Video shows roots of deadly abduction
By LEE HANCOCK / The Dallas Morning News
TYLER, Texas – Two hours of grainy surveillance video captures every chilling detail.
A man with a gym bag lurks for hours, eyeing the dwindling parade of late-night Wal-Mart shoppers, waiting for just the right victim.
Just before midnight Wednesday, a smaller figure walks toward a truck at the edge of the parking lot.
Megan Holden, a new clerk at Tyler's newest Wal-Mart Super-Center, has just clocked out from the late shift, apparently unaware of the man sprinting toward her from behind.
By the time the story spun to its end on Friday morning, the video was the latest random horror endlessly looping on national TV.
The 19-year-old store clerk was dead from a gunshot in the head, her body dumped along Interstate 20 near Midland. A 24-year-old Iraq war veteran and disgraced Marine, Johnny Lee Williams Jr., was in an Arizona jail, nursing a gunshot wound from a botched pre-dawn holdup that police say was the last act in a 36-hour crime spree.
"There's no doubt this was a total stranger abduction," said Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle.
Mr. Williams remained jailed Friday night in Willcox, Ariz., on aggravated kidnapping charges. Police in Tyler said he has refused to answer questions.
Ms. Holden's relatives in Chandler, outside Tyler, were too distraught to talk Friday about the horror that took away the 2004 Henderson High School graduate who took the Wal-Mart job last month to try to get past an earlier tragedy.
Leslie Thomas, owner of a Henderson bakery where Ms. Holden started working in her final year of high school, said the teenager's boyfriend died unexpectedly in October.
The two had met as co-workers at the Snowflake Bakery and Deli in Henderson, and Ms. Holden finally said she couldn't stand the fact that "everywhere she went, she saw him," Ms. Thomas said.
"She decided to go to Tyler, to TJC [Tyler Junior College]. I think she was wanting to go into respiratory therapy, because he had passed away from an asthma attack," Ms. Thomas said.
Authorities said Ms. Holden started classes only a day before the abduction.
Ms. Thomas and the principal at Henderson High School said Ms. Holden was a friendly, easy-going girl who made a point of saying hello to people by name. They said the town and school were grief-stricken Friday.
"Megan was just one of those students who you instantly liked," said principal Stacey Sullivan. "Everyone is so upset because it was such a senseless tragedy. Why did this have to happen to her?"
A preacher's son
Mr. Williams was a preacher's son who graduated from John Tyler High School in Tyler and joined the Marines a year later despite having had some trouble with the law. He was arrested in 1999 on a charge of criminal trespass and twice more in 2000 for a series of traffic violations, authorities said.
His parents secluded themselves after news of his arrest broke on Friday. Police said they were cooperating in the case. Investigators searched their home, northwest of Tyler, on Friday afternoon. Calls to the residence went unanswered.
The Rev. Johnny Williams Sr. and his wife went on a local television station, KLTV-TV, just before the United States invaded Iraq to talk about her faith that God would protect him and return him "better and whole."
His mother, Patricia Williams, told KLTV on Friday that her son had served 3 ½ years, much of it in Baghdad, and came home haunted by nightmares and unable to adjust. She told the station Mr. Williams couldn't find a job, slept in his clothes and tried unsuccessfully to get help from Veterans Affairs.
Authorities in Tyler said Mr. Williams was arrested once in November on a charge of driving off without paying for gasoline and again in December on a charge of cocaine possession.
He was given a bad-conduct discharge last February after being caught using marijuana and was awaiting his appeal, according to the military.
And about 10:14 p.m. Wednesday, a man later identified by witnesses as Mr. Williams was seen walking from State Highway 64 onto the Wal-Mart property. Surveillance cameras captured a beefy man in a dark, hooded jacket and black baseball cap strolling the store, once being questioned by a security guard as he hovered near its entrance.
Police said Friday that they believed Ms. Holden was chosen at random after her assailant spotted her and then turned away from other potential victims. "He did make several other attempts before he did pick out Megan," the Tyler police chief said.
After Ms. Holden clocked out, a video surveillance camera mounted outside the store captured her striding across the parking lot toward her pickup truck. The video showed a second figure forcing her into the driver's side of the truck and then sitting in the parking lot for several moments before wheeling out, headed to the west on Highway 64.
"This was well-planned," said FBI Agent Jeff Millslagle, head of the bureau's East Texas operations.
Ms. Holden's relatives called Tyler police about 4 a.m. Thursday and reported that she hadn't come home from work. Tyler police immediately launched an investigation and called in the FBI after Wal-Mart representatives found what appeared to be her abduction on surveillance videos.
Police and FBI officials dispatched bulletins across Texas and put helicopters in the air in Smith County, flying at one point over the area where Mr. Williams lived Thursday as they searched for Ms. Holden's truck.
A cellphone tower picked up signals from Ms. Holden's telephone at some point after the abduction, investigators said.
But from there, the trail went cold until sheriff's deputies in Martin County, between Big Spring and Odessa, found Ms. Holden, in a ditch near I-20, dead from at least one gunshot wound.
Evidence at the scene indicated that she was shot and killed where her body was dumped near the town of Stanton, about 400 miles west of where she had been kidnapped. One investigator said she was partially clothed.
More camera footage
Tyler police said surveillance cameras in nearby Odessa captured images of Mr. Williams robbing a convenience store near I-20 at 8:19 p.m. Thursday.
An Odessa police spokesman said a black man wearing a T-shirt and shorts walked into Uncle's convenience store near I-20 at 8:18 p.m. Thursday, drew a handgun and demanded money from the cash register. He then left on foot, the spokesman said.
And just before dawn on Friday, a man wearing a hooded jacket and shorts strode into the Mountain View RV park store near Bowie, Ariz., and pulled an automatic handgun.
A former New York City firefighter was just opening the store when the man walked in. The firefighter, who said his first name was Ritchie but declined to give his last name, said he'd noticed the same man cruising past the store and abruptly wheeling around minutes before.
Ritchie said he was checking something on the store's computer when the man walked in and approached the counter just before 6 a.m. Ritchie said he stood to help him and the man abruptly raised his jacket.
"He said this is a robbery. Give me your money out of the register," the retiree said. "All I see was this automatic coming out of his sweatshirt, coming up toward me, and I drew mine and fired."
Ritchie and the store's owner, Bruce Austin, said they both have worn pistols on their hips while at the store for several years because of several attempted robberies.
Usually, the sight of a 45-caliber Sig-Sauer is enough to scare off trouble, Ritchie said. "It's an attitude-adjustment tool."
The retired firefighter said he initially thought he hadn't hit the would-be robber because the man yelled a profanity, spun around, and ran out the door.
"And he was only three feet away when I fired," the man said. "The police told me he got powder burns on his face."
Within a half hour, the sheriff's department in surrounding Cochise County got reports that a man in a Ford pickup truck was trying to flag down motorists on I-10, asking where he could go to get medical treatment.
Twenty-four miles west of Bowie, Cochise county sheriff's deputies found the same man in a red pickup pulling up to a hospital. Deputies ran a license check that confirmed the truck was Ms. Holden's.
A handgun and a blue gym bag were in the truck, investigators said.
Agent Millslagle said the incident was particularly disturbing because it is such a rarity in East Texas. Few kidnappings anywhere involve strangers, and the area has not had a stranger abduction since 1987, he said.
"Usually it doesn't happen in East Texas, and very rarely is it captured on videotape," he said.
News from the Lone Star State
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Doctor finds Plano mom unfit for trial
Jury will decide Feb. 14 whether she's mentally competent
By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News
McKINNEY, Texas – The court-appointed psychiatrist who evaluated a Plano woman accused of cutting off her baby's arms found that she is not competent to stand trial, according to her attorney.
David Self determined that Dena Schlosser, 35, suffers from bipolar disorder and postpartum onset, said her attorney, David Haynes.
The psychiatrist also wrote that shunts implanted in her brain during a series of surgeries after she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus as a child could have contributed to her actions, Mr. Haynes said. The condition is more commonly known as water on the brain.
Mr. Haynes said Dr. Self wrote in the report, which was due Friday, that she could become competent if she receives the proper treatment.
A jury will decide Feb.14 whether Mrs. Schlosser is fit to stand trial.
Dr. Self, of Flint, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mr. Haynes declined to discuss how Dr. Self reached his conclusion because state District Judge Chris Oldner may seal the report. If the document is sealed, it cannot be viewed by the public.
The Collin County district attorney's office declined to comment on the report.
"It's a thorough examination. ... I think he did a good, thorough job," Mr. Haynes said. "We believe a jury will be convinced she is not competent."
Mr. Haynes and Mrs. Schlosser's mother and stepfather say they hope she will be sent to Vernon State Hospital.
Her stepfather, Mick Macaulay, a mental health counselor in Canada, said Dr. Self reached the right decision.
"We heartily agree with the assessment of the psychiatrist because of our conversations with Dena. ... We believe she is unable to understand the magnitude and the reality of what is happening," he said.
Deanna Laney and Lisa Diaz – Texas women who were found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing their children – are being treated at Vernon State Hospital. Ms. Diaz, of Plano, was accused of drowning her two daughters. Ms. Laney, who lived near Tyler, was accused of stoning two of her children to death and maiming a third.
Mrs. Schlosser was charged with capital murder Nov. 22 after she told a 911 operator and a police officer that she cut off 10-month-old Margaret Schlosser's arms.
Police found Mrs. Schlosser in her apartment holding a knife, with religious hymns playing. Emergency crews rushed her daughter to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Medical records show Mrs. Schlosser was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis last January after she gave birth to Margaret. They also show Mrs. Schlosser tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist the day after Margaret was born.
Mrs. Schlosser's two surviving daughters, ages 6 and 9, were returned to their father, John Schlosser, this week after living in foster care since their mother's arrest in November. A judge decided the children could live with their father provided their aunt moved in for at least 30 days. A hearing will be held next month to re-evaluate the girls' placement.
CPS officials had requested the girls remain in foster care because they believed Mr. Schlosser did not take action to protect his youngest daughter when his wife told him the evening before the incident that she wanted to "give her child to God."
Mr. Schlosser has repeatedly declined to comment.
Howard Shapiro, Mr. Schlosser's attorney, said he hasn't talked to his client since the children were returned to him Monday afternoon.
"This is a case where no news is good news. I haven' t heard from anyone that there's any problems," Mr. Shapiro said. "I'm sure they are having their share of difficulties with being back with him, trying to figure out what's going on. I'm sure they are just trying to be a family again."
Although Mr. Schlosser has not said what his plans are concerning his wife, Mr. Shapiro said their marriage is effectively over.
"He can never live with her in the same household again. She can't be around those kids again, ever. Does that mean there will be a divorce? I assume probably so. He has to get on with his life at some point in time. No scenario, no matter what happens, that he can ever again have a relationship with Dena," Mr. Shapiro said.
Staff writer Tiara M. Ellis contributed to this report.
Jury will decide Feb. 14 whether she's mentally competent
By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News
McKINNEY, Texas – The court-appointed psychiatrist who evaluated a Plano woman accused of cutting off her baby's arms found that she is not competent to stand trial, according to her attorney.
David Self determined that Dena Schlosser, 35, suffers from bipolar disorder and postpartum onset, said her attorney, David Haynes.
The psychiatrist also wrote that shunts implanted in her brain during a series of surgeries after she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus as a child could have contributed to her actions, Mr. Haynes said. The condition is more commonly known as water on the brain.
Mr. Haynes said Dr. Self wrote in the report, which was due Friday, that she could become competent if she receives the proper treatment.
A jury will decide Feb.14 whether Mrs. Schlosser is fit to stand trial.
Dr. Self, of Flint, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mr. Haynes declined to discuss how Dr. Self reached his conclusion because state District Judge Chris Oldner may seal the report. If the document is sealed, it cannot be viewed by the public.
The Collin County district attorney's office declined to comment on the report.
"It's a thorough examination. ... I think he did a good, thorough job," Mr. Haynes said. "We believe a jury will be convinced she is not competent."
Mr. Haynes and Mrs. Schlosser's mother and stepfather say they hope she will be sent to Vernon State Hospital.
Her stepfather, Mick Macaulay, a mental health counselor in Canada, said Dr. Self reached the right decision.
"We heartily agree with the assessment of the psychiatrist because of our conversations with Dena. ... We believe she is unable to understand the magnitude and the reality of what is happening," he said.
Deanna Laney and Lisa Diaz – Texas women who were found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing their children – are being treated at Vernon State Hospital. Ms. Diaz, of Plano, was accused of drowning her two daughters. Ms. Laney, who lived near Tyler, was accused of stoning two of her children to death and maiming a third.
Mrs. Schlosser was charged with capital murder Nov. 22 after she told a 911 operator and a police officer that she cut off 10-month-old Margaret Schlosser's arms.
Police found Mrs. Schlosser in her apartment holding a knife, with religious hymns playing. Emergency crews rushed her daughter to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Medical records show Mrs. Schlosser was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis last January after she gave birth to Margaret. They also show Mrs. Schlosser tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist the day after Margaret was born.
Mrs. Schlosser's two surviving daughters, ages 6 and 9, were returned to their father, John Schlosser, this week after living in foster care since their mother's arrest in November. A judge decided the children could live with their father provided their aunt moved in for at least 30 days. A hearing will be held next month to re-evaluate the girls' placement.
CPS officials had requested the girls remain in foster care because they believed Mr. Schlosser did not take action to protect his youngest daughter when his wife told him the evening before the incident that she wanted to "give her child to God."
Mr. Schlosser has repeatedly declined to comment.
Howard Shapiro, Mr. Schlosser's attorney, said he hasn't talked to his client since the children were returned to him Monday afternoon.
"This is a case where no news is good news. I haven' t heard from anyone that there's any problems," Mr. Shapiro said. "I'm sure they are having their share of difficulties with being back with him, trying to figure out what's going on. I'm sure they are just trying to be a family again."
Although Mr. Schlosser has not said what his plans are concerning his wife, Mr. Shapiro said their marriage is effectively over.
"He can never live with her in the same household again. She can't be around those kids again, ever. Does that mean there will be a divorce? I assume probably so. He has to get on with his life at some point in time. No scenario, no matter what happens, that he can ever again have a relationship with Dena," Mr. Shapiro said.
Staff writer Tiara M. Ellis contributed to this report.
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Man gets probation for locking up sons
By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas man who locked his two young sons inside a squalid trailer as a form of punishment was sentenced Friday to 10 years' probation and forbidden to have unsupervised contact with youths under 14.
Calvin Lavender's son and stepson testified that he locked them alone inside a poorly ventilated trailer and a storage shed on his property when they "acted up."
