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Suspect alleges that mayor harassed her
By MARK WIEBE
The Kansas City Star
The woman charged with attempting to murder Edwardsville Mayor Stephanie Eickhoff and her family defended herself Friday from the steps of the Wyandotte County Courthouse.
Reading from a handwritten statement, Donna Ozuna-Trout accused the mayor and her family of harassing her and filing false police reports. She also alleged that the harassment was racially motivated and said that she and her husband, Ralph Trout, who also stands accused of attempted murder, had never done anything against the Eickhoffs.
We both mind our own business and have never bothered the Eickhoffs or anyone else, O
una-Trout said at a morning news conference organized by activist Alonzo Washington.
In a telephone interview Friday afternoon, Eickhoff denied Ozuna-Trout's allegations and vehemently rejected t
he charges of racism.
We were th
e victims of an attempted murder, and now we're the victims of an untrue statement, she said. We have many minority friends. I have many friends who are in a biracial marriage. I even have a biracial marriage in my family. Accusations of us being racist are ridiculous, deplorable.
The couple were charged last week with one count each of attempted first-degree murder. Both have been released on $50,000 bonds.
The charges stem from a package that was sent in late April to the Eickhoff home in the 2000 block of South 94th Street. The Wyandotte County district attorney's office alleges that the package contained cupcakes and soda contaminated with lethal levels of chemicals, including lye and antifreeze. Prosecutors contend that they have amp
le evidence tying the couple to the package.
But Ozuna-Trout denied that she had anything to do with the incident.
These are false charges, she said.
Ozuna-Trout said that Eic
khof
f had leveled several charges against her in
the past that had not been proved.
She also accused Eickhoff of making racist remarks in front of her. Ozuna-Trout is of Hispanic and German descent. Eickhoff and her husband are white.
Following her attorney's advice, Ozuna-Trout declined to answer questions after making her statement.
Eickhoff has said the problems began almost five years ago when Ozuna-Trout moved into the neighborhood and started harassing her with unprovoked, rude hand gestures.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/n...cal/9121606.htm
Suspect alleges that mayor harassed her
By MARK WIEBE
The Kansas City Star
The woman charged with attempting to murder Edwardsville Mayor Stephanie Eickhoff and her family defended herself Friday from the steps of the Wyandotte County Courthouse.
Reading from a handwritten statement, Donna Ozuna-Trout accused the mayor and her family of harassing her and filing false police reports. She also alleged that the harassment was racially motivated and said that she and her husband, Ralph Trout, who also stands accused of attempted murder, had never done anything against the Eickhoffs.
We both mind our own business and have never bothered the Eickhoffs or anyone else, O
una-Trout said at a morning news conference organized by activist Alonzo Washington.
In a telephone interview Friday afternoon, Eickhoff denied Ozuna-Trout's allegations and vehemently rejected t
he charges of racism.
We were th
e victims of an attempted murder, and now we're the victims of an untrue statement, she said. We have many minority friends. I have many friends who are in a biracial marriage. I even have a biracial marriage in my family. Accusations of us being racist are ridiculous, deplorable.
The couple were charged last week with one count each of attempted first-degree murder. Both have been released on $50,000 bonds.
The charges stem from a package that was sent in late April to the Eickhoff home in the 2000 block of South 94th Street. The Wyandotte County district attorney's office alleges that the package contained cupcakes and soda contaminated with lethal levels of chemicals, including lye and antifreeze. Prosecutors contend that they have amp
le evidence tying the couple to the package.
But Ozuna-Trout denied that she had anything to do with the incident.
These are false charges, she said.
Ozuna-Trout said that Eic
khof
f had leveled several charges against her in
the past that had not been proved.
She also accused Eickhoff of making racist remarks in front of her. Ozuna-Trout is of Hispanic and German descent. Eickhoff and her husband are white.
Following her attorney's advice, Ozuna-Trout declined to answer questions after making her statement.
Eickhoff has said the problems began almost five years ago when Ozuna-Trout moved into the neighborhood and started harassing her with unprovoked, rude hand gestures.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/n...cal/9121606.htm