Dystiny Myers, Too Young To Die

The picture to the left is Dystiny Myers, she was a 15-year-old high school student in Santa Maria, California. She was placed in a group home after her mom went to jail 2 months before her murder for a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of an illegal drug.

She was raised by her grandmother and everyone who knew her described her as being full of life. Her Pastor, Rick Bloom said she loved to sing and perform. He also said she was the lead in the majority of the children’s choir programs. She also attended church camps and consistently volunteered to feed the homeless.

She dreamed of being a model and even won a local competition. She could be the all-American girl right?

Pastor Bloom told reporters, “Everyone thinks about what we could have done. I know her grandmother and she did the best she could in very difficult circumstances,” “She didn’t get a chance to grow out of whatever she was going through,” Bloom said.

Dystiny’s 7th grade science teacher Mr. Bob Quirk said “She could have gone to college she could have done anything. Very bright. Very talented person. Sang. She was in our talent show,”

Dystiny can heard singing in her 7th grade talent show here if you skip to 3:44 in the video.

She looks like any other normal teenager in this picture but unfortunately she got caught up with some adults that she shouldn’t have. She ran away from the home and stayed with Rhonda Wisto, a known drug addict and alleged dealer.

On September 26, 2010 the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s office received a phone call at 5AM to come to a location and investigate a body that was found on the outskirts of town. At first it was the fire department who showed up believing there was a grass fire but they soon found out that wasn’t the case. Deputies would soon find out that the person that was purposely thrown into shallow grave and set on fire was a 15-year-old local girl.

Later that day deputies arrested Jason Greenwell (20), Ty Michael Hill (28), Frank York(19) and Rhonda Wisto (47). They are all being charged with Dystiny Myers murder and special circumstances of torture, kidnapping and aiding and abetting.

The following day Cody Lane Miller (20) was arrested. He was in the hospital receiving care for his injuries.

All five of them are being held without bail and they have all entered not guilty pleas.

On October 4 the news released an article that said perhaps Dystiny was not the girl everyone thought she was, they also released this picture of her. It was from her myspace account.

Dystiny

In reality Pastor Bloom says she was once that girl he spoke of earlier on but she had gotten off track in the last year and lost her way.

Sadly, Dystiny had begun hanging out in the streets where she called herself “Spa3dz” and her past times included partying, drinking hard liquor, getting high and smoking “cancer stix” as she called them. This is an excerpt of her Myspace page. http://www.myspace.com/305871286

Dystiny

“wats crakn,mi name is dystiny but they call me (SPAD3Z) i luv2 par-t(haha)i dn’t drink beer though”IMA A HARD LIQUOR HYNA” i luv smokn MARIJUANA!!!(STONRS 4 LIFE) i’m also a nicotine fein,i luv my CANCER STIX.. ima helza good homie..no mattr wat my homies always cme 1st there my FAMILIO u can fuk with me but once u fuk with my homies there will be BLOOD SHED!!! i gots lots of h8rs…i aint evn trippn off them bitches all they are is (DRAMA) DNT HATE DA PLAYER,HATE DA GAME!!! L8TRS”

Rhonda Wisto

She also started hanging out in known drug dealers houses that had been raided in the past. Mr. Quirk, her former teacher said she dropped out of school after the first 5 weeks of high school. “If a kid like this can end up in this situation, it can happen to anybody,” Quirk said.

On February 7, 2011 all 5 suspects appeared in court for their pre-trial hearings. Normally a first degree murder charge would carry a 25 to life sentence but since there are special circumstances in Dystiny’s murder they can all be sentenced to death or life without parole.

Ty Hill

Ty Hill admitted to shooting Dystiny up with heroin before they beat her, he shot her up every night so she wouldn’t have suspected anything was wrong.

He then started beating the hell out of her with a baseball bat before handing it off to another guy and saying “Mark McGwire” her legs.

Jason Greenwell said the noise from the “bat bashing against her legs was making him sick and he couldn’t think,”

An expert testified that Dystiny more than likely died from mechanical asphyxiation but was also suffering from methamphetamine toxicity and blunt force trauma to her head.

Frank York

Forensic Specialist Kenneth Jones said he found a baseball bat in Rhonda Wisto’s truck that had finger prints and blood on it. He also testified there was a palm print that matched Frank York’s prints.

Mr. Jones also found three samurai swords and brass knuckles in that same blue pick-up truck; two of the swords had blood stains and strands of long, dark hair on them. There were numerous blood stains in the pickup; the blood has not been tested for DNA yet.

Deputy Stuart MacDonald from the coroner’s office said when they discovered 15-year-old Dystiny Myers’ body she was wrapped in a canvas bag, duct tape, several comforters and nylon rope. The young teen was also hog-tied and had sweatpants tied tightly around her neck and gloves in her mouth and throat.

Cody Miller

Dystiny also had bruising on her body from her face to her back and down to her legs. She also had fractures on her skull and her eye had been gouged out. Parts of her body, including her face had been burnt beyond recognition.

Detective Eric Twisselman from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department testified that Cody Miller told him that they all beat Dystiny at Rhonda Wisto’s house. After the beating took place they “stuffed her into a duffel bag and taken outside the residence and ultimately placed into the back of a pickup truck,”

Dystiny was still alive at this point and once they got out to the location Cody claims he was “forced” to beat her more, dig a hole and hog-tie her.

When Ty Hill asked how he knew she was dead Cody said that “he rammed a glove down her throat and that he plucked her eye out,”

Detective Burgeson testified that at least two of the suspects admitted to beating Dystiny with a baseball bat, brass knuckles, hands and feet. “I asked Miller why he had kicked Dystiny, and he told me that she was making noise and that he kicked her twice and that she stopped making noise,”

Jason Greenwell

Rhonda Wisto is Frank York’s mother. He told his mother while all this was going that killing someone was the wrong thing to do. Rhonda told her son, sometimes “stuff” has to be done. “She told him that he would be okay and that she loved him and that she wanted the best for him,” Det. Burgeson testified.

They also planned to kill Cody Miller, the plan was to murder him and cut his head off according to Ty Hill. He said after they set Dystiny on fire Ty Hill hit Cody Miller in the head with a shovel and baseball bat, he planned to kill him to because he believed he was a police informant. Cody was able to get away and ran into woods.

They got in the truck and went to Jack in the Box where they spent $8 on tacos and then went home.

Sheriff’s detective Patrick Zuchelli testified that all 5 suspects were under the influence of methamphetamines while they beat and murdered the teenager. He said it was unclear if Dystiny was voluntarily using drugs by the suspects statements.

Cody Miller

Det. Zuchelli also testified that Frank York also told him he wanted to back out before the beatings began because he was scared but was encouraged not to by his mother.

Ty Hill tried to minimize his role in the plan but eventually gave up and told the detectives everything he knew including he was the one that actually made a “check list” of everything they would need to murder Dystiny and pull the plan off without getting caught. Police found the list when they found the baseball bat that had Dystiny and Cody’s blood on it.

So far the only motive for killing Dystiny is because she was being disrespectful.

The judge has agreed that there is enough evidence to carry the case to trial and all 5 suspects will be arraigned on February 24th.

How does a child go from being active in the church and feeding the homeless to being sucked in by the streets and drugs? A lot of people will blame the mother because she was obviously an addict herself but Dystiny did not live with her mother. Dystiny’s grandmother raised her according to every report I have read and family/friends statements. Surely there were signs that this young girl was getting in over her head so why didn’t someone do something? I guess none of these questions matter now, she is dead. What does matter is that this can happen with any child, it’s up to the parent or guardian to stop it.

Lalesh Kumar Is Sentenced To Life W/O Parole After Hacking 2 With A Meat Cleaver

Lalesh Kumar

31 year old Lalesh Kumar worked at a pizza place in Sacramento, Ca. and lived with his parents. He is also a diagnosed bi-polar schizophrenic that had been placed in treatment for a week in December 2004.

On June 11, 2005 Kumar was sitting in his apartment eating chicken from KFC and watching TV when he became enraged at the sound of a toddler’s cries in an upstairs apartment. He ignored it for a short amount of time but he soon snapped and decided to put an end to it. He grabbed a meat cleaver from the kitchen drawer and headed upstairs to the apartment above his where he heard the little Romiro crying.

Virginia Pulido and her 3-year-old toddler Romiro lived in that apartment upstairs. Kumar pounded on the door and when Virginia answered he pushed his way in. Neighbors said they heard both her and the baby screaming and Virginia was begging for him. Kumar hacked her and the baby to death. Kumars’ parents and other neighbors were trying to get help on the way while he was murdering the two.

When officer’s showed up they forced their way into the apartment and both mother and child appeared to be dead. They saw Kumar jump out of the window and a foot chase ensued.

Officer’s chased Kumar through the complex and they finally caught up to him in the parking lot. Kumar would not surrender nor would he put down the meat clever. He also attempted to close in on the officer’s so they had no choice but to shoot him. Shooting Kumar several times did not stop him; it’s typical for someone having a psychotic break to have more strength than usual. Officer’s then used their taser gun on him and that caused him to drop the cleaver. He was taken to UC Davis Medical Center where he was in stable condition. Once he was released he was taken into custody.

Virginia Pulido

Virginia died at the scene but Romiro lived and was also taken to UC Davis Medical Center where he was in critical condition. Sadly, he also passed away on June 13, 2005.

Kumar said in his statement during the investigation that “there was something crawling in my stomach every time the baby cried,”

In his report it also said “And then I picked up the knife and went upstairs and then I killed the lady and the child,” Kumar said to the psychiatrist.

According to the report, Kumar told another doctor that he believed Virginia Pulido “had been performing ‘witchcraft’ on him for some months.”

