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Thread: Kevin Lee Harper Gets 9.5 Years for Involvement in 2011 WA Bludgeoning Deaths of Woman, 98, Two Others

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  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Kevin Lee Harper Gets 9.5 Years for Involvement in 2011 WA Bludgeoning Deaths of Woman, 98, Two Others



    YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A Yakima man was arraigned on three aggravated murder charges Wednesday in the bludgeoning deaths of three people, including a 98-year-old woman, in a community west of Yakima last month.

    No bail was set for Kevin Lee Harper, 28, at his arraignment in Yakima County Superior Court. The charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.

    Investigators believe Harper, acting alone, killed the victims while burglarizing their home, possibly in an effort to pay for a drug habit.

    Authorities received a telephone call late last week about Harper, but only tied him to the murders when he was arrested on domestic violence charges over the weekend, said Stew Graham, chief of detectives for the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.

    The bodies of William Goggin, 61, his wife Pauline, 60, and his mother Bettye Goggin, 98, were discovered at their home Feb. 18 in the gated Falcon Ridge community 10 miles west of Yakima.

    A co-worker called authorities after William Goggin failed to show for work. The victims' vehicle also was discovered in a pond several miles away.

    Investigators recovered several items that can be tied to the victims' home, Graham said. They included identity cards and documents for Pauline Goggin and two handguns, one of which was believed to belong to the victims.

    "The murders were committed probably in the course of a burglary at the residence," Graham said at a news conference Wednesday announcing the arrest. "We haven't been able to establish any connection between the victims and Harper."

    He said Harper was believed to have entered the home through an unlocked door. An autopsy concluded the victims died of blunt force trauma.

    Harper has an extensive criminal history, with seven felony convictions since 1998.

    The latest charges include three counts of first-degree robbery with a firearm, theft of a firearm and unlawful possession.

    Yakima County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty said the death penalty is being considered in the case but that no decision has been made on whether to seek it.

    Graham said family members of the victims were told of the arrest Tuesday and seemed pleased, even as they were "dealing with this personal tragedy."

    http://www.komonews.com/news/local/117315143.html

    If he's not convicted of the murders he should be executed for the mullett.

  2. #2
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Triple-murder suspect has shifty history

    YAKIMA -- The man charged with the bludgeoning deaths of three West Valley residents is a 28-year-old high school dropout with a history of drug abuse and property crimes, and he lived within walking distance of the victims.

    Kevin Lee Harper could face the death penalty.

    In a crime that unnerved Yakima Valley residents, Harper is accused of entering the home of a married couple and a 98-year-old grandmother last month and beating them to death with a blunt object -- possibly a hammer.

    The seven-time felon already was on probation for an Idaho firearms and theft conviction and was awaiting trial in Spokane County for a burglary case when he was charged Wednesday with the murders of Bill Goggin, 61, his wife, Pauline Goggin, 60, and his mother, Bettye Goggin, 98.

    The three were found dead Feb. 18 in their home in the gated Falcon Ridge community.

    Harper was arrested in an unrelated domestic violence complaint during the past weekend. And deputies said a subsequent search of his home turned up evidence linking him to the murders, including a gun and a credit card.

    A plea of innocent was entered on his behalf in Yakima County Superior Court on Wednesday. He remains jailed without bail.

    Similar stories:
    • UPDATE: Yakima man arrested in triple homicide
      UPDATE: Yakima man arrested in triple homicide


      A Yakima man has been charged with murder in the bludgeoning deaths of three people in a gated community west of Yakima last month, in what investigators believe may have been part of a random burglary.
      Kevin Lee Harper, 28, was scheduled to be arraigned in Yakima County Superior Court on Wednesday.
      Authorities received a telephone call late last week by someone who knows Harper, his history and that he lived in the area of the murders, said Stew Graham, chief of detectives for the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
    • Man arraigned in Yakima triple homicide

