Girls' Blood Was on Harris' Hands, Shoe
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A01-11 1/22/09 10:45 PM Page 1 Salmonella scare In the Oscar hunt Columnist Jesse Claeys says sometimes looking “Button” and “Slumdog” at death is worth it lead Academy nominations LOCAL A4 A&E C22 FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2009 SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM SERVING READERS SINCE 1864 HARRIS TRIAL Expert: Girls’ blood was on Harris’ hands, shoe By Molly Montag in their second-floor bedroom of first-degree murder for imately 12-inch knife found on the while responding Jan. 6, killing the girls in what police top shelf of Harris’ bedroom closet. Online [email protected] 2008, to a report of fire in the say Harris initially described Another expert testified two of Har- Got a question about SIOUX CITY — A Sioux City man basement of their home. as a spell that “had gone bad.” ris’ fingerprints were found on the the trial? Ask a question on trial for murder had his 8-year-old Experts testified Thursday Criminologist Kristan C. knife. on our live blog at 8 stepdaughter’s blood on his hands about blood, DNA and finger- Evans said Alysha Suing’s Evans, who is with the Iowa Divi- a.m. today at siouxcity and her older sister’s blood on his print evidence as prosecutors DNA was found in several sion of Criminal Investigations crime journal.com. For com- shoe, an expert testified on Thursday tried to connect Lawrence samples taken from Harris’ lab, said Kendra Suing’s DNA was plete coverage of the case against in Woodbury County District Court. Douglas Harris Sr., the girls’ hands at the time of his arrest. found on one of Harris’ shoes. Lawrence Lawrence Douglas Harris Sr., visit Firefighters found Alysha Suing, 8, stepfather, to their deaths. Alysha Suing’s DNA also was siouxcityjournal.com/harristrial. and her sister, Kendra Suing, 10, dead Harris, 26, faces two counts Douglas Harris found on the tip of an approx- HARRIS, PAGE A11 BARNES BULL RIDING CHALLENGE Pit bull owners Working the barrel no laughing matter file complaint Life of a professional rodeo clown is serious business with the state By Lynn Zerschling By Meagan Sexton [email protected] [email protected] SIOUX CITY — A couple who have SIOUX CITY — Taunting bulls is the fun protested the City Council’s ban on pit bulls part of rodeo clown David “Hippie” En- have filed a complaint with a state official con- gelkes’ job. tending city officials retaliated against them and But during a relatively routine performance other dog owners. in April of 2008 in Henderson, Minn., he In a letter to William Angrick II, the state om- didn’t expect the agitated beast to join him in budsman in Des Moines, dated Wednesday, his barrel. Rick and Deborah Borg wrote, “We would like “I coaxed him (the bull) into coming right at to have your agency investigate this matter and me,” said Engelkes, a 29- a report be issued including any recommended year-old rodeo clown from remedial action.” Steamboat Rock, Iowa. The Borgs contended the council and city of- “Right before he hit me I ficials retaliated against some pit bull owners dropped (into the barrel). I last fall after they testified against the proposed was looking out the top and ban on new pit bulls in the city. The couple said didn’t see the bull and didn’t city officials mailed threatening letters, drafted hear any bull fighters say a “hit list” that sent Animal Control officers to anything. The next thing I some dog owners’ homes to check if the dogs know I can feel myself being had been licensed and took other actions. David Engelkes The council passed the pit bull ban Sept. 15. elevated. The Borgs have attended most council meetings “It was an odd feeling to be since Councilman Aaron Rochester first pro- up in the air and have a bulls face at my feet.” posed the ban and continue to attend meetings Yet, such is the life for a rodeo clown. En- since then to lobby the councilmen to change gelkes, who has been performing for about their minds. The Borgs, who live at 412 Colon seven years, will be entertaining crowds Fri- St., also helped organize an informal group of day and Saturday during the Barnes Bull Rid- pit bull owners. ing Challenge at the Tyson Events Center. Those who speak to the council are asked to His wife Rebekah, 24, and their daughter give their names and addresses for the public Emma Shea, 17 months, will be watching record. In November, after the Borgs and others from the stands. complained to the council they had received let- “He’s pretty safe in the barrel,” Rebekah ters, City Clerk Lisa