Prosecutor Justin Lord noted that unlike the two boys, the family dog, Fluffy, had food and water when left alone in a nearby cage. The trailer was dark and cluttered with broken-down motor scooters and human excrement, the boys said, and the only source of light or air came from a small hole in the floor.
His 7-year-old said he went to the bathroom on the floor because "I had nowhere else to go." He said he was locked up for several hours at a time as many as 20 times.
Mr. Lavender was arrested in April after neighbors near his west Oak Cliff home heard one of the boys yelling for help.
"I wasn't feeling so good because I saw lots of bugs, so I screamed for help," the 7-year-old testified.
When police arrived, the boy was thirsty and hungry but later asked them to put him back inside the trailer before Mr. Lavender returned.
"He said he didn't want to be in trouble when his dad came home," a Dallas police officer testified.
Before sentencing Mr. Lavender to 10 years' probation, District Judge John Nelms chastised him for his actions.
"You showed incredibly bad judgment," the judge said. "You left your kids in an unsafe and inhumane location. ... You've got to do better."
The judge ordered Mr. Lavender to pay a $3,000 fine and forbade him from having unsupervised contact with children younger than 14. Before his arrest, Mr. Lavender had a business working with troubled youths in which he put them to work selling candy door-to-door.
The boys' mother, Pauline Clark, has also been charged with failure to report the abuse and is awaiting a hearing on the charge next month. Ms. Clark, who is separated from Mr. Lavender, retains custody of the boys.
Mr. Lavender's attorney, Tom Lochry, said the couple has completed mandatory parenting classes and praised the sentence handed down by the judge.
"This was discipline out of love, albeit misguided, foolish and risky."
By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas man who locked his two young sons inside a squalid trailer as a form of punishment was sentenced Friday to 10 years' probation and forbidden to have unsupervised contact with youths under 14.
Calvin Lavender's son and stepson testified that he locked them alone inside a poorly ventilated trailer and a storage shed on his property when they "acted up."
Prosecutor Justin Lord noted that unlike the two boys, the family dog, Fluffy, had food and water when left alone in a nearby cage. The trailer was dark and cluttered with broken-down motor scooters and human excrement, the boys said, and the only source of light or air came from a small hole in the floor.
His 7-year-old said he went to the bathroom on the floor because "I had nowhere else to go." He said he was locked up for several hours at a time as many as 20 times.
Mr. Lavender was arrested in April after neighbors near his west Oak Cliff home heard one of the boys yelling for help.
"I wasn't feeling so good because I saw lots of bugs, so I screamed for help," the 7-year-old testified.
When police arrived, the boy was thirsty and hungry but later asked them to put him back inside the trailer before Mr. Lavender returned.
"He said he didn't want to be in trouble when his dad came home," a Dallas police officer testified.
Before sentencing Mr. Lavender to 10 years' probation, District Judge John Nelms chastised him for his actions.
"You showed incredibly bad judgment," the judge said. "You left your kids in an unsafe and inhumane location. ... You've got to do better."
The judge ordered Mr. Lavender to pay a $3,000 fine and forbade him from having unsupervised contact with children younger than 14. Before his arrest, Mr. Lavender had a business working with troubled youths in which he put them to work selling candy door-to-door.
The boys' mother, Pauline Clark, has also been charged with failure to report the abuse and is awaiting a hearing on the charge next month. Ms. Clark, who is separated from Mr. Lavender, retains custody of the boys.
Mr. Lavender's attorney, Tom Lochry, said the couple has completed mandatory parenting classes and praised the sentence handed down by the judge.
"This was discipline out of love, albeit misguided, foolish and risky."
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TexasStooge
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Strong mayor battle is joined
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas Mayor Laura Miller took the strong-mayor campaign into her own hands Friday, officially filing paperwork for the 30-member organization she put together to ensure the measure passes.
Ms. Miller said the effort would be unrelated to that of lawyer Beth Ann Blackwood, whose proposal to strengthen mayoral power by eliminating the city manager is on the May 7 ballot.
The mayor's move sets up a head-to-head battle with a well-organized opposition, made up of longtime political rivals from the city's 14 council districts.
"I personally recruited every person on the committee," Ms. Miller said of the Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas campaign. "You cannot have a citywide issue this sensitive and not have everyone at the table."
Ms. Miller's allies include rock musician Don Henley, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, Elite News publisher Bill Blair, former Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett and Betty Culbreath, former director of the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services.
Also on the committee are David Laney, former chairman of the city's Charter Review Commission; Regina Montoya, a prominent lawyer and former congressional candidate; and Charles Terrell, former chairman of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The campaign for Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas is being managed by the political consulting firm Allyn & Co., which also handled Ms. Miller's two mayoral campaigns.
Outside support
The strong-mayor initiative has drawn support from outside the city – a point of contention for many of its opponents. Ms. Blackwood's effort has been criticized for being funded by well-known Park Cities financiers. And at least two members of Ms. Miller's Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas committee – Mr. Pickens and Mr. Bartlett – live outside the city.
Members of the opposing group formed earlier this week, the Coalition for Strong Government, include former City Council members Donna Blumer, Domingo Garcia and Bob Stimson and former Dallas ISD trustee Jose Plata.
Opponents of the strong-mayor effort, including some City Council members, questioned whether it was ethical for Ms. Miller to take a leading role in a political action committee.
"This particular proposal is going to empower her office, and she is the person in the office," said Sharon Boyd, a Dallas political commentator who is a member of the Coalition for Strong Government. "She should be sitting out, letting this thing take its own course."
Ms. Miller said Friday that she is taking every precaution to ensure she does not violate the city's ethics code.
Ms. Blackwood turned in 30,000 signatures in November to put her strong-mayor plan on the May ballot. In the weeks before, Ms. Miller had presented her own strong-mayor plan to the City Council but was rebuffed.
Although Ms. Miller initially blasted Ms. Blackwood's proposal, she has since warmed to it.
"What we have on the ballot is not something of our making," she said. "I've read it six times, and it's weaker than a lot of strong mayors across the country. ... I think it's the only way to improve."
Ms. Culbreath understands this change of heart. The former board chairwoman at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was opposed to implementing a strong-mayor form of government during the city's 2002 charter review process. But inaction at City Hall – coupled with a careful reading of Ms. Blackwood's proposal – led her to change her mind.
"While it's not maybe the best plan, it's the only one we have," Ms. Culbreath said. "As a lifetime resident of the city of Dallas, I'm ready for somebody to take some responsibility for the things that are going on."
And while civil rights leaders contend that a strong-mayor government will take representation away from minority groups, Ms. Culbreath, who is black, said she thinks it will empower them.
"It will do nothing to hurt us," she said. "It will do something to enhance us."
The city's ethics code states that Dallas officials may not use the prestige of their office "on behalf of a candidate, political party or political committee." They may lend their names to a campaign, as long as the office they hold "is not mentioned in connection with the endorsement."
The handling of money is also expressly limited in the ethics code. City officials may serve on steering committees for fund-raising efforts. But they may not ask for or receive contributions for a candidate, party or political committee, nor may they serve as a candidate's designated treasurer.
Fund-raising
Ms. Miller said Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas will have a separate finance committee that handles fund raising, and that she will not solicit a single dollar for the effort. She and other members of the steering committee will work their way across the city speaking on behalf of strong-mayor governance, she said.
In coming weeks, steering committee members will discuss a plan of action, the mayor said.
"It's almost like having a mayor's race all over again," Ms. Miller said.