      Man arraigned in Yakima triple homicide



      YAKIMA -- A Yakima man was arraigned on three aggravated murder charges Wednesday in the bludgeoning deaths of three people, including a 98-year-old woman, in a community west of Yakima this past month.
      No bail was set for Kevin Lee Harper, 28, at his arraignment in Yakima County Superior Court.
      The charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.
    • Suspect arrested in Yakima triple homicide
      Suspect arrested in Yakima triple homicide


      A Yakima man was arraigned on three aggravated murder charges Wednesday in the bludgeoning deaths of three people, including a 98-year-old woman, in a community west of Yakima last month.
    • Autopsies on 3 killed at home near Yakima
      Autopsies on 3 killed at home near Yakima


      YAKIMA, Wash.
    • Autopsies done on 3 killed at home near Yakima


    Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011...#ixzz1FeoUOE8b

  3. #3
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Two attorneys chosen to defend accused triple-murderer

    Two Western Washington attorneys have been appointed to defend the man accused of killing three members of a West Valley family.

    Kevin Harper faces aggravated first-degree murder charges in the February bludgeoning deaths of Bill and Pauline Goggin and his mother, Bettye Goggin, at their home in the remote Falcon Ridge development.

    The Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has yet to announce whether it will seek the death penalty.

    One of the attorneys appointed Tuesday for Harper, Peter Connick of Seattle, is expected to meet with his client today. The other, Pete Mazzone of Everett, will serve as lead counsel but is unable to meet with Harper today because of other obligations.

    Yakima County Superior Court Judge Blaine Gibson chose their appointment Tuesday from among options presented by Dan Fessler, director of the county's public defender office.

    Judge Ruth Reukauf, who is expected to be the trial judge, appointed Gibson on Monday to oversee budget matters in the case, including paying for a defense investigator and other experts.

    The last case in which the death penalty was considered -- the 2005 shooting deaths of a reputed drug dealer and his 2-year-old daughter -- racked up more than $2 million in defense costs. Ultimately, prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty.

    In an ongoing case that reached the state Supreme Court, the Yakima Herald-Republic sued Yakima County to open those billing records to determine how the money was spent.

    The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in January that the county violated the state's Public Records Act because it failed to justify withholding the billing records. The high court ordered the county to review each document before determining what records should be released.

    Connick helped defend one of two suspects in the 2005 case. His defense team, which billed the county about $560,000, pushed for the removal of lawyers representing a second defendant after those attorneys were accused of questionable legal practices. Mazzone was one of two attorneys who replaced them.

    Connick and Mazzone are among a relatively small number of attorneys qualified to handle death-penalty cases in Washington.

    Mazzone will be paid $125 an hour, Connick $90 an hour. Mazzone's hourly rate is consistent with payment allowed for death-penalty counsel, Fessler said.

    Prosecutors have until the end of the month to decide whether to drop the death penalty, although a deadline extension could be requested.

    Fessler has projected that a death penalty defense could cost $477,000 this year and $436,000 next year.

    County commissioner Rand Elliott said Tuesday that the commissioners have not devoted much time to considering the budget ramifications of a death penalty case because the decision has not been finalized.

    http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories...riple-murderer

  4. #4
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Death penalty decision delayed for Harper

    A decision on the death penalty for accused murderer Kevin Lee Harper has been pushed back to August 1, according to the Yakima County prosecutors.

    In release sent out Monday by Prosecuting Attorney Jim Hargarty, Harper appeared Monday in court with his court appointed counsel, Peter Mazzone. During the appearance, Harper filed a waiver of the 30-day time period for the prosecuting attorney to file the notice of a special sentencing proceeding.

    Harper also filed a waiver for a speedy trial and request for continuance of the current April 11 trial date. The court set the new trial date for November 7.

    Hargarty stated the Prosecuting Attorney's Office agreed to the extension in part to allow time for the investigation to be completed, obtain the results of the forensic examination of evidence, documentation relating to the defendant's prior periods of incarcerations and testing and treatment received during those periods. All of which, Hargarty says are important in making the death penalty determination.

    The extension will allow the defense to prepare and file a mitigation package with the prosecuting attorney.

    Yakima County Sheriff's deputies arrested Harper on March 2 in connection to the February 18, triple homicide case, where the bodies of William Goggin, his wife Pauline and Goggin's mother, Elizabeth were found in their Falcon Ridge home.

    http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=14336961

  5. #5
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    New Deadline on Death Penalty Decision for Accused Triple Murderer

    The Yakima county prosecutor has extended the deadline to decide whether he'll seek the death penalty against a man accused of triple murder in the beating deaths of a West Valley family.

    Prosecutor Jim Hagarty was supposed to decide on the death penalty for Kevin Harper on August first. He'll now decide on November first.

    Hagarty says that will give the defense to prepare their cases for Harper, as well as three others arrested in connection with the deaths of Bill, Pauline, and Elizabeth Goggin.

    http://www.kapptv.com/article/2011/j...ccused-triple/

  6. #6
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    No Death Penalty for Triple Murder Defendant

    The Yakima county prosecutor decides not to pursue the death penalty against the man accused of beating a West Valley family to death last February. Now, more on the details and reaction from one of the friends of the Goggin family, on the prosecutor's decision.

    Today Yakima County Prosecutor Jim Hagarty says the man accused of killing a West Valley family won't pay the ultimate punishment if convicted.

    "I am today exercising my discretion in this matter and am choosing not to seek the death penalty against Kevin Harper," says Hagarty.

    One of the friends of Bill and Pauline Goggin, and Bill's elderly mother Elizabeth, told us by phone, he's disappointed with Hagarty's decision.

    "We're supporters of the death penalty, we believe in a life for a life," says Ray Vanderwall.

    Police believe Kevin Harper killed the Goggins while robbing their home last February, but Hagarty doesn't believe the case against Harper is completely solid.

    "It almost needs to be airtight, and without any doubt, in this case as we are sitting here before you today, I do not believe that we have a death penalty strong case," says Hagarty.

    Hagarty believes the case is strong enough for life in prison, which Harper faces if convicted of the goggins murders. Harper's lawyers are happy with Hagarty's decision.

    "While we believe that this is a good beginning, but we will work diligently to completely vindicate Mr. Harper," says Pete Mazzone.

    As for Ray Vanderwall, he just wants someone to pay for the brutal deaths of his friends.

    "These are good people, we can't understand why they're no longer with us. I think we want justice to be done, that's the bottom line," says Vanderwall.

    Kevin Harper's trial is scheduled for late January. Three others are facing charges in the deaths of the Goggins, including Tracey Culton. Court documents revealed Culton admitted to planning the robbery.

    http://www.kapptv.com/article/2011/s...der-defendant/

  7. #7
    Administrator Michael's Avatar
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    I donīt uderstand it. is it about the aggravating and mitigating Factors? If he has doubt about his guilt why is he going for a life sentence?

  8. #8
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael View Post
    I donīt uderstand it. is it about the aggravating and mitigating Factors? If he has doubt about his guilt why is he going for a life sentence?
    I bet it is money related.

    The last case in which the death penalty was considered -- the 2005 shooting deaths of a reputed drug dealer and his 2-year-old daughter -- racked up more than $2 million in defense costs. Ultimately, prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty.

  9. #9
    Administrator Michael's Avatar
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    That was my first thoughgt too Heidi. Itīs about money. Then he has to tell the people the truth and the people can decide if they want spend more money on cpaital punishment cases or not.

  10. #10
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    There are a couple more issues. Is there enough evidence that a death sentence would not be overturned on appeal to warrant the cost of a death penalty? I think there are 3 others who have been implicated in the murders, and I believe Harper has mental issues.

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