WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/15/99

[7S-Danville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-74; 1:43:12]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

A surprising discovery for a Danville woman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Yesterday, the woman found the body of a man Danville police suspect was shot to death behind her house on the 100 block of Walker Street.
Police are handling the case as a homicide and have sent the body to a medical examiner for an autopsy.
(------------)

[7Franklin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Rocky Mount teenager was killed yesterday in an early morning traffic accident.
State police say 18-year old Sean Tyree ran off the road along Route 220 just after 4 A-M.
His truck flipped several times, throwing him from the vehicle.
Tyree died at the scene.

[7E-Escaped-Juvenile]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-8]
[GRAPHIC=none]

An escaped teen has officials at a state mental hospital questioning its security. Noah "Drake" Schaffer of Salem escaped nearly a week ago. He contacted his mother through a friend on Saturday, to let her know he is safe, but not where she could find him.
David Johnson reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I miss him]
[SUPER=01-Kimber Rierson/Schaffer's Sister; :00 QUICKLY!!]
[SUPER=01-Keri Rierson/Schaffer's Sister; :04]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :12]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :17]
[SUPER=01-Sheri Rierson/Schaffer's Mother; :23]
[SUPER=03-Smyth Co.; :46]
[SUPER=01-Linda Wood/Schaffer's Grandmother; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Deans/Adolescent Director; 1:16]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=from this mistake.]
((
[SOT=06:34:59 - 06:34:33 (Escaped Juvenile Tape#1)]
[IN Q=I MISS HIM]
((KERI RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S SISTER; I MISS HIM AND I LOVE HIM.)) ((KIMBER RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S SISTER; I LOVE HIM. Do you want him to come home? YEAH.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=YEAH.]
Noah "Drake" Schaffer's 4-year old twin sisters share the sentiments of their family. The problems started at Coyner Springs, where Schaffer made numerous attempts on his own life.
[SOT=06:18:20 - 06:18:40]
[IN Q=HE WOULD WITHHOLD]
((SHERI RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S MOTHER; HE WOULD WITHHOLD HIS MEDICATION WHEN THEY GAVE IT TO HIM. HE SAVED IT UP AND TOOK AN OVERDOSE AND HE WAS ADMITTED TO LEWIS GALE PSYCH CENTER.)) ((RIERSON; THEN WHEN HE GOT BACK HE TRIED TO STARVE HIMSELF TO DEATH. HE WOULDN'T EAT OR DRINK WATER FOR ABOUT SIX DAYS.)) [RUNS18]
[OUT Q=ABOUT SIX DAYS.]
After Schaffer unsuccessfully tried to hang himself with a bedsheet January 28, he was sent to Marion State Hospital for psychiatric help. Last Monday, during a therapy group session, Schaffer ran down this hall, jumped out an open window and got away. The boy's grandmother partially faults the hospital.
[SOT=06:25:55]
[IN Q=THEY SAID THEY]
((LINDA WOOD/SCHAFFER'S GRANDMOTHER; THEY SAID THEY BELIEVE DRAKE HAD ALL THIS PLANNED. BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TO A CLASSROOM, SEEN THE WINDOW OPEN, AND THEY JUST KNEW DRAKE HAD PLANS TO ESCAPE.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=PLANS TO ESCAPE.]
The hospital director says it's a LOW SECURITY adolescent facility. But he says it's no excuse for this incident.
[SOT=00:10:12]
[IN Q=THERE ARE WAYS]
((JERRY DEANS/DIRECTOR; THERE ARE WAYS OUT OF IT AND THE KIDS TEACH US THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME ABOUT OUR AREAS OF VULNERABILITY. AND WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS MISTAKE.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=THIS MISTAKE.]
[STAND-UP/00:18:09] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; SCHAFFER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO ESCAPE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE. BUT DEANS SAYS ALL OTHER PATIENTS HAVE BEEN RECAPTURED WITH IN HOURS, IF NOT MINUTES OF THEIR ESCAPE. SO FAR, SCHAFFER IS THE ONLY SMEAR ON THE HOSPITAL'S PATIENT RETRIEVEMENT RECORD. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, SMYTH COUNTY.))

[RUNS17]))[7VA-Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]

Tobacco settlement funds will soon begin flowing into the Commonwealth, and Governor Gilmore says he wants Virginia to be ready.
Gilmore says he's established a commission to figure out how to best divide the money.
The commission will hold public hearings around the state and report back to the governor by October First.
Gilmore says he'd like to the more than four billion dollars split between farmers, anti-smoking programs and other interests.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast..
Sunny and a bit warmer today, as southwesterly breezes push daytime highs into the upper-50s.
Skies stay clear overnight, as temperatures dip down into the upper-20s and low-30s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Warmer/Winds SW 5-10/55-59/Clear, Not/as Cold/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 2/16/99
Tuesday

[SUPER=130-10/Samantha Smith/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-2/Cody Dewayne Bower/Elliston]

[SUPER=130-3/Abbie Davis/Wytheville]

[SUPER=130-10/Amber Smith/Alum Ridge]

[SUPER=130-39/Phyllis Williams/Salem]

