Thank you for visiting From the Notebook of a Homicide Detective.
On January 6, 2010, my new Web page, The Spingola Files, was completed.
To view all future posts, please visit www.badgerwordsmith.com Then click the large "Spingola Files" button on the bottom left hand corner of the page.
See you on the other side.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Pieces of the Puzzle?
Since the last blog post, Altoona Tangled Web of Murder, a handful of readers brought forward some interesting thoughts regarding the ongoing investigation into the homicide of Theresa Still. Without having access to the case file, all I can do is speculate by reading between the lines of the media reports. From experience, however, four key points are sure to be addressed.
Establishing an investigative timeline is critical. Statements, video surveillance, credit card and/or ATM activity, as well as telephone records, often shed light on the activities of both the victim and the suspect.
Next, investigators will sift through mounds of evidence found at the various scenes: Theresa Still's residence, the parking lot of the Super Target, any vehicles, and the parcel of land in Adams County.
While police are keeping their cards close to the vest, news reports list the cause of death as "complex homicidal violence." This is, of course, terminology purposely used to restrict details of the crime from the public. As a rule, law enforcement releases limited amounts of information to protect the integrity of an investigation. The Dane County Coroner used a strikingly similar phrase -- "complexity of traumatic injuries" -- as the cause of death in the 2008 slaying of Brittany Zimmerman. Initially, Altoona police said they were "95 percent" sure the body discovered in Adams County was that of Theresa Still. It is possible that she was bludgeoned to death and, as a result, may have suffered significant trauma to her face and head.
In all likelihood, the wooded area or field (depending on the media reports) where the killer disposed of Ms. Still's body may very well produce high-value evidence. The scope of this scene will answer several questions: did the suspect drive the vehicle into the field? Was the body dragged to the dump site? With snow on the ground, how many sets of footprints were present? What caused "the man" to find Still's body in a relatively short period of time?
The information made public seems to suggest the suspect was in a hurry to discard the body and did not pre-select the dump site. He may have traveled to an area he was familiar with -- close enough to return home before someone noted him missing.
The scene at the Super Target hints that the suspect may have had some assistance from another party. Sure, it is entirely possible that the killer drove Still's car to the lot of the Super Target, parked the vehicle, and walked to another location. However, it was cold on December 27, and Still's home is over four miles north of this location. As such, it is not outrageous to suggest that someone may have driven the perpetrator from the area of the Super Target, which is why the store's surveillance video is so valuable.
Absent the relevant information, however, these scenarios are little more than speculation.
On another note, media reports indicate that the public is anxious for an arrest. There is a tremendous amount of information and physical evidence to sort through. Before arresting and interrogating a suspect for any crime, a good detective is armed with as many facts as possible. My guess is the Altoona police are monitoring the person of interest's movements.
--------------------------------------------------
For those who've inquired, the Spingola Files Web page is almost complete. Some of the resources needed to develop this site will come from readers willing to purchase a Spingola Files t-shirt, a coffee mug, and, down the road, my new book. You can pre-order the t-shirts by contacting livia@badgerwordsmith.com.
Otherwise, please visit http://www.badgerwordsmith.com/
Click the "BWS Books" icon and checkout the e-magazine article I authored at Amazon.com.
______________________________________
Steven Spingola is a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of "The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler."
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2010
Establishing an investigative timeline is critical. Statements, video surveillance, credit card and/or ATM activity, as well as telephone records, often shed light on the activities of both the victim and the suspect.
Next, investigators will sift through mounds of evidence found at the various scenes: Theresa Still's residence, the parking lot of the Super Target, any vehicles, and the parcel of land in Adams County.
While police are keeping their cards close to the vest, news reports list the cause of death as "complex homicidal violence." This is, of course, terminology purposely used to restrict details of the crime from the public. As a rule, law enforcement releases limited amounts of information to protect the integrity of an investigation. The Dane County Coroner used a strikingly similar phrase -- "complexity of traumatic injuries" -- as the cause of death in the 2008 slaying of Brittany Zimmerman. Initially, Altoona police said they were "95 percent" sure the body discovered in Adams County was that of Theresa Still. It is possible that she was bludgeoned to death and, as a result, may have suffered significant trauma to her face and head.
In all likelihood, the wooded area or field (depending on the media reports) where the killer disposed of Ms. Still's body may very well produce high-value evidence. The scope of this scene will answer several questions: did the suspect drive the vehicle into the field? Was the body dragged to the dump site? With snow on the ground, how many sets of footprints were present? What caused "the man" to find Still's body in a relatively short period of time?
The information made public seems to suggest the suspect was in a hurry to discard the body and did not pre-select the dump site. He may have traveled to an area he was familiar with -- close enough to return home before someone noted him missing.
The scene at the Super Target hints that the suspect may have had some assistance from another party. Sure, it is entirely possible that the killer drove Still's car to the lot of the Super Target, parked the vehicle, and walked to another location. However, it was cold on December 27, and Still's home is over four miles north of this location. As such, it is not outrageous to suggest that someone may have driven the perpetrator from the area of the Super Target, which is why the store's surveillance video is so valuable.
Absent the relevant information, however, these scenarios are little more than speculation.
On another note, media reports indicate that the public is anxious for an arrest. There is a tremendous amount of information and physical evidence to sort through. Before arresting and interrogating a suspect for any crime, a good detective is armed with as many facts as possible. My guess is the Altoona police are monitoring the person of interest's movements.
--------------------------------------------------
For those who've inquired, the Spingola Files Web page is almost complete. Some of the resources needed to develop this site will come from readers willing to purchase a Spingola Files t-shirt, a coffee mug, and, down the road, my new book. You can pre-order the t-shirts by contacting livia@badgerwordsmith.com.
Otherwise, please visit http://www.badgerwordsmith.com/
Click the "BWS Books" icon and checkout the e-magazine article I authored at Amazon.com.
______________________________________
Steven Spingola is a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of "The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler."
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Altoona Tangled Web of Murder
Since its inception, the content of this blog has focused exclusively on cold case homicides. Highlighting unsolved cases brings the memories of the victims to the forefront and may also cause reluctant witnesses to come forward with new information.
This post, however, deals with a current investigation -- a case that, besides the typical media reports, I admittedly, firsthand, no little about.
Located to the east of Eau Clarie, Wisconsin, police in Altoona (population 6,793) are in the midst of a death investigation that points to a probable homicide. Theresa Still, 43, was last seen alive on December 27 at the 400 Club -- a tavern located less than a half-a-mile north of Still's home.
Eau Claire police later discovered Still's car locked and abandoned at the Super Target, located at 3649 S. Hastings Way, about four miles south of the tavern. The store is just to the north of Highway 53, a busy thoroughfare and a gateway to the interstate.
With the cooperation of citizens, law enforcement organized search parties. Police, however, later discovered a body believed to be Still's over 100 miles away in a rural field in Adams County. Investigators conveyed the body to Madison for an autopsy.
The bartender at the 400 Club, Val Lanners, is the last known person to have observed Theresa Still alive. Lanners told an Eau Claire television station that Still -- a tavern regular -- had ordered a beer and played a video game prior to leaving the tavern alone. Lanners believed the usually outgoing woman wasn't her typical self. Another witness told investigators that Still wasn't looking forward to returning home that evening.
Still resides with her live-in boyfriend, identified by WQOW in Eau Clarie as Greg Gebernot, who told investigators that he last saw Still on December 27 between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Still and Gebernot resided together for three years. The court docket strongly suggests that their relationship wasn't exactly a bed of roses.
Gebernot pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from an August 2007 incident where it's alleged he punched Still in the face. Three months after pleading guilty and receiving probation, police again arrested Gebernot for striking Still. This time Still alleged that Gebernot also choked her -- a layman's term frequently used to describe strangulation.
Still then filed for a restraining order and wrote: "We were out together and he was acting jealous. When I got home, I went upstairs to find a hole in the ceiling. I told him that we were done and that I couldn't continue to live this way. He said if he couldn't have me, no one will. He hit me over the head with a vase and choked me. I yelled and my daughter jumped on his back and he threw her off. She then called 911."
Court documents indicate that Still needed sutures for cuts to her head and possibly broke her wrist. A judge found Gebernot guilty of battery. He performed community service in lieu of a jail sentence. Records show a judge later tossed-out the restraining order request when both parties failed to appear for a hearing.
