" IN SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH " (article 29) November 30, 2006

I have given several ideas, excessive thought, as to what to write,
for this week's article. I've decided to write about a combination
of several
things and hopefully, this will allow all of the Readers, a chance
to learn some of the "loose ends", that may have puzzled you in last
weeks
article.
Part 28, containing Ms. Sherry, (Scooter's Mother) is going to be
the highlight, of this weeks article.
First, I would like to publicly announce, how much admiration I have
had for Ms. Sherry, Scooter's Mom) for a number of years. There is
a 20+
span, of friendship between Sherry and Myself. I have only
admiration for her, since the day we met. For those of our Readers,
who are not
aware, Ms. Sherry drove a school-bus, and was my oldest Son's, bus
driver..............so really, I think you all know, "what true
nerves of steel", Ms.
Sherry has developed, and I shouldn't have to elaborate,
correct????

Any woman who can get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee, grab
her school bus and take 70+ school children to school, (before she
even fully wakes up) I THINK.............IS ONE HELL OF A WOMAN,
WITH UN-DEFEATABLE, UNDENIABLE, CHARACTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't You?

For this reason, and many more....Sherri and I have been friends,
for a very long time. Unlike some of the other Parents and Family
Members, Sherri and I, go very far back in years. When my oldest
Son Ricky, was just in 3rd
grade, and my baby boy Daniel, was starting kindergarten. The 1st
day of that school year, while I was standing with my Boy's to get
onto the
bus, Ms. Sherry introduced herself, and then drove off with the (2)
of them.

It seems like yesterday to me, because I stood in my driveway and
cried.

Gosh, what along time ago, when things seemed so perfect, and my
life was so normal.
Who ever would have known, so many years later, Our 2 Son's would be
murdered together, along with another friend, Jason~~within the
Beauregard Community.

Please allow me to elaborate on some of Ms.Sherri's answers, in the
interview she accepted to answer, by Villiage Idiot.

I feel very proud, to have a friend who trusted me enough to go
through the hurt and turmoil to review "Our Sons" record file, and
try to confirm details, that were contradicting. Thank you Ms.
Sherry.

I am forever grateful, you want to know the truth, as badly as I do.
Together, with the help of members of this blog, I know we will be
able to find out the truth of that fateful day, and will finally
know the TRUE answer to, who murdered Our Son's.

I wanted to clarify for the Readers, the Lee County Sheriff
Department DID NOT
" invite these parents " to discuss and review the (3) Boy's and
Mr. Vaughan's Case.
Because of Mitch Sneeds article on October 13, 2004, Ms. Sherri and
Russell's Parents, realized articles contained
on:www.theweeklynews.info, ( included with in Mr. Sneed's article) were
actually articles, being written concerning their own Sons.

After reading through all (6) months of articles,("In Search For
The Truth")
I received email's from both of these Mothers, regarding different
incidents that have been written throughout them. Some of the
email's, did not agree with my opinion, but I did answer them, and
try and explain my views, and how I had come to conclusions, I had.

After receiving a few email's from Sherri, Scooter's Mom she asked
me to call her home and discuss with me, the findings I had seen and
written about, (from talking to Investigators and Sheriff Jones and
the Alabama Forensic Reports) within this news site.
During this conversation, Ms. Sherri and I reviewed details and how
information was obtained, to write these articles. Sherri also
question me, why I was NOT convinced, Mr. Vaughan had murdered Our
Children.

I responded by stating "my opinions were based on official
documents, I had reviewed within the Lee County Sheriff Department,
Alabama Forensic Science Reports, and files D.A. Abbett had allowed
me to review in his office".

Sherri felt she wanted to review these same files, and in turn
called the Sheriff and the D.A., and asked to be allowed to view
the (3) Boy's and Mr. Vaughan's Files, and the Grand Jury
Transcripts. After 2 weeks, this process completed, Ms. Sherri
called me, to compare her findings, with mine. Several of the
documents DID contain information I had asked Sherri to look for,
but unfortunately several of the files, were changed, from when I
last reviewed them.

These are some of the descepencies, that were different, when these
(3) Parents, compared information Officials granted them to view.

1. Scooter's cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds.
Scooter's manner of death was listed as :SUICIDE.

2. Information had been added to the files that was NOT PREVIOUSLY
PRESENT, when I reviewed them.

3. Information had been DELETED, since I reviewed these same
records.

4. Comments by Officials, were openly stated, to all (3) Parents,
concerning my mental health. Comments continued throughout the
meeting
and these same Officials went further in their "detriment of
character", to include any/all of the Readers of, "The Weekly News"
and anyone
who has helped research, or involved with the In Search for The
Truth Articles", being written and published.

5. Officials who have been compassionate and professional in my
quest for these (3) Young Men~~~were discredited, and Parents told
by Officials, these Officials, were not "real Officers".

6. When Parents asked to view the Grand Jury Transcripts, D.A.
Abbett admitted, there were NO TRANSCRIPTS.


Now, I'd like to ask you, The Readers, to make your opinions known.
PLEASE INCLUDE WITHIN YOUR COMMENTS, your opinions of the
differences these Parents found, within the (3) Boy's and Mr.
Vaughan's Records.

Please also include in your comments, how the Lee County Officials,
felt it NOT NECESSARY to have TRANSCRIPTS TAKEN, for ANY OF THE
DURATION,
of The Grand Jury Proceedings.

I felt all of this needed to be made public, at this time, before
we go
any further. I am sure you are aware, it is a Federal Offense, to
alter information within Case Files, especially preceding an
investigations closure.

Thank you once again, for standing up and being "SCOOTER'S VOICE"
Ms. Sherry. I 'm glad you'll allow our opinions to be combined
(even though we do not agree on everything) and feel (in many ways)
the same as I do.

This Investigation was handled badly, and very un-professionally.
Because of this, the (3) Boy's and Mr. Vaughan's Investigation, has
NOT TOLD US ANSWERS,
to anything.

These articles were written, to show Higher Authorities, what went
wrong with this Investigation, concerning our Son's, and Mr.
Vaughan.
I admire You, in only wanting the TRUTH TO BE KNOWN, Sherri!!!!!

I am so appreciative, their is at least one other Parent, ( of the
(3) Boy's) who has the determination, character, and honesty that is
REQUIRED, for an attempt such as this, (re-opening the (3) Boy's
Case) and WHO IS WILLING to TRY, to find out the actual events of
what happened to Our BOY'S, in this cold-blooded and calculated
triple homicide.

Even if this attempt, takes the rest of Our Lives, I feel you
Sherri, will be right beside myself, when we can finally state:

"WE FOUND OUR SON'S, JUSTICE~~ AND~~ WE FOUND OUT, THE TRUTH".


written by: Debbi Foster-Murphy

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm

A Search for the Truth (part 28)

This week the article has a very special woman who has very
graciously agreed to do an interview with me.
It is my honor to introduce Sheri Stephens, who is the mother
of William (Scooter) Stephens.
First I would like to welcome you Sheri, and Thank you for
agreeing to be interviewed.

Sheri , would you please be kind enough to tell us what happened
exactly one week
ago this past Tuesday, November 14, 2006 while you were working at
the little country
store , which you do every Tuesday. Please explain in your own words
of the events
that led up to this and please tell us word for word exactly what
was said to you please?
Everyone that knows me knows that on Tuesday I clean a store out
here in the country. I have been doing this for a while. Today I
recieved a phone call at work and was told that Debbie and I need to
remember that we have other children. I ask the man what the hell
did he mean and he said think about it and remember that yall do
have other children.

Sheri, would you please explain your reasons for accepting our
invitation
to be interviewed?
I told Debbie that as soon as I read the files that she would be the
first to know what I had read and how I felt.

Sheri, can you please tell us after reading the weekly articals by
Art Wallace,
and Debbi Foster-Murphy, is there anything contained in the articles
in which
you feel is untrue or inaccurate? If so would you please tell us
what it is you feel is not true, or not accurate?
Everything that Debbie told me would be in the files was actually
there.

Sheri, it is my understanding that in the last few weeks that you
yourself , along
with Wanda and Wayne McCullars were invited to read the files and
records
pertaining to the murders of the 3 boys is this correct?
We were not invited. After reading all of this on the blog I wanted
to read all of this for myself.

Sheri, where did Wanda , Wayne, and yourself go to read these
records and files?
Lee County Justice Center

Sheri, I understand that the first week in which you and the
McCullars went to
read these files and records you had to go back? Why was this?
because the D.A. was to be on court all week.

Sheri, would you please tell us what files or records you and the
McCullars were
allowed to read the first time? And where were these files at in which you along with the McCullars located at?
The first time we were at the sheriff's office. We did not read
files but had everything gone over for us by investigator Jordan.

Sheri, in any of the files in which you were allowed to read in the
past two times of going LCJC was there any thing in which refenced
Mr.Vaughan felt that his life also could be in danger? Did he
refernce suicide in any way? Please expain
in your own words on this account.
There was a written statement a man made. He said Bernie told him if
he was ever found with a bullet in his head it would not be suicide.

Sheri, to the best of your knowledge was Debbi Foster-Murphy invited
along with you and the McCullars to also come and read the records
and files at the LCJC ? If not why would they exclude Debbi from
this invitation?

Like I said we were not invited but called up there and asked when
we could come and what we wanted to do.

Sheri, were the Grand Jury files available to you and the other
family to read?
no

Sheri, please correct me if I am wrong , but wasn't the Grand Juries
files included in the invatation you and the McCulars recieved from
the LCSD to view and read?
it was a file that we had requested to read

Sheri, what happened when you asked to read the Grand Jury files?
Would you please explain to us what was said and by whom this was
said by?
I was told that there were no grand jury transcripts.

Sheri, would you please tell us what files you were allowed to read
and the contents of these files in which you and the McCullars read?
We were allowed to read each of the boys files and Vaughn's.

Sheri, was there anything in these files about your son Scooter in
which was not true? Would you please explain what it was, and the
reaction of the LCSD when confronted with this information?
Yes, in one of these files it stated that my son's cause of death
was suicide.

Sheri, After you read everything that the LCSD provided to you and
the McCullars,was there anything that discredited Debbi Foster
Murphy?
I basically found everything that she said would be in the files.

Sheri, In your opinion do you agree or disagree with the findings of
Debbi Foster-Murphy's statements of accounts and actions of the LCSD
investigation of the murders of these 3 boys?
I agree with some but not with all and no one will agree on
everything.

Sheri, would you please tell us if you agree with Debbi Foster
Murphy on her findings of the LCSD investigation, or if you disagree
with the findings of Debbi Foster-Murphy's findings? What is it that
your would disagree, or agree with on Debbi's findings , and why?
Debbie talked to them more than I did so alot more was said to her
rather than me.

Sheri, what is your own opinion on the 3 boys murder's investigation
by LCSD?
I think in a lot of ways it was handled very badly and that there is
alot we will never know.

Sheri, Would you please tell us and our readers, what it was that
you found on all 3 boys graves? And when did you discover this?
rifle casings- one for each time the boys were shot.

