Stephanie Marie Kirk 35 yo, Charlestown IN, missing March 2012 (remains found)

[Northern Rose]

Police: Remains from Ind. man's yard identified

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Police: Remains from Ind. man's yard identified

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Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2012 6:19 pm | (0) Comments

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Police said Saturday that human remains found in a southern Indiana man's backyard have been identified as a woman who has been missing for about a month.

New Albany police Maj. Keith Whitlow said the remains found in William "Clyde" Gibson's backyard Friday night are those of Stephanie Marie Kirk, a 35-year-old Charlestown woman. Kirk was last seen March 25, when she left a friend's home in New Albany to meet a man at a bar.

Medical examiners in Jefferson County, Ky., used dental records and other means to identify the remains, Whitlow said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by WDRB-TV in Louisville, Ky. Medical examiners are still determining the exact cause of Kirk's death, Whitlow said. He did not return repeated phone calls from The AP on Saturday.

Gibson is being held without bond at the Floyd County Jail in connection with the death last week of 75-year-old Christine Whitis, of Clarksville, and the death of 44-year-old Florida hairdresser Karen Hodella, whose body was found near the Ohio River in Clarksville in 2003.

Gibson was arrested on drunken driving charges last week after police spotted him driving Whitis' car.

 ::snipping2::

http://cumberlink.com/news/national/police-remains-from-ind-man-s-yard-identified/article_ea000d0e-8c5f-5cdd-8793-f6719a0a6193.html

[Northern Rose]

Body found in New Albany murder suspect's yard identified as missing woman
Tentative cause of death is strangulation; New Albany man not charged

Human remains found in the backyard of William Clyde Gibson’s New Albany home were identified Saturday as those of a Clark County woman missing since late March.

The preliminary cause of death for Stephanie Marie Kirk, 35, was strangulation, Floyd County Coroner Leslie Knable said. An autopsy was performed Saturday in Louisville, and Kirk was identified through dental records and visual information, Knable said.

It’s unclear how long Kirk had been dead, Knable said. Police said she had been missing since March 25, when she left a friend’s home on East Spring Street in New Albany to meet a man at the Uptown Bar there. She lived in the Charlestown area with her father and teenage daughter.

No new charges had been filed against Gibson, 54, as of Saturday afternoon, Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson said.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120428/NEWS02/304280073/Body-found-in-New-Albany-murder-suspect-s-yard-identified-as-missing-woman?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE

[Northern Rose]

Human remains identified as missing woman
Remains found in William Clyde Gibson's yard

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -

New Albany authorities identified human remains found in the yard at William Clyde Gibson's home.

Prosecutors said the remains were identified as those of Stephanie Marie Kirk, 35, of Charleston, Ind.

Members of Kirk's family reported her missing one month ago. Dental records were used to help positively identify her.

"The fact is it's a serious matter. We do have three individuals. We can't speculate as to why, who, cause of death is, but that will all be done in due time," Floyd County prosecutor Keith Henderson said.

Gibson, 54, a convicted sex offender, has confessed to killing Christine Whitis, 75, a week ago. Whitis is a woman with whom Gibson's family had long-term ties.

After further questioning, investigators said Gibson also confesses to killing Karen Hodella, 45, of Clarksville.

Hodella went missing in October 2002, and her body washed up along the Ohio River three months later.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wlky.com/news/local-news/indiana-news/Human-remains-found-on-William-Clyde-Gibson-s-property/-/9718538/12162350/-/48xp3sz/-/

[Northern Rose]

Did convicted sex offender kill THREE women? Human remains found in backyard of man already suspected of two murders

    William 'Clyde' Gibson, 54, has lengthy criminal record of drug and alcohol abuse and is a convicted sex offender
    Gibson is being held over deaths of Karen Hodella and Christine Whitis
    Remains found in yard identified as those of 35-year-old Stephanie Marie Kirk

 ::snipping2::

Gibson carries a lengthy criminal record

The Courier-Journal reported he was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to robbery and sexual abuse in a 1991 attack on a woman at a mall in downtown Louisville.

Court records show he fondled her and stole her purse after pushing her into a phone booth, and later he said he had been drinking and using cocaine.

Records also show he had arrests for assault, wanton endangerment and driving drunk.

In 1992, Gibson told a psychologist that 'it's hard to predict what I might do,' when he drinks heavily. But in 1999, a psychologist found Gibson was at 'low risk' for being arrested again as a sex offender.

This week, prosecutors also charged Gibson with being a habitual offender, listing convictions on 10 charges in eight cases between 1992 and 2007.