Some readers may ask why Theresa Still continued to permit her abuser to reside with her. Unfortunately, economics often times plays a role in domestic relationships. I'm speculating that Still may have, at some point, relied on Gubernot to pick-up some of the household's bills. Court records further show that Theresa Still recently defaulted on her mortgage. Not only was Still living with a physically abusive boyfriend, she was also experiencing a tremendous amount of financial stress.
According to WQOW, police are not officially calling Still's boyfriend a suspect. Authorities claim Gubernot is cooperating with the investigation. He told investigators that his live-in girlfriend decided to visit an Indian casino in the center of the state. Friends of Still's doubt Gubernot's claim. They say the woman was typically in bed early on work nights.
So where does this lead investigators?
The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reported that "a man" called the Adams County Sheriff's Department at 11:28 a.m. on December 30 to report the discovery of a body. The sheriff's office declined to provide the precise location, although the sheriff described the investigation as "fast-paced" and "ongoing." Investigators are further checking claims that Greg Gubernot either owns or had owned land in Adams County.
In an effort to establish a solid timeline, an important piece of evidence will likely be the video from the Super Target parking lot. In an effort to reduce and discourage theft, large retail outlets generally have very good surveillance equipment.
Furthermore, since the killer transported Still's body, the vehicle used is also key. WQOW just reported that police seized Greg Gubernot's pick-up truck. Forensic investigators will comb the bed and interior of the truck, as well as the vehicle's tires. Even if an effort was made to clean the bed, technological advances in DNA recovery and testing may produce evidence. Moreover, debris found on the tires and the truck's undercarriage will be checked for particles consistent with the area where the body was located.
While news reports failed to mention cellular phones, like most Americans, Still and Gubernot may own and carry these devices. If the data exists, investigators are likely readying subpoenas to obtain this valuable information.
For updates, visit the Eau Claire Leader Telegram's Web site.
And don't forget to check for my Web page, The Spingola Files, that's coming soon. Visit http://www.badgerwordsmith.com/ for updates.
__________________________________________
Steven Spingola is a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler.
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2010
This post, however, deals with a current investigation -- a case that, besides the typical media reports, I admittedly, firsthand, no little about.
Located to the east of Eau Clarie, Wisconsin, police in Altoona (population 6,793) are in the midst of a death investigation that points to a probable homicide. Theresa Still, 43, was last seen alive on December 27 at the 400 Club -- a tavern located less than a half-a-mile north of Still's home.
Eau Claire police later discovered Still's car locked and abandoned at the Super Target, located at 3649 S. Hastings Way, about four miles south of the tavern. The store is just to the north of Highway 53, a busy thoroughfare and a gateway to the interstate.
With the cooperation of citizens, law enforcement organized search parties. Police, however, later discovered a body believed to be Still's over 100 miles away in a rural field in Adams County. Investigators conveyed the body to Madison for an autopsy.
The bartender at the 400 Club, Val Lanners, is the last known person to have observed Theresa Still alive. Lanners told an Eau Claire television station that Still -- a tavern regular -- had ordered a beer and played a video game prior to leaving the tavern alone. Lanners believed the usually outgoing woman wasn't her typical self. Another witness told investigators that Still wasn't looking forward to returning home that evening.
Still resides with her live-in boyfriend, identified by WQOW in Eau Clarie as Greg Gebernot, who told investigators that he last saw Still on December 27 between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Still and Gebernot resided together for three years. The court docket strongly suggests that their relationship wasn't exactly a bed of roses.
Gebernot pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from an August 2007 incident where it's alleged he punched Still in the face. Three months after pleading guilty and receiving probation, police again arrested Gebernot for striking Still. This time Still alleged that Gebernot also choked her -- a layman's term frequently used to describe strangulation.
Still then filed for a restraining order and wrote: "We were out together and he was acting jealous. When I got home, I went upstairs to find a hole in the ceiling. I told him that we were done and that I couldn't continue to live this way. He said if he couldn't have me, no one will. He hit me over the head with a vase and choked me. I yelled and my daughter jumped on his back and he threw her off. She then called 911."
Court documents indicate that Still needed sutures for cuts to her head and possibly broke her wrist. A judge found Gebernot guilty of battery. He performed community service in lieu of a jail sentence. Records show a judge later tossed-out the restraining order request when both parties failed to appear for a hearing.
