WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/03/97

06:00-01

E-Caru-Victims

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-20
GRAPHIC=standoff
****ANCHOR TAG*****
The man who allegedly killed two people is HIMSELF still in the hospital.
Officials say he's alive, but will not release any other information.
Police shot Miguel Ortiz Tuesday night after he allegedly shot Sharon and Deborah Casey AND after an hour and a half standoff turned the gun toward an officer.
Len Bestoff has reaction from family and friends.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05
SUPER=@Len2; :10
SUPER=01-Sean Turner/Victim's Relative; :18
SUPER=01-Lonnie Taylor/Ortiz Co-Worker; :52
SUPER=01-Rodney Otey/Ortiz Co-Worker; 1:02
RUNS=1:19
OUT Q=Len Besthoff
(( Both friends and family speak highly of Sharon Casey and her mother Deborah.
Sharon was well liked at Ameri-Suites, where she was a maid.
The Roanoke Times, where Deborah worked in distribution the past seven years, had similar things to say.
Relatives say Sharon Casey and her mother Deborah were two close and caring people.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:14:45
IN Q=Everybody loved
((SEAN TURNER/VICTIM'S RELATIVE: EVERYBODY LOVED THEM. THEY WERE EASYGOING PEOPLE.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=easygoing people.

Sean Turner believes his relatives' murder could have been prevented, saying Sharon Casey complained more than once to police about her ex- boyfriend, Miguel "Mike" Ortiz.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:14:19
IN Q=I wanna
((TURNER: I WANNA KNOW WHY FRIENDS OF HIS AROUND HERE CARRYING GUNS, AND WHY NOTHING IS BEING DONE. You mean like why wasn't he arrested before? TURNER: YEAH LIKE WHY WASN'T HE ARRESTED BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=all this happened.

Ortiz's co- workers say when he described his rocky relationship with Sharon Casey, he joked he was going to kill both her and her mother.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:11:36
IN Q=But we
((LONNIE TAYLOR/ORTIZ CO-WORKER: BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=what I'm saying?

Those familiar with the situation say Ortiz's recent breakup with Casey apparently became too hard to handle.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:14:41
IN Q=He had
((RODNEY OTEY/ORTIZ CO-WORKER: HE HAD A TEMPER. AND HE HAD QUITE A FEW THINGS ON HIS MIND. THAT COULDA SET IT OFF AND BEING THAT THEY WEREN'T TOGETHER. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=weren't together.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:15:02
IN Q=It wasn't
((TURNER: IT WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE. AND HE COULDN'T ACCEPT IT. SO THEN HE HAD TO COME BACK AND DO THIS.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=and do this.

Len Besthoff, News-7.))

ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=HOLD

Police say Sharon Casey's children were in the apartment when she was killed.
They're unharmed and in the care of relatives.

2-E-Police-Standoff

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-18
GRAPHIC=Standoff

Witnesses to Tuesday night's stand- off had praise for police officers.
They say the officers used restraint in their confrontation with Ortiz.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday Night;

But every police shooting brings an internal investigation and a review by the commonwealth's attorney's office.
Don Caldwell will determine whether the officers' actions were appropriate.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=So actually
((DON CALDWELL/ROANOKE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: SO ACTUALLY YOU HAVE TWO SIMULTANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON AT THIS TIME, THE SHOOTING OF THE DEFENDANT BY THE POLICE AND THE SHOOTING OF THE TWO LADIES BY THE DEFENDANT.))
SUPER=01-Don Caldwell/Roanoke Commonwealth's Atty.;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=by the defendant.
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=NONE

Caldwell expects to seek indictments against Ortiz when the grand jury meets on Monday.
He says he has not decided whether to pursue a CAPITAL murder charge.

