The Vanishing Women:Mothers, Sisters and innocent lives, lost!

Today is Mother's Day. Instead of celebrating the love of a mother far too many families with motherless children will be visting gravesites across the county. As they place flowers and photo's on the headstone and grave tears of confusion and anger will roll down their cheeks as they stand trying to claim a memory or happy thought about her while she was alive. As the family holds hands in prayer silently they wonder what could they have done to prevent the tragedy?

The list is long consisting of women murdered in their own homes, stalked, missing in action if you will because their life was lost in the war against abuse, power and control. With pleas's for help from the judical system and their community often falling on deaf ears.

Many women are still out there waiting to be found by their families and bring them home. In honor of their lives it is important to list these amazing women, my mother included. I remember after my mom was murdered and a stranger or someone who barely knew me said " out of this tragedy you will triumph." At the time the wounds and emotions still raw I likely responded by barking back to the individual "what a cold and inappropriate statement, you have no clue what I am going through or feeling, my life is forever altered." I was wrong because I was angry, hurt and devasted by the loss of the one person I loved most with all my heart, my mother. From these women's tragedies we can change the course of survior for those among the living as they live in fear and wait for someone to extend a hand offer support to end the war with their children and lives intact.


So to Cindy Bischof, Crystal Brame, Heather Malloy, Rachel Anderson, Stacy Peterson, Paige Birgfeld, Brandy Schneider, Tara Grinstead, Carli Dennis, Heather Malloy, Monica Beresford-Redmond, Tera Chavez, Mercedes McCalley, Army Lt. Holley Wimunc, Charlotte Grahn, Lacey Gaines, Rosa Lisowski, Suzanne Gratton, Barbara Vanaman, Colleen Dwyer, Theresa Parker,Bethanie Dougherty, Denise Taylor, Maria Djelaj, Rose Cobb, Lisa Stebic, Kathleen Savio, Nancy Cooper, Renee Pagel, Selina Johnson, Lisa Freiberg, Karen Skellas, Sgt Sonia Garcia, Rachel Conger, Roberta Murphy, Jan Roseboro, Wendy Theibeault, Linda Yancey, Adelina Weber, Dawn Brossard, Tiffany O'Shell, Jennifer Vodermann, Mary McGinnas, Jessie Davis, Amy Mullins, Nailah Franklin, Elena Cole, Hannah Crowe, Ronda Reynolds, Melissa Lightsey, Isol Cotto, Debbie Rediess, Amy Yager, Lori DeKleine, Caran Renee Coward, Irma Rodriguez,Natasha Hall, Sharon Kleinsasser, Marie Bruce, Officer Patricia Williams, Sandra Twist, Tracy Judd, Amber Weigel, Antoinette Ross, Kathryn Maxwell, Officer Caran Coward, Susan Powell, Elizabeth Mangiatini, Gina Parsons, Zoelina Williams, Jessie Roponi, Cristi Lynne Hall, Karen Kahler, Ashley Ann Sullivan, Marcia Eakin Mammone, Brenda Canosa, Cheryl Wynn, Franki Jacobson, Susan McFarland, Sandra Viramontes, Shari Cartmell, Whitney Mendez, Nova Henry, Kellisue Ackernecht, Rose Maynard, Alice Morrin, Suzan Annette Sowders-Fuller, carla Westholfen, Kathryn Maxwell, Kristin Longo, Keitha Turner, Katherine Garner, Kelly Currin Morris, Makasha Colonvega, Vensus Stewart, Assiya Hussan, Robin Lee Miller, Amy Duh, Claira McDermott, Sgt. Melanie Lee, Kathryn Minton Tucker, Yolanda Bindics, Laci Peterson, Jennifer Jacobb, Connie Channey, and to the thousands of others whom I did not list here, you are forever in all of our hearts. Happy Mother's Day!


[*The women highlighted in blue were officer related deaths]

Been there, done that…” Susan Murphy- Milano has turned a tired phrase into demonstrable realism through the gift of her newly published book, "TIME'S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AND SURVIVE ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIPS

"Fire Starter"

Today, my colleague Delilah from the Internet sites Peace4Missing, Mothers are Vanishing and Time's Up discussed how one case in particular fueled awareness and change. That case is Stacy Peterson. All rolled into one here is a case where the person has vanished, she was married to someone in law enforcement, domestic violence was a constant theme, connected a prior wife of Peterson's whom was found dead in a bathtub, a crime scene compromised and a grand jury investigation swayed towards the side of politics by a former questionable State's Attorney whom took an oath of office and buried the truth for any hope of justice in the very soil with it's victim Kathleen Savio.

In outrage over Stacy's apparent murder, sites all over Internet were born. Peace4Missing came out of a need to do more for victims and their families, Where is Stacy, Jurorthirteen, Justice Interrupted, Mothers Are Vanishing, Peterson Story, Levi Page Show on Blog talk radio, Time's Up, Justice Cafe, LostNMissing, Murphy Milano's Journal, We Want Her Found, other sites such as Behind The Blue Wall and a Candy Rose that built an amazing time-line on the entire case.

The cable network shows such as Nancy Grace, Greta, Geraldo, Larry King, Jane Valdez-Mitchell, Dana Pretzer's Scared Monkeys radio, MSNBC and others who in discussing this case brought the issue and its' victims of murder and family violence into the homes of millions of American's.

The books written by reporter Joe Hosey "Fatal Vows"and Stacy Dittrich "Murder Behind the Badge." And the upcomming book "Time's Up" was fueled and written so that victims of violence would have a fighting chance to stay alive while leaving their abusers, to be released in 2010, because of the Stacy Peterson case.

The blogs and social networking sites too many to name written by such sites as the Coalition of Crime Bloggers, Help Find The Missing, Websleuths , Women In Crime Ink.

The Illinois Hearsay law was enacted after Stacy's disappearance.

Thousands of people most whom I have never met, have changed the lives of so many others, all because of one woman, Stacy Peterson.

Think of her someplace directing traffic if you will, from the heavens. She is not sitting on some beach roasting marshmallows or eating dryed out chicken wings. Stacy's voice is finallly being heard and the world is listening.

Drew Peterson "Morning Roll Call"

The post below is a re-post from December 1, 2007. Please remember Stacy Peterson has not been found. Please keep the family in your prayers as they face another empty place at the holiday table this upcoming holiday season.

MSNBC did a story on cops protecting their own as it relates to the Drew Peterson case. The question also was posted on private police officer message board sites across the country. Here's what Officers in other states posted on these "Officer Only" discussions as it relates to this case: Question was--WORLD MEDIA ASKING: DID FELLOW COPS 'PROTECT' DREW PETERSON?:

Officer Comment: think 18 calls in two years, someone should have seen a pattern. As a patrol deputy I would have. No such thing as professional courtesy when it comes to assaulting a women.
Officer Comment: SOMEBODY HELPED SOMEBODY HERE AND IT MAY HAVE FACILITATED A MURDER. LOTS OF SOUL SEARCHING HERE AND RE-THINKING POLICY INVOLING COPS AND DV.
Officer Comment:Needs to be an internal investigation starting at first line supervisors up the chain. I don't know about Peterson's state but this state is a "Shall Arrest" state when it comes to domestic violence. This is why we had to modify our professional courtesy from the old way of the blue wall of silence.
Officer Comment: Just like N a DUI/DWI situation...professional courtesy isn't doable when there's proof that the officer (brother or sister) is the violator. At the very lesat, the officer's boss is gonna get notified of the situation, but 2B truthful, it would not b fun, but I'd simply make the arrest and take the crap that is sure to follow. If somone above me chooses 2 unarrest the violator, that's something I can't control. But at least I did the job my correctly and conscious will be clear.
Officer Comment: I agree. Michigan is a shall arrest state. Even if it wasn't I would arrest because you do not assault a female.
Officer Comment: there needs to be an internal investigation for sure, but not by anyone on that PD. If they covered up for this guy over and over, they will cover their own asses too.. Need to be the State Police or FBI involved in this case. This woman could still be alove if the officer did their job..and SHE was the only one arrested...and aquitted....HUH..

Officer Comment:Shades of Tracy Thurman in Torrington Conneticut. Stinks

Officer Comment: Makes agency smell real bad REAL BAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Officer Comment: What a shocker...this thing smelled like an a-hole being enabled by fellow cops from the beginning. And where were his bosses? In my dept. you would never stayed employed that long, 18 DV calls? Give me a break.
Officer Comment: Sadly, Peterson is a blemish to all of us. 99.9% of cops are just good people trying to do a difficult job. Thank goodness what's news today is history tomorrow.
Officer Comment: I thought of Peterson as a "rogue cop."
One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole Department, but EIGHTEEN CALLS?! Were his coworkers afraid of his temper, too? He killed wives, what makes them think they'd be safe? Was Peterson a tyrant at work, too?

