Another Assist For Cold Justice Team - The Murder of Nori Jones

A murder that has haunted Pocatello, Idaho for 13 years is nearing a conclusion.  In September of 2004, 25 year old Nori Jones was found stabbed to death in her home.  Her body was discovered by worried colleagues the following day when she failed to show up for work and they went to her home to check on her.

Nori Jones

At the time of the murder, police found no real evidence to assist them in finding the perpetrator of this crime.  Only a partial finger print was found.  Fingernail scrapings and rings found on and off Jone's body were also kept in evidence for future comparison against potential suspects.  Ten long years went by before the arrest of 39 year old Brad Scott Compher, aka Ralph Roy Compher. Compher legally changed his name in 2008 to Brad.

Police believe Jones was killed during a botched robbery and may have been sexually assaulted.  Early suspects in the investigation included registered sex offenders Robert Roy Spillet Jr. and Lonnie Lee Haggard.  They were excluded as suspects.  Another early suspect was Torey Adamcik - Adamcik is incarcerated for the 200 6 murder of a Pocatello High School classmate (and friend) Cassie Jo Stoddard.  That case has been profiled on TV being compared to the "Scream" movie because the killers wore similar masks when they killed Stoddard.  That was another incredibly sad murder case, particularly since her two classmates were the killers and they planned the whole thing.R

Brad Compher

A fellow inmate came forward and claimed Adamcik admitted to killing Jones, and at the time of her murder Adamcik reportedly lived within 50 yards of Jone's house.  That seems like a reasonable person of interest, however he was eventually eliminated as a suspect as well.  The Cold Justice team spent 10 days in Pocatello and assisted police as witnesses were re interviewed.  Kelly Siegler and Yolanda McClary were said to be "invaluable" to the investigation into this murder.

Due to a grant by the Cold Justice production company, the DNA evidence was sent to a lab and the results were rushed back to the police department.  Compher became a person of interest when the partial fingerprint came back to him, although the police did not have enough evidence to link him to Jone's murder he remained under surveillance.  When he carelessly tossed a cigarette butt to the ground, that sealed his fate.  The police were watching him and they collected the still warm cigarette and sent it to the lab for comparison to the  DNA evidence and they got an absolute match.

Compher was arrested almost 10 years to the day after the murder of Jones.  He has plead not guilty and has been held without bail since the 2014 arrest.  His trial has been delayed several times and is tentatively scheduled for January of 2018.  Several law enforcement agencies have been credited with working to bring this case to conclusion - including the Pocatello PD, Idaho State Police, State Crime Lab, Bannock County Sheriff's Office, Chubbock PD, and the Cold Justice team.

There are an unprecedented number of murder cases going to trial in this county which has been a factor in delays in the Compher murder trial.  If he does go to trial in 2018, it will have been 14 years after the murder.  Whoever said the wheels of justice turn slowly was spot on!  Happy to hear Yolanda McClary is back on the show - or appearing in some episodes because these two are a great pairing.  Add Johnnie Bonds and you've got a great trio.  Fun to watch and they actually help solve these cold cases.  That's pretty incredible television.  Keep watching - we want a 6th season!  Thank you to Oxygen for picking up this great true crime series. 

Suicide Theory Puts Det. Sean Suiter's Benefits at Risk

Baltimore Police Commissioner Davis' continues to contend they cannot yet rule out suicide in the shooting death of veteran Detective Sean Suiter.  I've always believed this to be the most ridiculous of theories, mostly because the commish has contradicted himself at every turn - describing a brief but violent struggle with the unknown suspicious man before Suiter being shot in the head with his own holstered service revolver.

Signs of a violent struggle and a radio transmission call for help from Suiter certainly point away at the suicide theory.  Witnesses who don't want to be named as well as Suiter's partner that day have given vague descriptions of this suspicious man in the vacant lot - unless he struggled with Suiter trying to prevent him from killing himself, this is a bogus theory.  That would make suspicious man a witness and not a suspect.  I think in order to show a little compassion to Sean Suiter's grieving family, they need to rule this suicide theory out and quickly.  

If an officer is killed in the line of duty, certain benefits kick in that could help the family survive after losing their father & husband and his income.  The family could be eligible for $1,000.00 per week in workers compensation benefits as well as lump sum payouts from state & federal governments, a special pension arrangement and more.  The value could be several hundreds of thousands of dollars.  This would also be a show of support to the family and I feel they are dishonoring this detective by even considering suicide under these circumstances.  They may need to rule it out, but quit putting it out there in the media!  What I don't see the commish considering is that the indicted officers, or in particular Officer Jenkins being mentioned as persons of interest.  After all, Jenkins would have likely benefited from Suiter's death - hopefully he had a taped deposition on the drug planting case against Jenkins that can be used in court, but Suiter was due to testify before a Federal Grand Jury the day after he was killed and Jenkins involvement in the heroin planting incident surely was on the list of questions he was due to answer to.

The Suiter family deserves better from the police department.  He was an 18 year veteran, and as far as I know he was a good officer.  He was not part of the dirty cop squad, robbing and pillaging their own community.  He deserves to be portrayed as such - not a suicidal man who set up an elaborate scenario to make it appear he was murdered while really committing suicide.  Ridiculous.

If the FBI and/or another outside agency takes over this investigation I feel there is a much better chance for the truth to come out and the shooter will be identified - and who was behind the shooting will be known.  I'm praying for the resolution of this case so Det. Suiter's family can collect the benefits they are entitled to.  Losing their father and husband is bad enough, but losing out on death benefits because of a ridiculous theory of suicide is just a slap in the face of this man.  Come on Commissioner Davis, do you have a heart?

Former AZ Police Officer Acquitted in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man

A former Arizona police officer has been acquitted by a jury of second degree murder and reckless manslaughter for the January 2016 shooting death of 26 year old David Shaver. The incident occurred after a call from a La Quinta Inn that someone was pointing a gun outside a window of a fifth floor room. 

Responding officers believed David Shaver was the person with the gun and ordered him out of his room.  A nearly 5 minute video has been made public of the incident, in which Mr. Shaver can be seen on his knees with his hands behind his head - following all of the commands of the shouting officer.  Shaver can be heard begging for his life and appeared to be sobbing and confused as he followed instructions to crawl down the hallway towards the officers.

Former officer Philip "Mitch" Brailsford shot David Shaver 5 times as he inched forward (as commanded to) towards him.  His reason for the shooting was that Shaver was allegedly reaching for something in his waistband - another officer reviewing the video said it appeared Shaver was pulling his pants up.  Either way, in the video the officer seems very angry and aggressive.  If he perceived Shaver had a gun and was reaching for it, why did he have to shoot him 5 times?  Wouldn't once had been enough to disarm him? Shaver did not have any weapons found on his body.

I understand officers have a difficult job and have to make split second decisions but after hearing and viewing this video, the shooting seems excessive and unnecessary.  Watch it for yourself and see what you think.  

David Shaver - 26 year old married father of two shot by officer

The acquittal on all charges was surprising.  David Shaver's widow plans to file a $75,000,000 lawsuit against the police for excessive force.  Mr. Shaver also leaves behind 2 children.  Two pellet rifles were discovered in Shaver's hotel room - it seems likely he may have been the one seen at the 5th floor window. If I hadn't watched the video and heard David Shaver begging the officers not to shoot him, I may have a different opinion of this shooting but it's disturbing that this former officer fired an assault rifle 5 times at a man crawling on the hallway floor and following the instructions of law enforcement.  The officer's voice is also concerning - quite frankly he sounds pissed off.  Maybe something happened before the body camera began recording but I didn't see or hear anything to justify the seemingly angry officers commands.

David Shaver seemed clearly confused and the man was sobbing.  He seemed to be in emotional distress but not dangerous!  Another senseless shooting.  Do police just get a pass when they kill someone in this manner?  I believe his widow would win an excessive force suit because it doesn't seem like it was necessary to fire 5 shots into this man. Officer Brailsford was terminated immediately by Mesa Police Chief John Meza after he reviewed the case and video footage.  Smart move.  My condolences to the family of David Shaver.  I don't believe the police had to shoot him and I hope you prevail in your civil suit.

Baltimore Police Commissioner "Still Not Ruling Out Suicide" in Det. Suiter's Death

Baltimore Police Commissioner Davis reportedly has stated that they still are not ruling out suicide in the shooting death of Detective Sean Suiter.  This is the most ridiculous theory yet and makes me even more suspicious that the department has something to hide.  How can there be a "brief but violent" struggle - even heard on a brief radio transmission call for help by Suiter and this be a suicide?  I seriously doubt a detective who was planning to kill himself would make a radio call for help with a suspicious man.  The struggle theory was based on Suiter's clothing - there are witnesses who don't want to be identified who saw a subject running down an alleyway after the shooting.  How can they raise this ridiculous theory?  What a slap in the face to Det. Suiter's family.  What is the theory based on?  Was he suicidal?  Was he in financial trouble or did he have marital problems?  If they are going to put this theory out there they should explain why they believe this is plausible.

I don't buy it for one minute.  Why would he kill himself while on duty with a partner in a public place?  This theory needs to be put to rest and they need to focus on finding the shooter.  Find the shooter and you will find out who was really behind this murder.  It seems much more likely that Suiter's fellow officers who were facing serious federal charges had motive to want him dead.  Particularly the officer that set Suiter up to find the planted drugs in the car of a person they had pulled over.  If these officers have admitted to and plead guilty to the serious crimes they committed while on duty, why is it so hard to believe they could have something to do with Suiter's murder? They need to explain the basis of the suicide theory or keep it out of the news.  How disrespectful to his family these statements are.

The people of Baltimore want answers - Suiter's funeral was attended by thousands of people who turned out to show support and respect for the murdered detective.  I believe the truth will come out.  The mayor of Baltimore needs to tie a big fat reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer and somebody out there will talk.  The murder took place in a reportedly "troubled and dangerous" part of Baltimore.  People there may jump at the chance to collect a reward for information.  Even if they need to make a deal with the killer if he/she was hired to kill Suiter, it would be worth it to find the truth.

Det. Sean Suiter's funeral (ydr.com)

Det. Suiter's funeral (ydr.com)

Unlikely Hero's of Aztec High School Shooting Include 74 Year Old Teacher

Teacher Kathleen "Katie" Potter (courtesy of Kathleen Potter)

There is a report out praising a 74 year old substitute teacher as a hero for barricading her classroom with a couch.  Kathleen Potter is the substitute teacher who wedged a couch up against the door in an effort to keep her students safe.  She didn't have a key to lock the classroom door, so she hid the students in a storage room and put a couch against the door.  Talk about quick thinking and pretty darned impressive for a 74 year old woman.  Our hats are off to you Mrs. Potter!  The gunman was able to enter the classroom and began shooting at the room where the 17 students were hiding on the ground.  Thankfully nobody was hit.  Potter said she has actually

Kathleen "Katie" Potter

gone through several active shooter drills throughout her teaching career and that prepared her for what happened that day.  She's a hero in my eyes.

Also credited with bravery is school custodian Thomas Hill.  He reportedly first heard the shots and saw the shooter.  He followed him and warned school officials to lock down the school.  He showed extreme bravery for actually following a man with a gun who was shooting at random.  If not for these brave acts and a very fast police response, who knows how bad this could have been.  It seems clear that 21 year old William Atchison intended to kill as many people as he could as he was found with "multiple" magazines on him.

It has been determined that he encountered victim Francisco Fernandez in the restroom and shot him, walked into the hallway and then encountered the second victim - Casey Marquez.  He shot and killed her. Atchison continued through the hallway shooting off rounds.  I can't imagine what would have happened had the students been just entering school or at their lockers.  They would not have stood a chance.  Two victims is bad enough, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as the cowardly shooter intended. 

