Who Killed Theresa?: 11/01/2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

An email from my niece...

Hey Oncle John!

How are you? I'm pretty good. Well, it`s just to tell you that when I was searching on the Internet at school in my Technology class, I fell on the web site Who Killed Theresa?

I know that you probably have more important e-mail to check but I just had to tell you that I think that its amazing what you have done. You have worked so hard on such an emotional thing that I just have to congradulate you! I`ve read and printed all of the arcticle on Theresa and I`ve printed all of the pictures.

Any way my class is almost done so I have to say Good Bye!

... probably the most important email I've received all year.

This via Randy McCall of Victim Assistance Online:

The "Institute on Victim Studies: Critical Analysis of Victim Assistance"
offered by the Joint Center on Violence and Victim Studies (JCVVS) is
scheduled for March 7-11, 2005 at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
This intensive professional education program challenges participants to
critically reflect on victim service practices and policies in order to
facilitate professional action for change. The program also features an
optional professional certificate for advanced study by participants.

For more information contact Thomas Underwood at 1-800-910-4308 or visit
the JCVVS web site at http://www.washburn.edu/ce/jcvvs

Monday, November 29, 2004

Disquiet in the Heartland

Quite a shit-storm brewing over at Is That Legal concerning my post on the boycott of ABC's Aaron McKinney interview:

First:

Disgusting ABC News Revisionism

John Allore points us to a nauseating development in the Wyoming murder prosecution of Aaron
McKinney for killing Matthew Shepard in Laramie in 1998. Breaching a provision of the deal that spared him from the death penalty, McKinney (via ABC News's 20/20) is now telling a new story about killing Shepard that (very implausibly) denies any homophobic motivation.

Read the ABC News story. It's transparently bogus, a disgusting play for ratings.

UPDATE: What do I mean by "transparently bogus?" What I mean is this: There's nothing new here. The drug theory is not new. The defense contended at trial that McKinney's judgment was clouded by drug use. This claim about a "new" motivation for the crime completely ignores the fact that McKinney himself conceded at trial that a homosexual pass from the victim triggered a homicidal rage in him. (This was the lovely "homosexual panic" defense.) The very fact
that the claim of "new" evidence is a claim about a new motivation for the crime defeats the notion that there's anything to this. What, did McKinney just recently develop this "new" motivation, or his awareness of it? Did the defense not have every bit as much access to McKinney's mental state at the trial in 1998 as they do now? And finally, there's nothing in the "new" claim that in any way calls into doubt the original theory that an important part of McKinney's motive was antigonism toward the victim because he was gay. If McKinney's violent rage was also exacerbated by methamphetamine use (or withdrawal), so what? That does nothing to undermine the fact--upon which McKinney himself relied at trial--that a homosexual advance was key to his violence.

So this ABC News report is--quite simply--crap. If ABC News was going to be party to a criminal defendant's breach of his promise not to go to the media again with his story, you'd think that they'd at least wait until a defendant came along whose new evidence actually amounted to something.

To this Eric received 37 comments (I'm lucky if I get two).

Then, the follow-up:

Nonsense about penalty enhancements for bias crimes

W.J. Hopwood, a frequent commenter here, had the following to say about hate crimes:

A crime is a crime. It reflects an intent to perform a criminal act for whatever reason. The guy beaten because he wouldn't give up his wallet is hurt just as much as one beaten for being gay. But what if the victim who wouldn't give up his wallet was also gay? Should the punishment be doubled? Is [another commenter] saying that punishment for assaulting a robbery victim only for his money should be less severe than for assaulting someone because of the victim's sexual orientation, or race, or creed, or ethnicity, or gender?

I reproduce this not because I think it's insightful, but because I know it to be a common--perhaps the most common--argument against criminal penalty enhancements for a perpetrator's motive of hatred for a crime victim's group.

Voiced in this way, the objection could not be more simple-minded and wrong. For purposes of punishment, a crime is most definitely not a crime. The fact is that the law already uncontroversially metes out different punishments for the same crime based on the motive of the person who commits it. To get the feel of this, compare these cases:

1. Murder
a. Bill intentionally administers a life-ending drug to his chronically (but not terminally) ill mother to put an end to what he perceives to be her otherwise unremediable suffering.
b. Ted intentionally administers a life-ending drug to his chronically (but not terminally) ill mother to collect his inheritance.

Let's assume that under a particular state's laws, both of these acts would constitute second-degree murder. Would anyone maintain that it's inappropriate for the law to punish Ted more harshly than Bill? Of course not. It would be entirely appropriate to punish Ted more severely for his bad motive (or, looking at it the other way, to mitigate Bill's punishment for his benign motive).

So it's perfectly clear that the criminal law quite uncontroversially punishes some offenders more harshly than others because of their motive.

Now consider another pair of cases:

2. Mail Fraud
a. Bill offers malpractice insurance to attorneys, but it's a scam. He bilks 5 attorneys out of $5000 each.
b. Ted offers long-term care insurance to elderly people afflicted with Parkinson's Disease, but it's a scam. He bilks five eighty-five-year-olds out of $5000 each.

Again, would anyone maintain that it'd be wrong for the law to treat Ted more harshly than Bill? Ted has chosen to seek out unusually vulnerable victims. Even if the dollar amount of the loss that Bill and Ted caused is the same, where is the problem with punishing Ted more severely for seeking out vulnerable victims?

So a crime is not a crime. The criminal law treats people more harshly for acting out of motives society deems especially culpable, just as it treats people more harshly for pursuing vulnerable victims. None of this, in the murder and mail fraud contexts, is controversial.

So why should it be any more controversial when the law enhances the punishment of an offender when he seeks out his victim on account of sexual orientation?

Now, one might argue that the motive of making a person suffer for being gay is no more culpable than the motive of making a person suffer for having a wallet with some cash in it. Or one might argue that society has no good reason to see gay people as more vulnerable to violence than any other group. Those are both policy-based objections to bias-motive-based sentencing enhancements. I myself think they're both wrong. But the point is that that's all they are: arguments about policy. They're a far cry from (and, of course, far less rhetorically attractive than) the usual silly arguments one hears about how "a crime is a crime."

I must admit, Eric's argument is quite persuasive, but then I'm reminded of Sparkey's caveat:

"Though he be a gentleman, remember, Eric Muller is also a lawyer."

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Police Have New Lead In Maura Murray Case

BY GARY E. LINDSLEY, Staff Writer
Thursday May 6, 2004
Caledonian Record

HAVERHILL NEW HAMPSHIRE
There may be a break in the case involving 21-year-old nursing student Maura Murray who disappeared the night of Feb. 9 after she was involved in a one-car accident on rural Route 112 in Haverhill.

New Hampshire State Police Troop F Lt. John Scarinza said a witness has come forward with information he may have seen Murray about four to five miles east of the accident scene.

Scarinza said a man, whom he declined to identify, was returning from a construction job in the Franconia area when he spotted a young woman matching Murray's description hurrying east on Route 112, about an hour after her accident.

He not only believes the witness' information is credible, he also believes the man actually saw the Hanson, Mass., resident.

Murray, a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, left campus the afternoon of Feb. 9 after e-mailing professors and her boss, telling them she was going to take a week off because of a family problem.

Before heading north, she packed her black 1996 Saturn with some clothing, books for her college classes, expensive diamond jewelry from her boyfriend, Billy Rausch of Fort Sill, Okla., and computer-generated directions for locations in Vermont.

Although directions found in her car indicated she may have been headed toward Stowe or Burlington in Vermont, Murray apparently exited Interstate 91 at Exit 17 and headed east on Route 302.

She then turned right onto Route 112 and apparently headed to Lincoln, which she was familiar with because of family excursions to the area.

About a mile east of Swiftwater, around 7 p.m., she lost control of her car while rounding a sharp left-hand curve near The Weathered Barn. Her car went off the right side of the highway and into some trees, causing minor damage.

Butch Atwood, a school bus driver who lives about 100 yards east of the accident site, discovered Murray's disabled car while returning from taking students on a skiing trip.

Atwood spoke with her and offered to help, including calling police and EMS. However, Murray insisted that Atwood not call police and EMS because she had already contacted AAA.

Murray did not appear to be intoxicated, according to Atwood. Police said a container of alcohol was found in the car.

Atwood went to his house to call for help. About seven to nine minutes later, Haverhill Police Sgt. Cecil Smith arrived at the accident scene. Murray was nowhere to be found.

"Based on the description of what he saw, we believe it may have been Maura," Scarinza said, referring to the witness seeing a young woman fitting Maura's description about an hour after the accident. "Based on the place and based on the time, there is a good possibility the person he saw on 112 was Maura."