Officer Comment: lots of officer related crimes of late-sooner or later one case would change and pierce the blue wall-too bad it will put all cops under the radar now.

Officer Comment: At least I haven't seen some idiot saying professional courtesy extends to 18 DV CALLS IN TWO YEARS!!!!!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE AND REALIZE WE ARE HELP TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND SHOULD BE! They really dropped the ball. BTW how does someone drown in a bathtub without the water (i.e. his third wife) WHERE ARE THE RED FLAGS!!!??? 18 CALLS IN 2 YEARS!!!??? Is anyone else as astounded by me that this KILLER was out for this long and being protected?
Officer Comment:
All of you are correct of course. I would be verysurprised to find any other officer on his agency wasinvolved in actually abetting peterson. The problemhere is that "blue wall of silence", that "sense of entitlement" a very few have and the reluctance, evenrefusal of some to breach that wall, however egregiousthe conduct/offense. This is evidenced by the vituperativedirected toward those on LOD that dare condemn conductunbecoming an officer, even corruption. Those few officersignore the REAL issue and resort to mis-characterizationof statements ACTUALLY made and outright lies. I realizethere is a HUGE difference between UNBECOMING CONDUCT andILLEGAL AND CORRUPT CONDUCT. Neither of those are whatmost of LEO would call "mistakes everyone make". Thoseare things that require a conscious thought, decision.I never cited a LEO for minor traffic violations, I neverreported a LEO for not wearing a hat or inconsequentialthings such as that. I believe for the most part thoseposting such BS realize that, it's simply a matter of"if the facts aren't on your side, attack the messenger"!LEO are supposed to be ADULTS ! Act like adults, thinklike adults and accept the responsibilities of an adult!I think the days of unconditional "Professional Courtesy"and unconditional "silence" is long past and well it shouldbe. If you are in my city (even though I'm retired) andshould need money, a ride, a place to stay overnight, orother things of that nature I will help. Always have, always will. But, if you were drunk on your butt and I found you driving or you commit some other serious crime(not necessarily a felony) then no "special" help from me.

Cop Comment: But sarge, they were only extending a little professional courtesy each time they were there. No need to jam a brother up, you might need him for back up sometime.

Officer Comment: anyone who let him slide needs an ass kicking on a mid-evil level for sure.

Here's the News Story from 12/ 1/2007 :
Police Accused of Protecting Their Own
MSNBC-BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Eighteen times in two years, Bolingbrook police were called to fellow officer Drew Peterson's home because of trouble between husband and wife. But Peterson's wife could never get authorities to arrest him. In fact, she was the only one ever charged.

Now residents of this Chicago suburb are wondering whether police were protecting one of their own — and whether they bear some responsibility for what happened next.
Peterson's wife at the time of the domestic disturbance calls, Kathleen Savio, was found dead in 2004 under mysterious circumstances. And now his current wife, Stacy, is missing and feared slain.

The way police dealt with Peterson "makes it kind of hard to trust cops," said Pablo Delira, a 59-year-old construction worker. He said he has no doubt he would have been led away in handcuffs if police had been called to his house 18 times.

Kim Camplin, who works in the clothing business, said Bolingbrook police should have taken the domestic disturbance calls more seriously.

"It doesn't matter if it's a fireman, a policeman or a clergyman — all it should take is one call and it should be taken seriously," she said. "What faith can we have in the system?"
Peterson, 53, was a police sergeant and 29-year veteran of the force, resigning earlier this month after he came under suspicion in his current wife's disappearance in October.

In a roughly two-year period beginning in 2002, police responded to 18 domestic disturbance calls at Peterson's house. Savio accused Peterson of beating her and threatening to kill her, but no charges were ever brought against him. Instead, Peterson twice persuaded prosecutors to charge Savio with domestic battery. She was acquitted both times.

