Larson: What was Rachelle's reaction when she found out there was a body in her mother's van? Police then asked him if he would wear a wire to help gather evidence on his friend and the plan worked. Furthermore, the judge threw out Rachels confession claiming it had been coerced. Criminologist Susan Magestro was interviewed by KTUU on the subject of juvenile crime, in late November, 2004, after Waterman became the second teenager within two months to be accused of murdering her own parent. Now, with her father standing by her, Rachelle would face the prosecutor and her mother's killers. Papas Pizza serves as the alternative to Dominos. Investigation Discovery's 'People Magazine Investigates: The Darkest of Nights' portrays the brutal murder of Lauri Waterman at the hands of Brian Radel and Jason Arrant. In February 2011, Rachelle Waterman made her first return to Craig, Alaska since her original trial for a second trial on charges she conspired to kill her mother. Below is a preview of the episode. Today, Rachelle goes by the name Rocky. Dina Keyt, Rachelle Watermans aunt: It's not possible.Larson: Its like this family's suffering enough-- now youve got to drag somebody else into it.Dina Keyt: Yeah. Don Pierce, friend of the Waterman family: As painful as the loss of Lauri was, I think that the arrest of his daughter was even harder. I didn't feel like we finished it.Larson: Hadn't finished your job.Jones: Yeah.Demars: I felt a little bit like I let Rachelle down. . I live with my hubby & our two adorable fur babies. McPherron: I want her to tell me the truth. If you are interested to know more about Rachelle and where she is now, we have got you covered. He had what appeared to be a self-inflicted scratch on his throat," Claus explained. It was Saturday, November 13th. The next day, Rachelle went to school and told her friends that her mother had been killed in a drunk driving accident. Son Jeffrey wasn't even in Alaska, as he was attending college in the mainland. It was later revealed that the men were, for all intents and purposes, instigated by Lauris daughter, Rachelle. When that didn't work, Radel smothered her. When Don and Rachelle arrived at the house, police did, too and shared the devastating news: the van found smoldering in the woods some 40 miles away from their home -- was, in fact, Lauri's. Steve Wells, defense attorney: As you listen to this evidence, ask yourself: Is Rachelle Waterman an absolutely cold-blooded, psychotic monster? Brian Radel: If she made it up, she made up a story but that's all she did.Larson: Hell of a story. Im actually hoping my dad goes off his rocker and can have reason for emancipation.. It seemed someone had broken into the home. The complaint says the girl told one of the suspects when she and her father would be out of town. Maybe Lauri feared her daughters life would become like hersendless volunteer work to fill the otherwise boring days. 'People Magazine Investigates': Who Killed Arizona College Student Adrienne Salinas? She also alleged her mother abused her in the blog. The police suspected Jason and Brian from the beginning of their investigation. They then considered whether their daughter, Rachelle, had any connection to the crime. And then, in a classic good cop-bad cop act, the sergeant warns Rachelle the other investigator is losing his patience. And I didn't feel complete. After a two week trial, Rachelle's fate would be determined by the jury's answer to the question: was she a calculating killer who orchestrated her own mother's death or a naive teen who never wanted her mother to die -- but was manipulated by her older lover. In small towns, news travels fast and gossip even faster. I don't think I can answer that.Larson: What do you think your mom would want you to do with regards to your sister?Geoffrey Waterman: Love her. Since then, she has served her prison term and is now a free woman. There are no fast food franchises such as McDonalds, just locally owned joints with names like The Baitbox. ", A report in The Ketchikan Daily News stated that, "The first seven counts of the indictment allege that all three defendants committed the crimes of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder; first-degree murder; second-degree murder; kidnapping; first-degree burglary; first-degree vehicle theft and tampering with physical evidence." I don't really know how to kill somebody. After Rachelles arrest, the judge decided that Rachelle should be moved to Juneau for a fair trial. And it was about to get harder yet for Doc -- Rachelle was headed to court, where despite that confession, she pleaded not guilty to all charges against her. Radel said all the talk of murder was coming only from Arrant. Ill receive a small commission if you become a member with my referral link. Jason testified that Rachelle told him she wanted her mother dead, and the two of them had discussed various murder plots. Although its difficult to find a teen today thats not blogging or social networking of some sort, in 2004 it was still a relatively new endeavor. She stated that "I think that we're starting to see more violence with kids who are younger, and the behaviors that they're exhibiting are more aggressive and more violent." Or start a new search to discover more pictures at IMAGO. 30 minutes into a police interrogation, she confessed. Some felt it was the strongest piece of evidence against her. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Curtis Blackwell, juror: Well, it was the most damning evidence they had. And I mean if she said, Yes, I did it. I don't even know if I would put a lot of weight on it just because through the whole thing she stuck with "no.". The judge then sentenced him to a maximum of 99 years in prison, but with time off for good behavior, he could be released in 33 years. By all accounts, even the daughter was aware that the murder was going to be carried out, telling the police that she was pretty sure her acquaintances were going to kill her mother. Once the police started investigating, they discovered that Rachel had two friends called Jason Arrant and Brian Radel. Arriving at the Waterman home, Jason and Brian forced their way in and found Lauri preparing for bed. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Protect Rachelle? Rachelle: My mom was really mad at me and they were low on money and she was talking to me about selling me for prostitution as a punishment. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. A story about an Alaskan teenager who imagined and told stories of wild things - even murder. But the defense was about to begin with a very different story. Here, she met and got acquainted with the owner, Brian Radel, and his friend, Jason Arrant. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Showers in the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. According to it she is based in Florida though more information about her is currently unavailable. Doc was a decorated serviceman who had met Lauri in Utah. He eventually told authorities his best friend, 24-year-old Brian Radel had murdered Lauri. But even the Watermans' best friends say they doubt Rachelle will ever be welcome back in Craig, Alaska, the small village where so many loved her mother. The person posting who is allegedly Rachelle Waterman seems to live in Florida and espouse right-wing and Republican ideology. She admitted it. Lauri Waterman was suffocated after her killers failed to break her neck and make her death appear to be a drunk-driving accident. Rachelle was charged with first degree murder involving the death of her mother, Lauri Waterman, in 2004. Rachelle Waterman faced up to 99 years in prison if convicted in her mother's murder. They burned other evidence as well. In all fairness, however, it wasnt as if Craig has drifters that can just blow in, murder, and blow out. They know how to get people to talk. Read More:Where Is Rachelle Waterman Now? Randy McPherron (interrogation video): A little exaggeration there and a little overacting there - here, can have some dire consequences, right? Facebook gives people the power. Clearly, Lauri had made it back to the home before she was killed. Key evidence of the plot was provided by Rachelles online journal, titled My Crappy Life, which described the struggles with her mom. In it, Rachelle called home "Hell, Alaska." So the janitor, Jason Arrant, was brought here for questioning and the mystery quickly unraveled. Dr. Beyer: They can't think like an adult because they don't have an adult brain. High 53F. Rachelle: Does it look like Im gonna go to jail?Wells: The only way that she could see to get that door to open was to tell them what they wanted to hear. Update the categories youd like to receive notifications about. So that was the issue on appeal, that this ought to go back to juvenile court considering what she was convicted of. Rachelle Waterman was being tried for the second time in the death of her mother, Lauri Waterman. They also argued that the harsh police interrogation was not proper as Rachelle was too young to understand her Miranda rights fully. Her mom, Lauri, was a special education teachers aide who volunteered with her church and other civic groups. Sgt. AK v. WATERMAN (2006) 16-year-old Rachelle Waterman is accused of plotting with her two ex-boyfriends to kill her mother. At first, Rachelle insisted that she had nothing to do with the murder. And it was Jason, Rachelle says, who first suggested a deadly solution. Sgt. Watermans attorneys argued that juveniles brains are not yet fully developed, which affects their judgment, impulse control and appreciation of consequences. West, reading e-mail: Ill be so glad when this whole thing with your mother is over. What was that a reference to? Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Her trial opened this past January in Juneau, Alaska, several hundred miles from Rachelle's hometown of Craig. Hi, Im a 30-something true crime writer & storyteller. Jason told police that Rachelle had told him of the upcoming evening when she and her father would be out of town and her mother would be home alone. Judge Collins originally set a date of February 3, 2005 for the trial, but, at an arraignment that week, the trial was rescheduled for August 22. Rachelle went to trial in January 2006. When investigators came to the home, they noted the clothes she wore to the Chamber of Commerce dinner were in the house, as were photos of the event. Brian Radel, dated Rachelle Waterman: She would mention that her mom had hit her with a baseball bat, that her mom liked to hit her in the lower back. But they didn't think a judge would grant her request. Jason told the police that he entered the Waterman home at 3 am through the unlocked front door. The defense cast