Showing Tag: "bonnie craig" (Show all posts)

COLD CASE UNIT FUNDING

Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, May 11, 2015, In : Crime, Justice 



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

Posted by Karen Foster on Monday, June 9, 2014, In : Bonnie Craig Murder 
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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Investigation Discovery Features Bonnie's Story

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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Protection of Victim's Rights

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. ...
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Dateline NBC airs show on "Justice for Bonnie"

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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Timely Disposition of a Case

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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Message to a Killer

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 ...
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17th Anniversary Press Conference for Homicide Reward Fund

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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17th Anniversary Bonnie Craig Murder. Press Release

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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GREAT FOR THE HEART!

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...
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Florida and Ohio Start Collecting DNA on Arrest

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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No One Should Get Away With Murder

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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New Trial Date Set for Bonnie Craig Murder.

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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Governor Approves Crime Lab Funding

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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Judge Allows another Delay in Bonnie Craig Murder Case

Posted by Karen Foster on Saturday, February 13, 2010, In : Bonnie Craig Murder 

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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Karen Foster, Bonnie's Mom


Karen Foster 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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