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Nebraska Man Convicted of Killing Newlyweds

Matthew Hinrichsen
Matthew Hinrichsen

(AP) — A Northeast Nebraska man has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his ex-girlfriend and her new husband last year.

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says 33-year-old Matthew Hinrichsen was convicted Monday of two counts of murder and two weapons charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28, and could receive two life sentences.

The jury convicted Hinrichsen in the December 2012 deaths of Victoria Lee and her husband, Alex Vargas.

Their bodies were found in a charred trailer in rural Antelope County, where the newlyweds were living. Prosecutors say Vargas died from three gunshot wounds, and Lee died of blunt force trauma to her head.

During the trial, Hinrichsen’s lawyers didn’t dispute that he killed the couple, but they argued the killings weren’t planned.

Lincoln Police Believe Teen Jumped to Her Death

lincoln-police(AP) — Authorities suspect a 17-year-old girl leaped to her death from the top of a building in downtown Lincoln.

Police spokeswoman Katie Flood says the girl was spotted by someone who called 911 about 7:15 p.m. Sunday. Officers say the girl was dead by the time paramedics arrived.

Investigators say they think she jumped off the roof of a bank building at 13th and O streets.

Death Threats Target Deputy Who Shot Calif. Teen

Andy Lopez
Andy Lopez

(AP) — Sheriff’s officials say the Northern California deputy who fatally shot a 13-year-old boy has been the target of threats.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the deputy’s identity Sunday as 48-year-old Erick Gelhaus.

Gelhaus, a 24-year sheriff’s office veteran, shot and killed Andy Lopez last week in Santa Rosa. Investigators say Gelhaus mistook the pellet gun Lopez was carrying for an assault rifle.

Assistant Sheriff Lorenzo Duenas says his office is still dealing with threats against Gelhaus and would take steps to protect him if necessary.

But it decided to confirm his identity because his name was circulating publicly.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people turned out for a service to remember Andy on Sunday.

Group Honors Confederate Veteran in Eastern Nebraska

sons-of-confederate-veterans(AP) — Nebraska now has an official link to the Confederacy now that the service of a Civil War veteran who died in Fremont has been recognized.

The national Sons of Confederate Veterans organization has recognized a new chapter in Fremont. And a ceremony was held Sunday at Thomas C. Sexton’s grave to recognize his service.

Sexton served in a famous Confederate unit led by Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. He was a private in Company D, 4th Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army.

After the war, Sexton earned a medical degree and moved to Dodge County, Neb., where he lived until he died at age 100 in 1943.

Neb. Man Charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide in Death of 13 YO Boy

fatal-accident(AP) — Authorities have filed a misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide charge against a semi tractor-trailer driver for a crash that killed a 13-year-old boy.

Kevin P. Monahan turned himself in to authorities on Friday, and was released after posting $1,000 for bail. Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox says Monahan was charged on Thursday.

Authorities say Monahan was driving a semitrailer on July 19 when it struck three cars that were stopped in a construction zone on U.S. Highway 75 near Plattsmouth. The crash killed 13-year-old Nathan Houfek, and injured his mother, Kelley Houfek, and his 12-year-old sister Georgeann Houfek.

Cox says neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the crash, or else the charge could have been classified as a felony.

Monahan’s arraignment is set for Dec. 3.

Lincoln Woman Reports Abduction Near Lincoln Bars

lincoln-police(AP) — Lincoln police are looking for two men who are accused of abducting a woman from downtown shortly after the bars closed Sunday morning.

Police Capt. David Beggs said a 22-year-old woman told officers a man forced her into the back of a car near 10th and P streets around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

The woman says another man drove the car onto Interstate 80 while the first man fondled her and tried to kiss her.

Beggs says the woman screamed for the men to stop, and eventually they exited the interstate and let her go.

The woman provided a vague description of the men and the vehicle.

City of Lincoln Selling 2 Parcels of Residential Land

lincoln-nebraska(AP) — The city of Lincoln is selling two parcels of residential land that it hopes will generate nearly $1 million.

Lincoln officials recently declared the two properties as surplus and listed them for sale.

One parcel is on the northeast corner of 27th Street and Old Cheney Road. The minimum bid for that land is $275,000.

The other land is along South 84th Street between A Street and Van Dorn. That nine-acre plot of land was recently appraised at $694,000.

S. Dakota Ranchers Vow to Survive Cattle Disaster

Courtesy of USDA
Courtesy of USDA

(AP) — Western South Dakota ranchers have buried the tens of thousands of cattle that died in an early October blizzard. Now they are figuring out how to dig themselves out of a financial hole after many lost a quarter or more of their herds.

Rancher Joe Carley of Philip lost more than a quarter of his cattle. He says he has had some sleepless nights, but he will survive. His neighbors also vow to recover.

The ranchers are meeting with bankers and may get low-interest government loans. A relief fund has collected $400,000 in donations, and ranchers from Montana plan to give cattle to South Dakota ranchers.

Congress is working to pass a farm bill that would reinstate a livestock disaster program that could reimburse ranchers for some of their loss.

Omaha Police Arrest Teen in Elderly Woman’s Assault

omahapopo(AP) — Omaha police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with last week’s assault of a 78-year-old woman in her home.

Police said the teen was arrested Saturday night in Omaha after officers received a tip. A warrant was issued for the teen Thursday.

Police say the teen broke into the home of Janet Jordan last Tuesday around 12:30 a.m.

Jordan said the robber knocked her over and hit her several times in her head. He tried to take her television but fled without it.

The teen is facing a charge of attempted robbery.

Jordan is now out of the hospital and staying with friends while she recovers.

Neb. Woman Who Survived Shooting to Oppose Stepfather’s Parole

new-mexico-corrections-deparment(AP) — A Nebraska woman who survived the 1979 killings of her family in New Mexico is opposing the parole of the killer who is her stepfather.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Jackie Nasiatka plans to testify at a hearing Monday of the Adult Parole Board in Santa Fe on the parole of Clifton Skidgel.

Skidgel was sentenced to two life prison terms in 1980 after pleading guilty to the shooting deaths in Las Cruces of his wife and three of her children, ages 16, 13 and 8.

Nasiatka, who was 11 at the time, was wounded.

Nasiatka, who now lives in the Omaha, Neb. area, said she doesn’t expect the parole board to make an immediate decision but described the possibility of a parole as terrifying.

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