[SUPER=130-3/Mitchell Ryan Woolwine/Christiansburg]

[SUPER=130-12/Aaron Honig/Salem]

[SUPER=130-11/Chris Guynn/Bassett]

[SUPER=130-14/Ashlee Craft/Salem]

[SUPER=130-59/Gloria Crump/Roanoke]

No Pictures
[SUPER=131-/Wanda Mothley/Shannon Hills]

[SUPER=131-/Billy Barbour/Snow Creek]

[SUPER=131-/Ann Hawks/Newport News]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[45S-Danville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-74; 1:43:12]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

A murder investigation is underway in Danville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Yesterday, the woman found the body of a man behind her house on Walker Street...
Danville police suspect he was shot to death .
Police are handling the case as a homicide and have sent the body to a medical examiner for an autopsy.
(------------)

[45Canceled-Case]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Murder charges have been dropped against a defendant in Pulaski County.
The County's commonwealth's attorney says he's convinced that the defendant acted in self-defense.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
(Ah-Mahd Bog-NUDE-ah)Ahmad Bognuda was charged in the shooting death of 19-year old John Christopher Dean at the Washington Square Apartments two months ago. Bognuda claims he was defending himself after Dean pulled a gun on him first. Prosecutors say the claim was valid and that deadly force was justified. But Dean's girlfriend says it's not over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT=00:22:26]
[IN Q=IF I HAVE]
((TIFFANY WILLIAMS/VICTIM'S GIRLFRIEND; IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE IT BECAUSE HIS LIFE WAS TAKEN FOR DEFENDING SOMEONE ELSE. HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIS SON GROW UP. JUSTICE WASN'T SERVED.))
[SUPER=01-Tiffany Williams/Victim's Girlfriend;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=WASN'T SERVED.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Although he did escape the murder charge, Bognuda will be prosecuted for illegal possession of a firearm.[45S-Female

-Cop]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-82;53:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]

It's more than a new face on the Rocky Mount Police force, it's a new gender.
Tina Tinret explains.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Tammy Pickurel]
[SUPER=01-Tammy Pickurel/Rocky Mount Police Department; :11]
[SUPER=01-Chief R. B. Jenkins/Rocky Mount Police Department; 1:18]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; 1:26]
[SUPER=@Tina2; 1:32 QUICK!]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Rocky Mount]
((Tammy Pickurel is Rocky Mount's newest police officer -- hired away from the Henry County sheriff.
But ask her how she feels to be the lone woman on the force ....
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:58:40]
[IN Q=I don't really]
((TAMMY PICKUREL/ROCKY MOUNT POLICE: I DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT A LOT. IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I DON'T DWELL ON IT. I JUST TRY TO BE ONE OF THE FELLAS, ONE OF THE GUYS, SO THEY DON'T REALLY THINK OF ME AS BEING A FEMALE. THEY THINK OF ME AS BEING A POLICE OFFICER.)) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q=police officer]

Pickurel has always been a trailblazer.
She is the oldest in a family of boys -- all law enforcement officers.
But believe it or not, this former Marine draws the line at women in combat.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:26:13]
[IN Q=In combat]
((IN COMBAT THE TEAM DEPENDS TOTALLY ON EACH OTHER. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MEN WHO WILL NOT PUT AS MUCH FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN WOMEN. THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=THE BEAST]

But she says Rocky Mount's small and tight-knit force works as a team -- and she's counting on earning her partners' trust.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:28:54]
[IN Q=ONCE YOU PROVE]
((ONCE YOU PROVE YOU CAN BE COUNTED ON, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE THERE, THE BROTHERHOOD COMES IN.)) [RUNS06]
[OUT Q=COMES IN]

So why hasn't Rocky Mount ever hired female police officers?
The chief says fewer women apply, and in the past, they've never been qualified.
But he says certain situations need a woman.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:43:04]
[IN Q=Obviously]
((OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE ISSUES INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WOMEN AND A WOMAN'S DEMEANOR WILL BE ADVANTAGEOUS OVER THAT OF A MALE.)) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=OF A MALE]

Pickurel won't call herself a role model -- but she does say if girls see more female cops on the street -- they may follow.
Maybe then the so-called "brotherhood" will include more sisters.
Tina Tenret News7 Rocky Mount.))

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Turning to the Monday forecast--
Sunny and warmer today, with highs in the upper 50s.
Staying clear overnight, and not getting as cold, with lows around 30.
The extended forecast stays sunny and warm tomorrow, with rain likely by Wednesday.
Highs in the 40s and 50s, lows in the mid 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Warmer/Winds SW 5-10/55-59/Clear, Not/as Cold/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[8Franklin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An early morning accident killed a teenager from Rocky Mount yesterday.
State police say 18-year old Sean Tyree ran off the road along Route 220 just after 4 A-M.
His truck flipped several times, throwing him from the vehicle.
Tyree died at the scene.