Some readers may ask why Theresa Still continued to permit her abuser to reside with her. Unfortunately, economics often times plays a role in domestic relationships. I'm speculating that Still may have, at some point, relied on Gubernot to pick-up some of the household's bills. Court records further show that Theresa Still recently defaulted on her mortgage. Not only was Still living with a physically abusive boyfriend, she was also experiencing a tremendous amount of financial stress.
According to WQOW, police are not officially calling Still's boyfriend a suspect. Authorities claim Gubernot is cooperating with the investigation. He told investigators that his live-in girlfriend decided to visit an Indian casino in the center of the state. Friends of Still's doubt Gubernot's claim. They say the woman was typically in bed early on work nights.
So where does this lead investigators?
The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reported that "a man" called the Adams County Sheriff's Department at 11:28 a.m. on December 30 to report the discovery of a body. The sheriff's office declined to provide the precise location, although the sheriff described the investigation as "fast-paced" and "ongoing." Investigators are further checking claims that Greg Gubernot either owns or had owned land in Adams County.
In an effort to establish a solid timeline, an important piece of evidence will likely be the video from the Super Target parking lot. In an effort to reduce and discourage theft, large retail outlets generally have very good surveillance equipment.
Furthermore, since the killer transported Still's body, the vehicle used is also key. WQOW just reported that police seized Greg Gubernot's pick-up truck. Forensic investigators will comb the bed and interior of the truck, as well as the vehicle's tires. Even if an effort was made to clean the bed, technological advances in DNA recovery and testing may produce evidence. Moreover, debris found on the tires and the truck's undercarriage will be checked for particles consistent with the area where the body was located.
While news reports failed to mention cellular phones, like most Americans, Still and Gubernot may own and carry these devices. If the data exists, investigators are likely readying subpoenas to obtain this valuable information.
For updates, visit the Eau Claire Leader Telegram's Web site.
And don't forget to check for my Web page, The Spingola Files, that's coming soon. Visit http://www.badgerwordsmith.com/ for updates.
__________________________________________
Steven Spingola is a retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler.
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Web Page Coming Soon!
For those of you who've visited this blog, thank you for viewing From the Notebook of a Homicide Detective. In an effort to improve the presentation and provide more in-depth coverage of interesting criminal cases, I will soon publish The Spingola Files.
Publishing a blog is time consuming, especially when it entails contacting sources and conducting research. To off-set the costs associated with filing open records requests, making photo copies, and traveling to other venues, various items will eventually be sold from the Web page, including Spingola Files t-shirts, coffee mugs, and, hopefully in the not too distant future, my new book.
I am also on the lookout for possible advertisers for the new Web page. Those willing to get in on the ground floor will receive a significant discount. For more information regarding advertising with The Spingola Files or pre-ordering t-shirts/coffee mugs, please send an e-mail to livia@badgerwordsmith.com.
Publishing a blog is time consuming, especially when it entails contacting sources and conducting research. To off-set the costs associated with filing open records requests, making photo copies, and traveling to other venues, various items will eventually be sold from the Web page, including Spingola Files t-shirts, coffee mugs, and, hopefully in the not too distant future, my new book.
I am also on the lookout for possible advertisers for the new Web page. Those willing to get in on the ground floor will receive a significant discount. For more information regarding advertising with The Spingola Files or pre-ordering t-shirts/coffee mugs, please send an e-mail to livia@badgerwordsmith.com.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Killers and Campus
To read this article, purchase The Best of the Spingola Files, coming to Amazon.com's Kindle store in January 2012.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Detectives in the Rye--Part IV
To read this article, purchase The Best of the Spingola Files, coming to Amazon.com’s Kindle store in January 2012.
______________________________________
Steven Spingola is a former Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2009
______________________________________
Steven Spingola is a former Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Detectives in the Rye--Part III
To read this article, purchase The Best of the Spingola Files, coming to Amazon.com’s Kindle store in January 2012.
_____________________________________
Steven Spingola is a former Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2009
_____________________________________
Steven Spingola is a former Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective and the author of The Killer in Our Midst: the Case of Milwaukee's North Side Strangler
Copyright, Steven Spingola, Milwaukee, WI 2009
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