With an insurance settlement in place and not much else in the press lately about NSU Prof. Morgan Lewis' murder, SD Watch received his comment today on an earlier story from an "APD Officer 264":

Let me tell you from actually working on the case that it leaves very little doubt that this was in fact a murder. even the Coroner ruled it a homicide. A suspect had a motive and knew facts of the case that were never relased to the public. I read the report. I worked on the case. I dealt with the suspect. I like many other officers still feel that it was murder, not suicide. But 2 murders on NSU would look bad in the press and enrollment would drop. A suicide and an accicental death look a lot better to prospective college students than 2 murders with no arrests.

I have no idea if this commenter is a real cop in Aberdeen or someone yanking our chains. But it does seem have a ring of truth to it.

Regardless, Prof. Morgan's death never seemed to add up fact-wise. It wouldn't be the first time a spin was put on tragic events in the name of commerce or institutional image.

Technorati Tags: Morgan Lewis, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Northern State University, NSU, murder, unsolved murders

Inspired by my blogmate Ken Blanchard at South Dakota Politics (which seems to discuss a lot about intellectual diversity and not South Dakota poltics), I have decided to open my own detective agency*.  Here are my top notch qualifications:

• On several occasions, I have been to a police department.
• On several occasions, law enforcement officers have talked to me.
• On several occasions, I have talked to law enforcement officers.
• On a couple occasions, I have filed police reports.
• Over the years, I have watched many police shows.
• I am a big fan of USA's "Monk" TV series, which features a quirky detective.
• My wife was a criminal justice major in college.  You know, that whole osmosis thing after nearly 25 years of marriage.
• I am a blogger, hence, I know just about everything there is to know about anything.

Inspired by Aberdeen's own real life Hardy Boys, Professors Jim Seeber and Ken Blanchard, I hope to bring the same high level of criminal justice expertise to the greater Harrisburg/Tea area.  My rates are reasonable.

Some mysteries I hope to solve in my new found role of Lincoln County's top super sleuth:

• Whose dog keeps barking late at night in my neighborhood?
• Who races their car engine late at night in my neighborhood?
• Why does Harrisburg have three places where I can buy fresh pizza but no grocery store?
• Where do all my right hand gloves go?

After I solve enough of these compelling mysteries, I plan to write a book then sell the screenplay rights to Hollywood.  I can see it now, Dick Wolf of "Law and Order" fame produces "Todd Epp, Faux P.I."  I want George Clooney to portray me.

Thank you Ken and Jim for your inspiring example!

On a more serious note, Aberdonian bloggers Blanchard and his nemesis, David Newquist, have written some serious (and not so serious) entries on the Morgan Lewis "suicide" and the, shall we say, "interesting" way the alleged facts have been disseminated.  I encourage you to read them as I believe that people should know both sides of a debate before they ultimately agree with me:

• http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/2006/week7/index.html#a0008950991

(Blanchard on his and Seeber's column in Sunday's AAN and a poke at me)

• http://northernbeacon.blogspot.com/ 

(Newquist, in an odd twist, giving props to his nemesis Blanchard for trying to get the facts out in the Lewis "suicide.")

*As I believe private detectives have licensing requirements and I don't have those credentials, and the fact that I am being silly, I am not planning to be a private eye.  This posting is for amusement purposes only.

 

 

While the explanations of freelancing bloggers and non-criminal justice NSU professors is apparently just fine with the Aberdeen American News, it doesn't fly with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Not even mentioning the dynamic duo of Professors Blanchard and Seeber, the Argus editorialized today that Aberdeen PD Chief Lanpher has some "splainin' to do, Lucy."

Excerpts from the editorial found at http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060214/OPINION01/60214002/1052

Aberdeen police have some explaining to do. . .

In a news conference, Police Chief Don Lanpher Jr. announced that Northern State University professor Morgan Lewis committed suicide 15 months ago. He announced that three independent consultants reviewed the investigation and agreed. . .

On the surface, it looks as though the police were stymied and simply picked a conclusion – suicide – so they could close the case.

Lanpher’s explanation isn’t good enough. The Aberdeen community needs more.

Wow.  Open and honest government.  Not one dependent on the word of bloggers and professors outside of their subject areas.  Where the government officials answer questions from a free press and the public.  What a concept!

Wow.

Read the comments about the Morgan Lewis "suicide" in the Aberdeen American News at http://forums.aberdeennews.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=kr-aan_forum&msg=4849.1.  This link takes you to the very begining of the comments through today.

If you thought I was hard on some Aberdonians, Aberdonians really know how to go after each other.  Yeow.

It is fascinating reading. And cross Aberdeen, S.D. off your "Lake Wobegon-like" list.

Ken Blanchard and his nemesis David Newquist have interesting comments worth reading concerning the Morgan Lewis death in Aberdeen and the subsequent "coverage" in the Aberdeen American News.  Click here to read: http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/sdwatch/2006/2/12/what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-aberdeen-part-ii.html#comments

I'm not even sure where to begin.

The Aberdeen chief of police won't talk with the Aberdeen American news about the details that lead him to conclude that NSU Prof. Morgan Lewis committed suicide (under suspicious circumstances) yet he will allow two NSU professors, one of whom is a prominent blogger (and supporter of the suicide theory) to interview him?

Huh?

Why did Prof. Ken Blanchard of S.D. Politics blog fame NOT post his interview on this own blog and only a preview: Click http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/2006/week6/index.html#a0008890414 I would have gotten an exclusive like this on my own blog as quickly as I can.  This is big news. 

Huh?

Then the AAN publishes a story where they interview the two NSU professors about their interview with the Chief?

Huh?

This all seems very odd to me.  The police won't talk to the real media directly but will talk to professors and bloggers and finally release the details of the murder and why they think it was a suicide?

Huh?

This has to be a first of some kind of first in the annuls of South Dakota "journalism." 

Here are excerpts from today's AAN: http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/13853691.htm

An hour-long meeting with Aberdeen Police Chief Don Lanpher Jr. has convinced two Northern State University professors that Morgan Lewis committed suicide.

Lanpher said he met with Ken Blanchard, professor of political science, and Jim Seeber, assistant professor of sociology, on Friday on the NSU campus. But the chief doesn't approve of them going public with the information he gave them regarding the death of Lewis, a 46-year-old German professor whose body was found on campus the morning of Nov. 1, 2004.

For 15 months, Lewis' death had been labeled "suspicious" by law enforcement officials. All the public knew was that he had been shot in the left side of the neck and a gun was found in a nearby garbage receptacle.

But during a press conference on Feb. 2, Lanpher said the department had concluded Lewis' death was a suicide. He refused to give reasons for the findings, despite questions from NSU faculty and staff and the media.

Blanchard said he and Seeber asked to meet with Lanpher after the chief told NSU President Patrick Schloss and Aberdeen Mayor Mike Levsen that he would be willing to do so.

Facts revealed: During the meeting Friday, however, Blanchard and Seeber said Lanpher gave them a number of reasons why police believe Lewis killed himself:

• Lewis had gunpowder residue on both hands and blood spatter on one of his hands.

• Blowback, consisting of blood, hair and other materials, was found on the gun.

• Lewis held the gun in his left hand and placed it against his neck.

• A shell casing found next to the garbage receptacle led police to believe that's where the gun was fired.

• The bullet severed an artery, but missed the spine, allowing Lewis to throw the gun in the garbage receptacle and walk 40 feet before bleeding to death. A blood trail also followed the path.

• On the morning of his death, Lewis left his belongings - including keys, money and backpack - in his office in Seymour Hall. He then exited the building wearing no jacket.

Lanpher confirmed all of the findings to the American News, except he said the shot was "close to the neck," but not necessarily against it.

Chief righted wrong: Schloss said he doesn't know why Lanpher chose not to release additional information on Feb. 2 even though both he and Brenda Dreyer, NSU director of university relations, were led to believe all questions would be addressed. Lanpher said he was advised by lawyers not to. However, the president said Lanpher corrected the wrong - at least with the university - by agreeing to speak to Blanchard, who previously had believed Lewis' death was suicide, and Seeber, who was doubtful of the police department's conclusion.

Lanpher said he never would have agreed to talk to Blanchard and Seeber if he had known before the meeting that they were going to release the findings to the public. But Seeber said Lanpher seemed supportive when they addressed it during the meeting and never asked them not to do it - a fact Lanpher confirms.

"We talked about it with him," Seeber said. "He said, as long as 'you're careful about presenting the facts.'"

However, Lanpher said he didn't hear of the plan until three-fourths of the way through the meeting, and never had any intention of releasing anything.

Lanpher said he didn't release the information to the public because he thought it would be an invasion of privacy for Lewis and his family.

If something happens to a close family member, you don't want it out in public, Lanpher said.

With this additional information, perhaps Mr. Lewis took his own life.  I'm not sure I'm convinced.  But I am glad that the information came out--though through odd channels.

What I don't understand:

• Why didn't the AAN push the Chief and interview him themselves?
• Why would the chief talk to bloggers and professors and not journalists?
• Why would the chief talk to these specific people?
• What are the various motives involved?  Are they public spirited?  Is something else at play?
• If NSU was going to pursue this, why wouldn't they have the President, a designee of the President, or Brenda Dreyer, the had of university relations, talk to the Chief.  Brenda is a friend of mine.  I worked with her for several years at S.D. Public TV where she was a producer and on-air host.  Before that, she was a reporter at KELOLAND-TV.  Brenda was a good reporter.  She has great people skills.  She could have easily interviewed Chief Lanpher and done a good job.

Maybe all this helps bring closure to Prof. Lewis' tragic death.  But the telling of the story is as odd as the circumstances of his death.  And I'm not the only one who wonders what's going on .  My buddy Chad at Clean Cut Kid has opined about this as well.  Click: http://cleancutkid.com/2006/02/11/morgan-lewis

It's definitely one of those things that makes you want to go "hmmmm."