The witness contacted state police April 29 about possibly seeing Murray the night of the accident.

Scarinza said although the witness thought shortly after her disappearance he may have seen Murray, he discounted that thought after talking with a friend. His friend had said Murray's accident had happened Feb. 11 instead of Feb. 9. And he had seen the young woman the night of Feb. 9.

It was after seeing subsequent news reports, and realizing the accident had occurred Feb. 9, he decided to contact state police.

The man, who Scarinza said is a contractor, checked his work records and verified he was returning home from a job in the Franconia area the night of Feb. 9 when he spotted who he and state police believe was Murray.

Maura's father, Fred Murray, is upset police didn't travel Route 112 toward the Woodstock area, at least calling ahead to the Woodstock police to ask them to look for his daughter.

"This was a young woman involved in an accident," he said. "She had a head injury by the indication of the spider hole in the windshield."

"They know she is somewhere close by and they don't go down the road to bring her to safety?" Murray asked. "If they had searched for my daughter, she would most likely be safely here now."

Sharon Rausch, Billy's mother, said she believes the news of an eyewitness is wonderful.

"It gives me renewed hope she is still alive," Rausch said. "If she sees this in print, we want her to know she's more loved than ever."

Scarinza said because of the new information from the eyewitness, a search will be conducted Saturday in the area of routes 112 and 116 where Maura was last seen by the eyewitness.

More Rumors

Not only do police believe the disappearances of Maura Murray and Brianna Maitland are NOT connected, they believe that these disappearances are not related to "stranger homicides".

Parents Of Missing Women To Meet

The parents of 17-year-old Brianna Maitland and 21-year-old Maura Murray are joining forces to increase pressure on law enforcement to call in the FBI to join the search for their loved ones.

Bruce and Kellie Maitland and Fred Murray have scheduled a press conference for 9 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion in Woodsville.

The Maitlands and Murray are frustrated with the respective police investigations into their daughters' disappearances.

Brianna has been missing since she clocked out at her job as a dishwasher at the Black Lantern Inn in Montgomery, Vt., at 11:20 p.m. March 19. She left the inn to return to Sheldon where she was living with a friend.

Her car was discovered partially ensconced in an abandoned building during the early morning hours of March 20 about a mile from the Black Lantern. She hasn't been seen since.

Maura was involved in a one-car accident on Route 112 in the town of Haverhill, N.H., the night of Feb. 9. She hasn't been seen since the night of the accident.

Both women disappeared after being involved in accidents on rural roads.

The Maitlands and Murray believe there may be a connection between what has happened to their daughters. And they want that connection explored.

However, state police from Vermont and New Hampshire have discounted any connection between the disappearances of Brianna and Maura.

"We want to meet Fred and talk about what we are going through," Bruce Maitland said. "Also, we want to get out to people we need to have this looked at as a combined effort. There may be a connection."

He believes the FBI, which has more resources than the state police, should become involved in the search for Brianna and Maura.

Murray has been asking New Hampshire State Police right from the beginning to ask the FBI to become active participants in the search for his daughter.

And with Brianna missing, he believes it is imperative any possible connections be explored. "I believe there may be a connection," Murray said. "The people in Vermont and New Hampshire should be screaming to have the FBI become involved."

He said until Brianna and Maura are found, young women in Vermont and New Hampshire are not safe until whomever is involved is found

LOUISE CHAPUT

For what it's worth, I heard a rumor that police now believe Chaput - who did social work with bikers - was killed by one of her own clients.

News - November 14, 2004
Searching for answers
to 3-year-old murder
By LORNA COLQUHOUN
Sunday News Correspondent

GORHAM — As winter folds over the higher reaches of the White Mountains, friends of a Canadian woman murdered three years ago returned to Pinkham Notch last week to remember a vibrant and adventurous woman.

Along for the ride with Denis Masson and Marie Pinault are the feelings of melancholy, nostalgia and anger that someone has gotten away with the murder of Louise Chaput.

It is the couple’s second anniversary trip and accompanying them this year was Chaput’s daughter, Corinne, a college student studying to become a school teacher. Her only other trip to the area was during the search for her mother.

“I never came back,” she said. “Before, I was not ready, but now it’s OK. I don’t want to be afraid to come here.”

Hiking weekend

Louise Chaput lived in Sherbrooke, Que., a couple of hours north of the White Mountains. On Nov. 15, 2001, she decided to spend the weekend doing some hiking and stayed at the Appalachian Mountain Club in Pinkham Notch. When she didn’t return home that Monday, her friends and family reported her missing.

A search was quickly launched. While her car was found immediately, it wasn’t until almost four days later that her body was found on the popular Glen Boulder trail, just off Route 16 and about a quarter of a mile from the AMC base camp.

Louise Chaput had been stabbed to death. Her killer has never been found.

Pinault and Chaput were longtime friends. It is Pinault and her husband, Masson, who now make an annual trek from their home in Ottawa to the mountains on the anniversary of Chaput’s death, as a way to remember and to remind others that the case has never been solved.

There is also a hope that whoever is responsible will someday step forward and answer a simple question: Why Louise Chaput?

“It is amazing to me that someone is still walking around,” Pinault said. “I think there is a sick person out there. I think there is a guy out there who will do this again anytime.”

No new leads

Last year, on the second anniversary, the couple tacked up hundreds of flyers from Conway north to Gorham, asking for information.

State police Detective Chuck West said Friday that very few leads have come in recent months.

“We’re still working on it, but there is nothing new,” he said. “We used to get information in spurts, but it’s been about six months since we got anything new.”

Earlier this year, police got a warrant to search a Berlin flea market, looking for Louise Chaput’s backpack, but it turned out to be nothing, he said.

Her backpack, which is blue with an internal frame and a Canadian flag on the outside, has never been recovered, nor have her keys to her Ford Focus or her sleeping bag.

“It’s a challenge for us,” West said. “Someone is out there.”

West has also worked for the past nine months on the disappearance of Maura Murray, a University of Massachusetts nursing student who vanished following a minor car accident on Route 112 in Haverhill last February.

While both cases are troubling and remain open, West said there is nothing indicating that the two cases are related.

Pinault keeps in regular contact with West. While time has eased the sorrow of losing her dearest friend, Pinault says she will continue to do what she can to make sure Louise Chaput is not forgotten and to one day see someone arrested for her death.

Doubts about justice

It is a sentiment shared by Chaput’s daughter.

“I have lost confidence in justice,” Corinne Chaput said, “because we didn’t find what happened. It has disturbed my life — I am afraid to walk at night and when I am alone. She is not here in my life and I miss her. I don’t have a mother anymore.”

Masson and Pinault say they will return to the White Mountains every November until Chaput’s killer is found.

Pinault said her other mission during these trips is to remind women, especially those who hike alone, that the person who killed her friend is still at large.

“This is our way of remember Louise,” Chaput said. “We are not going to put (the memories) in a box.”

Anyone with information about Louise Chaput’s murder is asked to call the state police at 846-3333.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Hugo Bernier appeals first degree murder verdict

René-Charles Quirion
La Tribune
Sherbrooke
November 25, 2004

C'est maintenant officiel, Hugo Bernier en appellera du verdict de culpabilité prononcé contre lui le 29 octobre 2004 pour le meurtre au premier degré, l'enlèvement, la séquestration et l'agression sexuelle à l'endroit de Julie Boisvenu en juin 2002.

Me Marc Labelle a déposé, en début de semaine, l'avis d'appel de la déclaration de culpabilité de Hugo Bernier ainsi qu'une requête pour permission d'en appeler avant le délai de 30 jours suivant le prononcé du verdict.

À l'issu de son procès qui s'est déroulé du 8 septembre au 29 octobre 2004, Hugo Bernier a été condamné à la prison à perpétuité sans possibilité de libération conditionnelle avant 25 ans.

La défense demande à la Cour d'appel d'ordonner l'arrêt des procédures sur l'accusation du meurtre au premier degré et la tenue d'un nouveau procès sur les autres chefs d'accusation, soit l'enlèvement, la séquestration et l'agression sexuelle.

“Je ne comprends pas pourquoi la défense demande un arrêt des procédures sur le meurtre au premier degré, ce qui correspond à un acquittement et un autre procès sur les trois autres chefs d'accusation. Je serais très surpris que la Cour d'appel accorde cet arrêt des procédures. Au mieux pour lui, il y aura un nouveau procès et au mieux pour la société, le verdict de culpabilité rendu par douze citoyens sera confirmé”, explique le procureur de la couronne au dossier, Me André Campagna.

