RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Friday, January 6, 1989

INCIDENTS

88-290 - Big South Fork - ARPA Arrests

On the morning of December 22nd, a magnetometer placed in Rock Shelter 187,
an archeological site in the Peters Mountain area of the park, emitted an
alarm over the park radio system, indicating that someone was excavating
with metal tools at the site. Rangers arrived at the location shortly
thereafter and caught three adults and a juvenile in the process of digging
up the shelter. The three adults - T.R. and B.P. and J.P.,
all local residents of McCreary County - were arrested and charged
with violations of the Archeological Resources Protection Act, destruction
of government property and possession of marijuana. Their vehicle, which
was impounded, was found to contain 37 blasting caps. The three were
arraigned before a magistrate on December 23rd and released on their own
recognizance. An archeological assessment of the site is being conducted by
Tom DesJohn, an NPS archeologist assigned to Big South Fork. (Steve Smith,
SERO).

89-1 - Great Smokies - Homicide Conviction

On December 29, 1984, a family of hikers came upon skeletal remains near the
loop road in Cade's Cove. The subsequent investigation by park rangers and
FBI agents revealed that the victim was R.G. of Memphis,
Tennessee, and that she had been murdered. The primary suspect was W.H.,
a convicted bank robber who was on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list
and who was being sought for parole violations, rape and social security
fraud. Efforts to find him proved fruitless. Last September 4th, the
television show "America's Most Wanted" aired a show on the case which they
had filmed on location in the park. As a result, W.H. was spotted in
Perlington, Mississippi, and the FBI arrested him and his wife there on
social security fraud charges on December 19th. During subsequent
interrogations, W.H. confessed to the murder of R.G.. He said that
R.G. had become friends with the W.H. family when all three were hiking in
the park on September 26, 1984. Following a trip to town to drop off
W.H.'s wife, W.H. and R.G. had returned to the park, consumed
alcohol, marijuana and psilocybin, then engaged in sexual relations; during
their tryst, R.G. became angry at W.H. and he strangled her in the
ensuing fight. On January 5th, W.H. pled guilty to second degree murder
and will likely be sentenced to 60 years in prison. (Pete Hart, Great
Smokies).

89-2 - Canaveral - Probable Suicide

On January 4th, fishermen found the body of a 23-year-old Florida man on the
east side of Mosquito Lagoon. A shotgun was found near the body, and all
indications are that the man died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. An
investigation into the incident is still underway. (Steve Smith, SERO).

OFFICE NOTES

1) The "Unsolved Mysteries" show on the arrest of S.C. at Lake Mead
will air at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 11th. The episode was bumped
from its scheduled appearance on the January 4th show. (Newt Sikes, Lake
Mead).

2) Walt Dabney, Bobby Williams and Jim Loach, along with representatives
from other DOI agencies, will meet with the staff of the House Committee on
Narcotics Abuse and Control on January 9th to answer questions on drug-
related enforcement problems in DOI administered areas. (Walt Dabney, PAD).

3) Reminder to regional offices: The public comment period for the
mandatory seatbelt regulation is open through February 21st. Please assure
that the regulation is distributed to all areas and that comments are
returned to RAD by that date. (Jim Loach, RAD).

4) Tom Ritter will be concluding his tenure as Assistant Director, Visitor
Services, on January 20th, and will then be heading out to Sequoia - Kings
Canyon to take up the superintendency of that area. (Bill Halainen, RAD).

STAFF STATUS

Hodapp on travel.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
FTS 343-4874/4875 or 202-343-4874/4875