Lalesh Kumar’s trial was postponed in mid-2006 because his defense attorney Tommy Clinkenbeard died of cancer.

On December 21, 2010 Kumar appeared in court and pleaded no contest to 2 counts of murder and 2 felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon against the officer’s he attempted to go after.

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office asked for the death penalty but settled for life in prison without the possibility of parole when he agreed to take the plea deal.

Superior Court Judge Russell L. Hom accepted his plea due to his mental incapacitation and he is now facing a life sentences with no chance of parole if found guilty.

He ordered Lalesh Kumar to come back to court on January 28^th for official sentencing.

Linda Parisi, one of Kumar’s two lawyers said “This is a fair resolution for everyone,” and “Mr. Kumar has a significant mental health history and an insignificant criminal history.” she said.

Ramiro Pulida

Deputy District Attorney Dawn Bladet also noted in a statement “This disposition was based upon an assessment of Kumar’s significant mental health problems, the strong possibility of a hung jury at the penalty phase at trial or the risk of Kumar being found not guilty by reason of insanity.” “The resolution of this matter assures that this dangerous individual will never get out of prison for the remainder of his life,” Bladet said.

Romiro’s father said he did not want Kumar to get the death penalty and he agreed with how he was being sentenced.

After the hearing, Xavier Vasquez, Ramiro’s cousin, said his uncle had asked for a life term without parole because “no one deserves to die.” Vasquez said the family does not harbor anger toward Kumar.

Tuesday’s resolution allows them to move on, he said. “It’s been so long,” Vasquez said. “It’s good to put it behind.”

When Lalesh Kumar appeared back in court Judge Hom sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole and gave him an extra 7 years for pulling the meat cleaver on the officers.

Judge Hom called the killings “a reflection of our system to not recognize mental health issues as they arise.” He said that Kumar was the third person this year that murdered someone as a result of a psychotic break.

Deputy District Attorney Dawn Bladet said Kumar’s state of mind was the sole reason she chose not to pursue the death penalty case against him. Kumar, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, accepted the offer in exchange for his no-contest pleas.

His sentence “assured community safety and that Mr. Kumar would never be out in public again and would spend the rest of his life in prison,” Bladet said.

Virginia and baby Romiro’s family agreed with the outcome. Romiro’s grandma said “It always hurts,” “We’re still in pain every day,” she said. “I forgive him, and may God forgive him for what he did. I know he did bad. We lost my daughter-in-law and my grandson Ramiro. We loved them a lot.”

Tonights Show CLINT DUNN SPEAKS TO SET THE STORY STRAIGHT and PATTY KREIGER CASE 2/2/2011 – Bring Them Home Now | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Tonights Show CLINT DUNN SPEAKS TO SET THE STORY STRAIGHT and PATTY KREIGER CASE 2/2/2011 – Bring Them Home Now | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

 

Clint Dunn ( Hailey Dunn’s Father) speaks out about his little girl tonight. We will also have 2 other special guests on with Hailey Dunn Case. Where is Hailey Dunn. Who is involved, Who is Who in this case. Clint Dunn will be here to set the story straight, and to bring Hailey into your hearts and let you all know Hailey through his eyes and his heart. LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – On the 29th of January marks one month since 13-year-old Hailey Dunn was reported missing in Colorado City. Her mother’s former boyfriend says Dunn told him she was walking to her father’s house and then to friend’s the day before. That’s the last time anyone has seen her. People are scared for their lives to talk about Patty’s case. They have had their lives threatened to even try to give her a voice. We have 2 very special guests joining us tonight that love Patty very much. 65 year old Skagit County resident Patricia “Patti” Krieger went missing on Saturday October, 2nd, 2010 while hiking on Sauk Mountain near Rockport, Washington. Patti had been hiking with her boyfriend, Larry Pressley, her Rot-Wielier dog Bear, and some of Larrys friends and family. They had been on the mountain that day to spread the ashes of Larrys deceased parents who had passed away several months earlier. The group she was hiking with says Patti became emotional and headed down a different trail then the rest of the hikers. They say they figured the trails would reconnect and they would meet Patti and her dog Bear at the trail head. Patti and Bear never showed up. Search and rescue teams from four counties were brought in and over 50 searchers scoured the mountain looking for Patti and came up with nothing. The next day, the Skagit County Sheriffs office brought in a helicopter with F.L.I.R technology and they too were unable to locate Patti. A few weeks later, Patti’s dog Bear was found near mile marker four on Sauk Mountain Road. Patti still hasn’t been found.

Susana Puente De Jesus, A Beautiful Life Taken By Another Monster

Susana

Susana Puente De Jesus was a 37-year-old widower from Pearland, TX. Ms. De Jesus was known for being a caring, sweet woman whom was loved by many, enjoyed cooking for her family and taking care of her 2 chihuahuas. I’m sure as she began her day on Feb. 2, 2009 it never crossed her mind that her life would take a drastic turn for the worse.

Susana Puente De Jesus was the assistant manager at Catherine’s Plus Size clothing in Pearland. Her co-workers said she seemed a bit nervous and shaken all day but did not give a reason. Susana and her co-worker locked up the shop at the end of the night like they had many other nights.

As Susana Puente De Jesus and her co-worker were walking to their cars a masked man with gloves pointed a gun at her and told her to “get in the car bitch”. He was 22-year-old Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean, and Jean needed money.

Susana did as she was told while the Jean got into the backseat. Jean asked Susana’s co-worker if she had a cell phone; She responded with a no and Jean told Susana to drive off. This occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m.

LEdet

Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean and Susana Puente De Jesus pulled out of the parking lot with Jean’s buddy, 25-year-old Wallace Charles Ledet IV, following behind. It’s not clear when, but at some point Jean took over the driving.

The co-worker, whose name is being protected, waited 2 hours to report the kidnapping. She then had her son call 911 because she was still to shaken up to make the call herself. The reason she gave for waiting so long to call was she was “very shocked and scared” by the incident.

Personally, I found it odd to wait so long to report the kidnapping. Susana Puente De Jesus had worked at Catherine’s for more than 2 years so there must have been a relationship established if the co-worker had been there for any length of time.

Even if the co-worker and Susana Puente De Jesus were not close I still can not imagine witnessing someone being kidnapped at gunpoint and not calling it in right away. That was precious time being wasted.

I wonder if this woman ever looks back and thinks about that. I’ve heard the 911 call and you can hear the co-worker in the background and she sounds like she might be an older woman. I tried to put it in my mind that maybe she didn’t call because she was elderly and felt vulnerable because Jean saw her face.

I can’t say how I would have reacted in her situation, but I would certainly hope I wouldn’t behave the way this woman did.

Brazoria County Sheriff’s Captain Kinchloe says the co-worker is cooperating fully and does not believe that this case is related to any of the recent home invasions in the area. I’m going straight from memory but it was around this time that all of a sudden houses were being broken into. There were a couple times when someone would break into a home, tie the woman up and put her into the bedroom closet while ransacking the home and taking what they wanted.

Anyway, an hour after she was kidnapped a snapshot was taken at an ATM machine 11 miles away in South Houston. Her debit card was used to withdraw money from her bank account and the snapshot was of a masked man in Susana Puente De Jesus’ car.

OnStar tracked her abandoned car to a spot about 11 miles away from the ATM the following day. Inside, police found a gun that had been reported stolen by a Pearland resident.

Texas EquuSearch had begun searching for Ms. De Jesus, but they suspended the search shortly after they began as they realized the search area was to big. Tim Miller, founder of the search agency, said:

“There are literally thousands of different areas where we could search. There are lots of places with fresh tire tracks and places of concealment and we just can’t cover that big of an area.”

Local volunteers, family and the Laura Recovery Center continued their search for Ms. De Jesus.

Captain Kinchloe interviewed several people but was never able to nail down a suspect. Then one morning about 5 weeks later a Pearland resident reported an attempted carjacking. The car owner resisted and the thief fired a shot at that victim and missed.

Jean

When the cops responded to the call the thief fired a shot at the officer and missed again. Apparently this guy’s aim sucks. The police searched the city all day and eventually their bloodhound sniffed out Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean in a backyard shed.

Nicholas Michael Jean was never on police radar because his criminal record was clean, but he had been committing burglaries and carjackings in Pearland off and on since 2006.

After Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was arrested he confessed to knowing about Susana Puente De Jesus and led the cops to her badly decomposed body. Ms. De Jesus had been taken to a truck trailer by Reliant Stadium the same night she was kidnapped and shot to death five weeks earlier. Jean initially denied being the trigger man and accused Wallace Ledet IV as the one who pulled the trigger.

Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, theft of a firearm, aggravated robbery and burglary for the attempted carjacking on March 9^th, 2009. Captain Kinchloe also said additional charges of aggravated kidnapping and burglary are expected from another home invasion before Susana Puente De Jesus was kidnapped and murdered.

On May 26, 2010 Nicholas plead guilty to Capital murder, it took a few weeks for the jury to deliberate but on June 25, 2010 justice was served. Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jean fully admitted his greed. He said he did it because he wanted Susana Puente De Jesus’ Cadillac and her money.

On September 2, 2010 Wallace Ledet IV plead guilty to aggravated kidnapping as well as burglary of a habitation in an unrelated crime. Ledet was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He admitted to be Jean’s accomplice to the kidnapping but had nothing to do with the murder of Susana Puente De Jesus.

Wallace Ledet IV says he was driving around with Jean when Jean said he needed money. Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean told Ledet to pull into the parking lot and Jean got out and kidnapped Susana Puente De Jesus. He said he then followed Jean out of the parking lot and went his own way.

