I am writing to ask all Alaskans to support the funding for the Alaska State Troopers Cold Case Unit. Please, no one should get away with murder. Spending $383,000 to ensure that detectives are current on the cold cases and will be able to act and react if tips come in is crucial to keeping killers and rapists off our streets.
It is extremely sad that so many families who are hoping to someday get answers, get justice, and see their day in court, will lose that opportunity. It is very ...
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Justice For Bonnie will hit the bookstore shelves September 2nd! The book chronicles the 17 year saga of our fight to bring Bonnie's killer to justice. The murder happened in Alaska; the killer, who was finally identified by DNA 12 years later, was in the New Hampshire prison system about to be released from serving time for armed robbery.
I was notified by Alaska State Troopers that Bonnie had died in a hiking accident September 28, 1994, while I was down in Florida on a sail boat. Denial,...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Thursday, November 28, 2013,
In :
Crime, Justice
New technology now makes it possible for law enforcement to have results on DNA testing in 90 minutes!
When I first heard about, and started pushing for DNA testing in 2007, it sometimes took over a year for law enforcement to get results due to backlogs and the whole testing process. In the United Kingdom they would get results in 2 days. I pushed for changes in Alaska's law to require the collection of DNA on all felony arrests and for those DNA profiles to be entered into CODIS, our nat...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Friday, October 18, 2013,
In :
Crime, Justice
Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall on ID TV, (Investigation Discovery Channel) featured a story on the Bonnie Craig murder and the pursuit for justice.
The story titled, "A Mother's Mission" chronicles the tragic saga that our family went through after being notified of Bonnie's death; a death we refused to believe was a "hiking accident." We knew it was murder.
The program aired on Wednesday, October 16th. It will air again on Saturday, October 19th at 3:00 pm.
Check your local listings for...
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The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Collection of DNA on felony arrests! Today's 5-4 decision allows states to collect DNA on Arrest. It is a fabulous day that will go down in history for victims, their families, law enforcement and the courts. It will help to start balance the scales of justice. It will help protect the innocent and keep the innocent out of jail.
Collection of DNA on Arrest will save time, money and lives! In Bonnie's case, her killer was in jail 2 months before he...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, February 13, 2012,
In :
Crime, Justice
Victim's have a constitutional right to "timely disposition of their case." That right is largely ignored in Alaska, and it is rarely a matter of protecting the right's of the accused. It is due to poor case-flow management and judges living in fear of an appeal if any defense request is denied. The delays are more for the convenience of defense attorneys personal schedules.
Senator Hollis French has introduced a bill, SB 135, that would help judges determine if delays are truly necessary. ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, January 10, 2012,
In :
Crime, Justice
Please tune in to Dateline this Friday 13th to better understand why so much has to change in our justice system. Learn why DNA must be collected on all felony arrests in all 50 states and Canada. In Bonnie's case the criminal could have been identified in months, instead it took 12 years. Learn why timely disposition of a case is so critical. Then please take action! If you live in a state that doesn't collect DNA on ALL Felony Arrests, let your lawmakers know you support collection of ...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, January 10, 2012,
In :
Crime, Justice
In Alaska victims have a constitutional right to "timely disposition of their case." That right is rarely realized as judges grant request after request for continuances in a case for fear of appeals. Judges don't have enough control over the defense or prosecution to ensure that they are effectively doing their jobs. There is no accountability or case-flow management. Senator Hollis French is introducing a bill to help change this constant re-victimization.
Bonnie's killer was identified ...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Saturday, November 19, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
More than 1,173 computers in Alaska are downloading crime scene videos of children being sexually abused and tortured. At one third of these locations, known to law enforcement, there is a child waiting to be rescued.
The Not One More Child Coalition is asking our Governors and President Obama to declare a "State Of Emergency" We must rescue our children and protect them! Please go to www.NotOneMoreChild.org Get the Facts and read the "White Paper." Write or email or call your Governor.
