Let Freedom Ring! H A P P Y J U LY 4T H H O LI DAY
County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 52 No. 14
Week of Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Investigators still seek clues in Finley case
Debby Schamber For The Record
Dannarriah Finley would have been 15 years old on her birthday July 22, but her life was taken from her when she was just four years old. All that remains of the young girl’s life is memories and a few belongings. Her gravesite marks the place where her tiny body was buried. Among the pine needles is a photo of her during happier times and some faded flowers. The house where she once lived was destroyed in 2005 during Hurricane RIta when a tree fell through it. SInce then the city of Orange has removed the remains of the place she called home. As the nation was celebrat-
Sheriff’s Department investigates reported rape From Staff Reports
A 19-year-old Mauriceville woman has reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office she was raped by two 20-year-old men. According to reports, the woman and the men were at a party Friday evening. The trio was drinking alcohol and had gotten into a discussion about specific piercings. The man with the piercing reportedly refused to show them the affected area in front of the other people at the party. However, he alledgedly did agree to show the other male in an adjoining bedroom. The woman had reportedly gone into the bedroom to hide and a man followed behind her. When the man with the piercing entered the room, he reportedly locked the door behind him. The woman reported the rape when she went to Christus St.Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont. The investigation is pending. No charges have been filed.
One of the last photos of Dinnarriah Finley.
The gravesite of Dannarriah Finley, the final resting place for the little girl who once stole the hearts of many.
ing the 4th of July holiday, Dannarriah’s killer had plans of their own and had taken her
from her bed. Jamie Arnold, Dannarriah’s mother, reported her missing
Penny Leleux
For The Record
The benefit for Todd Edgerly may be over, but donations are still being made to the account at Bridge City Bank. The Community Center was packed Saturday as tickets were dropped into jars corresponding to the many raffle items. There was plenty of good music as attendees enjoyed pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Hot links and boudain were also available. Bins and bins were filled with tee-shirts, plus koozies and bracelets were available for purchase stating “I wear grey for Todd Edgerly, brain cancer awareness.” At the end of the night only about eight tee-shirts remained. Flo Edgerly, Todd’s mother, said benefit organizers Molly LaHaye and Nicci Hargrave Glass kept telling her, “It’s going to be huge!” Flo had no idea it was going to turn out as large as it did. “I couldn’t put my mind on that,” said Flo. “I’ve been involved in a lot of benefits for a lot of people. We always had to go to the merchants and
business places and ask for donations. No one asked for any donations [for Todd’s benefit]. All Molly did was put it on Facebook that they were going to have a benefit for Todd and they started calling in wanting to donate. That doesn’t happen... and that was all over the Golden Triangle. It wasn’t just in Orange, it was everywhere.” “That is awesome. Such a tribute to my son and the whole family,” said Flo. She said people are saying they had such a good time; they want to know when they were going to do it again. Flo couldn’t believe the turnout. “They’d come and fill it up, then they’d leave, then another wave would come in. It was constant all day long,” she said. “We had so many people from out of town.” Members of IBEW came from Beaumont, Port Arthur, Houston, Galveston and Austin. “They were from all over,” she said. Todd made two appearances with his parents at the benefit. Both times he arrived; apEDGERLY PAGE 3A
• SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........1B
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riah’s even though she was 27 miles from her residence. Autopsy results would also confirm she was sexually assaulted before being strangled to death. It is believed the suspect wrapped her body in a pink, flowered bed sheet. Orange police officers distributed a picture of a sheet similar to the one used in the crime in hopes someone would have some information on the case. The manufacturer had discontinued the pattern. In the days that followed a funeral service was planned at Mount Zion Baptist Church. More than 700 mourners arrived to say goodbye. Her tiny body lay in a white casket next DANNARRIAH FINLEY PAGE 2A
Benefit for Edgerly successful, fight for life continues
Inside The Record
• CHURCH NEWS Page......................5B
from their residence located in the 1000 block of 4th Street. Arnold told investigators she had last seen her daughter asleep at 4 a.m. in a white floral shirt and purple shorts. When she awoke at about 10
a.m., her daughter was nowhere to be found. Arnold told the officers she often left the front door unlocked at night because her mother often came by the house. Once the news was out, the city was flooded with volunteers to help search for the four-year-old girl with the shy smile and long braids. Some volunteers brought helicopters and horses. But, it was a pipeline inspector on July 8th who discovered a body in a remote part of Pleasure Island in Port Arthur. Everyone held their breath while they waited for autopsy result. Their worst fears came true when it was determined the body was indeed Dannar-
Benefit organizer Molly LaHaye holds up Willie Nelson items being auctioned off Saturday at the benefit for Todd Edgerly. Over 3500 people attended the all day event. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Orange Lions Club.Wingate.WeatherfordRoy Wingate (center) was presented the International President’s Appreciation Certificate for his 51 years of service to the club. He is pictured with incoming President Stump Weatherford (left) and Wingate’s wife, Crystal (right). RECORD PHOTOS
Orange Lions install officers Penny Leleux
For The Record
Stump Weatherford was installed as president of the Orange Lions Club for the year 2012 -2013, by Dan Mohon. Weatherford has been a member of the Orange Lions for 32 years and also served as president of the club in 1985 -1986. He has served Lions Clubs International on the district level as District Governor 1997-1998 and on the state level as a Multiple District Council Chairperson 2010-2011. He has received three International President’s Leadership medals and he is a Melvin Jones Fellow. (Jones was the founder of Lions Clubs International.) Outgoing president Tony Dallas received the Lion of the Year Award and was presented his Past President plaque. Dylan McGuire received the Rookie of the Year Award. Longtime member Roy Wingate was presented the International President’s Appreciation Certificate for his 51 years of service to the club. Butch ORANGE LIONS PAGE 2A
Stump Weatherford is the newly installed president of the Orange Lions Club for 2012-2013.
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