Looking in at Iowa

Image via Wikipedia

Release from Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office

In 2005, Grassley introduced legislation named after Jetseta Gage, a 10-year old Cedar Rapids girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by a registered sex offender. A modified version of “Jetseta’s Bill” was incorporated into the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety bill. “Jetseta’s Bill” created mandatory minimums of imprisonment for criminals who committed murder, kidnapping, or serious bodily harm against children.

“We made a good start in the Adam Walsh bill, but it’s not enough for people who commit these despicable crimes,” Grassley said. …

“S. 3014: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children.”

Also referred to as The “Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008.”

From Complaint and Jury Demand at U.S. Courts - Northern District of Iowa:

CASE No. 1:08-cv-45

MARIA TERESA LIZAMA LIDON, Plaintiff, vs. ANAMOSA COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT and STEVE GOODALL, Defendants. …

8. Plaintiff was subjected to harassment by students and parents as a result of her national origin. The harassment included but was not limited being told that she should be dead, that she should not be working in America, and that she should be deported. Complaints were also made regarding Plaintiff’s accent. The harassment, which was unwelcome, objectively and subjectively made the working environment hostile.

9. The harassment was severe and pervasive enough that it made it extremely difficult for Plaintiff to effectively do her job.

10. Plaintiff complained to Defendants and in fact some of the harassment was in the form of emails from parents to school administration. Nothing was done in response to the harassment, and things never improved.

11. Towards the end of the 2006-2007 school year, Plaintiff was informed by Defendant Steve Goodall that Plaintiff was being forced to leave her position and that her contract for the upcoming year was not going to be renewed. …

5/3 UPDATE - Gazette article, Former Spanish teacher sues Anamosa district, claims harassment

Image via Wikipedia

From BestBuy.com:

One of gaming’s most storied franchises — the felonious fun of Grand Theft Auto — is finally making its way to next-gen systems, and we know you can’t wait to pull the trigger on this sure-to-be hit.

So, Best Buy is opening dozens of stores at midnight on April 29 so you can buy this must-have title as soon as it releases. And get there early, because we’ll have Grand Theft Auto-related giveaways, but quantities will be limited.

Just so there’s no confusion, you’ll want to show up on Monday night, April 28, and wait for the clock to strike 12 midnight — Tuesday, April 29.

From list of Best Buy stores opening at midnight:

Grand Theft Auto IV Midnight Store Opening Locations
Locations are subject to change. Check with your store for full details.

Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Davenport
Des Moines
Iowa City

From U.S. Courts - Northern District of Iowa:

JEANNE M. COLE,
Plaintiff,
vs.
PORTFOLIO – CEDAR RAPIDS, LLC;
KRONOS HOTELS & RESORTS;
CROWNE PLAZA FIVE SEASONS
HOTEL, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA…

This is an employment discrimination and wage collection action under federal and state law, with pendant state law claims under the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, Iowa Code Chapter 216 (2007) and Iowa Code 91A(2007). Plaintiff, Jeanne M. Cole, is a Caucasian female. On September 28, 2007, she was terminated from her position as Regional Director of Sales with the Defendants, and replaced by a no better qualified male. Ms. Cole alleges she was treated differently and unfairly when compared to her male replacement. Ms. Cole also alleges that she has not been paid commissions owed her pursuant to both a written and oral agreement with the Defendants. Ms. Cole seeks back pay, front pay, federal and state compensatory damages(including emotional distress damages), punitive damages, liquidated damages of double the wages owed her, attorneys fees, interest, and costs. …

16. September 28, 2007, Ms. Cole was terminated from her position as Regional Director of Sales with the Defendants.

17. Ms. Cole was replaced by a no better qualified male employee, Randy Butcher.

18. During her employment, Ms. Cole was treated differently and unfairly when compared to Mr. Butcher. For example, during her employment she made many requests for hotel assignments and contacts, but was told to be patient and that the information would be provided. It was never provided to her. As a result, she was not permitted to be successful in her job.

19. On the other hand, when Mr. Butcher assumed the position of Regional Director of Sales, he was provided with hotel assignments and full access to the Defendants’ systems immediately upon his acceptance of the position. …

MS. COLE DEMANDS TRIAL BY JURY FOR ALL ISSUES SO TRIABLE.
s/Wilford H. Stone
WILFORD H. STONE, AT0007699
AMY L. REASNER, AT0006390
of
LYNCH DALLAS, P.C.
526 Second Avenue S.E.
P.O. Box 2457
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2457 …

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF JEANNE M. COLE

4/23 UPDATE: Salt Lake woman found dead in Missouri; ex-boyfriend detained

Prior to the announcement of the discovery of Jones’ body, the Deseret News spoke with Michael Doyel’s 75-year-old mother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She expressed grave concern for Jones due to her son’s behavior in the past.

“My last words to him were, ‘Go away. Leave her alone and be good. Be good,’” Pauline Doyel said. “Leave people alone.”

Pauline Doyel said her son is a “habitual liar” and suffers from what she called paranoid schizophrenia.

“We had him institutionalized. He’s been in jail, he’s been in prison. We’ve done everything in our power to get help for him,” she said. … [MORE]

~~

4/23 UPDATE: Woman found dead in vehicle, Michael Doyel held by police.

~~

Photo of Debbie Jones from flyer.

From April 22 Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City):

Deborah Jones met with domestic violence detectives a day before she went missing, police said Monday, as the search for Jones continued.

Jones, 50, met with Salt Lake domestic violence detectives Wednesday, concerned about threats made by her ex-boyfriend, said Salt Lake police detective Robert Eldard. Jones agreed to another meeting the next day, but never returned to the station, police said.

Jeff Jones, Deborah’s son, believes his mother may have been taken against her will by her former live-in boyfriend, Michael Jerome Doyel. Jeff Jones said after his mother and Doyel broke up about two weeks ago, Doyel made several threatening phone calls. Some of the threats were violent in nature. …

Jones’ family… believes Doyel is the main person of interest. They have created a Web site, www.finddebbie.com, to help locate their missing loved one. On the site, they said Doyel should be considered a “dangerous person” and made a plea to the public to “help bring Michael Doyel to justice.” …

The Jones family said on the Web site that Doyel has “an extensive criminal record.” A check of state court records in Utah by the Deseret News showed Doyel was arrested in 1999 in Salt Lake City for being a fugitive from justice from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Doyel was also charged in 1999 in 3rd District Court and later convicted of assault on a police officer and interfering with an arrest, both misdemeanors.

Jones is 5 feet 6 inches, weighs 230 pounds with hazel eyes and shoulder-length brunette hair. Doyel is 5 feet 11 inches, 195 pounds with brown eyes and wavy brown hair. He wears wire-rim glasses. He has a tattoo “Jan Dolley” on his chest. …

From September 22, 1999 Gazette:

C.R. man won’t be charged in woman’s disappearance
By Kristophere’ Owens
Gazette staff writer

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man connected with the disappearance of a Marengo woman will not face charges for his actions during the four weeks the two were gone.

While Michael Doyel, 38, of 3411 First Ave. SE, and Juanita Plowman, 60, of Marengo, were away, Doyel used a bank ATM to make an empty deposit in an account opened by Plowman and later withdrew about $8,000 from the account.

Because Plowman has repaid that money to the bank, Cedar Rapids Police Department Detective Greg Koenighain told KCRG-TV9 that no charges would be filed against Doyel.

Koenighain said Plowman knew Doyel was taking the money.

Plowman, however, denied that.

Upset that Cedar Rapids Police and the Linn County Attorney’s Office did not tell her they do not plan to file charges against Doyel, Plowman said she is not sure what action she will take. She said she will discuss it with her son, Jim, of Marengo.

“It’s kind of a rotten deal,” she said last night.

Plowman met Doyel through a personals advertisement and left on a trip with him April 25. Family members, concerned about her safety, filed a missing person report in Iowa County.

The two were found May 24 in a West Valley City, Utah, motel room.