Comme motifs d'appel, Me Marc Labelle soumet que “la combinaison dans le même acte d'accusation du chef de meurtre au premier degré avec les chefs d'agression sexuelle, enlèvement et séquestration a rendu les directives inintelligibles et le procès inéquitable.”

Thursday, November 25, 2004

FOLKS,

It's turkey day down here and I'm knee deep in stuffing.

Happy Holidays

Ya know, I'm starting to warm to the big doofus.

A call to boycott ABC television

This via a friend in New York City

Dear Friends,

Almost four years ago, in preparing to write the script for "The Matthew Shepard Story" for NBC, I traveled with friend and co-writer, Jacob Krueger, to Casper, Wyoming to interview Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew's mom and dad. If anyone had justifiable claim to bitterness, it would be the Shepards, given the gruesome, widely-reported murder of their child. But we found them generous, gracious and unflinchingly honest in the face of questions that were hard enough to ask, let alone answer. Those qualities and the pain any parent feels for others who've lost a child, however, aren't what seared the Shepards into my heart forever. It was their extraordinary act of mercy.

For those of you who may not know, Matthew - a 21-year-old, openly gay student at the University of Wyoming - was tied to a fence in a remote location outside of Laramie and beaten to death with a pistol by two young men, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney. Only one of the murderers, Aaron McKinney, was ever brought to trial for the killing; Russell Henderson pleaded guilty in exchange for two life sentences without parole. McKinney was found guilty of two separate counts of first degree murder and faced what many thought to be a likely death sentence. But prior to the sentencing phase of the trial, Judy and Dennis showed uncommon mercy to this young man who refused to show mercy to their son when he begged for his life.

They bypassed vengeance, no small degree of closure, and what many would consider justice and persuaded prosecuting attorney, Cal Rerucha, to abandon pursuit of the death penalty. I want to share with you an excerpt of the address made to the court and to Aaron McKinney by Dennis Shepard on the final day of proceedings.

Matt officially died at 12:53 AM on Monday, October 12, 1998 in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. He actually died on the outskirts of Laramie, tied to a fence that Wednesday before when you beat him. You, Mr. McKinney, with your friend Mr. Henderson, killed my son...

You left him out there by himself but he wasn't alone. There were his lifelong friends with him, friends he had grown up with... the beautiful night sky with the same stars and moon that we used to look at through a telescope... the daylight and the sun to shine on him one more time, one more cool, wonderful autumn day in Wyoming... the smell of Wyoming sage brush and the scent of pine trees from the Snowy Range...

He had one more friend with him. One he grew to know through his time in Sunday School and as an acolyte at St. Mark's in Casper as well as through his visits to St. Matthew's in Laramie. He had God. I feel better knowing that he wasn't alone...

I would like nothing better than to see you die, Mr. McKinney. However, this is the time to begin the healing process. To show mercy to someone who refused to show any mercy. To use this as the first step in my own closure about losing Matt...

Mr. McKinney, I'm going to grant you life, as hard as it is for me to do so, because of Matthew. Every time you celebrate Christmas, a birthday or the fourth of July, remember that Matthew isn't... You robbed me of something very precious and I will never forgive you for that. Mr. McKinney, I give you life in the memory of one who no longer lives. May you have a long life and may you thank Matthew every day for it.

In exchange for two consecutive life sentences, the murderer, in consult with his attorneys, agreed to waive all rights of appeal and "to refrain from talking to any news media organizations" regarding the criminal case against him. The Shepard family, said Judy, "would never have to hear from him again."

Now the unfortunate point of this letter. I beg your patience just a moment longer.

ABC News program, 20/20, recently announced it will be airing an interview with Aaron McKinney the Friday following Thanksgiving, November 26th, in blatant disregard for the agreement struck between the killer and the Shepards. No doubt, there will be more unnecessary pain inflicted upon Judy and Dennis, but the most disappointing part of the decision - at least in my opinion - is the casual dismissal of the Shepard's exemplary act of mercy.

The recent election may have exposed a significant divide among Americans on many issues, among them homosexuality. But I'm confident we still agree on many things, including these three:

1) that murder is wrong (Exodus 20:13)

2) that violating a promise or an oath is wrong (Numbers 30:2)

3) and that showing mercy is good (Matthew 5:7)

Please join me in affirming these basic human values by:

1) sending an e-mail to the producers of 20/20 at 2020@abc.com urging them not to air the McKinney interview. You can copy this message into your e-mail if you like:

"I stand with Judy and Dennis Shepard, urging you to recognize the greement embraced by Aaron McKinney and his lawyers at the time of his sentencing, which, in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death enalty, prohibited Mr. McKinney from talking to any news media rganizations regarding the criminal case against him. Please do not air the McKinney/Henderson segment or any part of it, scheduled for November 26th, 2004. Sincerely, (Your name).

2) Should 20/20 go ahead with plans to air the interview, don't tune in. Instead, make plans to use the hour affirming the Shepard's act of mercy with smaller acts of your own... like volunteering locally or writing a check to your favorite helping organization.

3) Lastly, forward this e-mail to as many people as you can. The more pressure brought to bear on ABC, the better.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

John Wierick

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Tribal council chief to sit on Stonechild inquiry committee

Star Phoenix, 11/19/2004

The chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council will sit on a Saskatoon police commission committee looking at recommendations stemming from the Stonechild inquiry. Chief Glen Johnstone says there is plenty of fear of police in the aboriginal community. He says the continued denial of the inquiry's findings by the union representing police officers is disturbing.
Johnstone says aboriginal young people are afraid of joining the force because of racism.

There's a rumor going round that they're going to disband the Saskatoon police force. What exactly "disband" means, I don't know; but what are blogs for if not rumors?

Missing girl

From The Campus - the Bishop's University student newspaper. This was the last article to appear in the English press concerning Theresa's disappearance

The Campus
November 24, 1978

"It's quite a puzzle," said Lennoxville Police Chief Leo Hamel in a recent interview with The Campus concerning the disappearance of 19-year-old Champlain student Theresa Allore, Theresa has been missing since last Nov. 3 when she was last seen at Dewhurst Dining Hall at approximately 6:00 p.m.

The C1 student is described as being approximately 5'6" tall and weighing 115 pounds, with red frizzy hair and blue eyes. She was last reported wearing a T-Shirt and blue corduroy pants, with a long beige sweater and Chinese sandals.

Police Chief Hamel said that approximately 26 people have been questioned concerning the case but he did not want to comment directly on any information that he has gathered. Hamel, who is leading the investigation, urged anyone who has any information to contact him at 562-8333.

I was recently introduced to a great site with information on Quebec crimes and victims.

Quebec Secours is the province's web site for local search and rescue operations. They cover everything from highway safety to alerts about missing persons.

Check it out:

http://www.quebecsecours.qc.ca/

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

CAVA Conference

Folks...

If you're in the British Columbia area in early December I want to encourage you to attend the Canadian Association for Victim Assistance inaugural conference in Richmond. I've been working on this conference along with a number of other dedicated and talent people for the past year and I really think it's going to be good. You can get the details by visiting www.infocava.ca , but for now I'd like to tell you about some of the scheduled presentations:

Keynote Speakers include Maggie de Vries and Ernie Crey who will speak on the B.C. missing women, Catherine Bereron from the December 6 Foundation and Dr. Irvin Waller, Professor of Criminology at the University of Ottawa.

Also there are some great victims presentations including Judith Peterson, Holly Desimone and Pierre-Hugh Boisvenu who will speak on grassroots advocacy; Mariam Majedi who will present on mass casualties and the Air India disaster; Myself, Jean Cusworth and Kathy King will talk about cold cases; and there's a special media panel that will address how the press treat victims issues that promises to be spicy.

So, if you're in the area in December and have nothing to do, you might want to check us out.

Because it just wouldn't be the holidays without hanging around a bunch of depressing, opinionated malcontents.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Quebec's newly formed Association of Families of Victims of Crime held its first meeting on Sunday

Christian Carretta, Marcel Bolduc, Michel Surprenant et Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu

Association des familles victimes d'actes criminels
Donner un sens à la mort violente d'un proche
Caroline Touzin
La Presse

«C'était à vous la petite fille qui s'est faite couper en morceaux.» Michèle Labelle a entendu cette phrase plusieurs fois de la bouche des enfants de l'école primaire dont elle est directrice. Chaque fois, elle lui faisait l'effet d'un coup de poignard et la cruauté de la mort de sa fille de 20 ans revenait la hanter.

