SEPARATE HEARINGS

    The preliminary hearings for Troy Stewart and Lauren Reed on felony charges of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse that were scheduled to be held tomorrow have been moved again and their hearings will now be separate.   

    The two were arrested and charged on July 20 relating to the death of Scott McQuilkin in Reinholds on July 17.  The two partied with McQuilkin on Friday night, July 16 and he was found dead the next day with a “large Irish Drumstick” inserted in his rectum.

    According to their dockets, Lauren Reed’s hearing is now scheduled for September 29 and Stewart’s is scheduled for October 1, both before Magisterial Judge Nancy Hamill.

    Reed, who is 20, is still in the Lancaster County Prison unable to post $100,000 bail.  Stewart, 40, posted his $100,000 bail the day after he was incarcerated and is living in his home in Ephrata.

    Reed is being represented by a Public Defender and Stewart has a private attorney, Alan Gary Goldberg.

    Why do they now have separate preliminary hearings?

Please check back tomorrow.

DEATH, JOY AND STORMY GIRL!

    This will be an update week – pending any breaking news.  I have a call in to Coroner Steve Diamantoni regarding the toxicology reports for Scott McQuilkin who died in Reinholds on July 17.  Have the lab reports come back?  What drugs were in his system?  How much alcohol?  What caused his death at the age of 32?

    There will also be an update on Lauren Reed who is charged along with Troy Stewart with Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse for placing a “large Irish drumstick” up McQuilkin’s rectum when they say he was unconscious.  Apparently, a severe problem with alcohol runs in her family.

    I hope to speak to Pati Mattrick tonight for updates on the Stormy Girl situation (see this morning’s post) and whether DA Craig Stedman will accompany she and her husband to meet with Carl Rowe, the head of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and several state senators.  It’s time the PGC made this situation right (click here)!

    Later I hope to have updates on Joy O’Shea Woomer’s appeal of her third degree murder conviction for the death of 11-year-old Brent Weaver in January.

    And in a little over a month it will be the one year anniversary of a Lancaster woman’s body being found in the Susquehanna River.  We have never been told how Lydia Colon-Torres died.  How did she die?  Her family, her friends and the public has a right to know.

Please check back tomorrow.

WAS I WRONG?

    Why are you apologizing to homeboy Stedman?

    This email in yesterday evening.  LOL.  I didn’t say I was going to apologize!  I said I was considering it…

Please check back later today.

JUST PLAIN CRUEL!

    “To this day, I still have difficulty believing that all this actually took place. Incidents like this are an embarrassment to all of those in law enforcement and must never be repeated.”

Lancaster County DA Craig Stedman quoted in today’s article, “DA reins in Pa. Game Commission officials,” (click here).

    Wow!  Just wow!  Good for you, Mr. DA!  Please click here and join the HELP STORMY GIRL Facebook page.

    The DA also said:

    “What took place here was not right nor was it done for the right reasons,” Stedman said. “The finch posed no threat or danger to the community. Mrs. Mattrick had saved it from certain death, had no criminal intent whatsoever and she was not attempting to scoff the PGC or the law.

    “At best,” Stedman said, “this case was a grossly misguided abuse of law enforcement discretion. At worst, it was just plain cruel. I most certainly would not have approved this warrant.”

    Do we have a public official with common sense and decency in Lancaster County or what?  Well done, Mr. DA!

Please check back tomorrow…

RUNNING ON EMPTY?

    The comments without names have been for the most god, but some, well, haven’t been published, But until Thursday, I’m not going to be posting posts without a name or initials.

An opening sentence from Barry Ford’s blogspot, “Columbia Talk,” (click here). 

    Barry, Barry, Barry!  You used to be the editor of the Columbia Ledger?  Who checked your copy? 

    In this one (run-on) sentence there’s a huge spelling mistake and multiple grammatical errors and your intended meaning is lost in this muck.  This is ridiculous!  Everyone makes mistakes but this is an embarrassment and sets a bad example for everyone reading your blog. 

    For God’s sake, have someone check your posts before you publish!

ACTING LIKE GOD? 

    The reporter wasn’t there to witness the events - and all he can report is what he gets told, and what he can read in the police report.
    The prosecutor needs to investigate further. The cop obviously has filed a fictitious report.

