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Crime victims honored at annual brick-laying ceremony

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Shirley Jane Rose


Crime victims honored at annual brick-laying ceremony
at the Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park in Springfield on April11, 2016.
Scenes at the Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park Leslie North points heavenward to recognize her murdered A crowd was gathered at the Memorial Garden in Phelps at the Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park in Springfield4 of 8 at the Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park in Springfield A Springfield Police Officer holds the flag at the Nell Jersak dedicated a brick to her Father Ollie Crosswhite Charlie Rikard dedicated a brick to his horse

Linda Regan, development director at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, summed up Monday evening’s event in two words: sad and wonderful.

Regan was one of 12 presenters Monday at the annual brick-laying ceremony at the Victims Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park.

Twenty new engraved bricks were added to the garden to honor victims of violent crimes, their families and those who serve them in the Springfield community.

More than 100 people attended the 24th annual ceremony, which is part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott dedicated bricks to all of the local law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

With some family members of the deceased in attendance, Arnott said the bricks meant a lot to him.

A crowd was gathered at the Memorial Garden in Phelps

“It’s an honor to be able to represent these officers and the sheriff,” Arnott said. “I’m sorry it’s taken this long to recognize this publicly.”

Todd Myers, Greene County chief assistant prosecutor, presented a brick in honor of Shaun and Mark Staudte who died in 2012 after being poisoned with antifreeze.

Diane and Rachel Staudte, Mark’s wife and daughter, have pleaded guilty to murder and received life sentences for poisoning the men.

Myers said Diane Staudte did not organize proper memorials for the victims when they died. He said he hopes the brick will provide some comfort for the family.
Myers said Diane Staudte did not organize proper memorials for the victims when they died. He said he hopes the brick will provide some comfort for the family.

Leslie North points heavenward to recognize her murderedBuy Photo
Leslie North points heavenward to recognize her murdered son Weston as she stands with her husband Wesley in the Memorial Garden in Phelps Grove Park in Springfield on April 11, 2016. (Photo: Bruce E Stidham/News-Leader)
“Although she tried to erase them from her life, we have chosen not to erase them from our memories,” Myers said.

Other bricks Monday were dedicated to victims of homicide, victims of drunken driving crashes, victims of assaults, long-time community volunteers and police detectives.

The Rev. Saehee Duran, chaplain with the Springfield Police Department, closed Monday’s event with a prayer in which she applauded the community for joining together to support the names.

http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/crime/2016/04/11/crime-victims-honored-annual-brick-laying-ceremony/82897764/

Judge reveals details of child’s death

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April 2, 1982

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In an open letter to the killer of a 9-year-old girl, a county judge described how the child allegedly was forced to watch the digging of her grave and threatened the unknown slayer with the gas chamber.

‘I am personally going to see that you are sent to the gas chamber,’ Greene County Circuit Judge Don Clough told the killer, in a letter sent to the Springfield news media Thursday.

I’m going to be present when they strap you in, and it’s going to be the happiest day of my life.’

Clough warned new evidence soon will be available in the death of Shirley Jane Rose and invited witnesses of the slaying to come forward voluntarily or alsoface the death sentence.

The child disappeared Oct. 17, 1975. Her decomposed body was found in a shallow grave near a municipal water supply north of Springfield Dec. 13, 1975.

‘So that you will know that I know exactly the way things happened, I’m going to tell you about the last few minutes of Shirley’s life,’ the letter said. ‘These facts have never been published by the news media.

‘Shirley was taken out to McDaniel Lake. She was told she would be killed. She was made to stand there and watch her grave being dug. She was crying. When the grave was ready, you took your bare hands and strangled her. You were not alone. There were a number of other people with you.’

Clough said the child was abducted because the killer thought certain drugs would be returned to him or he would be paid for them if he had the child to trade.

‘Unfortunately for Shirley, the search for her came about so fast that you panicked and killed her,’ the letter said.

Clough said he had received the information when he was an attorney, from a client, and therefore could not reveal the source’s identity. The former client, who is ill and could die at any moment, has been afraid to talk but wants the information about the killing released when he dies, Clough said.

http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/04/02/Judge-reveals-details-of-childs-death/5605386571600/

Judge reveals details of child’s death

Posted on by | Leave a comment

April 2, 1982

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In an open letter to the killer of a 9-year-old girl, a county judge described how the child allegedly was forced to watch the digging of her grave and threatened the unknown slayer with the gas chamber.

‘I am personally going to see that you are sent to the gas chamber,’ Greene County Circuit Judge Don Clough told the killer, in a letter sent to the Springfield news media Thursday.

‘I’m going to be present when they strap you in, and it’s going to be the happiest day of my life.’

Clough warned new evidence soon will be available in the death of Shirley Jane Rose and invited witnesses of the slaying to come forward voluntarily or alsoface the death sentence.

The child disappeared Oct. 17, 1975. Her decomposed body was found in a shallow grave near a municipal water supply north of Springfield Dec. 13, 1975.

‘So that you will know that I know exactly the way things happened, I’m going to tell you about the last few minutes of Shirley’s life,’ the letter said. ‘These facts have never been published by the news media.

‘Shirley was taken out to McDaniel Lake. She was told she would be killed. She was made to stand there and watch her grave being dug. She was crying. When the grave was ready, you took your bare hands and strangled her. You were not alone. There were a number of other people with you.’

Clough said the child was abducted because the killer thought certain drugs would be returned to him or he would be paid for them if he had the child to trade.

‘Unfortunately for Shirley, the search for her came about so fast that you panicked and killed her,’ the letter said.

Clough said he had received the information when he was an attorney, from a client, and therefore could not reveal the source’s identity. The former client, who is ill and could die at any moment, has been afraid to talk but wants the information about the killing released when he dies, Clough said.

http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/04/02/Judge-reveals-details-of-childs-death/5605386571600/

Missouri Judge Conducting Hunt for Murderer of Girl, 9

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Published: April 4, 1982

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 3— A judge who has waged a personal campaign to find the murderer of a 9-year-old girl said Friday he had received dozens of phone calls providing information about the killing.

Judge Don Clough of Greene County Circuit Court warned the killer of Shirley Jane Rose in a letter sent to a Springfield newspaper Thursday that he was ”personally going to see that you are sent to the gas chamber” and said the execution date would be ”the happiest day of my life.”

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/04/us/missouri-judge-conducting-hunt-for-murderer-of-girl-9.html