The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

Tuesday July 29, 2003 The Daily News Leader 113th year. No. 177 InsKa Today 7 50' Serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County www.newsleader.com iend's son arrested in sla: ying drift 1 -i j. i through a Rockbridge County bank. Initially, Fisher's office was reluctant to label McDorman's death a murder, despite evidence of a break-in, the lack of a gun or shell casings at the scene and the fact that the victim's pockets were turned out.

The media wasn't officially notified of McDorman's death until 1 1 hours after his body was discovered. "It was a very complicated crime scene," said Fisher, who noted McDorman's house was kept in disarray, hampering the collecting of evidence by investigators McDorman is survived by three daughters ages 10, 7 and 6 who are being cared for by a family member. "I guess they're doing as well as can be expected," the sheriff said. were going to take place," Fisher said. "Bennett appears to be the sole perpetrator of the act." The rifle was recovered by police at an undisclosed location in Bath County.

A number of McDorman's personal effects also have been collected, including his checkbook. After the killing, SgtR.B. Moubray, an Augusta County investigator assigned to the case, said the pair made a brief trip to Virginia Beach and returned to the area late Saturday night. Before leaving for the coast, Bennett unsuccessfully tried to cash one of McDorman's personal checks at a Staunton store, according to Moubray. But a second attempt saw the murder suspect reportedly obtain several hundred dollars no signs of a struggle.

McDorman was robbed of less than $10, according to Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher, who conducted a Monday morning press conference to announce the arrest. Fisher said Bennett was dropped off at the victim's home by a 17-year-old Bath County juvenile shortly before 5 a.m. The sheriff said it appears Bennett broke in through a front window. While inside, he reportedly shot McDorman in the temple at close range, said Fisher, who estimated the fatal shot was fired anywhere from two to eight feet away. Driving a blue and white Ford Mustang, the juvenile returned to the house minutes later and drove Bennett away, Fisher said.

Fisher said McDorman was awake and moving about the home when the break-in occurred. Both Bennett and the juvenile, described as childhood friends, made incriminating statements when questioned, according to Fisher, who stated more charges could be forth coming. The suspects, he said, acted alone. The juvenile, who voluntarily turned himself in to Bath County officials, is charged with accessory to a breaking and entering but is not implicated in the shooting, Fisher said. He is being held in the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Detention Home in Staunton.

The high-powered rifle was owned by the juvenile, but he had "no knowledge that a murder and robbery By Brad Zinnstaff bzinnnewsleader.com STAUNTON A 42-year-old Craigsville man found dead Friday in his home was shot in the head with a high-powered rifle, and authorities have charged his ex-girlfriend's teenage son in connection with the slaying. Christopher Lee Bennett, 18, of 9720 Maurey River Road, Goshen, is charged with capital murder, robbery, breaking and entering and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was arrest-ed at his home Sunday afternoon without incident. Bennett faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted of capital murder. He is being held without bond in the Augusta County Jail.

Mark MillerThe News Leader Staunton Braves' catcher George Hanger looks for the ball in this file photo. Local Braves' players enjoy playoff season Details on Page B1 Mark MillerThe News Leader Christopher Bennett, 18, is brought into Augusta County General District Court Monday afternoon. The body of Vincent D. McDorman was found by his 10-year-old daughter about 5 a.m. Friday in the living room of his Hidy Street home.

There were builds hopes one brick at a time f- d(ri Lego team 1 Dealing with deer stomach rumbling Details on Page A3 Happening Today First aid class WAYNESBORO A first aid class will be 6-10 tonight at American Red Cross. Call 943-4511, (800) 943-4511. Pajarna night WAYNESBORO Pajama night will start at 7 tonight at Waynesboro Public Library. Stories, crafts and a bedtime snack for families with children aged 3-8. Participants should wear pajamas.

942-6746. Chess club CHURCHVILLE A chess club meeting be tonight at Augusta County Library. Everyone five or older is invited regardless of skill level. 245-5287. Wsatfcsp Times of clouds and sunshine today with a thunderstorm in some spots.

Mostly cloudy tonight with a shower. Sunshine mixing with a few clouds Wednesday; a shower possible. Details, Page A8 nn mm Body of man found in Braley Pond in May By Brad Zinnstaff bzinnnewsleader.com STAUNTON Four people suspected in the May killing of a fellow 19-year-old gang member were indicted Monday by the Augusta County grand jury, including a juvenile who will be tried as an adult. Seth Tinsley, 17, of Staunton, is charged with first-degree murder. Kalani Mikiola Noa, 24, of 301 Fayette Staunton, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Police accuse the pair reported Crips gang members of driving Christopher Scott Kennedy to the George Washington National Forest during the early-morning hours of May 22 and stabbing him 12 times in the back and chest. Kennedy's body was dumped in Braley Pond and discovered by a fisherman lill riin'illllilMi Mark MillerThe News Leader Bethany Labreque, left, Autumn Lightner, Edgar Kinsinger and Andrew Lightner open a box Monday filled with Lego pieces they will use to create a robot for competition in November. These basic blocks evolve into complex robots for competition J7i 1 nr robot that has to perform tasks in a competition. Andrew and Autumn's mother, Sara, admitted Legos have come a long way from the simple square and rectangle blocks she remembers as a child. "This is an education for the parents, too," she said.

The foursome has about two months to design, build and test a small robot from the hun-dreds of pieces they opened Monday. In September, they will receive a challenge kit from the First Lego League that outlines the robot's tasks like pushing, lifting and maneuvering and directions for giving a presentation that goes with the robot's activity. But the team has already overcome a few challenges. First, there are few local teams that have gone to Lego competition. Although close to 1,400 teams are signed up nationwide, the Lego challenge is still relatively unknown in the area.

"We've never even seen a live competition, but one of the things we have to do is find an engi several hours later. Kenneth "Sniper" Jackson, 21, of 101 Anthony Circle, Apt. 57, Waynesboro, reportedly issued the order to kill Kennedy. Authorities suspect Candace N. Knott, 20, of Staunton, of being the street gang's "set queen" and said she gave the go-ahead for Kennedy's death in accordance with the gang's hierarchy.

Knott and Jackson are both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. All four suspects face the possibility of life in prison if convicted. Previous testimony revealed several gang members met at Knott's Manchester Drive apartment prior to the murder. As the gang's O.G. (Original Gangster), Jackson conferred with Knott because her husband 25-year-old Bradford Knott III the suspected "king" of the gang, was already in Augusta County Jail on unrelated charges of assault, participating in street gang activity and conspiracy to deliver drugs.

The Associated Press Bob Hope and his wife Dolores In 1955 Back Pzz2 Local man recalls Hope, A8 "Pardon He said, 'I don't do that anymore." Hope's humor lacked malice, and he made himself the butt of many jokes. His golf scores and physical attributes, including his celebrated ski-jump nose, were frequent subjects: Please see HOPE, back page this section Entertainer Bob Hope dead at 100 J' i 1932: Ole Kirk Christiansen establishes his master carpentry business in Denmark; Lego international grows out of the company and Christiansen's son later becomes owner. 1934: Lego name adopted from Danish phrase "Leg godt," which means "play well." 1949: The familiar Lego bricks then made of wood and plastic debut. 1973: First United States headquarters set up in Brookfield, Conn. tant part, a palm-sized yellow box that will control the robot they are set to build.

"I can't really picture it in my head yet, but it's more real now that we can actually see the parts," said Autumn, already organizing the pieces by function in plastic containers. The team members have experience building with Legos from basic block buildings to complicated spaceships and planes but none have ever attempted to make a i iiiTii "Tl 111 i li'ili 2 Abby B4 Classifieds B6-8 Comics B5 Crossword B5 Death Notices A2 Editorial A7 Financial A6 Horoscope Local Sports B8 Television grid B4 neer and an astronomer to help us with the research," Andrew said. This year's competition theme is Mission to Mars, drawing from NASA's recent mission to explore the red planet. The team also managed to raise $600 for materials and travel, mainly by writing letters to local businesses and selling pizza cards door-to-door. One of the sponsors, Ron Lowman, said he couldn't resist helping the group of kids that sent him a personal letter asking for support.

"It's great that kids take an interest in these kinds of things and it contributes to the education of the whole community," said Lowman, owner of Lowman Chiropractic in Staunton. "I don't know a business that would have turned thera down." Community Bank, DuPont, Home and Deck and James R. Cooke Jr. also contributed to the team. "I think other kids might want to do it if they just knew about it It's like playing with a purpose," Edgar said.

Four kids have two months to build, test a small robot By Dawn Medleystaff dmedleynewsleader.com STAUNTON It was close to 90 degrees Monday afternoon, but the emotions at Andrew and Autumn Lightner's house made it feel a lot more like Christmas. A nondescript cardboard box has been waiting in the brother and sister duo's kitchen for several weeks until the team which also includes friends Bethany Labreque and Edgar Kinsinger found out if they raised enough money to pay for the kit that the group will use in its first Lego competition in November. This weekend, another check arrived in the mail, sealing their participation. Monday, Edgar, 13, Andrew, 12, Bethany, 10, and Autumn, 8, tore into a mountain of plastic bags filled with gears, wheels, blocks, connectors and, the most impor- The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Bob Hope's one-liners gently poked fun at presidents, blunted the sting of combat for American soldiers from World War II to the Gulf War, and ultimately made him the most revered of American comics. Hope, who turned 100 on May 29, rode a genial wave of success in movies, radio and television to a position unique among entertainers.

He died Sunday of pneumonia at his Toluca Lake home, publicist Ward Grant said Monday. His family was at his bedside. As the 20th century's good humor delivery man for U.S. troops, Hope took his show on the road to bases, field hospitals, jungles and aircraft carriers around the world, peppering audiences with a fusillade of brief, topical gags. One of them centered on former President NLxon and the Watergate scandal.

"I bumped into Gerald Ford the other day. I said. Our commitment: We correct all errors of fact as soon as we learn of them. Corrections and our policy run daily on Page A2. Copyright 2003 The Daily News Leader.

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