D'abord résolue à reprendre son travail pour oublier le meurtre de sa fille, Valérie Aubin, découpée en morceaux à Anjou et retrouvée dans le fleuve en juillet 2003, Mme Labelle a fini par prendre une année sabbatique, incapable de faire face aux commentaires des élèves. De retour en poste depuis septembre, la dame souffre encore lorsqu'elle croise une petite Valérie qui déambule dans les corridors.

C'est pour aider des familles comme celle de Mme Labelle que Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, dont la fille Julie a été tuée à Sherbrooke par un récidiviste en 2002, a créé l'Association des familles victimes d'actes criminels.

L'Association tenait sa première réunion hier, dans un restaurant de Laval, après avoir reçu un appui moral et financier du ministre de la Justice, Jacques Dupuis, lundi dernier. Quatre pères de famille qui ont perdu leur fille, assassinée ou disparue, dont M. Boisvenu, s'étaient alors rendus à l'Assemblée nationale pour demander d'améliorer le traitement réservé aux familles victimes d'actes criminels.

FEDS GO CHEAP ON VICTIMS AID

This via Steve Sullivan

VICTIMS' TRAVEL NIXED; FEDS WON'T SPEND $1.7M ON PAROLE HEARING AID
The Toronto Sun
Mon 22 Nov 2004
KATHLEEN HARRIS, OTTAWA BUREAU

THE LIBERAL government shied away from helping needy victims get to parole hearings after the costs for such help were pegged at roughly $1.7 million a year, federal documents show.
Records obtained by the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime under Access to Information reveal travel, salaries and operating costs for a victims' assistance program are estimated at $6.5 million for the first five years. Annual ongoing costs would be $1.7 million, according to the government projections.

Resource centre president Steve Sullivan called the sum a "drop in the bucket" compared to the massive costs associated with running Canada's courts and prisons.

'VERY FRUSTRATING'

"It doesn't seem like much when you consider the federal corrections system alone is over $1 billion, the federal parole board is $35 million. When you consider the entire justice system with courts and police, you're talking tens of billions of dollars," he said.

Sullivan called it "very frustrating" that the government crunched the numbers and recognized its responsibility -- but has still failed to deliver on it two years later. Meanwhile, it continues to fund pricey programs and legal deals for prisoners, he said.

In 2001, victims won the right to read statements at National Parole Board hearings.

'INCREASING PRESSURE'

Government briefings obtained under Access to Information, supported by detailed program analysis and fact sheets, note that "increasing pressure" was anticipated for cash assistance to help victims get to hearings.

"The most persuasive argument is that, in the absence of the means to attend hearings, the government hasn't really given victims a voice at parole hearings," the document reads.
Alex Swann, spokesman for Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan, said the department is considering assistance but stressed it's just one of many "competing claims" for government cash.

"There are a number of proposals that have been put to us -- other proposals to improve victims' access, proposals to enhance public safety and proposals to improve safety in the prisons," Swann said.

"You have to give consideration to all competing priorities."

But Sullivan insists $1.7 million would barely make a dent in the bulging federal bank.

$9B SURPLUS CURRENTLY

"Everybody thinks it's the right thing to do. It's just a question of money," he said. "Hearing now about a $9-billion surplus, we would hope the federal government won't continue to say it doesn't have any."

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Here we are. We're not going away. Get used to us.

Une association pour aider les proches de victimes d'actes violents

Les parents qui ont perdu un enfant lors d'un crime violent doivent apprendre à vivre avec le souvenir et la douleur.

Cette semaine, ils ont cependant appris une bonne nouvelle : une association, qui a l’appui du ministre de la Justice de Québec, a été mise sur pied pour venir en aide aux proches de victimes d’actes violents et à leur entourage.

Il y a plus de 50 familles qui veulent s'impliquer dans cette nouvelle association. Son mandat: apporter aide et réconfort aux familles et poursuivre la lutte pour que leurs proches ne soient pas morts en vain.

Dimanche, plusieurs membres de ces familles étaient présents pour tracer les grandes lignes de cette nouvelle association.

«Ne restons pas assis, il faut aller de l’avant», a déclaré le grand-père de Mélanie Cabay, dont la petite-fille a été violée et tuée en 1994. Son corps a été retrouvé dans un boisé de Mascouche. Son assassin court toujours.

De son côté, la soeur de Lyne Massicotte, disparue depuis plus d'un an, affirme «avoir encore beaucoup de colère» en elle.

Le père de Julie Surprenant, qui est sans nouvelle de sa fille depuis cinq ans déjà, était également présent à cette rencontre.

Le père de Julie Boisvenu, 29 ans, assassinée en 2002 et dont le meurtrier a été reconnu coupable il y a quelques semaines, a affirmé que, dorénavant, «le combat va être mené en groupe». Le groupe a terminé sa première réunion l'air encouragé, malgré la douleur qui demeurera toujours.

Assault Victim Suing Police

Woman seeking millions of dollars in compensation from police, city
By JAMES RUSK
Saturday, November 20, 2004 - Page A19
Globe and Mail

Wyann Ruso was so afraid on that Wednesday morning that she took her husband's rifle out of their Scarborough home and brought it to work in the trunk of her car.

When she got to the Toronto local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, where she is a secretary, a co-worker persuaded her that it was time to go to the police.

"I saw her visibly crying and upset," union official Sharry Smith said after a news conference yesterday morning, at which Ms. Ruso described the horrific events that allegedly transpired on Nov. 3.

"She told me last night at home her husband started on her and he said he was going to kill her with this gun. So she took it from the home, and she said she had this gun in her trunk.

"I took her into my office and said: 'This is how far it has gone now. . . . We have to go to the police. There is no more thinking about it.' "

Ms. Ruso said simply: "I was very afraid for my life."

Together they went to 42 Division where they turned over the rifle and reported the incident to an officer who is a specialist in domestic violence.

Hours later, Ms. Ruso said, she was attacked with an axe and a hammer.

"I have cuts on my head, I guess from the axe. I was hit with a hammer and the bones pushed into a nerve. He broke my jaw and fractured my skull. I don't know that I'll ever get my . . . sight back in this eye," Ms. Ruso, 53, told the news conference.

It was the first time she has had a chance to describe the attack publicly since the Toronto Police Service did not, in the words of Police Chief Julian Fantino, "do what we were to do in a timely fashion."

Clearly nervous, and in a voice choked with emotion, Ms. Ruso said her marriage was breaking up and her husband had said he would rather kill her than let her go.

"I told the officer about my husband's threats to kill me.

"She assured me that he would be arrested very soon," Ms. Ruso said.

She and Ms. Smith then returned to work, where they arranged to install an alarm in the Ruso house and to change the locks.

Ms. Ruso said she told police that she wanted to go home to care for a seriously disabled adult daughter, but was cautioned not to return until her husband was arrested.

"Over the next few hours, I telephoned the police station three or four times to find out if he had been arrested. I was told that he hadn't been, but would be arrested soon. I was told that the officer would phone me back, but she never did.

"A little before five o'clock that day, I returned home. My husband was there, and was very angry. As you know, I was attacked with an axe."

She is still angry about the police response. "I just wish they would take the situation more seriously than what they did.

"They promised me they would go out, and they didn't do it. I wouldn't be here today like I am if they had. They have to start and take quicker actions. Otherwise, why do we go there?"

There is talk of a lawsuit. Her lawyer, Peter Rosenthal, told reporters that the city and the police could avoid one by offering to compensate his client now.

"It would be appropriate for the City of Toronto and the Toronto police force and their various insurers involved, whatever, to just come forward and give her a big settlement that will try to compensate a little bit for this," he said.

Asked what a settlement should be, he replied: "It certainly has to be in the millions of dollars. It has to be. This kind of negligence on the one hand and the trauma on the other hand calls for a very large settlement in this case."

Giuseppe Ruso, 55, has been charged with attempted murder.

What do you say to all of that?

Saturday, November 20, 2004

Marcel Bolduc, Michel Surprenant, Pierre Boisvenu and other victims addressing the Quebec justice minister in Montreal

familles victimes d'actes criminels

L'Association déjà débordée d'appels

René-Charles Quirion
La Tribune
Sherbrooke

L'Association des familles de victimes d'actes criminels du Québec est inondée d'appels et de courriels depuis sa reconnaissance au début de la semaine par le ministre de la Justice du Québec, Jacques Dupuis.

L'un des fondateurs de l'association, Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, le père de Julie Boisvenu assassinée en juin 2002 au centre-ville de Sherbrooke, soutient qu'autour de 50 familles l'ont contacté depuis lundi.

