Ortiz Jury Recommends Life
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Police watch TV violence Theater summit page 16A page 1B page 1C OCTOBER27.1995 ' VOLUME 24 NUMBER 43 3 SECTIONS, 40 PAGES ,•* •" •-y-^ /•" ER Ortiz jury recommends life COTI endorses By Matthew Miller Staff Writer Monday afternoon, a Walsh jury recommended Matthew Ortiz spend life in prison for the for June 1, 1994 slaying of Jory Dahmer. Judge Isaac council Anderson will make the By Mark S. Krzos final sentencing deci- Staff Writer sion Nov. 8. First- The Committee of the degree murder carries a Islands (COTI) endorsed sentence of either life in City Council candidate prison without parole or Dick Walsh after the death penalty. Wednesday's Candid- According to several ate's Night. sources around the COTI's board of courthouse, it is rare directors met to decide that a judge disregards on an endorsement after the recommendation the gathering, which was made by the jury. attended by over 275 Sarah Wood, islanders. Candidates Dahmer's friend who Francis Bailey and was with him the night Walsh were interviewed he was murdered, took previously by the COTI the stand one last time board at its monthly for the prosecution dur- meeting Oct. 12. H13 ing the penalty phase of Wednesday's Candid- % '-i the trial. Still distraught ates Night began from the previous promptly at 8 p.m. with week's testimony, she Bailey telling audience f emotionally painted a members that he's run- $ picture of Dahmer's ning because he loves §! positive affect on her Sanibel and wanted to •please see page 2A "give something back to Matthew Ortiz stands to hear the jury's decision read to him. his home." Walsh was then given the podium and high- lighted his past career as Search for chief begins a corporate lawyer. Survey reveals "I'm really pleased By Mark S. Krzos Police Chief Lewis Phillips, Bureau with the tremendous Staff Writer Commander Jack Primm and Patrol turnout," Walsh said. support for A special committee set up to find a Bureau Commander John Terry. "But in order to work for replacement for retiring Sanibel Police Declining consideration for police a better future for Chief Richard Plager met Wednesday chief—most citing inexperience—were Sanibel more people beach rentals afternoon to discuss possible candi- Scott Ashby, Michael Blackmore, need to have their voices By Mark S. Krzos dates. Raymond Christensen, Ellison Church, heard at City Council Staff Writer. In the running for the position •please see page 2A and planning commis- Kicking off Committee of the Island's vacant as of Jan. 1, 1996 are Assistant sion." Candidates Night were the results of survey about According to Walsh how islanders feel about such Sanibel issues as one of the biggest issues beach erosion, Below Market Rate Housing, EAR discussions end of the campaigns is beach commercialization and construction of experience. Walsh additional bike paths. bowed to Bailey's years The survey was mailed to 450 COTI members Little public interest expressed on council, but said he who returned 61 percent of the questionnaires. took on many similar By Mark S. Krzos Sanibel's future. issues in his past experi- In the beach erosion section, 89 percent of the Staff Writer "I don't want to hear any disap- responses favored speeding up the permitting pro- ences that are facing In the last discussion of the proval of things to come," Planning Sanibel today. cess for moving structures that are near the high Evaluation and Appraisal Report Commission Chairman Dick Downes tide line so property owners can move their homes "I worked on several (EAR) very few Sanibel residents said. "Citizens were urged to attend projects concerning Lake •please see page 2A showed up for a planning commission •please see page 3A meeting to voice concern about •please see page 4A 2k Q OCTOBER 27,1995 Q" ISLAND-REPORTER —ORTIZ •from page 1A Assistant State Attorney Dean Plattner and Captiva as a community. She said took just 28 minutes for his closing through tears she and Dahmer were argument with a simple statement, "deeply in love." "Justice in this case is one thing ... the "We fell in love, we were very much conviction of first-degree murder." in love ... he was my best friend," Lee County Public Defender Robert Wood said, "His family and friends Jacobs on the other hand was more were the most important thing to him, deliberate during his 58 minute closing he always made you feel you were the argument drawing on specific trial tes- most important friend in the world." timony and the defense's original foun- Lee County Public Defender Robert dation that Ortiz was suicidal, looking Jacobs lined up emotional appeal on to "leave this world" and too intoxicat- Ortiz's behalf. ed to premeditate such a murder. Madeline Chadsey, Ortiz's aunt, "Are these the words of someone struggled through memories of his who wants to kill someone, of course early years as she saw her heroin not, this is someone that wanted to kill addicted, prostituting sister attempt to himself," Jacobs said. raise "a wonderful little boy." Chadsey Plattner briefly rebutted. along with other friends, family mem- "That man is not a victim," Plattner, bers and mental experts testified on said as he pointed to Ortiz, "that man is behalf of Ortiz's character—testimony a murderer, there is a difference." The jury files back into the courtroom (above). Madeline Chadsey, precluded from the trial. Plattner asserted the last act Ortiz Ortiz's aunt, (below) appealed to the jury Monday during the sentenc- "What that child had to go through desired was suicide. ing phase of the trial. ' no human should have been subjected "Ortiz did everything he could not to," Chadsey tearfully concluded. to be killed or hurt," he said. "We the jury find Matthew A. Ortiz Following the verdict, Dahmer's guilty ...," ended last week's swift tes- friends and family brightened for the timony with the conviction of Ortiz on first time during the entire trial. all counts charged, first-degree murder, "We are very happy and relieved," aggravated assault, and aggravated said Joyce Dahmer, the victim's moth- assault on a police officer. The jury er. "We will never get over it but we deliberated just over an hour. Ortiz are trying to get on with our lives." 1 stolidly stood as he heard the jury's "I think we are all very glad this verdict. thing is over," said Alison Hagerup, That morning's processions har- CEPD administrator and longtime bored perhaps the most tense emotion friend of Dahmer. and anticipation with Dahmer's closest Jacobs said he will file an appeal friends and family members clinching after Judge Anderson's Nov. 8 sentenc- during the final day's evidence. ing. -SURVEY —— •from page 1A district for affected areas residents while 51 per- at their own expense. while 33 percent said cent said they did not. Only one percent said they would favor a tax- Another issue of great they would not be in ing district. Only 30 per- concern over the past favor. Forty-one percent cent of the people sur- couple years has been -CHIEF of the people surveyed veyed said they felt the commercialization of •from page 1A said they would not beach renourishment is a the beach. An over- According to Plager a any further interviews Michael Cooper, Kevin good police chief leads but other committee favor a special taxing concern for all Sanibel whelming 88 percent of Morehouse, Patsy the people surveyed felt by example. members felt it necessary Sposato and Charles "One of the things that to have in-depth inter- there should be no Wells. I would encourage is. to views with the candi- Weather restrictions regarding Plager said he wanted High Low Rain rental equipment on the have a good working dates. the three candidate to relationship with the city "I'd like to hear what Oct. 19 84 72 0.2 beach while 12 percent stand on their own and manager," Plager said. the candidates have to Oct. 20 84 71 0.5 said there should be refused to give his opin- "Through my 46 years in say," council member Oct. 21 84 7j \ restrictions. However 99 ion on which is the best the police force I've seen Bob Davison said. "It Oct. 22 86 73 — percent of the members candidate. surveyed said some more police chiefs being would make me feel Oct. 23 88 J2 - "I want to make sure f\nt Id restrictions should be shown the door because more comfortable with V/Cl. oo everyone has an equal they couldn't work with 25 11 •'"•'"•"•• place on the use of pub- my decision." Oct, 1 did . • - chance," Plager said. 86 lic beach areas by com- the city manager." Committee members Rainfall for October so far is 14.3 inches com- When questioned by mercial entities. Plager said he then decided to set pared with 6.7 inches foi the entire month last the committee about the believed that the most Monday, Nov. 13 as the year. In conjunction with future police chief, Note: rainfall levels are recorded from the City Council's decision, important thing for a final meeting for the morning of the day given to the following morn- Plager said the new chief chief on Sanibel is to the members of COTI should be well versed in selection of the new ing. also felt Sanibel should maintain a friendly atti- police chief. sanibelfCaptiva Islands Chamber of all levels of law enforce- tude with the public. Source: I withdraw from the Lee ment.