Strawberries

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=hepatitis

Thousands of schoolchildren in six states will be receiving inoculations against Hepatitis- A after the recent outbreak in Michigan.
Tainted Mexican strawberries are believed to be the culprit--
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Santa Maria, CA;

but domestic strawberry growers are worried the Hepatitis scare will taint THEIR business.
Some farmers are already reporting a loss of sales.
But industry leaders say consumers should NOT worry about California berries, because of the state's strict quality control.
(----------------)

p-Cold-Snap

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#97-7
GRAPHIC=None

Strawberry growers are not the only farmers worrying.
In our area, we are now heading into a warm stretch, but recently we've had some very chilly nights.
Did this cold snap
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;
effect local orchards?
Most of the fruit farmers we talked to said the recent cool air has not done any damage to the trees.
But the threat will be around for a little while longer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:42:41
IN Q=Just one
((GRAHAM REED/REED ORCHARD: JUST ONE NIGHT IN THE LOW TWENTIES DURING BLOOM TIME WILL KILL EVERYTHING. ))
SUPER=01-Graham Reed/Reed Orchard;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=kill everything
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The big problems usually occur during those warm days in the winter months.
Those cause the fruit trees to bloom early... making them more vulnerable to cool spring nights.
(----------------)

E-Detention-Standoff

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=NONE

A potentially dangerous hostage situation inside a Danville juvenile detention home was averted, thanks to a quick thinking employee.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

Danville police say two juveniles at the W- W Moore Detention home took three staff members hostage at gunpoint around one- thirty yesterday morning.
The three were held inside a room for about an hour before one of the employees managed to grab the gun and run outside.
Police say about 42- juveniles were inside at the time-- they're still determining who was involved.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=There was
((NEAL MORRIS/DANVILLE POLICE:THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE, HOWEVER, TO THE INTERIORS BECAUSE THERE WAS A RAMPAGE INSIDE WITH PEOPLE THROWING STUFF AROUND, THROWING TV MONITORS, THEY SET OFF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER INTO THE FLOOR AREA AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ))
SUPER=01-Neal Morris/Danville Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=like that.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Danville police are trying to figure out how a gun was smuggled inside the home.
So far, three juveniles have been charged.
(----------------)

p-xgr-Veto

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=amo
TAPE#597-15
SS=Session 97

Governor George Allen won out at yesterday's veto session.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Despite Roanoke lawmakers' best efforts, his veto stood on 700- thousand dollars in funding for the College of Health Sciences.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:09:57
IN Q=
(( ))
SUPER=@Cranwell; :00
SUPER=01-Del. Jack Reid/(R) Henrico Co.; :11
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=didnt get raises.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape; QUICK

A two- thirds vote was needed to fund the college.
Perhaps the most heated debate focused on teen recreation centers in Fairfax County.
The Governor, the National Rifle Association and rural lawmakers beat back a ban on guns inside the facilities.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((SEN. JANE WOODS/R-FAIRFAX: HAVE YOUR PICKUP GAMES OF BASKETBALL. AND P.S. BY THE WAY, IF YOU FOUL SOMEONE, WE REALLY CAN'T HELP IT THAT PERSON PULLS OUT A WEAPON, STABS YOU, PULLS OUT A GUN, SHOOTS YOU. WE TRIED TO MAKE THESE SAFE BUT NOT TOO SAFE.))
SUPER=01-Sen. Jane Woods/(R) Fairfax;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=safe but not too safe
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The measure is considered a victory for the N-R-A.
(----------------)

P-Robb

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=abo
TAPE#597-18
GRAPHIC=robb

Another Virginia politician was in Roanoke yesterday.
Senator Chuck Robb is away from Washington, on the traditional Senate Easter break.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The Democrat told the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce that when the Senate reconvenes Monday he wants to get the ball rolling on a balanced budget.
He's a member of a bi-partisan group, and says he'll make the necessary cuts to adjust the budget. He admits the group is prepared to take the heat for the cuts.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT Tape #2: 4:44:14
IN Q=There's some very
((SENATOR CHUCK ROBB: THERE'S SOME VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, AND SOME POLITICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL WE DO THAT- SO WE'RE WILLING TO SAY "BLAME US" FOR SOME UNPOPULAR DECISIONS, BUT LET'S GET THE JOB DONE.))
SUPER=@Robb;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=the job done.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Robb told Chamber members he sees signs there's movement towards balancing the budget- but believes Congress has a tough road ahead.
(----------------)

E-Poplar-Forest

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-9
GRAPHIC=NONE

Tourists from all over are visiting what Thomas Jefferson called his hidden treasure.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.