Council member Ed Oakley said he's not sure whether the mayor's actions are an ethics code violation.
"I'll have to get some clarification. But it sure raises questions," he said.
He said the public would see the campaign as a "power grab on behalf of this mayor."
Council member Sandy Greyson said the mayor has every right to voice her opinions publicly.
"Citizens have heard about it and want to hear more," said Ms. Greyson, who opposes the Blackwood proposal but called for more debate. "If the mayor supports it, she has to make her case."
Staff writer Dave Levinthal contributed to this report.
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas Mayor Laura Miller took the strong-mayor campaign into her own hands Friday, officially filing paperwork for the 30-member organization she put together to ensure the measure passes.
Ms. Miller said the effort would be unrelated to that of lawyer Beth Ann Blackwood, whose proposal to strengthen mayoral power by eliminating the city manager is on the May 7 ballot.
The mayor's move sets up a head-to-head battle with a well-organized opposition, made up of longtime political rivals from the city's 14 council districts.
"I personally recruited every person on the committee," Ms. Miller said of the Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas campaign. "You cannot have a citywide issue this sensitive and not have everyone at the table."
Ms. Miller's allies include rock musician Don Henley, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, Elite News publisher Bill Blair, former Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett and Betty Culbreath, former director of the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services.
Also on the committee are David Laney, former chairman of the city's Charter Review Commission; Regina Montoya, a prominent lawyer and former congressional candidate; and Charles Terrell, former chairman of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The campaign for Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas is being managed by the political consulting firm Allyn & Co., which also handled Ms. Miller's two mayoral campaigns.
Outside support
The strong-mayor initiative has drawn support from outside the city – a point of contention for many of its opponents. Ms. Blackwood's effort has been criticized for being funded by well-known Park Cities financiers. And at least two members of Ms. Miller's Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas committee – Mr. Pickens and Mr. Bartlett – live outside the city.
Members of the opposing group formed earlier this week, the Coalition for Strong Government, include former City Council members Donna Blumer, Domingo Garcia and Bob Stimson and former Dallas ISD trustee Jose Plata.
Opponents of the strong-mayor effort, including some City Council members, questioned whether it was ethical for Ms. Miller to take a leading role in a political action committee.
"This particular proposal is going to empower her office, and she is the person in the office," said Sharon Boyd, a Dallas political commentator who is a member of the Coalition for Strong Government. "She should be sitting out, letting this thing take its own course."
Ms. Miller said Friday that she is taking every precaution to ensure she does not violate the city's ethics code.
Ms. Blackwood turned in 30,000 signatures in November to put her strong-mayor plan on the May ballot. In the weeks before, Ms. Miller had presented her own strong-mayor plan to the City Council but was rebuffed.
Although Ms. Miller initially blasted Ms. Blackwood's proposal, she has since warmed to it.
"What we have on the ballot is not something of our making," she said. "I've read it six times, and it's weaker than a lot of strong mayors across the country. ... I think it's the only way to improve."
Ms. Culbreath understands this change of heart. The former board chairwoman at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was opposed to implementing a strong-mayor form of government during the city's 2002 charter review process. But inaction at City Hall – coupled with a careful reading of Ms. Blackwood's proposal – led her to change her mind.
"While it's not maybe the best plan, it's the only one we have," Ms. Culbreath said. "As a lifetime resident of the city of Dallas, I'm ready for somebody to take some responsibility for the things that are going on."
And while civil rights leaders contend that a strong-mayor government will take representation away from minority groups, Ms. Culbreath, who is black, said she thinks it will empower them.
"It will do nothing to hurt us," she said. "It will do something to enhance us."
The city's ethics code states that Dallas officials may not use the prestige of their office "on behalf of a candidate, political party or political committee." They may lend their names to a campaign, as long as the office they hold "is not mentioned in connection with the endorsement."
The handling of money is also expressly limited in the ethics code. City officials may serve on steering committees for fund-raising efforts. But they may not ask for or receive contributions for a candidate, party or political committee, nor may they serve as a candidate's designated treasurer.
Fund-raising
Ms. Miller said Stronger Mayor, Stronger Dallas will have a separate finance committee that handles fund raising, and that she will not solicit a single dollar for the effort. She and other members of the steering committee will work their way across the city speaking on behalf of strong-mayor governance, she said.
In coming weeks, steering committee members will discuss a plan of action, the mayor said.
"It's almost like having a mayor's race all over again," Ms. Miller said.
Council member Ed Oakley said he's not sure whether the mayor's actions are an ethics code violation.
"I'll have to get some clarification. But it sure raises questions," he said.
He said the public would see the campaign as a "power grab on behalf of this mayor."
Council member Sandy Greyson said the mayor has every right to voice her opinions publicly.
"Citizens have heard about it and want to hear more," said Ms. Greyson, who opposes the Blackwood proposal but called for more debate. "If the mayor supports it, she has to make her case."
Staff writer Dave Levinthal contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Kidnap suspect arrested
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - One of the two suspects in the kidnapping of Dallas restaurant owner Oscar Sanchez was arrested Sunday in Chicago, and told investigators that a homicide had occurred at his Duncanville home.
Jose Alberto Felix, 28, was taken into custody by detectives before noon at Chicago's Midway Airport, a little more than an hour before his scheduled flight to Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dallas Police Lt. Jan Easterling said that Felix, a former teacher at Fannin Elementary School in Dallas, admitted to a homicide occurring but did not directly state that he was responsible or that it was Sanchez who was killed.
News 8 has learned, however, that police believe Sanchez' body may have been dumped somewhere off of Interstate 20 in a rural part of southern Dallas County between Interstate 45 and Highway 175.
Felix and 24-year-old Edgar Acevedo face third-degree kidnapping charges in the abduction Tuesday of Sanchez. Easterling said that Acevedo is believed to now be in Guadalajara.
Friends of Sanchez gathered for a prayer circle in East Dallas Sunday night. The gathering offered them the opportunity to get together and support each other, praying for Sanchez and his family, as well as for his captors and their families.
Friends described Sanchez - who was married and had a new baby - as fun-loving, smart and inspiring.
WFAA-TV's Brad Watson and Mary Ann Razzuk and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - One of the two suspects in the kidnapping of Dallas restaurant owner Oscar Sanchez was arrested Sunday in Chicago, and told investigators that a homicide had occurred at his Duncanville home.
Jose Alberto Felix, 28, was taken into custody by detectives before noon at Chicago's Midway Airport, a little more than an hour before his scheduled flight to Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dallas Police Lt. Jan Easterling said that Felix, a former teacher at Fannin Elementary School in Dallas, admitted to a homicide occurring but did not directly state that he was responsible or that it was Sanchez who was killed.
News 8 has learned, however, that police believe Sanchez' body may have been dumped somewhere off of Interstate 20 in a rural part of southern Dallas County between Interstate 45 and Highway 175.
Felix and 24-year-old Edgar Acevedo face third-degree kidnapping charges in the abduction Tuesday of Sanchez. Easterling said that Acevedo is believed to now be in Guadalajara.
Friends of Sanchez gathered for a prayer circle in East Dallas Sunday night. The gathering offered them the opportunity to get together and support each other, praying for Sanchez and his family, as well as for his captors and their families.
Friends described Sanchez - who was married and had a new baby - as fun-loving, smart and inspiring.
WFAA-TV's Brad Watson and Mary Ann Razzuk and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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DeSoto gang consultant's credentials questioned
Student journalists investigate after district paid Rashidi $65,000
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
DESOTO, Texas - Amon Rashidi of Dallas is well known on the urban issues circuit.