When the news broke that Susana Puente De Jesus’ body had been recovered I remember being very sad but also relieved that her family could at the very least start the very slow healing process. Pearland was my home for a few years, as was Friendswood and League City. I had already left there when this happened but I still follow the local news.

People in the community came together to try and find Susana Puente De Jesus and everyone mourned her loss together. A family friend was quoted as saying:

“This has been a trying time for all us that love Susy dearly. We never gave up hope that she would come home to us and make us smile as she always did. Regardless of what happens, we know she will always walk with the angels of God and be protected from harm.”

My Editor’s Notes (from a crime site I write for): And in one of the great legal maneuvers of all time, Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean’s legal team presented one of those defenses that makes people hate lawyers. At Jean’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Tommy Stickler said the gunman who actually killed Susana Puente De Jesus after her kidnapping at a Pearland shopping center last year has yet to be arrested. Check this out:

“When someone is guilty of capital murder, it doesn’t mean that they’re the primary or secondary party (who committed the crime). It just means that somehow they were involved. And that’s what Nicholas is telling you with his guilty plea. … ‘I am guilty because I was involved with Susana’s death.’”

Well alright then Tommy, so who did pull the trigger?

“Another person was the one who actually killed Susana De Jesus. The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who was the triggerman or did (Jean) anticipate Susana would be killed.”

Well, yes, you said that already Tommy, but Who IS IT?

We’re still waiting for Tommy to answer that question. As it stands, the defense never identified the mysterious triggerman.

This “strategy” was aimed at saving Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean from the death penalty, and, as ridiculous as it sounds, The jurors appear to have bought it. Jean ended up with a jury-recommended sentence of Life Without Parole. Needless to say, not many people were happy about this judgment.

What bothers me about the defense’s story is how they didn’t have to provide one iota of proof that this mystery gunman even existed. all they had to do is say there was a guy on the grassy knoll, and the prosecution would have to go out and disprove a ghost. It’s a flaw in Texas legal procedure, and it needs to be addressed.

Author: M. Stone, Unforgotten Angels

Brett W. Smith, A Horrific Crime In Ohio

Brett W. Smith was a 34-year-old single guy who lived alone with his cat named Tigger in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court in North Canton, Ohio. He was learning disabled and collected a social security check. Friends and neighbors reportedly said he was happy and friendly guy.

His 4-year-old niece was the light of his life and he visited her regularly every Saturday. They took trips to McDonald’s for lunch and played out on the playground. I’m sure Brett would have made a wonderful father and husband one day. It’s to bad a raging lunatic stopped Brett’s family from ever finding out what he was capable of being.

On October 4, 2008, Brett W. Smith’s mother, Judy Smith was expecting Brett over for dinner the night before and he never made it. The next day she tried calling but he didn’t answer his phone. Ms. Judy Smith said she went over to Brett’s trailer house around 2:30 and again at 5:00 but he never answered the door. She thought maybe he had been sleeping soundly because he had been on a lot of medications lately. Ms. Smith was becoming increasingly worried so she called North Canton police department for help around 7:00 p.m. but they told her that they couldn’t do anything unless there was “good reason to break in”.

At that point, she asked another neighbor, Christopher Conley to assist her in breaking into Brett’s trailer house. Christopher obliged and used a crow bar to gain access to the trailer.

Christopher Conley and Judy Smith walked into the trailer and almost immediately spotted some unidentified burnt “stuff” smoldering in the oven. Conley grabbed the flashlight he found on a nearby counter and shined its beam around the trailer. That’s when they saw blue and white paint splattered all over the kitchen and in the hall. Smith headed towards the bedroom as Conley went to the bathroom. Conley said later that as soon as he took a glimpse into the bathroom and saw Brett minus his head, he “booked it out of there”. His mother went into shock when she saw the carnage in the bathroom – she told people she knew it was him because she recognized his legs.

Once Ms. Smith left the trailer she calmly called 911. I can’t imagine my reaction if I witnessed one of my children dead,  not to mention missing their head. Maybe she was in shock, at one point in the conversation she laughed. Maybe it was a nervous laughter, I used to do that at really inappropriate times.  You can hear the 911 call  on the following clip:

Police arrived around 7:30 p.m and began investigating the scene. Just like Judy Smith said, her son’s head was indeed missing. North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes later told the media that Brett Smith’s head was found in the trailer – it was a part of the mass of burnt God-knows-what Christopher Conly and Judy Smith found in Brett W. Smith’s oven. Another resident of the Evergreen Mobile Mobile Home Court said there was blood on the walls and burnt rugs in the oven. Whoever committed this heinous act had attempted to burn the trailer house down to cover the evidence of the crime scene but was unsuccessful.

William Perry

Brett’s friends and neighbors Les and Mary Louise Erb said Brett was normally happy except the day he came over in August to borrow their phone. That day was the day William Douglas Perry, 41,  punched him in the face and Brett called the cops to file charges on him. On September 30, William Douglas Perry busted Brett Smith’s electric meter and the cop’s were called back out to the trailer park and another police report was filed.

Brett Smith was once known as Brettsmith33 on myspace where he described himself as: ”Single and Looking for Miss Righet[sic].” He stated that he lived on his own and had his own car. Brett was “Looking to fine [sic] me a women [sic] that would love to have my kids for me some day soon.” In General, Brett posted that he loved working out in the garden and loved to get his hands “massiy” [sic].Brett Smith’s profile photo showed him with a little girl. He captioned it “me and my neice [sic].” This account is no longer active.

North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes reported that Perry had been picked up on October 6,2008 on an outstanding warrant. Perry was being charged with 4th degree felony vandalism stemming from breaking Brett Smith’s electric meter back on September 30.  At the time Chief Grimes wouldn’t say whether or not he thought Perry had anything to do with Brett’s murder. William Douglas Perry was given a bail amount of $150,000 for the 4th degree felony vandalism.

City Prosecutor Frank Forchione told media the reason for such a high bond on a low level felony crime was because Perry was the prime suspect in Brett’s murder and the community needed to be protected from him. Judge Mary Falvy ordered a defense request that kept police from discussing any details in the case with Perry. The request was made by defense attorney’s Rick Pitinii and Anthony Koukoutas due to the high bond amount indicating he’s the prime suspect. They later added “As far as we know, he’s made no statements,” Koukoutas said, “police and prosecutors do not make us party to their investigation while it’s ongoing.”

William D. Perry originally denied killing and decapitating Brett Smith on the evening of October 3, 2008. William was being charged  with 2 counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence at Stark County Jail on $150,000 bail.

On October 15, 2009, William Douglas Perry changed his story and pleaded guilty in order to take a deal that would spare him the death penalty. I always find it amusing  that murderers are usually afraid to die themselves yet have no respect for anyone else’s life.

Perry says on the night of the murder the 2 men got into an altercation, Perry beat Smith and then strangled him. Once he was dead he cut his head off. Perry then put his head into the oven with rugs thinking it would start a fire and destroy evidence. He also cut off Smith’s fingers and thumbs, put a knife in his chest and wrapped them along with the body in plastic. He drug the body to the bathroom and then threw paint on the walls and floor to try to hide the blood.

Before he left the trailer he stole Smith’s money. Smith’s mother found him with a knife sticking out of his chest.Perry then hid 2 trash bags that would later incriminate him through DNA in a air duct before he moved out of his home. Police also found Perry’s bracelet in Smith’s home. They also found letters and listened to calls where Perry incriminated himself.

Perry’s defense attorney’s pulled his military records and they showed an honorable discharge from the USMC after he fought in Desert Storm. They also said he had PTSD and was Bi-polar. I really don’t think his mental capacity matters and Judge Lee Sinclair apparently didn’t either. Good for her!

Judge Lee Sinclair sentenced William D. Perry to life in prison and has waived all rights to appeals.

William Douglas had problems with other North Canton residents:

Another North Canton resident had a close encounter with William D. Perry also. Dan McFarland said while at work he was taking boxes out to the trash behind the Office Depot he worked at, Perry was nearby, behind the same strip mall, fixing a door. He asked Perry how he was doing but Perry just stared him down. Dan McFarland said each time he would come back out, Perry would throw tools to the ground, stand up and stare him down. Dan McFarland said he got a really creepy feeling.

McFarland told co-worker Bryan Fadorsen about the incident’s so he took the rest of the boxes out and Perry never said a word to him. Bryan Fadorsen said:

“He looked disturbed, and he didn’t look like he was in the right state of mind,”.

After Fadorsen finished throwing the boxes out he went back in and looked out the window; Perry was kicking the boxes around. Bryan Fadorsen’s boxes…

Dan McFarland went outside and asked if the boxes were in his way and offered to move them to another area. At that point, McFarland asaid:

“He came at me …. saying ‘I’m going to kill you … and I made a run for the door. When I got to the door, he was pulling on the outside of the door when I was trying to close it.”

He was able to get the door closed and looked out the window to see Perry pacing like a madman yelling and cussing.

McFarland called the cops and a complaint was filed. No charges were filed that day and police said there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest him. The business William Perry was doing the work for distracted him long enough for McFarland to leave the area.

William Douglas Perry’s criminal record

William Perry had several other run-ins with the law before he took the leap and added murder to his list of crimes. His criminal record shows he’s been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. To avoid a prison sentence he agreed to give up his gun and attend Alcoholics Anonymous.

In 1992 he was arrested on drug charges and attempted aggravated burglary. Again, he weaseled his way out of a sentence and was given probation.

After that he spent 4 years in prison for assault charges.

While William Perry was getting his 15 minutes of fame for being the scumbag he is several of his friends showed up in the comment sections of local newspapers to defend his honor, saying he would be proven innocent. When he pleaded guilty none of those friends even came to the news sites or blogs except one lone person, and that person never defended him in the place. He called himself “jarhead” and this is what he had to say about his friend William Douglas Perry.

