Authorities confirmed today said that human remains found in a wooded area are those of a 47-year-old Aurora woman, Marilyn Bethell, who has been missing since October.
Kane County authorities said the badly decomposed body was that of Marilyn Bethell, who was last seen Oct. 30 when she left her job at a substance-abuse treatment center in Hoffman Estates.
Kane County Coroner Chuck West said an autopsy determined Bethell died of head trauma.
Who killed Bethell remained a mystery Wednesday because authorities said they had no leads in the case.
Body Confirmed As Missing Woman
The body was found a few miles away from Bethell’s home. Who killed Bethell remained a mystery Wednesday because authorities said they had no leads in the case.
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, the coroner said that Bethell died from head trauma. Police added that they believe the apparent homicide took place where Bethell’s body was found.
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Decomposed Body Found by Hikers, Presumed to be missing Aurora woman, Marilyn Bethell
December 29th, 2005 at 01:35am
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autopsy, Found Deceased, Missing Adult |
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Recently the body of Melinda Breaz Superville was found in a vacant house by volunteer members of Texas EquuSearch. In some news reports, they claimed that the death was being investigated as an apparent suicide due to the pills present at the scene. According to these reports, there were pills found near her as well as a gun that had not been discharged. There was also initially a report that there was a wound to Melinda’s head.
“… said Sgt. David Crain, with the Houston Police Department. “There is a wound to the body about the head, but I can’t tell specifically where or from what.”
There was also no suicide note and her keys were initially found hanging in the door lock of her office that she shared with her husband. Melinda Superville’s home, office and vacant home where she was found are all in close proximity to one another. Later news reports would say that there was no sign of physical trauma to Melinda’s body.
With the many conflicting stories and the fact that it was unknown what happened to Melinda Superville, everyone figured they would wait for The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death. At least that’s what Melinda’s family thought.
That was until the Paris News published an article where Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville, the brother of Tom Superville, made the following statement regarding the death of his sister-in-law Melinda.
Superville said he expects his sister-in-law’s death to be ruled either an accidental or intentional overdose of prescribed medications.
“She was wrestling with some problems of depression that I did not know about,” Superville said.
Then there was a surprising obituary that was written. Surprising in the fact that it actually referenced the cause of death being a suicide as nearly all never do. Even more surprising in the fact that the ME’s office had not officially announced the cause of death.
MELINDA MARIE BREAZ SUPERVILLE’S spirit was liberated on December 2, 2005 due to an accidental overdose. She was 43.
As one can imagine I am sure Melinda Breaz Superville’s family may be none too happy with prematurely stating, let alone discussing their family members death. Prior to an official announcement as to a cause of death it is at best “bad form” to discuss it. Judge Superville’s comments and the Paris New’s printing of a cause of death as if it were fact is a bit troubling.
However, not a troubling as Christopher Breaz’ attempt to get equal time to present Melinda’s family side in her death. We at Scared Monkeys can only speculate as to what happened with the many clues and leads that were present at the crime scene and leading up to the discovery of her body. That is why one generally waits until the final autopsy to make such a comment as to rule that it was a suicide. It is rather strange that the same was not afforded in this case. The following is the letter that Chris sent to the Paris, TX paper that was not printed. Even though they allowed certain comments to be printed in their paper from Judge Superville regarding a suicide prior to any confirmation.
You will not see this printed in the newspaper, but you will here. The following is Chris Breaz’s letter in its entirety.
Dear __________, (name deleted)
I am a brother of Melinda Breaz Superville.
Firstly, in your article it was stated the “…Houston police found her body…”. That is inaccurate and can be verified with the police. I found her body as a participatory in a Texas EquuSearch SAR team. You were correct in stating Melinda was found close to their office (and also their home). Extremely close…roughly 200 yards away.
Secondly, I have a problem with the repetition of Judge Superville’s expectation of cause of death, although the final ruling may well be a pharmaceutical overdose. It is, in my opinion, unfair to make that statement prior to the issuance of an official ruling from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office. This seems to unfairly paint my sister in a negative light, one which she can not defend herself against. Why can’t we wait until the official ruling? Are we not presumed innocent until proven guilty? What is to be gained from this premature statement?