His gang intervention program JAMS, short for "Just Another Means of Success," has received national publicity.
Last October, DeSoto ISD officials agreed to pay Rashidi $65,000 to investigate the gang problem in the schools. Their decision came as a surprise to DeSoto Police Chief Mike Broadnax.
"Our interpretation is, we have some 'wanna-bes', but we have a lot of misbehavior," Broadnax said.
And that's why a group of DeSoto High School journalism students decided to investigate why school trustees would spend that much money on gang intervention. So, what did they find?
"Pretty much everybody I talked to didn't really think there was a gang problem," said student reporter Zachary Crohn.
Their published findings in the Eagle Eye school newspaper went well beyond the debate about gangs. Instead, they focused on Rashidi himself.
"We did the standard record-checking on the awards he's claimed he's won, the places he's claimed he worked at, and a great deal of those things didn't check out," student reporter Eric Gentry said.
Student reporter Whitney Basil's article raises questions about whether the JAMS program duplicated others.
"There are programs that are already in place now that are a more effective way with dealing with students to solve conflict resolution," Basil said.
The story has sparked controversy, and an angry response from Rashidi to school administrators. He told them, "I consider it to be intolerable and slanderous for a school newspaper to print lies subsidized by personal opinion and bad intentions."
But when students offered him an opportunity to set the record straight, Rashidi declined.
"They found that there were a lot of discrepancies and questions that still aren't answered," journalism teacher Carol Richtsmeier said. "Mr. Rashidi will not meet with them."
Rashidi declined to speak with News 8 as well. Not only has Rashidi not been available for comment, but neither has the school board trustee who recommended Rashidi, or the administrators responsible for paying him the $65,000.
DeSoto school board Members will consider extending Rashidi's contract at a public meeting Monday night.
Now, the students have learned that two required progress reports submitted to the district by Rashidi - one on December 6 and the other on January 12 - are exactly the same.
They said another report due Friday has not been submitted. What will be available on Monday, however, is the next edition of Eagle Eye which features another expose on Rashidi.
Student journalists investigate after district paid Rashidi $65,000
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
DESOTO, Texas - Amon Rashidi of Dallas is well known on the urban issues circuit.
His gang intervention program JAMS, short for "Just Another Means of Success," has received national publicity.
Last October, DeSoto ISD officials agreed to pay Rashidi $65,000 to investigate the gang problem in the schools. Their decision came as a surprise to DeSoto Police Chief Mike Broadnax.
"Our interpretation is, we have some 'wanna-bes', but we have a lot of misbehavior," Broadnax said.
And that's why a group of DeSoto High School journalism students decided to investigate why school trustees would spend that much money on gang intervention. So, what did they find?
"Pretty much everybody I talked to didn't really think there was a gang problem," said student reporter Zachary Crohn.
Their published findings in the Eagle Eye school newspaper went well beyond the debate about gangs. Instead, they focused on Rashidi himself.
"We did the standard record-checking on the awards he's claimed he's won, the places he's claimed he worked at, and a great deal of those things didn't check out," student reporter Eric Gentry said.
Student reporter Whitney Basil's article raises questions about whether the JAMS program duplicated others.
"There are programs that are already in place now that are a more effective way with dealing with students to solve conflict resolution," Basil said.
The story has sparked controversy, and an angry response from Rashidi to school administrators. He told them, "I consider it to be intolerable and slanderous for a school newspaper to print lies subsidized by personal opinion and bad intentions."
But when students offered him an opportunity to set the record straight, Rashidi declined.
"They found that there were a lot of discrepancies and questions that still aren't answered," journalism teacher Carol Richtsmeier said. "Mr. Rashidi will not meet with them."
Rashidi declined to speak with News 8 as well. Not only has Rashidi not been available for comment, but neither has the school board trustee who recommended Rashidi, or the administrators responsible for paying him the $65,000.
DeSoto school board Members will consider extending Rashidi's contract at a public meeting Monday night.
Now, the students have learned that two required progress reports submitted to the district by Rashidi - one on December 6 and the other on January 12 - are exactly the same.
They said another report due Friday has not been submitted. What will be available on Monday, however, is the next edition of Eagle Eye which features another expose on Rashidi.
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Doctors killed in plane crash mourned
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
BROWNWOOD, Texas - Friends and colleagues are mourning the death of two prominent North Texas doctors killed in a plane crash on Saturday.
The single-engine plane went down as it approached the Brownwood Regional Airport after the landing gear clipped a power line, taking the lives of doctors Paulose Mathai, 50, and Karl Robert Brinker, 58, who both worked for the Methodist Health System.
"The loss to the institution is a loss of a family member," Methodist's Kim Hollon said. "They both as physicians touched our community."
Mathai was a lung specialist, and Brinker worked with kidney transplant patients.
Dr. Richard Dickerman is a transplant surgeon who worked with Brinker for nearly 33 years. The two were featured in D Magazine's "Best Doctors in Dallas" section in 2004.
"He was so intelligent, but yet he was so human," Dickerman said. "In spite of him being a real scientist, he never lost the ability to have that one-on-one relationship with the patient."
Colleagues said Mathai was always willing to help, even with patients who weren't his own.
Said Dickerman, "We would just call him up and say, 'can you help us with a patient?' And he would come up ... he just cared."
The doctors also leave behind a number of patients under their care. Hospital administrators said their treatment will continue as scheduled.
"Their surgeries will go on (and) their admissions and their care will go on, because they both come from a group of peers who know they have to carry on for them," said Jim Cutler of the Southwest Transplant Alliance.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
BROWNWOOD, Texas - Friends and colleagues are mourning the death of two prominent North Texas doctors killed in a plane crash on Saturday.
The single-engine plane went down as it approached the Brownwood Regional Airport after the landing gear clipped a power line, taking the lives of doctors Paulose Mathai, 50, and Karl Robert Brinker, 58, who both worked for the Methodist Health System.
"The loss to the institution is a loss of a family member," Methodist's Kim Hollon said. "They both as physicians touched our community."
Mathai was a lung specialist, and Brinker worked with kidney transplant patients.
Dr. Richard Dickerman is a transplant surgeon who worked with Brinker for nearly 33 years. The two were featured in D Magazine's "Best Doctors in Dallas" section in 2004.
"He was so intelligent, but yet he was so human," Dickerman said. "In spite of him being a real scientist, he never lost the ability to have that one-on-one relationship with the patient."
Colleagues said Mathai was always willing to help, even with patients who weren't his own.
Said Dickerman, "We would just call him up and say, 'can you help us with a patient?' And he would come up ... he just cared."
The doctors also leave behind a number of patients under their care. Hospital administrators said their treatment will continue as scheduled.
"Their surgeries will go on (and) their admissions and their care will go on, because they both come from a group of peers who know they have to carry on for them," said Jim Cutler of the Southwest Transplant Alliance.
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Houston vice cops cleared to take it off
HOUSTON, Texas (AP/The Dallas Morning News) - Some suspects in prostitution investigations are confronting naked justice.
A prosecutor says police are now allowed to undress in an effort to persuade suspected prostitutes to negotiate sex acts.
During a four-month sting operation that ended with 56 arrests in November, some undercover vice officers dropped their covers altogether.
"Someone had to do something to shut these places down," said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Ted Wilson. "It was just so widespread. It had almost gotten in your face."