Posted by Jarhead October 31, 2009 10:23 a.m.

I feel I need to respond to these emails since I knew Bill since 1984. William Perry (Bill) and I were best friends since 1984 and were in the Marines together for over a decade including the first Gulf War. I was the best man at his wedding and have a couple scars from the bar room brawls that we got into together. It sadden me deeply to say the least when I read this article on Bill and is still bothering me today. I havent spoke with Bill since 2000 or so but wonder what happened in the past ten years. I am not a liberal (I fight against everything a liberal stands for) and I am not a conservative. I am a fighting AMERICAN and I killed for this counrty in 1991 and I will kill for it again if asked to do so. People who know me and are close to me will not be shocked by my next statement. Even though I love Bill as my own brother I believe are judicial system (and GOV’T) is a joke and protects people (and Bill) in matters such as these. Bill Perry deserves the death penalty and the world will be a better place with out Bill or anyone else that is capable of doing what he did. Dont take me wrong, there is a time and a reason to kill, self defense, defending the lives of your families and friends, and war. It may sound ass backwards but if there was more controlled killing in this world it would be a better place to live.
FIGHTING AMERICAN,

The people of  North Canton severely criticized Ms. Judy Smith for her reaction on the 911 call that was released through the media. While we can certainly empathize with Ms. Smith and think we know how we might react, we really don’t understand at all because we are not in her shoes.

The fact is, NO ONE knows how they would react unless they were in the same situation and no one had the right to give this grieving mother hell for her reaction. There is no guideline or rule book that tells you how to behave when you find your son murdered and beheaded. I like to follow a good rule pf thumb when I’m doing a story or making a comment – I never write anything I wouldn’t say to someone in person.

Cherita Janice Thomas, Many Years Later Her Murderer Is Charged

On August 4, 1980, Cherita Janice Thomas, a young, pretty, black woman, living in a mostly white, unprogressive community disappeared in Ausable Township, MI. She was on her way to pick up her 4-year-old daughter from the babysitters and disappeared less than a mile from the local police station. Her disappearance was not solved until many, many years later. She was last spotted getting into a truck with a white male that was described to have a beard. She had borrowed a friend, Patricia Call’s, brown AMC Matador but it stalled at US-23 and River Road. Three area kids reported that they stopped and helped Cherita get it started and she continued to her destination. Cherita’s Matador stalled once again on Sunset St. in Ausable Township, MI. less than two blocks from the babysitter’s home. Several witnesses told officers they saw a blue truck facing bumper to bumper with Cherita’s truck around 11:15PM said Detective Allen MacGregor. One witness reported seeing Cherita Thomas get into a blue truck and leaving with the driver heading off towards Old US-23. Cherita Thomas was never seen after that.

Patricia Call told investigators she dropped her two children and Cherita’s child off at another in-law’s house to babysit while they went to a local bar for drinks and then to a ballgame. At some point Cherita left to go pick up the kids from the sitters because she wanted to get home before her fiancé and she promised to leave Call’s vehicle in the driveway. They were next door neighbors. When Patricia Call returned home and saw that her car was still not in the driveway she called her sister, her sister told her that the children had never been picked up. She went next door and told Thomas’s fiancé and he started looking for her. The brown AMC Matador was located on the side of the road and her cigarettes, house keys and a note with directions to the sitter’s house was left in her truck. The keys to the vehicle were missing.

Jimmie Allen Nelson and the babysitter’s husband helped look for Cherita to no avail. Jimmie did not use his truck during the search and sold it right afterwards. Cops believe it was crushed or parted out because it was never located. Within a week of Cherita’s disappearance a woman contacted the police department and said Nelson was violent and had sexually molested her. The same woman as well as many other people stated that Nelson was also a racist. Nelson’s own sister-in-law Patricia Call said he didn’t like her associating with or allowing Cherita into her home because of her race.

In 2004, Jimmie Allen Nelson, was working as an interstate hazardous waste hauler and living in Houston, TX. He was arrested upon the request of Oscoda Township Police department. Sheriff’s County Deputies went to Nelson’s home and picked him up on charges of lying to police and hindering the investigation of Cherita Thomas’ disappearance and possible murder. He was extradited back to Michigan.

Police not only believed that Jimmie Allen Nelson had intentionally misled them but they also believed he was the prime suspect in Cherita Thomas’ disappearance.

In 1980 Nelson worked at a local logging company and lived on Sunset St. with his wife and children. This was the same area that Thomas lived in. He fit the description of the bearded man and also drove a blue pick-up truck. There was also a very important link to this crime; he was the brother-in-law of Cherita Thomas’ babysitter. This crime was deemed a racially motivated hate crime and FBI Detective David Marthaler was brought in to investigate.

When he was questioned about the disappearance of Thomas he told police that he never went out that Saturday evening nor did he work on her truck. He also said he had only become involved after the fact when he helped Cherita Thomas’ fiancé look for her.

Nelson got lucky because there was a violent federal fugitive in the area and authorities lost interest in him and started looking to point the finger at that offender since he was also in the same neighborhood.

Detective MacGregor said he had only been on the force for two years back then and didn’t have much involvement in the case at that time. He said the case file for Nelson was basically filed away and forgotten. He pointed the finger at the department’s former detective and police Chief. “I’d be asked to run down a few leads, but that was about it,” he recalled.

FBI detective Marthaler and Detective MacGregor focused all their attention on this federal fugitive for 13 years until he showed up in prison and they questioned him. Upon questioning him and checking out his alibi they found out he was not involved with Cherita Thomas’s disappearance. At that point they realized 13 years were wasted and they were back at square one again.

They decided to refocus their attention on Jimmie Allen Nelson, the person who was their original suspect and the person Detective MacGregor always suspected. Over the next several years the FBI, Detectives and Police officer’s interviewed Nelson and his story changed several times giving reason for Iosco County Prosecutor Gary Rapp to issue an arrest warrant. At one point he told detectives that he didn’t know Cherita Thomas at all and another time he said he drove her to several destinations.

In Nelson’s last statement he finally admitted that he had in fact seen Cherita Thomas on that fateful day of August 4, 1980. He said in his statement that he gave a ride to her friend’s home after her vehicle broke down and then took her to Wiltse’s Restaurant. He said the eatery was closed but she was let inside by the people that were in there cleaning. He says he didn’t tell anyone previously because Cherita Thomas asked him not to. He was just being true to his word. What a great guy. Witnesses reported that he called them and asked them to back his story up and they refused to help him. Nelson also tried to convince the bartender at Hilltop bar that his truck was red instead of blue. This was a neighborhood bar that he, Patricia Call and Cherita Thomas frequented.

Nelson even said his fingerprints may have gotten on the car Cherita was driving during a phone call to his sister-in-law that she taped for authorities. (MacGregor say investigators let Nelson believe they had found his fingerprints on the car but that, in truth, they had not.)

The many interviews where he changed his story were either tape recorded or dictated by a court reporter as evidence. The charges that Nelson faces are based solely on his interviews and did not imply that he was involved in Cherita’s disappearance at the time his statements were given.

On December 28, 2005 Nelson was picked up at his son’s home that just happened to be his former residence at the time Ms. Thomas went missing. He was arraigned the same day he was picked up by Judge Allen C. Yenior in 81st District Court on an open murder charge. He is staying with his son since he cannot leave the state and has been charged with lying to officials and obstruction of justice.

In October of 2005, Judge Richard E. Noble dismissed the charges without prejudice for 1 count of open murder, 1 count of obstruction of justice and 9 counts of perjury charges against Jimmie Allen Nelson for lack of evidence. Judge Noble told the court “In the case at bar, based upon the circumstances surrounding Cherita Thomas’ disappearance, the court is satisfied that she is deceased. However, the law in Michigan clearly requires evidence that some type of criminal agency caused that death,” Noble wrote.”There has not been any evidence of a criminal agency presented before the court. The testimony satisfies the court that the defendant may have been the last person to have seen her alive, he may have been racially biased, he may have painted the inside of his truck, but there is no direct or circumstantial evidence, no bloodstains, no DNA, no fingerprints, no weapon, no evidence of violence against Cherita Thomas,” the opinion states.

Because it was dismissed “without prejudice” that left the prosecutor open to later bring charges against Nelson if more evidence was found.

Thomas was still facing charges on 15 perjury charges and 1 count of obstruction of evidence.

In October of 2006 Nelson was only charged with 5 counts of perjury and 1 count of obstruction of justice, he was acquitted on 8 charges of perjury. He was facing a possibility of 20 years in prison but instead was sentenced to one year in jail and two years of probation. To add insult to Ms. Cherita Thomas’s family and friend’s (who always believed he was guilty) he was granted time served and spent less than a month incarcerated.

It wasn’t over yet though, justice had not been served and people still wanted to see this “man” pay for whatever he did to this young, beautiful woman. The FBI and Detective’s especially were not ready to give up and had worked doggedly on this case to try to prove him as Cherita’s murderer.

Nelson now

In April 2009, Jimmie Allen Nelson was charged again with murder. In October he was convicted of second-degree murder.

On November 8, 2010 he was finally sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison by the 23^rd Circuit Judge William F. Myles. Defense Attorney Terry Kedah said Jimmie Allen Thomas has always maintained that he was innocent therefore he refused to accept a plea deal. They are also planning an appeal.

It sounds like Jimmie Allen Nelson could have been in prison in 2005 had a local judge not made the mistake of dismissing his murder charge. Detective MacGregor told WJRT-TV it may have taken a long time, but “justice was done.” MacGregor states that “Nelson was convicted on circumstantial evidence and Ms. Thomas’ remains have never been found. He said there were no witnesses so they had to make sure all avenues were pursued and they had the right man.” Detective MacGregor also said one of the many problems that arose was that Sandra Anderson, a trained cadaver dog handler was accused and convicted of planting human remains and other evidence in 2001 and 2002 while searching for Cherita Thomas’ remains. She has sense been sentenced on federal charges and is serving time in prison.

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7771114&rss=rss-wjrt-article-7771114

Jimmie Allen Nelson had no reaction when he received his sentence but his family, who was in the courtroom claims that they have the wrong man.

Jimmie unfairly had an extra 30 years of freedom, when Cherita only had 20 years of life. Jimmie saw his kids and grand-kids grow up. He grew old and had every opportunity to create happy memories. Ms. Cherita Thomas’ family and friends has suffered without closure and without knowing where and what happened to her since April 21, 1980. Although this man is in prison Cherita’s family still cannot heal because they cannot put her remains to rest. That peace of mind has never and probably will never be given to them. A burial is a very important step in the grieving process. She would be about 50 if she were here today; her child would be about 34, maybe married with children. Cherita and her family were robbed of life and many opportunities because of a hateful man. I’ve always said people that have hate in their hearts, whether it is because of race, religion or whatever it’s only because they really hate themselves.

Jimmie Allen Thomas will most likely never live to roam the free world again and I hope Ms. Cherita’s family can take some kind of comfort in knowing that. It saddens me it took so many years to see any kind of justice when the murder was staring them right in the face the whole time. I guess hindsight is 20/20 though.

Peggy Merrimon and Kay Harrelson, Always Remembered In Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock, Tx. has a population of approximately 290,000 people. It’s the largest city in the Panhandle and it’s the area’s agricultural and economic hub. Lubbock is also home to Texas Tech University and the late Buddy Holly.

We also had Reese Air Force Base before it was shut down in 1997 due to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 1995. It’s also home to Marsha Sharp and dare I say it, former coach, Bob Knight.

Although Lubbock is not really a small town, most people know each other or know about each other. Usually, if you lived in Lubbock it’s because you were born there and a lot of times you were a 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Lubbockite.

I was born there and spent a part of my life living there. My family and best friends still live there. If you go anywhere else in Texas and tell someone your from Lubbock, they usually consider us country folk and ask if everyone wear’s cowboy boots and hats. NO! I don’t, I also don’t like country music and I’m edujemacated too. 🙂

Lubbock hasn’t always had a lot of crime, but in the last 15-20 years it has been increasing each year. Murders, Aggravated Assaults, Burglaries and Intoxicated Manslaughter seems to have become the norm.

I moved around a lot as a kid, we lived everywhere from California to New Hampshire. People always said we were “behind the times” because we were from W. Texas. I wonder if this is what they meant.

Back then, we lived in a bubble, we didn’t lock our doors, we didn’t worry about playing outside and we talked to all of our neighbors and helped out when someone needed help. Still today, if a farmer gets sick and can’t plow his field’s everyone jumps in and does it for him.

I look at this blog as a way to have the victim’s stories heard and to make sure as many people as possible know who the victimizer is. This story carries the same message, however, I also see it as a memorial and as a testimony of a town that came together and never gave up hope.

Peggy

Peggy Brown Merimon, 61, was married to Gearl Merimon. She had 7 children and 23 grandchildren. Peggy would have given the shirt off her back if she thought for a moment you needed it. Although she was once a single mother of 6 she paid sports registration fees for another child. She was far from rich but she helped anyone that needed it. She also coached basketball and baseball.

Louetta Kay Harrelson (known as Kay), 50, was the wife of Daniel (Danny) Harrelson and the mother of one son, Chris. If she wasn’t tanning or at work she was usually at home with her family.

Peggy and Kay were both from Lubbock, TX and employed by the Texas State School as clerks.

Peggy and Kay disappeared on August 9th, 2006 and although it’s been several years now no one has forgotten these two ladies, I don’t think anyone will ever forget.

Peggy and Kay were seen leaving at lunch with an unidentified man. They were expected to return that day but never did. Sgt. Jeff Baker said they left belongings behind that they would have normally taken with them if they were going to leave for the day.

Sgt. John Gomez said Peggy had a medical condition that could require attention.

Both of the ladies vehicles were left in the parking lot.

An APB was sent out that police were looking to question a man with gray hair, gray beard and glasses. He was driving an old, rusty, four door (possible) Buick. A sketch of the man was released to the press.

Peggy Merimon’s family tried to remain positive but were increasingly becoming worry-some. It was not like her to stray from her daily routine.

The police called for the assistance of The Texas Rangers and a $25,000 reward was offered by Peggy’s family for the safe return and conviction of the person that took Peggy. They were in the newspaper and on the news nearly everyday and the whole city was talking about it.

Kay

On August 16, 2006, Kay Harrelson’s family made an appeal to the news offering a $25,000 reward for the safe return of Kay and conviction of the person who had her. Mr. Harrelson fought back tears as he begged for Kay’s kidnapper to just let her come back home. The two had been married for 27 years.

Mr. Harrelson said:

“We’re completely devastated and we want her home and pray that everybody focuses on getting her home safely.”  “Chris and I are in uncharted waters and we feel lost and helpless. We continue to do everything the police ask us to do and we do everything we know to do.”

At this point it had been a week and the police nor the Texas Rangers were any closer than the first day the ladies disappeared.

Then on the 17th a report stated that police were “extensively interviewing one person” but were also interviewing others and following up on other multiple leads as well. The police also had a vehicle impounded but they weren’t saying much more.

On August 20, 2009 the family requested volunteer’s to help in conducting a search for any clues that may lead to the women. 140 people canvassed the area around the State school. They looked in abandoned buildings, ditches and open fields. The volunteer’s used horses, ATV’s and cars as well as searching on foot. This would be the first of many volunteer search parties.

Sadly, it was the news no one wanted to hear, one of the search teams found Kay’s body west of Shallowater, a small town right outside of Lubbock, near the intersection of FM 179 and CR 6000.  She had been decapitated and her head was found a few feet away. She was wearing blue underwear and a t-shirt. Animals had destroyed her remains and the medical examiner was never able to determine the cause of death.

At this point it had been almost 2 weeks since Kay and Peggy had disappeared. I would be lying if I said people were shocked to find Kay, very hurt and disappointed but not shocked. I can’t begin to imagine the pain her family went through when they were given the news. As a city, everyone grieved her death and was calling for the blood of her murderer.

Kay was finally laid to rest. Her family asked for privacy and the date of her funeral was never printed out of respect. A year later Mr. Harrelson and his son ran a memorial in the paper that read:

“You were taken from us too early in life. Each passing day is a constant reminder of just how much you meant to each of us. You are missed by so many, not just family and friends, but a whole city. We will always love you and will never forget what a great person you were to everyone. Love, Danny and Chris”

Police then began to focus their search on Peggy’s body in the same area. The clues seemed to have stopped.

On the 22nd, Sheriff’s Captain Don Carter said they had a person of interest they have been investigating and interviewing. The only details they would release were that he was a 56-year-old male who worked at the State School and they have searched his vehicle and home. They also said he was the last person seen with Kay and Peggy. He stated that he went home sick for the day around 12:30 or 12:45 yet surveillance showed him getting home at 12:03 with a passenger in the front seat.

On the week of the 27th, the Merimon’s asked for more search volunteer’s. This time hundred’s of people showed up to look for Peggy. They looked every day. People were taking off of work to help in the search. The message was loud and clear, everyone wanted Peggy back. The family said they had high hopes, but, they wanted to just bring her back either way.

On October 15th the Avalanche Journal was getting so many requests for information because it seemed as though the coverage had begun to slow down that they published the following article. http://lubbockonline.com/stories/101506/ter_101506141.shtml

In December the Merimon Family called for another search. This time Olton and Post residents showed up along with Lubbock residents. Again, there were hundred’s to search the area again. The family was still holding on to a small amount of hope that they would find clues that would lead to Peggy and she would still be alive, unlike Kay.

No one really ever gave up on finding Peggy Merimon. There was alway’s a small amount of hope. For a year, the investigator’s had a person of interest that they had been keeping tabs on, interviewing and even went as far as impounding his car and getting a search warrant for his home.

His name was never publicly released but everyone knew he was an employee of the State School. The Lubbock State School put him on PAID leave for almost an entire year before they let him go. This man was able to roam free, do whatever he chose and get paid to do absolutely nothing because there was not enough hard evidence to hold him.

Our State Rep. Delwin Jones sent a note advising that he should not be getting a paid vacation and to either fire him or put him to work. Obviously, they fired him. The State School paid out between $44,000-$48,000 while this person of interest was sitting at home doing nothing or doing everything that we knew nothing about…

The Merimon family asked this man to take a polygraph test. They publicly said if he passed it they would do everything they could to help clear his name and get his job back. He never submitted to the test.

On August 5, 2008, just a few days short of 2 years that Peggy had been missing and Kay had been found dead, the Merimon and Harrelson family filed a wrongful death suit against Mickey Patterson. Finally, there was an official name attached to the sketched face of evil. The people of Lubbock finally knew the name of the man they hated for the last two years. The families waited until the last minute to file before the statute of limitations ran out and was hoping putting Patterson’s name out into the public would make people come forward. Still, no one came forward.

Kay Harrelson had been dead for a little more than 3 years and Peggy Merrimon was still missing when the news broke Mickey Patterson had been arrested. It was on September 23, 2009 that Mickey was taken into custody in Bend, Oregon. Natosha Davis, Peggy’s daughter said “We’d always hoped we’d get this far, but we never really thought we would,” adding they’d lost almost all hope.

He was arrested on two charges of murder. His only comments were that he was innocent and “He’s sorry for their families”. He was then given a bail amount of $10,000,000. He’s still sitting in the county jail and can be found on the jail roster here https://apps.co.lubbock.tx.us/jailrosters/activejail.aspx .

It was May 13, 2010, I think everyone took a deep breath and sighed in relief as they read in the Lubbock AJ “The search is over. Peggy is finally home.”

I live in Amarillo, about 2 hours away, I remember going to work that morning and it being the only thing we talked about.

Her skeletal remains were found in a NW Lubbock field. The family said they could finally have some closure. The death of Peggy and Kay affected thousands of people. We all grieved, we all hurt, we all felt vulnerable as a community. These families will never be the same again. Even after 4 very long years, there were still searches going on, the family and community never stopped looking for Peggy. The weekend she was found there were plans to go out and search a new area. The family and the community alway’s held onto a little bit of hope that they would get Peggy back alive, they continuously offered rewards as high as $100,000. When the news came that it was Peggy’s remains it felt like our Angel cam back home. Peggy and Kay both are Lubbock’s Angel’s, they touched so many lives and they will never be forgotten.

Peggy was laid to rest on July 3, 2010 http://lubbockonline.com/obituaries/2010-07-02/peggy-brown-merimon

Mickey Weldon Patterson’s trial was intially scheduled to start on June 1st, 2010. It has been delayed without a reason and a trial has not rescheduled. It’s my guess that it was delayed due to finding Peggy’s remains. Patterson has always maintained that he is innocent and has never spoke of Peggy or Kay. Personally, I’d like to see him get the death penalty, I’d even volunteer to flip the switch as would hundreds of other Lubbockites.

Peggy’s Memorial

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Peggy-Merimon&lc=4905&pid=143856912&mid=4301647

Kay’s Memorial

http://www.findagrave.com/

Author: M. Stone, Unforgotten Angels

This is article is my OPINION. This man has not been sentenced YET and is presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, Raped and Murdered by a Houston gang, Laws are changed *GRAPHIC*

I lived in the Houston area for about 6 years, I absolutely loved it. I loved the different cultures, the great food, the historical landmarks, shopping and you never got bored or ran out of things to do. Yes, the traffic was horrible and it was hot and humid.

 

We also had to evacuate for Hurricane Rita, which was a nightmare, but aside from that I had no complaints. I traveled into the city for work and lived about 30 minutes out, if there was no traffic, which was rare.

 

Inside the Houston city limits there are plenty of seedy areas that most people would try to avoid if at all possible. There are lots of gangs and crime in general. The National Gang Threat Assessment group reports Houston has more gangs than any other city in TX with 225 different documented gangs. Houston has a population of 4 million people, not including the undocumented residents, so I guess it’s no surprise.

 

Gangs at one time were believed to be an inner-city problem amongst lesser fortunate people in crime ridden areas. These days, it has become an epidemic that affects any class, any race and any town. Money is the motive for these sleazebags so they go where ever the money is.

 

This story involves a lesser known gang called the Black and Whites.

 

Peter Anthony Cantu, 18, Efrain Perez, 17, Raul Omar Villarreal, 17, Derrick Sean O’Brien, 18, Jose “Joe” Medellin, 18, and Vernancio “Vinnie” Medellin, 14, were members of the Black and White gang. The gang made the national spotlight on June 23rd, 1993, after they murdered and raped Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16. The two girls were good friends who had spent the day together, and on that same night in 1993 they were tortured and died together.

 

The girls left a mutual friends home after a party around 11:15 p.m. to head to Elizabeth’s house and they veered off their path to take a short cut on a railroad track and through a park. They took this short cut to avoid walking by a sexually oriented business and because it would save them time – their curfew was at 12:00.

 

The next morning, the family realized the girls were not there and they began to panic. In 1993 cell phones were not very common and the average teenager did not have one. I was 18 at the time and I didn’t have one.

 

Jennifer and Elizabeth did have pagers however, so the family began desperately paging them and calling their friends. The girls friends told them they had not seen them since the night before when they left to go home.

 

Both families contacted the Houston Police Department and filed a missing persons report. I’m sure they were told that nothing could be done until the girls had been missing for the standard 24 hours.

 

The Ertmans and the Penas started independent searches on their own with the help of friends, neighbors and family. They handed out hundreds of fliers with the girls’ pictures and even gave them to the roadside vendors to insert them into the newspapers they were selling.

 

On June 27, 1993, someone calling himself “Gonzalez” called in a tip to Crimestoppers. He said that Jennifer’s and Elizabeth’s bodies could be found at the White Oak bayou in the T.C. Jester Park. The police went to the scene and a police chopper was also there to search the area.

 

Reports never said if  it was being broadcast or if “Gonzalez” was watching as the officers were searching but “Gonzalez” called 911 and said to go to the other side of the bayou. When police searched the other side they found Elizabeth’s and Jennifer’s partially decomposed bodies.

 

As I mentioned, heat and humidity in the Houston area is unlike anywhere else I have every lived, it caused the girls’ bodies to both be in an advanced stage of decomposition, specifically on their heads, necks and genitals.

 

Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena had to be identified by dental records.

 

Jennifer’s dad, Randy Ertman was about to do an interview with the news when he heard on the news scanner that 2 bodies had been on the bayou. He immediately went to the location, which was swarming with reporters and police. He was heard on the television broadcast of the scene screaming, “Does she have blond hair? DOES SHE HAVE BLOND HAIR?”

 

The police on the scene were able to keep Randy Ertman away from the crime scene, sparing him the sight of his daughter in the horrendous condition she was in. Those who witnessed this incident were brought to tears, from the toughest cop to the most jaded newsperson, even when discussing this case years later.

 

Detectives began their investigation with the call that came from Gonzalez. Once they traced it and caught up to him, “Gonzalez” said he made the call ”at his 16-year-old wife’s urging”. He was the brother of one of the men that committed this heinous act.

 

Peter Cantu, Efrain Perez, Sean O’Brien, Vinnie Medellin, Joe Medellin and a few others were doing a gang initiation with Raul Villarreal. They spent the evening drinking beer and “jumping in” Raul.

 

For anyone who may not know what the term “jumping in” means, it means the new gang hopeful has to fight every gang member there and take an *ss-whuppin’ until he was unconscious. Most gangs used the term ”blood in, blood out”.

 

These days that term means nothing, once you join there’s no leaving the gang alive in most cases.

 

After the thugs jumped in their newest member Raul Villarreal, they continued drinking and then went out to celebrate the night’s festivities. Two guys that were with them but denied being in the Black and Whites gang said they passed Jennifer and Elizabeth in the park.

 

The posse grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her down the hill. Jennifer broke loose from the gang’s grip but turned and went back when she heard Elizabeth crying out for help.

 

For over an hour the sleazeballs savagely raped the girls. Investigators said when the gang gave details of the rape it was the worst they had ever heard and all of these guys were boasting about what they had done.

 

The report said there were always at least 2 gang members on each girl, raping them orally, vaginally and anally for over an hour. The boys were said to have been bragging later to their friends and family saying ” She was loose and sloppy”. Another one of the boys said he got him some “virgin blood”.

 

Vinnie Medellin, 14, the youngest of the gang said he kept telling the guys they all needed to leave. He said they told him to “get some” so he raped Jennifer.

 

When they finished raping Elizabeth and Jennifer they took them to another area in the park. They told Vinnie to stay put because he was too young to watch what was going to happen next.

 

Sean and Raul took a belt and wrapped it around Jennifer’s neck. They pulled each end of the belt so tight the belt broke. They finished her off with her own shoe laces. Elizabeth begged for her life, out of desperation she offered to give them her phone number to call her so they could meet up another time for sex.

 

They choked her to death also with her own shoelaces.

 

After they finished torturing, beating, raping and murdering the girls they went back to Peter Cantu’s house. He shared a house with his brother Joe Cantu and Joe’s wife Christina. The guys started bragging about their antics and said it would soon be all over the news.

 

The medical examiner took the stand and testified that two of Elizabeth’s teeth were knocked out of her mouth before she died. Jennifer had two ribs that were broken after she was dead. They were kicked with steel-toe boots and had their hair ripped out. Both of these girl were brutally beaten and their necks were stomped on “to make sure they were really dead”.

 

The girl’s family attended all the court dates and had to relive these girl’s deaths every time a picture or a witness got on the stand.

 

Prior to 1993, families of the victim did not get the choice to view the abuser’s execution in the state of Texas.

 

This case changed that.

 

Also, because of this case, victim’s families now have the right to give an impact statement at the trial. When Randy Ertman made his impact statement, he told Peter Cantu “We live for the day you die, I hope you rot in hell.”

 

The Ertmans and the Penas always stayed in the public and they vocalized their anger as victims. They stayed involved and that’s why the laws were changed.

 

Vernacio “Vinnie” Medellin Pleads Guilty:

All of the guys except Vinnie was charged with Capital Murder.

 

When Vinnie took the stand in his trial he was asked about his behavior that night. He said, he went with that gang for 1 hour and he ruined his life forever. Vinnie was charged with aggravated sexual assault. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the maximum for a juvenile in Texas. His new address is at the Texas Dept. of Corrections.

 

Vinnie testified against all of the gang members except his brother. He has never taken full responsibility in his part of the crimes.

 

Derrick Sean O’Brien:

Derrick O’Brien was executed on July 11, 2006. His last words were ” I’m sorry, I have always been sorry. It’s the worst mistake I have ever made in my whole life. Not because I am here, but because of what I did. I hurt a lot of people, you and my family.”

