The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
3
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/04252005_...rkeyheiser.html
Police: Old Joke Prompted Murder
William Berkeyheiser was shot and killed as he answered the front door of his Washington Crossing home on Easter Sunday.
April 25, 2005 --Police made an arrest and have apparently gotten a confession for an Easter Sunday murder in Bucks County. It all apparently stemmed from a 7-year-old joke.
Sixty-two-year-old William Berkeyheiser was shot dead on Easter Sunday, as he answered the door at his Washington Crossing home.
Sunday night at an apartment complex in Northeast Philadelphia. That man has apparently told authorities an incredible tale of why and
r
how this deadly murder plot unfolded.
At a news conference Monday morning, Bucks County District Attorney D
iane Gibbons announced the arrest of 29-year-old Stanhope Douglas. She said he confessed to the murder of Berkeyheiser after a standoff at his home on Woodhaven Road in Northeast Philadelphia Sunday night.
Diane Gibbons/Bucks Co. D.A.: "He indicated that the reason he killed Mr. Berkeyheiser was that he claimed Mr. Berkeyheiser had told a joke which he considered to be offensive because it had some kind of racial overtones." (Oh yeah, that justifies murder.)
Douglas had worked as a maintenance man at the Baptist home where Berkeyheiser had been the director of plant operations in 1998. Douglas wouldn't elaborate on the joke, but apparently held a grudge against Berkeyheiser all this time.
He even hired a private investigator to locate Berkeyheiser's Washington Crossing home according to investigators. Douglas stopped at a convenience store nea
r B
erkeyheiser's home on Easter Sunday night to ask for directions.
It was the security video of Douglas at the store that led to the ti
p call that finally led police to their man.
Viola Berkeyheiser/victim's wife: "I don't know how I feel. It's just a tremendous relief. I just want to thank the community. I want to thank the press for everything they've done."
Douglas' arraignment was continuing at noon.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/04252005_...rkeyheiser.html
Police: Old Joke Prompted Murder
William Berkeyheiser was shot and killed as he answered the front door of his Washington Crossing home on Easter Sunday.
April 25, 2005 --Police made an arrest and have apparently gotten a confession for an Easter Sunday murder in Bucks County. It all apparently stemmed from a 7-year-old joke.
Sixty-two-year-old William Berkeyheiser was shot dead on Easter Sunday, as he answered the door at his Washington Crossing home.
Sunday night at an apartment complex in Northeast Philadelphia. That man has apparently told authorities an incredible tale of why and
r
how this deadly murder plot unfolded.
At a news conference Monday morning, Bucks County District Attorney D
iane Gibbons announced the arrest of 29-year-old Stanhope Douglas. She said he confessed to the murder of Berkeyheiser after a standoff at his home on Woodhaven Road in Northeast Philadelphia Sunday night.
Diane Gibbons/Bucks Co. D.A.: "He indicated that the reason he killed Mr. Berkeyheiser was that he claimed Mr. Berkeyheiser had told a joke which he considered to be offensive because it had some kind of racial overtones." (Oh yeah, that justifies murder.)
Douglas had worked as a maintenance man at the Baptist home where Berkeyheiser had been the director of plant operations in 1998. Douglas wouldn't elaborate on the joke, but apparently held a grudge against Berkeyheiser all this time.
He even hired a private investigator to locate Berkeyheiser's Washington Crossing home according to investigators. Douglas stopped at a convenience store nea
r B
erkeyheiser's home on Easter Sunday night to ask for directions.
It was the security video of Douglas at the store that led to the ti
p call that finally led police to their man.
Viola Berkeyheiser/victim's wife: "I don't know how I feel. It's just a tremendous relief. I just want to thank the community. I want to thank the press for everything they've done."
Douglas' arraignment was continuing at noon.