Wilson said Police Chief Harold Hurtt has changed a long-standing, unwritten department policy to allow undercover vice officers to disrobe in such cases.
But Hurtt and other Houston police officials declined to discuss the new policy.
"I'm not going to comment about the strategies and tactics that we use," said Hurtt last week.
The Houston Police Department has stepped up efforts to crack down on the local "spa scene." Besides the new policy, authorities are using organized-crime charges to prosecute owners and operators of prostitution businesses.
In exchange for testimony against the owners of the Wildflower Group and Escapes of Houston, authorities agreed to drop prostitution charges against all but one of the 50 women arrested during the Nov. 16 raids.
The businesses, said police, are among some 200 across Houston that advertise themselves as "day spas," "stress relief clinics," "massage parlors" and "modeling studios," but are really fronts for prostitution.
William Henry Costa and Mary Elizabeth Johnston, the Wildflower Group owners, were scheduled to be arraigned in a state district court Monday morning.
Former golf teacher Randall Jones, Escapes of Houston owner, was scheduled to appear in court later this month with three co-owners and operators.
Recently, growth of so-called "day spas" and "stress clinics" has caused a surge in residents' complaints about prostitution.
It had become almost impossible for vice officers to make arrests in such businesses because the workers, aware of prohibitions on police getting undressed, will not negotiate sex acts for money unless a man removes his clothes, Wilson said.
"The old street prostitution cases are easy, but the people running these massage parlors are sophisticated," he said.
Prostitutes' tactics are forcing police to the limits of acceptable practices to make arrests, said Charlie Fuller, executive director of the Clarkrange, Tenn.-based International Association of Undercover Officers.
"I can assure you that these undercover officers don't want to get naked, but they don't have a choice," he said, adding that many large-city police departments allow officers to get nude to make arrests.
But Robyn Few, an ex-prostitute who directs Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, said vice officers are fighting a losing battle.
"People need to recognize prostitution as a profession," she said.
HOUSTON, Texas (AP/The Dallas Morning News) - Some suspects in prostitution investigations are confronting naked justice.
A prosecutor says police are now allowed to undress in an effort to persuade suspected prostitutes to negotiate sex acts.
During a four-month sting operation that ended with 56 arrests in November, some undercover vice officers dropped their covers altogether.
"Someone had to do something to shut these places down," said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Ted Wilson. "It was just so widespread. It had almost gotten in your face."
Wilson said Police Chief Harold Hurtt has changed a long-standing, unwritten department policy to allow undercover vice officers to disrobe in such cases.
But Hurtt and other Houston police officials declined to discuss the new policy.
"I'm not going to comment about the strategies and tactics that we use," said Hurtt last week.
The Houston Police Department has stepped up efforts to crack down on the local "spa scene." Besides the new policy, authorities are using organized-crime charges to prosecute owners and operators of prostitution businesses.
In exchange for testimony against the owners of the Wildflower Group and Escapes of Houston, authorities agreed to drop prostitution charges against all but one of the 50 women arrested during the Nov. 16 raids.
The businesses, said police, are among some 200 across Houston that advertise themselves as "day spas," "stress relief clinics," "massage parlors" and "modeling studios," but are really fronts for prostitution.
William Henry Costa and Mary Elizabeth Johnston, the Wildflower Group owners, were scheduled to be arraigned in a state district court Monday morning.
Former golf teacher Randall Jones, Escapes of Houston owner, was scheduled to appear in court later this month with three co-owners and operators.
Recently, growth of so-called "day spas" and "stress clinics" has caused a surge in residents' complaints about prostitution.
It had become almost impossible for vice officers to make arrests in such businesses because the workers, aware of prohibitions on police getting undressed, will not negotiate sex acts for money unless a man removes his clothes, Wilson said.
"The old street prostitution cases are easy, but the people running these massage parlors are sophisticated," he said.
Prostitutes' tactics are forcing police to the limits of acceptable practices to make arrests, said Charlie Fuller, executive director of the Clarkrange, Tenn.-based International Association of Undercover Officers.
"I can assure you that these undercover officers don't want to get naked, but they don't have a choice," he said, adding that many large-city police departments allow officers to get nude to make arrests.
But Robyn Few, an ex-prostitute who directs Sex Workers Outreach Project USA, said vice officers are fighting a losing battle.
"People need to recognize prostitution as a profession," she said.
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Dallas man dead in carjack attempt
By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV
DALLAS, Texas - Police were searching for three men who they say shot and killed a convenience store patron early Saturday during an attempted carjacking.
Investigators said Benjamin Ray Neal, 34, stopped at the 1C store at Josey Lane and Forest Lane shortly after 2 a.m. He noticed trouble in the parking lot while he was inside making a purchase.
Dallas police say the army veteran went outside and encountered three men who were trying to rob a woman and steal her vehicle.
Neal was shot and killed when he tried to intervene. The suspects fled in a maroon color minivan.
Neal, a Dallas resident, was the father of five children and a recent college graduate. He served in the first Gulf war and later in Somalia.
"I really feel this was senseless," said Steven Neal, the victim's brother. "It is kind of hard to put into words how I really feel. I mean, hurt right now; but later on, probably anger."
Police said it appears the three suspects got away with little, while Benjamin Neal's grieving family tries to cope with the crushing loss.
Mother-in-law Cherilyn Washington said the shooting victim was a great father. "He always participated in anything the kids wanted to do," she said. "He was always right there."
By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV
DALLAS, Texas - Police were searching for three men who they say shot and killed a convenience store patron early Saturday during an attempted carjacking.
Investigators said Benjamin Ray Neal, 34, stopped at the 1C store at Josey Lane and Forest Lane shortly after 2 a.m. He noticed trouble in the parking lot while he was inside making a purchase.
Dallas police say the army veteran went outside and encountered three men who were trying to rob a woman and steal her vehicle.
Neal was shot and killed when he tried to intervene. The suspects fled in a maroon color minivan.
Neal, a Dallas resident, was the father of five children and a recent college graduate. He served in the first Gulf war and later in Somalia.
"I really feel this was senseless," said Steven Neal, the victim's brother. "It is kind of hard to put into words how I really feel. I mean, hurt right now; but later on, probably anger."
Police said it appears the three suspects got away with little, while Benjamin Neal's grieving family tries to cope with the crushing loss.
Mother-in-law Cherilyn Washington said the shooting victim was a great father. "He always participated in anything the kids wanted to do," she said. "He was always right there."
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Car crashes into Plano restaurant
8 dinner patrons hurt
PLANO, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Eight people were hurt Saturday night when a car driven by an elderly person crashed into a Red Lobster restaurant during the busy dinner hour.
The vehicle plowed into the doors at the front of the restaurant on North Central Expressway just south of Spring Creek Parkway around 6:45 p.m.
The injured restaurant patrons were all waiting to be seated when the sedan made impact. "The car did not protrude into the restaurant past that first door," said Plano Fire Department spokeswoman Peggy Harrell.
"We've transported 7 patients to area hospitals, none with life-threatening injuries," Harrell said, adding that an eighth person was about to be added to that list. She characterized the injuries as bumps and bruises.
The driver of the car and a passenger in the vehicle were not hurt, Harrell said.
The cause of the accident was under investigation by Plano police.
8 dinner patrons hurt
PLANO, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Eight people were hurt Saturday night when a car driven by an elderly person crashed into a Red Lobster restaurant during the busy dinner hour.
The vehicle plowed into the doors at the front of the restaurant on North Central Expressway just south of Spring Creek Parkway around 6:45 p.m.