Police Lt. Ken Teppel said that in all 18 instances, police conducted a thorough investigation. He said a department inquiry found no indication officers did anything wrong or violated procedure.
But Teppel acknowledged the case has damaged the department's reputation.
"There is a distrust ... that this is going to be covered up," he said. "It's so hard to get over that."
Savio was found dead in her bathtub in 2004, and a coroner's jury ruled it an accidental drowning. But since Stacy Peterson's disappearance, investigators have re-examined Savio's death and exhumed her body, and said they now believe it was a homicide made to look like an accident.

Peterson has not been named a suspect in Savio's death. But authorities said he is suspected in Stacy Peterson's disappearance. Peterson has denied any wrongdoing in either case and said he believes his current wife left him for another man and is still alive.
The Bolingbrook department has handed the investigation over to the Illinois State Police — standard practice in criminal cases involving a member of the force.
Not everyone in the community of about 70,000 blames the department.
"I haven't lost one iota of trust in the police department," said Stephen DeFreeuw, a 16-year resident. "One rogue cop."

Teppel said street cops in the 122-member department are being reminded about the proper way to handle domestic calls and are being told they are expected to adhere to the rules, no matter who answers when they knock on the door. Teppel said Police Chief Ray McGrury has made it clear: "There are no favorites." Savio and Stacy Peterson were Peterson's third and fourth wives. He and wives No. 1 and 2 divorced.

Vicki Connolly, Peterson's second wife, has said that during their marriage, an increasingly controlling Peterson hit her and told her he could kill her and make it look like an accident.
Connolly said police sometimes came to the house when the couple were having problems, but she said the officers were friends of theirs and no reports ever were filed.

Why Does Drew Peterson Need A Lawyer?

(please note the website for Stacy Peterson is no longer available please go to the bottom of the page for information)

In keeping this weeks attention on the Stacy Peterson case below is a post that ran back on November 20, 2007.

Seems rather odd to me. In my opinion why does one who proclaims to the world he knows nothing, and yet, knows for a fact and states firmly and with certainty "Stacy is where she wants to be" and yet, he pleads on national television for a lawyer? While no formal charges, yet, have been filed against anyone.

So why does a person who claims they are innocent require a lawyer?
That is the million dollar question!

The fact is Stacy Peterson is still missing. Please let's all say a prayer that she is found soon!

Name: Stacy Ann Peterson Height: 5'2" Weight: 100 lbs Age: 23 Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown

Stacy has been missing since 10/28/07.

You can help by passing out or creating flyers. Showing up and helping in the search. If you know anything, please call the numbers below.
Contact Information
Illinois State Police District 5 - Tip Line 815.740.0678
Texas Equu Search - Tip Line 877.270.9500
E-Mail Family of Stacy Petersonfindstacypeterson@gmail.com
Find Stacy Peterson Myspacewww.myspace.com/findstacypeterson
NBC 5 Chicago
ABC 7 Chicago
CLTV
Fox News Chicago
CBS 2 Chicago

Drew Peterson's latest "Hemorrhodial Discharge"

For several weeks news surfaced that former ex-wife Vicki Connolly (once married to Drew Peterson) and step-daughter Lisa Ward had planned to write a book about the former Bolingbrook Sergeant now behind bars for allegedly murdering wife #3 Kathleen Savio. Officially, the announcement was made by Lisa Ward on ABC’s Good Morning America program.

Similar to a “hemorrihodial discharge” the legal team representing Peterson quickly had their media dispatchers issue a press release pertaining to the “private correspondence” that my favorite legal marshmallow roaster sent to Connolly, Ward and USA Today Journalist and Co-author, Michelle LeFort. Detailed information and news on the entire Peterson case(s) can be found over at Justice Café.

The press release included the demands likely sent via certified letter to all 3 women-below is a synopsis:

"As I assume that Ms. Ward and Ms. Connolly are not aware, Ms. Michelle LeFort had entered into a written contract to collaborate and co-write a book about the life story of Drew Peterson from Mr. Peterson’s perspective in February of 2008. Ms. LeFort breached her agreement and then withdrew from this collaboration agreement in March of 2008. In withdrawing from the collaboration agreement, Ms. LeFort agreed that any work she did concerning the life story of Drew Peterson belonged to her collaborating author, who still owns those rights."Therefore if such a book is written, shown, marketed, or published, this office will pursue vigorous legal action to protect and enforce our clients rights."We demand that Ms. Ward and Ms. Connolly cease and desist from working with Ms. LeFort regarding any part of the life story of Drew Peterson, and we further demand that Ms. LeFort cease and desist from any project which concerns the life story of Drew Peterson."
The letter concludes with “Ms. Ward and Ms. Connolly are absolutely free to tell their story, just not with Ms. LeFort as the author.”

