Saturday, November 17, 2012
5 Arkansans die in 3-vehicle crash
Five people were killed and two were injured in a three-vehicle collision near Bismarck on Thursday, according to a preliminary crash report.
About 7:10 p.m., Brandy Kizziar, 37, of Bismarck, was traveling north on Arkansas 7 about 8 miles north of Bismarck in a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer when she crossed into the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a Chevy truck, the Arkansas State Police report said. Glenda McLemore, 54, of Bismarck, was driving a 2012 Chevy Malibu south on the highway and struck the back of the truck, authorities said.
All three vehicles landed in the southbound lanes, the report said.
Kizziar and Edgar Rocha Martinez, 41, who was driving the Chevy truck, died at the scene, authorities said. Three of the truck’s passengers, Chris Anthony Rocha, 2, Jose Miguel Hernandez, 16, and Eva Figueroa Hernandez, 40, were also killed, according to the report.
McLemore and Anna Marie Rocha, 5, another truck passenger, suffered injuries in the collision, the report said.
3 killings draw
3 life sentences
VERSAILLES, Mo.
KYTV reported that Steven Pyykola, 24, was sentenced Thursday in Morgan County, where the case was moved on a change of venue.
Pyykola was convicted in September for his role in the deaths of Jeffrey and Glenda Smith in Phillipsburg and Zachary Porter of Elkland in October 2009.
Three other men were charged in the deaths.
The Smiths were the parents and Porter was the boyfriend of Miranda Smith, an ex-girlfriend of another defendant, Joshua Reyes.
Reyes and Smith had two children.
Reyes is serving a life sentence. Another defendant, Jacky Wong, will be sentenced in December for second-degree murder.
The fourth defendant, Benjamin Stidham, is awaiting trial.
Fatal stabbing of ex-wife nets life
FORSYTH, Mo. - A southwest Missouri man is going to prison for the rest of his life for killing his ex-wife in a Branson motel room.
Stewart Hopkins, 47, of Stockton was sentenced Thursday in Taney County Circuit Court. Hopkins was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in September after a week-long trial.
Hopkins stabbed Stacy Birmingham, 42, of Omaha, Ark., in the neck as they argued in a room at the Country Bunkhouse Motel in October 2010.
Hopkins was arrested the next day in Tulsa. According to court testimony, he told officers Birmingham had stabbed him first during an argument about child custody.
Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, leaving life without parole as the only possible sentence.
a holiday focus
LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas State Police said it is joining a nationwide program to watch drivers on U.S. highways during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Col. Stan Witt said troopers statewide will be taking part in the national “Click It or Ticket, Day and Night” program from Monday through Nov. 25 that looks for motorists who are not wearing seat belts.
Witt said there will be additional troopers on the roads during the period.
clemency plea
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma’s parole board refused to recommend clemency Friday for a man set to die Dec. 4 for an Oklahoma City doublekilling, despite his lawyers’ claim that the inmate suffers from poor mental health and hallucinations.
The Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 against recommending that Gov.
Mary Fallin reduce George Ochoa’s sentence to life in prison.
Ochoa and another man were convicted in the May 1993 deaths of Francisco Morales and Maria Yanez, who prosecutors said were killed in front of their children.
“We ask the board to temper justice with mercy for Mr. Ochoa,” defense lawyer David Autry said.
Appearing by video feed from the state penitentiary in McAlester, Ochoa told the board he was innocent and that he hoped for clemency.
“I want the opportunity to be a part of my family’s life,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa made vague claims that he had been shocked and suffered injuries during his incarceration, but Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Miller suggested Ochoa’s claims of hallucinations and harm may be an attempt to feign incompetence. Courts prohibit the execution of people who do not understand why they are being punished.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 11/17/2012