Man Charged in Boy's Murder { Letters to Santa Attention, Girls and Boyst Life Support, Police Said
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
m mm* ^m T V? : -^- a- • Chiefs nip Wayne Memorial in boys* basketball, CI Hoii)eTbwn .^M^II.pllUll.MIWIIIt i ' ••..••• r •• :7 • •• • . ••-•••.,. Putting you In touch Thursday wtth your world December 10,1998 Serving the Westland Community for 34 years -'•••'/: '«.••'.'.••'. VOLUME 34 NUMBER 54 Wf.SHA\;;. MICHIGAN • 7G PAGES • http:, observer-eccentric.com SEVE%r>-FfVE Ct:\rs »tUS BOM^TOWH Cam *a*k»tko« NMwork, lacJ Man charged in boy's murder { Letters to Santa Attention, girls and boyst life support, police said. Park Apartments, near Warren and Christmas is almost hew and you know Rayshawn Otis Cobb, described by police as a what that means. Santa Ctaus ta up at 6-foot-l, 275-pound man, was charged with The boy suffered severe head Cowan, Terry said. the North Pole waiting for.tetters and homicide/ felony murder Thursday in the injuries, Sgt, Michael Terry said, but Cobb isn't the boy's father, police double checking his 11« to find who's death of 3-year-old Darius Deshawn Conaway, official autopsy results were pending. said. He has been described by.police been naughty or nice. who died, on Monday* Dressed in blue jeans and a black T- as the live-in boyfriend of the child's The Westland Observer Is asking shirtr- Cobb was arraigned on a murder mother. children to send us their tetters to BYDARKKLLCLEM police as a 6-foot-l, 276-pound man, charge today in front of Westland 18th The mother was at work when the Santa Ciaus, along with their school STAfTWWTER District Judge C. Charles Bokos. He incident occurred, Terry said. picture. The dMcMn* fc D*e. Xt TIM dctom9oe.homecomin.net was charged wifh homicide/ felony teftws»»d|«f»tos»«h»prtrrterf*Jffie murder in the death of Darius . had been charged Friday with first- A not-guilty plea has been placed on 0*c. 24W» fMoe. having forwarded the A 26-year-old Westland man was Deshawn Conaway. ' degree child abuse, but the charge was record for Cobb, and he remains jailed ; tetters to Santa in plenty of time. arraigned today on a murder charge The boy died Monday afternoon at amended after the boy died. without bond as he awaits a Jan. 7 pre: Children of all ages are encouraged After receiving a 911 telephone call liminary hearing that will determine to s.end.their letters.to: stemming from the death of a 3-year- Children's Hospital in Detroit, West- old boy, who was allegedly beaten ' land police Sgt. Tim Kennedy said. The from a man who said he had hit the whether he should stand trial. Letters to Santa death came five days after the boy was boy in anger on the evening pf Dec. 2, Cobb could face a maximum sentence Westland Obaerver while in the suspect's care. Rayshawn Otis Cobb, described by beaten into a coma and then placed on police and paramedics found the child 36263. Schoolcraft on the floor of a residence at Hines Please see BOV, A3 Livonia, Ml 48151 R~FE€ SPECIAL SECTION ft Giftguide: Are you draw 8TA7T PHOTO w PAUL HiTBqjMANX ing a blank about what to Shlned and buffed: Zachafy, a 10- >' get so-and-so for Christ y^ar-pldcocker spaniel, is groomed ^yJoyEric^onofThePampeM mas this year? Check out Pooch in Plymouth, our nifty gift guide inside PRESENTS this edition. BY LARRY O'CONNOR through his stomach. STAFF Warm locoiinor©oeuhomecomm.net When it comes to treats, dog owners have a pick of the litter. Rawhide chews come in COMMUNITY LIF£ Everydaythey give us./gifts — some left in peanut butter and vanilla flavors, while a the corner. Nonetheless,* the holidays are the bag of dog biscuits feature chicken, beef, ideal time to pony up for the favorite dog, cat; liver, and lamb arid rice. Festival time: Eight light bird or reptile iri the Canines like to clamp ed candles, potato pan : household. _ onto boiled pig ears, snouts Though some scoff at the and beef hooves, too./A cakes and gifts mean it's notion of giving gifts to three pack of those run $2 iirhefbr Hanukkah, the animals, they shouldn't, to $3,; .^•':''••;, ''/•; Jewish Festival of said one pet shop operator.,• At Pet Supplies Plus oh '^There's ho excuse," said Ford in Canton, they sell Lights./Bl ;»:•..•. Donna Nickel, manager of stockings stuffed with pig' LiYonia-baBpd Discount V Biot PHOTO OT TOM HA¥LW eafSi rawhide chews arid Pet fy Supplies: *At least assorted munch and AT HOME nothing.! 9'an think of; crunch. there's allkihds'of stuff." Pets lids' animals for all '• v... ,ft Cost? Not a problem. tastes, including a leopard „_£,?"