Published: December 31, 2008 05:32 pm      

Teen’s death tops headlines

Police continue to search for Rethlake’s killer

The slaying of 18-year-old Abby Rethlake and the events that followed dominated crime headlines in 2008.

The teen was killed during an April 5 early morning shoot-out in an apartment complex on the city’s southeast side.

Rethlake was found shot to death in her car in the complex’s parking lot.

Though police have followed up on numerous leads and conducted countless interviews, no arrests have been made in the killing.

Police are still hoping to locate the car and possibly the person or persons responsible for killing Rethlake and wounding her friend, 19-year-old Morgan Vetter, who was a passenger in Rethlake’s car.

Detectives Michael Banush and Tonda Cockrell said they continue to follow up on leads and are hoping for the one big lead to break the case.

The women were shot multiple times, and witnesses told police they saw a silver-colored car resembling a Mitsubishi Lancer leaving the scene after the shooting.

2. 11-month-old Malaki killed

On Nov. 24, police began investigating the city’s second homicide of the year, with the death of 11-month-old Malaki Lindley.

Malaki died of blunt force trauma at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Three days after the infant died, police arrested Derrick A. Fox, 28, who is the live-in boyfriend of the infant’s mother. Fox faces a Class A felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. The infant died as a result of blunt force trauma while in Fox’s care, according to Kokomo police.

Fox is set to reappear in court April 1 for a pre-trial hearing and April 21 for trial. When interviewed by police, Fox said the infant fell out his arms, hit an end table and then hit the floor.

However, police ruled the death a homicide after an autopsy by the Marion County coroner.

3. KPD investigates

a string of

bank robberies

Three bank robberies in January and five in three months also kept detectives busy looking for suspects and clues.

On Jan. 11, police received a call from the Star Financial Bank at Union and Walnut streets on a report of a man who held up the bank at gunpoint. Police investigated and three days later charged Ronald Coldren with armed robbery. His case is pending.

Several days later, police had two other bank heists — one at Security Federal Bank, 519 E. Markland Ave., and the second at Regions Bank, 3541 S. LaFountain St.

Police caught the Regions Bank suspect, Scott Lafave, walking away from the bank with money in hand. Lafave’s case is also pending.

Officers are still searching for suspects who robbed the Security Federal Bank and two other hold-ups at Key Bank on Hoffer Street in March and Harris Bank on West Sycamore Street in April.

4. Putting a dent in drug trafficking

Kokomo Police’s Drug Interdiction Unit and Drug Task Force kept pressure on cocaine and methemphetamine dealers in 2008 by making weekly arrests and conducting two major drug operations, dubbed “Ram-Rod” and “Summer Cold,” that led to the more than 30 arrests in each.

With help from Howard County sheriff deputies and Indiana State Police, officers rounded up more than 30 suspects in November’s “Operation Ram-rod,” which targeted cocaine dealers. Officers also seized seven vehicles, a quarter-pound of marijuana and more than $2,000 in cash in the raids.

Punishment upon convictions could result in prison terms of up to 50 years in prison on the A felonies and up to 20 years on the B felonies.

Last month, police focused their attention on meth cookers by rounding up suspects for purchasing more than 3 grams of precursors in a week. The law is aimed at making it harder for meth makers to get the ingredients necessary to make the dangerous drug.

Detectives also rounded up eight suspected cocaine dealers allegedly involved in the Rethlake homicide.

5. Internet crime, a new twist for KPD

A relatively new crime for Kokomo — men seeking sex with underage girls on the Internet — kept police busy.

KPD Lt. Donald Whitehead, who now heads a new Internet crime unit at the KPD, spearheaded the effort.

Seeing the success of other cities and through the popular TV show “Dateline,” which catches predators on camera as they arrive for a meeting with a would-be teen, Whitehead began surfing the net acting as a teenage girl and arresting suspected child predators in 2007.

Not only would the suspects chat with Whitehead on the Internet, some also shared photos and one even shared live graphic webcam videos of himself. In most cases, the men, who range from their 20s to their 50s, arrange to meet with their would-be victim.

That’s when police swoop in and make their arrest.

“They don’t seem to be in short supply,” Whitehead said of the alleged Internet predators.

“The TV show ‘Dateline’ in some ways has been a deterrent. They all bring that up,” Whitehead said of NBC’s popular show.

“Most ask me if I’m a policeman or with ‘Dateline,’” he said. “But, I guess it doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent, because the people that ask me that still show up anyway.”

Police arrested a dozen or so offenders in 2008 and continue to round up suspected predators.

6. Kool Breeze Cafe

On Sept. 30, the popular restaurant and gathering place Kool Breeze Cafe was destroyed in one the year’s most talked about fires.

Firefighters were dispatched at 9:15 p.m. to a report of smoke at the restaurant at the corner of Apperson Way North and Gano Street. The restaurant had closed at 9 p.m. The police and fire department’s investigation led to the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who had worked at the restaurant. The teen was charged in juvenile court with burglary and arson for allegedly breaking into the business and setting fire to the kitchen area.

Before setting the fire, police say, the 17-year-old stole the safe and money from the restaurant. Police believe the teen set fire to the business to cover up the burglary. The fire caused more than $150,000 in damage to the structure and $82,000 in damage its contents, the Kokomo Fire Department reported.

Owner Dave Trine is unsure whether he will rebuild.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com