McCOOK, Neb. (AP) — Amended charges filed in the death of a 14-year-old McCook girl indicate she was sexually assaulted before her body was sent ablaze.

Twenty-year-old Stathis Kirkpatrick, of Bartley, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of Kailee Clapp, whose burned body was found the evening of Jan. 21, 2011, in a Bartley cemetery. She had been reported missing that morning from her McCook home.

The amendment filed Tuesday in Red Willow County District Court indicates the killing was carried out in conjunction with a sex assault.

Kirkpatrick had originally been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial but the judge later found him competent. His attorneys have filed paperwork indicating they’ll pursue an insanity defense.

 

One stolen vehicle has been recovered at Walmart in connection with the escapees. The recovered vehicle was a tan 2005 Chevy Venture with KS license plates 854-DZQ.

*Another vehicle is suspected to be associated with the remaining two escapees. This vehicle is a gold 2002 Nissan Altima bearing KS license plate 649-CIC. If you see this vehicle please call 911 immediately and do not approach it.

 

 

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post) – The North Platte Noon Rotary Club “Bloodhounds” 9^th annual blood drive kicked off Tuesday morning in the old Ben Franklin building in the Westfield Shopping Center.  The Bloodhounds set a goal of 158 units this year and as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, they had reached 59 units.  They need YOUR help to make their goal.  The drive continues until 2 p.m. today.  Eligible donors are invited to stop by and donate or make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.  The Red Cross is also accepting “double red” donations at the event.  Call or stop by the drive for more information and eligibility requirements.

 

 

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A plane had to make an emergency landing in western Nebraska because a pregnant passenger needed to get to a hospital.
SkyWest Airlines spokesman Rob Brewer said that the woman went into labor Tuesday while the plane was en route from Kansas City, Mo., to Salt Lake City.
The SkyWest plane, which was officially Delta flight 4781, arrived in North Platte at 7:21 p.m. Tuesday with 62 passengers.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Great Plains Regional Medical Center, and the plane continued on to its destination about an hour after it landed.
The woman was released from the hospital late Tuesday. A hospital spokesman declined Wednesday to provide any details about her case, so it wasn’t immediately clear whether she gave birth.

 

OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) – A 41-year-old Colorado man accused of firing at law enforcement officers during a chase in western Nebraska has accepted a plea deal and will be sentenced in June.
Mark Phillips originally pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder and attempt first-degree assault on an officer.
Phillips, of Louisville, Colo., pleaded no contest after prosecutors lowered the charge to two counts of first-degree assault. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on June 22.
Prosecutors say Phillips fired at two officers in rural Keith County after fleeing a traffic stop in December. The officers fired back and wounded Phillips.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say rain-laden storms have delayed field work in Nebraska but have raised soil moisture levels.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture report for last week says a survey shows about 4 percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, compared with 2 percent last year and 1 percent on average.
The department also said three-quarters of the expected oat crop has been planted.
The winter wheat crop was rated 63 percent good or excellent.
Spring calving was 88 percent complete.

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A 30-year-old North Platte man will be returning to prison to serve another sentence for robbery.
David Traxler was sentenced on Monday to serve eight to 16 years. Judge Richard Birch says that’s double Traxler’s last sentence, of four to eight years, which was imposed in 2005.
He robbed a convenience store in February and pleaded  guilty after prosecutors dropped several other charges.
It will be Traxler’s fourth stint in prison.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Department of Revenue is reminding residents that state taxes, like federal taxes, are nearly due.
Taxpayers have until Tuesday to file their state income taxes.
Nebraska is accepting returns through the revenue department’s NebFile program. The department’s website offers free e-file and e-pay options, as well as detailed information about state taxes.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has said taxpayers have until Tuesday to file the federal taxes, because Monday is a legal holiday in Washington, D.C.
Nebraska will also accept income returns and payments e-filed or postmarked on or before Tuesday as being on time.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Weather officials have received no reports of injuries and few instances of major damage from Saturday’s storms that blew across Nebraska.
National Weather Service officials say they’ve gotten reports of reports of at least 12 possible tornadoes, along with baseball-sized hail, strong winds and torrential rain, in central and eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Crews are surveying damage to confirm those reports.
Van DeWald, in the weather service’s Valley office, says the worst of the damage was reported in a line that started near Nebraska City, where several homes were damaged, and extended into Iowa, ending near Thurman. About 75 percent of that community has been destroyed.
Unconfirmed tornadoes were also reported in Nebraska near Cook and North Platte. Those areas sustained damage to farm outbuildings and trees.