Posted on the LancTalk.com forum under the LNP article, “City man charged with assaulting police officer,” (click here and click here for the article).

    As predicted, there is no further information on this arrest in the Lancaster Newspapers today (see “LOOK FOR THE FISH!” below).  A young man who turned 18 two weeks ago is incarcerated in Lancaster County Prison and his life has changed forever.

    Police Office Todd Grager has not given a legitimate reason why Johnson allegedly pushed him and tried to punch him.  This will be interesting to follow and LIP News will do so.

Please check back later today…

RESCHEDULED TO SEPT. 2

     The preliminary hearing for Lauren Reed and Troy Stewart on their Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse charges relating to Scott McQuilkin’s death have been rescheduled for September 2 at 9:30 a.m. in District Justice Nancy Hamill’s office.
    An administrative assistant for Hamill said by phone this afternoon that the hearing was postponed so that all parties could have time to schedule the hearing and be present.  She stated Lauren Reed now has a Public Defender and Troy Stewart is represented by a private attorney.  Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield is prosecuting the case and will be present along with several police officers who investigated McQuilkin’s death

    There will be more tomorrow on the personal lives of some of those involved in this case.

FINGERPRINT ORDERS ISSUED

Troy Stewart and Lauren Reed

     Lauren Reed, 20, and Troy Stewart, 40, were scheduled to have their preliminary hearings yesterday at 4:00 p.m. before District Justice Nancy Hamill on their felony Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse charges involving Scott McQuilkin who died in Reinholds on July 17.  Their hearings were not held. 

     Why not?  Please check back later today…

DID IDSI CAUSE DEATH?

    I am sure Steve Diamatoni and Wayne Ross have considered in the case of the Reinolds 32 year old deceased man [Scott McQuilkin] that it just may be homicide. If the anatomic and histology pathology don’t show a cause of death. And if the toxicology and lab do not declare a cause one needs to consider a vagal-vagal reflex causing heart stoppage secondary to a large foreign object inserted in an intoxicated man. His alcohol level would be known and it must have approached general anesthesia to allow insertion. There are no markers for this event unless you had a pacer in place or other cardiac monitoring device. If charged let the defendant prove it did not happen. I believe Craig [DA Craig Stedman] would pay attention to his medical forensic people. Not shut them out. Obviously I am not privy to all the facts.
And that’s the way it went
73
G

    Former Lancaster County Coroner G. Gary Kirchner is again sending out his email “blog” after fighting a severe MRSA infection for several years.  

    Who is Troy Stewart of 358 Lake Street in Ephrata who is charged with Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse relating to Scott McQuilkin?  Stewart made bail and is no longer in the Lancaster County Prison.  Lauren Reed from Wilmington, Delaware, who is also charged with IDSI of McQuilkin, remains in LCP. 

   There will be much more tomorrow.

A SUSPICIOUS DEATH?

Heather Martin

     Scott McQuilkin’s funeral will be held this morning in Exton.  The body of the 32-year-old was found Saturday, July 17, at 200 Creamery Road in Reinholds in an apartment rented by Heather Martin. 

    His cause of death is currently unknown but all signs point to pills/drugs.  What did he take and where did he get them?

    Please check back later today and click here for today’s LNP story, “2 arrests linked to victim in Reinholds.”

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

 ** He said Stewart and Reed, a former girlfriend of McQuilkin’s, should have called for help when McQuilkin passed out but did not. Instead, they decided to play a joke on him by writing obscenities on his back and inserting the stick into his rectum.

District Attorney Craig Stedman being quoted by the Lancaster Newspapers on their afternoon story, “2 charged for assaulting man who later died,” (click here).
    What an unbelievable day!  The Lancaster Newspapers have just confirmed the story and it gets even more unsettling as more details come out. 

    I need to thank my readers and friends.  A commenter early this morning mentioned several recent arrests possibly related to McQuilkin’s death.  A friend read the comment and checked the District Justice dockets and instant messaged me.  I called her.  She said the name Lauren Reed and I began to physically shake.  The breaking news below went up on this site at 11:30 a.m. today.

    There will be much more on this story and law enforcement’s response tomorrow.

TROY STEWART

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

        Troy J. Stewart (age 40) and Lauren Elizabeth Reed (age 20) were arrested yesterday by the East Cocalico Police Department for an incident on July 16.  Both were charged with Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (IDSI) and IDSI – Persons Unconscious – Criminal Solicitation IDSI.

    Both are in Lancaster County Prison.  Bail was set by District Judge Nancy Hamill at $100,000 each.

    Lauren Reed was named as Scott McQuilkin’s most recent girlfriend on his Facebook page.

Please check back later today…

NEGATIVE IMPACT?

    The district attorney has sealed the court documents on the search of the apartment. Stedman said he sealed it because the information could have a negative impact on the case. He said it’s likely he will unseal the document Tuesday.

WGAL-TV, “Coroner: 32-Year-Old Man’s Death Not Suspicious,” (click here).

    So, is DA Stedman the king of Lancaster County?  Can he seal and unseal any documents he pleases?  Why exactly did he seal the documents in this case and which judge signed off on it?   How could it have had a “negative impact” on this case?

    Click here for the PA Code on “Sealing Search Warrant Affidavits.” 

   The Lancaster Newspapers have never even reported that the DA sealed public documents.

Please check back later today…

580 WHP – TODAY AT FIVE!

     This email in from Sherry Wolfe and it is posted on the “Help Stormy Girl!” Facebook page (click here):

    Becky, Bob Durgin 580 WHP interviewed me about Stormy Girl today at 5:00 pm.  It got a great response from callers and Durgin was outraged at the PGC’s action. He is going to interview me again on Wednesday at 5:00 for a follow up. He wants to line up Rep. Folmer for the segment as well. Please inform your readers to tune in and listen today at 5:00 p.m., and to call in to comment.
    Wow!  Great job, Sherry.  Please listen and call in!  You can follow it online -  click here.
    And this email in regarding Jacob M. Kreider from yesterday’s article:

    Becky, I am amazed at the sentence. It would seem that the ADA must have had serious problems with the victim as a witness. Given the victim’s age and the background on this guy, I think we all should be disappointed that the ADA was not more persuasive in convincing the family to have this girl testify and protect other potential victims. That DA Stedman would allow this to occur is very surprising (actually, I am wondering if he is on vacation). Perhaps he better find someone else to prosecute these cases in the future.

     The SVP designation is not something that is just assigned to a defendant. This designation comes following a thorough psychological evaluation. A slap on the wrist doesn’t seem appropriate for a Sexually Violent Predator. I would have rather seen them take this to trial. I am curious too why there was no mention, by either the ADA or the Lancaster Newspaper reporter, of the significant background this guy has with the justice system.

    This is simply sick and outrageous.  There will be much more later today.

*** BREAKING NEWS **

IN EXCESS OF 20 CHARGES!

    Jacob M. Krieder, 26, who received probation yesterday in a negotiated plea agreement for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old-girl (click here), has had in excess of 20 charges brought against him in the course of his young life.  That’s correct!

    I pulled his criminal docket in the Court of Common Pleas today and found two I did not understand.  I asked a very knowledgeable friend to check on them and this is their email response:

    “If you look at the MDJ docket for this guy in Lancaster County, you will see that he has had in excess of 20 charges brought against him, dating back to around 2000. Some were dismissed or withdrawn. Many had a guilty plea. Some were traffic, some were non-traffic and a couple were criminal charges. It appears the miscellaneous Common Pleas Court dockets you asked about had to do with jail time he received at the MDJ level for a harassment charge in 2005. Got to believe this guy has some connections to get a slap on the wrist, especially since his current charges involved a child under the age of 16.”

    I have a call in Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Frantz and will also place calls to the defense attorney and the judge in this case.  This is unbelievable corruption!

INCREDIBLE INJUSTICES!

    KEEP CALLING PGC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARL ROE 717-705-6540, GOV. RENDELL (717) 787-2500 & STATE REPS. WE ELECT OUR OFFICIALS! THEY CAN DO SOMETHING, BUT WON’T UNLESS WE CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN!!

From the “Help Stormy Girl” Faceback page (click here).

    There are now over 300 members of the Facebook page!  Remember to put Monday, June 28th on your calendar.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission meets at 8:30 a.m. at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81.  We will be there to meet them.  More details will follow.

    Speaking of incredible injustices, did you see the article in this morning’s paper: “Man gets probation for sex assault of girl, 10,” (click here)?  This is disgraceful!  The article states the man was evaluated and determined to be a sexually violent predator – and he gets probation and a $100 fine!  This is unacceptable and the District Attorney’s office needs to be held accountable.

