VICTIMIZING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CRIME CASES. Joseph Rake died in 2005, and as an "exemplary" Jehovah's Witness received a Kingdom Hall funeral at the Lakeland Florida Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. eventAction: 'view' This important distinction is further supported by the literal reading of NY Constitution, , which expressly provides for the regulation of acts that are inimical or detrimental to the public welfare. Rodney Lowe received the death penalty, but that conviction has been up and down the liberal Florida judicial system such as to make a mockery of the murder. Such a widely publicized murder-crime spree would have been at the top of the list of JW gossip in Texas during all of the latter 1980s. Eldridge E. Meredith Sr.was even the subject of the recent documentary film "Captain Eldridge Meredith: A quintessential African American Waterman". As a result of George coming forward with the information and his willingness to testify, Raymond and Doug stood trial for Jeffreys slaying. The inmate's current location is in Victorville, California, and you can visit the facility during permissible hours. The team at Devil Among Us is looking into the murder of teenager Jeffrey Cain by three young men from Chugiak, Alaska, in a bizarre case of senseless violence. Gustafson will be sentenced on February 13, 2023 before Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { gads_event = event; }); KANSAS v. RONNIE ALANE CALDWELL. }); Craig Gustafson received 22 years in prison, Peggy 25 years. However, Kerr told his employer, who immediately arranged for Kerr to meet with an attorney. Gustafsons failure to notify the state Division of Criminal Justice Services Sex Offender Registry of this change in his residence was a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which requires sex offenders to notify the registry within 3 days of any change in residence. Brett and Martin the drove back to Longview, Washington, to the home of Brett's mother, Sherry Brett, where he confessed to the murder. Although Morris had initiated the confrontation on Hamblin's own front porch, the jury decided that by the time that Hamblin rammed Morris into the parked automobile that Hamblin already was out of danger from being further harmed by Morris, with Hamblin's continued physical aggression -- that eventually resulted in Morris' death -- thereby being unlawful. pg.acq.push(function() { A third Forbrich brother named Falko Forbrich had immigrated to the United States sometime prior to 1984, and lives in California. However, a darker picture of Douglas Gustafson developed during the sentencing hearing. Phillip Woodley had only recently got back in touch with his elderly father and stepmother, Roy and Angie Woodley when he went to their home in Fresno, Califonia, and killed them in a stabbing frenzy. WebDouglas Gustafson, age 36. Formal charges were lodged against Garrett on July 25, but Garrett was never tried, and the charges against him were dropped on October 17, 1974. Douglas Gustafson was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years, and Craig Gustafson was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison. NEW YORK v. ANDRE SUKRAM was a 1988-89 New York criminal court case (there was probably also a related civil court case.) The believed-to-be "Father", Theodore Kelker Jr., was born in 1951, in Pueblo, Colorado, where this branch of the Kelker family originated. Cloud's attorney evidently had a hard time dealing with Cloud given that the attorney later told a reporter that all Cloud wanted to talk about was converting him to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Apparently, Steve Anthony Balderama had been reared in a Jehovah's Witness family, which probably meant that his uncle, Abraham Rodriguez, also had JW ties. Thereafter, the Lowe Family did everything every JW Family is expected -- meetings, field service, etc. Limited details. The group next stuck-up a Sam Goody music store in Lawndale -- stealing $3,000.00 worth of compact discs and CD players. Interestingly, a significant percentage of male JWs arrested in Maine in the early 1940s were found to be using aliases, and many had criminal records. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), At around 11:00 PM, Martin knocked on the Milosevich's front door as Brett stood off to the side and out of view. However, when hospital staff attempted to administer the necessary life-saving transfusions, approximately 15 Jehovah's Witnesses gathered in the hospital room of Denise Nicoleau, and physically blocked staff from doing so. Gregory Resnover was executed in 1994 for the murder of a police officer, while Earl Resnover received a life sentence, but was paroled around 2011. },false) The first indication of a JW connection for the Kelker Family that we found was in 1968 when "Ted Kelker" served as a groomsman at a Kingdom Hall wedding held in Houston. In 2010-12, in Clark County, Washington, Andrew Preinesberger, a co-owner of a pizza business was convicted as also being a co-conspirator in a burglary ring which used the pizza business's high school employees to spot potential targets for home and auto burglaries, and thereafter to burglarize those "spotted" targets. Sukram left his father, who Sukram later stated had been "too drunk to drive", in the wrecked vehicle. The 36-year-old from Syracuse is a level Labeled "The Worst Serial Rapist in Ohio History", a "devout" African-American Jehovah's Witness, named Robert Biddings, continues to be mentioned, as recently as May 2008, as a suspect in even more unsolved assaults from the 1980s. Given that the then young 21-25 year-old hardened gang leader was from a large extended family, several of whom have repeatedly testified to his upstanding moral character, it is more probable that his "conversion" was the result of the efforts of family members who were Jehovah's Witnesses, than the possibility that the gang leader picked up the WatchTower religion on his own while in prison. Both JW Parents were strict disciplinarians, and devout Jehovah's Witnesses. At their sentencing hearing, Patton's father, Eugene Patton, blamed his son's mother, Barbara Holland, for having reared Keith Patton as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. GrandFather and Father Kelkers relocated from Colorado to the Houston, Texas area sometime in the 1960s. Cheely and Gustafson had planned the murder while behind bars, instructing Gustafsons sister Peggy and brother Craig to build the bomb, while Peggy mailed it. During the 1989 Columbus trial, one of Biddings' victims even testified that after raping her twice, Biddings then "chatted about religion" even as he held her at gunpoint. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. It will make your visit smoother; learn more united airlines verifly; micro labels lgbt list; how to summon amalgalich; martha kalifatidis before surgery Jeffrey was headed out with a friend, and Theresa asked him if he needed any money, she told Killer Siblings. He declined. All of the Forbrich brothers were reared in communist East Germany by active Jehovah's Witness Parents. Outcome of second trial unknown -- that is, if there was no plea bargain. Boggs status is unknown. The USDC dismissed the complaint on the ground that the Government is not liable under the FTCA for injuries which arise out of or are in the course of activity incident to military service. On that day, Robert had been driving the car with Jeffrey sitting in the passengers seat. It was as if they felt they had failed with Ronnie, and they did not want James getting into similar trouble also. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. You dont know how much I hate myself.. Garrett chose not to reenlist and was honorably discharged three days later. Ex-girlfriend of Alaska murder suspect says he never had a gun Only Herriot Nicoleau, Gary DeCanio, and David Peele were eventually arrested on misdemeanor trespassing charges. Stanley Boyd described Steve Balderama as. 5 talking about this. At the sentencing, Caldwell stated, "I accept the consequences of that. "Someone" quickly notified the Garrett's sixteen year-old son, and he "quickly" ran to the scene. During the penalty phase of the first trial, Sherry Brett testified for the defense that her son would have spells of depression, and would become violent and self-destructive. On that day, three young men roughly around the age of 20 years Douglas Gustafson, George Kerr, and Raymond Cheely were hanging out together out the outer limits of Chugiak, a small unincorporated community in Alaska not too far from Anchorage. Back in the 1930-40s, the Jehovah's Witness community was simply a "convicted criminal's paradise". Boyd stated that he had known Balderama since Balderama was 15 years-old, plus stated that Balderama and he studied the Bible together once a week [Book Study Conductor?]. HomesNOW! On appeal, the trial court decision was affirmed. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The 36-year-old from Syracuse is a level 3 sex offender who police say absconded from New York State Parole. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Approximately one month later, in late May 1991, Mark Jackson and another teammate were arrested for the burglary of two apartments, and stealing a stereo from a car, after police found the stolen property in and under the car they were burglarizing. James' parents were even harder on him than before. On December 3, 1991, Brett and Martin drove to Vancouver, Washington. Caldwell said that he had been flirting with the idea of getting baptized as a JW since childhood. In October 1986, an African-American 15 year-old Jehovah's Witness, named Troy Lancaster Dugar, of Crowley, Louisiana, first robbed Donald Williams of $3.00, then forced Williams at gunpoint into the trunk of his car, then stole the William's car, and drove to Houston Texas. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Vague reports seemed to indicate that Westbrooks may have hanged himself, and that he may have had some established "connection" to the leased apartment. As Rivera climbed the fence, he was surprised to find McGensey already on the top of the fence. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The house had been ransacked and burglarized, and Farkas' auto had been stolen. [Readers should be aware that there are a number of instances where self-proclaimed JWs have used their alleged WatchTower beliefs as their excuse not to submit blood samples during blood-alcohol cases (see SUKRAM above), parent identification cases, DNA-crime cases (see BIDDINGS above and BROWN ), and other cases. At some point, Falko Forbrich was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor. This case was investigated by the United States Marshal Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Doug and. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed. ARIZONA v. RICHARD HARLEY GREENWAY is an ongoing 1987-2011 Arizona DEATH PENALTY case. Eight months after Eugene Edward Hamblin was tried and sentenced in January 1989, a pre-teen girl from Hamblin's neighborhood came forward and accused Hamblin of having sexually assaulted her in his home on at least three occasions when she was 10 years-old. The bomb that was intended for George killed his father David and injured Davids wife. The JW Aunt, named Margaret Hawkins, stated that her nephew had been "really trying to make a change in his life", which in JW-ese meant that London Williams recently had been reading WatchTower literature, and/or attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. James was disfellowshipped for six months. Gustafson was given a 65-year prison sentence, and Cheely received 60 years. That evening a Cesarean section was performed and a healthy baby boy was delivered. However, he later alleged that the police had beaten him to obtain the confession, and Yarbough eventually pleaded "not guilty". Box 7198 Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Killer mom Lindsay Clancy was suffering from drug withdrawal and had 'worst side effects,' says friend, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in. Garrett also testified that Fleetwood intentionally slammed the car door on his leg while he was at the MRBA station. On October 19, 1990, Jeffrey was out spending time with his friend, Robert Chamberlain. Rodney King was arrested ten days later, and quickly plea bargained to a two year prison sentence. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In any event, Soria's ejection from the family's home possibly was due to the WatchTower practice of "shunning". James Leroy Brett was convicted by a jury of aggravated first degree murder and first degree felony murder, and was given the death penalty by that same jury. Lowe's aunt testified that due to the WatchTower beliefs which the father attempted to impose on Lowe, Lowe rebelled and lived an abnormal teenage life. eventAction: 'load' The SYRING case was not Carol E. Tucker's only exposure to Madison's legal and judicial systems during the 1980s and 1990s. Marshals for a federal probation violation, according to the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office. Gustafson, who is Barnetts brother, and Cheely were charged with directing the mail bomb plot from jail. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. WebIn late April 1991, 20 year-old Mark Jackson, who was a red-shirt freshman running back on the University of Missouri's football team, was arrested in the early AM hours of a Saturday morning during a street brawl outside a Columbia bar, along with two other teammates. We do not know in which stages of James Allridge's prosecution that his having been reared as a "Jehovah's Witness" was disclosed. },false) At the time of his death, Aaron Resnover was employed as a fork life operator, and was married with three children. Troy L. Dugar was apparently from a decent home given that his father, Lancaster Dugar, identified himself as being both a Jehovah's Witness and a Lousiana State Trooper. She was awarded $11.8 million in the judgment. Circumstances undetermined. While on the highway, Raymond felt that a car got too close to them, and according to court documents, Doug and Raymond had decided to shoot at that car. Eventually, when they realized that they killed someone, Doug and Raymond got rid of the gun and asked George not to talk to anyone about it. Raymond is serving his sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona. eventAction: 