Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 5

WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL LOCAL SATURDAY. JUNE 12. 2010 AS Guilty plea in Ohio murders Wis. sentencing next for Edwards By THOMAS J.SHEERAN Associated Press AKRON, Ohio For the second time this week, an aging con man pleaded guilty to a three-decade-old double murder. Edward W.

Edwards, 76, pleaded guilty Friday to killing a young Ohio couple near Akron in 1977, two days after he pleaded guilty in Wisconsin to killing a young couple in Jefferson County. Edwards was sentenced to two life terms in Ohio. He will be sentenced later in Wisconsin but will serve his first sentence in Ohio, where he wont be eligible for parole consideration until he is 97. He sat stone-faced and cuffed to his wheelchair during a one-hour plea hearing marked with a review of the charges, his plea agreement and emotion-charged statements from relatives of the victims. The Ohio victims, Judith Straub, 18, of Sterling, and Bill Lavaco, 21, of Doylestown, were shot in the neck at close range in August 1977.

Edwards stroked his forehead with his right forefinger and occasionally repositioned his cuffed left hand as Straubs brother spoke about holidays without his sister. "Judy was my older sister and friend," Jeff Straub said. "I never actually got to say goodbye." Lavacos sister, Kathy Cardinal, sobbed and shook uncontrollably as her statement directed at Edwards was read in Alleged serial killer Edward W. Edwards, left, follows court proceedings with defense attorney Larry Whitney on Friday in Akron, Ohio. Edwards, 76, pleaded guilty Friday to killing a young Ohio couple near Akron in 1977.

Edwards was sentenced to two life terms in Ohio. court by a victims advocate. "I miss him so much. He took that from me," she wrote. Edwards responded to questions about the proceedings from Judge Thomas Teo-dosio with one or two words.

He turned down a chance to address the court before he was sentenced. Officers from Wisconsin were in the courtroom to take him back for his sentencing in the two other murders. Edwards, of Louisville, was arrested in July after investigators in Wisconsin used DNA to connect him to the deaths of Tim Hack and his girlfriend, Kelly Drew. The 19-year-olds disappeared from a wedding reception in Sullivan, about 40 miles east of Madison, in 1980. Their bodies were found weeks later in nearby woods.

In April, he confessed to Ohio authorities that he also shot Lavaco and Straub. Bom in Akron in 1933, Edwards wrote in his 1972 autobiography that he spent his early years being beaten by nuns in an orphanage. When a nun asked him what he wanted to be, he told her, "Sister, Im gonna be a crook, and Im gonna be a good one." According to his book, he escaped from Jail in Akron in 19SS by pushing past a guard and fled across the country, holding up gas stations for money. In 1961 he landed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He eventually was captured in Atlanta.

Peterson suicide-aide sentenced By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press JUNEAU A Wisconsin inmate was sentenced to 27 months in prison Friday for assisted suicide after describing how he helped his cellmate, a killer, hang himself last year. Joshua Walters, 21, said he agreed to help Adam Peterson take his life after hearing for weeks about how much he wanted to die. Peterson, 20, was facing life in prison on a first-degree intentional homicide charge in the 2008 stabbing death of Joel Marino of Madison. He felt horrible about killing Marino and for letting down his family, Walters said.

On the evening of Jan. 10, 2009, Walters said, Peterson was intent on killing himself. Walters said he tried to talk him out of it at first but then agreed to help in what his defense lawyer called an act of compassion. I got up and tied the bed sheet real, real tight on the end of the bed," Walters said. He said he put his arm through it to make sure it would function as a noose.

I said, 'Do what you do. Im going to bed." He said he then went to sleep and woke up later to find Peterson hanging; he then called for help. Walters apologized to Petersons father, Melvin Peterson of St. Paul, Minn. "Im very sorry for helping your son do that, he said.

"I should never have done this. It was a stupid move on my part." Melvin Peterson said he felt no anger toward Walters and urged him to turn his life around after he is released from prison. But Adam Petersons mother was less forgiving, writing in a letter that Walters had a dark personal agenda to see my son die." Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Bissonnette said Walters likely had a greater role in the suicide than he acknowledged. He said he believed a prison informant who said Walters not only tied the noose but also opened it for Peterson, put a towel around his neck and moved a chair so his twitching legs would stop kicking it. Walters and his attorney, Randall Doyle, accused the informant of exaggerating the story so he could be removed from isolation.

Bissonnette said Peterson was clearly suicidal, having attempted to kill himself before, but Im not sure he would have been able to pull this off on his own. He said Walters sentence of 27 months in prison followed by 27 months of extended supervision should serve as punishment and a message to other inmates. Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bed-ker had asked for 30 months in prison and then 3 years of extended supervision under the terms of a deal in which Walters agreed to plead no contest last week. He said Walters actions not only took Petersons life but also robbed Marino's family of the ability to confront Peterson during a sentencing hearing and a chance for closure in their sons death. Peterson had pleaded guilty to stabbing Marino, 31, during a random burglary attempt in his Madison home.

STATE ADMINISTRATION Deputy secretary named head of DOA Dan Schooff will replace Michael Morgan, who is taking a position in the UW System. By MARYSPICUZZA mspicuzzamadison.com 608-252-6122 Former state Rep. Dan Schooff, a longtime loyalist to Gov. Jim Doyle, was named Friday as the new head of the state Department of Administration. Schooff, 38, now serves as DOA deputy secretary.

He will replace outgoing DOA head Michael Morgan on July 6. Morgan has accepted a position and a substantial raise at the University of Wisconsin System as the senior vice president for administration and fiscal affairs. "Dan Schooff has an incredible knowledge of state government and a strong commitment to serving the people of Wisconsin," Doyle said in a statement. Schooff 's new salary will be $126,000 a year, up from $121,000. Morgan will make Anderes earned in the job.

UW System spokesman David Giroux said the salary for the position was set based on what comparable positions in other university systems pay. Along with other cabinet secretaries, Morgan turned down a 2 percent raise last year to help balance the state budget. Giroux said Morgan was an expert on the state budget and finances, building projects, and human resources, so he'll be able to step into this position and hit the ground running." This is a vital position for UW System, and well benefit greatly from Michaels broad range of leadership experience, Reilly said in a statement. He called Morgan a proven talent someone with great integrity and proven vision" who would help realign the system's resources to support its goals of graduating more students. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

$245,000 in his new position. Schooff previously served in the Doyle administration as executive assistant at the Public Service Commission and as division administrator for the DOAs Division of Energy. A three-term Democratic state representative from Beloit, Schooff also served as campaign manager for Doyles re-election campaign. Morgan replaces Tbm Anderes, who is leaving to become the president of the Arizona Board of Regents. Anderes had served in that position since 2008.

As administration secretary, where he oversaw the state budget and advised the governor on policy, Morgan earned $136,944. His new salary is identical to what New La Crosse bishop comes via Milwaukee THE MOST REV. WILLIAM PATRICK CALLAHAN Hes bishop designate for the La Crosse Diocese until he assumes his new duties Aug. 11. He comes to La Crosse from Milwaukee, where he was an auxiliary bishop.

Callahan was ordained into the priesthood in 1977 and has served congregations in Milwaukee and Peoria, III. He is a member of the Conventual Franciscans of the St. Bonaventure Province in Chicago. He was born and raised In Chicago and says he likes navigating city traffic. lt helps me to pray for the salvation of souls of misbehaving drivers, he said.

By GERI PARLIN La Crosse Tribune LA CROSSE The new bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse is a city boy who actually enjoys navigating through heavy traffic. While he doesn't expect many traffic jams in his new job, the Most Rev. William Patrick Callahan said he can get used to cows and cornfields and a far-flung diocese that covers 19 counties and 15,000 square miles. Callahan, an auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, was introduced Friday to replace Jerome Listecki, now archbishop of Milwaukee. In a room jammed with priests, lay people and the media, Callahan said he was ready for the challenge, eager to meet the people of his new diocese and prepared to bring to them the word of God.

On the drive into town from Milwaukee on Thursday, Callahan discovered an appreciation for the rural counties he is about to serve. It's beautiful. I love it very, very much," he said. Callahan described himself as a collaborator and a people person who will be glad to get out of the office, where he mostly worked in Milwaukee, and into parishes. Im a big believer in shared responsibility and shared ministry, Callahan said.

Each of us is made to preach and live the gospel. My job is to energize that message." His priorities are making clear the Catholic identity, giving us a clearer idea of who we are and what we are as Catholics pride in the church." The Most Rev. William Patrick Callahan waves Friday after being announced as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. fi Tbit map detail areas of North America and shows the tendency of vehicle rust In these environments SAVE $100 or f.bre! per Window, Lead-Safe Company Lower Energy Bills. Plus up to $KC0 Tax Credit ri'i srthas of of new and sins of harm1 it em.

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