Post by CCADP on Aug 23, 2005 6:26:44 GMT -5
Police link Hyde to fifth death
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The Associated Press
August 23, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE -- A man accused of murdering two police officers and two young workers in a motorcycle shop last week has been linked to a fifth killing, authorities said Monday.
Police linked John Hyde, 48, to the Thursday murder of Department of Transportation worker Ben Lopez through ballistics from a fairly rare revolver -- a 1918 Webley Mark VI -- said Michael Haag, a forensics scientist with the department.
A warrant charging Hyde with an open count of murder and a count of tampering with evidence in the Lopez case was issued late Monday, according to police spokesman John Walsh.
Hyde was arraigned over the weekend in the deaths of police officers Michael King and Richard Smith and motorcycle-shop workers David Fisher and Garret Iversen.
King, 50, and Smith, 47, were fatally shot Thursday night outside the home of Hyde after being called to take him to a hospital for a mental-health evaluation. Albuquerque television stations have reported that a doctor ordered the evaluation after Hyde allegedly threatened to kill workers at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital days earlier.
Hyde also is accused of robbing and then fatally shooting Fisher, 17, and Iversen, 26, at Ryder Valley Motorcycles in Albuquerque on Thursday. Police say $50 was missing from the shop's cash register.
Lt. Paul Feist said officers began noticing obvious characteristics from the bullets at all three crime scenes as early as Friday.
"There were some similarities that really stood out," Feist said. "It's something you don't see every day in bullets."
Police recovered the
.45-caliber revolver near downtown Albuquerque where the officers were shot.
Hyde has pleaded not guilty to four open counts of murder for the deaths of the officers and the motorcycle-shop workers. He also has pleaded not guilty to one count of armed robbery.
Mayor Martin Chávez said 30 officers worked overtime throughout the weekend to solve the murder of Lopez, whom a co-worker found shot to death.
Police Chief Ray Shultz said a motive has not been identified.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg has said her office might seek the death penalty against Hyde.
Fellow officers, family and friends began mourning the slain officers at a viewing Sunday.
Police spokesman John Walsh said hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the officers' funerals.
King's funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Legacy Church in Albuquerque. Smith's funeral will be at
10 a.m. Thursday at Albuquerque's Hoffmantown Church. Both men will be laid to rest at Sunset Gardens Memorial following the services.
print | email this story
The Associated Press
August 23, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE -- A man accused of murdering two police officers and two young workers in a motorcycle shop last week has been linked to a fifth killing, authorities said Monday.
Police linked John Hyde, 48, to the Thursday murder of Department of Transportation worker Ben Lopez through ballistics from a fairly rare revolver -- a 1918 Webley Mark VI -- said Michael Haag, a forensics scientist with the department.
A warrant charging Hyde with an open count of murder and a count of tampering with evidence in the Lopez case was issued late Monday, according to police spokesman John Walsh.
Hyde was arraigned over the weekend in the deaths of police officers Michael King and Richard Smith and motorcycle-shop workers David Fisher and Garret Iversen.
King, 50, and Smith, 47, were fatally shot Thursday night outside the home of Hyde after being called to take him to a hospital for a mental-health evaluation. Albuquerque television stations have reported that a doctor ordered the evaluation after Hyde allegedly threatened to kill workers at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital days earlier.
Hyde also is accused of robbing and then fatally shooting Fisher, 17, and Iversen, 26, at Ryder Valley Motorcycles in Albuquerque on Thursday. Police say $50 was missing from the shop's cash register.
Lt. Paul Feist said officers began noticing obvious characteristics from the bullets at all three crime scenes as early as Friday.
"There were some similarities that really stood out," Feist said. "It's something you don't see every day in bullets."
Police recovered the
.45-caliber revolver near downtown Albuquerque where the officers were shot.
Hyde has pleaded not guilty to four open counts of murder for the deaths of the officers and the motorcycle-shop workers. He also has pleaded not guilty to one count of armed robbery.
Mayor Martin Chávez said 30 officers worked overtime throughout the weekend to solve the murder of Lopez, whom a co-worker found shot to death.
Police Chief Ray Shultz said a motive has not been identified.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg has said her office might seek the death penalty against Hyde.
Fellow officers, family and friends began mourning the slain officers at a viewing Sunday.
Police spokesman John Walsh said hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the officers' funerals.
King's funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Legacy Church in Albuquerque. Smith's funeral will be at
10 a.m. Thursday at Albuquerque's Hoffmantown Church. Both men will be laid to rest at Sunset Gardens Memorial following the services.