Blog Changes

Hello Readers!

I am excited to tell you about some changes going on at Crime, Interrupted. As of today, this blog will be transfering to Wordpress. All posts have been moved to the new location so it should be no problem commenting and reading the same posts that are already here. The new location is still a work in progress so I would only ask for your patience as I make the move to Wordpress.

Here is a link to the new location: New Crime, Interrupted
If you have any questions about the move or feedback, please let me know. I appreciate your patience!

Sincerely,
Tami

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Featured Book: Bath Massacre: America's First School Bombing

[book cover image courtesy of University of Michigan Press]


Decades before Columbine and Virginia Tech became household names, there was a school called Bath Consolidated School in Bath, Michigan. On May 18, 1927, the Bath Consolidated School fell victim to a tragedy that would leave a toll of 46 victims, most of them young children. In the center of the tragedy was the perpetrator, Andrew Kehoe, who reportedly committed the crime because of a school tax that sent his farm into foreclosure. Kehoe spared no one in this tragedy, including his wife, Nellie. In the end, as happens in most of these mass murders, Kehoe took his own life as well.

[top, Bath Consolidated School; bottom, the aftermath of the north wing. Photos courtesy of Bath School Museum]



I would like to take the opportunity to share with my readers a fascinating book by Arnie Bernstein called "Bath Massacre: America's First School Bombing". The decades old tragedy in Bath has many of the same aspects we still see in more modern tragedies. I believe it would lend some insight to how we see these massacres today.

For more information about the book and how to purchase it, please visit Arnie Bernstein's website, www.arniebernstein.com

There is also a Wikipedia page that chronicles the Bath School massacre and provides a lot of information.


Sources: www.arniebernstein.com; Wikipedia.org (Bath School disaster)

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Drew Peterson Indicted (Commentary)

Yes, it's true.

Captain Smirkypants, AKA Drew Peterson has been arrested and indicted in connection with the murder of his 3rd wife Kathleen Savio. Peterson is also a person of interest in the disappearance of his 4th wife, Stacy Peterson. The former Bollingbrook, Ill. police officer has given several reasons for the disappearance of Stacy and claims his former wife had a bad accident in a dry bathtub that led to her death.

For more on the history of the case against Drew Peterson and an awesome opinion article on the case, please visit Michelle Simonsen's true crime blog, Michelle Says So.

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Payne and Gonzales Sentenced

Days after the mother of Ariana and Tyler Payne eloquently told her story at a child abuse rally in New York, their killers were sentenced.

On April 27, 2009, Reina Gonzales was sentenced to two 22 year terms, running concurrently. The sentence was not a shock for those who have been following this case, as Gonzales had plead guilty in August 2008 to spare herself from a trial. Her plea to two counts of second degree murder was exchanged for her testimony against her former boyfriend and child killer Christopher Payne-the father of Ariana and Tyler.

On March 17, 2009, Christopher Mathew Payne was found guilty of murder in the case of both Ariana and Tyler Payne. Two weeks later, on March 31, 2009, he was sentenced to death . After the trial and the rendering of the death penalty by a jury of his peers, Chris Payne still awaited sentencing on the other charges of which he was found guilty. Those charges were two counts of child abuse against Ariana Payne, one count of child abuse against Tyler Payne, and two counts of concealing a dead body.

On April 30, 2009, Chris Payne was sentenced to an additional 51 years on the child abuse and concealment convictions.

To say the case of Ariana and Tyler Payne has touched my heart in ways that I cannot describe would be a gross understatement. Sitting at their memorial service in August 2007 was heartbreaking. Hearing the disparaging remarks about their mother, Jamie Hallam were angering. Reading the details of the horrific suffering they went through was unimaginable. Imagining little Tyler, barely clinging to life while shut in a closet with his baby sister's lifeless body has left me wondering if there would ever be justice for what these people put Ariana and Tyler through. Thinking about Tyler, who will probably never be truly laid to rest, his tiny body forever buried in a landfill with little hope of ever being found.

As much anger, pain, and heartache I feel for Ariana and Tyler, I can never imagine what it's like for their mother, and everyone else who knew them and truly loved them. The book will never truly be closed for them, only more chapters will keep beginning. The difference is now, the new chapters will bring hope, awareness, and love for all children. Our children deserve to live better lives than Ariana and Tyler were able to. The ones that we can't save deserve justice, just like Ariana and Tyler now have.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Jamie Hallam was a speaker at a child abuse rally in NYC. Her speech should serve as an inspiration for anyone who has ever gone through child abuse and anyone who has lost a child because of it. I would encourage everyone to listen to her words and watch the video.




Source: Tucson Citizen

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Cold Case New Mexico: Thomas and Judy McKnight

Thomas and Judy McKnight [photo from NM Dept.of Public Safety website]



After nearly 25 years, New Mexico authorities are still trying to solve the murders of Thomas "Cotton" McKnight and his wife Judy McKnight.

The McKnights were found shot to death in their ranch house in Lincoln County, New Mexico on November 15, 1984. According to the file on New Mexico's Department of Public Safety website, the McKnights likely knew their killer, as there was no sign of forced entry. The fact that they were murdered in their kitchen would support that theory, in my opinion. I don't know about the McKnights, but I don't invite too many people into my kitchen unless I know them. So the fact that they were killed in their kitchen is very interesting to me, as I am sure it is to the authorities.

In any event, the authorities still have no suspects in this case and are asking for the help of the public. Someone, somewhere knows something.

If you have any information on this case, please contact Capt. Scott D. Weaver at (505) 827-9089 or Lt. David C. Martinez at (505) 827-3431


Source: New Mexico Department of Public Safety website

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Cold Case Utah: Rosa Tapia

Rosa Tapia [photo from SLC Police Department website]


In the early morning hours of August 13, 1995 , a little girl named Rosa Tapia, age 6, was discovered to be missing. Only her 4-year-old sister remained in the bed where Rosa normally slept. According to the Salt Lake City Police Department website, Rosa's mother immediately reported her missing. A screen to the bedroom window had been removed with no sign of Rosa.

Sadly, hours later Rosa's tiny body was found floating in a surplus canal by an unidentified man walking his dog. She had been sexually assaulted prior to being dumped at the canal.

Almost 14 years later, authorities are still trying to solve the murder and sexual assault of Rosa Tapia. An article on the website for an ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City reported in March 2008 that the police have offered a reward of $30,000 for information in the case.

The police have not given up on solving this brutal rape and murder of such a beautiful child. Her mother, as every family of a murder victim, deserves to know who did this to her child. And Rosa Tapia deserves justice. Someone, somewhere knows something.

If you have any information that could help solve this case, please call the Salt Lake City Police tipline at : (801)-799-INFO.


Source(s): Salt Lake City Police Department website, ABC news 4 -Salt Lake City

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Update: Body Found in Utah Likely Christopher Coan

I previously reported about Christopher Coan, a young man from Enoch, Utah who went missing after finishing his shift at a Subway restaurant in Cedar City.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a vehicle matching the description of Chris Coan's Chevy Blazer was found by a man searching for his dog in the Right Hand Canyon with a body inside. The person was a single occupant of the vehicle and clothing matching what Chris was last known to be wearing was on the body. The vehicle appeared to have been in a wreck.

Of course, the only logical conclusion seems to be that this is indeed Christopher Coan. It's very sad news for his family and I pray that they are able to find peace in knowing that this was a horrible accident. I hope it also puts to rest all the terrible speculation that Chris left his family intentionally.

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