The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 4

B2 Saturday. December 12. 1998 WE METRO The CiNciNNATiENQinHM TR1STATE '94 death Man charged in EPORT 'Seventeen bones. It's not very helpful knowing she's scattered all oxer the road somewhere' Joy Spry, Mrs. Washer's sister man.

They bought a case of beer and got into his car. Mr. Freeman told police he was on a three-day drunk when he met Mrs. Washer. The two drove into rural Boone County, drinking, smoking pot and taking pills, he said.

Mr. Freeman said he blacked out, gaining consciousness when the car crashed. He saw Mrs. Washer fly out the passenger side door. When he got out of the car her head was Mr.

Freeman dragged Mrs. Washer's body to Gunpowder Creek, not far from Dale Williamson Road. In an area covered with heavy brush, Mr. Freeman covered Mrs. Washer's body with rocks.

Then he went to his mother's house and drank some more. "When he woke up he tried to determine if what happened was real or a dream," Boone Sheriff's Deputy Todd Kenner said. "He returned to Big Jimmy Hill, where he left her." Mr. Freeman took Mrs. Washer's purse and a bloody shirt from the scene and burned them.

His family knew nothing about what happened. Mrs. Washer's family wondered where she was. She was reported missing Aug. 24, 1994.

In June 1997, three years after Mrs. Washer disappeared, 17 bones were found at the edge of Gunpowder Creek, east Court rules clerical error not fatal flaw Bones found along creek BY ANDREA TORTORA The Cincinnati Enquirer BURLINGTON In a few days, 17 of Diane Washer's bones will be returned to her family, nearly five years after she disappeared. She will be buried. Her relatives will grieve. But the case isn't over for them.

Larry Ray Freeman, 27, is behind bars on a manslaughter charge after telling police he buried Mrs. Washer along Gunpowder Creek. He said she died when he wrecked the car the two were riding in after a night of drinking. But her sister and daughter say they need to know more. "Seventeen bones.

It's not very helpful knowing she's scattered all over the road somewhere," said Joy Spry, Mrs. Washer's sister. "I would like to 15' CP i if. COMPILED FROM STAFF Section of Third Street closed today Third Street between John Street and Central Avenue is scheduled to close from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

today for removal of steel bridge beams that were part of the old Fort Washington Way. Detour signs will direct traffic to Pete Rose Way and Gest Street to get to the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Westbound traffic can use Sixth and Ninth streets from Central Avenue. Fall kills worker at school project A Cleves contractor working on the new Rapid Run Middle School fell to his death Friday afternoon. The 35-year-old man, whom police are not naming pending notification of his family, fell about 37 feet.

Delhi Township police, the Hamilton County coroner and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OS-HA) are investigating the accident. A steel worker, the man had just returned from lunch about 1:20 p.m. when he went to the top of the building, said Delhi Police Sgt. William Renner. Workers below saw him slip and grab the beam he was walking on.

The man hung on for a few seconds before losing his grasp and falling to the concrete floor below, Sgt. Renner said. There have been no other major accidents reported at the school construction site in the 6300 block of Rapid Run Road in the Oak Hills district, Sgt. Renner said. The man was a subcontractor for Turner Construction.

Fairfield panel seeks a volunteer Fairfield City Council is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on the Fairfield Civil Service Commission. The commission administers the civil service provi sions of the general laws of Ohio for the classified employees of the Fairfield city and school district. A vacancy was created when Kenneth McFarland resigned to become Fairfield's human resources director. The voluntary position expires on March 31. To be eligible, residents must be registered voters.

Applications can be obtained from the clerk of council, Room 208, Fairfield Municipal Building, 5350 Pleasant Ave. Application deadline is 4 p.m. Dec. 28. Spanish Mass marks feast day The Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of all the Americas, with a 7 p.m.

Mass today at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral downtown. The Most Rev. Daniel E. Pilar-czyk, archbishop of Cincinnati, will preside and preach in Spanish.

The Mass will carry English translations. Hispanic participants dressed in native costumes will march from Garfield Place to the Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. A reception with refreshments and entertainment will follow the Mass in the undercroft. Gospel singer Page at local church Grammy Award winner Marvin Winans and gospel singer Lisa Page are performing this weekend at Lin ROAD is Chiquita figure asked dismissal BY DAN HORN The Cincinnati Enquirer A judge ruled Friday that a clerical error by prosecutors was not a good enough reason to throw out five charges against the lawyer accused of stealing voice-mail messages from Chiquita Brands International Inc. The attorneys for George Ventura, a Salt Lake City lawyer, had asked the judge to dismiss the charges because prosecutors left out a key phrase in the indictment against him.

But in a ruling Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Judge Ann Marie Tracey concluded the inadvertent omission could be corrected without violating Mr. Ventura's constitutional rights. "Neither the penalty nor the degree of the offense will change by adding" the phrase, Judge Tracey wrote in her decision. "Nor does the amendment unduly prejudice the defendant." Special Prosecutor Perry Ancona notified the judge of the omission last week in a formal request to add the phrase. The have more than we have." Mr.

Freeman pleaded not guilty Friday in Boone District Court and is being held at the Boone County Jail on $50,000 bond. Police are investigating Mr. Freeman's story. His statement and investigations by the Boone County Sheriff and Covington Police tell a bizarre tale with all the twists, turns and coincidences of a whodunit: On July 20, 1994, Mrs. Washer and her husband had a domestic dispute.

They went to a Covington bar and later ended up at a Sunoco station at 13th and Madison in Covington. Mrs. Washer called police from the gas station. When police arrived at 12:10 a.m. Mr.

Washer was gone. Mrs. Washer did not return to her apartment, going instead to another bar on Madison Avenue. Mrs. Washer, who was very intoxicated, arrived at the bar at last call.

She met Larry Free- 1 i i i I I Campbell County Jail on a federal bank robbery charge, after Newport police stopped him at the door. Mr. Campbell, who was known to police, entered the Star Bank at 810 Monmouth St. just before 2 p.m., handed employees a note that said he had a weapon, and demanded money, said Sgt. Coy Cox, Newport Police spokesman.

Police learned of the rob Chapman's deal has turned sour and Cincinnati police have taken her car. Because of a mistake at the police division's impound lot, police didn't realize the car had been reported stolen. "How did this slip through the system and how can they prevent it from happening again?" said Ms. Chapman, who is driving her Toyota again. Anita Dobur, claims administrator for the Cincinnati City Solicitor's Office, said the car Ms.

Chapman purchased had been stolen from a used car lot. The thief placed different license plates on it, and when it went to the impound lot, police apparently registered it of Rabbit Hash and McVille. It took months, but Emily Craig, Kentucky's forensic anthropologist, identified the bones. There was indication of skull trauma, but how Mrs. Washer died was a mystery.

Mrs. Washer's husband, James, was ruled out as a suspect early. Once the bones were identified, police' started issuing public pleas for tips. They got one 22 from Lt. Mike Ratliff at the Carroll County Jail.

He heard Mr. Freeman's story from his mother-in-law. Mr. Freeman had told a cousin and his cousin's wife. The cousin's wife told her own mother, who passed the story on to her sister.

That sister is Lt. Ratliff's mother-in-law. "They knew details only the killer would know," Deputy Kenner said. Deputy Kenner arrested Mr. Freeman at the construction site where he was working.

request referred to the final five counts of the 10-count indictment and involved the felony charge of unauthorized access to computer systems. Mr. Ancona told the judge the phrase is important because it makes it clear no one associated with Chiquita gave Mr. Ventura permission to access the company's voice-mail system. He said the phrase "or other person authorized to give consent by the owner" specifies that Mr.

Ventura did not receive permission from the company. Although prosecutors described the omission as a "clerical error," Mr. Ventura's attorney opposed the addition on grounds that it changed the meaning of the indictment and violated his client's rights. Defense attorney Marc Me-zibov declined comment Friday on the judge's ruling. The charges against Ventura, a former legal counsel for Chiquita, arose from a grand jury investigation into allegations that The Cincinnati Enquirer used stolen voice-mail messages in articles it published in May about the company.

The newspaper later renounced the articles in a frontpage apology, fired the lead reporter and paid Chiquita more than $10 million. 1 border to play Powerball. That's where you get the really big jackpots," said Sharon Mla-doniczky, 47, who sells lottery tickets at Arcade News in downtown Cleveland. 1 Super Lotto and Pick 3 games have dropped in popularity over the last five years while sales of instant scratch-off tickets have taken off, Ms. Mounts said.

In 1993 Super Lotto sales totaled $493.4 million compared to $410.5 million last year. Instant ticket sales were up to $1.1 million last year compared to $775,691 five years ago. "Instant games are ouV bread-and-butter now," Ms. Mounts said. "We always sell those tickets really well and now we're hoping to get a boost from the holidays with the Christmas instant tickets and a large Super Lotto jackpot." Gina Broschk, 21, who runs the lottery machine at Tower City Drug, said Friday that Super Lotto sales were the strongest she's seen all year.

"People have been coming buying $200 and $300 worth 6f tickets at a time," she said. "It's been crazy." Ms. Broschk said another strong sell has been the lottery's $10 Stocking Stuffer ticket. She said people are snatching up the tickets to put in Christmas stockings. "The holiday instant tickets are a gift to players," Ms.

Mounts said. "They have a payout of 75 percent compared to 55 to 60 percent for the everyday instant tickets." Jarod Scott, 23, was counting on the higher odds when he bought a $10 Stocking Stuffer ticket at Tower City Drug. "I'm just about broke from Christmas shopping," he AND WIRE REPORTS coln Heights Missionary Baptist Church as the Rev. Freddie T. Piphus celebrates his 14th anniversary at the church.

Mr. Winans and his choir from Perfecting Church in Detroit were to perform Fridayat the church, 9991 Wayne Ave. in Woodlawn. Lisa Page, formerly of the group Witness, will perform at 5 p.m. today.

The celebration concludes with Sunday services at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The services are free and open to the public. Nativity tour at Baptist church Mount Carmel Baptist Church is sponsoring "Marketplace 1 A.D.," a guided journey through the Nativity, tonight and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. The church is at 8645 Kenwood Rd.

Admission is free. Call 791-7323 for ticket information. Visitors invited to Bethlehem scene White Oak Christian Church is presenting a life-size replica of the town of Bethlehem, as it appeared around the time of Jesus' birth, during two weekends in December. Visitors can walk along a recreated street with costumed people in the marketplace and tending livestock of the day. Afterward, visitors are invited to the church building for hot chocolate and cookies.

The event runs today and Sunday and Dec. 17-20. On Thursday and Friday the hours are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays it runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Church activities for friends, family James Temple Church of God in Christ celebrates its second annual Friends and Family Weekend through Sunday in Walnut Hills. A Friends and Family bowling party will take place at Brentwood Bowl today from 9:30 p.m.

to 12:30 a.m. Bishop William James, pastor of James Temple, will speak at a special worship service Sunday at 10:45 a.m. The church at 1116 Lincoln Walnut Hills. Information: Melody Pruitt at 852-9883. Lighthouse needs gifts for teens Lighthouse Youth Services is collecting gifts for abused, neglected and abandoned youth who spend Christmas in one of the agency's programs.

All gifts should be suitable for a teen-ager, and should be new and unwrapped items. Cosmetics, clothes, costume jewelry, toiletries, apartment utensils, backpacks, Walkmans and radios are recommended. Gifts should be dropped off at the agency's administrative offices, 1527 Madison Road, no later than Dec. 21. For more information, call 221-3350.

Bowling Green campus raises fees BOWLING GREEN -Bowling Green State Univer sity will increase its room and board fees next year by $220. Trustees on Friday approved the increase that will push the yearly rate to live and eat on campus to $4,612 for most of the dormitory rooms. The new rates also include a $26 technology fee increase. WATCH ir- WARREN BOONE closed: Entrance to northbound 1-75 from southbound Dixie: exit ramp from northbound 1-7175: entrance ramp to southbound 1-7175 from northbound Dixie; and the exit ramp from southbound 1-7175 to northbound Dixie. I OHIO BUTLER She was dead.

bery in a phone call, and were on the scene in "less than one minute," preventing the suspect from leaving the bank, Sgt. Cox said. "Negotiations were established by telephone, and a detective was able to get him to come out in front of the bank, where police took him into custody, Sgt. Cox said. The FBI is handling the investigation.

as a different car. Ms. Chapman was sold the car, but given the wrong title. When she noticed the mistake after taking it home, she returned to the impound lot, where the correct title was found and the car was noted as stolen. The used-car dealership that actually owned the car would not sell it to the Cincinnati Police Division for the price Ms.

Chapman paid, plus the cost of repairs. So, the car had to be returned, Ms. Dobur said. "Because we're working with taxpayer money, there are a lot of limitations we have," she said. "We can only make her whole in this situation." That includes the repairs.

Ms. Dobur said Ms. Chapman has to submit her expenses for reimbursement. Ms. Chapman said she will, but she is not happy.

No long lines for today's $32M pot The Cincinnati EnquirerSteven M. Herppich Newport Police Sgt. Mike Buckamneer and Officer Sandra Thornton at the Star Bank where a robbery suspect was taken into custody Friday. Joseph Campbell, 41 of Newport, was forced to surrender after police blocked his exit. Suspect nabbed outside bank Escape blocked by Newport police The Cincinnati Enquirer NEWPORT A suspect who allegedly tried to rob a bank just a block from the Newport police station Friday never made it out of the building with his loot.

Joseph Campbell, ,41, of Newport, was lodged' in the Cops give woman a steal of a deal Super Lotto sales are flat lately BY AMY BETH GRAVES The Associated Press CLEVELAND The Ohio Lottery is hedging its bets. In past years, the lottery would sometimes raise Super Lotto jackpots by $6 million as excitement built for a big prize. But as the jackpot has climbed to $32 million for today's drawing, the lottery hasn't been as generous. That's because sales aren't strong enough to tag on an extra $2 million, said Ohio lottery spokeswoman Sandy Lesko Mounts. The last time the lottery sweetened the jackpot was in April.

"We won't add money just to jack up the jackpot unless we know sales are going to be strong enough to cover us," Ms. Mounts said. The lottery anticipates selling 8.2 million Super Lotto tickets for today's drawing, she said. That's fewer than were sold in April when 8.6 million tickets were sold for a $30 million jackpot. "Lately sales have been so flat," Ms.

Mounts said. "People have become so numb to jackpot sizes. You have to get to $30 million to get people interested." The days of long lottery lines in Ohio are gone they're all in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia where stores sell Pow-erball tickets, the multistate game with monster payouts. Thirteen residents from the Columbus area claimed the game's record $295.7 million jackpot in July. "Everybody goes over the 24-hour traffic information: SmarTraveler Dial 21 1 from any touchtone or wireless phone; outside Cincinnati area call (513) 333-3333 or visit our Web site at: www.giKincinnati.comtral1ic Hot car slipped through process BY B.G.

GREGG The Cincinnati Enquirer When Karen Chapman bought a 1993 Chrysler LeBa-ron at a Cincinnati Police Division auction in November, she really thought she was getting a deal. The 33-year-old College Hill woman paid $300 for the car. She was looking to sell her 1992 Toyota Tercel and get rid of payments, and she didn't mind that she had to put about $600 in repairs into the LeBaron. But a few weeks later, Ms. Cooper Road: Closed through May at Miller Road.

Third Street: Closed 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., today between John Street and Central Avenue. The curb lanes of Third Street closed between Vine and Race streets. At least three lanes will remain open. U.S.

50: Closed Dec. 21 until Dec. 23, between Dry Run Road and Stonelick Williams Corner road. Traffic will detour south on I-275 and east on Ohio 32 to Ohio 222. 1-7175: Northbound 1-7175 restricted to two lanes at Dixie Highway to Kyles exit ramp and three lanes of southbound 1-7175 open.

Dixie Highway is down to one lane in each direction at 1-75, at times between 9:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. The following ramps are.