Sheri, after you found the bullets on the boys graves, what does
this suggest to you?
That someone out there knows exactly how many times each boy was
shot.

Sheri, Can you think of ANYONE who would have done such a cruel and
vicious act to the parents and the boys?
No one but an ASSHOLE

Sheri, I have confirmation that this was Daniel Foster's first and
only time of ever riding his 4 wheeler ATV on Mr. Vaughans property
by Debbi Foster-Murphy. Is this also true of your son Scooter? Was
this his first time also of ever being on
Mr.Vaughan's property with his 4 wheeler ATV also?
to the best of my knowledge it was the first time and he was good
at telling me where he was going to ride.

Sheri, can you tell us if this was where Jason Barr and his brother
Rusell McCullar usually rode their 4 wheeler ATV'S on theproperty
owned by Mr. Vaughan?
Well I know that they live over there but where they ride I cannot
say for sure. There are several areas of dirt roads there.

Sheri, since reading all of the articles, comments, and going to the
LCSD, and reading what they gave you for the files and records
pertaining to the murders of the 3 boys has your opinions on
anything changed? And if so how?
My opinion that Vaughn killed the boys is still the same but whether
his death was suicide I do not think so.

Sheri, Since reading the files provided by LCSD, have you compared
your notes with those that Debbi Foster-Murphy has? If so please
explain in your own words your feelings about what you read and what
Debbi Foster-Murphy has read and
has copies of?
Debbie and I have talked on the phone and she would ask did you see
this or that and yes I actually did see what she was saying.

Sheri, Why did LCSD not copy off these files and records for all of
you so that you all had copies of the same files and information
contained in these files referencing the 3 boys murders and what
exactly the LCSD did according to investigating this case? Do you
find this odd that LCSD did not run off copies of all these files
for the family members , so each family had their own copy of
exactly what supposedly the LCSD has in their possesion?
I guess because the files were so big.

Sheri, Do you feel the real person who murdered these 3 boys is
still out there walking around?
I actually believe that Vaughn is the one who killed the boys.

Sheri, Do you have your own opinion of why these boys were murdered?
Especially since this was both Daniels and Scooter's first time
riding on this property?
I really don't know. Did they see something? Was he just an evil
human being?

Sheri, if there are any other comments you would like to make, in
which I haven't brought to light would you please add them to this
interview along with your own opinions on them please?
In some of your blogs it was stated that Vaughn being a 69 year old
man that they did not see how he could do this. Vaughn was a very
active person who did alot of walking and working outside. He was
also a member and president of a gun shooting club in Auburn. While
some considered him to be a good citizen there were those that
considered him to be one of the meanest people around. Neighbors
talked about how if he caught there dog in the yard he would catch
it and staple a warning note to the collar about if he caught it
again he would kill it and disembowel it.

I need to include that during this interview with Sheri Stephens,
she was very ill, so if some of the answer's seem alittle vague it
because of her being ill and everyone knows when your sick the last
thing you want is to have to talk or sit up. Rest assured when Sheri
is feeling better and back on her feet , she said "there is alot
more I want to add but I just don't feel up to it now, but I will
add it when I am feeling better." So I would like to say to Sheri, I
am very proud of you for your courage, strength, and honesty! We
sure could use alot more people in this world just like you. I not
only admire you, but I have the highest respect for you also!
Sheri, Again I thank you for this interview, and allowing me to be
the one to do this interview. Thank you very much Sheri, this was an
honor for me and I appreciate this very much.
THEVILLIAGEIDIOT....

Written by THEVILLIAGEIDIOT

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm

A Search for the Truth (part 27)

This week since both Art and Debbi are unavailable due to Art's
surgery, and Debbi having to go be with her mother due to her
falling and being in the hospital with a broken hip, I
THEVILLIAGEIDIOT will be doing this weeks article. Thank you both
Art and Debbi for entrusting me with your confidence , and trust of
doing this weeks article. I do hope I live up to your expectations,
and do not disapoint you. With that all said and done, here is this
weeks article.

After considerable thought I decided to share with the group some of
the interesting information discovered on the internet.

Some of this includes information that we aren't the only ones who
are asking questions about this case! I found some information in
which shows others also question the credibility of this tripple
homicide investigation, and have questions of their own.

One very important site found
www.zoominfo.cohttp://www.zoominfo.com/people/jones_jay_41382467.asp
in which sheriff Jay Jones has This automatically-generated summary
was created using 238 references found on the Internet. Lets have a
look at some of these shall we?

To read the whole stories I have provided the links first, I will
take and focus on different parts of these articles, I think are the
most important .

Opelika-Auburn News | Capital investments
www.oanow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=OAN%2FMGArticle
2FOAN_BasicArticle

Published on: 12/5/2005 Last Visited: 12/6/2005

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones makes $72,742.56 annually, while
Opelika police chief Tommy Mangham brings in $65,975.10.
...

But Jones would like to see officers better compensated.

"I'd like to see a more uniform type of pay for law enforcement
agencies in the state," he said.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1107629/posts
MURDER SUSPECT FOUND DEAD (RETIRED OFFICER ALLEGEDLY KILLS THREE
TRESPASSERS)

The Opelika-Auburn News ^ | 29 March 2004 | Brooke Williams and Lori
Little
Posted on 03/29/2004 7:56:54 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
A man Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said was suspect in Friday's
triple homicide in the Beauregard community was found dead Sunday\
morning, killed by a gunshot would that appears to be self
inflicted. The Lee County Sheriff's Office received a call Sunday at
4:26 a.m. reporting a shooting in the Beauregard community.

