Post by KC on Sept 23, 2006 20:27:10 GMT -5
September 23, 2006 - A former Washington County sheriff’s deputy and Belpre police officer has been accused of a double murder that took place nearly 20 years ago in Arkansas.
Deputy Steven Victor Wertz, 56, who attended Marietta High School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Marietta before becoming a deputy, is accused of killing his second wife’s ex-husband and his wife over a 1986 custody dispute.
Wertz was a Washington County deputy from June 1973 to June 1974, when he left to become a Belpre police officer, said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.
“I remember Steve,” said Belpre Police Chief Ira Walker, who joined the force in 1970. “It’s been a long time but I remember who he was. I was kind of surprised to hear about this.”
Wertz was arrested at his home in Florida in May and has pleaded not guilty to two capital murder charges. His trial is tentatively scheduled for January 2007 and prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.
James Guthrie Snyder Jr., 39, of Georgetown, Ky., was also arrested and charged with being an accomplice to capital murder.
Police in Sharp County Arkansas say Wertz bought a 12-gauge shotgun and knife where he was living in Cushing, Okla., then drove to Ash Flat, Ark., on New Year’s Eve, 1986.
Wertz allegedly then shot Terry Watts, 25, in the chest through a living-room window, kicked open the door, shot Watts a second time and slashed his throat.
Affidavits say Wertz then went into the bedroom where Watts’ wife, Katherine, 22, was hiding and shot her in the head and chest. The couple’s 1-year-old son was found lying on his dead father’s body, unharmed.
Terry Watts was in a custody dispute with his ex-wife Belinda over their then 5-year-old daughter. Belinda was married to Steven Wertz at the time of the murders.
Authorities say Wertz was a suspect in 1986 but there was not enough evidence to lead to an arrest then.
“Things that were available to us now weren’t available 15 years ago,” Sharp County Sheriff Dale Weaver told the Associated Press. “Things change with time.”
Wertz’s first wife, Marietta resident Penny Nicholson, said her ex-husband had an alibi in 1986.
“I’ve known about this (case) since 1986 when the chief of police called me,” said Nicholson, who was divorced from Wertz in 1985. “I found out he’d been arrested recently when his father called me and I was really surprised. I thought this was all over.”
In addition to being a police officer, Wertz was in the Army for about 20 years, said Nicholson.
His personnel file from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office says that Wertz, born in Columbus, was in the U.S. Army and was wounded by shrapnel in his leg while serving in Vietnam.
He had already received several medals and commendations by 1972, when he applied for the job with the sheriff’s office.
“Personally I don’t think he did this,” said Nicholson. “As a husband he could be flushed down the toilet but he was a good soldier and a good police officer.”
Nicholson said she has not seen Wertz since 1996, but that their daughter has been in contact with him since he was arrested.
“He’s not doing well,” she said. “Physically, he’s not well. I feel so bad for his family and my kids and everyone involved.”
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said he found out about the case this week from an anonymous call to his office.
“He was before my time here and most of the people who would have known him have retired,” he said. “But it’s troubling. It’s always a surprise when someone from a law enforcement agency is arrested but we have probably hundreds of people that have gone through our agency and he was only with us for a year.”
www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new33_923200615024.asp
Deputy Steven Victor Wertz, 56, who attended Marietta High School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Marietta before becoming a deputy, is accused of killing his second wife’s ex-husband and his wife over a 1986 custody dispute.
Wertz was a Washington County deputy from June 1973 to June 1974, when he left to become a Belpre police officer, said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.
“I remember Steve,” said Belpre Police Chief Ira Walker, who joined the force in 1970. “It’s been a long time but I remember who he was. I was kind of surprised to hear about this.”
Wertz was arrested at his home in Florida in May and has pleaded not guilty to two capital murder charges. His trial is tentatively scheduled for January 2007 and prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.
James Guthrie Snyder Jr., 39, of Georgetown, Ky., was also arrested and charged with being an accomplice to capital murder.
Police in Sharp County Arkansas say Wertz bought a 12-gauge shotgun and knife where he was living in Cushing, Okla., then drove to Ash Flat, Ark., on New Year’s Eve, 1986.
Wertz allegedly then shot Terry Watts, 25, in the chest through a living-room window, kicked open the door, shot Watts a second time and slashed his throat.
Affidavits say Wertz then went into the bedroom where Watts’ wife, Katherine, 22, was hiding and shot her in the head and chest. The couple’s 1-year-old son was found lying on his dead father’s body, unharmed.
Terry Watts was in a custody dispute with his ex-wife Belinda over their then 5-year-old daughter. Belinda was married to Steven Wertz at the time of the murders.
Authorities say Wertz was a suspect in 1986 but there was not enough evidence to lead to an arrest then.
“Things that were available to us now weren’t available 15 years ago,” Sharp County Sheriff Dale Weaver told the Associated Press. “Things change with time.”
Wertz’s first wife, Marietta resident Penny Nicholson, said her ex-husband had an alibi in 1986.
“I’ve known about this (case) since 1986 when the chief of police called me,” said Nicholson, who was divorced from Wertz in 1985. “I found out he’d been arrested recently when his father called me and I was really surprised. I thought this was all over.”
In addition to being a police officer, Wertz was in the Army for about 20 years, said Nicholson.
His personnel file from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office says that Wertz, born in Columbus, was in the U.S. Army and was wounded by shrapnel in his leg while serving in Vietnam.
He had already received several medals and commendations by 1972, when he applied for the job with the sheriff’s office.
“Personally I don’t think he did this,” said Nicholson. “As a husband he could be flushed down the toilet but he was a good soldier and a good police officer.”
Nicholson said she has not seen Wertz since 1996, but that their daughter has been in contact with him since he was arrested.
“He’s not doing well,” she said. “Physically, he’s not well. I feel so bad for his family and my kids and everyone involved.”
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said he found out about the case this week from an anonymous call to his office.
“He was before my time here and most of the people who would have known him have retired,” he said. “But it’s troubling. It’s always a surprise when someone from a law enforcement agency is arrested but we have probably hundreds of people that have gone through our agency and he was only with us for a year.”
www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new33_923200615024.asp