The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page A11

Time: 03-20-2014 21:02 User: smorris2 PubDate: 03-21-2014 Zone: KY Edition: 1 Page Name: A 11 Color: Bftapfenta LOCAL III THE COURIER-JOURNAL ky FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014 III All PETA sparks inquiry on stable await the mission's ings. Kentucky Labor Cabinet spokesman Dan Lowry confirmed that a wage-and-hour complaint was Steve Asmussen Escorted by Floyd County deputies, William Clyde Gibson heads to court for formal sentencing after being convicted in October of murdering Christine Whitis. courier-journal file photo GIBSON: Killer admits to murder Continued from Page A3 derstanding what motivated Gibson's horrendous act. "We'll never know the reason why. Why did he do this? Gibson was arrested nearly two years ago after police discovered the strangled, mutilated body of 75-year-old Clarksville resident Christine Whitis, a family friend, in his garage.

They later dug up the body of Stephanie Kirk, 35, who'd disappeared March 25 2012, in Gibson's yard. Henderson filed death penalty cases in both women's deaths. Hodella's murder had remained a mystery for nearly a decade, but after Gibson's April 2012 arrest, he admitted to investigators that he'd also fatally stabbed Hodella, a Florida beautician he'd met in a bar. Her badly decomposed body was found washed up beside the Ohio River in Clarksville in early 2003. Orth sentenced Gibson to die after a two-week trial in Whitis' death and death penalty verdict last October.

A second capital murder trial in Kirk's slaying is set for June 16. On Thursday, Henderson said the length of time and other circumstances in Hodella's case persuaded him not to pursue capital murder in that case. The prison term is based on an advisory sentence of 55 years, with an additional 10 years because of Gibson's criminal history. Hodella, who lived near Daytona Beach, had been in Southern Indiana for less than a week when she called her family in early October 2002 and asked them to buy her a bus ticket so she could come home the next day. Family members told The Courier-Journal after Gib- Asmussen accused of animal cruelty By Gregory A.

Hall The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. Kentucky and New York racing officials said Thursday that they are investigating allegations of animal cruelty in horse trainer Steve Asmussen's stable at Churchill Downs and Saratoga Race Course. The allegations stem from an undercover investigation at the tracks by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which also put a 9 minute video on its website containing numerous clips of Asmussen assistant Steve Blasi using profanities. PETA alleges the stable used an electronic "buzzer" to shock horses into running harder, administered unnecessary drugs to horses, hired undocumented immigrants and paid less than the minimum wage. No video is shown of a buzzer in use, and there is no audio of Asmussen on the video.

Clark Brewster, an attorney for Asmussen and Blasi, said they welcome the state investigations. He said PETA's investigation, conducted through a person who walked horses for Asmussen, was an effort to "take as much stuff out of context" as possible. The allegations first surfaced in an article published by The New York Times. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said it had been notified of possible violations by "licensees at Churchill Downs," would investigate and take appropriate action. John Asher, Churchill's vice president of racing communications, said the track would filed against the company doing business as Asmussen's racing stable.

Lowry said the complaint alleges multiple violations, but he said the document is confidential. The New York State Gaming Commission said its investigation began March 18 when PETA presented its information. "The allegations and footage provided by PETA are extremely troubling, and we are fully investigating the matter," Robert Williams, acting executive director of the New York State Gaming Commission, said in a statement. "PETA has offered to assist the commission in its investigation, and we welcome such cooperation. We expect that all other parties involved will be forthcoming as well." The allegations regarding drug overuse include furose-mide, a controversial anti-bleeding drug that is legal but widely used.

Although Brewster said he had not seen copies of the complaints, he said he believes the talk of a buzzer surrounded an unfounded allegation that a buzzer had been used in last year's Travers Stakes at Saratoga. That didn't involve either Asmussen or Blasi, he said. "This is an agenda by, I think, a rather extremist organization," he said. Reporter Gregory A. Hall can be reached at (502) 582-4087.

Follow him on Twitter at gregoryahall. state's death row in Michigan City while she researches the matter. She also ordered Gibson be given no haircuts or sharp objects. Floyd County Sheriff Dar-rell Mills said he met with Orth and Henderson about the inscription, adding that he's certain Gibson could not have given such a well-fashioned tattoo to himself. Also, he couldn't have had it etched while in Floyd's custody because he's kept in a solitary cell and escorted anywhere by two to three officers as a precaution after "many threats against my staff." "There are some issues with it," Mills said of the tattoo.

Hyatt, Hodella's sister, said the family doesn't expect to travel to next month's sentencing, though she may send a letter to Orth to represent the family's sentiments. For now, staying away is a small step in helping Hodella's grown children and other family members heal, Hyatt said. "It's just a horrible thing. We're just trying not to relive it." Reporter Grace Schneider can be reached at (812) 949-4040 or follow her on Twitter gesinfk. son's arrest that Hodella had been visiting a boyfriend, but they'd been fighting and she wanted to return home.

In a final conversation with relatives, Hodella told them that a "nice man" was buying her drinks at a bar. They never heard from her again only to learn three months later that police had found her body by matching her thumbprint through an FBI database. After the killing on Oct. 10, 2002 Gibson's 45th birthday he had a tattoo inscribed on his lower right arm with the date, along with a picture of a knife. Thursday's hearing exposed a new tattoo "death row 3" imprinted on the back of Gibson's shaved head.

That posed legal questions for Orth, whose role is to ensure Gibson receives fair trials and that all proceedings are free of incriminating signs or messages, even ones the defendant has had inscribed on himself. "That could prejudice a jury," Henderson said, adding that the only solution may be to force Gibson to grow out his hair to cover the dark blue letters. Orth ordered Gibson to remain in the Floyd County Jail, delaying his return to Give a little love to your park. Macy's the National Recreation and Park Association invite you to support a park near you! Show your local park VVRK some love today by donating $1 or more at the register and Macy's will match your donation, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000 in total! For a list of the parks I mClCyS benefitting, visit macys.comparks SPECIAL 40 OFF ACTIVEWEAR Special Reg.Orig.$25-$100. Selections from SPECIAL 12.99 MEN'S POLOS Reg.

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