| Author | Message | ||
     Just_ziptab |
This never happens around here,but happened last night, a county North of me. Minnesota teenager charged with murder, robbery in two northern Iowa slayings By Mindy Baker World-Herald News Service Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 2:43 PM CST ALGONA - Vicky Bowman-Hall did everything the masked robber asked Monday night. The 47-year-old mother of 10 filled the robber's duffel bag with cigarettes and money from the convenience store cash register. Then he shot her in the head. She died a short time later at Kossuth Regional Health Center. About 90 minutes later, the scene was repeated 25 miles south in Humboldt. There, 61-year-old clerk Sheila Myers was shot to death. Michael Richard Swanson, 17, of St. Louis Park, Minn., was arrested just before midnight in Webster City. Tuesday morning he was charged in Kossuth County Court with murder and robbery in the first-degree in Bowman-Hall's death. He was charged similarly in Humboldt County Court with Myers' death. Bowman-Hall was working at the Crossroads gas station and convenience store Highway 18 in Algona when, according to court documents, a man entered the store at about 9 p.m. with a loaded handgun and a duffel bag. Bowman-Hall complied with his requests to fill the bag with money and cigarettes but he shot her anyway. The scene was caught on security videotape. Myers was working at the Kum & Go convenience store at 1212 8th St. N. in Humboldt when the same man entered the store, again carrying a duffle bag and loaded handgun. He demanded she place money from the register in the bag while he pointed the weapon at her. Once she had placed the money in the bag, he fired one round, which killed Meyers instantly. During a press conference held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, Kossuth County Attorney Todd Holmes and Humboldt County Attorney Jennifer Benson addressed a packed room that included Bowman-Hall's family and several media representatives. "It is a sad day in Humboldt and Kossuth Counties," said Holmes. "All of the area law enforcement wish to express our most heartfelt sympathy for the families of both victims in this case." He explained that Swanson was located at a McDonald's in Webster City and was taken into custody without incident. "He will be charged as an adult," said Holmes. Swanson is currently being held in the Kossuth County Jail. His vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, has been impounded as evidence in the case. Holmes released very little additional information. "I have an ethical duty to make sure the defendant in this case receives a fair trial," stated Holmes as he deflected questions regarding who called in the shootings, if there were any witnesses or the contents of the security camera videotapes. He also refused to elaborate on the possibility of other suspects. "Anytime something like this strikes a community, obviously there is a wake-up call," said Holmes. "We need to make sure that our safety is our top priority." He said convenience stores should have a safety protocol in place, but that it was difficult to say that anything would have prevented the shootings. According to court records, Swanson was arrested in March for stealing a car and then crashing. In a plea agreement, a charge of drinking and driving was dropped. He was on probation when arrested Monday night. An arrest warrant had been issued for Swanson on Monday in Minnesota. Holmes refused to elaborate on the warrant or its contents. | ||
| Guell |
they should do society a favor and just put a bullet in his head. | ||
| Roadcouch98 |
Heart-Wrenching. What else can be said.......... | ||
| Kyrocket |
"How bad does it have to be to rob and kill?" I'm guessing it's not bad at all. Kid probably had everything he wanted. I've seen it before. My wife's cousin got up one morning, killed his dad, mom and two sisters then held his classroom hostage in 1994. Has nine more years before he can even think about a parole hearing. I'm rowing the same boat Guell is in these cases. | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
thats sickening....i dont think death is justice enough for what he did....he needs to be sent to prison for a life of rapings and beatings.....then after a few decades of that, then the death penalty...painfully and slow hopefully... Jake | ||
| Buellerandy |
What they need to start doing is identifying the criminal and posting his info up all over the place and let the public have it's way with them. After about a day he'll be begging to be taken into custody. If he's still alive. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
So tell me again the difference between living under the Taliban and living under the US Constitution when it comes to the question of vengeance or justice? | ||
| Fahren |
^^^ Well said, Iamarchangel. You can (and no doubt should) feel intensely emotional about this sort of tragedy, but a mob lynching mentality gets real ugly, real fast. Best to respect the Constitution, and leave vengeance for Another. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I'm from Humboldt (moved a couple hours away). This has really shaken the community where people are afraid of something so seemingly random. Seems nobody is safe. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
What a POS!!! I hope he rots in Hell!! Our punishment for such crimes sucks!! Lethal injection? BAH!!! Upon his conviction he should be hung, in public as a reminder to all other would be thugs if they commit the same crime, so too will they swing from the gallows. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Geez, Paint Shaker; that would violate the 8th Amendment. You're heading back to Taliban territory. The only one ever truly deterred by the death penalty is the one executed. | ||
| Blake |
It takes quite an imagination to equate a desire for justice to theocratic islamist fascism, a really £*€%ed-up fundamentally dishonest imagination, or bewildering ignorance. Wise up. Cease the personal attacks. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Whoa, are you talking to me? Paint Shaker: I never intended my statement to be a personal attack. I am sorry it came across that way. My point is simply if one is seeking vengeance more than justice then, yes, that person is more aligned with the Taliban. The US Constitution has principles and direction for how justice is to be played out. If we're not going to provide a better model here, then what the heck are we doing there in those countries? | ||
| Blake |
>>> (execution by hanging) would violate the 8th Amendment. Once again opinion and ignorance masquerading as fact. | ||
| Buellkowski |
Your post sure read more like a personal attack to me than Iamarchangel's did, Blake. Setting up for a ban, are you? What mob vengeance and radical Islam share is a rabid desire for corporal "justice" in this world before the next, IMHO. | ||
| Kyrocket |
When did Canada join the war? I admit I've not been watching much TV lately but believe I'd have heard about that. I took my ccdw permit test last week. Just sayin'... And everything I've written thus far is only to do with personal family issues. It's a shame and truly sad when it happens to "someone else" but when it's family everything changes. I know it shouldn't and it doesn't in the eyes of the law but it changes. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
When did Canada join the war? I admit I've not been watching much TV lately but believe I'd have heard about that. Ignorant statement, my hands are shaking, I'm so upset. Here is the list of Canadian War Dead from Afghanistan: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/casu alties/list.html Note: the first bunch were killed by US friendly fire. They didn't know Canadians were there. I have friends whose job is to clean body parts out of Strykers. Get an education. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Blake: >> (execution by hanging) would violate the 8th Amendment. Context was PUBLIC hanging. No opinion here except yours. Your argument is with your Constitution. | ||
| Blake |
Publicly viewable execution by hanging is not unconstitutional. It was in fact a common means of execution both for civilian and military convicts. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Hahahaha I went back and read it. The CCDW wasn't aimed at you but it's funny you read it that way. Oh, and you're one to point out ignorant statements. I've said my last on this thread, but we've seen that before too haven't we? | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Blake: "was" and "is" are two different tenses of the verb, indicating time. Again, stick to context. Publicly viewable, as in witnessed, is part of the Constitutional process of an execution. Public, as in Iran, seems to be proscribed (means it can't be done) under the US Constitution's 8th Amendment. Again, your argument is with your Constitution. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Blake: if you're looking for ban reasons, you won't have to make one up, there's probably one coming right now. Kyrocket: you ignorant SOB. You think I give a fig about your CCDW. Big whoop. HOW DARE YOU MOCK THE CANADIAN WAR DEAD? THE FIRST BUNCH WERE KILLED BY CLOWNS LIKE YOU. OTHER CANADIAN MEN AND WOMEN ARE FIGHTING AND SUPPORTING AND HURTING AND DYING EVERY DAY BESIDE AMERICANS WHOSE SHADOWS ARE TOO SACRED FOR YOU TO WALK ON. | ||
| Mayerhd |
Weird, I don't find anything listed in the 8th Amendment that would ban a public hanging, it being neither cruel nor unusual. To liken it to the Taliban's form of public execution is irresponsible. The question as to living under the Taliban and US Constitution in regards to vengeance is silly. Vengeance is a human emotion, not limited to geographical, religious, or political sects. Why does the death penalty have to be regarded as a deterrent, what if it is simply just punishment? | ||
| Blake |
>>> Public, as in Iran, seems to be proscribed (means it can't be done) under the US Constitution's 8th Amendment. >>> Again, your argument is with your Constitution. False. "Seems to be proscribed" False. I have zero interest in debating fictional nonsense, which accurately characterizes much of your contributions here. You appear nothing more than a troll. Integrity matters. Get some. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Never took anything as a personal attack. I don't consider death by hanging (in public) to be cruel or unusual punishment. Perhaps I am in the minority. Maybe I need to chug on over to mamby pamby land where I can learn to be more sensitive to the criminal element... | ||
| Froggy |
Neither do I.
I personally feel that the death penalty is not a deterrent, as many killers are psychologically disturbed and do not fear death. I know personally that the death penalty wouldn't stop me from committing murder. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I guess the kid admitted he killed the women so that they could not identify him. Doesn't he know there are video cams all over the place? It's all recorded. The kid looks bright/normal.Not at all a threatening appearance. He was happy with an ear to ear grin as he was be escorted to jail...........like it was his first visit to Disney land.WTF? Such a senseless waste to kill for a handful of cash and cigs. | ||
| Spike240sx |
Ya and unfortunately we dont have the death penalty here in Iowa. Its been all over the news and seem to be the topic of everyones conversation. It keeps coming up "how could this kid have done this?" Well in my opinion, if we did not live in such lawsuit happy world and where parents have the ability to discipline as they see fit (Within reason, No beating or physical harm) then maybe at some point in this poor kids life he may have learned a lesson or two. Unfortunately this is what our world is coming too. A world where everyone seems shocked that this happened but very well could have possibly been prevented. Reasons like this are why my wife and I have choosen not raise children. I dont want my kids growing up in a world where they can not even put an american flag on there bike without ridicule! Now i am not a political guy, but those who have shaped our current way of life need to be beaten publicly and dumped on a deserted island to fend for them selves. Let the bitching moaning and groaning continue! Thats All! | ||
| Aesquire |
1st. I thank the Canadians helping us with Afghanistan. They Are under funded, under appreciated, and I've had the pleasure of flying with several. 2nd. I'm against the death penalty. I have reasons, but "cruel and unusual" are not part of them. ( fixing a mistake is one reason ) I think "lethal injection" as currently done is far crueler than a proper hanging. (Not the dangle & strangle of a botched one. if they used opiates, lethal injection would make sense, to me ) Wanting someone who kills people to not be on your planet is one thing. Wanting him in pain is another. The public part has nothing to do with cruelty. The buzzword "closure" comes to mind. Also "pay per view". Froggy and others are right. Capital punishment is not a deterrent. Except for the guy executed. He'll never kill again. Justice should be retail, not wholesale. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Hell maybe we should get him therapy, a nice 6x8, three hots and a cot for 20 years, and hope he rehabilitates. F*ck that. Heres a rope, theres a yard arm, when the bells strike noon, he hangs. Call me if you need someone to pull the lever. |