Thirdly, I would like to know which doctor(s) the good judge spoke to regarding Melinda’s “…problems of depression…” that he – I assume previously – did not know about. Who are these doctors to divulge confidential doctor-patient information, and why were they not interviewed and quoted? What were the causes of Melinda’s supposed depression? Did the judge share that there were domestic violence incident reports filed against his brother, Thomas Paul Superville, for physical abuse of my sister and even my mother who was 73 at the time of his breaking my mother’s finger? Perhaps the judge’s statement that Melinda had been “wrestling” with some problems was right on the mark.
Lastly, I have to wonder why Judge Superville’s statements about my sister were so important to publish, and why the Supervilles insisted on adding to the obituary that Melinda’s cause of death was an accidental overdose (in spite of a refusal of ruling by the ME’s office), especially when his own brother, James/Jimmy Francis Superville (who was present in Houston during this entire time), was never acknowledged as a survivor in their own mother’s obituary published in your paper in November of 2002.
I appreciate your consideration of the above mentioned questions. Please feel free to contact me should you care to.
Best regards,
Christopher Breaz
We appreciate Chris for sharing this letter with us. He brings up many good points. Among them, how about just some common courtesy and decency for the dearly departed.
December 28th, 2005 at 06:58pm
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Melinda Superville, Texas Equusearch |
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Fundraiser announced for Texas EquuSearch
HOUSTON — Recent searches for missing Houstonians has put a financial drain on Texas EquuSearch, so a fundraiser will be held Wednesday night, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The public is invited to attend the event at 6:30 p.m. at Pappasito’s Cantina, located at 10409 Katy Freeway. Meal tickets will be sold for $15 each, with the proceeds going to EquuSearch.
The non-profit organization has been involved in several long-range searches recently. Volunteers have been looking for missing UH student Nate Hendrickson, 24, since he disappeared on Nov. 30.
For those not in the Houston area and unable to attend, donations can also be made directly to the Texas EquuSearch web site.
The website to donate via credit card is: http://www.texasequusearch.org/donate.html
December 28th, 2005 at 05:37pm
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Texas Equusearch |
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Florida State University dive team in its search for missing Rome insurance agent Gary Tillman and his 16-year-old daughter, Hannah.
The search, which was called off over the Christmas weekend due to foul weather, resumed Monday but has turned up no new leads in the last two days.
The addition of the FSU underwater criminal investigations unit adds another boat with sonar to the recovery operation, which is being conducted within an area encompassing approximately five square miles, said Sgt. Charles Mulligan of the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office.
“This brings some new expertise to the search,” including a remote operable vehicle, “which is basically an underwater robot with a camera,” Mulligan said.
Weather has been a problem throughout the nine-day search and threatens to halt operations again today, as the forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms.
“A little rain won’t stop us, but heavy winds will,” Mulligan said.
December 28th, 2005 at 02:33pm
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Missing, Missing Adult, Missing Teen, Search and Rescue |
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Special prosecutor Ed Parkinson confirmed that he has been asked to help with the McLean County case, the murder of Illinois State University student Olamide Adeyooye.
McLean County State’s Attorney William Yoder has asked the state appellate prosecutor’s office to assist with the case against Wallace, 27, of Normal, The Pantagraph has learned.
Parkinson is part of the state’s prosecution team preparing for the Maurice LaGrone Jr. triple-murder trial set to begin Feb. 21 in McLean County. LaGrone and former girlfriend Amanda Hamm of Clinton are accused of drowning Hamm’s three young children in Clinton Lake in September 2003.
Maurice Wallace has been charged with three counts of murder in the death of Olamide Adeyooye.
Wallace stands accused of the death of Adeyooye, a 21-year-old ISU student who disappeared from her apartment Oct. 13. Police found Adeyooye’s body Oct. 21 in a burned-down chicken house in rural Mississippi.
December 28th, 2005 at 01:38pm
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Olamide Adeyooye |
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PLEASE HELP SEARCH ON WEDNESDAY! If you can not help, maybe you know some people who would like to help. The meeting place tomorrow is a still at George Bush Park, but at the pavilion area, which is west of the pond that we have been stationed at. (there we will have bathrooms, sinks and shade.) Remember to wear boots and jeans, hats and long sleeves. Meeting time is 9:00 AM. THANK YOU!!!!!!
George Bush Park
PLEASE READ – I am re-posting this from Nate’s sister’s myspace:
Hat Tip: festa
December 28th, 2005 at 03:10am
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Missing, Missing Adult, Nate Hendrickson, Search and Rescue, Texas Equusearch |
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Missing since December 11, 27-year-old Melissa Morales of Rosenberg was located in a Friendswood mall Monday and admitted to a hospital.
Lt. Margaret Hedden of the Rosenberg Police Department said Melissa Morales walked up to a security guard at the mall and asked him to call her parents. She was then admitted to the hospital for dehydration.
Morales was reported missing from her home after she left between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. that Sunday, Dec. 11, without telling anyone where she was going or when she would return.
“We do know that she tried to open a bank account in Friendswood with no money on Dec. 13,” Hedden said. “But for now, we’re just relieved to know she’s been found and she’s in a hospital being taken care of.”
Previous Posts:
EquuSearch To Perform Aerial Search For Missing Woman, Melissa Morales
December 27th, 2005 at 05:43pm
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Found Alive, Melissa Morales, Missing Adult, Uncategorized |
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Authorities and search crews are continuing to search for William Schneider, 18, still missing after the boat that he, his father, his brother and sister were on when their boat capsized Friday.
Sheriff’s search and rescue teams continued to scour a choppy patch of the Pacific Ocean on Sunday in hopes of finding the last missing person from a boat that capsized days before.
Heavy fog and 10-foot-high waves overwhelmed the skiff carrying four members of the Schneider family of Camarillo about 12:30 p.m. Friday.
After three days of searching, William Schneider, 18, is still missing.
Helicopters, boats and all-terrain vehicles circled the area until dark Sunday without success, authorities said.
Officials were still holding on to a shred of hope that William Schneider was alive, continuing to call their effort a search operation Sunday evening.
(full LA Times article)
Update: Officials Suspend Ocean Search for Missing Teen
Sheriff’s officials suspended a search late Monday for a Camarillo teen missing from a boat that capsized three days earlier in the Pacific Ocean, saying they were uncertain whether rescue efforts would be resumed today.
December 27th, 2005 at 10:56am
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Missing, Missing Teen, Search and Rescue |
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A badly decompossed body was found by hikers isn the rural area of unincorporated Kane County. The police are investigating the possibility that this is the body of Marilyn Bethell.
A decomposed body found Monday in rural unincorporated Kane County has police investigating the possibility that the body is that of an Aurora woman missing since October.
A hiker discovered the body about 5 p.m. along the Illinois Prairie Path between Savannah Drive and Kirk Road, said Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for the Aurora police, which initially responded to the call.
“Any time there is a body found and you have a missing person, we’re going to look into that, but it’s too early to tell.”
The body is thought to be that of Marilyn Bethell, who went missing on October 31 under suspicious circumstances.
On Monday, Bethell’s vehicle was heavily damaged in a high-speed crash less than a mile from her home.
Authorities — however — say Bethell wasn’t behind the wheel when her car smashed into a parked vehicle. Witnesses told police they saw a man with a gun get out of Bethell’s wrecked car and hop into another car with a second man also carrying a gun.
At this point according to authorities it is too early to determine who’s body was discovered.
Ramsey would not comment on any other details or evidence at the scene, nor would he speculate on how the person died.
Kane County Coroner Chuck West was called to the scene late Monday night and had no information as to when the results of an autopsy would be available.
The remains were found about two miles from Bethell’s home in the 2500 block of Quail Court. Aurora police have suspected foul play in her disappearance because of suspicious circumstances related to the case.
December 27th, 2005 at 10:46am
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Found Deceased, Missing, Missing Adult |
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The note received by Tim Miller, which was made up of words cut from newspapers and magazines, claimed to be from the last person to see Laura Miller alive. Laura Miller was murdered in 1984 and now Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch is sent such a letter?
There are some seriously twisted people out there. Many believe that the individual who murdered Tim Miller’s daughter passed away recently. The letter was sent five months after the death of one of the murder suspects. So either, this letter may be from the actual murderer of Laura Miller or a sick cruel joke.
Please take a look at the never been published note below. If anyone has any tips regarding this letter please email info@texasequusearch.org
We would ask if you copy and paste this to your sites or publication that you provide proper attribution. This note in its entirety is an exclusive to Sacred Monkeys; however, getting the word out and being seen by as many as possibly in order for leads and tips is the goal.
December 26th, 2005 at 10:02pm
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Missing, Texas Equusearch |
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