Arrant, the prosecution's key witness, as a deranged child predator who plied Rachelle with alcohol, cigarettes and sex and then twisted her words, using them as an excuse to get her disapproving mother out of the way. Lauri Waterman's murder in Alaska will be featured on the next episode of People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery. ", Daughter charged along with two others in mother's slaying. Get notifications about news related to the topics you care about. But the judges deferred to the legislative branch of the government. And -- she knew it might happen that weekend and did nothing to stop it. She was also a member of the Academic Decathlon team (ACDC) and sang in the choir, a profile that has left many people questioning her involvement in the killing and asking what motive there might be. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! And that's the part that bothered me the most. Wells: You want her to say a certain set of facts, don't you?Sgt. I even got to fly down the stairs, she wrote, suggesting shed been pushed and describing her then current mood as sore., Two months earlier, on April 6, 2004, Rachelle listed her mood as angry, writing, I had a bad night, and a bad day. Rachelle Waterman's attorney, Steven Wells, said Monday that a state court judge granted Waterman's request earlier this month to remain free on bond, pending an appeal. Did former Indiana State Trooper David Camm kill his wife and two children? In Rachelle's trial both Brian and Jason testified. Pierce: Lauri wasn't one to go around without people knowing that she was gonna go somewhere. See Photos. Rachelle (tape): I told them not to do it! . Lauri Waterman, a 48-year-old special education aide, wife and mother spent the evening volunteering at a Chamber of Commerce dinner. Rachelle: My whole family's gonna hate me. Don Pierce, friend of the Waterman family: He called about 3:00 in the afternoon to ask if Lauri was at our house. Judge Patricia Collins, of the Juneau Superior Court, has been assigned to run the trial for the case. You can unsubscribe anytime. But other correspondence took a darker, conspiratorial tone. Its not unusual for underage teen girls to date men in their early twenties in a place like Craig. Ted Kimble wanted his wife dead so he could collect the life insurance, so he convinced his brother Ronnie Kimble to do it for him. Lauri Waterman had been murdered. Almost everybody?Schwab: All equally. "She was starting to rebel at the time with the goth stuff," Merritt told producers, saying it made Lauri "roll her eyes.". ET on Investigation Discovery. Rachelle says she knew that no one would believe her stories of abuse no one but Brian Radel and Jason Arrant. Family and friends could not believe it -- Lauri Waterman was loved in town, always the first to volunteer and the last to leave when a job needed to be finished. Hed tried the military, but that didnt work out. Winds light and variable. What sort of message does that send to people like her, and the rest of society? Meanwhile, Carl Waterman stood by his daughter and accused the authorities of coercing her confession. At the time police say the killing occurred, Rachelle Waterman was apparently playing in a volleyball tournament in Anchorage, Alaska. Rachelle: People in public probably think my mom would never lose her temper. The primary methods of transportation off the island is via water plane or ferry, the latter being a minimum three hour ride one way. She said, Can I ask a question? I said, What is it? and she kept repeating, Can I ask a question?. I'll be like tossed out on my butt. All other pending charges against the duo were dropped. Luckily, they both quickly implicated themselves in the murder. He said they then drove to a further spot, set her and the car on fire, and abandoned the vehicle. I think there's people saying "guilty," but they had the reasonable doubt in their minds.Larson: Yeah.Kasberg: I think a lot of people were there. I thought the worst they could ever do is talk to her. Radel: I said "I'd protect Rachelle. Rachelle claimed that her mother mentally and physically abused her over her love for black nail polish, and obsession with witchcraft. Larson: So you guys were the two guys holding out on guilty.Mark Kasberg, juror: Yeah. In an effort to hide the evidence, they set the minivan on fire with her inside. Though, Brian Radel took the stand again in her 2011 retrial and helped the jury find Rachelle guilty of criminally negligent homicide. People in the small Alaskan village of Craig were shocked by the brutal murder of Lauri Waterman and the arrest of two young locals who quickly confessed to the killing. Authorities later confirmed that the allegations of abuse were unfounded. She was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, and sentenced to three years in prison. Arrant: She mentioned that a good window of opportunity would be coming up, when she would be going up north for volleyball, and when her dad would also be gone from the home. They would struggle with that very question for five days. And it's not helping you any. Rachelle Waterman free on bond, pending appeal, By Becky Bohrer / Associated Press Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Tweets from https://twitter.com/newsminer/lists/fdnm-tweets, Fort Wainwright soldier charged in connection with wife's death, Three Fort