputies to the cabin, which is reportedly owned by his mother, the press release said.
(Seattle Times)
Missing woman’s remains found in Stevens County
Newland to be charged with Jamie Drake’s murder
SPOKANE — Detectives have located a body in Addy, Washington that is believed to be the remains of 19-year-old Jamie Lynn Drake, who has been missing for a week and the man who was found with her car earlier in the week will be charged with her murder.
Spokane County detectives were led to a cabin in Addy by Kevin Newland, the 20-year-old man who was arrested in Maple Valley earlier this week with Drake’s 1993 Ford Mustang.
Credit card receipts show he allegedly first headed north to Deer Park, Colville and Kettle Falls on a route that took him right through the area where the victim’s body was discovered.
(KXLY)
Jamie Lynn Drake’s friends gathered to mourn the loss of their friend.
Jamie Drake’s friends gathered Friday afternoon at Mead Alternative High School. While it’s not unusual for these girls to get together, the circumstances for their meeting Friday – to mourn the loss of a close friend – was something they never planned for.
Jordan Sheffield, Jamie’s best friend since the 3rd grade, is at a stage of shock where past and present tenses blur together. She was Jamie’s roommate and her ex-boyfriend Kevin Newland is the one accused of killing her.
“I love the girl … she’s a great person and I’m sorry everything happened,” she said.
Statement from Jamie Drake’s family
This morning we met with the representatives of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department. They advised us of the investigation to date and that they would be executing a search warrant in rural Stevens County where they believe they will find a body. While one always wants to remain optimistic, there seems little reason to be at this point.
Jamie is and always will be very special to all of us. She represents all that is good in life with her smile, sparkling eyes, quick laugh and spirit for life. She is a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece and cousin.
June 30th, 2006 at 10:11pm
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Missing, Found Deceased, Missing Teen |
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Mary Winkler who has allegedly confessed to the murder of her husband Matthew Winkler is to seek bond today on the murder charge. Mary Winkler has been held in jail without bond since March 23, 2006.
A medical examiner has said Matthew Winkler was shot in the back at close range with a shotgun. No motive has ever been disclosed.
Defense lawyer Steve Farese plans to call members of Matthew Winkler’s church as character witnesses for his client at the hearing.
Farese said a statement Winkler made to police may be presented at the hearing.
Investigators call the statement a confession, though defense lawyers disagree with that description.
(Eye Witness News Memphis)
Mary Winkler appears in Selmer courtroom
Mary Winkler appeared in a Selmer courtroom just after 10:45 Friday morning, as part of a judge’s routine docket.
Winkler is accused of killing her husband, Matthew Winkler, who was pastor of the Fourth Street Church of Christ. Members of his congregation found him dead in the couple’s bedroom at the parsonage on March 22nd after he failed to appear for an evening church service.
(WMC-TV)
Town looks for answers in preacher’s killing
Minister’s wife accused of murder asks for bond
SELMER, Tennessee (CNN) — For three months, the 4,500 souls of this God-fearing town have been left to wonder if a demure preacher’s wife shot her husband in the back and ran off to the beach with their three girls.
And if she did it, why?
Mary Carol Winkler, 32, pleaded not guilty to killing the charismatic new preacher of the Fourth Street Church of Christ and the congregation has turned the other cheek.
But the residents of Selmer haven’t come close to understanding why it might have happened.
UPDATE: Winkler states that she was arguing with her pastor husband about money before she shot him
A TBI agent today read a statement Mary Winkler gave to police after her preacher husband was found shot to death in Selmer.
Agent Brian Booth quoted from the statement, saying Winkler told investigators she and her husband, Matthew Winkler, had argued about several things, including finances. Advertisement
In the statement, Mary Winkler is quoted as saying she doesn’t remember getting the shotgun from a closet at the parsonage, but recalls holding it and said the blast wasn’t as loud as she had expected.
The statement said Matthew Winkler rolled out of bed onto the floor and asked why she had shot him.
Mary Winkler said she wiped blood from his outh and said she was sorry and that she loved him.
(WBIR)
CNN: Mary Winkler told authorities she didn’t remember getting gun
Booth testified that Winkler told police she knew her husband kept a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun in the closet of the home where they lived with their three daughters. She said she didn’t remember getting the gun.
Mary Winkler’s statement of the time leading up to the shooting was as follows:
Winkler said the two had argued throughout the evening about several things, including family finances. The problems were “mostly my fault,” she said, because she was in charge of keeping the family books.
“He had really been on me lately criticizing me for things — the way I walk, I eat, everything. It was just building up to a point. I was tired of it. I guess I got to a point and snapped,” Booth read to the court.
June 30th, 2006 at 12:21pm
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Court Hearing, Mary Winkler, Crime/Murder |
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How else can a victim and family be violated? The confession of sex offender John 
Evander Couey that he murdered Jessica Lunsford has been thrown out by a judge on the grounds that sex offender, rapist and murdered John Couey had previously asked for a lawyer on multiple occasions prior to his confession.
The confession of a man charged with kidnapping, raping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford isn’t admissible in court, but the discovery of her body can be used as evidence, a judge ruled Friday.
John Evander Couey, a 47-year-old convicted sex offender, gave the confession to detectives, but also told them that he wanted to consult a lawyer. He wasn’t given the opportunity to do so.
(AP)
This is the face of a sex offender that our legal system seem to provide more right to than the innocent victims that they rape and kill
Although it is reprehensible that this judge has thrown out the confession of this child rapist, murdering pig who buried poor 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford alive after he had violated her; one has to wonder what the hell the police officers were thinking? Did they want to blow this entire case for the prosecution? The unfortunate facts of life is that scum bag child killers are afforded rights even though it is unimaginable that they should be afforded anything. Especially since Couey was already convicted of sexually molesting a 5 year old. The fact remains that the police violated the most simple of legal protections afforded to people accused of crimes.
“This is a material and a profound violation of one of the most bedrock principles of criminal law,” Circuit Judge Ric Howard said in issuing the ruling Friday.
On the taped interview, parts of which were played in court, Couey spoke freely with the detectives about his criminal past, use of crack and relationship with his family. When the topic crept closer to Lunsford, however, Couey repeatedly mentioned wanting a lawyer.
The overall outrage of this case comes from the fact of what was done to 9 year old 
Jessica Lunsford by this previously convicted sex offender and that he buried her alive. These actions shocked the collective conscience of a country and the fact that the police acted so recklessly in jeopardizing a case is just pathetic. Its like the family being violated all over again. Mark Lunsford, Jessica’s dad, has already been through a living hell having his daughter ripped from him. Now he gets the slap in the face that his daughter’s murderer has more rights than were afforded her.
Jessica was found kneeling and clutching a stuffed animal, hands tied with speaker wire and fingers poking through the garbage bags in which she was buried alive in February 2005. Two days earlier, Couey told detectives he had kidnapped, raped and killed the girl, and he told them where to find the body.
Maybe the police and the prosecution need to be asked as well why the other people that lived in the house where Jessica was raped and murdered were not also arrested. They knew what was going on.
This case also shows the reason why most of us have utter contempt for defense attorney and the scum they represent. Defense attorney Dan Lewan falls into that category as he screams that his client, John Couey’s, constitutional rights were violated. Funny, he didn’t seen to care too much about Jessica’s now did he?
Defense attorney Dan Lewan has portrayed the detectives as overzealous and unconcerned about Couey’s constitutional rights. When his client asked for an attorney, Lewan argued, the detectives spoke over him in a confusing interlude before simply dropping the issue.
Lewan also asked the discovery of Jessica’s body be inadmissible in court because Couey told authorities where to find her.
This is the only victim in this case that anyone should have been worried about protecting the rights of. Innocent children like Jessica.
Don’t worry though Attorney Lewan, your client won’t have to worry too much of that in the future because of the fact that the DNA evidence and subsequent finding of Jessica’s body is still allowed in as evidence. With the death penalty on the table, trust me … John Couey won’t have to worry about his right in the future.
A consent search at the mobile home where Couey was living turned up a bloody mattress which tested positive for Jessica’s DNA the day they began excavating at the mobile home following the confession. Further, disturbed ground near a shovel in the yard was suspicious enough to investigate after officers had already singled Couey out as a person of interest, Ridgway said.