Une trentaine de courriels de parents de victimes d'actes criminels et de bénévoles de même qu'une vingtaine d'appels sont parvenus à M. Boisvenu.

"La plupart des événements se sont déroulés entre 1990 et 2000. Il y a même des témoignages qui remontent à 1986. Les parents de trois victimes dont le procès de l'accusé est toujours en cours sont aussi entrés en communication avec nous", explique Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu.

Friday, November 19, 2004

i bet you are flying inside

My Family and W-FIVE

Folks, we are working this out.

Let me say this... If the media is the anvil of the soul, we are hammering out a resolution.

AND... my brother, my parents, and I have never been so unified in Theresa's interest as we are here.

There is a palitable feeling that we stand for her now, the way we know she would have stood for us. Balls to the wall.

At this moment.

Theresa kicked-ass.

And in her spirit we will kick back.

We owe her that much, and so much more. Because she was the shit. And we loved her. Above it all, she made us laugh.

What's more important than that?

Folks, I've had a really bad week.

So I'm going to take some advice from my dad, who always thinks it's better to laugh then cry when things go bad. Every Friday my dad will email out "The Friday Funny". Granted some of these chestnuts are usually pretty lame, but this week's is a keeper.

So I now present to you...

Bob Allore's Friday Funny:

Soon Wal-Mart customers in the US will be able to sample a new discount item -- Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail chain is teaming up with E & J Gallo Winery of Modesto, CA, to produce wines at an affordable price, in the $2-5 range. While wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart brand wine into their shopping carts, there is a market for cheap wine, said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Comments Williams, "The right name is important."

With that in mind, here are The Top 12 suggested names for Wal-Mart wine:

12. Chateau Traileur Parc

11. White Trashfindel

10. Big Red Gulp

9. Grape Expectations

8. Domaine Wal-Mart "Merde du Pays"

7. NASCARbernet

6. Chef Boyardeaux

5. Peanut Noir

4. Chateau des Moines

3. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar !

2. World Championship Riesling

And the number 1 name for Wal-Mart Wine...

1. Nasti Spumante

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Duck's Off

Sorry folks, I can no longer talk about W-Five.

Let's talk about something else.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Mise à jour: 16/11/2004 08h33

THIS IN TODAY'S QUEBEC PRESS

Disparition
Julie Surprenant: cinq ans déjà

Triste anniversaire aujourd'hui: il y a cinq ans, le 16 novembre 1999, disparaissait Julie Surprenant, 16 ans.

L'adolescente originaire de l'île Saint-Jean, à Terrebonne, a été vue pour la dernière fois alors qu'elle descendait d'un autobus près de l'appartement où elle habitait.

Hier, le père de Julie s'est joint à trois pères dont les enfants ont aussi été victimes d'actes criminels.

Les quatre hommes ont rencontré le ministre de la Justice, Jacques Dupuis, pour lui demander de l'aide pour les familles des victimes d'actes criminels.

Pour l'instant, cette aide se résume à l'octroi de 600 dollars. Le ministre de la Justice a cependant promis de mieux encadrer psychologiquement les proches des victimes.

En vidéo, écoutez le commentaire de Claude Poirier.

Student Missing

The Touchstone
November 16, 1978

The Touchstone was a student newspaper. After the initial article in The Record on November 13th, professional English publications never mentioned the case again until five months later when her body was found.

Champlain student Theresa Allore has been missing since last Nov. 3. She was last seen at Dewhurst Dining Hall at approximately 6:00 pm. The first year student is described as being approximately 5'6" tall and weighing 115 pounds, with red frizzy hair and blue eyes.

FTR: Theresa's hair was a recent perm and a die-job

She was last reported to be wearing a T-shirt and blue cords and was distinguished by a long beige sweater and black chinese sandals. Any information concerning the nineteen-year-old's disappearance should be reported to Bill Matson, campus principal of Champlain College. The College is working on an intensive search in conjunction with the Lennoxville Police.

Curious that they are told to report to Bill Matson instead of the police - though this could be a natural thing. FYI: Matson came from the U.S. Army where he worked in Army Intelligence. His motto was "I know when to keep my eyes wide and my mouth shut. Matson was master of information and wanted to keep everything he learned close to the chest, especially in the matter of a missing student, lest blame fall on the college. Also note: the "intensive search" was a sham. When my brother suggested to Matson that a search should be undertaken, Matson's response was - and I quote - "I'm not going to turn this campus upside down for some goddam kid".

Police had no comment on the disappearance of the Compton resident but urge anyone who has seen or heard anything to bring it immediately to the attention of Matson as all information is vital.

I strongly doubt the police wanted information filtered through the school officials.

OK, THIS IS A LONG ONE...

Qu'est-il arrive a Theresa Allore?

La Tribune
Jeudi 16 Novembre 1978
par Serge Gosselin

LENNOXVILLE - Pourquoi Theresa Allore, lorsqu'elle a quitte ses amis au refectoire du college Champlain a Lennoxville a 19 heures, leur a t-elle dit qu'elle serait a sa chambre a Compton deux heures plus tard, alors qu'il faut a peine une heure, sur le pouce, pour relier ces deux endoits?

"le pouce" is hitchhiking. So - translation - "why didn't Theresa Allore, when she told her friends she would see them in two hours, not make it back to her residence?"

M. et Mne Robert Allore, les parents de Theresa qui est disparue dupuis le 3 novembre, croient qu'en elucidant ce qu'elle se proposait de faire pendant cette heure, ils pourront voir plus clair dans tout ce mystere.

Theresa's parents want an answer to this mystery.

Meme si la disparition remonte a pres de deux semaines, les policiers de la Surete municipale de Lennoxville et les parents se pendent en conjectures sur ce qu'il pu advenir de Theresa agee de 19 ans, vendredi soir le 3 novembre; s'agit-il d'une simple fugue d'une jeune etudiante ou d'un enlevement?

bla, bla, bla, I think you get this... is she a runnaway or was she abducted?

Pour M. Robert Allore, arrive tout droit de St-Jean au Nouveau-Brunswick en compagnie de son epouse et du plus jeune de ses fils, il faut esperer pour le mieux, mais il faut egalement s'attendre au pire.

"epouse": that's my mom. "jeune de ses fils": that's me. Ya, I went along with them to Quebec. Frankly, I was fourteen, and really didn't understand what-the-hell was going on.

"Il y a plus d'1 million d'hypotheses quant au sort qu'a pu subir notre fille en cette soiree du 3 novembre, il y a bien peu de chances pour que nous puissions deviner la bonne", de dire M. Allore, dont l'imagination vogue depuis quelques jours du scenerio le plus optimste au plus pessimiste.

With a million possibilities, my dad is hanging on to hope.

L'hypothese de la fugue, elle ne tient pas trop solidement en raison de certains elements recueillis depuis le debut de l'enquete dirigee par le directeur du service policier de Lennoxville, M. Leo Hamel.

D'apres la description qu'en fait son pere, Theresa Allore est une jeune fille autonome, intelligente, possedant un certain gout de l'aventure.

M. Allore a beaucoup d'estime pour la plus agee de ses trois enfants, mais il ne parvient pas a comprendre pourquoi elle s'entetait a faire de l'auto-stop, pratique qu'il lui a deconseillee a plusieurs reprises.

My dad says Theresa was bright, independent, with a taste for adventure - and he had warned her against hitchhiking. This would be his undoing - everyone picked up on this and ran with the idea that whatever happened to Theresa, she deserved the consequences.

Depuis pres d'une annee, Theresa vit eloignee de sa famille, elle a meme travaille pendant quelques mois avant de renenir aux etudes en septembre au college de Lennoxville.

Elle en est a sa premiere d'etudes au college regional Champlain, campus de Lennoxville, ou elle a enregistre des suces scolaires, comme elle la confie a son pere la derniere fois qu'ils se sont parles au telephone le 31 octobre dernier. Neanmoins, il est permis de croire que si Theresa a quitte de sa propre volonte, c'etait impevu.

Theresa was doing well at school, after having dropped out for a year. My parents last talked to her Halloween night

Elle a dit a une amie qu'elle serait a sa chambre deux heures plus tard, son compte bancaire ne laisse voir aucune transaction recente, elle avait prete pour quelques jours son sac-a-dos dont elle ne se separait jamais lors de ses sorties de week-end, il ne semble pas manquer de vetements a sa chambre, elle aurait pu en apporter avec elle si elle avait l'intention de s'absenter; voila autant de faits qui incitent M. Allore a croire qu'il ne faut pas retenir avec trop de certitude l'hypothese de la fugue et qu'une partie de l'enigme pourrait etre resolue en determinant ce que Theresa voulait faire entre son depart du refectoire de l'ecole et son arrivee a sa chambre au Kings Hall de Compton.