The Courier-Journal reported Gibson was discharged from the Army for bad conduct in 1979 and had spent a year in the military prison at Leavenworth, Kansas

 ::snipping2::

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136781/Human-remains-backyard-man-suspected-murders.html

[Northern Rose]

Remains found in New Albany backyard identified as missing woman

 ::snipping2::

Detectives began searching Gibson’s backyard along Woodbourne Avenue, near University Woods apartments, around 2 p.m. Friday. Shortly before 10:30 p.m., Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson confirmed officials had found human remains buried there.

 ::snipping2::

On Friday, Henderson said people should be careful before labeling Gibson a serial killer.



“The fact is it is a serious matter. We do have three individuals at this point,” Henderson said.



 ::snipping2::

http://newsandtribune.com/clarkcounty/x1378303512/Remains-identified-as-missing-woman

[Northern Rose]

Human remains found in backyard of Indiana man identified

 ::snipping2::

New Albany Police Department, New Albany Fire Department, and the street department used excavation equipment in William "Clyde" Gibson, III's backyard.

The 54-year-old is charged with the recent murder of 75-year-old Christine Whitis and the 2002 murder of 45-year-old Karen Hodella.

They say Kirk's body has been in the backyard for a matter of weeks or months.

Henderson says the body was found in an area close to the home.

Crews continued digging throughout the night.

 ::snipping2::

Detectives from other jurisdictions are watching the ongoing search, as they pursue leads in missing persons cases.

If convicted of the current charges against him, Gibson could be sentenced to 160 years in prison.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/17861234/human-remains-found-in-backyard-of-indiana-man-identified

[Northern Rose]

 ::snipping2::

Melodie Shultz, who lives next door and said she has known Gibson since childhood, said he was routinely in trouble as a youth, and as the years went on, police would come to the neighborhood looking for him.

Everything seemed petty until he was convicted in 1992 of first-degree sexual abuse and placed on the Indiana sex-offender registry, she said.

She said he was willing to cut neighbors’ lawns and do odd jobs, such as cutting trees. “He was always willing to help,” Shultz said, noting that Gibson once tried to repair her broken lawn mower.

Now, the discovery of remains in his backyard has created a sense of fear. “You never know who is living next door,” she said.

On the other side of the Gibson house is David Boren’s home. Boren said he and his wife have lived next to the Gibsons for decades, but he rarely talked to Clyde Gibson.

Boren said Friday night was a difficult ordeal, as neighbors tried to see into Gibson’s backyard and television crews lit up the street late into the evening.

But that wasn’t the difficult part.

“I couldn’t sleep much last night,” Boren said Saturday afternoon. “Knowing what they were looking for.”

Angela Hoke, who lives in an apartment complex on Woodbourne and was among the crowd watching Friday evening, said she’s found herself more restrictive about when her stepchildren can play outside.

She said she was concerned about what else investigators may find. “It‘s kind of surreal,” she said.

The shock extended beyond the neighborhood. Edith Coons, who is Whitis’ sister and lives a few miles away from the Gibson home, said she was perplexed by the whole situation.

She said Whitis, who was a retired head cashier at the Sears store in Clarksville, was best friends with Gibson’s mother, who died in January. But she said she didn’t know why Whitis was at the Gibson house just before her death — or why anyone would harm her.

“She didn’t know that she had an enemy in the world,” Coons said.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120428/NEWS02/304280073/Body-found-New-Albany-murder-suspect-s-yard-identified-missing-woman?odyssey=mod|newswell|text||s

[Northern Rose]

Suspicion: William 'Clyde' Gibson is being held in connection with the murders of two women
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136781/Human-remains-backyard-man-suspected-murders.html

[Northern Rose]

Prosecutors: Case against New Albany sex offender 'death penalty eligible' .

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- At a press conference on Monday, prosecutors said they are looking to other law enforcement agencies to send information about missing persons cases.

They are waiting on reports to see how Stephanie Kirk died to find out if she is connected to the current charges against William Clyde Gibson.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/New-information--149535815.html

[Northern Rose]

Ind. suspect not labeled serial killer

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) -- A southern Indiana prosecutor says he's not ready to accuse a man charged in the deaths of two women of being a serial killer even though those two unrelated killings fit the definition of a serial killer.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports ( http://cjky.it/ICVvTK ) that Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson also said Monday that he asked a judge to seal the recording of a hearing in which 54-year-old William Clyde Gibson was charged last week in those two murders for investigative reasons. Henderson says that record was sealed to protect the "integrity of the investigation."