According to Jones, Bernard Vaughan, 69, was found by his wife in
the backyard of his home at 900 Lee Road 401.

Scene conditions indicate that Vaughan died instantly of a self
inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Jones said. A medium-caliber
hand gun was found near the body. Vaughan was the property owner of
50 acres where William "Scooter" Stephens, 19, Jason Barr, 25, and
Daniel Foster, 24, all of Beauregard, were shot and killed Friday
afternoon after riding their four-wheel ATVs in the fields and woods
at the 1100 block of Lee Road 401. Vaughan was interviewed by
deputies Saturday and was a potential suspect for the murders, Jones
said, adding that Vaughan is now the prime focus of the murder
investigation.

"We interviewed Vaughan on Friday, just as we did others, and didn't
consider him to be a suspect at that time," Jones said. "But after
subsequent interviews on Saturday with others, we began to believe
there may have been some connection there. That's when we questioned
him again and had planned to investigate the things we learned."
Jones said Vaughan left behind a suicide note, but said details of
the note could not be disclosed until the investigation is complete.

Vaughan may have been an acquaintance with the victims, Jones said,
but a family member of one of the victims said they did not know
Vaughan.

A motive for the shootings is still being investigated. Jones said
it was obvious at the scene that the land had been used by those
riding ATVs before. There was no indication that the victims were
involved in any criminal activity on the property. Deputies
retrieved a number of long rifles Sunday morning at Vaughan's home
that are consistent with the weapon used at Friday's shootings.

Jones said the young men were shot by a high-powered rifle and
multiple shots were fired. He said until autopsy results are
complete he couldn't list the nature of the wounds. Jones did say
rumors that the killings were "execution style" were false based on
the findings of investigators at the scene.

"I think now we may know the what, but we may never know the why,"
Jones said. "We had put hundreds of man hours on this, talking to
everyone we thought might have a sliver of information. But the
hardest thing was to tell those families that their loved ones were
dead. "And then today, to tell them this latest development, it just
doesn't offer much comfort. The circle of people this thing has
touched is unbelievable. There aren't too many people who didn't
know the kids or someone who did know them. I think everyone is
hurting and will be for quite some time. They just kept asking
today, 'why?'" Vaughan was well-known and well-respected in the
community. Vaughan, who was a retired Army colonel, was active in
the community and has been a resident of Beauregard for many years.

He was a member of Opelika United Methodist Church and was once
president of the Retired Officers Association.

"I've known Bernie Vaughan for years," Jones said. "He was a decent
guy, something like this was totally out of character." Even though
all fingers seem to point to Vaughan, Jones said investigators will
continue to work the case until details are finalized. Vaughan's
autopsy report, which will be ready this week, will confirm more
details. The evidence of the apparent suicide is being submitted to
the state crime lab for forensic analysis.

There are comments posted on this article on the link provided above
this article so if you want to read them for yourselves you have the
link to do so..

Now lets compare this article to the article by the same newpaper on
October 13, 2006 Case Closed?

http://www.oanow.com/servlet/Satellite
pagename=OAN/MGArticle/OAN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149191129875
Case closed?

Despite pleas, officials done with Beauregard homicides

Mitch Sneed / Staff Writer
October 13, 2006
A Web-based campaign is calling for the reopening of a 2004 triple
homicide that has been described as one of the most horrific scenes
in Lee County history, even though the case has been investigated by
law enforcement and closed by a grand jury.

On March 26, 2004, Jason Barr, 25, Daniel Foster, 23, and
William "Scooter" Stephens, 19, were killed, shot with a high
powered rifle as they rode ATVs on the 50-acre farm-estate of
Bernard (Bernie) Vaughan. Two days later Vaughan, 69, was dead, from
a self-inflicted gunshot wound. After a lengthy investigation by the
Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the case was presented to a grand jury
in December 2004. That jury returned no bills in the case, ruling
that Vaughan was likely the killer.

Now, more than two years after the murders, stories called "A search
for the truth" posted on the Internet site
http://localnews.yourdesign2.com/ is calling the investigation into
question and asking for the case to be reopened. Stories on the site
by an investigator named Artie Wallace question not only the
findings of the grand jury but allege that Sheriff Jay Jones and
District Attorney Nick Abbett were behind a coverup in the case.

Jones dismissed the claims.

"I’m a bit hesitant to address the issue, because you don’t want to
give something that has so much misinformation much credibility,"
Jones said. "But with this effort out there to bring attention to
it, I feel I almost have to. A lot of what is written there - well
there’s no other way to say it - is just wrong.

"I’m a public official and a certain amount of criticism comes with
the job, but to have this turn into personal attacks, with things out there that are just not true, is a bit over the top."
Wallace’s accounts and claims are based on documents that have been
provided to him by Debbi Foster-Murphy, Daniel Foster’s mother. He
said he has tried to talk with Abbett and Jones but that his calls
and a registered letter requesting information have been ignored.

"There’s nothing to discuss," Abbett said. "We presented it to a
grand jury and they found that Vaughan likely killed the young men
and then killed himself. What more is there to do?"

Even though seven form letters have been received by the Opelika
Auburn News calling for the investigation to be reopened, the family
members of at least two of the victims say they don’t feel the same
way.

"Nothing that anyone says or can do will bring our son back, and
that’s the one thing we all want," said Rick Foster, Daniel’s
father. "So no, I do not want this case reopened."

Earl Barr, Jason’s father, said he was satisfied with the findings.
"A lot of that stuff that’s out there on the Internet, it’s just not
right," Barr said. "The only thing I’m upset about is that we never
did really know what happened at the grand jury and I’ve since found
out that those are sealed. I believe that Mr. Vaughan did it. I
don’t think there was anyone else involved and I think there is
nothing to gain by bringing it all up now.

"I miss my son. I loved him very much. He was a good kid who tried\
to do what was right. But all this, making up stuff that just isn’t
true, isn’t going to do anyone any good."

Attempts to reach Murphy were unsuccessful. The Opelika-Auburn News
examined more than 400 pages of documents for this story, and found
the evidence to support the findings - Vaughan was upset that the
boys were riding on his property, told others before that day that
he was mad about it, found them there on March 26, killed them and
then later killed himself.

But the form letters sent to the paper, as well as to Abbett and
Jones, make allegations that range from Vaughan being active in
Jones’ campaigns to others being involved in the killings.

The letters allege that "the only witness saw a man in his 30s with
long hair, yet the person who was said to have committed the murders
(Mr. Vaughan) is a local man, was about 69 at the time of his so
called suicide. ... Note: The only witness was never permitted to
speak in court, or provide his statement to the grand jury."

Abbett disputed both of those claims. Jason Barr’s younger brother,
Russell McCullars, did witness someone standing over the victims
from a distance and gave a statement to police.

The statement said that McCullars was "a football field and a half"
away when he saw a white man "maybe 6 feet or below," who was "maybe
in his 30s." The statement says McCullars said he was so far away he
couldn’t tell if the man was wearing a hat or not but that he was
standing over the victims with a gun.

"That’s a long way away. It’s hard to tell much about age or
features from that distance," Abbett said. "We didn’t call on him to
testify because we didn’t want to put him through that. The grand
jury had access to his complete statement, every word."

Russell’s mother Wanda, also the mother of Jason Barr, said that
they didn’t want to put their son back through the memory of that
day.

"We didn’t want him to have to testify for the grand jury," Wanda
McCullars said. "He didn’t want to talk about it. He’s still
bothered by it and rarely talks about it at all. That’s a lot to
deal with, to see something like that.

"As far as people trying to stir this up like it was a coverup or
something, I don’t want my son’s name associated with that. Jason
wouldn’t have wanted it either. Sheriff Jones and the department did
a good job and we’re convinced Vaughan did it. I just hate that
someone is putting all this stuff out there. Looking back, Russell
is convinced Vaughan did it. He may have been wrong about the age,
but from that distance you can’t tell. I’ve been out there, you
can’t make out features. He had the clothes right."

The Web site suggests that maybe Vaughan was also a victim. The site
asks "Was Bernard the one who really shot the boys? If so, was his
death really a suicide, or was it a coverup for something else? If
not, who really shot the boys and what are the facts surrounding
Bernard? And if not, was Bernard a victim just like the boys?"

Wallace takes issue with the autopsy report for Vaughan.
The written portion of the report shows that Vaughan apparently shot
himself under the chin once and when that didn’t provide a fatal
wound, he shot himself again in the left temple, with the bullet
exiting on the right. Wallace contends that the drawing shows the
bullet going in the opposite direction, from right to left. It shows
a 1.3 centimeter wound on the left temple and a 0.8 centimeter wound
on the right side of Vaughan’s head as the exit wound. Wallace said
the larger wound is the exit wound, which would suggest a right-to
left shot.

"It is very unlikely that anyone could have not only survived the
first wound, but also had the ability to shoot themselves a second
time," Wallace wrote.

"If this is wrong, then they should have at least corrected,"
Wallace said when reached by telephone. "It says one thing one place
and the drawing shows something else."

Abbett said the drawing supports the written portion.

"He must be basing that on the fact that the entrance wound is
larger than the exit wound," Abbett said. "That’s not uncommon. With
a steel-cased bullet, with an impact wound with all the hot gases
that come with a gun being fired like that, it’s common for the
entrance wound to be larger. It’s not inconsistent, it says right
there in the text and in the drawing."

Jones said there was nothing to suggest anything other than a
suicide in Vaughan’s death, pointing out that there was even a
suicide note left in his own handwriting.

"What we found were wounds that were consistent with suicide," Jones
said.

The letters requesting the case be reopened claim that Vaughan has
problems with his alibi and that his health and age made it "almost
impossible for him to have committed the murders."

Vaughan was disabled in that he had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
not a physical ailment. Forensic scientists who worked the case said
they found no physical ailments when they examined Vaughan, who was
a Vietnam veteran who collected guns and was trained while in the
military.

"I can’t even begin to understand the pain associated with losing a
loved one in such a violent manner," Jones said. "I know they are
hurting, but we have nothing to gain by covering anything up. Our
job, like the site says, is to find the facts or the truth. We feel
like we did that without a doubt in this case."

Wallace insists the case needs a closer look.

"We as a group feel there was a lot of facts that were never looked
at in this case and the officials failed to reply and prove our
feelings wrong when we asked for their involvement," Wallace wrote
in an e-mail response to questions. "Our goal is to have one out of
two things done. First being make all records of the grand jury case
available to me and the families, or two have the case re
investigated by an outside party. If we are wrong in our feelings on
this case, there is nothing to be lost by making everything
available for us to review. It may in fact clear up any
misunderstandings on the part of any onlookers of this case."

After you compare these two articles written and published by the
same newspaper the first being published on March 29, 2004, the
second being published October 13, 2006 you can see for yourselves
the changes in not only the comments and statements, but also the
tone of these statements and comments. I ask every one of you "How
can these articles change so dramatically when they include the same
individuals involved ?" "What do you the readers think is the reason
behind this, what are your opinions on this?"