A large crowd helped Poplar Forest kick off its 19-97 season yesterday.
While not as well-known as Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's summer home is starting to come into its own.
Tourism officials say the recent Ken Burns documentary on P-B-S and a new pass to all nine Jefferson sites should help boost visitation.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:18:03
IN Q=Anything that we
((SHERYL KINGERY/POPLAR FOREST: ANYTHING THAT WE GET A NATIONAL FOCUS ON VIRGINIA AS A HISTORIC TRAVEL DESTINATION IS GOING TO HELP US. I THINK WE'LL INCREASE I HOPE THIS YEAR. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR SCHOOL GROUP BOOKINGS, EVEN IN THE SPRING. SO I THINK OUR NAME IS BECOMING SORT OF RECOGNIZABLE BY TEACHERS, AT LEAST IN THAT PROFESSION.))
SUPER=01-Sheryl Kingery/Poplar Forest; :00
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=in that profession.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Poplar Forest is also a work in progress.
Scaffolding surrounds the outside of the building, but officials hope to complete the exterior renovation by the end of this year.
(----------------)

Hepatitis

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=hepatitis

Health officials in half- a- dozen states are preparing to vaccinate thousands of children against Hepatitis- A.
This, after a batch of contaminated Mexican berries were shipped to school lunch programs.
They're being blamed for making more than 100 Michigan people sick.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;

But authorities say more than nine- thousand children in Los Angeles may have eaten the tainted berries.
Meanwhile, Mexico denies it's the source of the contamination, officials there say it was probably the U-S processor.
(----------------)

Digital-TV

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

If you're looking for movie theatre quality on the small screen-- you might not have to wait much longer.
The F-C-C wants to bring digital T-V to the nation's top 10 markets within two years at stations owned or affiliated with C-B-S, A-B-C, N-B-C, and Fox.
Smaller markets would have an additional six- months to convert.
For the first nine years, regular channels would be available alongside digital.
But if you choose to buy a digital T-V set, expect to pay around two thousand dollars.

Stock-Market

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=stocks

The Stock Market is trying to wake up this morning after its third big fall in the last four days of trading.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 94- points yesterday.
With nearly all of this year's gains now erased, many stock analysts believe a market correction is under way.
(----------------)

OK-Trial

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=ok trial

A few people with checkered pasts of their own are among the potential jurors in the Timothy McVeigh bombing trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Denver, CO;

Of the 19 prospects questioned so far-- a convicted thief, a man with I-R-S troubles, and a woman with drug problems.
Jury selection resumes this morning.
Because the charges of murder and conspiracy against McVeigh carry a penalty of lethal injection, jurors must be willing to impose the death penalty.
(----------------)

E-XGR-Veto

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=Session 97

Governor Allen called the 19-97 General Assembly session a good one, after it wrapped up last night.
Many of his vetoes and amendments withstood the legislature's best attacks.
That includes the 700-thousand dollars the Governor slashed for Roanoke's College of Health Sciences.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
IN Q=As a result
SUPER=@Cranwell; :00
SUPER=01-Del. Jack Reid/(R) Henrico Co.; ::10
SUPER=03-Richmond; :18
SUPER=01-Sen. Jane Woods/(R) Fairfax; :31
SUPER=01-Sen. Joe Gartlan/(D) Fairfax; :47 QUICK!!
SUPER=@Ellen1; :51
RUNS=1:04
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( sot J TAPE 13:30:29
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL: AS A RESULT... NO SALARY INCREASES.))
runs=:07

sot J TAPE 13:34:47
((DEL. JACK REID: THIS IS THE SITUATION LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE HANDED PICTURES...DIDN'T GET RAISES.))
runs=:10