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/iindsuspect-not-labeled-serial-killer

[Northern Rose]

New details expected this week in Stephanie Kirk case
Kirk's body third connected to Clyde Gibson

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - More information could be released this week about the death of Stephanie Marie Kirk

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wlky.com/news/local-news/indiana-news/New-details-expected-this-week-in-Stephanie-Kirk-case/-/9718538/12223822/-/pudfq2/-/index.html

[KittyMom]

http://www.wave3.com/story/17964521/officer-involved-in-clyde-gibsons-arrest-20-years-ago-remembers-him-vividly
Officer involved in Clyde Gibson's arrest 20 years ago remembers vividly
 ::snipping2::

Sharp says he would never let go of the purse or tell the officers his name. "He never said anything," said Sharp. "Even when we attempted to speak to him or talk with him to get his identity, he wouldn't say anything to us," said Sharp. 

Sharp says it's more surreal than anything else. "You would like to think that you did your job and maybe changed this man," said Sharp. "Then to find out what he has done to other people, and now we are looking at murder, maybe somewhere, something failed," said Sharp.

[Northern Rose]

Police check for links between William Clyde Gibson, missing IU student

 ::snipping2::

Henderson’s office announced Thursday that no further developments were expected this week.
Meanwhile, Kirk’s 13-year-old daughter, Sabrina, said she misses her mother being there.
The two had been living with Stephanie’s father, Tony Kirk, in the Charlestown area for the past several years. On Thursday, he was granted custody of Sabrina after filing an emergency petition in Clark County.
Both said they were immediately worried when Stephanie Kirk disappeared March 25 after being seen at a friend’s home in New Albany. She reportedly was going to the Uptown Bar in New Albany to meet a man she had met the night before to go motorcycle riding.
Tony Kirk said she had told him that morning that she would be home that evening. “She always called, no matter where she was at, no matter what she was doing,” he said.
So when he returned from work the following afternoon and there was still no sign of his daughter, Kirk said, “I tried to call her and she didn’t answer the phone and we never heard nothing back from her,” he said. “And I knew about the second or third day there was something drastically wrong.”
He said she spent most of her time at home because of a back condition.
Sabrina said she knew her mom would try to contact them if she could and has been “pretty upset” since learning what happened to her.
“I just miss her being there,” she said.

http://www.indystar.com/article/B2/20120503/NEWS02/305030062/Police-check-links-between-William-Clyde-Gibson-missing-IU-student?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[Northern Rose]

Accused killer William Clyde Gibson's pastor speaks .

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- For years, William Clyde Gibson was a familiar face at the Power of the Cross Church on the corner of East Spring and Fifth Streets in New Albany. Gibson's Pastor, Barb Helton, gives a different view of the man accused of killing three women.
 
"The Clyde we know was very loving," she said.
 
Another church member and friend who didn't want to be identified called Gibson a "perfect gentleman" in the time he's known the registered sex offender.
 
Gibson used to be a regular attendee but according to Pastor Helton, he hadn't been showing up within the last year while his mother fell ill and eventually died a few months ago. Church members would call to check on Gibson, she said, but he didn't show up.
 
But something of Gibson's was still inside the church. A unique and remarkable artistic gift that belies the image police are painting of an alleged brutal murderer who they say fits the definition of "serial killer."
 
Gibson made three statues out of paper-mache that depict Jesus Christ. One shows Jesus holding a lamb, constructed out of little rolled up balls and bits of newspaper. Another is about 12-feet tall and is a recreation of Christ on the Cross, complete with a crown of thorns. The statues have been a unique part of the church for about four years, crafted by the New Albany man's own hand.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Accused-killers-pastor-speaks-150120755.html

[Northern Rose]

Murder victim's 13-year-old daughter involved in custody battle

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) – 13-year-old Sabrina Kirk says she is hanging in there after finding out her mother was found dead behind Clyde Gibson's home in New Albany last week.

"I just miss her being there," said Sabrina. "Now at home it is just me and my grandpa."

For the last six years, Sabrina has been living at her grandfather's house in Charlestown with her mother, Stephanie Kirk. In less than a week, not only has Sabrina had to cope with her mother's death, but now a custody hearing, too.

"I've been pretty upset since the death of my mother, and now all of this having to go to court for custody and stuff, I mean it's been really tough," said Sabrina.

On Thursday, Sabrina's grandfather, Tony Kirk, asked a judge for custody. Also in the courtroom was George Tuell, Sabrina's biological father. He admits he hasn't seen his daughter in several years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wave3.com/story/18140580/murder-victims-13-year-old-daughter-involved-in-custody-battle

[Northern Rose]

Police using scanning equipment on Gibson’s backyard

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - Police are using high-tech equipment to help them search for evidence against a New Albany man who has already been charged with two murders.

William Clyde Gibson, 54, is also connected to another death after police discovered the remains of  Stephanie Kirk, 35, buried in his backyard. Kirk had been missing for a month.

