BENTONVILLE — Meningitis cited in student’s death
A Northwest Arkansas Community College student died Sunday night after contracting bacterial meningitis, college officials said Monday.
Washington County Coroner Roger Morris confirmed the 18-year-old student was Conner Burchfield of Fayetteville. He said Burchfield died in Springfield, Mo.
The college was contacted Monday by the Benton and Washington county health departments about the case, said Steven Hinds, college public relations director. A news release from the college called it a “meningococcal infection.”
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the student, his family and friends during this difficult time,” said Steven Gates, the college’s provost and senior vice president for learning.
Hinds said Burchfield attended his last class on campus Nov. 8. However, Burchfield was last on campus Nov. 13, Hinds said, when he signed into the Academic Success Computer lab on the Bentonville campus.
The lab was closed for cleaning Monday, Hinds said, adding that students, faculty members and staff members received an e-mail Monday from the college about the situation.
Gary Wheeler, branch chief of infectious disease with the Arkansas Health Department, said Arkansas has had six confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis this year, typical for an average year.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include stiff neck, severe headache and an altered mental state, Wheeler said.
The Arkansas Health Department treats those in close contact after a case of meningitis is confirmed.
- NWA MEDIA
Ex-officer guilty in child-porn case
CARL JUNCTION, Mo.
- A 29-year-old former Carl Junction police officer faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.
The Joplin Globe reported Seth Wilkins entered into a plea deal with prosecutors Monday. He had been facing up to seven years if convicted on the charge.
Wilkins was charged in 2010 after an internal investigation of suspected improper online chats with an underage girl turned up evidence of child pornography on the officer’s personal computer.
The Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force was asked to investigate after several video files of suspected child pornography were found on the computer.
Wilkins later admitted downloading such videos from the Internet since 2004.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoman held in stepdad killing
SHAWNEE, Okla.
- Prosecutors have filed murder charges against a 22-year-old Shawnee man accused of stabbing his stepfather to death.
Prosecutors on Monday charged Joseph Michael Neay with first-degree murder with deliberate intent in the death of 45-year-old Marty Lee Jones.
Police said a postal carrier notified authorities after seeing smoke coming from Jones’ home on Nov. 2. Oncethere, firefighters discovered Jones dead in the kitchen.
According to court records, Neay told police that he confronted Jones because he thought Jones had assaulted his mother.
The News-Star reported that Neay’s mother had filed for an emergency protective order against Jones on Oct. 29.
The medical examiner said Jones died from multiple sharp force injuries.
Neay remained jailed and court records did not list an attorney for him.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Apparent bomb spurs evacuation
HOT SPRINGS - Authorities said the Hot Springs Police Department was evacuated for about two hours after a resident took in a suspected pipe bomb.
Cpl. McCrary Means said a man took the device into the police station on Malvern Avenue shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday. Means told the Sentinel-Record that all police employees were evacuated while the device was left in the front parking lot.
Police said the man found the device near the Historic Downtown Farmers and Artists Market.
Authorities said the device was a 12- to 14-inch piece of copper pipe sealed at both ends with what appeared to be wires attached.
Police said a bomb squad disarmed the device later Monday morning. The device was sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for analysis.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shooting injures 2 toddler siblings
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Mo. - Authorities in southwest Missouri said a domestic dispute led to a shooting that sent two young children to the hospital.
Jasper County sheriff’s Capt. Derek Walrod told The Joplin Globe the pellet wounds suffered by the 2-year-old girl and her 4-yearold brother were not considered life-threatening.
The shooting happened Monday morning in Brooklyn Heights, a village northeast of Joplin.
Walrod said the children’s parents were arguing when a third person became involved. The deputy said the husband and the third party were struggling for control of a shotgun when it discharged.
The wounded children were flown to a hospital in Springfield. The husband and the third person were in custody Monday afternoon, but charges were not immediately filed.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSBlackmailer using video, woman says
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Missouri woman said she is being blackmailed by a California man who is threatening to send a nude webcam video of her to her friends and workplace if she doesn’t pay him $5,000.
The 38-year-old Springfield woman told police she had been recorded as a “full nude web-cam girl” for a singles website. The woman said the website “matched” her, based on personality, with a man Nov. 10.
The Springfield News-Leader reported the woman received e-mails from the San Diego man threatening to release the video unless she paid him. She went to police Friday with e-mails from the man.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 11/21/2012