NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Golden Gate NRA
Homicide Suspect Caught In Park Convicted Of Murder
On October 25, 2005, Golden Gate protection rangers and Park Police officers arrested S.M. after they found the body of a woman in the trunk of his car. Ranger Matt Harrison first contacted S.M., who was vomiting out the door of his vehicle parked in the Marin Headlands. A check on him through the California Law Enforcement Teletype System (CLETS) and NCIC revealed that he had a warrantless search condition filed against him. Ranger Ken Barend and USPP officers responded to assist. Barend opened the trunk of the car and discovered the woman's body. S.M. attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly caught and arrested. A further CLETS check revealed that S.M. was wanted on a statewide lookout as a possible suspect in the murder of Anastasia Melnitchenko in Contra Costa County. USPP crime scene technician Ken Rawles and detective Larry Morales processed the scene and continued the investigation. Rangers and Park Police detectives worked with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department and the Marin County Coroner's Office to investigate the case. After meetings between the U.S. Attorney, Marin County Prosecutor's Office, and Contra Costa County Prosecutor's Office, it was decided that the homicide most likely occurred in Contra Costa County and that S.M. would be tried there. On December 4th, S.M. was convicted of first degree murder in Contra Costa County. He could receive a sentence of 55 years to life because of a previous criminal history. Sentencing is scheduled for February 9th. [Lt. Jeff Wasserman U.S. Park Police]
Natchez Trace Parkway
Driver Killed When Van Rolls Over In Creek
On the afternoon of December 16th, a 1994 Ford van with two people on board went off the road near milepost 253 and struck a bridge railing, then rolled into a creek that was running high due to several days of rain. Rangers Jeff Penney, Kim Korthuis an Jay Drinkwater responded along with numerous local fire and rescue units. The driver - J.H., 57, of Aberdeen, Mississippi - was extricated and taken to an area hospital but did not survive. His female passenger was injured. Alcohol and rain storms in the area may have been contributing factors. Penney is the investigation ranger. [Andy Atkins, Staff Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The internal, NPS-only version of InsideNPS can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index . The public version, called NPS Digest, can be found at: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
Natural Resources Program Center - The Endangered Species Act (ESA) will be 35 years old on December 28th. As of November, there were nearly 470 endangered or threatened species of plants, mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians with populations in NPS areas.
Wilderness Stewardship and Recreation - Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Director's Wes Henry National Wilderness Stewardship Award. Submissions are due by the end of January.
Fire and Aviation Management - Nearly three dozen stories that highlight NPS fire successes were submitted this week to the Department of the Interior in support of the National Fire Plan. Links to each are included.
Yosemite NP - Dan Horner, currently a special agent at Yosemite, is retiring from the National Park Service after 38 years of service.
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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