By Cindy

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm

A Search for the Truth (part 26)

A new beginning………

I felt that the top line was the only way to start this week’s
update. Cause this article has gotten what I can only describe as “a
new beginning this week”’

We have had people coming forward that has never spoke up before,
those helping unite in ways that they never have in the past and
people taking a stand and action like I have not seen in my 6 months
of working on this article.

I had a layout planed for the 26th weekly update being that it is
officially the 6-month anniversary of this article, but with
personal issues taking me away from things for a few days the
article kid of took on a new beginning and this is the most
appropriate time I can see to acknowledge it.

Debbi and I would like everyone for their efforts and teamwork. We
look forward to seeing this teamwork continue as we get closer to
our day of victory.

We would not have made it this far if it was not for each and every
one of you.

We have a few topics to cover this week. We will be putting the
focus on other cases by the Lee County Sheriff’s Dept and take a
look at how they were handled as opposed to this case. We will also
take a deeper look into some of the issues involving this case.

So please read closely and follow along. I think you’ll find this to
be an interesting update.

One of our readers found some interesting information. It seams that
a woman supposedly saw the longhaired blond man, wearing the
blue /white striped shirt. This was on 166, right down the road from
Lee Road 401 where the murders took place.

The reader who found this information found some additional
information as well.
This information is not directly related to the case at hand, but
does reflect on the Sheriff’s Dept that we are questioning as well
as officials surrounding the area.
=================================================

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
AID=200660526004
November 7, 2006
Former Opelika policeman indicted in sex abuse caseOPELIKA, Ala.
(AP) -- Former Opelika police officer Keith Preer has been indicted
and arrested on two counts of sexual abuse, second-degree. Preer was
also the head D.A.R.E. officer for Opelika City Schools.

According to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, Preer turned himself in
around 5 p.m. yesterday. He has since been released on a four-
thousand dollar bond.

Preer was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month. He had
resigned from the police department November 28th following his
arrest on November 16th.

Auburn police said a complaint was filed against Preer, a nine-year
veteran, in the summer of 2005.

Lee County District Attorney Nick Abbett said under Alabama law,
second-degree sexual abuse is a Class A misdemeanor that involves a
victim older than 12 years-old and younger than 16.

--------------------------------
WAKA-CBS MONTGOMERY-SELMA, AL
DEC 6 2005
THE ALABAMA ETHICS COMMISSION WILL HOLD A HEARING ON WHETHER STATE
SENATOR HANK SANDERS OF SELMA STEERED STATE MONEY TO GROUPS RUN BY
FAMILY MEMBERS.
----------------------------------

http://www.lwval.org/auburn/index.html
League of Women Voters of Alabama
This site has intresting contact information for all local officials.
I would like to know if our readers think it would be worth e
mailing all these people or it would be a waste of our time.
-------------------------------------

January 17, 2006
Chris Sweigart and William White / Staff writers

Lee sheriff's deputies assisting in hunt for Russell jail escapees

(Note that They had 35 law enforcement agencies looking for these
people...but not the killer of your boys)

Lee County law enforcement officials have joined Russell County
sheriff’s deputies, Phenix City police and officers from both
Alabama and Georgia in the hunt for two jail escapees accused of
murder.
Investigators from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are assisting
Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell with a multi-agency task force
formed to help recapture the two, who escaped from the Russell
County Jail early Saturday.
The task force is made up of about 35 law enforcement agents from
surrounding departments, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the
U.S. Marshal’s Service.
“We have two of our investigative personnel assigned to the task
force,” said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones on Monday.
“As far as I know, they called for assistance from surrounding
regional agencies,” Jones said. “Of course, at Sheriff Boswell’s
request we are glad to do anything to help out.”
Seventeen-year-old Johnny Earl Jones and 19-year-old Lamar Elan
Benton, along with 33-year-old Brent Edward Martin, escaped just
after midnight Saturday morning.
Authorities say the three men beat one correctional officer and
stabbed another 15 times before jumping the jail’s fence. Both
officers are now recovering at home, officials said.
Martin, who is accused of shooting two men in the head in September,
was caught within hours of his escape.
As of presstime Monday, however, both Jones and Benton remained on
the loose. Both escapees are considered armed and dangerous.
Jones is charged in the June 2005 beating death of 2-year-old
Destiny Ward, whom he was baby-sitting.
Benton is accused in the February 2005 rape and murder of Cynthia
Thomas, a mother of three.
“We’re doing everything that we can do to locate them and get them
back into custody,” Boswell said Monday afternoon. “(We’ll) be
continuing the search until we have these individuals back in
custody.”
On Monday, the search took deputies and officers to a number of
locations including the Frederick Douglas apartment complex in
Phenix City.
“We feel like there’s a good possibility that they’re still in the
area,” Boswell said.
Jones said that as a general rule, the odds are good for
apprehending and returning escapees.
----------------------------------
(This took place right down the road from where the boys were
murdered)

