ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
"SAVE OUR STREETS" examines the problems of crime and violence in society and offers solutions.
The story of how an alcoholic Shawsville man killed his estranged wife will be the focus this fall of a nationally syndicated show dealing with criminal justice issues.
"Save Our Streets" will feature the story of Sheila Ann Stafford and Scotty Wayne Overby in an hour-long television program.
Stafford, 27, was found dead in August in a Shawsville trailer where Overby, her estranged husband, had been staying. Stafford had been strangled, stabbed and raped and her body defiled.
Overby pleaded no contest to capital murder and rape, and was sentenced in Montgomery County Circuit Court this month to two life terms in prison. He received an additional 25 years for sexual penetration by object and five years for defiling a corpse.
"This particular program is an entire hour on the effects of alcohol," said Jeff Cole, who is producing the segment for the weekly show with host actor Tim Reid.
Stafford had left Overby in June 1995 to force him to get treatment for his alcoholism, but visited him several times and was open to a reconciliation, according to testimony at Overby's trial.
During the trial, witnesses testified that Overby did seek help for his alcoholism and suicidal thoughts during the estrangement, but was released from a psychiatric center the month before the murder after his insurance coverage ran out. One of his doctors called Stafford to warn her that Overby had thoughts of killing her. Overby continued to attend outpatient therapy. A week later, after he attempted suicide, mental health workers said Overby didn't meet the criteria for commitment.
"Save Our Streets" examines the problems of crime and violence in society and also offers solutions, Cole said. Besides reviewing the Overby-Stafford case and talking to their family members, the program will feature people who overcame their addictions.
"We're not going to be pointing fingers at people. ... We are going to show a man who was trying to get his life back together," and failed, then temper that with a woman who did overcome her addictions and show how she did it, Cole said.
"We put out the problem and try to offer solutions," he said.
The show is in its second season. Cole said the episode likely will air in October. The program airs Saturdays at 6 a.m. on WSLS-TV (Channel 10).
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB