Page 6 - aruba-today-20171007

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 7 OctOber 2017
Murder trial to open in horrific burning death of woman, 19

2014, she had burns over 98 a “personal crime” and not
percent of her body. Hours related to drug or gang ac-
later, she died at a Mem- tivity, 17 suspected gang
phis hospital, about 60 members were arrested as
miles (95 kilometers) north a result the investigation.
of Courtland. The shocking The prosecutor has not re-
death drew national atten- vealed to reporters what
tion amid concerns about Chambers told firefighters
violent crime in rural com- when they found her.
munities around the U.S. Investigators were stymied
On Monday, jury selec- early on because they
tion is set to begin in the received no information
trial of Quinton Tellis, who from “street sources,” lead-
is charged with murder. ing them to theorize that
The 29-year-old man has the killing was committed
pleaded not guilty. by one person who told
Tellis faces life in prison no one what happened,
without parole if convict- Champion had said.
ed, according to an April Surveillance video showed
18 court filing in which state Jessica Chambers was
prosecutors disclosed they at a gas station less than
wouldn’t seek the death two hours before she was
penalty. With trial looming found. Wearing a sweater
A photo of Jessica Chambers, who was burned to death in December 2014, is taped to the win- in the north Mississippi city and pajama pants that
dow of her bedroom at her mother’s home on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Courtland, Miss. More than of Batesville, District Attor- looked like sweatpants, she
three years after her shocking death, Quinton Tellis is set to go on trial, charged with murder. Jury
selection is to begin Monday, Oct. 9. He has pleaded not guilty. ney John Champion of Pa- put $14 worth of gas in her
(AP Photo/Adrian Sainz) nola County, has declined car, more than the $5 or so
to discuss details of the she usually purchased, Ali
By ADRIAN SAINZ mable liquid, set ablaze, taped to a window in a case. Fadhel, a clerk at the gas
Associated Press and left to die beside her house in the community of Tellis’ lawyers also didn’t station, told The Associated
BATESVILLE, Miss. (AP) — burning car. Now a man is Courtland where she lived return calls seeking com- Press in the days after her
Jessica Chambers was on set to go on trial for murder with her mother, Lisa. Her ment. death.
fire when she was found in the case. mother’s message testifies The prosecution’s assertion “I asked her, ‘Why are you
along a back road near a There is no marker along to her love for her daugh- of what happened is ex- putting so much gas?’
north Mississippi tree farm the winding road where ter, with words simply read- pected to unfold in court. She said, ‘I’m going some-
nearly three years ago. The Chambers was found, no ing: “In loving memory, my Tellis and Chambers were where,’” Fadhel said.
19-year-old former high memorial to her life. But angel.” friends, Champion has On her way out, Chambers
school cheerleader had nearby, a photo of the When firefighters found Jes- said. Although Champion got a call on her cellphone,
been doused with a flam- smiling woman has been sica Chambers on Dec. 6, has said he believed it was Fadhel said.q

Man charged in cyberstalking
war waged against roommate

By ALANNA RICHER Prosecutors said Lin
Associated Press hacked into the woman’s
BOSTON (AP) — A Mas- online accounts and stole
sachusetts man has been private photos and diary
charged with waging a re- entries from her computer
lentless cyberstalking cam- that included details about
paign against his former her medical, psychological
roommate that included and sexual history. Lin then
the creation of fake on- sent her personal informa-
line accounts soliciting sex tion to hundreds of others,
in her name that caused including her co-workers,
men to show up at her young sister, and parents’
home, federal prosecutors colleagues, they said.
said Friday. One email including sexu-
Ryan Lin, 24, faces up to ally implicit images and
five years in prison if con- diary entries was sent from
victed of the cyberstalking a fake account using her
campaign, which authori- father’s name to employ-
ties said was so disturbing it ees of the New Hampshire
forced the woman to move school district, where her
out of state. Lin’s attorney father lives, an FBI affidavit
declined to comment. said.
Lin began stalking the Lin also created fake pro-
24-year-old woman in April files of the woman on web-
2016, after he answered sites dedicated to prosti-
a Craigslist advertisement tution and sexual fetishes
and moved into a house that said she wanted to
she was living in Water- participate in a rape fan-
town, near Boston, authori- tasy and “gang bang,” au-
ties said. thorities said. q