NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, January 19 2006

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INCIDENTS

C&O Canal NHP

Park Employee Convicted of Theft

In May, 2004, a routine audit of a permanent visitor use assistant revealed possible theft and fraud activity. A subsequent investigation determined that the employee had been selling accountable stock and falsifying and manipulating shift and remittance reports. There was also evidence that the employee was selling daily entrance receipts and retaining the money collected, both of which occurred over a period of several months. During an investigative interview, the employee confessed to the illegal activities and resigned shortly thereafter. In a negotiated plea agreement, the employee pleaded guilty to 18 USC 641, theft of government property. Sentencing included full restitution of the approximately $800 that was stolen, 100 hours of community service, and court costs. [William Reynolds, Senior LEO, National Capital Region]

Carl Sandburg Home NHS

Ice Storm Temporarily Closes Park

A major ice storm in December caused extensive damage to park trees, with limbs littering the 264-acre site. The resulting debris and lingering ice and sleet kept the park closed to visitors for one week due to safety concerns. Park staff worked on the initial cleanup, clearing roads for emergency vehicles and staff. The park also relied on volunteers from the Carolina Mountain Club. Club members cleared the park's five miles of hiking trails of debris. They also assisted with cleanup around the park's many historic structures and roads, cutting and piling limbs and assisting with chipping the debris. With the help of volunteers, and some warmer weather that finally melted the remaining patches of ice, the park was able to reopen to visitors.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Organ Pipe Cactus NM

Prosecutors in Eggle Homicide Receive FLEOA Award

Assistant United States Attorney Serra Tsethlikai and former Assistant United States Attorney Sean Chapman were honored in Tucson, Arizona on November 16, 2005 at a ceremony at the Evo DeConcini Courthouse during which they were named the 2004 National Prosecutors of the Year by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. They received this prestigious award for their outstanding pursuit of justice in the case involving the shooting death of National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle in August 2002. Bob and Bonnie Eggle, Kris Eggle's parents, spoke at the awards ceremony, and his sister, Jennifer Eggle, was also present.

The defendant in the case, Ramírez-L—pez was sentenced in United States District Court on December 13, 2005, to 15 1/2 years in federal prison for charges relating to the August 9, 2002, line of duty death of National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle. Ramírez-L—pez pled guilty to: Aiding and Abetting; Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Aggravated Assault; and Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Ramírez-L—pez and his partner, Panfilo Murillo-Aguilar, were involved in a crime

spree in the border town of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, and fled from Mexican police across the border into the United States near Lukeville, Arizona. United States Border Patrol Agents and National Park Service Ranger Eggle responded to the incident and apprehended Ramírez-L—pez while he fled from their vehicle which had become stuck. Eggle, working with a Border Patrol Helicopter, was approaching Murillo-Aguilar when Murillo-Aguilar fired an AK-47 rifle striking Eggle and fatally wounding him. Murillo-Aguilar then fled toward the border and was shot by Mexican police who were standing on the Mexican side of the fence. U.S. officers tried to stabilize Murillo-Aguilar for an air ambulance flight, but he was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Eggle's murder took place in the United States, but was within yards of the international boundary. A half a dozen police agencies from the United States and Mexico were involved in the incident and the crime scene was spread across a huge area on both sides of the border.

Federal prosecutors Sean Chapman and Serra Tsethlikai worked tirelessly for more

than two years on the case in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles to bring justice to the man who played a key role in the events leading to Eggle's murder.

The foremost challenge was the fact that Ramírez-L—pez was in custody prior to Eggle being shot by Murillo-Aguilar. There were also difficult jurisdictional issues because so may people were victimized by the pair and most of these victims were located in Mexico. And finally, because Ramirez-Lopez did not plead guilty to any charges related to the shooting, it was a challenge to gain recognition from the court for the Eggle family as victims, so that they could make statements at the sentencing hearing. [Susan Morton, Special Agent]

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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