“With (DNA results) they would’ve gotten a search warrant for the home,” Ridgway said.
June 30th, 2006 at 09:50am
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Jessica Lunsford, John Couey, sexual assault, Crime/Murder, Pictures, sex offender |
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In a rather stunning development Jennifer Hagel Smith, the wife of missing 
honeymooner George Allen Smith IV has reached a settlement with Royal Caribbean Cruise line. The terms of the settlement are subject to approval by a Connecticut probate court.
Royal Caribbean International and Jennifer Hagel Smith have reached an agreement settling any potential claims regarding the death of her husband George Smith IV. The company entered into this agreement to provide closure and move forward.
The terms of the settlement are subject to approval by a Connecticut probate court. Royal Caribbean will continue in its good faith efforts to ensure Ms. Hagel Smith has access to all information regarding her husband’s disappearance. (Yahoo News)
What a crock this settlement is on both the part of Royal Caribbean and Jennifer Hagel Smith. This nonsense occurs constantly on cruise ships and nothing is ever done because the victims of crimes or families of the victims settle for monetary amounts rather that effecting change. Maybe Jennifer Hagel Smith can explain to George Smith’s family how a settlement honors her husband. Royal Caribbean in typical fashion come out with a BS PR statement:
“She has handled herself well under the most trying of circumstances and we applaud her constructive approach to resolving this matter — so much so that our company will also match a contribution by Ms. Hagel Smith to a charity of her choosing. We believe this agreement will help Jennifer to move forward in her life, while honoring the memory of her beloved husband.”
Funny, Royal Caribbean was not saying this same comment when Jennifer Hagel Smith sued them. I can only imagine how the family of George Smith is taking this news. I can almost count on the fact that they will not settle for a financial gain. They will honor their son by helping pass legislation so this does not happen again to others.
Statement form Jennifer Hagel Smith 
Does anyone else have a problem with the wording, “Jennifer Hagel Smith is pleased to announce that she has reached a comprehensive settlement”? Is please? Its a grim settlement to the death of your husband, not your wedding announcement. Geez.
Jennifer Hagel Smith is pleased to announce that she has reached a comprehensive settlement with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. following the disappearance of her husband, George Allen Smith IV, on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in July 2005.
Royal Caribbean has agreed to provide Jennifer with additional access to substantial information and documents in order to assist her in obtaining answers regarding George Smith’s disappearance last summer. She will be permitted to review all relevant vessel logs, security reports, door activity (”lock- link”) reports, photographs, security tapes, correspondence to and from the FBI and other law enforcement authorities, as well as all statements of passengers and crew members obtained by the cruise line. This information will be provided upon completion of the settlement. A similar offer is readily available to the Smith family. (News Flash to Royal Caribbean … I hardly doubt the mother and father will want money for their dead son.)
Royal Caribbean will pay a financial settlement. The proposed settlement will be presented to the Court of Probate, District of Greenwich, in the State of Connecticut for the Court’s consideration and approval.
…
“This has been the most difficult and challenging year of my life,” said Jennifer. “I will always love George and cherish our time together. I feel blessed to have such a strong network of loyal family, friends and supporters who have provided me with such tremendous strength and encouragement. They have walked and sometimes carried me through this heartbreaking time. I am forever grateful.”
“My discussions with Royal Caribbean have been very open, as well as extremely productive and informative. This journey has always been a matter of principle for me, and I know that George would be proud of what has been accomplished thus far, in good faith, as we continue to seek answers. I appreciate Royal Caribbean’s cooperation, sincerity and efforts moving forward, which I believe will play a major role in helping all of us find closure. The memory of George will always live on in my heart, that of our families and everyone who knew him.”
Go here for Reward and tips information as to what happened to George Smith.
June 29th, 2006 at 11:25pm
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Jennifer Hagel Smith, Cruise ship, George Allen Smith IV |
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Jamie Lynn Drake, 19, has been missing since last Friday June 23. Jamie Lynn 
Drake was last seen at her boyfriends apartment.