Wainwright soldiers killed, one injured in Apache helicopter collision, Army identifies soldiers killed in helicopter crash, Council reviews marijuana license renewal after a violation reported, Army-wide aviation stand down issued after Fort Wainwright crash, Fairbanks man pleads guilty to harassment, Man sentenced for kidnapping and attempted sexual abuse of a minor, Attorneys present opening statements in trial of man accused of 2019 Yankovich Road slaying, Challenge accepted: Rocky Burbank's journey to competitive bodybuilding filled with extreme achievements. Nov 5, 2019. According to it, she is based out of Florida, although more information about her is not available presently. Anchorage jurors found Waterman not guilty of 1st and 2nd degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder. It didn't take police long to suspect that Radel Arrant or both men had something to do with the murder. Due to the severity of the charges, Waterman has been waived into adult court. And yet Dan Reierson: I felt she was definitely involved.Larson: Involved how?Reierson: Involved in the fact that she probably at one point did say, I want my mom dead. But you know, Ive heard my own sister say, I want my mom dead.. Magestro also opined that "we've got a lot more fetal alcohol and drug children who are growing up, and they don't understand the consequences of some of their actions." On the night of November 14, 2004, Lauri Waterman was abducted from her home in the tiny town of Craig, on the idyllic Prince of Wales Island off Alaska's panhandle coast, and murdered. Watermans lawyer, Steven Wells, says they tried to appeal the verdict, arguing that the trial shouldve been in juvenile court. He was also Rachelles boyfriend. Rachelle, then 16, was a student-athlete who sang in the school choir, played volleyball and competed in an academic decathlon. I'm glad those guys are in jail, but she should be too. Jason testified about a call he received from Rachelle the night after her mother's murder. I won't have computer acess [sic] until the weekend or so because the police took my computer to go through the hard drive. But the killers, Arrant and Radel, told police that Rachelle had feared for her life and that they felt compelled to act. It wasnt enough to keep Jason and Rachelle apart, however. February 6, 2015. Her attorneys claimed that she should have been judged compared to juveniles of similar age, intelligence and experience. ET) on Investigation Discovery. This woman is now walking the streets & from all indications, enjoying a successful & fulfilling life. He was known around town as a pied-piper of sorts who gathered high schoolers to his computer shop where they played video games and dungeons and dragons. She just really wanted to bring out the best in people. Her oldest child, Geoffrey Waterman, was away at college. If I don't go through with this, Im really not willing to protect Rachelle like I said I was.". Rachelle Waterman was sobbing and hysterical at school the morning after her mother went missing, a defense witness testified Thursday, the most vivid description presented so far that the . But the most dramatic testimony in the trial came when prosecutor west called to the stand the other killer -- Brian Radel. (Don't get me wrong, the others that were convicted deserved everything they got). The last entry, which has since been removed from public view, was posted on November 18, 2004 and read: Just to let everyone know, my mother was murdered. Every entry since March 2004 has apparently now been deleted or hidden, but a ZIP archive of the entire weblog, from before the entries were deleted, is available on Deadly Blogging. In the summer before the murder, Rachelle took up a job at a local computer store. Additional charges of solicitation, conspiracy, tampering with physical evidence and other charges are pending. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Waterman was a teenager in 2004 when she was accused of conspiring to kill her mother, Lauri Waterman. Lauri Waterman Didn't Approve of Her Daughter's Friends, Investigators Found a Letter of Apology from Lauri to Rachelle Waterman, Rachelle Waterman Claimed Her Mother Abused Her. Curiously, there was no sign of forced entry. Reportedly, Arrant dropped Radel off near the Waterman home shortly after 12:00 a.m. Sunday, November 13, 2004 (local time) where Radel proceeded to kidnap Lauri Waterman, force her into a minivan owned by the Waterman family, and kill her with a blunt object. Just like there isnt much to choose from when it comes to dating, the same holds true for friendships in this Alaska community, especially guys like Brian and Jason. But just like Alaskans are strong people willing to brave Americas last wild frontier, Rachelle was taking on the newly discovered frontier of the online world: blogging. Larson: Did you ever see the bruises?Radel: Yes, I did see bruises.Larson: Where were they?Radel: The ones that I saw were on her upper thighs. Rachelle Waterman and Jason Arrant were arrested on November 19, 2004. The only odd thing, Rachelle noted, was a bottle of wine that had been left out her mother wasn't a drinker. And, the defense took on what looked like the most damning evidence: Rachelle's taped confession. Rachelle was an honor student, athlete, and member of her schools choir. She had told them when Lauri would be home alone and to enact