Page 10 Thursday, August 4, 2005 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A Watchung Communications, Inc. Publication DNA Evidence Links Serial Killer with Laurite Murder By DEBORAH MADISON are grateful to know that this sus- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times pected predator can no longer take SCOTCH PLAINS – A Montana another life. Although this is the drifter, Ronald James Ward, already day we have long awaited, it opens serving a life sentence for the mur- the deep wounds with renewed in- der of a homeless man, has been tensity.” linked, through DNA evidence, to Along with thanking the many the rape and murder of Scotch Plains detectives and police who helped to resident Kristin Laurite in August find her daughter’s killer, Mrs. of 2000. Dibenedetto also said, “I want to Ms. Laurite’s nude body was give my genuine thanks to the me- found 300 feet behind a rest stop dia who have kept my daughter’s along Interstate 40 in Conway story alive.” County Arkansas near Little Rock. Due to the new DNA evidence Ms. Laurite, 25, was traveling cross- linking Ward with Ms. Laurite’s Patrick Connor for The Westfield Leader country by car to a teaching job in murder, the Conway County Sheriff’s RUNNING BRIDE…A Westfield bride-to-be runs in the 5K Pizza Race last week California, when she pulled off the Department has re-opened the case with her friends jogging along for support. Fanwood Borough Library Director Dan Weiss highway to walk her dogs. It was and is gathering more evidence and then when she was raped and stabbed re-interviewing possible witnesses repeatedly. to present to the prosecutor’s office, Ward may soon merit the notori- Chief Smith said. They expect to Dems Kickoff Campaign Ex-Wife Stabs FW ous label of serial killer if prosecu- submit that evidence to the tors collect enough evidence to pro- prosecutor’s office sometime in the ceed with several other pending, next three weeks, he added. If there For Mayor, Council Seats Library Director Weiss murder charges against him, Deputy is enough evidence for a conviction, Chief Sheriff Michael Smith of the prosecutors will submit the evi- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 By PAUL J. PEYTON side the library at around 5 p.m. Conway County told The Leader. dence to a Grand Jury for a capital Taylor Park. Mr. Fusaro, President of the Specially Written for The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times “Our patrol officers responding Ward was tried and convicted for murder charge. He said, “the proper leadership and Wesfield Baseball League and an FANWOOD – Borough Library found the victim sitting in his office the murder of Craig Petrich, 43, who Mrs. Dibenedetto tried unsuccess- the proper resources” are needed to engineer, said he has felt the council Director Dan Weiss, 53, of Jersey with a large neck wound,” said Police was robbed, beaten and shot to death fully to sue Arkansas Highway Pa- make the DPW a better functioning has had “a little standoffish attitude” City was recovering this week from a Chief Donald Domanoski. in Montana on Oct. 16, 2000. Ward trol for not providing adequate po- department. the past few years when questioned stab wound to the neck inflicted by Chief Domanoski said detectives is also being looked at for several lice security at the rest stop where On the issue of over development, by the public on their decisions. He his ex-wife, Rosemary Dunlap, 54, learned Dunlap was sitting in Weiss’ other murders, including that of her daughter was killed. In 1997, Mr. Jardim said the town needs to promised to use his experience as an of Westfield, on Monday evening as car in the back seat wearing gloves on Jackie Travis, 49, who was beaten to another person was murdered at the tighten up Westfield’s zoning ordi- engineer to help the DPW accom- he left work, police said. her hands, apparently waiting for her death in her Merced, California apart- rest stop and the Arkansas Highway nance. He said new homes need be plish its tasks. He said he would focus Police said Mr. Weiss, who has ex-husband. ment on Dec. 7, 2000, and Shelia Transportation Department has now built “in character” with existing on improvement the town’s infrastruc- headed the library for six years, was Mayor Colleen Mahr told The Polly, 32, who was found dead on closed the area, Chief Smith stated. homes in the neighborhood. ture such as athletic fields and roads to have been married to his fiancée Leader the stabbing was “just a com- Dec. 30, 2000 in nearby Modesto. This month will mark the five- Ms. Fisch, an English and edu- if elected. this Saturday, August 6. plete and utter shock to everyone.” Although the DNA evidence en- year