InfoAnda - Iowa town struggles to understand slaying of coach

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Toyota's global sales of hybrid cars top 3 million | 8 March 2011
Firefighters battle 3 Calif. wildfires amid heat | 28 August 2009
Croatian PM orders probe into Facebook-linked detentions | 4 December 2008

New Zealand mourns death of 29 coal miners | | 25 November 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Iowa town struggles to understand slaying of coach

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Iowa town struggles to understand slaying of coach By NIGEL DUARA,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, June 26 PARKERSBURG, Iowa - In the years after Mark Becker graduated from high school, friends say he drifted from the community where he played football for the town's beloved coach. ADVERTISEMENT There were failed attempts at college, minor dustups with the law and trouble with drugs and alcohol. At 24, he was a cook at a Cedar Falls pizza restaurant and no longer the friendly "cute guy" from his days at Aplington-Parkersburg High. "He wasn't the same guy," said Sara Madsen, a friend who graduated with Becker. "He was way more quieter. He just wouldn't say much. I said to him, 'What's going on? We never see you anymore.'" Madsen never got an answer, and like the rest of Parkersburg is left wondering what could have compelled Becker to allegedly unload several shots from a handgun into his former coach, Ed Thomas, during an offseason team workout Wednesday morning. Becker was arrested a short time later in his parents' driveway and charged with first-degree murder. So far, detectives are refusing to answer questions about Becker's possible motive. His attorney, Susan Flander, declined to discuss the case Thursday, and none of the 20-or-so players who were in the weight room have spoken publicly about what they saw, apparently told not to speak to reporters by school officials. Becker, in isolation in Cerro Gordo County jail 40 miles away, isn't talking either. He's "just quiet, just stone-faced quiet," jail administrator Shad Stoeffler said. "I think he's still just trying to soak everything in." Investigators said they would pore over every last detail of Becker's past _ including an incident last weekend in which police say he took a baseball bat to a home in nearby Cedar Falls and rammed his car through the home's garage door. They haven't said if they know why he targeted Thomas, the NFL's 2005 high school coach of the year who guided several players to the NFL, including Green Bay Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman, Jacksonville Jaguars center Brad Meester, Detroit Lions defensive end Jared DeVries, and Denver Broncos center Casey Wiegmann. In high school, Becker was popular and friendly with everyone, said Madsen, who had gathered with friends at a Parkersburg bar to discuss the killing. "We loved him," she said. "He was the cute guy in school." After graduating in 2004, Becker enrolled at Wartburg College, a private Lutheran school with about 1,800 students in nearby Waverly. He briefly played football on the junior varsity team before dropping out after one semester, said Wartburg spokesman Saul Shapiro. He enrolled in Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo in fall 2006, but again lasted only one semester. Most recently, Becker had been working as a cook at an Old Chicago restaurant in Cedar Falls. "We never had any problems with him," said bar manager Shaun Decker. "He was a good worker." Madsen said she didn't see Becker much after 2006 because he had moved out of the area and would appear only randomly in Parkersburg. At one point, she talked with friends about trying to help him. "I said, I think we need to step in because he's losing himself," Madsen said. But they couldn't figure out how to help since they saw him so rarely. Becker has had several brushes with the law in the last five years, including a fine for underage possession of alcohol in 2004, a drunken driving conviction in 2005 and a fine and conviction earlier this year for possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief and assault causing bodily injury. "More or less, he got with the wrong crowd and kind of fell," said Taylor Schrange, who graduated from Aplington-Parkersburg High School in 2003, a year before Becker. The Becker and Thomas families both attended the First Congregational Church, and one of Thomas' sons, Todd Thomas, said Thursday his father and other church members tried to counsel Becker. He declined to specify how his father tried to help Becker but said the shooting hasn't changed the Thomas family's view of the Beckers. "Mark is a very good person," Thomas said. "The whole family are good people." Things seemed to escalate Saturday night with the high-speed chase, when sheriff's deputies arrested Becker and took him to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, police said. He was released Tuesday without police being notified, and spent the night at his parents' place before confronting his former coach the following morning, authorities said. Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo said in a statement Thursday that its staff was not asked to notify authorities before releasing Becker. Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson said in a statement that the county's "Central Point Coordinator of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities" was informed of Becker's situation and was asked to contact the sheriff if Becker was to be released. A central point coordinator is responsible for the administration and funding of mental health services in the county. It wasn't clear who that person is in Butler County and messages left for county officials were not immediately returned. Thomas' funeral is planned for Monday morning at First Congregational Church. ___ Associated Press writers Michael J. Crumb, Melanie S. Welte and Luke Meredith in Des Moines contributed to this report. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: World Police chief and 91 officers detained in MexicoAFP - Friday, June 26 G8 ministers hammering out Iran statementAFP - Friday, June 26 Guantanamo reforms in defense budget: US lawmakerAFP - Friday, June 26 Capitalism, IMF and World Bank under fire at U.NReuters - Friday, June 26 Man opens fire on football game in Italy, 1 deadReuters - Friday, June 26 Most Popular – World Viewed Botox helps Australian stroke victim to walk again US company makes first batch of swine flu vaccine Saturn moon may harbour life-giving ocean: study Sarah Jessica Parker welcomes surrogate twins Opium-eating wallabies get high, make crop circles View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Friday, 26 June 2009
G8 ministers seek firm stance on Iran
Russia orders retrial in Politkovskaya case
UN tribunal sets up Hariri website for tip-offs
Berri elected Lebanon speaker for fifth term
Two alleged ETA members arrested near Paris
Farrah Fawcett dead at 62: O'Neal
NATO to start offensive soon in south Afghanistan | International |
Britain's Woolworths relaunches as online store
Hamas leader rejects freak Israel offer of state | International |
Steelmaker Corus says could axe up to 2,045 jobs
Indonesian court clears Facebook mum
"20/20" To Air Barbara Walters Exclusive Report On Farrah Fawcett On Thursday
Zimbabwe's Mugabe attacks West on sanctions, aid | International |
US economy contraction offers hope of rebound
Expanded Update: Cancer Claims Life Of 'Charlie's Angels' Star
Microsoft, Publicis join forces for online ads
Turbid Jordan trickles the promised land
Swedish court rules out Pirate Bay retrial
Israel gives Abbas forces freer hand in W.Bank cities
Farrah Fawcett Dies Of Cancer At Age 62
Ten dead in Czech floods, central Europe on alert | International |
Martina Navratilova Being Sued By Ex Partner
Risks battle rewards as Iraq opens up its oilfields | International |
Will.I.Am Releases Statement Regarding His Involvement In Perez Hilton's Alleged Assault
Iran's Mousavi vows threats will not stop him
USAID giving $1 million to Africa climate project
Heidi Klum Sues Internet Trader For Cheapening Her Perfumes On eBay
Jerusalem gay parade ends peacefully | International |
Recession, expensive oil slow CO2 growth in 2008
Black Eyes Peas Hold #1 And #2 Spots On Billboard Hot 100
Billy Bob Thornton's Daughter Indicted For Murder Of Baby
EU to help China test carbon capture
Oscar Awards Adds More Nomination Slots For Best Picture
Jonathan Rhys Meyers Arrested In Paris Airport Over Drunken Brawl
No contest plea in pregnant Utah girl's beating
Palm loss narrower than expected, shares leap | Technology |
Vietnam asks for support against 'terrorism'
White House hunting for $20B for highways, transit
Microsoft, VivaKi team up in digital and TV advertising | Technology |
Major provisions of House climate and energy bill
Cambodian PM warns Thailand in border temple row
Court says strip search of Ariz. teenager illegal
Myanmar links US Suu Kyi swimmer to exile groups
SC gov with family as questions grow over absence
New UN rights envoy to Cambodia pledges 'constructive' talks
Taiwan opposition launches 'Free Chen' campaign
RI club owner in fatal fire case out of prison
Republican Lazio planning run for NY governor
Turkish president Gul meets with China's Hu
Peng edged out in Wimbledon thriller
Napolitano to Europe, Kuwait for terrorism talks
Hong Kong tycoon hoped feng shui could get back husband
Analysis: Why do politicians cheat?
Pakistan PM urges Obama aide to halt drone strikes
Court rules for defendants on crime lab reports
VW mulling stake in Suzuki: report
S.Korea central bank extends FX swap deal with Fed
India's Tata Steel reports 60% drop in profit
PC makers race to comply with China's Web filter
Steelmaker Corus could axe up to 2,045 jobs
Head of India's Infosys quits for gov't post
Patti Blagojevich: Time in jungle 'life altering'
UBS appoints new chief executive for Asia business
Pakistan targets 325 bln rupees in T-bill auctions
Fashion thumbs nose at crisis at Paris men's shows
Elite Indonesia troops tortured Papuans
FACTBOX-Recent comments by Taiwan officials on economy, policy
Farrah Fawcett, 1970s sex symbol, dies aged 62 | Entertainment |
Forking out a 'Fortuyn' for Dutch politician's artefacts
Sinopec seeks capacity, reserves with Addax bid
Transformers $60.6 million debut topples record | Entertainment |
Confed tourists in SAfrica adapt to crime fears
Enter Moscow's answer to Batman
Estefans join Miami Dolphins as minority owners
Attorney General Argues For Leniency For Crack Felons; Considering "Alternatives" To Prison
Expanded Update: Cancer Claims Life Of 'Charlie's Angels' Star
E. Coli Concerns Prompts Colorado Company To Recal 41,000 Pounds Of Beef Shipped To 13 States
Update: South Carolina Voters Say Adulterous Sanford Should Resign
Governor Cautious About Giuliani's Proposed Constitutional Convention For NY Senate Standoff
Homebuilder Lennar Reflects Gloomy State Of Housing Sector As Loss Widens
Obama Honors Imprisoned Cuban Dissidents
Farrah Fawcett Dies Of Cancer At Age 62
Pakistan Demands End To U.S. Air Strikes
U.S. Economy Shows Sign Of Recovery As Q1 GDP Contracts By 5.5%
G8 ministers hammering out Iran statement
Two weeks after: Iran rallies fade, elite split | International |
US-TECH Summary
Two weeks after
Texas cricket mogul pleads not guilty to fraud
Doctor flees Iran over Neda killing: report | International |
Bomb kills 10, wounds 25 in Baghdad | International |
US teens spend more time watching TV than on computer
Analysis: Iran's 2-sided rule _ turban and helmet
Update: Celebrities And Fans Around The World Mourn Michael Jackson's Death
UBS to seek to raise capital by 2.5 billion euros
Few iPhone apps likely to get wide usage: AdMob report
Michael Jackson Passes Away At 50
China intellectuals seek release of dissident | International |
Iran opposition leader says he won't give up fight
Pop icon Michael Jackson dead: TMZ.com website
Michael Jackson Hospitalized For Cardiac Arrest
Two killed in first suicide bombing in Pakistan Kashmir | International |
Iraqi bombings kill scores ahead of US withdrawal
Third of open ocean sharks face extinction: study
Microsoft, VivaKi team up in digital and TV advertising
Hulk Hogan's Ex-Wife Responds To Hairdresser's Drug Allegations
Microsoft unveils Windows 7 prices, free upgrades
Iran opposition leader defiant amid pressure to back down
Amnesty urges Thailand to open lese-majeste trial | International |
Israel marks third anniversary of soldier's capture
Questions and answers about the climate bill
Climate bill showdown: Obama, Dems pressing hard
Recession, expensive oil slow CO2 growth in 2008
LG Elec aims to sell up to 5 million LED TVs in 2010
Major provisions of House climate and energy bill
Guantanamo reforms in defense budget: US lawmaker
Embattled South Carolina Governor to repay trip expenses
Google slammed as China, U.S. quarrel over Internet | Technology |
Financier Stanford pleads not guilty, bond set
Pre helps Palm beat expectations, shares rise | Technology |
Iowa town struggles to understand slaying of coach
Memphis mayor resigns to focus on run for Congress
Manhattan DA endorses ex-deputy to replace him
Aliases hinder probe of Houston officer's slaying
Former Wash. inmate sues state for labor shackling
Court: Hustler wrong to print dead woman's photos
NZ economy shrinks for 5th straight quarter in Q1
S.Korea to raise power costs by 3.9 pct this week
Taiwan dlr rebounds from 1-mth low after rate move
S.Korea asks banks to control mortgage loan growth
Taiwan keeps certificate of deposit rates intact
Tears flow for pop's 'Peter Pan'
S.Korea T-bonds rebound on U.S., July auction plan
S.Korea c.bank sees June c/a surplus over $3 bln
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Mystery surrounds Michael Jackson's sudden death | Entertainment |
Seoul shares rise;shipbuilders, steel issues gain
"Transformers" in high gear already
Farrah Fawcett, 1970s sex symbol, dies aged 62 | Entertainment |
King of Pop Michael Jackson dies, aged 50
S.Korea May c/a surplus more than halves
Stars in shock at Jackson's death
Transformers in high gear already | Entertainment |
Not 's job to 'fix China': CEO
Pop icon Michael Jackson dead: official
NBC sets fall schedule dates | Entertainment |
A buoyant 'Twelfth Night' floats in Central Park
Old Boy proceeds despite legal scuffle | Entertainment |
LA Times: Michael Jackson hospitalized
Noah Wyle in alien-fighting role at TNT | Entertainment |
RI club owner in fatal fire case out of prison
Jeri Ryan gains Leverage at TNT | Entertainment |
ABC, NBC airing Farrah Fawcett specials
Lebanon's Hariri set to become prime minister | International |
Israel plays down reports of imminent Gaza deal | International |
Pakistani violence spreads to Kashmir | International |
Ireland grants rights to same-sex partnerships | International |
Turkey's military says plot report is smear campaign | International |
OSCE makes last Georgia patrol, issues warning | International |
Zimbabwe's Mugabe attacks West on sanctions, aid | International |
Thai official to avoid temple issue in Cambodia
Indonesia radio becomes voice for tolerance
NKorean leader boosts public appearances this year
China marks anti-drug day with executions
SKorea to set up peacekeeping force: military
Brothers charged in Ariz. diversity office bombing
California Senate rejects cash-saving proposal
China hospital dumps 8 unclaimed bodies
UN troubleshooter in Myanmar to discuss Ban visit
U.N. Human Rights Chief Blasts America's Torture Programs, Terror Prisons
Outrage as French rugby player admits assault lie
Memorial service set for operator in DC crash
G8 Deplores Iran's Election Violence
AP source: GM to build small car in Michigan
Sanford To Pay Back Tax Payers For 2008 Argentina Trip
Vietnam fishermen say trade hit by Chinese patrols
Facing Impeachment, Imprisoned Federal Judge To Resign
Spokane cops arrest alleged meat thief ringleader
China's Li facing Pole challenge at Wimbledon
Former Venture Capitalist Julius Genachowski Confirmed As FCC Chairman
Alaska governor visits troops in Kosovo
In Wake Of Ensign Extramarital Scandal, GOP Elects Sen. Thune As Policy Head
Steelers owner Rooney now ambassador to Ireland
Blagojevich Corruption Trial Set For June 3, 2010
Despite Anticipated Close Vote, House Democrats Begin Debate On Landmark Energy Bill Friday
Utility Crew Digs Up Human Remains Near Cemeteries
Michael Jackson Dies In Los Angeles
Japan's consumer prices log record fall
Pakistani c.bank sells 59.4 bln rupees of T-bills
China bank loans to top 1 trillion yuan in June
Jackson death forces cuts to 'Bruno' comedy: report
Gay rights movement: 40 years since Stonewall riots
Michael Jackson's death hits tour promoter, ticket holders | Entertainment |
'Realism' rubbery idea in French art show in Brazil
Showbiz diva Liza Minnelli returns to Paris
Selected Discography for Michael Jackson
Hundreds of Jackson fans converge on hospital
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01