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Posted by Karen Foster on Thursday, November 10, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
URGENT MESSAGE: Thousands of children are being raped and tortured in the US. They are waiting to be rescued. With current technology, law enforcement have identified the exact location of computers that are downloading child pornography. These are crime scene videos of children under 12 being raped and tortured. 1/3 of these locations have a child waiting to be rescued. Surviving Parents Coalition and PROTECT.org are asking President Obama and our Governors to protect our children. We want ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, November 8, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
After 17 years, we have come to the final chapter. Kenneth Dion was sentenced to serve 124 years for abducting, raping and murdering my sweet 18 year old daughter, Bonnie Craig. We can breathe a final sense of relief. Although, in our justice system, you never know. He does have 30 days to appeal.
During the sentencing my daughter, Samantha Campbell, and I took the opportunity to speak. I was so incredibly touched by Samantha's words. She was 12 when her sister was murdered. Here are ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Wednesday, September 28, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
Nothing can be more devastating than losing a child to
murder. Not getting answers for months,
years, even decades makes that devastation so much worse. It’s like a cancer growing inside you. You can pretend that your life is getting
back to normal, but, it never does.
It was almost 17 years for our family to get answers and hear
those incredible words. “GUILTY” “GUILTY’ “GUILTY” “GUILTY.” It was an amazing bittersweet victory; one
that I never expected.
For 12 yea...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, September 26, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
“EVERYONE DESERVES JUSTICE”
On the anniversary of the Bonnie Craig murder, September 28,
1994, we would like to celebrate our family’s bittersweet victory and call
attention to the other families who are still awaiting justice.
No one
should get away with murder, rape, nor any other heinous crime. Now that
Bonnie’s killer has been convicted the money collected shortly after Bonnie’s
murder is offered as a reward to help find answers in other unsolved Alaskan
murders.
The Homicid...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Saturday, September 24, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
Every time I read about another cold case solved with DNA evidence I can't help but do a little dance. It is so incredibly thrilling for me. It's another one up for the "good guys!" No one should get away with murder; and with collection of DNA on arrest, pretty soon, no one will. Fewer cases will grow cold. Cold cases with DNA evidence will be solved!
The most recent case that has got me smiling like a cheshire cat is a cold case from 1989. (Full Story) You know this guy thought he wou... Continue reading ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, August 30, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
CODIS, the national DNA database, has almost 385,000 forensic DNA profiles from crime scene evidence. Many of these crimes could be solved if all 50 states and Canada collected DNA on all felony arrests. In fact estimates are 60% could be solved. For each of these unsolved crimes there are victims, families, friends and communities desperately needing answers. For each of these unsolved crimes there is a criminal getting away with murder, rape, or some other heinous crime. This criminal,...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, August 22, 2011,
In :
Crime, Justice
(originally posted July 26, 2011)
DNA testing of suspects arrested for a crime does not violate the US Constitutional right of an accused to unlawful search and seizure. In a 8-6 vote the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the DNA law to collect DNA for those arrested of a crime.
Judge Julio Fuentes wrote that "under the totality of the circumstances, given arrestees' and pretrial detainees' diminished expectations of privacy in their identities and the government's legitimate interests in ...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, July 5, 2011,
Both Florida and Ohio started collecting DNA on Arrest July 1st, 2011. AND New Jersey just passed legislation to collect DNA on arrest.
New Jersey is the 26th state to pass legislation to collect DNA on Arrest. Fewer cases will grow cold as more states start collecting DNA on arrest. There will be fewer places for the criminals to run. Criminals will be identified sooner in their careers.
The Surviving Parents Coalition www.SPCoalition.org have made it their mission to push for all 50 s...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Wednesday, October 13, 2010,
In :
Crime, Justice
Please take time to look over this post. It will help with understanding how critical it is to collect DNA on Arrest.
http://www.lawfirmone.com/legal-forums/index.php/criminal-prosecution-and-defense/no-one-should-get-away-with-murder/#105
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Posted by Karen Foster on Wednesday, October 13, 2010,
Florida passed legislation in June 2009 to collect DNA on felony arrest. Unfortunately, the state legislature didn't allocate any funds to implement the program. Currently, we are pushing to get funding for the program.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-dna-law-20101011,0,3377718.story
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Posted by Karen Foster on Friday, August 20, 2010,
In :
Crime, Justice
No one should get away with murder, rape, nor any other heinous crime. With collection of DNA on all felony arrests we can identify and successfully prosecute the predators in our society. We can stop them! We have the technology, 24 states and the federal government have passed legislation to collect DNA on arrest, but we need all 50 states to collect DNA on arrest. We want to ensure there is no safe haven for the criminals.
Collection of DNA on all felony arrests will protect the innoc...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Saturday, July 10, 2010,
North Carolina will become the 24th state to pass legislation to collect DNA on arrest. Rep. Wil Neumann pushed his bill to the very end of the session. It was passed in the final moments of the NC legislative session. The bill will now move on to the Governor for signature. Governor Bev Perdu has been a strong supporter of this legislation along with the Attorney General.
The NC bill includes not only felony crimes, but some misdemeanors. Studies show that certain misdemeanors are commit... Continue reading ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Friday, July 9, 2010,
A fifth trial date has been set in the Bonnie Craig Murder Trial. Judge Jack Smith set February 7th, 2011 as the new date. Prosecutor Pat Gullufsen had told Judge Smith back in February that an extension to August 30th would not be possible for him. He had planned on retiring much sooner. Gullufsen's request fell on deaf ears. Now time is needed for the new prosecutor,who will start work July 16th to go over more than 10,000 pages of investigation, 33 motions, 105 DNA tests that were take...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, June 8, 2010,
Governor Signs the Budget, June 3rd, 2010
Governor Sean Parnell signed the budget approving the final $75 million for the new Alaska Crime Lab. Construction is,once again, proceeding. Thank you to all who pushed for the funding. We are saving lives and a lot of heartache by getting this new crime lab. It will be a legacy that will, ultimately, change the crime rate in Alaska. The innocent will be protected and the predators will end up behind bars earlier in their careers. Many crimes wi...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, April 19, 2010,
Alaska will be getting the new crime lab. It was a knuckle biter right to the end, but lawmakers finally approved the $75 million to complete the new crime lab. Most people will never know how much this will impact their lives. The crime lab is the foundation of our justice system. The more effecient it runs the quicker law enforcement can apprehend the predators in our society. Fewer cases will grow cold. A lot of money will be saved on investigation and prosecution time.
Congratulation...
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Posted by Karen Foster on Thursday, March 11, 2010,
The Utah House,after making some minor amendments to a DNA on Arrest Bill passed the bill. It will now be returned to the Senate where it was overwhelming approved for a final vote.
Looks like Utah will be the 22nd state to pass DNA on arrest legislation. Surviving Parent Coalition (SPC) President Ed Smart and Elaine Runyon-Simmons were very instrumental in ensuring this bill would get passed this session. Continue reading ...
Posted by Karen Foster on Tuesday, February 16, 2010,
A bill hoping to encourage all 50 states to collect DNA on felony arrest is offering a 10% bonus in the Byrne Grant Funding to states that collect DNA on Felony Arrest. This is funding for law enforcement and our crime lab and it helps victim services.
HB 4614 is modeled after Katie's Law. Katie Sepich was murdered in New Mexico. Her parents, Dave and Jayann Sepich, have fought tirelessly to get DNA on Arrest in all 50 states ( www.DNASaves.org ) Getting all 50 states will leave no safe ...
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February 12th, 2010
Judge Jack Smith granted Defense another extension in Bonnie Craig Murder Trial
Kenneth Dion was identified as the alleged killer by a DNA Hit in CODIS, the national DNA database, November 2006. Original trial date was set for September 2008 so there would be absolutely no reason for extensions. It was then set for January 2009. After 18 months of doing nothing on the case, according to Andrew Lambert, Lee Degrasie was taken off of the case and another public defender was...
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Victims and families need to make sure that the CRIMINAL Justice system becomes more balanced and starts protecting the innocent, not just the guilty. Please help us balance the scales of justice. Don't wait until you are a victim to find out how broken the system is. Take 5 minutes to call your lawmakers or drop them an email to support funding for our new crime lab. It will save lives and prevent a lot of crimes by getting the criminals off our streets sooner. Juries expect scientific proof to convict the predators in our society. 5 minutes of your time is all I'm asking for; it will make a difference in our justice system.
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