Over the last few days investigators have removed brown bags from Gibson's home, combed the landscaping, and have now added a high-tech machine. Police said it's a scanning device that can help them detect what else might be under the earth in Gibson's backyard.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wave3.com/story/18115822/police-using-scanning-equipment-on-gibsons-backyard

[Sister]

Murder victim's 13-year-old daughter involved in custody battle

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) – 13-year-old Sabrina Kirk says she is hanging in there after finding out her mother was found dead behind Clyde Gibson's home in New Albany last week.

"I just miss her being there," said Sabrina. "Now at home it is just me and my grandpa."

For the last six years, Sabrina has been living at her grandfather's house in Charlestown with her mother, Stephanie Kirk. In less than a week, not only has Sabrina had to cope with her mother's death, but now a custody hearing, too.

"I've been pretty upset since the death of my mother, and now all of this having to go to court for custody and stuff, I mean it's been really tough," said Sabrina.

On Thursday, Sabrina's grandfather, Tony Kirk, asked a judge for custody. Also in the courtroom was George Tuell, Sabrina's biological father. He admits he hasn't seen his daughter in several years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wave3.com/story/18140580/murder-victims-13-year-old-daughter-involved-in-custody-battle

Can't help but wonder what the bio's motivation is?  Not thinking positive thoughts, that's for sure.

[melisb]

Murder victim's 13-year-old daughter involved in custody battle

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) – 13-year-old Sabrina Kirk says she is hanging in there after finding out her mother was found dead behind Clyde Gibson's home in New Albany last week.

"I just miss her being there," said Sabrina. "Now at home it is just me and my grandpa."

For the last six years, Sabrina has been living at her grandfather's house in Charlestown with her mother, Stephanie Kirk. In less than a week, not only has Sabrina had to cope with her mother's death, but now a custody hearing, too.

"I've been pretty upset since the death of my mother, and now all of this having to go to court for custody and stuff, I mean it's been really tough," said Sabrina.

On Thursday, Sabrina's grandfather, Tony Kirk, asked a judge for custody. Also in the courtroom was George Tuell, Sabrina's biological father. He admits he hasn't seen his daughter in several years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wave3.com/story/18140580/murder-victims-13-year-old-daughter-involved-in-custody-battle

Can't help but wonder what the bio's motivation is?  Not thinking positive thoughts, that's for sure.

Hey my dear Sister, let me go ahead and say what I know you don't wanna...he will get his name in the paper and a check once a month and maybe some food stamps!!!!  Now, I say that because if he was just doing this to come to the psychological aid of his dtr then he would not need a court to reach out to her to give his love and support!  Sorry, but I do think this way, I've become jaded!  Someone broke the rose colored glasses I used to wear but I still try to put em on! hahahahaha

[Sister]

Murder victim's 13-year-old daughter involved in custody battle

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) – 13-year-old Sabrina Kirk says she is hanging in there after finding out her mother was found dead behind Clyde Gibson's home in New Albany last week.

"I just miss her being there," said Sabrina. "Now at home it is just me and my grandpa."

For the last six years, Sabrina has been living at her grandfather's house in Charlestown with her mother, Stephanie Kirk. In less than a week, not only has Sabrina had to cope with her mother's death, but now a custody hearing, too.

"I've been pretty upset since the death of my mother, and now all of this having to go to court for custody and stuff, I mean it's been really tough," said Sabrina.

On Thursday, Sabrina's grandfather, Tony Kirk, asked a judge for custody. Also in the courtroom was George Tuell, Sabrina's biological father. He admits he hasn't seen his daughter in several years.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.wave3.com/story/18140580/murder-victims-13-year-old-daughter-involved-in-custody-battle

Can't help but wonder what the bio's motivation is?  Not thinking positive thoughts, that's for sure.

Hey my dear Sister, let me go ahead and say what I know you don't wanna...he will get his name in the paper and a check once a month and maybe some food stamps!!!!  Now, I say that because if he was just doing this to come to the psychological aid of his dtr then he would not need a court to reach out to her to give his love and support!  Sorry, but I do think this way, I've become jaded!  Someone broke the rose colored glasses I used to wear but I still try to put em on! hahahahaha

melisb, you read my mind.

[Northern Rose]

Possible Indiana Serial Killer Has a Chilling & Unexpected Past

William "Clyde" Gibson is a possible serial killer in Indiana who is charged with killing three women -- Christine Whitis, Karen Hodella, and Stephanie Kirk. But to those who knew him, he was just a church going, good guy.

 ::snipping2::

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/137556/possible_indiana_serial_killer_has