anniversary of Ms. Laurite’s cation professor at New Jersey Mr. Haas, who filled a vacancy on Dunlap was arrested not far from “Everyone is so saddened and tered into a computer database death. Ms. Laurite graduated from City University in Jersey City, said the council in 2003, said given his her home in Westfield following a shell shocked that something like linked the murder of Ms. Travis Scotch Plains- Fanwood High she intends to focus on numerous slim 59-vote defeat in 2003 he de- countywide radio broadcast alert, that could occur” in such a small with DNA from Ms. Laurite’s case School in 1993. Her story has been “little tiny things” that residents cided he would “give it another shot.” police said. “tight knit community” like in 2001, neither case could be featured on Inside Edition, want accomplished by town gov- He said the “small little details the She is a sales associate with a realtor Fanwood, she said. matched with a suspect. The data- America’s Most Wanted and the ernment. town needs to focus on” have a direct firm in Westfield. Mayor Mahr credited the borough base evidence linking Ward was not Montel Williams Show. “Over the last bunch of years some impact on residents. The Fanwood Memorial Library is rescue squad’s quick response and its discovered until this year, when An Associated Press Report ar- people have felt their ideas haven’t Fourth ward candidate Mr. located at North Avenue and Tillotson decision to transport Mr. Weiss to evidence from Ms. Polly’s case was ticle on the case stated that in court been heard. If I am on the town coun- Bigosinski, an attorney in Road. UMDNJ with saving his life. entered into the CODIS database documents, Ward admitted to fre- cil, believe me, everyone’s ideas will Morristown, said he is “very excited Westfield police detained Dunlap “This was a horribly shocking and system, Chief Smith explained. quent use of heroin, methamphet- be heard,” said Ms. Fisch. and eager to serve this town.” until Fanwood police officers arrived senseless act of violence against a Kristin Laurite’s mother, Lynn amines, marijuana and alcohol. and made the arrest, Westfield Police wonderful, dedicated borough em- Dibenedetto of Scotch Plains, could Ward also told the court that his Sergeant Scott Rodger told The ployee,” she said. “All of us are send- not be reached for comment. How- mother, who was a prostitute, aban- Westfield Leader. ing our best wishes to him, his fiancée ever, she published the following doned him at an early age to live in Dunlap was arrested and charged and his family along with our prayers statement on the web site, foster care. with attempted murder and posses- for a full and speedy recovery.” www.kristinlaurite.org, dedicated to CODIS stands for Combined sion of a knife with intent to use it Tom Plante, a friend of Mr. Weiss, finding her daughter’s killer. DNA Index System. More informa- unlawfully, police said. told The Leader he understood the “My family and I are relieved and tion on the database can be found at Fanwood Police Operations Com- library director “is doing better” and comforted that a suspect has been www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/codis/ mander Lieutenant Richard Trigo said that the hospital has allowed him to apprehended and incarcerated. We index1.htm. Sergeant Howard Jarvis and Detec- see visitors. tive Eugene Chin are conducting the Mr. Plante said his wife, Patricia, follow -up investigation. “is so upset she doesn’t want to talk WESTFIELD Lieutenant Trigo said police at the anybody.” scene recovered the knife they be- Mr. Plante was attending a meeting POLICE BLOTTER lieved was used in the attack. Monday night with Assemblywoman Mr. Weiss was in guarded condi- Linda Stender and Mayor Mahr when WEDNESDAY, driving while intoxicated. He was tion at the University of Medicine they were informed of the stabbing. JULY 20 released to a responsible individual. and Dentistry of New Jersey in New- “Everybody pulled out their cell phones Andrew DiStefano, 19, and Lissette Two residences were reported bur- ark at press time, said Union County and started making calls,” he said. Mayes, 19, both of Carteret, were glarized on Max Place. In each inci- Prosecutor Theodore Romankow. “He (Mr. Weiss) is a man of many arrested at South Avenue and Ross dent, one or more individuals cut the Betsey Burgdorf for The Westfield Leader On Tuesday, State Superior Court talents. He is just a great guy. What a Place and charged with possession of telephone wires and forced open the CAMPAIGN SPEECHES…Mayoral candidate Tom Jardim stands with his Judge Scott J. Moynihan in Union shock to the community it is,” said less than 50 grams of suspected mari- front door.