Even while living overseas, Arnold for nearly a decade continued to at times travel back to the United States for his work. He cut ties to his stepdaughters, had a distinctive mole removed from his face, and moved with his second family overseas, first to New Zealand in 1992, and then to Australia in 1997. Its not uncommon for autistic children to run away or go missing, according to the center. At the time, Walmart spokespersonSharon Weber told The New York Timesthatthe incident detailed in the email was "an urban legend," which circulated as far away as the United Arab Emirates. ), cordes@owh.com, 402-444-1130, twitter.com/henrycordes. A panel of three judges sentenced him to death for both counts. ", Staca Shehan,vice president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children'sanalytical services division,previously told USA TODAY:"The narrative of kids being abducted is the opposite of the typical cases we see. Here he plays in a Christmas concert with an inmate band in the late 1960s. N.P. He went to the vital records department and showed officials there his dads birth certificate. "There were other kids still, the other kids were drowning so they went and rescued them and when they got back here. OMAHA, Neb. He never contacted any of the girls ever again. Westover last month traveled to Australia to meet with the son and collect further evidence from Arnolds family. That pursuit of his roots even took the driven young manto Chicago in 2018. Criminals . Now his family has to wonder whether there were other motives at work. The then 24-year-old pulled off an escape worthy of a movie script and disappeared. One day not long after, an FBI agent flashed a badge at her door and asked about John Damon. "We're covering all our bases. I remember when he first put it up, he put me in the middle of it, and we were listening to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Shawn said. He told his family he removed the mole because he was tired of cutting it while shaving. But in July 1967, the enigmatic Arnold shocked everyone again. We work primarily And nine years later, after he sawed through prison bars and escaped the Nebraska State Penitentiary, the fugitive did flee to Chicago to launch his new life. Right now, the main mission is finding Abi. Ryan Larsen, a missing 11-year-old with autism, vanished after walking out of school May 17. In Miami, the creative Arnold gave the living room of the familys new home a 1970s-style makeover. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. They believe the book dates to his Chicago days, and theyve known him to read it several times front to back. The La Vista Police Department has asked that people in the entire Omaha metro area be on the lookout for Ryan and check doorbell and home security cameras for signs of him. He returned to Australia and did not travel overseas after that, doing most of his sales work online and by phone. But he soon was communicating not with a close relative of his father, but Westover, the deputy U.S. marshal from Omaha. Officers told KETV Newswatch 7 that one person has come forward in regards to Abi Gurung's disappearance. A warrant was executed and authorities seized a smartphone and USB drive and also searched a computer, allegedly finding 16 videos of child porn. While Code Adam is an authentic procedure used at major retailers, the widely circulated story of a child abduction at Sams Club is a decades-old myth. Investigators did not clarify what information was provided. Arnolds family now believes he may have had different motives for leaving the country. Deb recalled that one night on Race Avenue they were awakened by Arnold moaning and crying, like he was having a nightmare. If Arnold had spent the past 43 years looking over his shoulder, he was finally now at peace. Authorities investigate fatal stabbing in Harvard, Neb. Law enforcement began investigating in September 2021 after receiving information from FBI Innocence Lost that a missing 17-year-old female was actively being advertised online for commercial sex in Omaha. They had to get jobs by age 13. 4. USA TODAY reached out to the Omaha Police Department and Sam's Club for additional comment. Investigators found the victim, who allegedly told them that Chatman was forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts. Mitch Beaumont, La Vistas community relations coordinator, said the volunteers have been impressive. Although the crimes were similar, there were differences. Attention for Traffic Problem And in 1967, he conspired with fellow convicted killer James Harding to break out of the trusty dorm, a secure facility within penitentiary grounds for lower-risk inmates who were nearing possible release. Robert K. Ressler, the FBI's head profiler at the time, had access to the information about the two boys in Nebraska and worked up a hypothetical description which matched Joubert in every regard. The condition may have related to a heart attack he had suffered in the late 1990s, or even his frequent long sits during air travel. Services - Background Checks That includes why an immigration card, bearing Arnolds real name, was issued to someone in Brazil a year and a half after his escape a fact first revealed by The World-Herald in its 2017 series. It was right at that moment, he said, that his father came through the door. Theres so much more I wish I could tell, hed say. The search for a missing autistic 11-year-old boy in eastern Nebraska entered its third day Wednesday, and police leading the effort said the child had searched online Kelly fondly recalls him taking her to a Henry Mancini concert. [14], An appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court over whether the electric chair in Nebraska is a cruel and unusual punishment revealed that during his execution, Joubert suffered a four-inch brain blister on the top of his head and blistering on both sides of his head above his ears.