 

Derrick O’Brien denied himself the right of a last meal.

 

Derrick O’Brien was linked to another murder that happened 7 months earlier, the woman’s neck was slashed. She had been raped and disemboweled.

 

Derrick O’Brien’s own mother and grandfather testified against him saying he was cruel and intentionally harsh.

 

If the very person that birthed you can say you are evil and deserve to die I think it’s safe to say Derrick O’Brien was a waste of oxygen. He should have been removed from the gene pool long before he ever had the chance to hurt anyone.

 

Derrick O’Brien’s Last Statement:

I do. I am sorry. I have always been sorry. It is the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life. Not because I am here, but because of what I did and I hurt a lot of people – you, and my family. I am sorry; I have always been sorry. I am sorry. You look after each other. I love you all. Be there for one another. Alright. But I am sorry; very sorry. I love you too. Alright.

Jose Ernesto Medellin:

Joe Medellin was also executed August 26, 2008. He was 33 at the time. His last words were, “I’m sorry that my actions brought you pain. I hope this brings the closure to what you seek,” he said. “Don’t ever hate them for what they do. Never harbor hate.” He then looked toward the witness room in which his friend, Sandra Crisp, was watching, crying softly, and smiled. “I love you,” he said.

 

Before his execution he tried to get a stay because he was never offered the option to contact the Mexican Consulate. His stay was denied,  Judge Strickland ruled that even if he had contacted them the outcome would have remained the same. He also quoted “The law is clear: Texas is bound not by the World Court, but by the U.S. Supreme Court, which reviewed this matter and determined that this convicted murderer’s execution shall proceed,” Strickland said of Medellin’s case.”

 

Peter Cantu:

Peter Cantu was executed August 17, 2010. He was the ringleader of these horrible crimes. He had no last words. No one showed up to witness his execution except for the girls’  families. He was asked by the presiding judge if there was any reason he shouldn’t get the death penalty and his response was “nah”.

 

Peter portrayed himself as a conceded, self-righteous punk when he was in front of the news camera. In court, he would smile, roll his eyes and make faces. He never took anything serious, including his own sentence of death. The only opinion I have of him is that I’m upset that my hard earned Texas dollars went to feed, cloth and shelter him for so many years. I’m also sad that he could not be publicly executed. I would have happily cheered his death on while he was sitting in “old sparky”.

 

Peter Cantu’s Last Statement:

No.

 

Efrain Perez and Raul Villarreal:

Efrain Perez and Raul Villarreal were both convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Perez and Villarreal later had their sentences commuted to to life in prison because they were 17 at the time the crime was committed. They will be eligible for parole in 2028.

 

The Ertmans and the Penas have videotaped their protest when Efrain and Raul come up for parole, just in case they don’t live long enough to be there. They plan to always be able to speak on behalf of their daughter’s, even if it means they have to do it from their graves.

 

Author: M. Stone, Unforgotten Angels

 

 

 

Brett W. Smith

Brett W. Smith was a 34-year-old single guy who lived alone with his cat named Tigger in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court in North Canton, Ohio. He was learning disabled and collected a social security check. Friends and neighbors reportedly said he was a happy and friendly guy.

His 4-year-old niece was the light of his life and he visited her regularly every Saturday. They took trips to McDonald’s for lunch and played out on the playground. I’m sure Brett would have made a wonderful father and husband one day. It’s to bad a raging lunatic stopped Brett’s family from ever finding out what he was capable of being.

On October 4, 2008, Brett W. Smith’s mother, Judy Smith was expecting Brett over for dinner the night before and he never made it. The next day she tried calling but he didn’t answer his phone. Ms. Judy Smith said she went over to Brett’s trailer house around 2:30 and again at 5:00 but he never answered the door. She thought maybe he had been sleeping soundly because he had been on a lot of medications lately. Ms. Smith was becoming increasingly worried so she called North Canton police department for help around 7:00 p.m. but they told her that they couldn’t do anything unless there was “good reason to break in”.

At that point, she asked another neighbor, Christopher Conley to assist her in breaking into Brett’s trailer house. Christopher obliged and used a crow bar to gain access to the trailer.

Christopher Conley and Judy Smith walked into the trailer and almost immediately spotted some unidentified burnt “stuff” smoldering in the oven. Conley grabbed the flashlight he found on a nearby counter and shined its beam around the trailer. That’s when they saw blue and white paint splattered all over the kitchen and in the hall. Smith headed towards the bedroom as Conley went to the bathroom. Conley said later that as soon as he took a glimpse into the bathroom and saw Brett minus his head, he “booked it out of there”. His mother went into shock when she saw the carnage in the bathroom – she told people she knew it was him because she recognized his legs.

Once Ms. Smith left the trailer she calmly called 911. I can’t imagine my reaction if I witnessed one of my children dead,  not to mention missing their head. Maybe she was in shock, at one point in the conversation she laughed. Maybe it was a nervous laughter, I used to do that at really inappropriate times.  You can hear the 911 call  on the following clip:



Police arrived around 7:30 p.m and began investigating the scene. Just like Judy Smith said, her son’s head was indeed missing. North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes later told the media that Brett Smith’s head was found in the trailer – it was a part of the mass of burnt God-knows-what Christopher Conly and Judy Smith found in Brett W. Smith’s oven. Another resident of the Evergreen Mobile Mobile Home Court said there was blood on the walls and burnt rugs in the oven. Whoever committed this heinous act had attempted to burn the trailer house down to cover the evidence of the crime scene but was unsuccessful.

Brett’s friends and neighbors Les and Mary Louise Erb said Brett was normally happy except the day he came over in August to borrow their phone. That day was the day William Douglas Perry, 41,  punched him in the face and Brett called the cops to file charges on him. On September 30, William Douglas Perry busted Brett Smith’s electric meter and the cop’s were called back out to the trailer park and another police report was filed.

Brett Smith was once known as Brettsmith33 on myspace where he described himself as: ”Single and Looking for Miss Righet[sic].” He stated that he lived on his own and had his own car. Brett was “Looking to fine [sic] me a women [sic] that would love to have my kids for me some day soon.” In General, Brett posted that he loved working out in the garden and loved to get his hands “massiy” [sic].Brett Smith’s profile photo showed him with a little girl. He captioned it “me and my neice [sic].” This account is no longer active.

North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes reported that Perry had been picked up on October 6,2008 on an outstanding warrant. Perry was being charged with 4th degree felony vandalism stemming from breaking Brett Smith’s electric meter back on September 30.  At the time Chief Grimes wouldn’t say whether or not he thought Perry had anything to do with Brett’s murder. William Douglas Perry was given a bail amount of $150,000 for the 4th degree felony vandalism.

City Prosecutor Frank Forchione told media the reason for such a high bond on a low level felony crime was because Perry was the prime suspect in Brett’s murder and the community needed to be protected from him. Judge Mary Falvy ordered a defense request that kept police from discussing any details in the case with Perry. The request was made by defense attorney’s Rick Pitinii and Anthony Koukoutas due to the high bond amount indicating he’s the prime suspect. They later added “As far as we know, he’s made no statements,” Koukoutas said, “police and prosecutors do not make us party to their investigation while it’s ongoing.”

William D. Perry originally denied killing and decapitating Brett Smith on the evening of October 3, 2008. William was being charged  with 2 counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence at Stark County Jail on $150,000 bail.

On October 15, 2009, William Douglas Perry changed his story and pleaded guilty in order to take a deal that would spare him the death penalty. I always find it amusing  that murderers are usually afraid to die themselves yet have no respect for anyone else’s life.

Perry says on the night of the murder the 2 men got into an altercation, Perry beat Smith and then strangled him. Once he was dead he cut his head off. Perry then put his head into the oven with rugs thinking it would start a fire and destroy evidence. He also cut off Smith’s fingers and thumbs, put a knife in his chest and wrapped them along with the body in plastic. He drug the body to the bathroom and then threw paint on the walls and floor to try to hide the blood.

Before he left the trailer he stole Smith’s money. Smith’s mother found him with a knife sticking out of his chest.Perry then hid 2 trash bags that would later incriminate him through DNA in a air duct before he moved out of his home. Police also found Perry’s bracelet in Smith’s home. They also found letters and listened to calls where Perry incriminated himself.

Perry’s defense attorney’s pulled his military records and they showed an honorable discharge from the USMC after he fought in Desert Storm. They also said he had PTSD and was Bi-polar. I really don’t think his mental capacity matters and Judge Lee Sinclair apparently didn’t either. Good for her!

Judge Lee Sinclair sentenced William D. Perry to life in prison and has waived all rights to appeals.

William Douglas had problems with other North Canton residents:

Another North Canton resident had a close encounter with William D. Perry also. Dan McFarland said while at work he was taking boxes out to the trash behind the Office Depot he worked at, Perry was nearby, behind the same strip mall, fixing a door. He asked Perry how he was doing but Perry just stared him down. Dan McFarland said each time he would come back out, Perry would throw tools to the ground, stand up and stare him down. Dan McFarland said he got a really creepy feeling.

McFarland told co-worker Bryan Fadorsen about the incident’s so he took the rest of the boxes out and Perry never said a word to him. Bryan Fadorsen said:

“He looked disturbed, and he didn’t look like he was in the right state of mind,”.

After Fadorsen finished throwing the boxes out he went back in and looked out the window; Perry was kicking the boxes around. Bryan Fadorsen’s boxes…

Dan McFarland went outside and asked if the boxes were in his way and offered to move them to another area. At that point, McFarland asaid:

“He came at me …. saying ‘I’m going to kill you … and I made a run for the door. When I got to the door, he was pulling on the outside of the door when I was trying to close it.”

