Together we can make a difference.
Crime Wire will devote a full hour to a story about a grandson who found his grandfather’s killer after more than 40 years. Dr. Clem Pellett, an oral surgeon who lives in Washington State, will share an old family story that focuses on two men: Clarence Pellett…a grandfather that Dr. Clem Pellett never knew…and a drifter named Frank Dryman.
On April 4, 1951, Clarence Pellett picked up hitchhiker near Shelby Montana. The hitchhiker was Dryman, then a 19 year old drifter who was carrying a gun. Dryman shot and killed Clarence Pellett and left him by the side of a mountain road. Dryman took the car and drove to Canada where he was later arrested for the murder.
After several trials and appeals, Dryman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, then paroled in 1969. Less than two years after his parole, Dryman disappeared. Corrections authorities listed him as “absconded”. And that is where the old family story stopped for nearly 40 years.
In 2009, Dr. Clem Pellett came across some newspaper clippings about the murder, which had occurred two years before he was born. With the help of three private investigators, Dr. Pellett found Frank Dryman living as a notary public and operating a wedding chapel in Arizona. Dryman, who had been changed his name, was arrested and returned to Montana.
Tonight, August 2, 2011, on the Crime Wire Investigates radio show, as part of our on going flame to justice, we discussed the death and lack of investigation in the unsolved death of Sheena Morris.
On January 1, 2009, the 22-year old was found hanging from a shower in a hotel room located in Anna Marie Island, Florida. Sheena was ending the relationship with her on again off again boyfriend, telling her mother it was coming to an end and things were going to change in the New Year.
It is important to note that a victim of intimate partner violence, never takes their own life as we would learn during the show; often they figure out the best way to move forward minus the violence and live their lives, not take their life! This was not a suicide as initially ruled. Basically, no investigation was done by Bradenton detectives and the crime scene was mishandled. The medical examiner's office relied on those who responded to the scene, and with limited information and incorrect police reports, each a contributing factor in the initial ruling for this case as a suicide.
It would be Kelly Osborn, Sheena's mother, that would gather evidence and information, along with hiring outside forensic pathologists Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Michael Berkland, that would allow theFlorida medical examiner to change the manner of death in March of 2011 to "undetermined." That should have been enough to re-open the case, but it was not. Public comments in media interviews labeling Kelly Osborn as a mere "grieving mother" are inexcusable.
In addition, 10 months after Sheena's death, the detective contacted the person of interest and informed him that "he is going to contact his alibi" for the evening in question. This action, in and of itself, is a huge ethics issue. It goes to credibility and can hurt future cases within the department, the county, and for the FDLE.
There were other issues and red flags of importance discussed about this case. The FDLE must takethe lead and step in to investigate. Until they do, we (Crime Wire) will continue to take appropriate measures in the murder investigation and ultimate justice for Sheena Morris. Below is the link to the Crime Wire show.
Don’t Miss my next BlogTalk Show: Seeking Justice: Shawn Allison
On January 26 On November 20, 2000, Shawn Allison, age 29, was found dead in his residence in LaPine, Oregon. The apparent cause of death was the result of a gunshot wound; a rifle was nearby. The authorities concluded almost immediately that Shawn’s death was a case of suicide.
However, as additional information came to light the suicide ruling seemed less and less credible. Tonight Kim Kolton will discuss this disturbing case with Shawn’s sister, Rita, and his mother, Veronica.
Some Interesting Background:
There are also several viable motives for Shawn’s death to be murder, not suicide: (1) The belief in a big insurance policy with benefits to go to Shawn’s dog, who was confiscated by his ex-girlfriends current boyfriend: (2) the fact that Shawn was going to have a paternity test that might have relieved him of all responsibility to a son he believed may be his and was paying child support for; (3) Shawn’s outspoken threats to expose local drug activities.
The lack of investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department — no autopsy, no tests to determine who fired the gun, no interest in how a man could blow half his head off and then walk across the room to die on a sofa with his feet on top of the gun – raise questions. Under Oregon Statute, if an unnatural death is not witnessed or attended by a physician, it is to be considered a homicide until such time as the evidence warrants other findings. That was not done in Shawn’s case.
(source http://www.realcrimes.com/Allison/ShawnAllison.htm)
You can catch the show at 9 pm Eastern – 6 pm Pacific at www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin
