Forensic Files Premiered ‘Blanket of Evidence’: Michael Dean Overstreet Raped & Murdered Franklin College Student Kelly Eckart (April 4, 2007)

On April 4, 2007October 11, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Navy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Sexual Assault, True Crime, Veterans1 Comment

A young woman disappeared after working the late shift in a department store. Days later, her body was found in an isolated ravine. Tiny clues told police a great deal about the killer. He would own olive-colored carpeting, a white blanket, and distinctive bullets made from wax, not lead. -Blacket of Evidence, Forensic Files (S11,E38)

Editor’s Note: Full episodes of Forensic Files are available on a variety of media platforms. FilmRise Channel and Forensic Files Channel both feature full episodes of Forensic Files on YouTube. You can also find full episodes of Forensic Files on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. On Netflix, the seasons are grouped as collection 1-9. On Amazon Prime Video, you can find Season 1-10 here; Season 11; Season 12; Season 13; Season 14; Season 15; Season 16; Season 17; Season 18; Season 19; Season 20; and Season 21. Start bingeing and see for yourself why Forensic Files is such a hit!

Forensic Files Premiered ‘A Novel Idea’: Michael Peterson Convicted of Murdering Two Women for Life Insurance Money (December 13, 2006)

On December 13, 2006October 11, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, True Crime, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

Full Episode: Emergency Dispatch in Durham, North Carolina received a frantic call from a man who said his wife had fallen down the stairs; she was unconscious but still breathing. When paramedics arrived, they could do little more than pronounce the woman dead. The number and volume of bloodstains at the scene was greater than usual. It was up to forensic scientists to find out why. -A Novel Idea, Forensic Files (S11,E22)

Forensic Files Premiered ‘Capitol Crimes’: Marine Veteran Kenneth Cains Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (October 4, 2006)

On October 4, 2006October 11, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, True Crime, USMC, VeteransLeave a comment

Full Episode: The driver said he couldn’t have hit and killed a pedestrian on a Harrisburg street. The Jeep Grand Cherokee he was leasing around that time had been sold months ago to a buyer in another state. Police were able to find the vehicle. They impounded it, took it apart, and discovered evidence, which would tell them what really happened that night. -Capitol Crimes, Forensic Files (S11,E12)

Marine Veteran Robert McClancy Poisoned with PTSD Medications; Martha McClancy & Charles Kaczmarczyk Convicted of Fraud & Murder (May 15, 2006)

On May 15, 2006August 24, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Cold Cases, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, Scandals, USMCLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-12-04-at-12-57-32-pm — Robert ‘Bob’ McClancy, US Marine Corps Veteran

“Monroe County judge calls crime the most evil he’s seen.” -WATE.com

Robert ‘Bob’ McClancy, 47, and Martha Ann McClancy worked in the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department in Florida. Martha was a secretary and Bob was a detective. They fell in love later in life and Bob decided to take an early retirement from his job. The two decided to move away from the fast paced life in Florida and settled in Tellico Plains, Tennessee which is nestled in the Smoky Mountains. Bob suffered with severe stress after years of working as a detective and his time in the Marines. Bob was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was also diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Bob went through some very traumatic combat experiences and was on strong medications. Bob would often take the wrong dose so Martha Ann decided it was time for her to take control.

In the meantime, Bob was grateful for his friend and fellow veteran Charles Kaczmarczyk because he understood what Bob was going through. Chuck said he had seen combat as well and was also awarded the Purple Heart. The pair had a lot in common. Over the course of time, Martha Ann quickly warmed up to Chuck, the “military hero.” Their relationship blossomed beyond a friendship over time and Bob was never aware of their ongoing affair. Martha Ann and Chuck frequently got together in Bob’s home. They fell in love and soon Bob was looking increasingly like a troubled third wheel. Martha often told Chuck things would be better if Bob went away. One night, Martha claimed to find Bob barely conscious after he had taken an accidental overdose of his medications for PTSD. When she got to the hospital, she claimed Bob was always messing up his medications.

On May 15, 2006, Chuck said he discovered Bob dead after another accidental overdose on his medications. Chuck found his friend dead in his chair with an empty pill bottle in one hand and a 38 revolver in the other hand. Chuck appeared distraught after finding his friend as did the sobbing Martha Ann after she found out. Everything pointed to a tragic suicide and Martha Ann leaned harder on her friend Chuck. Five months later, Martha and Chuck got married and embarked on a new life with a whole new look. They didn’t even look like the same people when they started their new careers as fraudsters. Martha Ann took on the role of a veteran pretending to be a Purple Heart recipient and claimed she earned it after the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. And Chuck doesn’t have PTSD, he was faking it for the veteran benefits. Chuck had been in the military but he never saw a day of combat.

Martha Ann and Chuck both faked permanent injuries and had this whole scam going at the Department of Veterans Affairs. They used a wheelchair or a cane to make it appear they had physical injuries as well. Over six years, the two defrauded the federal government of nearly $800,000 dollars until Chuck told one war story too many. Other veterans came forward and said he was lying because what he was describing was not what happened as they were there. Martha Ann and Charles both ended up behind bars and their criminal history was over. And then one day, Martha Ann’s son made a surprise discovery on her computer. Martha Ann’s son found pictures of his step-father, Bob, dead in a chair. In each picture, Bob was in a different position. There were pictures of Bob with the gun in his hand, then there were pictures of Bob without the gun in his hand.

Martha Ann’s son knew the photos would implicate his mother in the murder of his step-father Bob but he loved Bob and didn’t hesitate to contact authorities. Martha Ann’s son cooperated with the police fully in a sting operation to nail his mother. Martha Ann asked him to get rid of all the photos. The police knew where to find the person who took the pictures because Chuck was spending 30 months in jail for his part in the disability fraud. Chuck immediately wanted to know what was in it for him so the police agreed to tell the district attorney that Chuck cooperated with them in the investigation. Chuck confessed that Martha Ann had crushed up Bob’s pills and put them in his drink and then confessed to the entire twisted tail. Martha called the crushed pills her “magic dust.”

The police would learn that Martha Ann crushed up the medication and put it in Bob’s drinks in an effort to slowly kill him. And on May 15, 2006, Martha gave Bob a lethal dose of “magic dust” and then went to work to create her alibi. Chuck was supposed to check in on Bob later that afternoon and it was his job to pretend to find him dead. Martha Ann was sure Bob would be dead by then. But when Chuck arrived to check in on Bob, he was laying on the floor and wasn’t dead yet. So Chuck lifted him up, placed him in the chair, and fed him more of the crushed pills. Then Chuck sat there and waited until he died. Martha Ann told Chuck to keep it simple and make it look like a suicide. But Chuck went overboard, placed a gun in his hand, and took pictures of Bob in various positions. Martha wanted to see the pictures.

Despite Chuck’s confession, Martha Ann claimed Bob took the wrong medication and she had nothing to do with it. She never admitted to any involvement whatsoever. The detectives said she was one of the coldest people they had ever interviewed. In 2013, Charles Kaczmarczyk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder and was sentenced to twenty-five (25) years in federal prison. Nine years after her husband’s death, Martha Ann McClancy was convicted of attempted first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. She was sentenced to the maximum of fifty years in prison and is eligible for parole in 2028. Those involved with the investigation claimed Martha Ann never showed an ounce of regret or remorse or guilt for what she did to her husband.

Dateline:

Preview: The death of a beloved Tennessee man is believed to be a suicide. But when a son questions his mother, he uncovers a dark family conspiracy. -Secrets in the Smoky Mountains, Dateline NBC (October 24, 2016)

Oxygen:

Preview: Robert McClancy was found dead in his home, but was it suicide triggered from his PTSD, did his best friend who found him turn out to be the one who killed him, or was it his seemingly loving wife behind it all? -Martha Ann McClancy, Snapped (S21, E2)

Investigation Discovery:

Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead. These Deadly Women think they’ve committed the perfect murders when they “Hit and Run.” -Hit and Run, Deadly Women (S11, E6)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $3.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict. Download the ID Go app or purchase ID True Crime Files & binge away.

Retired Marine Walter Smith Drowned Girlfriend Nicole Speirs in Bathtub and Blamed Post Traumatic Stress; Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison (2006)

On March 25, 2006July 6, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, USMCLeave a comment

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 12.30.36 PM — Nicole Speirs

In August 2004, hard working Walter Smith was managing a photoshop at a local department store in a town outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Walter met the future mother of his children Nicole Speirs on a social media site. Nicole was a tomboy, she was into skateboarding, adventure, and the two appeared to get along really well. They went out on a couple dates and spent the night together. But Walter was not sure how close he wanted to get because he had other things on his mind. He only recently returned home after a tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He joined the Marine Corps after high school and in early 2000, he was at boot camp in California. One of his Marine friends spoke highly of him and shared that one wanted to spend time with Walter because he was very interesting. Then September 11, 2001… Of course the Marines were deployed to Iraq and in February of 2003, Walter and and his team were some of the first on the ground during Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was war and the possibility of dying was something they had to accept after witnessing many of their own die around them.

In the summer of 2003 after six months in Iraq, Walter returned to Utah for a visit and then was sent to a marksman training course in Virginia. While on a rifle range, the sounds of munitions were giving Walter flashbacks and he thought he was shooting at people in Iraq. According to a comrade, something was triggered inside him and he just lost it. The was the beginning of his medical discharge. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and medically discharged from the USMC. One of Walter’s Marine friends shared that most begin to experience the PTSD after they get out but they don’t push the subject with one another. But everyone recognized that Walter was depressed; he wasn’t the same person he was when they met him. Walter met Nicole Speirs shortly after his military discharge. Although after a few dates and intense nights spent together, Walter retreated. In the meantime, Nicole called Walter to let him know that she was pregnant. He went to the first doctor visit with her and they found out together they were having twins.

Walter wasn’t sure he was ready to have a family. He also learned that his parents were getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage. It rocked the foundations of all of the siblings. Walter retreated completely after the doctor visit with Nicole and requested a DNA test to prove they were his children. Nicole had to accept Walter’s decision; she didn’t know that he was struggling with PTSD. Walter became quiet and withdrawn. Once harmless, the civilian world now had several threats everywhere after his return. Walter’s family couldn’t understand what he had been through. Walter’s comrades shared that he engaged in one of the most violent fights during the deployment in Iraq. They were hit with an RPG and three guys were hurt. The enemy was packing families in cars and driving right at them. Walter had no choice but to use the gun to stop the existing threat. They had a hard time witnessing the innocent children die. The Marines in Walter’s company were never the same.

Now that Walter was back in Utah, his depression was getting worse. He was downward spiraling. By September 2004, Walter’s dad moved in with him. The family was concerned for them because they both were feeling extremely depressed. Walter’s dad shared that his own father committed suicide when he was young because he felt that he was a burden to the family. On June 30, 2004, Walter reached a breaking point. His thoughts were more distorted. Walter Sr. didn’t know it but Walter was experiencing violent tendencies. He feared for his own father’s life. He left their home before he harmed his father and made a decision to kill himself with a shotgun. He called some family to say goodbye but before he could pull the trigger, a friend contacted the local police to intervene. As a result, Walter was admitted into a psychiatric ward. He was diagnosed with PTSD, severe depression with psychosis, and alcohol dependency. Meanwhile, Nicole was on bedrest with a difficult labor and gave birth a month earlier then expected.

Nicole’s babies were both underdeveloped and needed to remain in the NICU for over a month but they finally got the green light to take them home. Nicole had a girl and a boy. Walter never went to visit Nicole at the hospital. By the time the children were five years old, Nicole filed for child support. Meanwhile, Walter looked at Nicole’s pictures on social media and could tell that the children were his right away and wanted to see them. This time, he told her the truth about the PTSD. Walter met the children and things seemed really good. Nicole was a phenomenal mom and this appeared to help Walter cope better too because she was calm and caring. Nicole was really excited that Walter came back. But Walter still doesn’t feel the same way as Nicole and wasn’t sure that he ever would; he had his own demons to contend with. But, they were both trying to strengthen their relationship for the sake of the children.

On March 9, 2006, Nicole was feeling dizzy so she left work and went home to rest. Two weeks later on March 24, 2006, Nicole and Walter were up late after a relaxing evening together at home. They made love and got in the bathtub to get cleaned up. Nicole asked Walter what she thought about their future; she wanted to get married. Walter said he needed more time and wasn’t ready to make that decision. He knew that he wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. She was upset about this but decided to play it out and see where things went. The next morning Walter and the children left at 5 am to visit his family. The rest of the grandchildren were going to be there for a group photo. Shortly after Walter arrived, he began arguing with a relative and acting erratically. The family eventually called the police on Walter because they were concerned about his behavior. Walter called Nicole and told her he was returning instead of spending the night with his family.

Walter entered through the garage around 1 a.m. like he usually did and put the children to bed. He went to the bathroom where he heard water running and found Nicole face down in the bathtub. She appeared to be dead. He called 911. He was rattled, couldn’t remember the address, he realized that she was dead and this appeared to deflate him. Walter was hesitant to do the CPR when asked by the 911 dispatcher but he did it and unfortunately it was too late. Nicole was gone. Police arrived to find Walter and Nicole’s dead body. The body had been in a cold tub which made the time of death difficult to determine. There was no clear sign of foul play. Walter was questioned and claimed that Nicole was taking an anti-depressant for depression. His demeanor striked investigators as guarded and numb. Walter was with his family so could corroborate his whereabouts. Walter made the dreadful phone calls to family members and loved ones but Nicole’s death didn’t make sense to any of them.

In the days after Nicole’s death, the police kept their eye on Walter Smith. They questioned neighbors who denied any knowledge of abuse or volatility in the relationship; as a matter of fact, neighbors observed that both appeared happy together. The Speirs family was concerned about when Nicole got sick and wondered if that had anything to do with it. And suicide was a theory that Walter planted until Nicole’s autopsy put an end to that. There were no drugs in her system but the manner of death was drowning; the cause of death was unknown. The big question was why and how did this happen? Walter and the Speirs family worked together to take care of the children over the next few months. But nothing could hold back the depression that Walter was fighting off. Sometimes he felt like the PTSD was going to break him.

On December 4, 2006, Walter drove himself to the Veterans Affairs hospital emergency room because he was feeling suicidal and homicidal. He called his Uncle Craig and told him he couldn’t live another day. After questioned by his uncle, Walter admitted that he had something to do with Nicole’s death. His Uncle Craig recommended he remain silent until he got there but Walter Smith already told the VA that he felt guilty about what happened to Nicole. The VA called the police department who showed up around the time that his uncle showed up. He was quiet initially but then told them he was responsible for Nicole’s death. It was not an accident; it was something more. He was arrested for suspicion of homicide and taken in custody. Walter Sr.’s heart was shattered and he was in absolute disbelief that his son could do something like this. Walter Sr. and Craig let Nicole Speir’s family know right away that Walter admitted to being responsible for Nicole’s death.

Two days later, detectives got a second crack at Walter. Walter explained that he was in the bathtub with Nicole. She was sitting towards the faucet with him behind her. She washed her hair and she had to bend forward to rinse it. He then pushed her head down in the water from the back until she drowned to death. He was emotionless, matter of fact, and flat when he talked about the crime. He admitted that they had not been arguing prior to the act. When asked, Walter said that Nicole did fight back to the best of her ability. The detectives did not believe PTSD was an excuse because he took advantage of her in the most vulnerable position. Investigators exclaimed that this was an intimate domestic violence encounter that could only be accomplished in that position of trust. Walter didn’t know why he did it; he couldn’t explain it to those who were questioning him. His reasoning for coming forward was because he wanted help; the crime had in fact eaten away at him. After his confession, Walter was charged with murder in the first degree. But the legal teams validated that PTSD is a legitimate mitigating factor to reduce a charge from murder to manslaughter.

The prosecution recognized and believed this murder probably would not have happened if not for PTSD. The Speirs family learned from the prosecution that there was a lack of physical evidence, that most likely a jury would be sympathetic to a war vet with PTSD, and that these factors could lead to a not guilty verdict. As a result, the family agreed to a plea deal and a sentence was negotiated; Walter Smith received 1 to 15 years in prison. The sentence automatically gave the Speir family custody of the two children. The family felt the sentence was weak but ultimately they wanted to protect the children. Detectives wanted the public to remember that this was still a homicide and the PTSD didn’t cause this. Walter began serving his sentence in the fall of 2007. Four years later, his family and the Speirs family attended his parole hearing; Walter wasn’t allowed to look at any of them. As he sat hunched and humbled, he was asked if there was anything he wanted to say. He was silent at first but then he finally said that he didn’t disagree with what the family wanted including spending all 15 years in prison because he deserved it. He also said he was truly sorry for what he did. Walter Smith’s parole was turned down and he will spend the entire fifteen years in prison.

Did the status as a Marine with PTSD shape the way this crime was handled?

Learn more: Complex Post Traumatic Stress and Dissociation in Military and Veteran Populations

The PTSD Defense:

Vet with PTSD dissociates, overreacts, self defense
Vet with PTSD dissociates, blames suicidal thoughts & pain, unravels
Vet who is violent criminal, doesn’t have PTSD, yet uses as defense
Vet who is violent criminal & has PTSD, yet would have committed crime regardless because violent criminal first (who happens to have PTSD)
How do we differentiate between dissociation & violent criminal activity?
When do we apply PTSD as a mitigating factor in homicide cases?
PTSD doesn’t cause crime, the propensity to harm is innate, can have both
Although manslaughter is lesser offense, it is still a homicide
Is it fair to use mitigating circumstances like PTSD, crime of passion, jealousy, etc. when the end result was murder? Impact on victim’s family.

“Walter Smith is a Marine Corps soldier just back from Iraq. Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Walter finds comfort in the arms of young artist Nicole Speirs. But in the darkest recesses of the mind, their cruel fate is already decided.” -Discovery ID

August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

On August 31, 2005August 19, 2017 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, In Their NameLeave a comment

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Charles Rubado, 23, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/31/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Dennis Hay, 32, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Martinez, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/30/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Obediah Kolath, 32, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/29/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Damion Campbell, 23, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Trevor Diesing, 30, and Ivica Jerak, 42, Iraq, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/27/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Timothy Shea, 22, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Hatim Kathiria, 23, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/26/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Chris Chapin, 39, Iraq, Vermont Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victoir Lieurance, 34, and Joseph Hunt, 27, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/24/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Carlos Diaz, 27, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Joseph Nurre, 22, Iraq, West Virginia Army Reserve

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Romero, 19, Iraq, Twentynine Palms, California

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Elden Arcand, 22, and Brian Morris, 38, NCDs, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Cathey, 24, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Phillip George, 22, Iraq, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Willard Partridge, 35, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/23/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Blake Hall, 20, Joshua Hyland, 31, Michael Lehmiller, 23, and Christopher Palmer, 22, Afghanistan, Vicenza, Italy

08/22/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathan Bouchard, 24, Jeremy Doyle, 24, Ray Fuhrmann II, 28, and Timothy Seamans, 20, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/19/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Laura Walker, 24, and Robert Davis, 23, Afghanistan, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/19/2005: Air Force Officer MIA From Vietnam War is Identified: Gregg Hartness

08/17/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Stokely, 23, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jose Ruiz, 28, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/16/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Thomas Strickland, 27, Joshua Dingler, 19, and Paul Saylor, 21, NCDs, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Asbury Hawn II, 35, Gary Reese Jr, 22, and Shannon Taylor, 30, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Toccara Green, 23, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Rusty Bell, 21, NCD, Iraq, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brian Derks, 21, Iraq, Fort Irwin, California

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: David Giaimo, 24, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/15/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jeremy Chandler, 30, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Anthony Kalladeen, 26, and Hernando Rios, 29, Iraq, New York Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Edward Heselton, 23, Afghanistan, South Carolina Army Reserve

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Ryan Ostrom, 25, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Miguel Carrasquillo, 25, Iraq, Fort Stewart, Georgia

08/12/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Evenor Herrera, 22, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Nathaniel Detample, 19, John Kulick, 35, Gennaro Pellegrini Jr, 31, and Francis Straub Jr, 24, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Katzenberger, 25, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/11/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Michael Benson, 40, Iraq, Fort Drum, New York

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Christopher Falkel, 22, Afghanistan, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

08/10/2005: Twelve MIAS from Vietnam War are Identified

08/10/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Ramon Gonzales Cordova, 30, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jonathon Haggin, 26, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Brahim Jeffcoat, 25, and Kurt Krout, 43, Iraq, Pennsylvania Army National Guard

08/09/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chase Comley, 21, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Seferino Reyna, 20, Iraq, Fort Riley, Kansas

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Derenda, 42, NCD, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Brett Walden, 40, NCD, Iraq, Fort Campbell, Kentucky

08/08/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Terry Ball Jr, 36, Iraq, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Damian Garza, 19, and John Henderson Jr, 21, NCD, Afghanistan, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/07/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Nils Thompson, 19, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

08/06/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Theodore Clark Jr, 31, Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, California

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, David Jones Sr, 45, and Ronnie Shelley, 34, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Victor Anderson, 39, Mathew Gibbs, 21, and Charles Warren, 36, Iraq, Georgia Army National Guard

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Chad Simon, 32, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Wisconsin

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Christopher Dyer, 19, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/05/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Adam Strain, 20, Iraq, Camp Pendleton, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Nicholas Bloem, 20, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Montana

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Bradley Harper, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Virginia

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: David Stewart, 24, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Timothy Bell Jr, 22, Eric Bernholtz, 23, Justin Hoffman, 27, and David Kreuter, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Navy Casualty: Thomas Hull, 41, NCD, Arabian Gulf, USS Princeton, San Diego, California

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Grant Fraser, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Alaska

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Kevin Waruinge, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Mississippi

08/04/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Michael Cifuentes, 25, Aaron Reed, 21, Edward Schroeder II, 23, and William Wightman, 22, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James McNaughton, 27, Iraq, New York Army Reserve

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: Roger Castleberry Jr, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Texas

08/03/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualties: Jeffrey Boskovitch, 25, David Coullard, 32, Daniel Deyarmin Jr, 22, Brian Montgomery, 26, and Nathaniel Rock, 26, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Ohio

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty: James Graham III, 25, Iraq, Marine Forces Reserve, Oklahoma

08/02/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Adrian Butler, 28, and John Tollefson, 22, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Jason Montefering, 27, Ernest Dallas Jr, 21, Milton Monzon, 21, and Ramon Villatoro Jr, 19, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Jason Scheuerman, 20, NCD, Iraq, Fort Benning, Georgia

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: Robert Swaney, 21, Iraq, Fort Carson, Colorado

08/01/2005: DoD Identifies Army Casualty: James Carroll, 23, Iraq, Tennessee Army National Guard

Dishonorably Discharged Marine & Fugitive David Bieber Guilty of Murdering Police Officer in Great Britain, Charged with 2 Murder for Hire Schemes in Florida (2004)

On December 2, 2004January 29, 2018 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, Military Policy, USMCLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-12-03-at-11-25-54-am — David Bieber, USMC Veteran

On February 9, 1995, Markus Mueller, 29, was found shot to death in his Bonita Springs, Florida home. Markus answered his door and was shot three times in the doorway of his own home. His girlfriend Danielle found his body and informed authorities that she thought fellow bodybuilder David Bieber shot her boyfriend. David Bieber, 29, and Markus Mueller were both involved in an illegal steroid smuggling business; they made a lot of money. Apparently Bieber wanted to take over the business and he wanted Mueller’s girlfriend too. Danielle wanted to be with Mueller but he was married to a woman in Germany who he was not going to divorce. Danielle married Bieber on February 3, 1995 just a few days before the murder, and immediately began questioning her decision. She wanted to go back to Mueller but Bieber wasn’t having it. David made several statements to friends that he wanted Markus dead. David was brought into the police station for questioning but denied being involved in the murder. The Lee County Sheriff’s Department still believed that David was involved because he had the motive but they did not have the evidence to charge him.

In August 1995, a random shooting occurred involving Michelle Stanforth. She was shot at four times by an identified gunman but all the bullets missed her. Police learned that Michelle dated David Bieber in 1993 and that one day David showed up to her work and threatened Michelle and told her if she left him, she would be sorry. Michelle broke up with him and filed a restraining order. Police also learned that David had a history of violence against women dating back to 1989; he dated a sixteen year old that he later sexually violated. The Lee County Sheriff’s Department continued to investigate the murder of Markus Mueller and the attempted murder of Michelle Stanforth. They began by learning more about David Bieber. What they learned is that David appeared to be the all American boy until he began using steroids in his teens. After this David became more aggressive and violent. He joined the US Marine Corps to help him channel some of his aggression. Instead he rebelled against authority and ultimately found himself AWOL, facing charges, and dishonorably discharged. The aggressive ex-Marine remained a prime suspect in the murder and attempted murder cases but police still didn’t have enough evidence to charge him.

In September 1995, detectives learned from an informant that David Snipes was involved in a murder-for-hire scheme. David Snipes admitted that he was hired for $1,250 to kill Michelle Stanforth and hired for $1,000 to kill Markus Mueller. Snipes informed authorities that John Saladino hired him to kill them. When John Saladino was arrested, police learned that he was roommates with David Bieber. It didn’t take long before Saladino admitted that Bieber hired him to kill Michelle Stanforth and Markus Mueller. Saladino also admitted that Bieber put a hit on the lead homicide detective and his two sons. Police obtained a warrant to apprehend Bieber on first degree murder charges but instead he vanished. David Bieber became the focus of a nationwide manhunt. Both John Saladino and David Snipes were locked up for their role in the murder for hire schemes. Saladino was found guilty of second degree murder and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. David Snipes was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to death by the electric chair but on appeal, it was commuted down to life in prison. David Bieber went missing for the next eight years. Police would later learn that Bieber altered his appearance, put on weight, and changed his name to Nathan Coleman.