Nothing was missing from her room, no money drawn from her bank account - so much for the runnaway theory

Dupuis ce temps, les parents de Theresa sont sans nouvelle d'elle.

Avises de sa disparition vendredi dernier, ils sont arrives dimarche a Lennoxville ou ils resident depuis, attendant qu'a un moment ou a l'autre, leur fille donne signe de vie.

Mais, toutes leurs journees ne sont pas faites que d'attente puisqu'a sa facon, M. Allore donne un coup de main aux policiers-enqueteurs en verifiant les effets personnels de sa fille, rencontrant des confreres, ou des consoeurs d'etudes, contactant des amis ou des parents de l'exterieur de la ville.

Mais, bien peu d'indices ont ete recueillis jusqu'a maintenant.

Pour un, M. Allore s'interroge sur le fait qu'il soit impossiblr d'en apprendre davantage du cote des etudients du college; il pense que certains etudiants pourraient en savoir plus que ce qu'ils lui ont revele jusqu'a maintenant.

"C'est sur le campus que se trouve la clef su mystere de la disparation de notre fille", pense M. Allore.

This was "le pire" for my parents, "the worst". They got no help when they went to Quebec. The investigator was ineffectual, the school administration told them to go home, everyone was playing amateur psychologist - Was Theresa a troubled child? Was she pregnant? Did Theresa need theropy?; was she a lesbian? They asked my parents if she was adopted, were my parents happily married? Total bullshit, mom and dad got so fed up they hired a private detective - then things really began to come to light (more on that later).

De meme, il a fallu pres d'une semaine avant que certaines compagnes de Theresa porte a l'attention de la Surete municipale son adsence prolongee et inexpliquee.

M. et Mne Allore, qui demeurent somme toute confiants de retrouver leur fille sous peu et qui n'affichent pas trop l'anxiete qui les tenaille depuis plusieurs jours, ont l'intention de regagner en fin de semaine leur domicile de St-John.

Marie depuis bientot 20 ans, le couple Allore souhaite que leur fille soit de retour avant leur depart.

Ya. Sadly this never happened

Du cote policier, l'enqueteur Leo Hamel a repris les recontres avec les amis de Theresa et les personnes susceptibles de l'avoir recontree dans la soiree de vendredi. On croit qu'elle pourrait avoir ete apercue du long d'une route a faire de l'auto-stop, portant un long chandail en laine beige.

Toutes les informations concernant cette affaire peuvent etre acheminees au directeur Leo Hamel a son bureau de la Surete, situe a l'hotel de ville de Lennoxville.

Footnote: November 16th is a bad day. On this day in 1999, Julie Surprenant disappeared from a bus-stop in Terrebonne, Quebec. Most believe Julie is dead, her body never found. The lead suspect in her disappearance is Richard Bouillon, currently serving ten years for various sexual transgressions.

Monday, November 15, 2004

QUEBEC JUSTICE MINISTER AGREES TO FINANCE A VICTIMS ASSOCIATION FOR FAMILIES OF HOMICIDE

Oh, well done Pierre!

Families of Quebec murder victims to help others in same situation
Canadian Press
November 15, 2004

QUEBEC -- The Quebec government will provide some financial support to help several families of murder victims start a support group to help others in the same situation.

Four families who had sons or daughters murdered met with Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis on Monday. Dupuis didn't make public the amount the support group would receive.

Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, whose 22-year-old daughter Julie was raped and murdered in Sherbrooke in 2002, was among those who met with Dupuis.

Boisvenu said the group's goal is to help other families, offer advice and share experiences.

"We will ask those families, `Do you need some kind of support. Do you need some kind of preparation to meet the media. Do you know about the justice system''' he said.

The families who met with Dupuis also are lobbying for better compensation for the families of murder victims, stiffer penalties for killers and tougher parole conditions.

------------------------------

Québec aidera financièrement l'Association des familles victimes d'actes criminels

Mise à jour le lundi 15 novembre 2004, 12 h 24 .

Le ministre de la Justice du Québec, Jacques Dupuis, a indiqué lundi matin, que Québec apportera une aide financière à l'Association des familles victimes d'actes criminels.

Le ministre Dupuis a fait cette annonce après avoir rencontré quatre pères de victimes d'actes criminels, dont Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu et Marcel Bolduc, dans ses bureaux de Montréal. Le montant accordé n'a pas été dévoilé.

L'association a pour objectif d'apporter différents services d'aide aux familles, sans toutefois se substituer aux services que fournissent déjà les centres d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels (CAVAC) ou les centres d'aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALAC).

L'organisme veut plutôt apporter un soutien direct aux familles éplorées dans les premiers moments suivant une disparition ou un meurtre, en les informant sur le processus judiciaire et en les préparant à affronter les médias.

L'instigateur du projet, Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, a qualifié la rencontre de « très satisfaisante ». « On a été écouté et on a été compris », a-t-il déclaré.

L'aide de Québec, dit-il, doit notamment permettre à l'association d'entrer en contact avec quelque 750 familles qui ont été victimes d'un acte criminel au cours des 15 dernières années. L'association invite d'ailleurs les familles concernées à lui écrire à l'adresse de courriel suivante : afvacq@hotmail.com.

L'organisme acheminera par ailleurs une demande de financement au Fonds d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels. « Il ne fait aucun doute que la société doit faire écho aux drames que [les familles] ont vécus », a dit le ministre Dupuis.

La rencontre avec le ministre Dupuis s'est déroulée en présence des pères de Julie Boisvenu assassinée en juin 2002, d'Isabelle Bolduc, assassinée en 1996, de Cathy Caretta, étranglée en 1998, et de Julie Suprenant, qui est disparue depuis 1999.

Hello? hello?... is this thing on?

I'll let the cat-out-of-the-bag... W-Five is visiting me today and tomorrow in North Carolina. W-Five is like "20-20" for Canadians. They are doing an hour-long show on Theresa's murder; today I get to walk around as they film me going about my business - See? this guy's normal; he's not the crackpot we all thought he was.

Tomorrow I sit down for an extended interview with Sandy Rinaldo (that's the Diane Sawyer of Canada). They've already talked with my brother and later this week their interviewing my folks in Saint John, New Brunswick (a first - my parents have been silent about all of this for 25 years).

I think it will air sometime in January, 2005 - but you never know with these tv people.

I have to go get ready for my close-up.

Sunday, November 14, 2004

Lennox Redux

For those of you who don't speak French, I'll talk you through it

La Surete de Lennoxville s'interroge toujours sur le sort de Theresa Allore

LA TRIBUNE, SHERBROOKE
MARDI 14 NOVEMBRE, 1978

LENNOXVILLE - La Surete municipale de Lennoxville s'interroge toujour sur le sort de Theresa Allore, jeune edutiante de 19 ans du College regional Champlain de cette localite, portee disparue dupuis vendredi dernier.

That one's pretty clear

Jusqu'a maintenant, devait avouer hier M. Leo Hamel, directeur de la Surete municipale de Lennoxville et responsable de l'enquete, peu d'informations permettent aux policiers d'avoir des indices sur ce qui aurait pu survenir a la jeune Allore, dupuis la derniere fois qu'elle a ete vue, soit vendredi le 3 novembre.

eleven days later, the police begin their investigation

M. Hamel a indique hier qu'il est a completer son enquete qui a consiste, presque essentiellement a recontrer des amis ou des personnes qui auraient pu en savoir plus long sur les allees et venues de la collegienne.

Hamel's investigation consisted of only questioning students - no locals, no school faculty, no adults

Des indices recueillis au cours de son enquete, le directeur du service de police a pratiquement ecarte l'hypothese d'une fugue; d'ailleurs, hier M. Hamel etudiait l'opportunite de declencher une operation de ratissage dans les bois environnants avec la collaboration de la Surete du Quebec, ce qui confirme que les policiers de Lennoxville craignent le pire.

Hamel's running on the theory that she is a "fugue" - a runnaway, but when pressed, he's forced to admit that he wants to search the nearby woods - fearing "le pire", the worst. Hamel requests manpower from the Surete du Quebec and local officials, but he is denied the help. The town goes cheap on the investigation and the police never conduct any kind of search.

Mlle Theresa Allore mesure cinq pieds et six pouces et pese 110 livres. Elle a les cheveux longs frises de couleur roux, les yeux bleus et une legere cicatrice au front.

