Re: Scientsist & Am Ast Murdered at Iowa City
- From: Holum Laikum <bridge@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:54:38 -0600
Updated February 09. 2008 10:07PM
Murder suspect termed 'good Christian boy'
By Jennifer Hemmingsen and Erika Binegar
The Gazette
jennifer.hemmingsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
erika.binegar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Photos: Curtis Fry's initial appearance
Please go here to order Gazette photos.
Photo
(Brian Ray/The Gazette)
Curtis Fry of Wilton appears before a judge at the Johnson County Jail in
Iowa City.
WILTON - People who know Curtis John Fry here and in Texas were shocked
Saturday to learn that the former high school athlete and "good Christian
boy" had been accused of beating to death a 75-year-old man in his apartment
after celebrating his 21st birthday in Iowa City.
Fry was in jail facing a second-degree murder charge in the killing of
Jerome August "Patrick" McEwen, 75, at McEwen's Iowa City home, 513 S. Van
Buren St., Apt. 1, between 1 and 3 a.m. Thursday.
A judge set $1 million cash-only bail Saturday morning.
As news spread throughout Fry's hometown of fewer than 4,000 people, some
people declined to comment on the arrest ? some saying they don't know Fry
that well, others that they wouldn't comment out of respect for his family.
Fry's parents, Jim and Cathy Fry, run a Christian-based Miracles Can Happen
Boys Ranch for troubled teenagers a few miles north of here, where Fry
started working a year ago, according to a Web site.
Before that, he worked and volunteered at Still Creek Boys and Girls Ranch
in Bryan, Texas ? a Christian-based home offering second chances to
disadvantaged children ? for about six months starting near October 2006,
according to ranch supervisor Margaret O'Quinn.
O'Quinn, 60, said Saturday she couldn't imagine the "good Christian boy" she
remembers hurting another person.
"That doesn't sound like him at all," she said, shocked to hear he had been
charged. "He was a good, calm and collected kid."
At her ranch, Fry read Scripture to the children, prayed with them before
bedtime and set a good example, O'Quinn said.
"He was wonderful," she said. "I would have trusted him with anything."
Fry looked after her own children, taught fishing ? a favorite pastime ? to
ranch residents and tutored classes, she said.
"I hate to see something happen in his life that would stop him from
becoming all that he could be and fulfilling his dreams," O'Quinn said. "He
just had a big vision."
When Fry graduated from Wilton High School in 2005, he wanted to become a
high school teacher and coach, according to a biography published in the
Wilton-Durant Advocate News. Yearbooks show that Fry played football,
baseball and golf for Wilton High School and that he was active in a
Christian club called Young Life. His graduating class had 66 students.
Photo
(Brian Ray/The Gazette)
Curtis John Fry of Wilton makes his initial appearance in front of Judge
Stephen Gerard on second-degree murder charges Saturday at the Johnson
County Jail in Iowa City. Judge Gerard set a $1 million bail for Fry.
Fry's hands shook during his brief Saturday morning court appearance at the
Johnson County Jail in Iowa City as he flipped through the criminal
complaint police filed in Johnson County District Court. Associate Judge
Stephen Gerard set the bail and scheduled a Feb. 19 preliminary hearing.
Fry filled out an application for a public defender but told the judge he
had a private attorney. He didn't name the attorney. Fry was quiet during
the appearance, answering, "Yes, sir" or "No, sir" to Gerard's questions.
Fry was found near the crime scene early Thursday, wearing no pants and two
coats that weren't his, according to the criminal complaint. Police said in
that complaint they found Fry's wallet and bloodied jeans in McEwen's
bedroom.
Given that Fry was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday and that it was his
21st birthday, Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said it was a "reasonable
speculation" that Fry was intoxicated during the alleged attack.
O'Quinn said she had never seen Fry drink.
Fry was arrested Friday after an interview with police, Kelsay said. Kelsay
declined to comment Saturday about the content of that interview or why
police think Fry would have broken into McEwen's apartment.
McEwen was known as a gentle man who used a cane and went to synagogue every
week.
He had broken bones in his face and thyroid cartilage, slight bleeding in
his brain, a broken rib and what appeared to be defensive hand wounds, the
criminal complaint said. A neighbor discovered McEwen's body in the
apartment and reported it to police shortly after 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Second-degree murder is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 50 years in
prison.
Article Comments
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Posted By: RM Post Date: 02/10/08 08:28:00 PM
Title: Think clearly...
Come on... it isn't bias by the Gazette to say that his neighbors considered
him a good Christian it reporting on his character, or how he seemed to
others. The Gazette is not reporting that it's impossible he did it. Get a
grip.
Report Abuse
Posted By: Anonymous2U Post Date: 02/10/08 11:48:00 AM
Title: The real victim: August "Patrick" McEwen
I think the reporting here is terrible. What a bias. Let me get this
straight, if some people who are all family or friends, refer to you as a
"Good Christian" then you should get away with murder?
How do you suppose August "Patrick" McEwen saw this 21 year old man as he
was beating him to death? As 75 year old August "Patrick" McEwen put his
hands up to defend himself against the rage of this 21 year old man?
How do you suppose August "Patrick" McEwen's family and friends view this 21
year old man that murdered their family member and friend?
Whether he was a "Good Christian" or not, murder is not a good Christian
act. This man needs to be put away for life. The only thing I question aside
from the integrity of the reporting on this by the Gazette is the 2nd degree
murder charge. Why so quick to assume this wasn't premeditated?
Report Abuse
Posted By: Paul Marat Post Date: 02/10/08 01:12:00 AM
Title: Whooda Thunk't It?
Once upon a time another "young Christian man" murdered not just one
"elderly Jewish man", but many, hundreds in fact, all in one day, and with
the blessing of none other than the pope himself.
His name: Richard the Lion-Heart
(And he wasn't even drunk)
biggrin
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Posted By: James Eaves-Johnson Post Date: 02/10/08 12:15:00 AM
Title: Patrick's murderer should face judgment, those of us who remember
him do not demand vengeance.
Murder in the first degree requires "the person willfully, deliberately, and
with premeditation kills another person." Presumably the charge in this case
was murder in the second degree because evidence would not support the
charge. The perpetrator killed Patrick without the "serious provocation
sufficient to excite" that would make it involuntary manslaughter. Patrick
was incapable of any provocation, let alone the type that would reduce the
charge.
I hope that Fry's apologists support him in facing his guilt and atoning for
his crime. He has done an incredibly terrible thing and will need support if
he is to redeem himself. Patrick was a gentle old man who was a delight to
the people whose lives he touched. His presence will be missed dearly. Fry's
atonement will need to make up for this loss, and at the same time
demonstrate that his terrible crime does not define who he is. Fortunately
for him, he has many years in jail and many more after he receives probation
for his redemption. Patrick was denied the opportunity to do more good with
his life by his murderer, and his last moments probably filled him with pain
and fear of that fact.
Report Abuse
Posted By: MONICA PARKER Post Date: 02/09/08 10:59:00 PM
Title: The other side
I sympathize with the views the previous message entailed but I am in TOTAL
DIS-BELIEF that Curtis could be labeled a murderer. I am a former co-worker
and friend of his and I, as well as others who know him, know that he is not
calculating and pre-meditative in ANY sense. He is a caring and gentle man
who wants nothing but good for people. He comes from a wonderful close nit
family who have brought him up to be a positive role model and influence in
so many lives. That's who Curtis really is.
Report Abuse
Posted By: James Eaves-Johnson Post Date: 02/09/08 10:29:00 PM
Title: This "nice Christian boy" murdered a nice eldrely Jewish man
This "nice Christian boy" just murdered a "nice elderly Jewish man." Of
course, with reporting like this, who will consider the humanity of the
victim. This crime did not "happen." It was perpetrated. If the perpetrator
is as good as is reported, he will be active in prison ministries and will
continue to redeem himself thereafter. During that time, he will have to
answer for the vicious crime he committed. It is inaccurate to suggest that
this young man's life "has been ruined." He ruined his life.
Forest Tucker wrote:
Long time academic and astronomy enthusiast Jerome 'Patrick' McEwen was
MURDERED at Iowa City early Friday morning
by a crazed drunk young person who broke into Patrick's
apartrment at 513 So. Van Buren and beat Pat to death.
The motive has yet to be ascertained.
Patrick lived one block east off "bar row" on Gilbert Street
in Iowa City, an area well known for drunk students, intense vandalisms
and breakins over the years, rapes and sexual assaults, et cetera - a
real notorious high rent Iowa City "shit hole".
Academics was Pat's whole life. He began in chemistry in the
30's, progressed to physics and helped design and build the
first accelerator built here at the University back in the late 50's.
Pat then migrated into the social sciences and languages
and had his own personal translation of the Torah (something he did for
a hobby!).
Pat continued to live in the So Van Buren area partly because
he enjoyed being around younger people, loved discussing
matters with students, loved helping students with their homework., and
geneally liked being of service to younger
people. It is ironic that a crazed non student drunk should end
Patrick's career and his life - the very kind of person Patrick
would have taken under his wing and tried to help!
A memorial observing session will be held outside Pat's apartment on Van
Buren street sometime this Spring - that
much all of us are agreed upon tonight.
Shalom avenu . Goodbye Jerome.
. . .
.
- References:
- Scientsist & Am Ast Murdered at Iowa City
- From: Forest Tucker
- Scientsist & Am Ast Murdered at Iowa City
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