the plan that weekend. In her blog, Rachelle allegedly talked about facing abuse from her family and had casually mentioned that her mother was murdered. Pierce: I could upset more people in an hour than she could in a lifetime. Feb. 7, 2006 -- Closing arguments are scheduled to be heard today in the case of an Alaska teenager accused of conspiring to kill her mother. Rachelle was also allegedly experiencing issues with her mom over her likes, dislikes, and her boyfriend, who was significantly older than her. When the police investigated, they found out that Lauris husband had reported her and her car missing. Brian James Radel, also 24, was another one of the handful of island misfits. McPherron: You knew it was gonna happen, and you didn't do anything --Rachelle: I told them not to do it!Sgt. He also said that Rachel informed Jason that she and her father would be away on the weekend of the murder. Rachelle also ran a blog called My Crappy Life. Growing tired of their search and nearing sunrise, they finally decided on a rutty, rarely traveled road primarily used by logging trucks. Jason knew he was lucky to have a girl as intelligent and pretty as Rachelle. The retrial took place in 2011 in Anchorage. While the 16-year-old admitted shed lied about the sexual relationship between her and Jason, omitted facts about telephone conversations between them, and had downplayed the familial conflicts while perhaps exaggerating the physical abuse, she refused to cop to murder. Anchorage's police department was called in to help, and Claus waited at the crime scene overnight to make sure no animals or weather disturbed the body. But who would kill one of the most-loved people in town? Blah, blah, blah, blah. Wells says that Watermans three-year sentence doesnt mean three more years in jail because a third of that time can be taken off for good behavior, and Waterman already served some time during the trial process. She was ultimately convicted of negligent homicide. Lingit Aani Kaa Kei Nas.ax Haa Yoo Xatangi. Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication. She was afraid, Rachelle says, that her mother would kill her. Lauri Waterman Find-A-Grave: Lauri Ann Martelli Waterman One Waterman killer won't testify in daughter's murder retrial Waterman's former boyfriend refuses to testify in Alaska murder conspiracy trial Convicted killer testifies at Waterman trial Waterman killers land 50, 99 years in jail Jason Arrant & Brian Radel have been sentenced in Craig American teenage girl charged ), KTUU reported that Magestro "blames violent movies, TV shows and videogames for desensitizing young people, making them unable to understand the consequences -- or even the reality -- of their actions.". Rachelle Waterman, 17, is on trial, accused of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the November 2004 death of her mother, 48-year-old Lauri Waterman. Lauri in particular was described as thoughtful "and helpful, so eager to give help," by her friend Victoria Merritt. The Appeals court conceded in its decision, which was released Friday, that there is a scientific basis for the appeal. Teens get tough lesson in consequences of crime, https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=American_teenage_girl_charged_with_murder_of_her_mother&oldid=4700349. Her husband, Carl Doc Waterman, was away on business. Rachelles world was undermined by feelings of isolation she had begun to feel in Craig, a tiny town of 1,400. Rachelle Waterman | Source M any years ago, Craig, Alaska was known as a safe, tight-knit community where residents often left their doors unlocked at night. On Saturday, November 202004, Alaska State Police Trooper Robert Claus stated: During interviews all three made admissions as to their involvement in the murder. They didn't just pick Lauri Waterman out of the phonebook. 'People Magazine Investigates' : Tracking Down the Man Who Allegedly Killed Mom of Two Joy Hibbs in 1991, 'I Need You to Shoot Him': Girl, 11, Was Forced by Her Mom to Kill Abusive Stepfather, Lone Survivor of 1984 Colorado Hammer Killer Attack Misses the Family He Stole: 'Inside I Cry Every Day', Minn. Craig has one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school, with an attendance of approximately 800 students in an average school year. So defense attorney Wells attacked the officers' methods, challenging sergeant Randy McPherron, one of the Alaska state troopers who interrogated Rachelle. Waterman is now 26. Brian Radel, convicted of murdering Lauri Waterman: It's not like Im a professional killer. A murder so brutal, and different because it may have begun as the fantasy of a teenage girl. The foreman voted not guilty. She played 2 losers, and walked away laughing. In closing, the defense said Rachelle never wanted her mother to die and it read from a letter written to Rachelle by her mother: a letter Rachelle kept in her nightstand: "I want us to be close and you be able to tell us things or just talk about nothing or anything. Defense attorney Wells claimed Arrant duped his best friend Brian Radel, convinced him Rachelle wanted her mother dead. And what about those stories, Rachelle's dramatic descriptions of abuse? CRAIG, Alaska Rachelle Waterman's 60-year-old father, Carl "Doc" Waterman, is a real estate agent and serves as president of the Craig School Board.
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