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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 2003)
November 12. 2003 (Elje Jlorthinò ®bseruer Teen Sniper Suspect Trial Begins continued from Front face the possibility of the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors in M uham m ad's trial, which began its fourth week of testimony Monday in V irginia Beach, are also trying to convince a jury that Muhammad exerted such c o n tro l o v er M alvo that Muhammad should be held respon sible forthe shootings that killed 10 and wounded three in the Wash ington area. Throughout Muhammad’s trial, prosecutors have combined em o tional testimony from victims and victims' relatives with forensic evi dence, including DNA linking Muhammad to a title sight found in his car. Muhammad is on trial only for one killing, but the prosecution needs to prove participation in multiple killings or terrorizing of the public to get the death penalty. It remains unclear who actually pulled the trigger in each o f the shootings. Investigators have testified in Muhammad’s trial that M alvo's fin gerprints were on the .223-caliber rifle used in the sniper killings, and that his DNA or fingerprints were found on evidence from several of the scenes. But w h ile p ro se c u to rs in M alvo’s case say Malvo has ad mitted committing many o f the sh o o tin g s and la u g h ed and bragged about the shootings to interrogators and prison guards, M uhammad’s prosecutors argue it doesn’t matter who pulled the trig ger. They say Muhammad, who re ferred to Malvo as his son and plunged him into a lifestyle o f rigor and discipline, was the “moving spirit.” That most o f the evidence can be traced to Malvo only shows how carefully Muhammad con trolled the situation, they contend Malvo’s defense lawyers argue that he only confessed to protect Muhammad, and that Muhammad was the mastermind of the sniper attacks. Seattle Killer Admits to 48 Murders Green River serial murders worst in U.S. history (AP)— Gary Ridgway, the former truck painter suspected of being the Green River Killer, went into court last Wednesday and admit ted to 48 murders. “I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight,” he said in a confes sion read aloud in court. Ridgway, 54, admitted to the mur ders — more than any other serial killer in U.S. history— in a plea deal that would guarantee he avoids the death penalty in Washington state. Istead, Ridgway will receive life in prison without parole. “I wanted to kill as many women as I thought were prostitutes as I possibly could,” Ridgway also said in the statement. However, two of the bodies on the official list o f Green River vic tims were found in Oregon, which has capital punishment, and it was still unclear whether Ridgway will plead to those. 1 The remains of scores of women, mainly runaways and prostitutes, turned up near ravines, rivers, air ports and freeways in the 1980s. O f them, investigators officially listed 49 women as probable victims of the Green River Killer, named for the river south of Seattle where the first victims were found in 1982. In many cases, the killer had sex with his victim and then strangled her. Ridgway had been a suspect ev er since 1984, when M arie Malvar’s boyfriend reported that he last saw her getting into a pickup truck identified as Ridgway’s. But Ridgway told police he didn’t know Malvar, and a police investigator who knew him cleared him as a suspect. Later that year. sample to DNA taken from the bod ies of three of the earliest victims. Ridgway was arrested as he left work Nov. 30, 2001, and later pleaded innocent to seven killings. But facing DNA evidence and the prospect of the death penalty, he began cooperating and trading in formation for his life. I killed so many women I have a hard time keeping them straight. OHSU Page AS II here lle tilin i;. Teot liin a ,t* n m l D im liv e ly t in n e lira e t/ie r WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are recruiting healthy volunteers and people with Parkinson's disease (PD) of all ages to participate in a study involving a non-invasive brain stimulation technique. This study may contribute to improving the quality of life of those who are suffering from Parkinson's disease. We are trying to assess the therapeutic value of this stimulation technique in PD patients as compared to healthy volunteers. Initial participation in this study requires volunteers to attend four visits over the course of a month. You may also be selected to participate in additional experiments (up to 12 visits). Each visit lasts no longer than 3 hours. You will receive $30.00 in compensation for each visit that you attend. Complete initial