McCardle said her office Engelkes said. “It’s a checked whether dog owners who spoke at little nerve-racking meetings on July 21 and 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. Online when you see the bull 15 and 22 had obtained pet licenses. Log on to sioux actually hit the barrel, Those licenses cost $10 to $30, depending cityjournal.com but you get used to it upon whether the animal is spayed or neutered. to watch a video after awhile.” Many of the same people talked at each meet- of David “Hippie” Rebekah said watch- ing. Engelkes talk ing a bull charge at her “We did not mail letters to the participants about life as a husband took some Journal photo by Tim Hynds / Find more photos and buy copies at siouxcityjournal.com that already had pet licenses,” McCardle told rodeo clown. getting used to. Rodeo clown David “Hippie” Engelkes of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, carries his barrel off the back of his the Journal in November. “It was very scary at truck Thursday at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. Engelkes, a rodeo clown since 2002, said his The Borgs and others said people received the first,” she said. “There barrel is the only protective gear he uses. letters even though they had obtained the re- were a couple of times quired licenses. I had to turn around Engelkes, who also rode bulls for 10 years, City Manager Paul Eckert defended what he and not watch.” said he enjoys being a rodeo clown because If you go called the courtesy letter, saying the city fields Bob Barnes, producer of the show, said En- it’s steady work and for the love of entertain- WHAT: Bob Barnes Bull Riding Challenge & complaints from residents about troublesome gelkes adds a lot to the show. ing people. Stockyards Heritage Days neighborhood dogs. “He’s funny,” Barnes said. “He works the “When you’re clownin’ it’s a guaranteed WHEN: Opens at 9 a.m. today and Saturday, During the pit bull hearings, Mayor Mike Ho- barrel. We have some Mexican Fighting Bulls paycheck and you don’t get busted up as bad with bull riding at 7:30 p.m. both days. bart said, “Many individuals flaunted the fact and they hit the barrel and roll him around. A (as bull riding),” he said. “I’ve been entertain- that they don’t register their dogs.” Hobart said WHERE: Tyson Events Center clown is very much a necessity.” ing crowds for free since I was born. So I he didn’t fault city staff for sending out letters Barnes believes Engelkes will reach the top thought, ‘Hey if I can make a living doing TICKETS: $16, $24 and $34 for adults. based on what was said at the public meetings. of the rodeo clown industry, which would something that I love that’s the best way to $12 and $34 for ages 3-12. Available at According to the ombudsman’s Web page, the mean performing at the Professional Rodeo live.’ I can do this for a lot of years to come, Tyson Events Center Box Office, ticket- office has the authority to investigate com- Cowboys and Professional Bull Riding Asso- until I get old. You can’t ride bulls forever. It’s master.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and plaints about Iowa state and local governments, ciations most prestigious events. a young man’s game.” by phone at (712) 252-3434. with some exceptions. INSIDE Dozens of Siouxlanders join pro-life rallies The games begin Journal photo By Meagan Sexton legalized abortion in the United States. One of the highlights of this year’s Univer- by Jerry Mennenga Nickless said he and many others sity of Okoboji Winter Games will be Satur- [email protected] Bishop R. Walker have joined efforts with those through- day’s Polar Bear Plunge, but there will be Nickless of the SIOUX CITY — Delila Senger out the country to advocate for life. plenty of other things to do during the Diocese of Sioux stood in front of Planned Parenthood “We want to join with all those peo- three-day festival. PAGE A3 City speaks into a Thursday afternoon in Sioux City ple who care so deeply about those handheld walkie- praying and thinking about her 20 who cannot speak and that’s the un- talkie to those at- healthy grandchildren, unable to imag- born,” Nickless said. ONLINE tending the pro- ine what it be like if one of them Tens of thousands of abortion oppo- life vigil Thursday wasn’t here. nents rallied Thursday on the National Movies in a minute in front of Planned Senger joined 50 other people and Mall in Washington, D.C., to mark the Bruce Miller reviews this weekend’s films Bishop Walker Nickless of the Dio- Parenthood on 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade amid in his Movies in a Minute.