    On a far lighter note, this comment in from a Facebook buddy about yesterday’s piece:

    Can you spell R E T R A C T I O N?  Does LIP stand for Libral Insidious Press?  Another example of the Liberal media jumping to conclusions…

    Okay, so you actually did survive the blizzard of ’78.  My heartfelt apologies.  (I can’t help but wonder if I am being snowed – you know how these conservative types lie… )

Please check back later today…

HIS CRAP DOES STINK!

    Why even give a crap about his guy. He is just another yuppie. You know the ones that have a college education and think their crap doesn’t stink.

Posted on the LancTalk.com forum under today’s article, “John Fry ‘found’ himself at F&M” (click here).

    What a hoot!  Who writes these headlines? I found myself with a website.  Who knew?

    And Fry is not your average yuppie.  I have three distinct reasons for having no respect whatsoever for Fry:

1.  His response to my family tragedy.  It is unconscionable that a private (expensive) liberal arts college continues to give an annual award named after an incest perpetrator.  Absolutely unconscionable!

2.  When his term was up on the Lancaster County Convention Center Board, Fry claimed he didn’t realize it and whined like a little boy.  It’s true.

3.  What Fry and his F&M security forces did to journalist Ron Harper, Jr.  Do you realize that in the ultimate irony, Fry banned Harper from F&M grounds while the ACLU was holding their annual, public meeting on F&M property? 

    The best of luck to Harper and his lawsuit.  This arrogant, spoiled man needs to learn an important lesson – well, several actually.  And Fry, your crap does stink to high heaven!

CRASH & BURN!

    Hey Becky… wow we really had a huge fire here this morning… About 2 miles away from my house… A Huge Brick million dollar house went up in smoke about 9:30 am… was about 27 fire trucks went past our house…. They even called out farmville…opps farmersville… fire companies… Went past tonight about 7 and it’s demolished …I think the owners live in Florida.. was a vacation house from what I’m hearing… I could hear the explosions from it here too….  Thank God no one got hurt that’s the main thing but it was sure exciting …

A comment into this site on April 9 about the fire that burned the Reinhart’s $2.4 million dollar home to the ground.

    Within one day of this post, friends found out the house was in foreclosure and the deep suspicion rose that it was arson (click here for “UNDER FIRE – 2!”).  Over two months later, the Lancaster Newspapers finally do a story about a man who is more than likely going to spend the rest of his life in jail (click here).

TAKING A STAND!

    This email in about yesterday’s post:

    Have you forgotten that Craig Stedman is the guy who railroaded Joy O’Shea?  What’s to like?

    I have not forgotten.  In fact, after I published that I might actually like/respect a Lancaster County official, I immediately drove myself to the hospital to have my head examined.

    Compared to his predecessor, Donald Totaro – now a judge, I have to say that Stedman is almost a breath of fresh air.  Stedman is willing to speak to the press.  He’s willing to express an opinion.  Totaro was a constant “no comment.” 

    His prosecution of Michael Roseboro was low key, damning and brilliant.  I obviously don’t commend him for decisions made about Joy O’Shea Woomer.  However, he did stand up to Dr. William Carter. 

    I know my saying that will anger many people.  Dr. Carter got a wrist slap for an admitted federal drug violation and death of his son and Woomer (who maintains that she is innocent and the prosecution never came close to proving she was in possession of morphine) was sentenced for years.  She has an appeal pending. 

Click here for JusticeforJoy.org.

Click here for today’s Sunday News opinion piece, “Doctor deserves apologies for abysmal treatment.”  Sorry, Dr. Price, I disagree.

P.S.  The results of the examination of my head will come tomorrow.   

HOUSE HUSBAND?

    This email in:

    If my memory serves my correctly, you were never any huge fan of former LNP “reporter” Dave Pidgeon.  You must checkout the latest version of Lancaster Magazine with a feature story on that hack.  Here is a link but the entire story is not there.  I will try and get you a copy but you may want to look out for it yourself.

    You have an excellent memory and thank you so much (click here)!  Pidgeon was one of the most arrogant, conceited and foolish of the LNP reporters.  This is all I could find on the magazine website:

    A Casualty of the Great Recession

    Dave Pidgeon, who lost his job as a result of downsizing in June 2009, reflects on his role as a house husband.

