Father: 'Growing Pains' Actor Andrew Koenig 'Took His Own Life'

VANCOUVER — More than a week after scouring the city for missing American actor Andrew Koenig, friends who had organized their own search discovered the 41-year-old man's body in the vast urban park that he favored when he lived here more than 10 years ago.

Walter Koenig, also an actor known for his role as Chekov on the original Star Trek series, said his son's body was found Thursday by friends in Stanley Park.

"Our son took his own life," Koenig said, struggling to maintain his composure. "He was obviously in a lot of pain."

Koenig, flanked by his wife, Judith, said their son, known for his role as Richard "Boner" Stabone on the popular 1980s TV series Growing Pains, was in the midst of a life-long struggle with depression.

"If you learn anything from this," Koenig said, directing his comments to those who also suffer from depression, "there are people out there who care."

"In his pain," Judith Koenig said, "he didn't realize help was available to him."

Police Constable Jana McGuinness said the body was found in a densely wooded area just off one of the park's most popular trails for joggers and bicyclists.

McGuinness said investigators did not suspect foul play. She declined to identify the specific cause of death, but she said no weapons were involved.

In a briefing at the police department's horseback patrol precinct in the park, not far from where the body was found, McGuinness said police had searched the general area without success.

Koenig was last seen by friends Feb. 14. He was scheduled to return to the Los Angeles area Feb. 16. When he did not arrive, McGuinness said his parents became increasingly worried and then reported him missing Feb. 18.

From the start, police focused their search in the park after learning that the actor frequently took walks in the 1,000-acre sanctuary, not far from downtown, now teeming with visitors to the Winter Olympic Games.

Police have said Koenig had come here to visit friends, not to attend the Olympic games.

Discovery of Koenig's body came just a day after his parents arrived in the Olympic host city from California to appeal for assistance in locating their son.

McGuinness declined comment on whether a suicide note was found.

On his personal website, however, Walter Koenig earlier in the week acknowledged receiving a troubling letter from his son who had sounded a "despondent tone."

Judith Koenig also said the family had recently learned that their son was giving away some of his personal possessions.

"He was much loved," the mother said, "and he had lots to contribute to this world."

Reality Star on the Run in Swimsuit Model Death

NBC- A reality TV millionaire is being hunted by cops in connection to the death of a swimsuit model who was found naked and stuffed into a suitcase. The suitcase was tossed into an Orange County dumpster.

Model Jasmine Fiore, 28, was reportedly with Ryan Alexander Jenkins -- a contestant on VH1's "Megan Wants a Millionaire" -- at a poker party in San Diego the night before she vanished. The reality show star was described by cops as a "person of interest."

"Ryan is currently speaking to his attoney and will fully cooperate with the police in this matter," his publicist told gossip website TMZ.com. "He is planning on meeting with them in the near future."

The 5-foot-7 stunner had recently moved from Vegas, where she worked as a stripper and met Jenkins just days after he was given the boot from the reality show, the program's star, Megan Hauserman told TMZ.

Jenkins and Fiore had married just days after first meeting, she told the site.

Jenkins, 32, was one of the final contestants in the VH1 reality show where millionaires were pitted against one another to win the love of one woman.

Lisa Lepore, Jasmine's mother, told City News Service that she visited last week with her daughter, and that she appeared as a model in advertising for Howard Stern and hotels in Las Vegas.

"It's just not like her to disappear," Lepore said in a telephone interview from Santa Cruz.

Lepore also said her daughter has worked for Playboy as a representative and coordinator for "Girls of Golf."

"She's not a pinup girl, but she has worked for them," Lepore said.

The woman's mother said Fiore had just moved to Los Angeles to pursue a personal training business and she had recently changed her last name to Kinkaid.

Brazilian TV Host Ordered Killings, Police Say

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) -- Brazilian authorities say drug dealers and other hoodlums were dying to get on Wallace Souza's TV program. Literally.

Souza, a state legislator and former host of a police TV show called "Canal Livre," also was a drug trafficker, officials say. And to get rid of the competition -- and drive up ratings -- he would order that criminal rivals be killed and then would have his camera crews arrive first on the scene, authorities say.

"In truth, they went as far as creating acts," said Thomas Augusto Vasconcelos, intelligence secretary for Amazonas state. "It's been determined that the crimes were committed in order to generate news for the program."

Souza has denied the accusations, and his lawyer has criticized key testimony and questioned the investigation.

"In all the investigations carried out by the public minister and the police, up to now they have not presented any technical evidence of any type," attorney Francisco Balieiro said on Brazilian TV.

State officials say Souza faces charges of forming a criminal gang, corrupting testimony, drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. He remains free because of legislative immunity, officials say.

State attorney general Otavio Gomes told the Agencia Folha news outlet that Souza's gang has been linked to six slayings. But prosecutor Pedro Bezerra told the news outlet he could not bring murder charges against Souza for lack of concrete evidence.

The Amazonas State Justice Tribunal, which held a hearing on the accusations, said the criminal complaint was based on testimony by former Souza associate Moacir Jorge da Costa. After Jorge's arrest, he told revealed details of the gang's reputed activities, including slayings.

Souza's lawyer, Balieiro, said police and public ministry officials did not have standing to investigate the TV show host because he is a legislator. Furthermore, Balieiro said, Jorge's testimony was obtained in an irregular manner.

According to the state public minister, who brought the charges against Souza, the legislator's son, Raphael, belonged to the criminal gang. Raphael Souza has been convicted of homicide, drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.

Fifteen people connected with Souza, among them police officers and a chief, have been arrested.

Souza, a former police officer who left the force more than 20 years ago after being implicated in a fuel theft case, received the most votes of any candidate in the last election in Amazonas state. His TV show went off the air last year after the investigation into his possible criminal involvement intensified.

He lives in the jungle city of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, a region of Brazil known for its prevalent lawlessness. Souza would often rail on his lunchtime show about the killings and other atrocities being committed in the area.

HAhahaha- "Shocker" of the Year

Gosselin Divorce Papers Filed
People Mag- After months of speculation, the 10-year marriage of Jon & Kate Plus Eight's stars Kate and Jon Gosselin appears to be coming to an end, a source close to the situation tells PEOPLE.

Documents to initiate a legal split were filed in Pennsylvania Monday afternoon.

Fans who have watched the couple's popular TLC show – or read the voluminous coverage of the Gosselin marriage in the press – will hardly be surprised: The duo had long maintained a tense relationship, with Jon recently telling PEOPLE he wanted a less high-profile life, while Kate appeared to remain committed to their TV career.

In February, photos surfaced of Jon in the company of young women during a solo visit to see his mother, who was recuperating from surgery, in Huntingdon, Pa. The couple quickly attempted to quash rumors of problems. But in May, the scandal erupted again when 23-year-old Deanna Hummel was photographed driving Jon's car home from a bar late at night.

When the fifth season of the Gosselins' show premiered May 25, the couple admitted to having problems and not knowing where their relationship was headed. "Parents of multiples have triple the divorce rate," Kate said through tears. "I was thinking we were going to beat that. I don't know if I can say that anymore."

TLC promotions of the show are promising a major announcement about the family in Monday night's episode of Jon & Kate Plus Eight.

My Friend Chris Demonstrating How to Make a TV Digital-Ready

DTV Converter Box Setup

My friend Chris works for Consumer Reports and made this video.

I'm now friends with a "celebrity". lol