The first question I have is why release this in the first place? The correspondence was obviously private and if the Co-Author is in some type of contractual dispute the lawyers can either work it out or file suit in a court of law before a judge, not the public.

Given the alleged abuse that step-daughter Lisa Ward endured, she, like so many others, are often silenced and paralyzed for years after being victimized. It's no surprise to me, as a former police officers daughter growing up in a violent household and working with thousands of abuse cases for more than 20 years, that she would wait until now to talk.

Think about it for a moment. Drew Peterson has been a free man since Kathleen Savio’s death. It would be 18 months and a lot of chicken wings later, before the Will County State’s Attorney’s office received an indictment from a grand jury to charge Peterson. In May of 2009 he is charged and arrested for Kathleen’s murder. If I am a victim I would immediately think that the person who allegedly harmed me is going to make bail and be released back out onto to the streets. So I would wait a bit as many victims have to be sure that the individual cannot harm them before they attempt to come forward.

Years ago I was involved in a case where a woman by the name of Gail McGrew was shot 5 times in the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago and survived. Little did we know while she was recovering that the offender had committed murder 5 years prior in the State of Ohio. He escaped during extradition, changed his name and moved to Chicago and met Gail a couple years later. Gail believed because he escaped before he could do it again. Fearing for her life and living with permanent disability after the shooting she felt if he came after her she would not be able to get away, again. I know this sounds crazy but in a clever move she married him just long enough to be sure that he would be behind bars forever. When she knew for certain that he would never escape again, she divorced him.

In my opinion, Lisa Ward and her mother remained silent until it was safe for them to come forward. Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio will never have that opportunity. But, if this continues to keep Stacy and Kathleen in the news then those who attempt to discredit and try every voice that comes forward, I say Bravo!

Detective of A&E's "First 48" Murders Wife

He called her hoping to reconcile asking her to come over to the library and talk to her and they met in the library parking lot,” according to police. “She went to talk to him and that’s when the shooting started.”

Within minutes of meeting, shots rang out in the parking lot of the Canton Public Library as an off-duty Detroit Police homicide investigator shot and killed his wife, also a Detroit Police officer, who committed suicide.

Members of the Detroit Police department knew the marriage between their “buddy in blue” Detroit homicide detective and his police officer wife was increasingly violent.
Over the weekend, Officer Patricia Williams went to the Canton police station to report that her husband had assaulted her.

"But she decided not to press charges and she did not cooperate with the officers when they asked for more information” according to law enforcement.” I will wager because the officer was a television star on A&E’s the “First 48” Patricia Williams was discouraged from swearing out a formal complaint that would tarnish the violent cowardly tin badge reputation of not only the detective but, the department’s revenue from the A& E reality show.

In one episode, cold case Detective Williams said that he didn't understand why people commit murder."When you have a situation, and it was that brutal, you look at it and you're like 'what type of individual would do something like this?' It amazes me that people are willing to just end someone else's life. If I was here for 25 years I would never be able to make sense out of it," Williams said.

The cold hard facts to this senseless tragedy are it could have been prevented. It is easier to say “she refused to press charges” because who is going to dispute the police departments claims now? She is dead! There was no “department protocol” in place to assist Officer Patricia Williams or anyone else in this Country who are married to violent offenders.

This Detroit department looked the other way when on the morning of Patricia’s “preventable” murder they stood in silence right beside Detective Edward Williams as he aimed and fired.

This only adds to fuel to the alarming epidemic of "Blue Defending Blue" if you are in a relationship with an abuser in law enforcement as a victim can you can expect the truth to be swept among the leaves that will eventually cover your final resting place!

"Motive Equals Murder"

It is not difficult to see how many girlfriends, wives and mothers who have vanished or are murdered with the only possible suspect; the person with whom they were romantically attached. It does not take Dick Tracy or a rocket scientist to figure out where the trail of blood goes, cold or not, it is almost always points to person in their life. Or if it does not, it should.

Women living vibrant productive lives suddenly labeled in a crime file cabinet or drawer opened when a lead is followed up or a family member is calling into police headquarters for updates and possible answers.

There are few experts in the field of domestic violence perpetrated crimes. The reclutance to look at a husband or boyfriend as a suspect can depend on the size of the town, available manpower, the prosecutors office and investigative skills among other issues. There are so many unsolved murders I listed a few where the cartoon character of Dick Tracy lives as solving these cases are not a language the police headquarters in these towns appear to speak.

November 29, 1991 was the last time that Mary Jane Zich was seen alive. She and her daughter, Desiree, had just returned to their Toledo, Ohio home after visiting her parents for Thanksgiving. While on her visit, Mary Jane discussed the violence in her marriage to Tom Zich and told her parents that she was planning on divorcing him. According to reports to police given by Tom at the time, she received a phone call, left the house and didn't return, leaving 3 year- old Desiree behind.

Sandra Travis was living in a violent marriage when she disappeared July 31, 2005 from Mayfield, Kentucky, a rural area near the borders of Illinois and Tennessee. Sandra took a lot of punches over the years from her husband, Bobby Travis, probably another man who treated his wife as a piece of property, there to do his bidding, no caring for the way she felt. Someone needs to look under the trailer where she disappeared from that evening. Maybe the Illinois State police can over ride the prosecutor who does not have much experience in obtaining a search warrant.

Renee Pagel was killed on August 5, 2006. She was a grade school teacher and a registered nurse. According to friends, Renee feared for her safety from her estranged husband. As many women say when they are married to an abusive spouse "if something happens to me, make sure people know it was not an accident." And yet in Mayberry police have yet to arrest Michael Pagel. This is shear ignorance on the part of the investigators.

On August 19, 2007, it's reported that Liza Murphy just up and walked out of her home after an argument with her husband, Joe Murphy, leaving behind her cell phone, cigarettes, all forms of identification, and most importantly, her three children, now 15, 13, and 10.
Liza Murphy and her husband were having marital problems, her family said. Stellatos described Joe Murphy as possessive of his wife, never allowing her to go out with her friends. She said he was even jealous if she spent time with her parents.

In October of 2008, Kellisue's Ackernecht’s case isn't very different from several other missing mother's cases, filled with frustration and brick walls. Other similarities include investigating the husband, but in this case local Johnstown law enforcement has stated that Jayson Ackernecht is not a person of interest nor a suspect in Kellisue's disappearance. In fact, Jayson has told reporters the same thing Drew Peterson claims, that she ran off with another man, and like Drew Peterson, it seems Jayson is taking steps to move on with his life. Again, after reviewing documents and speaking to family members this is a cookie cutter case that needs to be solved.


Sometime's it can take years, but a family even without locating the remains of their loved one finds partial closure when an arrest is finally made in a case. Yesterday, for the family of Tracey Tetso they were given a great gift when the missing woman's husband Dennis Testo was indicted and arrested for her murder. On March 6, 2005, married 5 short months,Tracey disappeared from her Rosedale home in Baltimore.

Once case out of thousand's where a family is themselves alive to participate in justice. Let us hope everyone else who is waiting for that unexpected phone call on that an arrest will be made or the reamins of their loved ones's happens within their lifetime.

Afterall, while these women's lives did not mean anything to the person they were with, they did have great importance to many others whose faces you do not see or voices you do not hear because they are too busy searching and doing what they can to bring their daughter's home.

Children's Lives After a Homicide

The topic of children forced to continue with a "normal" productive life after living with years of abuse, resulting in murder, is not a subject covered by the media. We often forget about the kids left behind. On June 10, 2009 at 3:00PM Central time, on The Susan Murphy Milano show, Pam Munson and I will discuss the topic of children whose fathers have killed their mothers. It is an important subject: as the lives of the children witnessing violence and terror in their homes, if they survive, live the remainder of their days on earth often in darkness and without hope.

To read about Pam Munson, head on over to Women and Crime Ink.

No Body, No Problem?

It's not unrealistic to think that any man, feeling threatened by talk of divorce and losing their children and property, could kill his wife. Especially, those men empowered with a uniform, badge and gun within the very community they protect. It is not so difficult to see these men eat, drink and sleep power. They snap, allowing their “life fuse” to short circuit and commit murder.

