Macabre Clue Leads Police to Suspected Thief

(Newser) – This month's entry in the annals of truly stupid criminals: Police in Arizona say they found a would-be thief thanks to the suspect's own severed finger, the Arizona Republic reports. Joshua Allen Goverman, 29, allegedly tried to steal copper wiring (value: $300) from an air conditioning truck Oct. 7 but apparently lost his finger in the process. He then, for some reason, left the finger behind. In the morning, the victim went to his truck and "got quite a surprise," a police news release says. "A cut-off finger that was caught up in the wiring."

The grossest quote we've heard in a while, from a Glendale cop: "They took a Popsicle stick and were able to attach it to that finger, and they were able to roll that finger and get a print on that finger." That led them to Goverman, who was indeed missing a finger. This being 2013, they also reviewed his Facebook account, and found an image the criminal genius had posted prior to his arrest "of his hand with the missing portion of his finger." He gave detectives the same story he'd posted on Facebook: that the finger was severed while he was fixing a car. But he apparently 'fessed up after police actually showed him the finger and ended up getting booked on theft charges. "I can't believe he didn't come back and get the finger," the truck's driver marvels to KPHO. "I would've come back and got the finger."

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Delaware Man Suspected in 1978 LA Murder

By: Associated Press & NBC4
Published: August 09, 2011
Updated: August 09, 2011 - 10:39 AM »  Comments | Post a Comment

DELAWARE, Ohio -- A local man has been arrested in connection to a 1978 murder of a Los Angeles business executive after cold-case investigators found forensic evidence linking him to the crime.

Los Angeles investigators said 62-year-old Walter Randolph Peartree was arrested at his home in Delaware Monday on a murder warrant.

Peartree is suspected in the April 10, 1978, stabbing death of 52-year-old James Gentry.

A friend discovered Gentry murdered in his Westside residence.

The slaying went unresolved until a few months ago, when scientific testing requested by cold-case detectives showed Peartree was in Gentry's home at the time of the killing.

Peartree, originally from Virginia, has been living in various locations in Ohio since the mid-1990s.

LA homicide detectives contacted Delaware police in May 2011.

Delaware police provided assistance to LAPD detectives by providing background information, conducting surveillance, obtaining and executing a search warrant, interviews and arresting Peartree.

Peartree is scheduled for a video arraignment in Delaware municipal court at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Peartree's extradition to California is pending his court appearances in Delaware.

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Police Look For OKC Man Suspected Of Killing Girlfriend

Xin Xin Liu, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Police Department is looking for a man who is suspected of murdering his girlfriend on Monday.

Police say 34-year-old Lorena Zamarripa's body was found near the intersection of N.W. 43rd and Shartel. She had extensive trauma to her body, which may have caused her death.

Investigators say that the victim had left her home near the 800 block of N.W. 43rd St. Sunday night with her ex-boyfriend, 32-year-old Gabriel Munoz, and she was not seen alive again. They believe Munoz killed Zamarripa and then fled the scene.

Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Munoz for the charge of first degree murder.

According to police,  Munoz drives a 1986 Honda Accord DX that is dark in color with an Oklahoma tag of 940-HHP . They say Munoz may have already fled the state and is possibly attempting to cross into Mexico via Texas or Arizona.

Anyone in the Oklahoma City area with information on the whereabouts of Munoz is encouraged to call 911 immediately. Those in Texas and Arizona should call (405)-231-2121.

Related Story: Suspicious Death Under Investigation In OKC

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