participation in the first four visits pays $120.00. If you are interested in helping us with this study, please contact Ryan Eaton or Brian Coakley at Oregon Health & Science University. -G a ry Ridgway, Green Rlverserlal killer R idgw ay co n tac ted the K ing County sh eriffs Green River task force — ostensibly to offer infor mation about the case — and passed a polygraph test. Detectives continued to suspect him, however, and in 1987 they searched his house and took a sa liva sample. It was 13 years before DNA technology caught up to their suspicions and they could link that Department of Neurology He confessed to 42 of the 49 listed killings, as well as six not on the list, the sources have said. He directed authorities to four sets of previously undiscovered remains. Ridgway is still a suspect in the seven remaining cases on the origi nal list of 49. His agreement with prosecutors stipulates that he will continue co operating forsix months. Principal Investigator: Jau-Shln Lou, MO, PhD (503) 4 9 4 -1 7 6 9 _ — .s Phone (503) 494-4987 Fax (503)494-1653 Email: eatonr@ohsu.edu or coakleyb@ohsu.edu ( 5 0 3 ) 823-HELP 111 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204 CRIME STOPPERS Clues Sought in Downtown Murder Police are looking for help in solving the murder of Daniel Aaron Adesan, an 18-year-old African-American man who was shot and killed around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at West Bumside Street and Northwest Sixth Avenue. Investigators are wondering why Adesan was downtown at the time and whom he was with. Daniel Aaron Adesan Reportedly, after Adesan was shot and fell to the ground, several people ran over and went through his clothing and removed items, including his identification, which is still missing. Police believe there were wit nesses to the shooting who have not come forward, including two African-American males seen run ning from the area. .1 >4* Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward o f up to $1,000fo r information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony crime, any you need not give your name. Call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-HELP. Rap Legend’s Death Remains a Mystery Gunman still at large one year later remains a top priority. They deny reports their hunt for the gunman has stalled. “It’s a very active investi g a tio n ,” D eputy C h ie f M ichael Collins, a police spokesman. “W e’re pursuing several significant leads.” The city, music industry notables and family members have helped keep the killing in the headlines by offering tens o f thousands of dollars (AP) — A year has passed since a gunman clad in black walked into the Queens recording studio of Jam Mas ter Jay and - possibly after greeting the rap legend with a hug - pumped a bullet into his head. Since then. New York City police say they have pursued "several sig Jason “Jam Master nificant leads,” including some that Jay" Mizell. suggest the rap legend died in a dispute over in rewards. money. But the anniversary of a slaying that But privately, investigators have complained shook the music industry passed with the killer that some witnesses have been uncooperative. still at large. And with no major breaks, the case has drawn Homicide detectives in Queens - where the comparisons to the unsolved slayings o f rap pre-eminent DJ and founding member of Run- superstars Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas and Noto DMC was killed on Oct. 30,2002 - say the case rious B.I.G. in Los Angeles. «S h At home with Family. Turning work into play. Connecting on a different level just by changing scenery. Hanging out til dark. Outdoor bliss. Home! Over three generations of homeowners have trusted American Family Insurance for the sound advice and committed service that helps them live life to the fullest. Give us a call or visit www amfam.com today. Discover the peace of mind of knowing Family's always at home protecting what matters most to you. American Family Insurance. Check your local telephone directory tor the agent nearest you. Liquor License Complaints Heard An annual liquor license renewal process is giving interested parties the ability to identify problems before the city makes renewal recom mendations to the Oregon LiquorControl Com mission. The deadline for making comments to the Office ofNeighborhtxxl Involvement on all liquor licenses located north of Bumside is Nov. 15. Officials said neighbors who do not wish to formally oppose an outlet’s renewal, can still bring issues to the city’s attention so it can work with the licensees to resolve specific problems informally. tsJ AMERICAN FAMILY IN S U R A N C E All your protection under one roof