William Atchison reportedly lived with his parents in Aztec and worked at a gas station.  There are reports that in 2016, there was a Federal Investigation into comments Atchison made in an online gaming room about committing a mass shooting using an assault rifle - he was looking for advice!  When the FBI interviewed Atchison about the perceived threat, he was said to be "cooperative" and convinced the FBI he was just "trolling the Internet".  The case was closed as no crime had been committed.  This just goes to show no threat should be taken lightly.  I'm sure there are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of comments online that could be similar in nature and it's nearly impossible to predict who would really follow through with a mass shooting.  It's just a shame there was a red flag last year and there were still fatalities.

Aztec Vigil

I believe there are just too many guns in America.  You don't hear about mass shootings very often in countries with strict gun control laws.  There are still tragedies and murders, but not these mass shootings that are becoming all too familiar across America.  

Also credited with limiting the casualties is the Aztec Police Department, who reportedly were dispatched and arrived within minutes.  See below for the dispatch call:

Courtesy of Broadcastify.com and Channel 4 KOB

This is a good police story, as opposed to the Baltimore PD mess I've been writing about for the last week.  Thankfully the Aztec PD was alert and ready to go - they weren't out robbing citizens or assisting drug organizations with their heroin distribution business.  OK, I know that was cynical but I'm still so outraged at the broken trust of these officers who are supposed to protect and serve, not rob and pillage.

Back to Aztec High School.  Students, teachers and to the whole community - we feel your pain and will not forget what you lost on that awful day.  We stand with you and support you fully and pray that your pain lessens with time.  God bless your community.

Charges on More Than 125 Criminal Cases To Be Dropped Due To Crooked Gun Trace Task Force

I hate to say "I told you so", but I did tell you so.  According to the Baltimore Sun, Prosecutors reported that the number of criminal cases that have been or are planning on being dropped because they were reliant on the testimony of the indicted Baltimore PD "Elite" Gun Trace Task Force has reached 125.  I'm betting it will rise faster than a hot IPO once everything is said and done. 

How can we believe the testimony of officers who have admitted to robbing people, planting evidence, falsifying police reports and other offenses?  Who are the real criminals here?  The domino's are just going to keep falling.  This isn't going away for a long time. I'm betting every inmate who was arrested by any of these officers has contacted their attorneys already and should get new trials at the very least. I can't imagine the number of lawsuits and settlements that will follow due to people not getting a fair trial or being arrested under trumped up charges.

There are dozens of cases under review according to the Baltimore Sun.  Nearly three dozen cases involving the indicted officers have been reviewed and the outcomes stand, because the case was not dependent on the testimony of the indicted officer.  Prosecutors say dozens of cases involving the officers and drug or gun charges are being reviewed.  This is going to take a lot of manpower and the cost to the city of Baltimore will be (and should be) staggering.  Let this be a lesson for any other unit that thinks they are above the law.  You can get caught and your shield will not protect you from the consequences of your actions.

I read something else that was very troubling on the Baltimore Sun site.  There have also been three separate investigations into police arrests in which their body camera footage picked up some questionable images in which officers can be seen planting evidence, according to defense attorneys.  If true, another disturbing find. Naturally the officers have denied planting evidence.  It would be prudent to get an outside source clean up and review the video evidence so we can be reasonably certain nothing has been altered.  These types of stories can make the citizens paranoid - and for good reason. 

On Monday, Prosecutors announced they have dropped or will drop more than 200 criminal cases linked to officers involved in the recorded incidents.  Another STAGGERING number of cases, more potential for lawsuits and settlements.  If people's civil rights are being stomped on by the police than the city better get out their checkbook and start righting their wrongs.  

To say that the Baltimore PD is experiencing problems would be a gross understatement.  First the indicted gun trace task force and now the questionable body camera footage allegedly showing the planting of evidence and bad arrests.  Wow.  Find one more major snafu and you'd have yourself a trifecta.

Some of the really hideous incidents I've read about involving the arrogant gun task force members include:

• Three of the officers stopped a man on the street , searched his car without a warrant, took him home and stole $1500.00 from him.  The victim was a supervisor at a nursing home.  Det Rayam wrote a false report and failed to report the theft of the victim's money.
• Five of the officers stopped a man leaving his storage facility and stole $2,000 from a sock containing $4800.  They lied about having a search warrant. 
• Four of the officers arrested a man and they confiscated (and kept) drugs and approximately $6,000 of the $21,500 in cash they located in the car.  Hey, at least they turned in MOST of the dirty drug money. However, after that they went to the mans home and stole $200,000 from him as well as an expensive wrist watch from a safe deposit box.

I really don't need to hear any more, do you?  These guys were outright crooks.  How they remained on active duty for as long as some of them were is a mystery.  It makes you wonder at what point did they turn to the dark side?  I It's mind blowing.  If this is what we know to be true, I can only imagine what still hasn't been exposed.  I want to know who killed Detective Sean Suiter.  That's what keeps me coming back to this story.  I'll continue to come back to it until we need the team from "Cold Justice" to come take a look! Wouldn't that be something to see.........

More Details on Aztec High School Shooting

Slowly more information is coming forth about the shooting at Aztec High School that left 3 people dead in New Mexico.  Two of the deceased were students and the third was the shooter. According to KOB.com the shootings were planned by a former student identified as 21 year old William Atchison from Aztec.  

Suspected shooter, William Atchison (KOB.com)

Atchison apparently gained access to the school by "disguising himself" as a high school student.  At 21 years old that probably wasn't too difficult to do. According to law enforcement officials who executed a search warrant at Atchison's residence, a piece of paper was found that pointed to planning of this event.  It reportedly said "work, pack up, prep, walk, die".  The paper was found in a wastebasket.  There was more evidence discovered on a thumb drive for Atchison's computer that pointed to a planned attack.  According to the Aztec Police Chief, Atchison purchased the handgun used in the attack legally in November and he had several magazines with him.  

The first victim he went after was Francisco Fernandez - he was killed in the boy's restroom.  There has been no motive for the murder of Fernandez offered and police believe he was a random target.  Atchison then reportedly walked up and down the school hallways "firing at random".  It's surprising that he was not able to gain access to a classroom full of students and shoot at them.  The death toll could have been a lot higher.  Thankfully the police were reportedly there within a minute of the distress call.

KOB.com is reporting that the police shot out windows to gain access to the locked down school just moments before Atchison killed himself.  Law enforcement officials are praising the actions of the school officials who quickly made that announcement and locked down the school so quickly.  I went to high school in a small town, and I can't imagine this happening.  Everyone knows everyone in these small communities which makes it that much more devastating.

Casey Jordan-Marquez & Francisco "Paco" Fernandez (GoFundMe)

These two beautiful lives have been lost - for what?  Was it random?  What did Atchison have against Aztec High students?  Police officials believe Francisco was in the wrong place at the wrong time - the restroom.  He wouldn't have stood a chance trapped in a bathroom with a gunman.  How cowardly can a killer be?  I feel the motive for all of this will be revealed when law enforcement completes their investigation and the findings on Atchison's hard drive may be telling.  Did he even know the victims?  One thing is for sure, there were many people who did know and love these two innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them.  Why why why does this keep happening?  It's such a disturbing trend.

I worry constantly about my sister Kathy and her husband Robert, both of whom are long time high school teachers.  They have next to nothing in the way of security at their school.  Every time I hear one of these stories I pray it's not THEIR school.  

What can we as US Citizens do to combat this growing trend of gun violence?  It's not just at schools, churches are not even sacred.  It's truly frightening what's happening out there.  Why is our society becoming so violent?  You always hope that love overcomes hate and peace prevails over war.  That doesn't seem to be the case but we can't give up on our society.  Something needs to be fixed and we are the ones who need to brainstorm and contact our local and state legislators and demand change.  It can happen if we stand together.  The world is going in the wrong direction and we need to correct this before the next generation is so used to "active shooter" drills that it doesn't phase them.

This is no video game, and these aren't some avatars gettinCMarg gunned down.  This is real life and these are real people with real families, friends, hopes and dreams.  I for one am pissed!  This needs to stop.  President Trump, what are you going to do to get the ball rolling??