BEAUREGARD -- An Opelika man apparently high on cocaine died after
snatching a female deputy out of her cruiser, leading authorities on
a high-speed chase, beating another deputy over the head with a
nightstick and running into the woods.
Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said James Keith Cannon, 34, died of
a probable cocaine-induced heart attack? After the violent
altercations on Lee Roads 401 and 166.
Three sheriff’s deputies were injured while trying to subdue Cannon,
according to the sheriff’s office.
Cannon, 34, of 261 Lee Road 632 in Opelika, was finally restrained
by sheriff’s deputies on Lee Road 166 about a mile south of Mike’s
Gas and Grocery store. A short time after he was taken from the
woods, Cannon stopped breathing, according to Lee County Sheriff Jay
Jones. Deputies immediately responded with CPR, Jones said.
Emergency medical technicians arrived on the scene and continued
CPR. Cannon was taken to East Alabama Medical Center, where
treatment continued. Cannon was pronounced dead at 10:24 a.m. at
EAMC, Harris said.
Cannon’s body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensics
Sciences? Lab in Montgomery for autopsy.
The bizarre morning began at about 9 a.m. when the sheriff’s office
received a report of a suspicious person near a residence on Lee
Road 401, according to Jones. Before deputies arrived, the suspect
reportedly attempted to take a pickup truck, but was unable to
overtake the driver of the vehicle and was thrown to the ground.
Deputy Sheriff Jessica Daley, a two-year veteran with the office,
arrived on the scene and an altercation ensued when she encountered
Cannon, Jones said. Cannon overpowered Daley and made off in her
patrol car, Jones added. A second car already responding to the
scene was soon chasing Cannon in the stolen cruiser down Lee Road
401, which merged with 166. That’s where Cannon struck a car that
was trying to avoid him, crashed through several mailboxes and came
to a stop in a ditch. The elderly driver and passenger of the car
Cannon struck were not injured, according to Capt. Van Jackson of
the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Jessie Moore, who lives nearby and was near the scene, was startled
by what he heard.
I was out there putting a water pump on my daughter’s car, then I
heard it Boom! He said of Cannon’s alleged accident. I saw him
walking up and down the road. He kept saying? Don’t kill me! Don’t
kill me! I didn’t know why he would say that. I didn’t see anybody
else. Then I saw all the sheriffs (deputies) coming.
A bloody fight soon followed.
According to Jones, Cannon fled on foot, with deputies giving chase.
Four officers scuffled with Cannon before getting him under control.
During the struggle, Cannon struck Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Scivicque
with a nightstick taken from one of the officers, according to
Jones.
There was a very violent struggle and it took four of our people to
get him under control, Jones said.
Scivicque, who has been with the sheriff’s office for a year,
received severe cuts on his head and was treated with stitches.
Jones said Daley suffered what is believed to be a broken thumb and
several lacerations. Investigator Ray Smith, who has been with the
office for 2½ years, experienced facial numbness and was examined at
the hospital. All three were treated and released, Jones said.
We have been in contact with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation
and they are on their way, Jones said. ? We’ll turn what we have
over to them. Any time we have law enforcement personnel involved i
a death like this, we ask an independent agency to handle the
investigation.
Cannon, a heavy machine operator, contacted his employer, D&J
Enterprises Inc., Friday morning, alerting them to when he may
arrive for work. A co-worker as a well-liked individual described
cannon.
By 9:45 a.m., roughly 15 to 20 sheriff’s deputies? Vehicles had
already responded to the scene, setting up roadblocks on either side
to block traffic. Some motorists were left frustrated when they were
asked to either sit tight or find alternate routes to their
destinations.
What happened?? One woman asked.
Then she blurted in frustration, you just don’t want to tell me, do
you??
Beauregard High student Rex Newman, who spent much of Friday morning
enduring workouts at the school, patiently waited near the parking
lot of Mike’s Gas and Grocery. He lived near the scene, but sat on
the hood of his car and wondered what was going on in front of his
house. He couldn’t head home to find out.
I asked if I could walk home from here, He said. But he (a deputy)
said no. That’s cool, though.
Newman seemed a bit surprised to find a wealth of commotion in front
of his house.
We don’t see too much out here, he said. It’s usually quiet. There’s
not much happening.
Jones thanked the Opelika Police Department for assisting in the
incident, handling traffic and getting involved in the pursuit.

What does all this mean to us?

In the words of the reader who found it, “I found these for you real
quick, read about the "apparent" cocaine over dose and about the cop
down. You will love how they call out the National Guard.... almost,
for themselves...but not for Daniel and his friends.”

My views on this is that the Lee County Sheriff’s dept. know when
they need help, they know how to get things done, they know what to
do.

Why didn’t they get the help in the case of these boys, why didn’t
they do what they should have done in the investigation of these
boys murders and why has Jones had so little to say about what was
considered the “most horrific case in the history of Lee County”
when he had no problem speaking up on these other cases?

It seams that each answer we come across brings up two more
questions.

These are only a few samples. As previously stated Jones has a very
good history on paper, why take a chance now on letting it get
destroyed by being silent?

We need to start taking some additional looks at the
first “official” person on the scene at both the boy’s murders and
Vaughan’s “suicide”.

That’s right. Ralph Hall!

This man is a volunteer and donates his time to help, so he would
have you believe.

Lets now look at the facts.

Hall is out of work on disability in part due to the headaches he
was having that prevented him form performing his duties at work.

These debilitating conditions apparently only applied to a work
setting. I say this because he has a history (which has been
verified in this case) of being able to deal with the flashing
lights and sirens on his truck. If this man has this condition, he
should not be racing around to crime scenes and playing with his
pretty flashing lights and sirens. Anyone with a history of
migraines will tell you that if your condition is bad enough to
prevent you from working, the lights and noise will also trigger it.

Hall also equipped his truck with the lights and sirens shortly
before the murders of these 3 boys. This is not an expense that you
go through on a truck you are not planning to keep. I know because
my truck was equipped with all this due to my wok with the NYPD in
the past, and I know the cost involved.

Yet shortly after the boys murders, Hall got a new truck. Though I
do not live off disability, I do know that they do not pay enough to
through good money away.

This raises the following questions in my eye:

Why was Hall the first “official” person on both scenes?

What did Hall know/see that we didn’t hear about?

Why did Hall put this money into his old truck if he was going to replace it?