The injured restaurant patrons were all waiting to be seated when the sedan made impact. "The car did not protrude into the restaurant past that first door," said Plano Fire Department spokeswoman Peggy Harrell.
"We've transported 7 patients to area hospitals, none with life-threatening injuries," Harrell said, adding that an eighth person was about to be added to that list. She characterized the injuries as bumps and bruises.
The driver of the car and a passenger in the vehicle were not hurt, Harrell said.
The cause of the accident was under investigation by Plano police.
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D/FW Flights Canceled, Delayed Due To Northeast Weather
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Many flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are being delayed or canceled due to storms in the northeast United States.
The airport reports that 25 flights were canceled on Sunday and many more are delayed or canceled on Monday.
Officials recommened that travelers double-check their departure times with the airline before heading to the airport.
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Many flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are being delayed or canceled due to storms in the northeast United States.
The airport reports that 25 flights were canceled on Sunday and many more are delayed or canceled on Monday.
Officials recommened that travelers double-check their departure times with the airline before heading to the airport.
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Dallas Police Search For Men In Murder Of Father Of 5
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Dallas police are looking for three men wanted in the murder of a father of five.
Officers said Benjamin Ray Neil was shot early Saturday morning when he tried to stop the men from taking a friend's purse outside a convenience store in North Dallas.
The men were last seen in a maroon minivan.
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Dallas police are looking for three men wanted in the murder of a father of five.
Officers said Benjamin Ray Neil was shot early Saturday morning when he tried to stop the men from taking a friend's purse outside a convenience store in North Dallas.
The men were last seen in a maroon minivan.
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Texas Instruments To Produce Chips For Nokia
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Dallas-based Texas Instruments plans to announce on Monday that they will manufacture a new chip for Nokia that will make voice-only cellular phones cheaper.
The chip will use half the power and space of current chips.
TI plans to produce the chip at a plant in Dallas.
The phones should be ready by the middle of 2006.
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Dallas-based Texas Instruments plans to announce on Monday that they will manufacture a new chip for Nokia that will make voice-only cellular phones cheaper.
The chip will use half the power and space of current chips.
TI plans to produce the chip at a plant in Dallas.
The phones should be ready by the middle of 2006.
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Police: Couple Shot Following Domestic Dispute
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- An alleged gunman is behind bars Monday after being accused of shooting a man and women overnight in Dallas.
Police say a domestic dispute turned violent at an apartment in the 7500 block of Cliff Creek Crossing.
Both victims are expected to recover.
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- An alleged gunman is behind bars Monday after being accused of shooting a man and women overnight in Dallas.
Police say a domestic dispute turned violent at an apartment in the 7500 block of Cliff Creek Crossing.
Both victims are expected to recover.
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Police Chase Ends In Accident
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- A chase with Dallas police ended in an accident this weekend.
The driver was heading down Swiss Avenue when he was broadsided by another car at La Vista, NBC 5 News reported.
The driver and a passenger took off after the crash but were later arrested, police said.
Only minor injuries were reported.
It was not known why the suspect was running from police.
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- A chase with Dallas police ended in an accident this weekend.
The driver was heading down Swiss Avenue when he was broadsided by another car at La Vista, NBC 5 News reported.
The driver and a passenger took off after the crash but were later arrested, police said.
Only minor injuries were reported.
It was not known why the suspect was running from police.
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Wal-Mart Abduction Suspect May Have Targeted Others
Police: Alleged Attacker Made 'Several Other Attempts' Before Picking Out Victim
TYLER, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Authorities in Texas said Saturday an abducted Wal-Mart clerk was apparently chosen over other possible victims.
Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle also said there's "no doubt" that Megan Holden was kidnapped by a complete stranger. The alleged attacker made "several other attempts" before picking her out.
The body of Megan Leann Holden, 19, was discovered in a ditch alongside a highway in western Texas on Friday. She had been shot. A newspaper reported that she was found partially clothed.
A security camera recorded the abduction.
Police said she was killed at the hands of suspect Johnny Lee Williams, 24, a man who went on a multi-state crime spree before he turned up Friday at an Arizona hospital with a gunshot wound.
Authorities said Williams attempted a robbery at an Arizona RV park, but was foiled by a store worker who fired the shot that landed Williams in the hospital.
Williams was being held on a $1 million bond on an aggravated kidnapping charge from Texas, authorities said, adding that Williams was driving the woman's pickup truck, which was parked outside the hospital.
In addition to aggravated kidnapping charges, Williams also could face federal charges of interstate transport of stolen goods, kidnapping or carjacking, according to Jeffrey Millslagle, with the FBI in Tyler.
Because Holden was kidnapped in Tyler, Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said he would seek capital murder charges.
It was not known if Williams had an attorney.
Police said Williams, who was honorably discharged last year after four years as a Marine, was arrested last month in Tyler on a cocaine possession charge. He was released the same day on $2,000 bond.
Police said Williams also was involved in an armed robbery at a convenience store in Texas on Thursday.
Police: Alleged Attacker Made 'Several Other Attempts' Before Picking Out Victim
TYLER, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Authorities in Texas said Saturday an abducted Wal-Mart clerk was apparently chosen over other possible victims.
Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle also said there's "no doubt" that Megan Holden was kidnapped by a complete stranger. The alleged attacker made "several other attempts" before picking her out.
The body of Megan Leann Holden, 19, was discovered in a ditch alongside a highway in western Texas on Friday. She had been shot. A newspaper reported that she was found partially clothed.
A security camera recorded the abduction.
Police said she was killed at the hands of suspect Johnny Lee Williams, 24, a man who went on a multi-state crime spree before he turned up Friday at an Arizona hospital with a gunshot wound.
Authorities said Williams attempted a robbery at an Arizona RV park, but was foiled by a store worker who fired the shot that landed Williams in the hospital.
Williams was being held on a $1 million bond on an aggravated kidnapping charge from Texas, authorities said, adding that Williams was driving the woman's pickup truck, which was parked outside the hospital.
In addition to aggravated kidnapping charges, Williams also could face federal charges of interstate transport of stolen goods, kidnapping or carjacking, according to Jeffrey Millslagle, with the FBI in Tyler.
Because Holden was kidnapped in Tyler, Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said he would seek capital murder charges.
It was not known if Williams had an attorney.
Police said Williams, who was honorably discharged last year after four years as a Marine, was arrested last month in Tyler on a cocaine possession charge. He was released the same day on $2,000 bond.
Police said Williams also was involved in an armed robbery at a convenience store in Texas on Thursday.
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Irving to share costs of Texas Stadium study
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The city of Irving has decided to hire consultants to study development options for the Texas Stadium site. City Council members approved a plan Thursday under which the city will join with the University of Dallas and Southwest Premier Properties, which own land near the stadium. The three groups will spend $75,000 for the work; the city's share will be $25,000.
Consultants will begin working about Feb. 1 and report their findings by May 31. City officials say the land is ripe for development because of scheduled road improvements and a proposed light-rail line near the stadium. The other two landowners support the contract, city officials said. A new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington could open in 2009.
Eric Aasen
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The city of Irving has decided to hire consultants to study development options for the Texas Stadium site. City Council members approved a plan Thursday under which the city will join with the University of Dallas and Southwest Premier Properties, which own land near the stadium. The three groups will spend $75,000 for the work; the city's share will be $25,000.
