11-IE
The Student Voice Since 1903
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2006
Slain Purcell girl found in neighbor's closet State to seek death penalty, McClain County attorney general says by Heather Warlick Staff Writer
& The Associated Press
The Amber Alert for Purcell's missing 10 year-old Jamie Rose Bolin ceased April 14 with the grim discovery of her body in the apartment of her neighbor, Kevin Ray Underwood, 26. Authorities said there were deep saw marks around the girl's neck whose unclothed body was found in a plastic tub' in the bedroom closet of the apartment. McClain County Attorney General Tim Kuykendall said
the death was "atrocious, heinous and cruel." "This appears to have been part of a plan to kidnap a person, rape them, torture them, kill them, cut off their head, drain the body of blood, rape the corpse, eat the corpse, then dispose of the organs and bones," Purcell Police Chief, David Tompkins said in a statement to the press after a search of Underwood's apartment. Police seized several items they found in the apartment including a decorative dagger, a hack saw, duct tape, meat tenderizer, barbecue skewers, a duffel bag, a cutting board, a computer and a videotape about
a serial killer, Tompkins said. Authorities became suspicious of Underwood when he acted strangely at a checkpoint that had been set up near the apartment complex. He was then questioned by the FBI, but authorities have not said if Underwood confessed to the murder. Kuykendall said he thinks Underwood hit the girl with a wooden cutting board several times and then duct taped her mouth shut, suffocating her to death. He said Underwood then sexually assaulted girl's dead body. Jamie lived with her father, Curtis Bolin, in an apart-
ment complex managed by Tim Bayer. Bayer told The Oklahoman that Underwood, who lived in an apartment adjacent to the Bolin's, would stand on his balcony and watch the neighborhood children play. "We don't know enough to make a whole lot of sweeping judgments," said Dr. Shawna Cleary, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at UCO. Cleary said this kind of crime is extremely rare. "Writing about it is one thing, and actually doing it is another." Curtis Bolin, who was described as a devoted father and worked as a mechanic, was
sedated after being told the news of his daughter's death, according to The Associated Press. Jamie was reported missing on April 13, but an Amber Alert was not issued until the next day because no one saw the abduction and police thought she may have run away from home, according to initial police reports. Underwood is being held in the McClain County Jail on charges of first-degree murder. Kuykendall said the state will seek the death penalty. Heather Warlick can be reached at hwatlick@thevistaonline.com.
AP
Kevin Ray Underwood, 26, was being held April 15 in the McClain County Jail on a firstdegree murder complaint. The body of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin was found in Underwood's Purcell apartment April 14, police said.
A lot for a little?
Jury still out on H.O.V. lot experiment by Heather Warlick Staff Writer
The High Occupancy Vehicle parking lot has been open for four months, but only about 300 cars per week take advantage of the lot. Karen Ocker, UCO director of Transportation and Parking Services said she is pleased with the success of the H.O.V. lot, but improvements still need to be made. She said several students have already turned in the required 50 parking vouchers to be credited the $80 they spent on their parking passes. "It's convenient because I'm trying to save money," said Christen Luker, senior photojournalism student. "I need the cash to pay for my honeymoon." She carpools with her fiance from Crescent, and said she saves about $40 per week in gas and saves time by not having to search for a vacant parking space. Ocker said at least 100 spaces are available in the lot, which is located next to the visitor's pay lot east of the Nigh. University Center. She said if it becomes full, more spaces can usually be added from the pay lot. The pay lot and the H.O.V. lot share an entrance and exit, and Ocker said her department is working on adding another entry and exit point, to ease traffic back-ups. Some students complain that the lot should be opened for more general student parking. "It's always empty," said sophomore Daniela Rodriguez. "It's a waste of the space." Ocker said there are never more students in class than there are parking spaces available on campus. Parking enforcement officers do an hourly census during peak parking times, usually at 10 a.m., she said, and they know which lots are full and which have vacant spaces. "Our campus is not that
see PARKING, page 8
by Vista photographer Brett Deering
UCO's H.O.V., or high occupancy vehicle, parking lot on the east side of the Nigh University Center is seen at approximately 9:30 a.m. April 17.
State Rep. Istook speaks at 'Political Awareness Week' by Alex Gambill Staff Writer
UCO's Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, hosted Congressman Ernest Istook to speak as part of Political Awareness Week April 14 in Pegasus Theatre. Istook is currently running for governor and has served in Congress since 1992. Many students addressed. Istook about concerns of public education in Oklahoma. "The most important factor
to the quality of a child's education is the role that the parents play," Istook said. A student in the audience said Oklahoma is ranked 49th in the nation as far as teacher salary. "I don't here a lot of people that are in public office talking to parents and challenging them to do better," Istook said. Istook said parents and students should sign a contract with the school, stating the child will be in class and will obey all the rules of the school.
War Correspondence
He said teachers are leaving Oklahoma public schools because the discipline of the students is low. The Academic Performance Index ranks Oklahoma 36th in the nation. The ranking is created by the results of students' ACT and SAT scores. Istook said he wants to raise academic standards on teachers with an emphasis on not raising teacher salary. "We can't just throw money by Vista photographer Midori Sasaki
see ISTOOK, page 4
Oklahoma State Representative Ernest Istook speaks April 14 in Pegasus Theater as part of 'Political Awareness Week.'
Broncho Tennis Festival
Advertising professor David Bennett is an Army reservist who was mobilized last April and deployed to Afghanistan. In a guest column, he shares his observations of what's going on there.
The UCO men's and women's tennis teams each lost two out of three matches April 141 5 at the Broncho Tennis Festival in Edmond.
See Opinion pg. 2
See Sports pg. 12
.