From The Enquirer (Cincinnati):

Fifth Third Bank has filed suit in federal court in Cincinnati to recover more than $323 million in losses from insurance policy investments it claims were mismanaged by Transamerica Life Insurance Co. and its consultant Clark Consulting Inc. in Dallas. …

In the lawsuit filed today, Fifth Third claims that Transamerica, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Clark Consulting, both units of Aegon USA Inc., a financial services holding company, failed to manage and monitor more than $612 million the bank paid into the investment backed policies known as Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) products. …

From Iowa Department of Public Safety - Division of Criminal Investigation - Missing Person Information Clearinghouse:

Kristian Burt [16; Female] was reported missing to the Iowa City Police Department, in Iowa City on Apr 11, 2008. …

From Iowa Department of Public Safety - Division of Criminal Investigation - Missing Person Information Clearinghouse:

Jennifer Neuzil [27] was reported missing to the Iowa City Police Department, in Iowa City on Apr 15, 2008. …

Incident Type:

Disability – physical / mental

From Ottawa Times:

State police say they intercepted a crack cocaine transfer Thursday on a La Salle County stretch of Interstate 80.

Terrell A. Wilkins, 23, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony punishable by prison. …

A state police officer stopped Wilkins’ car, finding crack cocaine in the trunk and $1,095. Prosecutor Ryan Cantlin said Wilkins admitted to police he was delivering the cocaine to another person. …

Wilkins gave a home address in Iowa City, Iowa. …

From “Charge Youth in Waterloo Girl’s Murder” in June 2, 1964 Gazette:

WATERLOO (AP) — Police arrested the young son of a banker Monday 90 minutes after the stabbed, seminude body of the daughter of a real estate operator was found in her home.

Spectacled, muscular John Thomas Kyle, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kyle, was arraigned on an open charge of murder in the slaying of pretty, brunette Diane Kay Gable, 19, while her parents were away on a fishing excursion.

Bond was set at $20,000.

A Struggle

Her body, nude from the waist down, was found in the living room of her home in an upper middle class neighborhood. There were signs of a struggle.

Authorities said she was clad only in a sweatshirt, a bra and bobby sox. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mack Gable.

Dr. Eugene Smith, deputy Black Hawk county medical examiner, said Miss Gable, who worked in her father’s real estate and insurance office, had been stabbed once under the arm, arid once in the heart, apparently with a kitchen knife.

Face Scratched

He said there were sqratches on her nose and face, and marks on her throat, indicating she had been strangled.

Teeth marks were found on the girl’s face, Dr. Smith said. An autopsy showed she died of a stab wound in the heart, he added.

The Kyles and the Gables live about two blocks apart.

Found Body

Larry D. McGreevy found the body after going to the Gable house when Miss Gable failed to show for work at her father’s office.

McGreevy called the parents after he found the house locked. Gable told McGreevy to break down the door and find out what was the matter.

Dr. Smith said no weapon had been found. He said she apparently had been dead since Sunday night.

Read Mike Hlas’ Sunday column here: Gable tries to offer support to survivors.

This record from the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator shows a JOHN THOMAS KYLE released nearly 24 years ago.

From The Chosun Ilbo (South Korea):

The adoptions of the four children were arranged by Holt Children’s Services. An official with Holt said the four children were born to different unmarried mothers.

According to Holt, Ethan, Seth and Eleanor were abandoned by their mothers as soon as they were born. Carrying their one-week-old children, the three unwed mothers visited Holt and asked that their babies be adopted overseas.

Mira was three months old when her birth mother visited Holt. “That means Mira’s birth mother must have agonized for three months about whether she should raise Mira alone or abandon her for adoption,” the Holt official said.

The children were adopted by the Sueppels in different years — Ethan in 1998, Seth in 1999, Mira in 2002, and Eleanor in 2005. …

See also KCRG story by Mark Geary, Remembering The Four Sueppel Children; Gazette obituary, Sueppel, Sheryl (Kesterson), Steve, Ethan, Seth, Mira and Eleanor; or complete Gazette coverage here.

~~

An interesting adoption-related post with valuable links and quotes here: ‘Forever Family’ six feet under.

The couple had adopted four children from South Korea; Ethan, 10, Seth, 7, Mira, 5, and Eleanor, 3 via Holt international (”…dedicated to carrying out God’s plan for every child to have a permanent, loving family”) which says it will only pass along the information to the children’s original mothers if they ask (see S Korean adoption agency saw no problem with American parents “our agency doesn’t reach out first. Only if they contact us, we will inform them what happened,” Hong said, adding that no phone calls were received so far.”) …

4/1 UPDATE: Gazette article, Deaths of Sueppel children add to adoption debate in Korea

Also, check out Gazette blogger Alicia Ebaugh’s post, A Korean view of the Sueppel murders.