Description:
Jamie Lynn Drake, 19, is Caucasian, 5’1” tall, 125 pounds with brown hair and eyes. A recent graduate of Mead High School, Drake has been missing from her job at a local Subway restaurant since last Thursday night.
Newlund is from Chewelah and is not a suspect in drake’s disappearance.
(KXLY)
Missing woman’s Mustang found, acquaintance arrested
SPOKANE — The King County Sheriff’s Department has arrested the acquaintance of a missing 19-year-old Mead woman.
A police spokesman tells News4 Kevin Wayne Newland, 20, was located in Maple Valley, Washington around 9pm Tuesday and arrested for Possession of Stolen Property, Jamie Lynn Drake’s 1993 Ford Mustang.
(KXLY)
Man arrested in case of missing Spokane woman
Kevin Wayne Newlund, 20, was arrested in Maple Valley on Tuesday evening on suspicion of possessing stolen property. Authorities there also recovered Jamie Lynn Drake’s 1993 Ford Mustang.
Deputies did not say how Newlund was located, and Drake’s disappearance remains under investigation.
Newlund was a former boyfriend of Drake’s female roommate. He had lived with the two women as recently as two months ago, Spokane County sheriff’s deputies said.
(Olympian)
A global positioning satellite located Drake’s cell phone in Ellensburg on Saturday, said Tommy Frees, 22, a friend of Drake’s; Drake was not found.
June 28th, 2006 at 05:21pm
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Jamie Lynn Drake, arrested, Missing, Missing Teen |
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Gilbert Gilman of Olympia, WA has been missing since Saturday. A car belonging to a state official reported missing last weekend has been found in Olympic National Park.
Gilbert Gilman, 47, of Olympia — deputy director of the state Department of Retirement Systems — was apparently last seen Saturday at the Staircase Ranger Station. A co-worker reported him missing Sunday, when he failed to show up for a business trip to Spokane, according to the Thurston County sheriff’s office.
(Seattle Times)
Search resumes for missing state official in Olympic National Park
HOODSPORT, Wash. — The search has resumed in the southeast corner of Olympic National Park for a missing state official
Park spokesman Mike Gurling says more than 20 ground searchers with four dog teams are working along three main trails out of the Staircase Ranger Station, near Hoodsport. A helicopter also will be used in the search.
The car belonging to Gilbert Gilman was found yesterday at the ranger station. The deputy director of Washington’s Department of Retirement Systems apparently went to the park Saturday and he was reported missing Sunday after he missed a meeting.
(Seattle PI)
June 28th, 2006 at 04:35pm
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Search and Rescue, Missing, Missing Adult |
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MySpace.com is back in the news again and of course for all the wrong reasons. This time a man is taken by two teenagers. When will people ever learn that no one is who they say on the internet?
A Jacksonville man says he was duped and robbed by two girls after attempting to meet with a woman he met on the internet.
The victim says he chatted on-line with a woman, known on her MySpace.com profile as “Natalia”, for two weeks before deciding to meet with her. He says her profile showed sexy photos, and a blurb which said “just lookin’ for something fun”. That brief, friendly description was all he knew about her before they planned to meet.
You know what happens to people who believe everything that someone types to them on-line? When will people wake up and understand that a dark element exists in these social-network on-line environments just waiting to take advantage of gullible and exploit others.
“This was not the girl that the picture was of on MySpace,” the victim said.
Now sensing something was wrong, he was ready to take off, but was stopped by a shocking discovery.
“[One of the girls] took [a] gun out and put it to my head and told me to empty my pockets.”
The girls didn’t get much because the victim had forgotten his wallet. They let him go, unharmed, and he called police.
Police did a search of the area and found the two teens with another male suspect. They searched a purse and found two loaded handguns.
Myspace.com may have been developed for friends and music, but this victim had to find out the hard way that not everyone is logging on for the right reasons.
(WOAI)
June 27th, 2006 at 09:33pm
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My Space.com, Internet |
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Wisconsin Rapids woman, Deidre Harm has been missing since June 10, 2006. 
Description:
Deidre Harm.. has red hair, weighs 145-pounds, and is 5-foot-4-inches tall. She was last seen wearing a black top and blue jeans. She has two distinctive tattoos.. a red and blue nautical star on her right arm.. and a purple star with her daughter’s name above it. (WAOW)
If you have any information about Deidre Harm.. you are asked to call police at 1-715-423-4444.
UPDATE: November 30, 2006
The sad conclusion was realized on November 20, 2006 as the remains of Deidre Harm were discovered in the woods in a rural part of the county. May she rest in peace.
Just days after Deidre Harm would have celebrated her 22nd birthday, hunters stumbled across her remains in rural Wood County, Wis.Harm, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., disappeared on June 11. Her remains were discovered Nov. 20 and publicly identified Friday, Wisconsin Rapids Police Chief Kurt Heuer said.
“It was not the week we wanted to have, certainly,” Heuer said. “It was a tough ending to a case that we just didn’t want to have finished like that.” (Northwest Herald)
June 25th, 2006 at 09:33pm
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Missing, Found Deceased, Missing Adult |
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Salem Police and Fire are on scene at Cascade Gateway Park in Salem, OR responding to a report of a missing 13 year old girl.
A 13-year old girl is missing, and Fire Department Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says the Fire Department has their boat in the water at this time.
Salem Fire is reporting that the young girl that is currently lost may have been in the lake at Cascade gateway park.
(Salem-News)
UPDATE: Body of Missing Teen Recovered From Walter Wirth Lake
Today authorities made the grim discovery, the body of 13-year-old Maria Martinez was recovered from Walter Wirth Lake.
(SALEM) - Linn County Sheriff’s Office divers recovered the body of 13-year-old Maria Martinez Sunday just before 2:00 PM in about 25-feet of water.
An Oregon Army National Guard Helicopter from Salem on it’s way back from a training mission helped in locating the teens body.
(Salem News)
June 24th, 2006 at 10:18pm
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Search and Rescue, Missing, Found Deceased, Missing Teen |
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Patsy Ramsey, the mother of 6 year old JonBenet Ramsey who was murdered in 
1996 and the crime never solved, died Saturday from ovarian cancer. There was so much speculation in the news, tabloids and books as to the suspicion of who killed JonBenet Ramsey.
JonBenet, who competed in beauty pageants, was found beaten and strangled in her parents’ Boulder, Colo. basement on Dec. 26, 1996. A grand jury investigation ended with no indictments, and no arrests have been made.
JonBenet’s death became fodder for tabloids and the subject of books.
The Ramseys said an intruder killed their daughter but a cloud of suspicion hung over the couple. The district attorney and a federal judge in Colorado have said it is likelier that an intruder was responsible.
JonBenà �t Patricia Ramsey Wiki (August 6, 1990 – December 25, 1996)
Everyone will remember the rather bizarre circumstances that followed the disappearance of JonBenet Ramsey.All that took place within the Ramsey’s home.
Patsy Ramsey said she found a ransom note on the back staircase of the family’s home demanding $118,000 for the safe return of JonBenet. John Ramsey said he found his daughter’s body in a basement room eight hours later.
An autopsy concluded JonBenet suffered a skull fracture, and was strangled and beaten.
(AP via Yahoo News)
Patsy Ramsey, JonBenet’s mother, dies
A grand jury investigation into the death of the child beauty pageant winner 
ended without charges in 1999.
JonBenet’s beaten and strangled body was found in the basement of the family home in Boulder, Colorado, the day after Christmas.
The Ramseys said an intruder committed the crime, but they remained the subject of suspicion and speculation.
(CNN)
Patsy Ramsey Dies Of Cancer
JonBenet’s Mother – Once A Suspect – Never Found Daughter’s Killer
“I think people will remember Patsy as some one who was falsely accused in connection with the death of her daughter,” Lin Wood, the Ramsey’s attorney, said on CNN, “when she should be remembered for being an incredibly loving mother, a wonderful wife and a person who showed great courage in fighting a vicious disease.”
Wood said Ramsey had been battling cancer since 1993 and had suffered a recurrence three years ago. Her husband, John, was with her at the time of her death.
(CBS)
June 24th, 2006 at 12:04pm
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JonBenet Ramsey |
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