July 15 PENNSYLVANIA: 3 jurors dismissed in 'kill for thrill' penalty retrial 3 jurors were dismissed Friday in the penalty-phase retrial of a man convicted of gunning down a police officer more than 25 years ago in what authorities called a thrill-seeking killing spree. 2 male jurors told Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec that they were worried about what effect the case might have on their lives. A female juror told the judge that she had sought her pastor's advice on the death penalty. The jurors made their comments before opening arguments in the trial to decide whether Michael Travaglia, 46, formerly of Washington Township, deserves to be executed for the January 1980 murder of Apollo police officer Leonard Miller. Travaglia and another man, John Lesko, were convicted in Miller's death, which capped a weeklong rampage in which three others were killed. Authorities said the pair sped past Miller's parked cruiser several times so he would chase and pull them over, at which point the officer was shot. Police dubbed the crimes "kill for thrill," because no motive was ever found. Both men were sentenced to death but those sentences were reversed on appeal. After a 1985 retrial, Lesko was again sentenced to death and remains on death row. Blahovec asked the 12 jurors and four alternates Friday whether any of them had discussed the case since they were chosen. One male juror said his wife felt threatened after she was asked in church about his position on the jury. A 2nd man told Blahovec that he had discussed with his boss what effect the verdict might have on their retail business. Blahovec ordered the trial to continue with 12 jurors and 1 alternate. Jurors will not revisit Travaglia's conviction but will consider only whether he deserves lethal injection or life in prison. (source: Associated Press) MISSISSIPPI: Possible Serial Killings Probed 35-year-old Rachel Cumberland and 28-year-old John Robert Williams, both of Leake County, have now been moved to the Lafayette County Detention Center in Oxford. Both recently pleaded guilty to charges relating to last summer's kidnapping and killing of 28-year-old Nikki Hill of Shuqualak. On July 18, 2004, Hill was found shot to death on a dirt road in the western part of Neshoba County. Williams was sentenced to life in prison and Cumberland to 20 years behind bars. According to investigators, the two are wanted for questioning in another death in Lafayette County and others in at least 3 other states. "During the investigation some things were said that led to Yukon, Oklahoma," said Investigator Ralph Sciple with the Neshoba County Sheriff's Department. Aside from being questioned for the 2003 murder of an Oklahoma City woman, the 2 are also wanted for questioning in murders in Texas and Arkansas. In several of the cases officials say the victims were thought to be prostitutes who were kidnapped from truck stops. "I don't believe she was a prostitute. I think she just got with the wrong people," said Sciple, referring to Hill. "But once she got in the car, it was too late." With the two facing at least two murder charges, investigators say it's possible Williams and Cumberland will never get out of jail. If they are charged with capital murder, the penalty could be death by lethal injection. (source: WTOK News) NORTH CAROLINA: Committees To Discuss Investigation Into Prosecutors In Gell Case 2 committees will submit their findings to the State Bar Friday about how two attorneys were disciplined after a man mistakenly went to death row. Prosecutors Debra Graves and David Hoke received reprimands for their conduct in the Alan Gell trial. Debra Graves and David Hoke were reprimanded by the State Bar after a court decided they failed to turn over evidence in the murder trial of Alan Gell. Gell was later released and the attorneys continue to practice law. Some critics questioned whether the investigation into their conduct was tainted. Committee members say no, but they admit things could have been done better. The full bar will hear the findings at an annual meeting in Asheville. (source : WRAL.com) MICHIGAN: Butler supports death penalty, vouchers U.S. Senate candidate Keith Butler said Friday that he supports school vouchers and the death penalty. He also says gay couples shouldn't be able to get domestic partner benefits. Butler, a black Republican, declined again to say where he stands on an anti-affirmative action measure expected to get on the 2006 ballot. He made his comments during the taping of public television's "Off the Record" program. He is 1 of 3 Republicans so far vying to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Butler is leading the GOP contest so far, having raised the most money -- more than $800,000 -- and collected the most endorsements. (source: Associated Press)