    Lord have mercy!  I must read this.  Please, oh please, if anyone finds it online or has the magazine, let me know!  Hey, Dave, could you bake me a cake?

SILENT AUCTION FOR JOY!

    Please remember that tomorrow there is a silent auction benefiting Joy O’Shea-Woomer’s defense fund at the Fireside Tavern in the Historic Strasburg Inn in Strasburg.  The event will be held from 1pm to 4pm this Sunday, June 6, in the ballroom.  There will be light snacks, a cash bar, and live background music.  They have numerous wonderful items to bid on and take home.  Please attend and click here to learn more.

TWO IMPORTANT CAUSES!

JOY O’SHEA WOOMER

    A silent auction benefiting Joy O’Shea-Woomer’s defense will be held on June 6th at the Fireside Tavern in the Historic Strasburg Inn in Strasburg.  Starting at 1pm, this will be a fast action auction with a staged closing of tables starting at 2pm and finishing up by 3:30pm.  We have over 90 AMAZING baskets and items that have been donated. 

    We have baskets for a wide range of interests:  Animal lover’s, cooks, crafters (scrapbooking and quilting), movie goers and baskets for babies and children.  We have baskets with Lancaster Co. snacks, Italian dinners, Strawberry jams and more!   We have services donated:  Air conditioner maintenance and service, 2 wills, pet sitting and Income tax preparation. We have artwork, Vera Bradley bags, Depression glass, a diamond ring valued at $1000 and tickets to the theatre as well as a Barnstormers game.  We even have 4 box seats with food and souvenirs to a Phillies vs Mets game in August….the package even includes parking!! 

     The event will be held from 1pm-4pm on Sunday, June 6th in the ballroom at the Fireside Tavern in Strasburg, PA.  There will be light snacks, a cash bar, and live background music.  It will be a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon and assist with Joy’s cause!  Hope to see you there.

From JusticeforJoy.org (click here).

STORMY GIRL!

     A reminder from the New Era editorial on May 26:

    The commission should stop digging and formulate a plan for getting out of this hole.

    Commission officials have been given a viable option from a public supportive of the E-town woman, and they should act on it.

    Until they do, the public should keep up the pressure. Commission executive director Roe and James J. Delaney, the Game Commission president, can be reached by e-mail at pgccomments@state.pa.us. Spokesman Feaser’s e-mail is gfeaser@state.pa.us. The commission’s phone number is 787-4250.

    The sooner the woman and Stormygirl are reunited, the better.

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission opens at 7:45 am.  Let’s man the phones and remember the direct dial number for PGC Spokesman Jerry Feaser is (717) 705-6541.  Also call Governor Rendell’s office and ask him to intervene:  (717) 787-2500.  The “Help Stormy Girl” Facebook page is here.

Please check back later today…

CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES?

    Michael Vick’s visit to Lancaster County last week raked in more than $25,000 for the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation.

The lead sentence to today’s front page article, “Michael Vick raises more than $25,000 for foundation,” (click here).

    Does this surprise anyone?  Why is this front page news?  I’m surprised the figure is not higher.  Ticket sales alone should have raised $25,000.

    Sherry sent three strong comments in about Vick’s visit.  I am reprinting one below and the other two are under this article.

    The family of Luis David Villafane in one suit alleges Villafane was beaten by guards and later ignored as he committed suicide in a prison cell in November 2008.

From today’s “County prison to add more cameras to reduce ‘blind spots’-Action comes in wake of lawsuits,” (click here).

    Why don’t you tell us how much has been paid out in lawsuits to date?  Why is Vincent Guarini still the Warden?

    “This kind of violence started in Philadelphia and moved to Reading. People in Lancaster said it could never happen here, but it is happening here,” he said. “We don’t have bad people here. But we do have bad people coming in.”

From “Fatal shooting alarms Columbia.” (click here).

    Would those people be people like Michael Vick? 

    There is nothing funny or amusing about the hate she spews. I have not been on her site for months and months, or paid her one minute of attention until the TB forum closed and I did some searching. Without visiting her site, and just from google search I see that after all this time she is STILL ridiculing me and so many others.

Part of a rant by Beach Nut about me on TalkPa.net.

    Rant on, you sick nutjob.  I will finish my story on you.  And anytime I see you pop up anywhere – trust me – I will be there.

SHERRY’S COMMENT

    Words fail me when I try to describe how disgusted and horrified I am that Jordan Steffy would actually enlist dog-murderer and convicted felon Michael Vick to address his students. This man is just about the farthest thing from a role model that I can imagine. His heinous crimes and lack of remorse sum up his character and priorities; he is only sorry he got caught and would likely still be involved in his felonious abuse of innocent animals if he hadn’t. Vick’s reinstatement into the NFL is unconscionable enough; showering him with this positive attention and holding him up as a role model only serves to boost his already-inflated ego and to try to erase the public’s collective memory of his brutality.

    What was Steffy’s motivation in doing this? Attention? Money? Notoriety? None of these are honorable motivators, but if he must there are better ways to achieve them that don’t involve lauding a man who willingly engaged in illegal cruel activities for his own pleasure and profit, has fathered multiple children out of wedlock with different women, spouts his own arrogance in getting away with it all, and - I can’t say it enough - is a CONVICTED FELON. How many other felons will Steffy be inviting to influence his students?

    I don’t want my school tax dollars to be supporting this travesty in any way. If this is Steffy’s approach to educating and guiding children and helping them to find their way in the world, he is a dismal, dismal failure.

WOOMER, HARPER & VICK!

ONE HARPER LANE

    Brent returned home from school at approximately 3:40 p.m. on September 26,  2002, as he did most days.  (N.T., Trial at 286.)  He got cleaned up after school, the family had dinner and then Brent enjoyed a shower.

From Judge David Ashworth’s opinion denying Joy O’Shea Woomer’s appeal on pages 12 & 13 (click here).

    This is slanted crap.  Someone had to “clean up” Brent, he might have sat at the table – but Brent didn’t have dinner – and how does the Judge know he “enjoyed” a shower?  What the hell does that mean?  And Brent couldn’t shower – or at least not with out a lot of help. 

    I have only read the first few pages of the 109 page opinion (I really do have a day job!), but I will, and what impresses me most is the circling of the wagons by the Judge and D.A.’s office and the slant being put on this by Ashworth.  I will have much more on this tomorrow.

BE CAREFUL ON THE INTERNETS!

    We all know that Ron Harper, Jr. likes to visit people’s home for stories so we sent a photographer to his home today!  Nice house, Harper!

    Was Harper the anonymous author of a website attacking a political candidate?  Harper has been known to put up anonymous websites.  Many years ago he did a pretty wicked parody site of this one.  Did the site cost him his job as a reporter for PaIndependent.com?  I will be following up on this story and the very recent harrassment charges.

YOU DOG!

    Michael Vick is at the convention center tonight and our reporter, Jodi Wolff, will be there!  Don’t mess with Jodi, Vick.  She’ll eat you alive!  Her full report will run tomorrow.

DOG FIGHTS?

     Judge Ashworth denies Joy O’Shea Woomer’s appeal (click here), things are getting mighty strange on the internet and Michael Vick will be in town tonight. 

Please check back later today…

RETURN HER BELONGINGS!

By Jodie Wolff

    On April 21st I contacted Lancaster County Prison Warden Vincent Guarini in regards to Joy O’Shea Woomer’s belongings. Mr. Guarini returned my phone call the next day.  He told me they would send a letter to Joy’s contact person, most likely her mother, telling her when she can go to pick up Joy’s belongings. I asked why the paperwork for her belongings wasn’t done when she was transferred to Muncy. He assured me the letter would go out soon. I explained to Mr. Guarini how important it is for her family to have her belongings because they want to make copies of her artwork for the Fireside Tavern silent auction that will be held on June 6 from 1 to 4 pm.

  I also asked the Warden why Joy was transferred to Muncy by herself and not as a group in a bus as they usually do. He explained that there are only a few women that from time to time get sent to State penitentiaries. In Joy’s case she was the only one. Men usually go in groups on the buses. I thought maybe it had something to do with the interview Joy wanted to do before she was sent to Muncy. He told me that was not the case.

  The Warden was pleasant and answered all of my questions. I’m just hoping he was truthful and follows up with getting Joy’s belongings to her mother, or I’ll be calling him again very soon!