In 1996, David was able to obtain a tourist Visa for England. He worked a few jobs and then met another woman who he married in March 1997 right before his six month tourist Visa expired. David found himself divorced again in May 2002 because of all his suspicious activity. David doesn’t resurface until he is confronted by two Leeds, England police officers on December 26, 2003. He was found sitting in front of a known suspicious gambling and betting location. The police ran his plates and placed David in the backseat of the cruiser while they awaited the information. At this point, they didn’t know David was a fugitive and had a concealed 9 mm; but they were concerned about his behavior and called for back up. The officers learned David’s car was stolen and were going to arrest him when he pulled out the gun. He shot and wounded one officer who was able to get away and shot Officer Ian Broadhurst in the shoulder and the abdomen initially. After back up responded, he shot and wounded another officer and then executed Officer Broadhurst, who was on the ground begging for his life. David Bieber was able to escape again.

The police were able to match fingerprints in the vehicle to David Bieber and that’s when they learned he was a fugitive on the run. David’s ex-wife in England was able to help the cops make the connection between David and his new alias Nathan Coleman; she was even able to give them an address. David had fled but he left behind evidence in his apartment and his storage locker that connected him to the crimes. On December 31, 2003, a SWAT team descended on a hotel after getting a tip that he had checked in. Initially, an armed and dangerous David refused to come out of his hotel room and things were tense, but police were able to apprehend him without a single shot fired. On December 2, 2004, David Bieber was found guilty and given three life sentences without the possibility of parole. But on appeal, Bieber’s sentence was reduced. Regardless, he is not eligible for parole until 2041; he will be 75 years old. In the event David is ever paroled from Great Britain, the State of Florida stands ready to extradite David Bieber and charge him with the murder of Markus Mueller and the attempted murder of Michelle Stanforth.

Marine Veteran Jonathan Blackwell Killed by Girlfriend’s Jealous Ex in North Carolina; Stacey Webster Sentenced to 16 1/2 Years in Prison for 2nd Degree Murder (October 7, 2004)

On October 7, 2004July 14, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, USMCLeave a comment

Marine veteran Jonathan Blackwell of Reidsville, North Carolina went missing on October 7, 2004. Eight days later Jonathan’s car was found burned out in the countryside of North Carolina but no signs of Jonathan’s remains were discovered in the fiery wreckage. Jonathan Blackwell was a US Marine Corps veteran who served proudly in the first Gulf War and since his honorable discharge worked at a Goodyear Plant just across the North Carolina state line in Virginia. Early in the investigation police learned that Jonathan’s new girlfriend Viola was also dating her ex Stacey Webster. According to Viola, neither man was aware of the other and Viola pointed to Jonathan’s ex-girlfriend Patsy who also had a 10 month old child with Blackwell. Police ruled both women out and other leads were also dead ends so the missing persons case went cold for two years.

In December 2006, Walter Daldron was arrested and told police that he had information about the Jonathan Blackwell missing persons case. He told investigators that Jonathan’s body was located off Highway 29 and buried in a shallow grave under some old tires. Police located the body and an autopsy confirmed that the body was that of Jonathan Blackwell. Jonathan had evidence of blunt force trauma to the back of the head and his skull was cracked. Daldron also knew who did it. Daldron admitted that his best friend Stacey Webster murdered Jonathan Blackwell. It turns out that Jonathan was a victim of a love triangle with his new girlfriend Viola and her ex Stacey Webster, but he didn’t know it. Stacey knew about Jonathan because he stalked Viola and Jonathan for months until finally his obsession, jealousy and rage reached a boiling point. If he couldn’t have Viola, no one could have her. Webster initially denied committing the murder but after faced with the eye witness testimony from his best friend and the discovery of Jonathan’s body, he went silent.

On December 15, 2006, Stacey Webster was arrested for the first degree murder of Jonathan Blackwell. Investigators learned that Webster confronted Jonathan at his home. When Jonathan turned his back to Webster to go into his home and call police, Webster hit Jonathan in the back of the head with a rock and knocked him out. Webster then hit Jonathan’s head multiple times with a rock until he was dead. He put Jonathan’s body in his vehicle, cleaned up the crime scene, and then contacted his cousin to help him hide the body. Webster took Jonathan’s body to the countryside of North Carolina off Highway 29 and covered Jonathan’s body with lyme before he buried him in a shallow grave in an attempt to hide evidence but inadvertently helped preserve Jonathan’s body instead. On September 24, 2010, Stacey Webster was arraigned for Jonathan Blackwell’s murder. Webster accepted a plea deal and plead guilty to second degree murder. Stacey Webster was sentenced to 16 1/2 years in prison. Stacey was an unusual suspect because he was a successful business man with no criminal history. Webster showed no remorse for his crimes.

In 2004, a former marine goes missing from his North Carolina home. Investigators sift through a mountain of tips and small-town rumors before a surprise witness comes forward who may hold the key to the mysterious disappearance. -When Evil Strikes, Unusual Suspects (S5,E11)

Military Spouse Kimberly O’Neal Found Murdered at Camp Pendleton Park; Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Archie O’Neil Jr. Sentenced to Life, No Parole (February 29, 2004)

On February 29, 2004August 11, 2019 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Domestic Violence, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, PTSD, TBI, Mental Illness, USMC1 Comment

Date: February 29, 2004
Victim: Kimberly O’Neal, U.S. Marine Corps Spouse
Offender: Archie O’Neil, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps
Location: Deer Park, Camp Pendleton, California
Circumstances: Archie O’Neil and Kimberly O’Neal engaged in a forbidden affair for a couple of years, before Archie was suppose to deploy to Iraq, they had one more tryst, Kimberly got angry when she learned Archie wasn’t going to leave his wife, Archie shot Kimberly O’Neal multiple times, during the investigation, Archie’s wife claimed Kimberly tried to run her down with her car but didn’t report it because no proof, Archie said he had severe headaches and shot Kimberly because she threatened to kill his family (most likely not true), Archie confessed to Kimberly’s murder but showed no remorse, charged with 1st degree premeditated murder, used PTSD defense to mitigate his crimes, defense claimed Archie had an abnormal startle response
Disposition: O’Neil sentenced to life in prison, no parole

Investigation Discovery:

ID Go: A decorated marine faces war at home when he falls for a married woman. Suspicion and jealousy plague their affair as they battle to keep their secret from their spouses but with the stakes so high it’s a truth they’ll stop at nothing to hide. -Love is War, Forbidden: Dying for Love (S4,E8)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Leeds, England Police Officer Ian Broadhurst Gunned Down by Dishonorably Discharged Marine and Fugitive David Bieber During Routine Traffic Stop (2003)

On December 26, 2003January 29, 2018 By AdministratorIn Armed Forces, Felony Crime, Homicide, In Their Name, Military Policy, Scandals, USMCLeave a comment

screen-shot-2016-12-26-at-2-07-40-am — Officer Ian Broadhurst (Leeds, England)

In 1996, dishonorably discharged Marine and suspected murderer David Bieber was able to obtain a tourist Visa for England. He worked a few jobs and then met another woman who he married in March 1997 right before his six month tourist Visa expired. David found himself divorced again in May 2002 because of all his suspicious activity. David didn’t resurface until he was confronted by two Leeds, England police officers on December 26, 2003. He was found sitting in front of a known suspicious gambling and betting location. The police ran his plates and placed David in the backseat of the cruiser while they awaited the information. At this point, they didn’t know David was a fugitive and had a concealed 9 mm; but they were concerned about his behavior and called for back up.

The officers learned David’s car was stolen and were going to arrest him when he pulled out the gun. He shot and wounded one officer who was able to get away and shot Officer Ian Broadhurst in the shoulder and the abdomen initially. After back up responded, he shot and wounded another officer and then executed Officer Broadhurst, who was on the ground begging for his life. David Bieber was able to escape again but was eventually captured. On December 2, 2004, David Bieber was found guilty of the murder of Officer Ian Broadhurst and given three life sentences without the possibility of parole. But on appeal, Bieber’s sentence was reduced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 2041.

The story of American bodybuilder David Bieber, who became a wanted man in both the UK and the US after the murder of PC Ian Broadhurst. In December 2004 he was jailed for life, but is still trying to escape justice years later. -RealCrimeUK

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Tag: Marine

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August: U.S. Department of Defense Casualties Report (2005)

Dishonorably Discharged Marine & Fugitive David Bieber Guilty of Murdering Police Officer in Great Britain, Charged with 2 Murder for Hire Schemes in Florida (2004)

Marine Veteran Jonathan Blackwell Killed by Girlfriend’s Jealous Ex in North Carolina; Stacey Webster Sentenced to 16 1/2 Years in Prison for 2nd Degree Murder (October 7, 2004)

Military Spouse Kimberly O’Neal Found Murdered at Camp Pendleton Park; Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Archie O’Neil Jr. Sentenced to Life, No Parole (February 29, 2004)

Leeds, England Police Officer Ian Broadhurst Gunned Down by Dishonorably Discharged Marine and Fugitive David Bieber During Routine Traffic Stop (2003)

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