Consultants will begin working about Feb. 1 and report their findings by May 31. City officials say the land is ripe for development because of scheduled road improvements and a proposed light-rail line near the stadium. The other two landowners support the contract, city officials said. A new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington could open in 2009.
Eric Aasen
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Restaurateurs, police meet about kidnapping
By BRAD HAWKINS / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - What Jose Felix told detectives in Chicago about the kidnapping of North Texas restaurant owner Oscar Sanchez launched a massive search 900 miles away in rural southern Dallas County.
In the air, on horseback and with the keen senses of canine help, searchers had hoped to find Sanchez's body south of Interstate 20, near Dowdy Ferry Road. But a day-long combing of the thick brush yielded no such resolution, only more questions as so-called 'items of interest' ended up in paper sacks, headed for more analysis.
"There is evidence that we're in the right area," said Dallas Police Lt. Jan Easterling. "We've got to determine if that evidence is, in fact, tied to this kidnapping. That will be analyzed in the lab."
Police found clothing, a plastic or rubber chair mat, a blanket and mop, some of which appeared to be bloodstained.
Across town, on Monday night police briefed members of the restaurant community of North Oak Cliff. In the neighborhood, known for its Latino culture and plagued by crime, those who attended the meeting are linked to this kidnapping by profession - and some by friendship.
"We know each other, we take care of each other," said restaurant manager Leticia Barbosa. "We're very sad at what happened, and we're very concerned about the Sanchez family."
Another high-profile Mexican restaurant family crime in North Texas remains unsolved: the drive-by murder of Doris Ojeda last March. Some here wonder if it's more than coincidence - and Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said it isn't.
"I don't think you're going to see an increase in kidnappings," Kunkle said. "They're virtually impossible to execute where people get money and get away with the crime."
While Sanchez remains missing, for his family and his community, hope fills the void of uncertainty.
By BRAD HAWKINS / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - What Jose Felix told detectives in Chicago about the kidnapping of North Texas restaurant owner Oscar Sanchez launched a massive search 900 miles away in rural southern Dallas County.
In the air, on horseback and with the keen senses of canine help, searchers had hoped to find Sanchez's body south of Interstate 20, near Dowdy Ferry Road. But a day-long combing of the thick brush yielded no such resolution, only more questions as so-called 'items of interest' ended up in paper sacks, headed for more analysis.
"There is evidence that we're in the right area," said Dallas Police Lt. Jan Easterling. "We've got to determine if that evidence is, in fact, tied to this kidnapping. That will be analyzed in the lab."
Police found clothing, a plastic or rubber chair mat, a blanket and mop, some of which appeared to be bloodstained.
Across town, on Monday night police briefed members of the restaurant community of North Oak Cliff. In the neighborhood, known for its Latino culture and plagued by crime, those who attended the meeting are linked to this kidnapping by profession - and some by friendship.
"We know each other, we take care of each other," said restaurant manager Leticia Barbosa. "We're very sad at what happened, and we're very concerned about the Sanchez family."
Another high-profile Mexican restaurant family crime in North Texas remains unsolved: the drive-by murder of Doris Ojeda last March. Some here wonder if it's more than coincidence - and Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said it isn't.
"I don't think you're going to see an increase in kidnappings," Kunkle said. "They're virtually impossible to execute where people get money and get away with the crime."
While Sanchez remains missing, for his family and his community, hope fills the void of uncertainty.
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TexasStooge
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Trailer flips on I-35E, loses load
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A tractor-trailer full of empty glass bottles flipped onto its side across Interstate 35E on Monday night, closing all northbound lanes for hours.
The accident happened about 6:45 p.m. near Eighth Street. Police said the truck's driver swerved to avoid another vehicle, then crossed across several lanes, hit a light pole and flipped over.
"He said he wasn't sure if he jammed the brakes or what, but I'm sure what he did was probably hit the brakes too hard and lost control," said Dallas Police Cpl. Ed Giampretro. "His load probably shifted, the trailer went over and you can see the consequences of it."
The crash littered the highway with glass and diesel fuel. No one was seriously injured.
Holly Yan of The Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV's Dan Ronan contributed to this report.
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A tractor-trailer full of empty glass bottles flipped onto its side across Interstate 35E on Monday night, closing all northbound lanes for hours.
The accident happened about 6:45 p.m. near Eighth Street. Police said the truck's driver swerved to avoid another vehicle, then crossed across several lanes, hit a light pole and flipped over.
"He said he wasn't sure if he jammed the brakes or what, but I'm sure what he did was probably hit the brakes too hard and lost control," said Dallas Police Cpl. Ed Giampretro. "His load probably shifted, the trailer went over and you can see the consequences of it."
The crash littered the highway with glass and diesel fuel. No one was seriously injured.
Holly Yan of The Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV's Dan Ronan contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Streets crumbling in new FW neighborhoods
By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Much of North Fort Worth is going through a construction boom.
Residents are moving into new neighborhoods in droves, but there's a problem: the roads are falling apart.
Doug and Carrie Collins moved into a new development two years ago. Already, the concrete street surface along Sugar Maple Drive is crumbling and cracking.
"As you can see, this side of the road has just cracked, and the whole road has just slanted to that side," Doug said. "(If) you've got a kid riding their bicycle, riding their scooter on this, and they hit this they can easily wipe out, have a wreck and easily break an arm."
A recent report said there are more than 50 streets with similar problems in Fort Worth. Many are in new subdivisions, where streets designed to last 30 years are falling apart in two or three.
A consultant for the city said poor workmanship, inadequate construction and heavy traffic are the most common problems in sprawling North Fort Worth. Neighborhood developers build the roads, and then the city is supposed to maintain them.
"Obviously we don't feel good about it, and obviously our citizens deserve better than that," said George Behmanesh of the city's Transportation and Public Works Department. "They pay a premium for their infrastructures, and should get a better product than what we've given them."
Fort Worth hopes to have additional inspectors, stricter road testing, and higher standards for road construction in place by this summer. The City Council hopes for a plan for a solution by April.
Doug and Carrie Collins are tired of waiting. They hoped to retire in their home, but so far all they feel is aggravation.
"Every day that passes, it gets worse and worse," Doug said.
By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Much of North Fort Worth is going through a construction boom.
Residents are moving into new neighborhoods in droves, but there's a problem: the roads are falling apart.
Doug and Carrie Collins moved into a new development two years ago. Already, the concrete street surface along Sugar Maple Drive is crumbling and cracking.
"As you can see, this side of the road has just cracked, and the whole road has just slanted to that side," Doug said. "(If) you've got a kid riding their bicycle, riding their scooter on this, and they hit this they can easily wipe out, have a wreck and easily break an arm."
A recent report said there are more than 50 streets with similar problems in Fort Worth. Many are in new subdivisions, where streets designed to last 30 years are falling apart in two or three.
A consultant for the city said poor workmanship, inadequate construction and heavy traffic are the most common problems in sprawling North Fort Worth. Neighborhood developers build the roads, and then the city is supposed to maintain them.
"Obviously we don't feel good about it, and obviously our citizens deserve better than that," said George Behmanesh of the city's Transportation and Public Works Department. "They pay a premium for their infrastructures, and should get a better product than what we've given them."
Fort Worth hopes to have additional inspectors, stricter road testing, and higher standards for road construction in place by this summer. The City Council hopes for a plan for a solution by April.
Doug and Carrie Collins are tired of waiting. They hoped to retire in their home, but so far all they feel is aggravation.
"Every day that passes, it gets worse and worse," Doug said.
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