The person may appear to be a great father to their children and the first to assist anyone in trouble, this is how abusers in blue have set up their lives. Everyone has a perception they are wonderful human beings, often above suspicion. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand an abusive officer has been provided the tools in the criminal world allowing acts of domestic violence and homicide virtually impossible to trace or track back to them in cases including the mothers of their children go missing.

In the case of Drew Peterson, Prosecutors are missing an opportunity to consult with some of the top “No Body” experts in the country. One that comes to mind is Tad DiBiase. He provides not only free consultation to law enforcement and prosecutors but he also has successfully tried these cases where a body has not been found.

On May, 21, 2009, the grand jury will have reached their 18 month limit in hearing evidence and listening to testimony in the Peterson case. If this Grand Jury does not reach a decision to indict my favorite dickless wonder, Drew Peterson, the Will County State’s Attorney will have to begin with another Grand Jury from scratch. It would cost the office nothing to reach out to Attorney Tad DiBiase, he is willing to consult the Will County State’s Attorney’s office pro-bono.

All James Glasgow has to do is contact him. Currently, they are other similar cases in Will County of officers wives whose lives are literally hanging by a very thin thread, Four police officers wives to be exact, one is allegedly from the very same police department where Peterson was employed. The point is, we all hope the grand jury will bring justice for two women and mother’s unable to speak.

If not, a back-up plan should be considered as a solid alternative for a man who is still walking free because he covered his tracks.

Joe Hosey Reporter and Author of the book Fatal Vows writes at the end "Finally, I must acknowledge Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio. Although you are not here to tell you stories, I hope I have done you justice."

Let's hope and pray the Grand Jury is in the same frame of mind as Joe Hosey. All anyone is asking is for justice to prevail!

Registered Sex Offender, Drug Dealer Hired as Traffic Cop

Lorenzo Shepherd spent years behind bars for being a drug dealer and sex offender, but now he's being given a second chance through a program operated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Over three decades, Shepherd has been arrested, charged and convicted of more than a dozen crimes, from theft, to drug trafficking, to rape.

He's also a registered sex offender. Beginning next week, he will be a Cleveland police traffic control officer thanks to the program and the Cleveland police.

Even though his most recent conviction for drug trafficking was two years ago, Shepherd said he's rehabilitated.

"You can trust me. You can feel safe around me," he said.
But Cleveland's police union is outraged by the hiring of Shepherd.

"A guy who has spent his entire life breaking laws is now in charge of enforcing them? It's a ridiculous notion," said union president Steve Loomis. "It's asinine. It's complete insanity to have this guy on the payroll within the Department of Public Safety."

Shepherd, who has been arrested by some of the people he will now serve with, said he is worried how the officers will react to him.

He asks them to give him a chance.

Failure to Respond to Murder/Suicide Costs Lives

The Albuquerque Police Department's failure to respond to repeated calls that a pregnant woman was in danger at the hands of her boyfriend - an incident that ended with him killing her and himself - already led Alburquerque Police Department to make significant changes.

Now it will cost the department $685,000, as well.
_______________________
City attorneys confirmed Monday they have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of Randi Regensberg, a 21-year-old woman who was killed in a murder-suicide by her estranged boyfriend, Cory Kotrba, in 2006.

Friends of Regensberg had called 911 five times to report that she was in danger at the hands of Kotrba, who was a Los Alamos County firefighter. It took police more than an hour and a half to respond, which occurred after both were dead.

Those friends had also tried to get help from an off-duty Albuquerque police officer, Hector Chavez, who lived nearby and refused to render aid.
"This was tragic," said Albuquerque deputy city attorney Kathy Levy. "We are just glad it is resolved. We have heartfelt feelings for the family. Their loss was tragic and we have all felt it."
In the wake of the tragedy, APD put in place different work schedules, a new dispatch system and different rules for what constitutes a priority call. In addition, Chavez was disciplined and a dispatcher resigned.

Robert Rothstein, who represented Regensberg's family, said his clients were comforted that APD has made changes.
"The family is satisfied that they effected some significant changes in the way the system works," Rothstein said. "There is some sense of satisfaction that their daughter's death and their grandchild's death wasn't entirely in vain."

