DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS:

The Matt Baker case. The book will be out in 2012. Baker is appealing. Today, 11/2/11, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the verdict. In other words, Matt's appeal was denied.

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SHATTERED:

David Temple's appeal was heard by the appeals court in January 2010. They ruled this morning: 12/21/10, and upheld the jury's guilty verdict. I would expect that next year, David's attorneys will take the case to the highest court in the state, Texas' Court of Criminal Appeals. I'll keep you posted.

Update: January 11, 2012: the Court of Criminal Appeals has announced that it is reviewing one issue in the Temple trial, whether or not there was sufficient evidence. There's no guarantee how long this will take, but I will keep you posted!

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A WARRANT TO KILL

Joseph Kent McGowen is still behind bars. He is eligible for parole. Susan's son, Jason, works in construction in Louisiana and is now married with a child.

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A DESCENT INTO HELL:

Colton Pitonyak's appeals have all failed thus far. He's mounted one now claiming that Laura Hall is the true killer. For reasons spelled out in my book, I see this as a desperate lie. I've heard from some of his fellow inmates, and Colton keeps much to himself. He reads a lot, books his parents send.

Laura Hall's convictions stand, but the appeals court overturned the punishment phase of her trial. A new jury was held and her case retried to set punishment. This was a risky maneuver for Hall, who'd already served 22 months of her 5-year sentence and was eligible for parole. New evidence was presented, including jailhouse phone calls in which she threatened the victim's mother, the jury and prosecutors from her first trial, even Allison Wetzel, the prosecutor in her second trial. In the end, the resentencing went against her, and the jury sentenced her to the max, ten years behind bars. Because she has credit for time served, Hall has thus far been denied parole. She'll be eligible again in October 2012.

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SHE WANTED IT ALL:

Celeste Beard's appeals have all been denied. Celeste is still working with Clara Harris (the murder by Mercedes case from Houston) typing books into brail.

Tracey Tarlton was paroled in August of 2011.

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DIE, MY LOVE:

Piper Rountree's appeals have all failed. Someone who knows her in prison in Virginia tells me she's still protesting her innocence.

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EVIL BESIDE HER:

Thank you to everyone who has written the Texas Parole Board to ensure that James Bergstrom remains behind bars. He was refused parole for a second time on June 11, 2010. He's again eligible in June 2013. Although I know that's a while off, I urge you to write to protest. James is a dangerous psychopath, and we're all safer if he remains behind bars. To protest:

Via email to:
victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us

Or snail mail:
TDCJ Victims Services
8712 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Suite 265
Austin, TX 78757

Or Fax: 512-452-0825

In your letter, state why you believe Bergstrom should be denied parole, i.e., that he is a sexual predator and a psychopath who remains a continuing danger on women.

Include the following information:

Name: James Edward Bergstrom
TDCJ Number: 00659297
SID Number: 04408281
Birth date: 4/6/1963

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THE DRAG QUEEN MURDER:

Cliff Youens remains in prison. He was denied parole in 2011 and will be eligible again in five years.