[Editor’s note:  Joy O’Shea Woomer was transferred from the Lancaster County Prison to Muncy State Prison very hurriedly after her Evidentiary Hearing.  Her family was not informed and she was taken with only the clothes on her back.  The JusticeforJoy site is here.] 

******

    Well, as you can imagine, the Lancaster Online Trashback forum was jumping today with lots of the regulars screaming “freedom of speech.”  What a bunch of crap!  That will be examined tomorrow.

RAISING MONEY FOR

JOY & JUSTICE!

By Jodi Wolff

    Nineteen people, including Joy O’Shea Woomer’s parents, gathered in the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church last night to plan ways to raise money for Joy’s appeal. The tan church has a huge cross on the front of the building.

    On Saturday, May 1st, from 8am to 2pm, there will be a large yard sale at the church located at 3131 Columbia Avenue in Lancaster.  There will also be a silent auction at the Fireside Tavern in Strasburg on June 6 from 1 to 4pm. Baskets, gift certificates, quilts and much more will be up for auction.  Joy’s mother will be auctioning a dinner for four at her home.  Any help with either of these two events would be greatly appreciated.  Contact information can be found at JusticeforJoy.org (click here). 

    The best news of the night was that Joy’s good friend, Deb Dandridge, has temporary custody of Joy’s daughter, Becca.  The group feels that the District Attorney’s office is watching Joy’s family and website closely.

    Tom O’Shea, Joy’s brother, gave an update on Joy.  She left the Lancaster County prison with none of her belongings except two hymnals, because they need help in that area at Muncy.  All of Joy’s art work is being held at the Lancaster County prison along with her personal belongings. Thirty percent of all the money that is sent to Joy in prison goes to fines and costs. The insurance company for Bayada expects repayment of the burial costs for Brent Weaver.  Money also goes to Victims’ Witness.

    It was relayed that Joy is doing okay at Muncy. She will be getting a TV and cable.  The cost for a small TV is $250.00 and cable is $18.00 a month. Joy could be moving to Cambridge Springs Prison, but it is a six hour drive from Lancaster. It is a minimum security prison and used to be a college.

    It was also reported that after her attorney, Chris Patterson, was finished with the Evidentiary Hearing, Joy wanted a press conference, but she was moved quickly from the Lancaster County Jail and it didn’t happen, nor did Patterson want her to do it.

    Please keep the dates, May 1 and June 6, in mind to help support Joy’s appeal.  There will be more information on these events and developments in the case on this site.  LIP News will also be contacting the prison to see when Joy’s personal possessions and artwork will be released.

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE!

    And, Rivera continued, Kevin Major didn’t speak with police until 2009, when “you cooperated because you were charged with a federal crime.”

    “Right,” the witness said.

From today’s article by Janet Kelley, “Four face trial for 2004 slaying of woman,” (click here).

    This is an unbelievable miscarriage of justice!  Where’s the physical evidence?  Where is it?  Let me remind you that I have a five-year-old article on the murder of Heather Marie Nunn on the original LIP News site (click here).

    From the Intell article quoted on October 26, 2004, there is this:

    “A team of 25 investigators spent Sunday night and Monday trying to identify the man who shot Nunn at least two times in the chest before fleeing her home at 224 Pearl Street.”

   “The slaying suspect apparently dropped a pair of gloves and vomited in an alley near the Pearl Street home after the shooting,” police said.

    So, 25 investigators never mention it may have been more than one man?  Twenty-five investigators never mention that it may have been a robbery gone wrong?

    Who owned the gloves?  Whose DNA was in the vomit? 

    Five years later they arrest and charge four men based on the “word” of a man who was just charged with a federal crime?  Where’s the physical evidence?

    This is corruption.  This is a disgrace.  Lancaster Detective Nate Nickel should be fired and this whole case should be investigated by an outside agency.

Please check back later today for more on ADA Randall Miller.

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

~ ADA RANDALL MILLER ~

CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

[Editor’s Note:  This comment in from Carol Taylor today regarding the Joy O’Shea Woomer trial.  Thank you very much.]

    I’ve been trying to get this printed in local paper, they don’t seem to want to touch it.

Additional Information the Jury Didn’t Know

    I read with interest the article on the front page of Friday, April 9’s paper regarding Joy O’Shea. It pointed out a couple more things that the jury supposedly didn’t know. One of the things mentioned was that Joy, upon advice of her attorneys, did not take a polygraph test, while the Weavers supposedly passed theirs with flying color.

