Henderson Guilty of First-Degree Murder Jury Suggests Three Life Terms for Robbery, Abduction and Murder, but No Death Sentence
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■ INCORRECT PAGINATION OPINION 12ILIFESTYLES 201 SPORTS James Madison University THURSDAY MARCH 28,1991 VOL. 68, NO. 46 Henderson guilty of first-degree murder Jury suggests three life terms for robbery, abduction and murder, but no death sentence Laura Hutchison, A date for sentencing has not yet Valley Mall. Market, was convicted June 21 in the Julie Provenson & been set. He said the same thing on a tape same case on charges of abduction, Ian Record Henderson, 25, of Frost, made while he was in custody robbery and capital murder, and later staffwriters W.Va., was charged with in Baker City, Ore. and played sentenced to death. He is appealing the capital murder, but the jury's in testimony Tuesday. sentence. WINCHESTER — Ronald Lee conviction was for the Prosecuting attorney A. Lee In testimony yesterday, Henderson Henderson was convicted yesterday of less-severe crime of Ervin said the decision was recalled the events of Jan. 5: "We first-degree murder, abduction and first-degree murder. "very understandable. I drove away from Valley Mall, entered robbery in connection with the Jan. 5, "I did not kill, help kill or wouldn't have been surprised if a dirt lane and Strickler said to stop. 1990 death of JMU sophomore Leann rape Whidock or have it had gone either way." He told me to get out of the car and go Whidock. anything to do with the rock" Esther Whitlock, Leann's for a walk. I walked out to the The Winchester Circuit Court jury — the weapon apparently Henderson mother, said, "The verdict is highway, but then I went back because returned the verdict after deliberating used to kill her, Henderson said in his not what I hoped it would be, but that's I was wondering what he was doing to about 90 minutes and recommended testimony yesterday. what the jury decided. But I think he's the girl." Henderson receive life sentences for But Henderson did admit to robbing as guilty as Tommy Strickler." each of the convictions. Whitlock and abducting her from Tommy David Strickler, 25, of New HENDERSON page 9 Southall wins SGA presidency Renovations may Pagels, Byrd, Cruce, Campbell win other executive races violate 'spirit' of Christine Bottz 1991-92 SGA Election Results SGA reporter state guidelines President Votes Vote % JMU students elected Pat Southall president of the Pat Southall 1,360 68.6% Student Government Association Tuesday. John Kiran Krishnamurthy & Pagels will be legislative vice president, Melanic Kim Graham 961 41.4% Ian Record Byrd will be administrative vice president, Daniel Administrative Vice President steffwriters Cruce will be secretary and Dan Campbell will be Melanie Byrd 1,100 60.64% Renovations to JMU President Ronald Carrier's treasurer. home may have violated the spirit of Virginia's The two Honor Council offices were unopposed. Julia Dunham 645 29.7% capital projects outlay guidelines, according to Matthew McFarlane will be Honor Council president □ two state officials, because JMU didn't seek Qrog Grzybowakl 427 19.7% and Jung Lee will be Honor Council vice president. General Assembly approval for the 1985-87 A total of 2,375 students voted in the election. Legislative Vice President 64.6% project John Pagels 1,402 JMU says the renovations to Oakview, a President Ryan McDougla 767 35.4% state-owned property, were actually two small, Pat Southall received 1,360 out of 2,321 votes, or □ separate projects that didn't need approval from the 58.6 percent of the vote in the race. Her opponent, Dan Cruce 1,188 66.64% General Assembly. But two state officials say the Kim Graham, won 961 votes, or 41.4 percent of the Ef two projects must be viewed as one large project vote. La* Avary 911 43.46% — and not doing so would violate the spirit of "I'm really excited," Southall said. "I'm pleased Treasurer capital outlay regulations. because we had a really good voter turnout. There are Dan Campbell 1,163 87.02% Fred Hilton, director of communications for the a lot of things I want to do next year, and I'm glad I JMU president's office, said the Oakview have the chance to implement them. Frank Halsler 869 42.98% renovations were done in two separate phases. "I'm real excited that people came out to vote and □ Each cost slighdy less than $200,000, he said. that we increased the number from last year," she DEREK CARBONNEAU/THE BREEZE According to state guidelines, renovations that said. "I'm glad people have enough faith in me to "Pat and I are friends, so I just wish her luck next cost more than $200,000 must be approved by the know 111 get the job done. year," Graham said. General Assembly before construction begins. "I think people have seen the work I've done in the Southall said her first actions in office will be to "The Oakview renovation is not a case where we past and they can see I will tackle a lot of issues," she begin promoting environmental awareness and would have to follow that procedure," Hilton said. said. recycling and to continue working on the library and "While the phases were separate projects ... the Graham said, "We tried our hardest. My campaign returning adults programs. phases together probably exceeded $200,000." staff was great That's the way it goes sometimes. I OAKVIEW page 2 do appreciate everybody that did come out to vote. ELECTION page 9 2 • THE BREEZE THURSDAY, MARCH 28,1991 No specific penalties for Oakview. not abiding by guidelines CONTINUED from page 1 requirements?" Carrier said. "There was not any intention other than getting the [university] asset But Laura Trimble, a senior budget analyst in on capital outlay projects improved. Wc did it for the university. the Department of Planning and Budget for the "To my knowledge, this was not done any state government, said JMU possibly should have While two stale officials said JMU may have differently than we've done hundreds of other taken the capital outlay route if the entire project broken the spirit of the state capital projects projects," he said. outlay guidelines, they said that no specific exceeded S200.000, regardless of the number of penalties exist for violations. phases. The scope of the renovations "I don't believe there arc any penalties or "It sounds to me like they maybe should have "The whole house was remodeled inside," said sanctions," said Laura Trimble, a senior budget gone through the capital outlay process," Trimble Roland Wilfong, whose company was contracted analyst for Virginia's Department of Planning and said. "I have projects that have five phases, but by JMU to work on the project Budget. "We don't undo the work. We'd encourage they're all one project. [the offending agency] not to do it in the future." Henry Shirley, director of the Bureau of Capital The renovations to convert the home into a Trimble said a similar situation occurred when Management for the state, said, "If the scope |of facility capable of entertaining large groups of Virginia's highway department split into pieces a the project] was known at the lime of undertaking, people included removing walls, enlarging the project that should have taken the capital outlay then it would have bccn'appropriaic to identify the dining room and kitchen areas, installing a route. dollar amount at that lime." security system, and renovating the major wings of the building, according to Hilton and Bill "In hindsight we'd say, 'Yeah, you should have Trimble said, "It could very well be that they Ferguson, the project's architect. done it this way,'" she said. "Nothing would broke it up to deliberately avoid the capital outlay happen except slapping people's wrists. We'd start process. Thai's very likely — certainly if they "The first phase consisted of renovating the watching them more closely." knew thai all the work was to be done when they majority of the main floor," Ferguson said, "while Fred Hilton, director of communications lor the firsl initiated the project." the second phase involved an almost 100-percent president's office at JMU, said public schools renovation of the lower floor." across the state handle their presidents' homes Slate agencies might want 10 circumvent this And Wilfong said work on the two phases differently. guideline because "it's time-consuming and can be Some public schools build presidents' homes a hassle," Trimble said. overlapped — an assertion that would confirm Trimble's opinion that the renovations were a "totally out of stale tax dollars and tuition Ices, According to state budgeting procedures, to single large project. directly and entirely from student fees, which you request slate approval, agencies must justify the can legitimately do because of the function of a need for the project by staling how it would However, Carrier said about a year elapsed president's home as a university facility — as a improve the agencies' programs and services and between the completion of the first phase in early place for entertaining guests," Hilton said. rank the project's importance against other 1986 and the start of the second phase in January Trimble cited Virginia Tech Prcsklcht James D. requested projects. 1987. McComas' home as an example where university They must also estimate the cost amount to the Carrier said, "It was my understanding dial the funding is not used because the school's private nearest SI00, say where that money would come architect drew the plans for die second phase after foundation owns and maintains the facility. from — and predict the consequences if ihc project the first phase was completed." The Virginia Tech Foundation "can really do were not funded.