Theresa had a small scar on her forehead; this discription gives the impression she was gastly disfigured

Au moment de sa disapparition Mlle Therea Allore habitait la residence du Kings Hall a Compton.

no one is searching Compton because, as of yet, no one has come forward to place her there on the night of November 3rd.

C'est son frere Andre qui a rapporte la disparition aux policiers vendredi.

That must have been an aweful day

Les personnes qui se croient en mesurede fournir aux enqueteurs des informations au sujet de Mlle Allore depuis le moment de sa disparition sont pres d'entrer en communication avec M. Leo Hamel au quartier-general de la Surete municipale de Lennoxville.

People quickly get the impression that Hamel is a nincompoop; a nice guy, but totally ineffectual, and incapable of handling the situation. Little is ever reported to him.

Saturday, November 13, 2004

Historical rhetorical

This - the first announcement of her disappearance - a full 10 days after she was last seen.

Girl 19, missing

Sherbrooke Record
Monday, November 13th, 1978

LENNOXVILLE (BP)
- Municipal police continue their search for 19-year-old Theresa Allre, a Champlain Regional College student who disappeared Friday, Nov. 3 from the local campus.

Authorities began their investigation last Friday when the girl's brother, Andre, reported she was last seen about 6 p.m. in the cafeteria on the Bishop's - Champlain campus wearing blue corduroy slacks, a white t-shirt, a long beige sweater and sandals. She was living at King's Hall residence in Compton at the time of her disappearance.

Ms. Allore is about 5'7" and weighs 105 lbs. She has blue eyes, long red frizzy hair, a1/2" scar on her forehead and is English-speaking.

Anyone with information concerning this young woman is asked to contact Lennoxville Police Director Leo Hamel at 569-9388 or 562-8333 as soon as possible.

Friday, November 12, 2004

Ya... well... I gotta say I agree with this one

Saskatoon police officers linked Stonechild death fired

Canadian Press with Globe and Mail Update
The Stonechild Inquiry

The two Saskatoon police officers linked to the death of Neil Stonechild are "each unsuitable for police service by reason of their conduct" and were dismissed Friday, the police chief announced.

They were removed from their jobs effective Friday afternoon, "for failing to dilligently and promptly report or disclose or offer material evidence" related to the case in which the aboriginal teenager was found frozen to death just outside of town, the Saskatoon police chief said.

Constables Larry Hartwig and Bradley Senger had been on suspension with pay after an inquiry found that they had had Mr. Stonechild in their custody in the hours before his 1990 death.

Their fate has been a polarizing issue in Saskatoon since the inquiry report was released late last month.

Police Chief Russell Sabo said he doesn't believe the officers abandoned the teenager in the deserted area where his body was found, but he based his decision on a careful review of the evidence he was allowed by the Police Act.

The Stonechild affair sparked outrage in the aboriginal community and has come to symbolize their strained relations with the police.

After reading his prepared statement at police headquarters, Chief Sabo left the room without taking questions. The inquiry report by Justice David Wright rejected police claims that the officers had no involvement with the 17-year-old on the Nov. 24 night they were dispatched to a disturbance call involving him.

Constables Hartwig and Senger testified they had no independent memory of the dispatch call and their records indicated they did not find him.

But Judge Wright believed the testimony of Mr. Stonechild's friend, Jason Roy, who said he last saw Mr. Stonechild — bleeding, handcuffed and screaming for his life — in the back of a Saskatoon police car.

Judge Wright also said parallel cuts on Mr. Stonechild's nose and marks on his wrists were likely caused by police handcuffs.

Judge Wright stopped short of saying the officers abandoned Mr. Stonechild in the north-end industrial area where his body was found.

But he criticized the police investigation into the death as sloppy and haphazard due perhaps, he said, to concerns the trail would lead back to police.

While being disturbed by Judge Wright's findings, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Frank Quennell maintained there is not enough evidence to press charges.

Critics had long contended that the Stonechild case was part of a larger problem. They maintained that Saskatoon police would often take suspected troublemakers to city limits and dump them there.

In 2000 — a decade after Mr. Stonechild's death — an RCMP task force was formed to investigate the Saskatoon force after another aboriginal man, Darrell Night, came forward with a story of being dumped by officers outside the city on a cold night in January 2000.

After that investigation, Saskatoon police officers Dan Hatchen and Ken Munson were found guilty of unlawfully confining Mr. Night and served eight-month sentences. They were fired from their jobs.

Two other cases around the same time arose suspicion: Rodney Naistus, 25, was found frozen to death without a shirt near a power plant outside the city; and Lawrence Wegner, 30, was discovered frozen to death in the same area. He was wearing a T-shirt and no shoes.

No charges were ever laid in those cases and inquests couldn't determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Judge Wright wrote of the "chasm" that exists between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Saskatoon, and Judge Quennell has asked local leaders to use the report as a tool in solving some of the problems that cause that gap.

The minister has said he is looking at legislative changes to allow a civilian body to handle complaints against police in a more transparent manner.

Saskatoon police are already delivering increased sensitivity training.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is calling for a separate justice system — with their own police force and courts — to help regain aboriginal people's trust.

Scott Peterson convicted

Oh great christ, finally.

Like that only took the better part of my life.

BBC NEWS
A court in the US state of California has convicted a man of killing his wife and their unborn son.

Scott Peterson, 32, could face the death penalty.

The headless, limbless corpse of Laci Peterson and the decomposed remains of the foetus were found washed up on a San Francisco Bay beach in April 2003.

Prosecutors told the court Peterson strangled or smothered his pregnant wife to escape what he may have viewed as the drudgery of marriage.

The former fertiliser salesman was convicted of one count of first-degree murder for killing his wife and one count of second-degree murder in the death of the unborn child.

The case fuelled the abortion issue because of the debate over whether Peterson could be charged for the murder of a technically unborn child.

The verdict came after a five-month trial that attracted widespread media attention.

Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant when her husband reported her missing from their home in Modesto, California on 24 December 2002.

Prosecutor Rick Distaso told the jury that Peterson killed his wife and dumped her weighted body overboard from his fishing boat.

"He wants to live the rich, successful, freewheeling bachelor life," Mr Distaso said, quoted by the Associated Press.

"He didn't want to be tied to this kid the rest of his life. He didn't want to be tied to Laci for the rest of his life."

Mr Distaso argued that he killed his wife for money and to be with his mistress, Amber Frey, the New York Times reported.

Defence lawyers argued that Mrs Peterson was abducted by strangers who murdered her. They said the prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence.

The verdict came after a week of deliberations in which two jurors were removed for unspecified reasons and the judge told the panel to start again, twice.

The jury will now decide whether he should receive the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Good, Now can Greta Van Susteren go away?

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Does anyone keep the memory of Louise Chaput?

This from an online hiking forum published last year

------------------------------------------------------

Two Years Later - Posters Back Up in Pinkham Notch
November 21 2003 at 3:33 PM

Posters asking the public's help in solving the two-year-old murder of Canadian hiker Louise Chaput have sprouted up around the area where her body was found.

"We just want to keep it alive," said Marie Pinault. "I'd like to know what happened."

Pinault and her husband, Denis Masson, travelled to northern New Hampshire from their home in Ottawa last weekend to put up more than 250 posters from Berlin to North Conway and from Lancaster to Colebrook. The poster displays two pictures of Chaput and asks anyone with information about her death to contact police.

State police Sgt. Chuck West said the case remains open and police check out any new leads that surface. But he said there are no suspects.

Last Saturday was the second anniversary of the last day anyone saw Chaput alive.

After a massive search, Chaput's body was found on Thanksgiving, less than a half-kilometre from the AMC visitors centre. She had been stabbed, and some media reports said her throat had been slashed.

Chaput's backpack and the keys to her car have not been found.

West said there was some question about why Chaput would have taken her backpack and sleeping bag if she was just going on a short hike.

Police looked at theories that Chaput may have been killed by one of her clients. She specialized in marital counselling and had worked with inmates at a Sherbrooke detention centre.

A bitter-sweet day

Twenty-six years ago on this day, November 11th, my parents informed me that my sister was missing.

However, this has been greatly remedied by the birthday of our youngest child, Ava, who turns one today.

Happy Birthday, Ava!

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Dalzell indicted, but no court date set

By BETH VELLIQUETTE :
The Herald-Sun
bvelliquette@heraldsun.com
Nov 9, 2004 : 6:31 pm ET

HILLSBOROUGH -- Andrew Douglas Dalzell, 27, was indicted for second-degree murder in the death of Deborah Leigh Key, who disappeared in December 1997 from downtown Carrboro.