    I can completely understand why Joy was advised not to take a polygraph test. The test and its results are only as accurate and fair as the individual who administers the test. You have to wonder if the individual administering the test is favorable to law enforcement, or more important to the prosecutors.  I mention particularly the connection with the prosecutors as I first hand witnessed the connection between the prosecutor, the judge, and the defense attorney for Joy O’Shea.

    On January 29, 2010 I was parked in the lot of T.W. Ponessa, an agency for counseling for individuals who need psychological and psychiatric care. I noticed that Randall Miller, the Asst. District Attorney and the prosecutor in Joy O’Shea’s case was in the office, going through files. I had seen Mr. Miller go in and out of the agency before, but began to question his access to clients’ personal files. To me, and to others that know of the situation, it is a conflict of interest. Many clients who use Ponessa’s services have had scrapes with the law and to realize the Asst. DA has access to their files is disconcerting.

    On January 29th I called the Ponessa office and inquired why the Asst. District Attorney was in the office and going through files; I was put on hold and then Mr. Miller answered my call. He asked who I was and as soon as I mentioned my name he connected me with the fact I had been a character witness for Joy O’Shea. That day was also the day the local newspaper ran the article on why the jury voted as they did in the conviction of Joy. Mr. Miller asked me how I liked the article regarding my friend and I said I didn’t. I then told him I did not ask to speak to him and hung up. I then called back because I wanted an answer to my original question as to why he was there. Mr. Tom Ponessa, the owner of T.W. Ponessa, which has offices in York and Harrisburg also, took my call. Mr. Ponessa was very cordial and stated to me that he could understand why I might feel Mr. Miller’s position at Ponessa as legal counsel, could be a conflict of interest with his job as Asst. District Attorney. Mr. Ponessa stated that they take special measures when Mr. Miller is involved in a case that conflicts with the clients Ponessa serves. I thanked Mr. Ponessa for his time and the call was terminated.

    Not five minutes after my conversation with Mr. Ponessa, Christopher Patterson, Joy O’Shea’s defense attorney called me and asked if I had just talked with Ponessa. I stated yes and he requested that I not pursue the matter of conflict of interest until after Joy’s sentencing, as it might have an adverse effect on the Judge’s sentence. Mr. Patterson stated that the Judge is only human and again asked that I not do anything more until after Joy’s sentencing.

    Why would Randall Miller immediately call Mr. Patterson and talk with him, and then Mr. Patterson call me to essentially be quiet so as not to cause any undo concern over Joy’s sentencing. Could it be that Mr. Miller knew he was not keeping his job as prosecutor separate from his legal representation at Ponessa. That in fact, when Joy O’Shea’s daughter goes for her counseling appointments there, on several occasions she has had to deal with Mr. Miller talking, etc. with her father in the waiting room. How hard that must be for a young woman to have deal with, when the prosecuting attorney against her mother is so visible and prominent as she tries to deal with all that is happening to her mother and her family.

    Isn’t the Judge to make his decision regarding sentencing based on the trial and the law, certainly not if a private citizen questioned the conflict of interest of the prosecuting attorney? Another cause for concern is why Mr. Miller felt comfortable enough in calling the defense attorney in this case to ask him to essentially suppress any concerns regarding his two jobs and potential conflict of interest.

    In summary, should we be concerned about potential conflicts of our public officials? Would there have been a fair and accurate evaluation of Joy had she taken the polygraph?

    There are definitely reasons why a polygraph is not admissible in court. As to the revelation of Mr. Woomer bringing forward physical evidence, I would question that too, as apparently Mr. Woomer and Mr. Miller have a common relationship and goal in prosecuting, what I and hundreds of others believe, is an innocent woman.

LOOKING FOR INFORMANTS!

   Johnson, 29, had been working with the Lancaster County Drug Task Force, hoping to earn leniency on criminal charges that could have sent her to state prison, Bowman said.

    The day, after their conversation, Bowman said he was told Johnson was dead.

Today’s front page story by Janet Kelley, “Police: Victim ID’d her killer,” (click here).

    This is the most amazing story of incompetence and corruption I have ever read.  If this is true, the drug task force and the Lancaster Police failed to protect this woman – in fact – they set her up to be killed.  Unbelievable!

Please check back later today…