*! Sight to see: Holiday dec Even a Montgomery gecko. The store has gifts Unlike *thei r canine coun orating can blend the old Burns^Hke miser could terparts, cats are a tad probably part with $5-$6 for exotic pets, including a more finicky. They'll lick with the new./D8 for a bird swing or new dog hammock for an iguana. their whiskers at the . i collar^ :"• prospect of seafood-flavored Stymied oh ideas? Most pet supply stores nuggets, like Kitty Bits. Pet Supplies Plus • JBTATfPaotOOTBlLLBWSLEK ENTERTAINMENT carry an array of toys, collars and treats for has cat stockings with ball with bells inside, critters; Discount;Pet & Supplies in Livonia balls of yarn and other toys. Look at us: Feline friends Annie and Katie take Music: Pop music's top even sells leather biker jackete for iguanas. 'a rest atop a cat tree, available for cats at Back Of course, the first way io a pet's heart is Please see PRESENTS, AS door Friends Shoppe in Farmington. acts including the New Radicals celebrate holi days with Detroit music funs,/ E£ Pets don't make good surprise gifts REAL ESTATE BY LARRY O'CONNOR with what seemed like good gift ideas at the STAFF WRITER time. A few may be adopted but most aren't. [email protected] °I think the key word is a surprise pre (Setting sluggish: How do Puppies and kitteris with a red bow on top sent," Day said. "It should be a family deci salespeople cope when of their heads may look adorable under sion with everyone in the household neath the Christmas tree, said a Michigan involved." folks are more interested Humane Society spokeswoman. Someone who gets a puppy for a present in the holidays than they "... but they Usually end up knocking should expect to make a 10- to 15-year com are with buying or selling down the Christmas tree and chewing up mitment caring for the animal. Guinea pigs, STAFF PHOTO BY TOM HAWLBT the presents," added Jennifer Day, Humane rabbits and "even fish," Day said, "require ahome?/fr£ Society community relations representative. work in caring for them." Lonely: The Westland Humane Society has pets Canton Animal Hospital sees its fair ready for adoption. But families who aren't pre When the holiday warmth subsides, the INDEX glow turns to a glare toward the animal, share of exotic animals, including those pared to give their time and love should find a which is a bundle of unwanted work and mistakenly given as gifts. Those animals - lizards, iguanas and snakes - are given • Obituaries '^J^_ A8 different gift. Here is Sam, a 3'12-month-old kitty, responsibility. •ClaMinedlnd©^ _ '" F4 who is Utter-trained. The Michigan Humane Society is littered Please see SURPRISE, A8 . __ Ileal Estate _ _ _ Fl _ Crossword F6 F10, Home & Service G6 Council OKs 5-year •'•••• Automotive G8 Youth aid program • Opinion : , A18.17 • Calendar "IS" • Sports ci police, fire contracts needs adult mentors • Real Estate Fl BY DARRELL CLEM salaries for Westland Police Officers STAFF WRITER BY DARRELL CLEM who's older than they are and who can Association members will range from STAFF WRITER [email protected] $31,545 for a newly hired dispatcher to just talk to thorn and really be there for HOW TO REACH US [email protected] them and not pass judgment," Bowman New five-year contracts for Westland $52,576 for a patrol officer on the job for five or more years, Finance Director A Westland program that helps trou said. police officers and firefighters contain Youngsters and mentors engage in Newsroom: 734-963-2104 annual pay raises averaging 3.2 per Tim McCurlcy said. bled youngsters by pairing them with adult mentors is in need of help. positivo experiences ranging from see Newsroom Fax: 734-591-7270 cent, city officials said. Their pay range under the old con tract was $25,153 to $44,917, he said. Twelve children ages 9 to 16 are on a ing movies to talking about ways to New coats associated with the con improve school performance. E-mail: bj«jhmtmO(>».hoiT»comm.net tracts amount to $1,449,603 through Higher-paid police sergeants and Youth Assistance Program waiting list. Nightline/Spons: 734-953-2104 lieutenants are covered by a separate One young man who got into trouble Youth Assistance Program advisory- Juno 30,2003. * board member Richard I^eBlanc, olso a Reader Comment line: 734-953-2042 Westland City Council members contract, and a new agreement hasn't for rotail fraud has been waiting six months for a male montor, program Westland City Council member, said • Classified Advertising: 734-591-0900 Monday gave sweeping approval to the yet been approved for them. New salaries for Westland Firefight director Ronaelc Bowman said last the program works. new pacts and called the five-year span "I believe the program offers an Display Advertising: 734-591-2300 unprecedented for the police and fire ers will range from $35,960 for a new week.