[8S-Danville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-74; 1:43:12]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

A possible murder victim turned up at the home of a Danville woman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Yesterday, the woman found the body of a man police suspect was shot to death behind her house on Walker Street.
Police are handling the case as a homicide and have sent the body to a medical examiner for an autopsy.
(------------)

[8E-Escaped-Juvenile]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-8]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The family of a Salem teenager wants him safely returned to the state mental hospital, from which he escaped nearly a week ago.
Noah "Drake" Schaffer contacted his mother through a friend on Saturday, to let her know he is safe, but did not reveal his wherabouts.
David Johnson reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I miss him]
[SUPER=01-Kimber Rierson/Schaffer's Sister; :00 QUICKLY!!]
[SUPER=01-Keri Rierson/Schaffer's Sister; :04]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :12]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :17]
[SUPER=01-Sheri Rierson/Schaffer's Mother; :23]
[SUPER=03-Smyth Co.; :46]
[SUPER=01-Linda Wood/Schaffer's Grandmother; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Deans/Adolescent Director; 1:16]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=from this mistake.]
((
[SOT=06:34:59 - 06:34:33 (Escaped Juvenile Tape#1)]
[IN Q=I MISS HIM]
((KERI RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S SISTER; I MISS HIM AND I LOVE HIM.)) ((KIMBER RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S SISTER; I LOVE HIM. Do you want him to come home? YEAH.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=YEAH.]
Noah "Drake" Schaffer's 4-year old twin sisters share the sentiments of their family. The problems started at Coyner Springs, where Schaffer made numerous attempts on his own life.
[SOT=06:18:20 - 06:18:40]
[IN Q=HE WOULD WITHHOLD]
((SHERI RIERSON/SCHAFFER'S MOTHER; HE WOULD WITHHOLD HIS MEDICATION WHEN THEY GAVE IT TO HIM. HE SAVED IT UP AND TOOK AN OVERDOSE AND HE WAS ADMITTED TO LEWIS GALE PSYCH CENTER.)) ((RIERSON; THEN WHEN HE GOT BACK HE TRIED TO STARVE HIMSELF TO DEATH. HE WOULDN'T EAT OR DRINK WATER FOR ABOUT SIX DAYS.)) [RUNS18]
[OUT Q=ABOUT SIX DAYS.]
After Schaffer unsuccessfully tried to hang himself with a bedsheet January 28, he was sent to Marion State Hospital for psychiatric help. Last Monday, during a therapy group session, Schaffer ran down this hall, jumped out an open window and got away. The boy's grandmother partially faults the hospital.
[SOT=06:25:55]
[IN Q=THEY SAID THEY]
((LINDA WOOD/SCHAFFER'S GRANDMOTHER; THEY SAID THEY BELIEVE DRAKE HAD ALL THIS PLANNED. BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TO A CLASSROOM, SEEN THE WINDOW OPEN, AND THEY JUST KNEW DRAKE HAD PLANS TO ESCAPE.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=PLANS TO ESCAPE.]
The hospital director says it's a LOW SECURITY adolescent facility. But he says it's no excuse for this incident.
[SOT=00:10:12]
[IN Q=THERE ARE WAYS]
((JERRY DEANS/DIRECTOR; THERE ARE WAYS OUT OF IT AND THE KIDS TEACH US THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME ABOUT OUR AREAS OF VULNERABILITY. AND WE'VE LEARNED FROM THIS MISTAKE.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=THIS MISTAKE.]
[STAND-UP/00:18:09] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; SCHAFFER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO ESCAPE FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE. BUT DEANS SAYS ALL OTHER PATIENTS HAVE BEEN RECAPTURED WITH IN HOURS, IF NOT MINUTES OF THEIR ESCAPE. SO FAR, SCHAFFER IS THE ONLY SMEAR ON THE HOSPITAL'S PATIENT RETRIEVEMENT RECORD. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, SMYTH COUNTY.))

[RUNS17]))[8Cancelled-Case]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

After determining that the defendant acted in self- defense, the Commonwealth's attorney dropped murder charges against a Pulaski County man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
(Ah-Mahd Bog-NUDE-ah)Ahmad Bognuda was charged in the shooting death of 19-year old John Christopher Dean at the Washington Square Apartments two months ago. Bognuda claims he was defending himself after Dean pulled a gun on him first. Prosecutors say the claim was valid and that deadly force was justified. But Dean's girlfriend says it's not over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT=00:22:26]
[IN Q=IF I HAVE]
((TIFFANY WILLIAMS/VICTIM'S GIRLFRIEND; IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE IT BECAUSE HIS LIFE WAS TAKEN FOR DEFENDING SOMEONE ELSE. HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIS SON GROW UP. JUSTICE WASN'T SERVED.))
[SUPER=01-Tiffany Williams/Victim's Girlfriend;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=WASN'T SERVED.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Bognuda will be prosecuted for illegal possession of a firearm.[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Let's now take a look at the President's Day forecast--
Lots of sunshine for the holiday, with warmer afternoon highs in the upper 50s.
Clear and not as cold tonight, with lows falling to near 30.
The five day forecast is calling for sunshine again tomorrow, then some showers and a gradual cooldown by mid- week...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Sunny & Warmer/Winds SW 5-10/55-59/Clear, Not/as Cold/28-32;]