The grand jury also indicted Dalzell, who turns 28 tomorrow, for obtaining property by false pretenses, financial identity fraud and larceny by employee. Those charges were made in connection with his alleged theft of merchandise and a customer's credit card number from a craft store, where he worked.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office did not submit six charges for third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, the equivalent of possession of child pornography, to the grand jury during a meeting Monday.

Dalzell remains in the Orange County Jail. Dalzell is suspected of killing Key after they met at a bar. Dalzell, who liked to sketch fantasy drawings of women, was last seen hugging Key in a Carrboro parking lot after the bar closed for the night.

Key's body has not been recovered. Dalzell was a suspect in the case shortly after the woman was reported missing, but police couldn't find enough evidence to charge him. In September, Dalzell, who had moved away from the area and then moved back, called the Carrboro Police Department to provide security while he moved from his apartment.

A detective who went to the apartment chatted with Dalzell and noticed a number of fantasy figurines. The detective checked with Hungate's Arts, Crafts and Hobbies at University Mall, where Dalzell formerly worked, and discovered store management suspected Dalzell stole them.

Upon further investigation, Carrboro and Chapel Hill police discovered other crimes Dalzell may have committed while employed at Hungate's. Police have not yet revealed what they learned during their investigation into the theft of the items from the store that led them to charge Dalzell with killing Key.

Trial date for Dalzell has not been set.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

HAIL TO THEE, CAMP KRUSTY!

Chagnon's answer to Club Fed...

Public-private jail proposal sets off alarms
Quebec looking at South Shore site. Prisoner rehabilitation groups concerned programs might be outsourced, too

DEBBIE PARKES
The Gazette
November 9, 2004

Plans by the province to build a jail on the South Shore under a public-private partnership formula - and possibly have it operated by the private sector as well - have upset organizations working to rehabilitate offenders.

"We're urging the government to exercise great caution," said Johanne Vallee, executive director of the Association des services de rehabilitation sociale du Quebec, of the jail expected to go up in the Longueuil area.

"We mustn't fall into the logic of the private sector," where the main aim is to make profits, she said, giving the example of privately run jails and prisons in the U.S., France and Britain. Private operators consistently use a lower ratio of correctional officers to prisoners than the public sector does, Vallee said, but more surveillance cameras.

Vallee said that trend is troubling because the majority of provincial inmates are struggling with addiction and mental-health problems. They need more personal contact with jail staff - not less, Vallee said.

In September, Vallee's association, which represents 50 organizations, put together a committee of experts to examine the issues surrounding privately operated jails. The one on the South Shore would be a first for Quebec and among only a few in the country.

The rehabilitation association's committee, whose members include criminologists and former Corrections Canada administrators, is to table its report to the association's board of directors next week, Vallee said.

The jail, to house up to 500 inmates, would probably be built near Highway 30, somewhere between Ste. Julie and Brossard, Daniel Thibault, press aide to Public Security Minister Jacques Chagnon, said in an interview yesterday. It would serve the Longueuil judicial district, which has no provincial jail despite being the third-largest jurisdiction in Quebec, he said.

Whether correctional officers and programs for inmates would also be managed by the private sector remains to be determined, Thibault said. "For now, nothing is being excluded."

He said the minister is looking to submit the project after Christmas. Vallee said two civil servants working on the project told the experts' committee the new jail would probably also replace the two small jails in Sorel and Valleyfield.

Also yesterday, Longueuil Mayor Jacques Olivier issued a statement expressing frustration that the city hasn't been consulted. Later in the day, the mayor and Chagnon spoke by phone, agreeing to meet soon to discuss the project, said Olivier's press aide, Maxime Chagnon.

Monday, November 08, 2004

M. Boisvenu obtient une rencontre

Claude Plante
La Tribune
Sherbrooke

Le père de Julie Boisvenu, Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu vient de franchir une étape de plus vers la formation d'une Association de parents de victimes d'actes criminels au Québec.

Avec d'autres pères d'enfants qui ont été assaillis par des criminels, il rencontrera le ministre de la Justice, Jacques Dupuis.La rencontre est prévue pour lundi prochain.M. Boisvenu doit être accompagné entre autres de Marcel Bolduc, père d'Isabelle, jeune femme de Sherbrooke qui a aussi été tuée par des criminels.Rappelons que Hugo Bernier, 30 ans, a été reconnu coupable d'avoir enlevé, séquestré, agressé sexuellement puis tué froidement Julie Boisvenu en juin 2002 à Sherbrooke.

A meeting with the justice minister is very big. This new association includes some high profile Quebec victims. In addition to M. Bolduc and Boisvenu, there are the parents of Julie Surprenant, myself , Chantel Dube and members of RIVCO (victims from the biker wars)

Friday, November 05, 2004

After years in the shadows, and motivated by the actions of Pierre Boisvenu, Marcel Bolduc - the father of Isabelle Bolduc, who was murdered in Sherbrooke in 1996 - has decided to come forward and advocate for victims rights.

Marcel Bolduc reprend du service
Evelyne Leblanc
La Tribune
Sherbrooke

Le verdict dans le procès d'Hugo Bernier, reconnu coupable du meurtre au premier degré de Julie Boisvenu, a convaincu Marcel Bolduc de reprendre du service pour la cause des victimes d'acte criminel et du resserrement du système de libérations conditionnelles.

"Je constate qu'il y a toujours, après huit ans, les mêmes lacunes dans le système des libérations conditionnelles et dans l'encadrement des détenus qui obtiennent une telle liberté. J'avais pris du recul depuis quelques années, mais j'ai choisi de ne plus rater une occasion de m'impliquer dans ces dossiers pour améliorer notre système", explique M. Bolduc.

Il y a huit ans, sa fille Isabelle payait de sa vie les lacunes du système de remise en liberté conditionnelle. Enlevée, séquestrée, agressée sexuellement puis battue à mort, elle avait été retrouvée sans vie dans un champ de Fleurimont, non loin du chemin Duplessis, à l'été 1996.

Ses agresseurs étaient, tout comme Hugo Bernier, en probation pour des crimes dont ils avaient été reconnus coupables.

It is my understanding that Marcel Bolduc will be joining Pierre Boisvenu in a meeting on November 15th with Quebec's minister of justice.

Bernier trial sensitizes Sherbrooke community to the problems of sexual violence

Julie Boisvenu
CALACS de l'Estrie

Le cas de Julie doit servir d'exemple

Geneviève Simard-Tozzi
La Tribune
Sherbrooke

"Ce que j'ai dit à la famille Boisvenu vendredi dernier à la suite de la condamnation de Bernier, c'est que ce n'est pas une belle journée, mais une bonne journée."

Josée Anctil, responsable de la sensibilisation et de la prévention du Centre d'aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALACS) de l'Estrie croit de tout coeur que le procès de Hugo Bernier a sensibilisé comme jamais la population sherbrookoise aux agressions sexuelles.

"Les accusations portées contre Julie par Bernier ont fait beaucoup parler, soutient Mme Anctil. Et de voir Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu déclarer tout haut le fait que trop souvent la victime finit par être l'accusée, c'est une nouvelle façon de lancer la problématique tant dénoncée par le CALACS. Cela relance la lutte politique en nous donnant un nouveau représentant."

En effet, Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu n'a jamais hésité à prendre parole. Il ne s'est jamais tu. Par le fait que ce soit un homme qui nomme des choses, Josée Anctil a l'impression que la population peut être touchée d'une manière différente.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Theresa Marie Allore

October 12th, 1959 - November 3rd, 1978

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Hmmm... This is interesting

Man waives right to cause hearing

HILLSBOROUGH -- Andrew Douglas Dalzell waived his right to a probable cause hearing that was scheduled to be held Thursday in Orange County District Court.

Dalzell is charged with second-degree murder in the Dec. 1, 1997 death of Deborah Leigh Key, who disappeared after she was last seen with Dalzell in a parking lot in downtown Carrboro. Dalzell is also facing charges of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, obtaining property by false pretense, financial identity fraud, larceny by employee and possession of stolen goods.

During a probable cause hearing, evidence against a defendant is presented to a district court judge, who decides whether the evidence is strong enough for the defendant to stand trial in superior court.

The Orange County District Attorney's office intends to present the case against Dalzell to a grand jury on Nov. 8 for indictment.

Monday, November 01, 2004

Why is this family smiling?

Because they know the 25-year life sentence for Hugo Bernier is just the beginning. Check out their lawyer in the back. Does this look like a man who backs down from a fight? Get ready for the Boisvenus civil suit, Sherbrooke.

Who Killed Theresa?