Where did the money come from to buy this new truck?

Was Hall involved in something that we do not know about or did he just step into this money and decide to invest it in a vehicle?

Was Hall involved in the murders of the boys and Vaughan or was it a
coincidence that he was the first on both scenes?

If Hall had this debilitating condition, why would the Lee County
Sheriff’s Department approve him for his position as a volunteer of
this nature?

If Hall’s condition did not allow him to work, it should have
prevented him from his duties with the fire dept and sheriff’s
dept., is he defrauding the government and disability, if so
shouldn’t his creditability have been questioned in this case? After
all, if he is in fact lying to the government and disability, how do
we know he is not covering up anything in this case?

Please be aware that it has not been proven that Hall has in fact
defrauded anyone as of yet, this is based on information provided by
locals that worked with Hall and others who know him from the
community.

However if it is ever proven that Hall does have this condition, is
declared disabled due to the migraines and is/has been performing
duties that are contradicting his disabilities as well as came up
with funds for a new truck that are un accountable for, this would
create some major issues in this case.

Do you the readers feel this is a topic for discussion as a group,
the Lee County Sheriff’s Dept, the IRS or the Alabama Dept of
Disability?

Please provide you’re input, we need to look into this as a group
and follow up on it as one too.

Researchers name with held at at her request and will not appear in any published material provided by this reader.

Written by A. Wallace

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm

A Search for the Truth (part 25)

We had a very interesting week.

Sunday nights chat was small but had the right people in it. We had
at least 1 family member for each of the boys there. It was the
first time we heard from some of these people.

Their views are not exactly like ours. But there was not made about
Russell being scared as well as other questions raised.

I proposed to set up a chat room just for the family and have not
heard back from anyone but Debbi on this as of yet. I hope to hear
from them all, it would be a big help to have them adding their
input.

In the chat it became apparent that Debbi is the only one that
actually went in and read through the files on the case (the ones
she could get access to). The other family members said they would
go in and request to see the files as well. We have not heard if
they did or the results yet. I am very interested in if they do go
read them and what they find. I would really like to see the other
family members point of view. But without them taking the time to
read through everything in the records of the case, I feel their
input it of little use. It is my feelings that they are only comment
on what they want to think and not looking at everything or
verifying any facts.

One thing I will say to the families. You are all welcome to post
here. But unless you are willing to take the time and look into the
murder of your own children and see what the actual files say, I
think your comments are pointless. You’re not commenting on anything
that is documented, you’re only commenting on what you chose to
believe. This is not creating a factual comment, it is creating
additional myth. If our facts are in fact wrong and Debbi and/or I
are making this out to be more then we should, by all means read
through the files and show us what we missed. We can use your help
and another set of eyes. We are human and can make mistakes, but
those mistakes can only be corrected by someone that has reviewed
the same documents that we are commenting on.

Besides this is your children, I can’t understand for the life in me
why 2 ½ years later you have not read the files and checked the
facts, but are willing to say that Debbi is wrong. Debbi’s point of
view should have given you more reason then anything else to review
the files.

I was questioned about the facts on the bullet used in Vaughan’s
suicide during our chat. If anyone (family member or not) can give
me a better source to verify the availability of the shell of the
bullet then the manufacture, please do. I know that when I design a
site I know what is in it, I trust that Winchester knows what shells
they make with their name on them. Their word would be good enough
for me as well as any court of law.

I will not drag out the points about the chat. We made a start by
all getting together, now let work together a little and get some
facts.

Last week I asked our readers to do their own searches on the
following:
“Sheriff Jay Jones”
“Jay Jones Alabama”
“Abbett Alabama”
“DA Abbett Alabama”

I have gotten a lot of feedback on this.

Everyone says that they cannot find anything bad on Abbett and/or
Jones. I expected this.

One reader did a little more digging and found that Jones has
friends in same very high positions. This could explain why he feels
he has no need to speak up to us. He may feel he is untouchable and
that we are beneath him. He may even have Abbett in his pocket for
all we know.

The fact remains that the background on public records about these
two men is nothing but good. This raises more questions to me.

If I had a spotless background like these men do, I would not allow
a group such as ours to form and take a chance on them hurting my
reputation. I would be speaking up and addressing what issues I
needed to in order to keep my record clean.

These men are gambling on one of two things. Us not being able to
touch their spotless record or having more damage done if they were
to come forward and speak to us.

I can’t speak for them as to which it is, but I do have an opinion
on it. I would like to know yours.

As many of you know, I will be in for an operation on Friday. We
need your help now more then ever.

We ask everyone to post TheWeeklyNews.info everywhere they can along
with info on this article. I will not be able to maintain the search
engine status for a few weeks, so this will be important.

Keep getting us out there and keep pulling in more readers.

Post on every blog, message board, mailing list, hell write it on
the bathroom wall it you think someone might join us after reading
it. What ever it takes, I need the help of each and every reader
now. Getting us noticed takes a lot of work and sitting. I will have
neither luxury for a few weeks.

I worked over 6 months on this case, I need you to work a few weeks
and help out.

Show us that we are reaching people. When I am back in full force,
it would mean so much to type “A Search for the Truth” in a search
engine and see a list come up that I had nothing to do with.

Have I worked on all this in vain or did I make a difference by
working on this? The next few weeks will answer this question.

I will be having more posted under the comments section, so please
read through the comments throughout the week. For now, I think I
have given the readers a lot to think about.

While I am recovering from the operation, the article will be
maintained and updated weekly. So please keep up on things and show
me my work was not for nothing.

Have a great week everyone and I will be seeing you all in a few
weeks.

Artie

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm