Former Mayor of Washington, DC Marion “Mayor for Life” Barry Dies at 78

Marion Barry dead at age 78.

Marion Barry, the former mayor of Washington, DC has passed away at the age of 78. Hospital spokeswoman Natalie Williams said Barry arrived at the hospital around 12:30 a.m. and died at 1:46 a.m. He had been released from Howard University Hospital on Saturday following a brief stay. There was no cause was given, but he had suffered from many health problems over the years, including diabetes, prostate cancer and kidney ailments. Barry was married four times and is survived by one son, Marion Christopher Barry.

Barry was first elected mayor in 1978, then re-elected in 1982 and 1986. However, Barry was probably most famous when he gained international notoriety in 1990 when he was videotaped in an FBI sting smoking crack in a downtown Washington hotel room with a female friend.  He was convicted on one count of drug possession and sentenced to six months in prison. Unbelievably, after getting out of prison, Barry was elected to a fourth, and final, term as mayor in 1994. It probably spoke more to the disarray of DC than anything else.

Former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry, whose four terms were overshadowed by his 1990 arrest after being caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine, died Sunday morning. He was 78.

Barry D.C. council spokeswoman LaToya Foster says he died shortly after midnight Sunday at a hospital in Washington. He had battled kidney problems stemming from diabetes and high blood pressure and underwent a kidney transplant in February 2009.

But he gained international notoriety in 1990 when he was videotaped in an FBI sting smoking crack in a downtown Washington hotel room with a female friend. He was convicted of a single count of drug possession — jurors had deadlocked on most counts — and sentenced to six months in prison.

Despite the embarrassment, Barry’s political career was far from over. In 1992, he made it back to city government, winning a council seat representing the poorest of the city’s eight wards. That victory helped propel him to a fourth, and final, term as mayor in 1994.

UPDATE I: Barack Obama paid tribute to the late mayor:

Dude, really? I guess if you overlook that little crack thing. (VIDEO)

President Obama on Sunday paid tribute to the late Marion Barry, saying the former Washington, D.C., mayor and councilman made a mark fighting against poverty and spearheading other initiatives that earned him the respect of his city.

34 Year Old Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely Missing Since 11/14/14 in Patrick County, VA (Update: Remanins Found of Missing Dawn Vessell Gravely … Anthony “Skeet” Joyce Arrested)

34 year old  Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely has been missing since Friday, November 14, 2014 in Patrick County, Virginia.  Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely of South Mayo Drive, was last heard from shortly after 10 p.m. Friday. Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith has said Gravely did not get in touch with friends on Saturday as usual, and Patrick authorities were contacted shortly before midnight Saturday to do a well-being check. When the police arriving at her home, Gravely was not there; however, her vehicle was.

Missing: Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely

Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely, 34, of South Mayo Drive, was last heard from shortly after 10 p.m. Friday.

Gravely is described as being 5’4” tall and weighing 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Smith said that clothing and possible vehicle descriptions are unknown.

Gravely did not make contact with friends as she usually does on Saturday, prompting authorities to be contacted just before midnight Saturday to check Gravely’s well-being, according to the release.

UPDATE I: Search continues Monday for missing Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely.

As investigators continued to search Monday for a Patrick County woman last heard from Friday night, a friend said the disappearance is out of character for the mother of two.

Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely, 34, of South Mayo Drive, last was heard from shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, authorities have said.

Catrina Harris, whose son is friends with one of Gravely’s two children, indicated that it isn’t like Gravely to disappear without word.

UPDATE II: 45 searchers continue to look for missing woman.

Law enforcement officers from several agencies scoured primary and secondary roads Tuesday for evidence that might lead to a missing Patrick County woman.

“Officers from multiple agencies are working in teams, doing foot searches along the roadway and side roads near the victim’s home on South Mayo Drive,” Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said Tuesday.

They are searching for information on the location of Shelly Dawn Vessell Gravely, 34, who has not been heard from since shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, authorities have said.

About 45 officers from multiple agencies covered an estimated 100 miles of road in Patrick and Henry counties Tuesday during the foot searches. Smith said nearly all his deputies were taking part.

Smith said the foot searches done Tuesday stretched into Henry County (an estimated 20 to 30 miles from Gravely’s home), where they focused on areas Patrick authorities identified. He declined to elaborate on why those areas were chosen.

A reward is being offered for information on Gravely’s location. Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Smith at 276-692-7012 or the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office at 276-694-3161.

VIDEO – WDBJ7

UPDATE I: Remains Found of Missing Dawn Vessell Gravely. Also, Anthony “Skeet” Joyce arrested.

Patrick and Henry County deputies have found the remains of missing Patrick County mother Shelly Gravely.

Gravely was found at around 12:30 Saturday morning in Henry County, just north of the North Carolina state line.

Investigators have arrested Anthony “Skeet” Joyce in connection to her disappearance. He was arrested just before midnight in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Joyce is being held in the Guilford County jail as a fugitive from justice. Patrick County investigators have obtained warrants for abduction and robbery.

Dr. Martin Salia, Surgeon Who Contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone and Flown to Nebraska Has Died

Dr. Martin Salia, the surgeon who had contracted Ebola while treating patients in Sierra Leone, West Africa and was flown to Nebraska over the weekend for treatment has died.  44 year old Dr. Salia was a native of Sierra Leone and a legal U.S. resident who was living in Sierra Leone and working at a hospital. He had been diagnosed with Ebola last week, sadly it was not caught soon enough to save him.  Sadly, Dr. Salia passed away from advanced stages of Ebola. According to Nebraska Medicine spokesman Taylor Wilson,  Martin Salia died at around 5 a.m. ET Monday.  Salia leaves behind a wife and two children who live in the Washington suburb of New Carrollton, Maryland.

Dr. Martin Salia … Rest in Peace

Dr. Martin Salia, a surgeon who was diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone and flown to Nebraska over the weekend for treatment, has died, hospital officials said Monday.

Salia, 44, became the second person to die of the disease in the United States. Thomas Eric Duncan, who contracted Ebola in Liberia and traveled to Dallas, died last month.

Salia landed Saturday in Omaha. He was the 10th patient to be treated on American soil and the third at Nebraska Medical Center. Hospital officials had said that he was perhaps sicker than any other patient flown to the United States from West Africa.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share this news,” said Dr. Phil Smith, medical director of the hospital’s biocontainment unit. “Dr. Salia was extremely critical when he arrived here, and unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to save him.”

CBS News: Ebola patient Dr. Martin Salia dies in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Martin Salia, 44, had been described repeatedly by health workers as being much sicker than the Ebola patients previously brought to the U.S. for treatment.

“Dr. Salia was suffering from advanced symptoms of Ebola when he arrived at the hospital Saturday, which included kidney and respiratory failure,” the Nebraska Medical Center said in a statement. “He was placed on dialysis, a ventilator and multiple medications to support his organ systems in an effort to help his body fight the disease. He also received a dose of convalescent plasma and ZMapp therapy was initiated on Saturday.”

The hospital had been treating Salia in its biocontainment unit that has successfully treated two other Ebola patients this fall.

Charles “Chase” Merritt Charged With 4 Counts of Murder in the Deaths of McStay Family (Joseph, Summer & Their Two Children Gianni and Joseph) (VIDEO)

ARREST FINALLY MADE IN THE MCSTAY MURDERS …

57 year old Charles “Chase” Merritt was arrested Wednesday, November 5th  in Chatsworth, California and charged in the murders of the McStay family. Merrit was charged with 4 counts of murder in the deaths of  Joseph and Summer McStay and their two small children,  4 year old Gianni and 3 year old Joseph. Merritt was a business partner of Joseph McStay’s. According to the LA Times, Merritt had a prior criminal history.  He appeared in court Friday but his arraignment was postponed until Wednesday, there was no bail was set. According to Sheriff John McMahon of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s office, the cause of death of the McStay family was “blunt force trauma” and that the murders took place inside the McSaty residence in Fall Brook.

The McStay family went missing on February 2, 2010. Their remains were discovered by motorcyclist in a shallow grave between Quarry Road near Highway 15 in the Mojave desert outside Victorville, CA in November 2013.

CNN:

Charles “Chase” Merritt is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Joseph and Summer McStay and their two small boys, San Bernardino County, California, District Attorney Michael Ramos told reporters at a news conference.

Merritt, 57, was arrested Wednesday without incident in Chatsworth, California, Detective Chris Fisher said.

Police say they believe the family died of “blunt force trauma” inside their home north of San Diego, but they declined to discuss specifics of the deaths or a motive.

Merritt, who was a business partner of Joseph McStay’s, appeared in court Friday but his arraignment was postponed until Wednesday. No bail was set.

Detectives Arrest Charles Ray Merritt in Connection with the McStay Family Murders

For more information, read updates, others opinions and analysis, and to provide your own, go to Scared Monkeys Missing Persons and Crime Forum: McStay Family of 4 missing in So California-Missing since 2/04/10.

Robert Cooke, father of Missing Rachel Cooke, Has Passed Away

Sad, sad news to report …

Robert Cooke, the father of missing Rachel Cooke, has passed away after battling a long-term illness. Robert Cooke died Wednesday in Austin, Texas, he was only 59. His daughter Rachel Cooke went missing in January 2002, near her Georgetown home when she went out for a jog near her parents’ home but never returned.  Mr. Cooke never stopped looking for his beloved daughter Rachel. Robert kept a fathers promise to his daughter until the end. On a personal note, I met Robert Cooke when searching for Natalee Holloway in Aruba and in fact we were roommates. We spent many nights talking and he told me about his daughters disappearance and I could hear in his words his love, dedication and desire to never give up the fight to find Rachel. What a nice, nice man. I will never forget our talks, sharing your personal insights of a father and giving me an understanding of what real strengths and dedication truly is. God bless you Robert Cooke, and may the peace of the Lord be with you.

Robert Cooke became very active in missing persons’ causes. He held women’s self-defense classes all over Central Texas, and Cooke helped search for many missing people.

“On the day Rachel disappeared, Robert [Cooke] made a promise to her that he would never stop looking for her, and he kept that promise,” according to his obituary.

MyFoxAustin.com | KTBC Fox 7 | News, Weather, Sports

Father of missing teen, Rachel Cooke, passes away.

 On January 10, 2002, 19-year-old Rachel Cooke was visiting her family while on break from college.

She was running in the Northlake subdivision, northwest of Georgetown, and last seen between 11 and 11:30 in the morning, along Neches Trail, just 200 yards away from her parents’ home.

Her father, Robert, passed away at 7 a.m. after fighting an illness for several months.

“The fact that Robert was not able to die knowing what happened to Rachel is very upsetting to us,” said Elaine.

Hettenhausen says the family is waiting for the right tip they knows is out there.

Funeral arrangements are below:

Visitation – Friday, November 7, from 4-7pm at Cook-Walden Capital Parks, 14501 N. IH 35, Pflugerville, TX

Services – Saturday, November 8 @1pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 4010 Williams Drive, Georgetown

Robert has asked that those who attend wear blue or red because they are “bright colors.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Robert with a donation to a missing person organization. These are dear to his heart: The CUE Center for Missing Person, PO Box 12714, Wilmington, NC, 28405 – Project Jason, PO Box 59054, Renton, WA or texasequusearch.org.

There is still a $50,000 reward for reliable information leading to the return or location of Rachel Cooke or to the identity of any person involved in her disappearance. If you have any information, please call Williamson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-253-7867, or visit wilcocrimetips.org.