This Day In History

Jun 19 1953
Atomic spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are electrocuted at Sing-Sing Prison, becoming the first civilians ever executed for espionage in American history.

Jun 19 1999
While taking a walk, horror author Stephen King is struck by a van piloted by a distracted Bryan Smith. King's extensive injuries (broken leg, broken hip, lacerated scalp and collapsed lung) remanded him to a hospital bed for three weeks.

Smith would later die in his sleep on Stephen King's birthday.

Texas Officer Killed in Funeral Procession Crash

KILLEEN, Texas -- A Waynesburg native working as a police officer in Texas was killed Monday when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle while escorting a funeral procession.

Killeen police said Harker Heights Police Officer Andrew Rameas was behind the procession when a Ford Expedition turned in front of his motorcycle in the 1300 block of Stan Schlueter Loop at 12:30 p.m.

Rameas motorcycle then collided with the passenger’s side of the SUV, police said.

Rameas, 33, was pronounced dead at Scott and White Memorial Hospital at 1:12 p.m., police said.

A 9-year-old girl inside the SUV was treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle and two 7-year-old passengers were not injured, police said.

Rameas is expected to be flown back to Waynesburg for burial.

Visitation and funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

Rapist's Mom Dies At Courthouse After He Was Let Free

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- A child rapist who admitted to preying on nearly 20 children is now a free man. Kareem Merthie was released during a hearing in Seminole County Friday morning.

Merthie's mother collapsed in the hallway outside the courtroom. Deputies were unable to revive Ruth Merthie, and she was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Before collapsing, Ruth Merthie was in the courtroom while a psychiatrist testified about her son's improvement. She got up and walked out but collapsed several minutes later.

"Excuse me, I need to get to hospital to see my mother," Merthie said.

Kareem Merthie was convicted when he was 16-years-old. He was locked up in juvenile detention for more than 4 years and spent another five years in a state mental hospital for violent sex offenders.

The 26-year-old preacher's son admitted to preying on children as young as four years old. He told investigators he raped them at his father's church in Sanford.

Kareem Merthie had nothing to say to reporters when he left the Seminole County Courthouse. Circuit Court Judge O.H. Eaton Jr. ruled that Merthe be released from a state mental hospital for violent sex offenders.

Three different psychologists testified in the case and each with a different opinion on Merthie's mental state. One doctor still says he's a threat.

"Are you testifying that he is safe to be released?" asked State Attorney Anne Perrin.

"No, I am not testifying that he is safe to be released," replied a doctor.

"The two other doctors say he doesn't meet the criteria anymore," said Defense Attorney Tom Summerville.

In the end, the judge's decision came down to state law. By definition, Merthie no longer meets the criteria of a violent, high-risk sex offender.

He is free to go live with his uncle in a neighborhood on Alexander Avenue in Sanford.

Kareem Merthie does have to register as a sexual predator so neighbors will know he is living there. Neighbors say they are not happy about it.

"Yes, we don't want him around here, too many children round here," said neighbor Anthony Robinson. "Sooner or later, you did it once; you did it 20 times, you're going to do it again."

Merthie was released and will not be monitored, because he was a juvenile at the time of the rapes.

Heroic School Nurse Dies After Helping Fallen Coach

How's this for tragic irony?

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Santa Clara High School is mourning the loss this week of a school nurse who likely helped save the life of the school's softball coach suffering from a heart attack just moments before collapsing herself. She later died.

On Tuesday, 59-year-old Eileen Bowden gave John Rahbar CPR minutes after he collapsed with no pulse while collecting foul balls following a team practice.

Bowden's actions kept Rahbar alive until paramedics arrived, but then Bowden collapsed.

"After that, Ms. Bowden kind of got up, in just a brief moment, she fell down and seemed to need medical assistance," said Santa Clara School District spokeswoman Tabitha Kappler-Hurley. "So she was taken to Valley Medical Center and unfortunately died en route."

Bowden rotated between five schools in the district, spending one day a week on each campus .She also was police officer with the Santa Clara Police Department. Her death stunned students.