'render' Board of Directors: Doug Gustafson Chairman Carol Winikoff Treasurer Nickolas D. Lewis Development Director Elizabeth Anthony Research Director Genissa Richardson Legal Counsel Sandra Felix Social Services Director . Rivera got out of the car and encountered a resident coming out of his condominium. Shirley Martin was receiving welfare benefits for herself and a child, and James Brett was attempting to obtain Social Security benefits. As David Kerr, George's father tried to open it, the bomb went off, blowing him into pieces, ripping a hole in the roof of their home and destroying a picture window. Apparently, "someone" had so convinced this 19 year-old Jehovah's Witness of the necessity of his being at the first-ever WatchTower International Convention in NYC that this Jehovah's Witness believed that committing ARMED ROBBERY was acceptable, and possibly unpunishable. Sentence unknown. Fleetwood demanded Garrett's license, which Garrett was unable to produce immediately. In Rivera's over 16 years as a police officer, that was the first time he had ever fired his weapon at anyone. Gregory Westbrooks failed to return home. Outcome unknown. The first USDC jury trial ended in a mistrial, but a second federal jury ruled in favor of the police officer, and the USCA affirmed. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ James began to discover friends and life beyond the Jehovah's Witness community. Hospital administration spent several hours attempting to reason with the roomful of criminal trespassers, but were eventually left with no option but to call the police. Such are easily found posted on the internet. Interestingly, when Kerr telephoned his father, David Kerr, from police HQ, Raymond Cheely was at his house. (Interestingly, the Garrett home was only two blocks from that intersection.). The trial court ruled against Andre Sukram, stating in part: "Although this court always believed the Jehovah['s Witness] creed only prevented accepting of foreign blood, I shall assume arguendo that the statement [that "giving up" a blood sample is also prohibited] is in conformity with that creed, or some division of it, for purpose of this discussion. Undercover police officers previously had made several drug buys from the two brothers. The details are incomplete, but Cloud may have had mental issues. At one point in two conversations, Kerr managed to ask Gustafson why he killed the man and Gustafson replied that he didnt mean to, according to Killer Siblings.. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. The auto was locked. While Father/Jr would have have 16 years-old at the time, thus possibly a friend of the groom, per his Obit, he was not baptized until around 1973. Four other people were charged in the bombing. CALIFORNIA v. RODNEY KING. In February 1990, 19 year-old London Williams, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, pleaded "guilty", along with six other members of the Castlegate street gang, to federal firearms charges relating to the "smuggling" of guns from Georgia to Massachusetts on four occasions. Tucker lost this appeal which related to the exclusion of testimony regarding that fellow prisoners' credibility. The cause of death was ruled as heart failure. Both Garrett and JW Wife testified that Fleetwood refused to take Garrett's driver's license from Dora Garrett. religion served as the spiritual element of the perpetrator's and/or other Instead of James changing Ronald; Ronald changed James. However, that conviction and sentence was reversed on appeal in 1987. JW Mother married and moved to Alabama --leaving Melton to live with her mother and siblings. For a while, although living together, James managed to keep his distance from Ronald's criminal activities and criminal friends. QUEBEC v. REGINALD LIBBY was a 1955 Quebec, Canada MURDER inquiry. I get the feeling that Cloud committed these rapes much as did Robert Biddings below -- preaching the Bible all the while. (Lancaster Dugar resigned from the Louisiana State Police shortly after his son's conviction, reportedly due to the WatchTower Society's recent prohibition on JWs holding jobs that could require them to kill someone.) A younger brother, Stephen Resnover, age 22, was murdered in 1996. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Gustafson didnt miss, though. Typically, Hayden C. Covington unsuccessfully appealed the conviction all the way to the "Supreme Court" -- Maine's, that is. His prior enlistment contract was extended for an additional two months, until approximately September 19, 1974. Senior then assaulted that second MRBA officer. Farkas suffered multiple stab wounds to his head and neck. The Father stated that yes, he had been a strict disciplinarian, but that he did not think that his religion caused his son to rob and murder the store clerk. FLORIDA v. JOSEPH ANTHONY RAKE was a 1950 Florida criminal prosecution of then 19 year-old Jehovah's Witness Joseph A. Rake, of Fort Pierce, Florida, for ARMED ROBBERY. But not too long after, the case would be solved by a confession. Farkas also had been beaten in the head with a fireplace iron. James thereafter entered his first year in high school. Neither do we know if the religious background of venireperson "THEODORE KELKER" was disclosed during jury selection. Brett and Martin were arrested and charged with the murder a week later. Rivera thought he was getting ready to attack him and said, "Don't do it. An Alaska woman who pleaded guilty to being involved in a revenge mail bombing that killed one man and injured his wife has been sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison. An official website of the United States government. hitType: 'event', FLORIDA v. ANTONIO LEBARON MELTON was the 1990-91 MURDER prosecution and conviction of Antonio L. Melton, age 17 at time of murder, for the November 1990 armed robbery and shooting of a Pensacola cab driver. At trial, a series of fellow Jehovah's Witnesses served as character witnesses for Eugene Hamblin -- one even publicly condemning Halloween as being "a satanic holiday". Yarbough was arrested two years later while he was working as a cook at a restaurant only three blocks from Farkas' house, and he quickly confessed. During his appeals, Soria alleged that his father abused alcohol and beat him, but the courts did not find these allegations credible. Jackson played the 1992-3 season, but just prior to the start of the 1993-4 season, in August 1993, the day after Mark Jackson was notified that he was the team's starting tailback, Mark Jackson told the coach that he was quitting the football team because playing football conflicted with his beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness -- a matter he evidently had been pondering since his father's death, probably due to lobbying from his JW Mother. P.O. Rivera then told the resident to call the police. Shewas in complete denial, andbelieved that Kerrwas the actual killer, according to Killer Siblings.. Outcome of this criminal trial and probable later civil trial are unknown. His victims were usually abducted from parking lots, streets and bus stops. }) Joseph E. Ryan and Craig Gustafson, another brother, were also charged. SINGLETON, District Judge. Although supposedly reared in a Chicago area Pentecostal Church, Willie Thompkins became a dedicated Jehovah's Witness during that short prison term. Thus, "Ted Kelker" could have been "GrandFather", or if "GrandFather" was an Elder, an exception might have been made for "Jr" to serve in the party. When some of the neighborhood children attempted to walk onto the Hamblin's front porch, they were lunged at by the female ROTT. Thirteen year old James lost his only playmate. So, Garrett attempted to make a left turn across oncoming traffic, when his truck was struck "repeatedly" by a MRBA vehicle, which was being driven by defendant, Lon Fleetwood, an MRBA officer. The Riveras entered the second condominium complex. }); If the court were to rule that they were, 'then those who do not make [refusal] a part of their religious belief may be found guilty and punished, while those who do must be acquitted and go free.' Leaving his wife and their car where they were, Rivera went to a nearby street intersection outside the complex to await the responding officers. Ronnie (15) was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison. There was a problem, however: Gustafsons older sister, Peggy Gustafson, 29. Doug was also found guilty of tampering with physical evidence. At his July 1977 trial, Steven Balderama was convicted on kidnapping and rape charges, and Balderama was sentenced to two concurrent prison sentences of 10 to 50 years each. As Robert slowed down to exit the highway, a gunshot came through the back of the car, penetrating the rear window and hitting Jeffrey right in his head. Instead, they went for a high-speed joy-ride that ended in a terrible crash that killed both JWs instantly, and a third friend later, and injured the driver and the fifth friend. Soria's mother testified that Soria had been a "devout Jehovah's Witness" for most of his life until he started hanging around the wrong people. Patton stated that he and his sister even had had to learn to forge their JW Mother's signature simply so they could participate in school athletics. Instead, he climbed higher. Amazingly, one guard left to take care of personal business, while the other guard and one of the prisoners went to a nearby Kingdom Hall to check to see what was wrong.
Longshoreman Union Apprenticeship,
Homes For Rent In The Ponds Summerville, Sc,
Houses For Longterm Rent St Croix,
What Celebrities Live In Highland Park, Texas,
Cmt Top 20 Country Countdown This Week,
Articles D