On July 7, 2006, Regensberg's friends called 911 and reported that a neighbor had seen Regensberg dragged into Kotrba's home.
They told dispatchers that the back door was blocked by a table, adding that Kotrba had guns and that Regensberg, who was six months' pregnant, was being held against her will. Friends also told dispatchers there was a history of violence between the two.
But dispatchers kept telling the friends no officers were available to take the call, which wasn't classified top priority, police have said.
While the friends kept calling 911 from the outside of the home, one of them noticed a police car parked in the driveway just a few blocks away and knocked on the door.
The police officer, Chavez, who was also named in the family's lawsuit, told the female friend there was nothing he could do because he was off duty. He also refused to make a phone call to 911 to have an officer sent out sooner, the family's lawsuit claimed.
Police went to Kotrba's home in the 7700 block of Javelina SW only after the fifth call - and after Kotrba's roommate had arrived and allowed the friends inside where they found the couple dead.
The first call was placed at 7:51 p.m., the last one at 9:29 p.m., according to police records.
The Regensberg case has been used as a training tool and is brought up at nearly every academy class, police officials said.
Police Chief Ray Schultz said his entire department knows the name "Randi Regensberg."
"This incident is never really going to be behind us," Schultz said Monday. "There are certain cases that everybody in the department knows about that send a very strong message in the organization about what could happen when things go wrong, and this is one of them."
The changes include:
* Altering the department's work schedules from four 10-hour days to five eight-hour days, a move that has upset many officers. But APD says response times have improved.
* Installing a new computer-aided dispatch system that allows supervisors to see how calls are being handled.
* Writing new policies on how calls are prioritized.
* Requiring dispatchers to broadcast on police radio frequencies whenever calls are holding.
Under state law, the maximum a jury could have awarded the Regensberg family is $750,000 because the city is publicly funded. The award will be paid out of the city's Risk Management fund.
The city of Albuquerque has a "no settlement" policy on suits filed alleging police misconduct.
Levy said the policy didn't apply in this case since the suit was not alleging excessive force and it dealt with systematic issues.
Levy noted that under the settlement, the city is not admitting liability.
ALBUQUERQUE TRIBUNE/JULY 11, 2006

Even if Albuquerque police had responded immediately to the first 911 call about a domestic violence incident Friday, they say it would have been too late to save Randi Regensberg's life.
Still, the Police Department is changing the way it prioritizes calls that come from secondhand sources regarding a violent situation, police spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said Tuesday.
Hoffman spoke about the policy change as the department released a series of 911 calls regarding the apparent murder-suicide at the home of Regensberg's ex-boyfriend, Cory Kotrba, at 7716 Javelina Road S.W.
Police believe Kotrba, 28, shot 21-year-old Regensberg, who was six months pregnant with his child, shortly after the two arrived at Kotrba's home at 6 p.m. Friday.
Both bodies were found around 9:30 p.m. - 1 hours after the first 911 call was placed by Regensberg's friend, a woman identified as Christine, 21.
That call and three others were assigned priority level two, not top level one, because they weren't firsthand information about an assault, Hoffman said.
Today, all four calls made before the final call, in which Christine reported finding both bodies, would be categorized as priority one and put first in line for response, Hoffman said.
But Hoffman said the first 911 call Friday didn't come in until 7:55 p.m., almost two hours after forensic examiners believe Kotrba shot Regensberg before turning the gun on himself.
Hoffman said she doesn't remember a similar situation in the recent past.
The series of calls went this way, according to the recordings released Tuesday:
• 7:51 p.m.: A man named Elias, identified as another ex-boyfriend of Regensberg's, arrives at Kotrba's home after Christine tells him to come over. Neighbors tell him they saw Kotrba drag Regensberg inside the home. Elias reports this in the first call to 911.
• 8:12 p.m.: Christine calls 911 again, telling the dispatcher Kotrba owns a gun. She says the two have been inside for two hours.
• 8:30 p.m.: "It's been a while since I've called in," Elias reports. He also says that a table barricades the back door, and there are no lights on inside the home.
The dispatcher tells him it's been a busy night.
"I'm a volunteer fireman. I understand how that goes," Elias says.
• 9:11 p.m.: Christine calls from outside the house, saying her friend is "being held against her will," and tells dispatchers Regensberg is pregnant. Dispatchers tell Christine her call is the next in line for dispatching.
• 9:28 p.m.: Christine has been let into the house by Kotrba's roommate, identified as Gilbert. Crying, she tells the dispatcher she has found both bodies, shot to death

(Source: Albuquerque Journal and Tribune)