OKLAHOMAN WHO STABBED WIFE 25 TIMES IS EXECUTED
McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A man who stabbed his estranged wife 25 times with kitchen knives and a meat fork was executed by injection early Thursday.John Wayne Duvall, 47, was convicted of the 1986 murder of Karla Duvall, 30. In his final words, he asked for forgiveness for his sins.
Prosecutors say Duvall confessed to stabbing her during an argument and then finishing her off by suffocating her with a pillow.
Stephens County District Attorney Gene Christian said Duvall had planned to commit suicide by throwing himself in front of a train. But after waiting awhile for one to come through, Duvall gave up, went to the local courthouse and confessed to a county commissioner, Christian said.
OREGON TEEN GETS 50 YEARS FOR SLAYING HIS PARENTS
DALLAS, Ore. (AP) -- A 17-year-old boy who shot his parents to death in July was ordered to serve 50 years in prison without parole.
Matthew Sexton pleaded guilty last month to two counts of aggravated murder after failing to pin the crimes on his 13-year-old brother, Brian. Matthew Sexton said he and his brother had feared their father's wrath because they hadn't finished their chores.
A few relatives asked the judge for mercy at Wednesday's sentencing, but others dismissed Matthew's claims that the boys had grown up suffering beatings from their father.
"He is a spoiled brat who thought if his dad was dead he wouldn't have to do more chores," said Bruce Sexton, the teenager's uncle.
MAN HELD AFTER CHOKING MOM FOR NOT BUYING PIRANHA FOOD
GLENDORA, Calif. (AP) -- A 26-year-old man was arrested after allegedly choking his mother because she didn't buy food for his two pet piranhas.
Nathan Ricketts was being held Wednesday on suspicion of battery and possession of drug paraphernalia, Officer John Bur said. Bail was set at $100,000.
"He choked her almost into unconsciousness," Bur said.
Officers also confiscated two 7-inch-long piranhas that Ricketts had brought into the house earlier this week and placed in a 30-gallon aquarium. He refused to tell officers where he got the bloodthirsty South American fish, which are illegal to own, Bur said.
Wildlife officials ordered the fish destroyed, Bur said.
SENATOR IS RECOVERING FROM HEART-VALVE SURGERY
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Rod Grams is recovering from successful surgery to replace a heart valve that he learned was defective when he tried to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War.
The Minnesota Republican was fitted with a mechanical valve during an operation Wednesday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in suburban Washington. Grams, 50, expected to be discharged Friday and return to work in three to four weeks, said spokesman Steve Behm.
BURIED WORKER IMPROVING, BUT OUTLOOK REMAINS GRIM
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- The condition of a construction worker rescued after being buried for 15 hours improved somewhat but his outlook remains grim, doctors said.
Darby Wayne Patrick developed abdominal pain, and he remained in critical condition Thursday at Erlanger Medical Center. But doctors said Wednesday that there were some good signs: His kidneys were functioning and the level of acid in his blood decreased.
Patrick, 26, was part of a crew laying pipe along a Chattanooga highway Monday afternoon when the ditch collapsed, trapping him under 5 feet of soil.
By the time he was finally pulled to safety at before dawn Tuesday, Patrick had developed what physicians call "crush injuries" from the weight of the dirt on top of him. He suffered damage to his pelvis and legs, and his lungs filled with fluid.
2 N.Y. OFFICERS CHARGED WITH HIDING FACTS IN TORTURE
NEW YORK (AP) -- Two plainclothes police officers were arrested and charged with lying to the FBI to protect colleagues accused of torturing a Haitian immigrant in a stationhouse restroom.
Rolando Aleman, 28, and Francisco Rosario, 35, repeatedly lied and concealed facts from investigators, prosecutors contend. The officers could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Seven officers are now facing criminal charges as a result of the investigation into the beating of Abner Louima on Aug. 9, 1997.
Rosario left the courthouse without comment Wednesday. Aleman said the negative publicity surrounding the case will make it impossible to beat the charges.
Defense lawyers for Rosario and Aleman denied the charges. The lawyers accused authorities of arresting the two to keep them from testifying as defense witnesses for the other accused officers.
Rosario and Aleman had the misfortune of booking a suspect at the 70th Precinct stationhouse at the same time Louima was brought in, the lawyers said.