"My first question was, like, 'What's happening? Is everyone OK?' At that point, we didn't know a life had been lost," says Santa Clara High School freshman Michaela Hudson. "So, when we came back to school and we heard about the nurse whose life had been lost, everybody was kind of shocked, because we were there."

Bowden lived in Half Moon Bay and leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter who she adopted in China. Officials say Bowden was extremely dedicated to the school community.

Rahbar's wife said he suffered a heart attack. He should be released from the hospital in a few days. Rahbar's wife expressed deep gratitude to the nurse for her actions and sympathy towards her family. She said she believes her husband might not have survived the heart attack if not for Bowden's aid.

At this time, it is not clear what caused Eileen Bowden's death.

Dad Afraid Daughter Will be Drew's Next Wife

Drew Peterson, under a cloud of suspicion since his 23-year-old fourth wife vanished more than a year ago, has popped the question to another young woman -- drawing anguished pleas from a Chicago father convinced his daughter is the one.

"That ain't going to happen," Ernie Raines said. "I'm doing everything I can to try to get her away from him. . . . I'd like to say to him: Stay away from my daughter, take his ring back and look for his wife before he's out trying to get another young girl."

Peterson's lawyer confirmed the 54-year-old former Bolingbrook police sergeant is engaged to be married. Peterson refused to say who accepted his proposal, but denied that it's Raines' daughter Christina, 24.

Christina Raines, a waitress, also denied that she's the one, saying she's friends with Peterson but never dated him or got a marriage proposal.

But a police source said she is the bride-to-be, and her father insists, "It's her."

Ernie Raines said his daughter is trying to avoid the publicity that has followed Peterson since his wife, Stacy, disappeared in October 2007. Peterson has been named as a suspect in her "potential homicide" and is being investigated in the 2004 homicide of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Ernie Raines said his daughter told him about Peterson's proposal when he spotted a ring on her finger Friday.

"I said, 'You need to take that back. If you don't want to, I will,' " said Ernie Raines, 53. "I said, why would you want to marry someone like that anyway? He's my age for Christ's sake."

Christina Raines said her dad's got it wrong -- it was just a friendship ring from someone else. She said she doesn't know who Peterson plans to marry.

Joel Brodsky, Peterson's defense attorney, said, without naming names, "Yeah, he proposed and she accepted. I guess he's got to get divorced."

On Wednesday morning, a sleepy Peterson seemed irked that news of his engagement had leaked. "I can't believe this is happening," he said. "How the f - - - did this get out?"

Peterson said several female friends called him Wednesday to complain they were being questioned by news reporters.

"I've got calls from three or four women saying the media is bothering them," Peterson said. "They're bothering everybody I've known since third grade."

He said he wants to keep details of his new love under wraps.

"Last time I had a relationship, you guys screwed it all up," he said, referring to tanning salon worker Kim Matuska, 22. "The police had her, the grand jury had her. I'm not putting her through all that."

Peterson said he does not believe his marital status should prevent him from becoming engaged. "I was married to Kathleen when I was engaged to Stacy," he said.

Ernie Raines said he and his daughter met Peterson at a Bolingbrook laundromat years ago, and that she has been friendly with him for months. Peterson has brought her roses, taken her to "Blue Man Group," promised to buy her a car and even autographed a book for him, Ernie Raines said.

Concerned about Peterson -- "I don't want a third one to come up missing" -- Ernie Raines said he drove to Peterson's house last month to "let him know that I'm here, that I'm around, that I know where he lives."

He said Peterson asked him, "Did you get my book?"

"We talked, I said, 'You know me, I'd kill for my kids, you know that,' " Ernie Raines said. "He told me: 'I will never do nothing to hurt your daughter, that's why I didn't put her name out.' "

Ernie Raines thinks his daughter sees security with Peterson. "He's got a house. He's got money."

But, as a father, he sees troubles.

"I said, if you don't answer your [cell] phone, don't worry about it," Raines said. "I'll drive my Cadillac right through his house."

The front book flap, left, and a front page of the book "Drew Peterson Exposed," which Drew Peterson autographed for Chicago resident Ernie Raines. The book was signed for Raines before he found out that Drew was claiming to be engaged to his 23-year-old daughter.
----How's THAT for irony?