A two thirds vote was needed to fund the college.
Roanoke lawmakers couldn't get it.
On gun control, the Governor, the NRA and rural lawmakers beat back a ban on guns in Fairfax County teen recreation centers.
SOT J TAPE 12:27:13
((SEN. JANE WOODS/R-FAIRFAX: HAVE YOUR PICKUP GAMES OF BASKETBALL. AND P.S. BY THE WAY, IF YOU FOUL SOMEONE, WE REALLY CAN'T HELP IT THAT PERSON PULLS OUT A WEAPON, STABS YOU, PULLS OUT A GUN, SHOOTS YOU. WE TRIED TO MAKE THESE SAFE BUT NOT TOO SAFE.))
RUNS=:16

SOT J TAPE 12:17:55
((SEN. JOE GARTLAN: WE HAVE A CONSISTENCY RULE. DO WHATEVER PLEASES THE NRA.))
RUNS=:04

sot STANDUP
((SO THE NRA IS A WINNER. IRONICALLY, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR JIM GILMORE OPPOSED THE GOVERNOR'S STANCE ON THIS ISSUE. NORTHERN VIRGINIA VOTERS MAY APPRECIATE THAT STANCE IN A POPULOUS REGION. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.))
runs=:00

E-Ortiz

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=eea
TAPE#97-5
GRAPHIC=Standoff

He allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend and her mother before police shot HIM after an almost two hour standoff Tuesday night.
Hospital officials say Miguel Ortiz is still alive, but they are not releasing any more information.
The standoff began as police were investigating the discovery of two bodies at the East Caru Apartments.
The 23- year- old suspect appeared in the crowd of onlookers, with a gun.
Eric Earnhart reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=the scene went on
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :03
SUPER=01-Miguel Ortiz/Murder Suspect; 1:06
SUPER=@Eric1; 1:49
RUNS=2:00
OUT Q=in the stomach
(( The scene went on for about 2 hours... 23 year old murder suspect Miguel Angel Ortiz, walking in circles, holding a gun to his head.
A crowd of bystanders yelled at him, occasionally encouraging him to shoot himself.
Ortiz's mood seemed to shift rapidly, sometimes screaming, sometimes chanting, sometimes pleading, but always asking the same question... are they dead?

SOT 11:24:29
IN Q=are they dead
((ORTIZ; ARE THEY DEAD MAN? I'M ASKING YOU ARE THEY DEAD?
(BYSTANDER) I DON'T KNOW! ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=I don't know

Police negotiators tried repeatedly to get Ortiz to put the gun down, offering to let him meet with his mother...

SOT 11:36:59
IN Q=Mike put the
((NEGOTIATOR; MIKE, PUT THE GUN DOWN NOW...I WANT TO TALK TO MY MOM. WELL YOU CAN IF YOU PUT IT DOWN.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=If you put it down

At one point Ortiz does put down the gun, but refuses to walk away from it... instead, taunting police to come to him.

SOT 11:38:44
IN Q=come out here
((ORTIZ, COME OUT HERE, COME OUT HERE, COME OUT HERE ))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=come out here

As time passes, Ortiz's mood changes... As he talks to his mother, his anger seems to fade... He tells her he loves her, that it's not her fault, and he tells her he killed Sharon and Deborah Casey.

SOT 11:29:48
IN Q=I shot her
((ORTIZ; I SHOT HER, I SHOT HER, I SHOT SHARON AND HER MOM ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=I shot her

A few minutes later, Ortiz tells his mother it's his time to go...
SOT 11:31:34
IN Q=it's my time to
((ORTIZ; IT'S MY TIME TO GO MA... YES IT IS MA, YES IT IS))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=yes it is

Ortiz starts walking away and says I'm not going to stop walking... as police follow him, he walks around the building and begins running across the parking lot.
As officers run after him, the police report says Ortiz stopped, turned around and pointed the gun at them...
The standoff ends as one officer shot him in the stomach.

(standup)

There hasn't been any security at the East Caru Apartments since the end of last year, when the old security company's contract ended.
A new security company is scheduled to begin patrolling the grounds this Friday.
Eric Earnhart, News 7))
(----------------)

E-Police-Standoff

P-Detention

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#597-07
GRAPHIC=none

Many questions still surround the hostage situation inside a Danville juvenile detention home in the early hour of the morning yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

Three staff members were locked in a room by two juveniles with a gun.
It happened at the W-W Moore Detention Home around one thirty yesterday morning.
Authorities were alerted when someone at the home called police.
The standoff ended about an hour later when an employee managed to grab the gun and ran outside.
Police are still trying to figure out how a gun was smuggled inside.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=This young
((NEAL MORRIS/DANVILLE POLICE CHIEF:THIS YOUNG MAN HAD BEEN THERE A WHILE SO WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER SOMEONE GAVE IT TO HIM AT A COURT APPEARANCE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY OR WHETHER HIS STORY IS TRUE THAT HE'S TELLING US OR NOT. WE'RE PURSUING THAT RIGHT NOW. ))
SUPER=01-Neal Morris/Danville Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=right now.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

There were 42- teenagers inside the facility-- police say many of them were involved.
No one was hurt and no one escaped, but police say the interior of the building was heavily damaged.
(----------------)

P-Poplar-Forest

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#597-16
GRAPHIC=NONE

They're open for business again at the Poplar Forest estate in Bedford County, where tourism officials hope to cash in on the recent attention focused on the life of Thomas Jefferson.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.

A P-B-S series in February and the new Jefferson Passport could boost tourism at nine Jefferson-related sites across Virginia.
And there will be more for visitors to see when they come to his Bedford County estate.
Poplar Forest officials say theirs is a work in progress.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:19:21
IN Q=We've been
((SHERYL KINGERY/POPLAR FOREST: WE'VE BEEN, THE FOCUS IS RESTORATION AND WE'RE SLOWLY FOCUSING ON MORE MARKETING AND TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT `HEY, WE'RE OPEN..WE'RE A SITE THAT'S FUN TO SEE'. AND IT'S A NICE COMPLEMENT TO MONTICELLO WHICH IS COMPLETE AND HAS ITS FURNISHINGS, AND TO SEE IT IN THIS STAGE YOU KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHAT JEFFERSON WAS DOING AS HE WAS BUILDING HIS DIFFERENT HOUSES.))
SUPER=01-Sheryl Kingery/Poplar Forest; :00
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=his different houses.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Poplar Forest hopes to finish its exterior renovations by the end of this year.
More than 17-thousand people visit the estate each year.
(----------------)

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=mlb

In baseball action last night,
Boston scored four ninth-inning runs without getting the ball out of the infield and beat Anaheim 6-to-5.
For last night's scores, let's check the boards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5010;
SUPER=0091-/Kansas City/2/j/Baltimore/4////Chicago/1/j/Toronto/6///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0091-/Detroit/6/j/Minnesota/7///j/Cleveland/9//Oakland/7///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0091-j/Boston/6//Anaheim/5///j/N.Y. Yankees/16//Seattle/2///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0092-/Colorado/3/j/Cincinnati/5////St. Louis/1/j/Montreal/4///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0092-/Chicago/3/j/Florida/4////Atlanta/3/j/Houston/4///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0092-j/Los Angeles/5//Philadelphia/1///j/San Diego/6//N.Y. Mets/5//12
Innings//;
SUPER=X5029;
SUPER=0104-/Roanoke/3/j/Hampton/4//Overtime/j/South
Carolina/4//Charlotte/2///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0104-/Toledo/2/j/Columbus/5///j/Pensacola/4//Tallahassee/2///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0104-/Mobile/2/j/Louisiana/4////Wheeling/4/j/Peoria/9///;
RUNS=1:30
OUT Q=....last score."
(----------------)