He was able to get the door closed and looked out the window to see Perry pacing like a madman yelling and cussing.

McFarland called the cops and a complaint was filed. No charges were filed that day and police said there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest him. The business William Perry was doing the work for distracted him long enough for McFarland to leave the area.

William Douglas Perry’s criminal record

William Perry had several other run-ins with the law before he took the leap and added murder to his list of crimes. His criminal record shows he’s been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. To avoid a prison sentence he agreed to give up his gun and attend Alcoholics Anonymous.

In 1992 he was arrested on drug charges and attempted aggravated burglary. Again, he weaseled his way out of a sentence and was given probation.

After that he spent 4 years in prison for assault charges.

While William Perry was getting his 15 minutes of fame for being the scumbag he is several of his friends showed up in the comment sections of local newspapers to defend his honor, saying he would be proven innocent. When he pleaded guilty none of those friends even came to the news sites or blogs except one lone person, and that person never defended him in the place. He called himself “jarhead” and this is what he had to say about his friend William Douglas Perry.

Posted by Jarhead October 31, 2009 10:23 a.m.

I feel I need to respond to these emails since I knew Bill since 1984. William Perry (Bill) and I were best friends since 1984 and were in the Marines together for over a decade including the first Gulf War. I was the best man at his wedding and have a couple scars from the bar room brawls that we got into together. It sadden me deeply to say the least when I read this article on Bill and is still bothering me today. I havent spoke with Bill since 2000 or so but wonder what happened in the past ten years. I am not a liberal (I fight against everything a liberal stands for) and I am not a conservative. I am a fighting AMERICAN and I killed for this counrty in 1991 and I will kill for it again if asked to do so. People who know me and are close to me will not be shocked by my next statement. Even though I love Bill as my own brother I believe are judicial system (and GOV’T) is a joke and protects people (and Bill) in matters such as these. Bill Perry deserves the death penalty and the world will be a better place with out Bill or anyone else that is capable of doing what he did. Dont take me wrong, there is a time and a reason to kill, self defense, defending the lives of your families and friends, and war. It may sound ass backwards but if there was more controlled killing in this world it would be a better place to live.
FIGHTING AMERICAN,

The people of  North Canton severely criticized Ms. Judy Smith for her reaction on the 911 call that was released through the media. While we can certainly empathize with Ms. Smith and think we know how we might react, we really don’t understand at all because we are not in her shoes.

The fact is, NO ONE knows how they would react unless they were in the same situation and no one had the right to give this grieving mother hell for her reaction. There is no guideline or rule book that tells you how to behave when you find your son murdered and beheaded. I like to follow a good rule of thumb when I’m doing a story or making a comment – I never write anything I wouldn’t say to someone in person.

Susana Puente DeJesus

Susana Puente De Jesus was a 37-year-old widower from Pearland, TX. Ms. De Jesus was known for being a caring, sweet woman whom was loved by many, enjoyed cooking for her family and taking care of her 2 chihuahuas. I’m sure as she began her day on Feb. 2, 2009 it never crossed her mind that her life would take a drastic turn for the worse.

Susana De Jesus was the assistant manager at Catherine’s Plus Size clothing in Pearland. Her co-workers said she seemed a bit nervous and shaken all day but did not give a reason. Susana and her co-worker locked up the shop at the end of the night like they had many other nights.

As Susana and her co-worker were walking to their cars a masked man with gloves pointed a gun at her and told her to “get in the car bitch”. He was 22-year-old Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean, and Jean needed money.

Susana did as she was told while the Jean got into the backseat. Jean asked Susana’s co-worker if she had a cell phone; She responded with a no and Jean told Susana to drive off. This occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean and Susana Puente De Jesus pulled out of the parking lot with Jean’s buddy, 25-year-old Wallace Charles Ledet IV, following behind. It’s not clear when, but at some point Jean took over the driving.

The co-worker, whose name is being protected, waited 2 hours to report the kidnapping. She then had her son call 911 because she was still to shaken up to make the call herself. The reason she gave for waiting so long to call was she was “very shocked and scared” by the incident.

Personally, I found it odd to wait so long to report the kidnapping. Susana Puente De Jesus had worked at Catherine’s for more than 2 years so there must have been a relationship established if the co-worker had been there for any length of time.

Even if the co-worker and Susana Puente De Jesus were not close I still can not imagine witnessing someone being kidnapped at gunpoint and not calling it in right away. That was precious time being wasted.

I wonder if this woman ever looks back and thinks about that. I’ve heard the 911 call and you can hear the co-worker in the background and she sounds like she might be an older woman. I tried to put it in my mind that maybe she didn’t call because she was elderly and felt vulnerable because Jean saw her face.

I can’t say how I would have reacted in her situation, but I would certainly hope I wouldn’t behave the way this woman did.

Brazoria County Sheriff’s Captain Kinchloe says the co-worker is cooperating fully and does not believe that this case is related to any of the recent home invasions in the area. I’m going straight from memory but it was around this time that all of a sudden houses were being broken into. There were a couple times when someone would break into a home, tie the woman up and put her into the bedroom closet while ransacking the home and taking what they wanted.

Anyway, an hour after she was kidnapped a snapshot was taken at an ATM machine 11 miles away in South Houston. Her debit card was used to withdraw money from her bank account and the snapshot was of a masked man in Susana Puente De Jesus’ car.

OnStar tracked her abandoned car to a spot about 11 miles away from the ATM the following day. Inside, police found a gun that had been reported stolen by a Pearland resident.

Texas EquuSearch had begun searching for Ms. De Jesus, but they suspended the search shortly after they began as they realized the search area was to big. Tim Miller, founder of the search agency, said:

“There are literally thousands of different areas where we could search. There are lots of places with fresh tire tracks and places of concealment and we just can’t cover that big of an area.”

Local volunteers, family and the Laura Recovery Center continued their search for Ms. De Jesus.

Captain Kinchloe interviewed several people but was never able to nail down a suspect. Then one morning about 5 weeks later a Pearland resident reported an attempted carjacking. The car owner resisted and the thief fired a shot at that victim and missed.

When the cops responded to the call the thief fired a shot at the officer and missed again. Apparently this guy’s aim sucks. The police searched the city all day and eventually their bloodhound sniffed out Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean in a backyard shed.

Nicholas Michael Jean was never on police radar because his criminal record was clean, but he had been committing burglaries and carjackings in Pearland off and on since 2006.

After Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was arrested he confessed to knowing about Susana Puente De Jesus and led the cops to her badly decomposed body. Ms. De Jesus had been taken to a truck trailer by Reliant Stadium the same night she was kidnapped and shot to death five weeks earlier. Jean initially denied being the trigger man and accused Wallace Ledet IV as the one who pulled the trigger.

Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, theft of a firearm, aggravated robbery and burglary for the attempted carjacking on March 9^th, 2009. Captain Kinchloe also said additional charges of aggravated kidnapping and burglary are expected from another home invasion before Susana Puente De Jesus was kidnapped and murdered.

On May 26, 2010 Nicholas plead guilty to Capital murder, it took a few weeks for the jury to deliberate but on June 25, 2010 justice was served. Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jean fully admitted his greed. He said he did it because he wanted Susana Puente De Jesus’ Cadillac and her money.

On September 2, 2010 Wallace Ledet IV plead guilty to aggravated kidnapping as well as burglary of a habitation in an unrelated crime. Ledet was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He admitted to be Jean’s accomplice to the kidnapping but had nothing to do with the murder of Susana Puente De Jesus.

Wallace Ledet IV says he was driving around with Jean when Jean said he needed money. Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean told Ledet to pull into the parking lot and Jean got out and kidnapped Susana Puente De Jesus. He said he then followed Jean out of the parking lot and went his own way.

When the news broke that Susana Puente De Jesus’ body had been recovered I remember being very sad but also relieved that her family could at the very least start the very slow healing process. Pearland was my home for a few years, as was Friendswood and League City. I had already left there when this happened but I still follow the local news.

People in the community came together to try and find Susana Puente De Jesus and everyone mourned her loss together. A family friend was quoted as saying:

“This has been a trying time for all us that love Susy dearly. We never gave up hope that she would come home to us and make us smile as she always did. Regardless of what happens, we know she will always walk with the angels of God and be protected from harm.”

My Editor’s Notes (from the crimeblog I write for): And in one of the great legal maneuvers of all time, Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean’s legal team presented one of those defenses that makes people hate lawyers. At Jean’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Tommy Stickler said the gunman who actually killed Susana Puente De Jesus after her kidnapping at a Pearland shopping center last year has yet to be arrested. Check this out:

“When someone is guilty of capital murder, it doesn’t mean that they’re the primary or secondary party (who committed the crime). It just means that somehow they were involved. And that’s what Nicholas is telling you with his guilty plea. … ‘I am guilty because I was involved with Susana’s death.’”

Well alright then Tommy, so who did pull the trigger?

“Another person was the one who actually killed Susana De Jesus. The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who was the triggerman or did (Jean) anticipate Susana would be killed.”

Well, yes, you said that already Tommy, but Who IS IT?

We’re still waiting for Tommy to answer that question. As it stands, the defense never identified the mysterious triggerman.

This “strategy” was aimed at saving Nicholas-Michael Edwin Jean from the death penalty, and, as ridiculous as it sounds, The jurors appear to have bought it. Jean ended up with a jury-recommended sentence of Life Without Parole. Needless to say, not many people were happy about this judgment.

What bothers me about the defense’s story is how they didn’t have to provide one iota of proof that this mystery gunman even existed. all they had to do is say there was a guy on the grassy knoll, and the prosecution would have to go out and disprove a ghost. It’s a flaw in Texas legal procedure, and it needs to be addressed.