[15]. PACIFICA, Calif. (KRON) The father of two young children found dead in his Nebraska home was arrested in California over the weekend. Joubert's case was covered on Forensic Files in the season 4 episode "Ties That Bind". But Arnolds absences for his work became longer and more frequent. Ressler and the Maine investigators came to believe that Joubert joined the military to get away from Maine after the murder of the Stetson boy. La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten noted Thursday night that autistic children are sometimes drawn to water. It turned out that his own car, a tan Chevrolet Nova sedan, was being repaired. And he seemed good at his job, making good money. "When you hear that age you just want to do everything you can to bring that little boy back home to his family," Officer Anson said.Previous Story: Crews have been searching by boat, drone and on foot for missing 7-year-old Abi Gurung at N.P. Listen to part one of our podcast as Omaha.com's Henry Cordes describes the events leading up William Leslie Arnold murdering his parents in 1958. I mean, it happens to adults so especially with a child, there's a great concern for them," he said. Nebraska WebWe would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. OMAHA, Neb. I got mine, Arnold told Harding the last time they spoke. [2], Joubert attended Cheverus High School in Portland, graduating in 1981.[3]. Omaha, Neb. Bouvias daughters dont remember a proposal or a ceremony or even a ring. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children "We're trying to rule out of those possibilities that's why they had family searching in wooded areas, we are searching in wooded areas, there is only so far we can go and get in there and basically just doing everything we can to rule out that he may still be in there," Omaha police Officer Phil Anson said. Missing Nebraska dad arrested in Become a Donor; City: Omaha State: Nebraska USA . WebThe 68-year-old Omaha mans body was found in a ditch in Lancaster County last week. While Arnold faced at least 10 years of incarceration, at the time, the states Pardons Board commonly commuted the life sentences of killers to a set number of years, allowing them to be released on parole. Omaha They then made their way down to the music room, jumped out the window, scrambled over a barbed-wire fence and ran to a clearing, where the new parolee waited in a car. "The FBI remains resolute in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable In reality, he was just days short of his 68th birthday. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required. The bodies of the boys parents, Opal and William Arnold, were soon unearthed. Jeremy M. Boyd, 25, of Omaha, was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 8 years and 6 months in prison for the receipt and distribution and of child porn. "Previous Story:Officers told KETV Newswatch 7 that one person has come forward in regards to Abi Gurung's disappearance. Previous Story: After searching by boat, drone, horse, helicopter, and on foot. His family recently thumbed through their fathers old leather-bound Bible. Dodge Park reopened Friday morning. They all now collectively refer to themselves as our new dysfunctional family.. Ryan Larsen, who has autism, was seen about noon Monday walking out of La Vista West Elementary School near 78th Street and Terry Drive. "There were other kids still, the other kids were drowning so they went and rescued them and when they got back here. The Nebraska State Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for the Update: Search teams found the body of missing 7-year-old Abi Gurung Thursday after he went missing at N.P. He repeated to his second family the story of growing up in a Chicago orphanage. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KETV-TV. He had been stripped to his underwear, his feet and hands had been bound, and his mouth had been sealed with surgical tape. James Ferman Chatman, 43, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor by force. Local police officials have confirmed that no suchchild abduction at a Sam's Club in Omaha took place, and multiple versions of the story have been shared online over the years. His obituary said he was 69. A 43-year-old Omaha man was sentenced to 27 law enforcement began investigating in September 2021 after getting information from FBI Innocence Lost that a missing 17-year-old female was actively being advertised online for commercial sex in Omaha. There, they settled into a tidy, two-story wood-frame house, with a yard of their own and a piano in the dining room. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Submit a Public Notice for Omaha World-Herald, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, McKewon: Casey Thompson's departure, Nebraska's quarterback depth and coup of landing Jeff Sims, Nebraska Athletics parts ways with two veteran administrators, A new megadonor family is silently changing Nebraska political races, Six-week abortion ban dies in Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson enters transfer portal, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner enters NBA draft, Nebraska volleyball match at Memorial Stadium sells out in three days, Shatel: Casey Thompson is taking college athletics' merry-go-round the transfer portal, Dining Notes: New barbecue restaurant opens in Bellevue, Nebraska's point guard search continues as Hunter Sallis commits to Wake Forest, Pospisil: Three new golf course gems made ranking Nebraska's best even tougher in 2023, Shatel: Matt Rhule showed his loyalty to inherited Huskers at Nebraska spring game, Man apologizes after saying Nebraska teacher was 'grooming' boys who were shirtless in musical, Demand for Nebraska volleyball at Memorial Stadium tickets causes online frustration, Check out The World-Herald's 2017 series on Leslie Arnold, Omaha City Councilman Palermo, three others appear in federal court on fraud charges, Councilman Vinny Palermo, others ordered to remain in federal custody pending trial, Sarpy Couny judge denies mother's petition to declare son legally dead, Omaha woman sentenced for killing two men, Biden addresses journalists detained abroad at Correspondents' Dinner, Sudan's rival forces vie for control, risking prolonged conflict, 5 killed in Texas shooting, sheriff expands search for suspect, Pelosi on trip to Kyiv: "We thought we could die". The couples courtship became a quick one. Id say roughly 200 people are involved in this from law enforcement partners.. Now I think John took it on because he needed to. He was charged for receipt and distribution of child pornography. Later, police searched Aguilar-Beltrans home and allegedly found large amounts of meth, cash, a digital scale and packing materials. Wednesday, dozens of Abi's family members walked alongside officers in the rough forest area near where Abi vanished. He relished the power of bullying, and began to stab or slash others. A search warrant was issued, and rope consistent with that used to bind Danny Joe Eberle was found in his barracks room. No Hate Speech or Bullying. Listen to part two of our podcast as Omaha.com's Henry Cordes discusses William Leslie Arnold's escape from prison. Its a total shock, said Arnold's stepdaughter Kelly, who like her sisters requested that her last name not be used, citing privacy concerns. Myers said the water is deceiving and risk for any age. After his first contact with Westover, he read The World-Heralds series on Arnold many times over. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has search guidelines targeted at finding children who are on the autism spectrum. But as his son thinks back on it now, hes amazed about the Eastwood movie his dad had the family sit down to watch at home one evening about two decades ago. The search for a missing 11-year-old La Vista boy continued Wednesday with a focus on bodies of water. THAT IS WHEN THEY RECOVERED THE BO.DY THE UNCLE SAYS ABIS OLDER BROTHER DIED ALSO AT THE AGE OF SEVEN DUE TO KIDNEY ISSUES. Besides his resourcefulness, there was another key to Arnolds success in avoiding recapture: It appears he never seriously ran afoul of the law again. "[13] His last meal consisted of pizza with green peppers and onions, strawberry cheesecake and black coffee. We're doing our due diligence and checking even further than we need to in a normal situation," Bonacci said. The 7-year-old vanished right by the Missouri River around Tuesday evening. Fact check:Claim of sex-trafficking investigation at a Maryland McDonald's is false, The Polly Klass Foundation, anational nonprofit dedicated to the safety of all children,writes: "only about 100 children(a fraction of 1%) are kidnapped each year in the stereotypical stranger abductions you hear about in the news. Then in the early 1990s, something appeared to spook Arnold. The next day, a motorist discovered the boy's body on the side of Interstate 295. The boy then stood over his mother and fired five more shots into her chest. Stay with KETV NewsWatch 7 for updates on this developing story. Now he sees it as evidence his father was suppressing his musical talent yet another sign Arnold was now intentional in concealing his past. Innumerable questions remain surrounding Arnold and his life. We werent good enough for her son.. According to officials, in August 2022, Franco was the subject of a DEA investigation for his alleged role in selling fentanyl in Omaha. Endangered Child Found. He told everyone his parents had suddenly left town to find a senile grandfather who had wandered off in Wyoming. The 67-year-old Arnold left behind a wife and two children in Australia as well as three surviving stepdaughters from a previous marriage here in the United States all of whom were oblivious to his dark, secretive past. This is how it works. South Dakota and Nebraska children reported missing as of April 8 Apr 8, 2023 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. He drove the escapees to Omaha, where Arnold childhood friend Child got them clothes, money and tickets on a 3 a.m. bus bound for Chicago. La Vista police have enlisted the help of the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and a private consultant in the search for an 11-year-old boy who has been missing for four days. AND IT IS A LOT FOR THE FAMILY TO PROCESS >> MOM AND DAD ARE DEVASTAD. He was charged for receipt and distribution of child pornography. Walden's body was found two days later, 5 miles (8km) from the town. While law enforcement agencies searched land and water on Wednesday, family gathered near the river in case there was any news. Serving as his own lawyer, on July 27, 1977 just days after the 10th anniversary of his prison escape Arnold filed for divorce. Abi's family says several kids were playing at N.P. Memphis police have not stopped responding to car theft, property damage, Claim of sex-trafficking investigation at a Maryland McDonald's is false, Police say there's no evidence of a serial killer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Child Abduction from Theme Park Thwarted by Shoes, Fact Check: Four-Year-Old Was NOT Kidnapped And Found Assaulted in Sam's Club, 'Code Adam' Soon Finds Lost Children In Big Stores, Owensboro Police Confirm Facebook Abduction Hoax, Fact check: Mask-wearing not connected to child trafficking. Donovan Shaw, 29, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 9 years and 4 months in prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by way of robbery with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. He sent a birth announcement when his own daughter was born. Im comfortable with who I am, he said. Amber Alert Program: To ensure an abducted childs safe return, the DCSO has entered into a cooperative plan with Nebraska Broadcasters and other participating law enforcement agencies. The two were married in 1983. According to the story, Sams Clubs Code Adam allowed the employees at the store to conduct a search and quickly locate the child, who was purportedly found in the bathroom with her head shaved. By then, he had incorporated his own sales company called Damonico, taken from his alias last name. If they failed to do as they were told, they were put on restriction,their stepfathers word for being grounded. The trip ended up raising as many questions as it answered. Email: nancy.gaarder@owh.com. The jaw-dropping revelation has his family rethinking the entirety of the life of the man they thought they knew. Its easy to see why shed catch the eye of a young man who had been locked up since age 16. Officers have gone door to door at Ryans apartment complex near 84th and Harrison Streets. U.S. General Services Administration, accessed May 12. In fact, he says he has no regrets about taking that DNA test. The program's procedures do not state that entrances and exits of the store should be closed during a missing child situation. In August, the son was excited to be alerted to a close DNA match. He was the second person executed in Nebraska since the death penalty was reintroduced in the state in 1973. Which was true, in a way. James Ferman Chatman, 43, of Omaha, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor by force. U.S. Attorney Steven Russell said 25-year-old Jeremy Boyd, of Omaha, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha on Friday. His new bride and four stepdaughters provided instant cover as he sought to blend into society. Special Report: Examining Missingness among Joubert cut Walden's throat so deeply that he had almost been decapitated. "We're covering all our bases. The next day, he took a razor blade and slashed another girl as he biked past her. This 1976 photo may be the last of Arnold and all his stepdaughters together, as by the next year he had moved to California and filed for divorce. She later summed up her ex this way: He was a great provider, but a lousy husband.. Omaha man sentenced to 27 years for sex trafficking a minor, April 28 roundup from federal court in Omaha, Man arrested at West Omaha apartment after allegedly stabbing mother in head, Jack Nicholson returns to courtside for Lakers playoff game, Woman arrested after cutting in North Omaha. John Joubert (serial killer Arnold played in the marching band, dance band and ROTC band at Central and was a good student. "[1], When he was 13, he stabbed a young girl with a pencil and felt sexually stimulated when she cried in pain. So even adults, this isn't the first time this has happened. 3. The son never thought much of it at the time, miffed and feeling his father had showed him up. Boyd also allegedly admitted to receiving child porn and using the Kik app. IT IS HEARTBREAKING FOR THEM. (WOWT) - Below is a roundup of sentences handed down last week in federal court in Omaha, according to updates from acting U.S. Attorney Steven Russell. Sentenced to life in prison, the boy served for almost a decade as a model prisoner. The claim that a 4-year-old child was abducted at a Sam's Club in Omaha is FALSE, based on our research. The stepdaughters were happy to learn that Arnold seemed to have altered his harsh parenting style when it came to his second family. Lausten also asked that volunteers now direct their efforts toward donations to the Salvation Army and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children rather than ground searches. Multiple agencies helped with the search, including the Omaha Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Eppley Fire and Rescue, and the Omaha and Council Bluffs fire departments. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. His sales work also may have been why the family in 1969 moved to Cincinnati. Arnold would later tell evaluators there may have been underlying reasons for his mothers erratic behavior. He retrieved a .22-caliber rifle from his parents closet. After becoming aware of a missing person, citizens can then contact the Sheriffs Office to provide tips and sightings. FBI records from the time offer no evidence that the agency ever linked Damon and Arnold. I feel I have a pretty good picture and understanding of it, he said that day. Police say no foul play is suspected. It was a tough go for a single mom, and I could see why she would want someone who could support us, she said. Follow her on Twitter @gaarder. Additionally, the entrances/exits at Walnut Creek Lake Recreation Area were closed and being guarded as part of the search there on Thursday. For the composer, see, United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, List of serial killers in the United States, "How Notorious Serial Killer John Joubert's Days of Slaying Children Came to an End", "Maine authorities want to interview Joubert in Nebraska", "A 13-year-old's dead body turns up - Sep 21, 1983 - HISTORY.com", "How serial killer John Joubert's days of slaying kids came to end", "Judge details why he thinks electric chair is a cruel penalty", Nebraska Supreme Court to Hear Electric Chair Challenge, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Joubert_(serial_killer)&oldid=1146897909, Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Maine, People executed by Nebraska by electric chair, People with obsessivecompulsive disorder, People with schizoid personality disorder, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 March 2023, at 16:32.