Miss-Delectable
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http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/14224119.htm
A deaf woman whose dismembered remains were found in a landfill in South Dakota and a road ditch in Minnesota was suffocated or killed by a blow that fractured her skull, a prosecutor said Thursday.
"I think that both of those things may have occurred. And I think it's impossible to say, at least at this point, what the precise cause of death was," said Minnehaha County State's Attorney Dave Nelson.
Darlene VanderGiesen, 42, had been missing since Feb. 1. Another deaf woman, Daphne Wright, 42, is in jail without bond. Both women are from Sioux Falls and were acquaintances, police said.
Wright has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, first-degree murder and murder while committing a felony on Feb. 28.
After she was arrested, Wright said she was upset because she thought VanderGiesen was trying to ruin her long-term relationship with her girlfriend, according to a police affidavit.
Wright was arrested Feb. 10 after a search of her basement yielded bone fragments, muscle and fat that matched DNA taken from VanderGiesen's toothbrush, according to court papers.
A witness told police that Wright removed some carpet, concrete blocks and a large black plastic bag from the house two days after VanderGiesen disappeared.
Officers also determined that a small basement room had been painted and there was a smell of cleaning agents, court papers said.
The discovery of that evidence led investigators to search the landfill, where they found VanderGiesen's legs and lower torso.
On Tuesday, about 25 miles east, county highway workers found the rest of VanderGiesen's body, intact, in a road ditch near Beaver Creek, Minn., a few miles from the state border. Those remains were wrapped in blankets, police said.
Nelson would not release other details, nor would he discuss a possible motive until the case goes to trial.
"I don't want to jeopardize the continuing investigation. And I think that there's a potential to do that in the event we go into more details," he said.
VanderGiesen's father, Gene VanderGiesen of Rock Valley, Iowa, said the latest discovery will help bring closure.
"At least we know where she is. We don't have to wonder if she's here or there," he said. "We can hopefully soon get the rest of the remains and put it all together in one place and put it behind us and put it to rest."
Postings to some Internet sites indicate that deaf people around the country are following the case, since it involves two deaf women.
Tom Kober, president of South Dakota Association of the Deaf, thanked law enforcement officers for their work so VanderGiesen's friends can go on with their lives.
"We are struggling (with) the loss of our friend but glad that we can have the closure of the mystery," he wrote in an e-mailed response to The Associated Press. "As time goes, we are together to heal the wounds and go forward with our lives."
A deaf woman whose dismembered remains were found in a landfill in South Dakota and a road ditch in Minnesota was suffocated or killed by a blow that fractured her skull, a prosecutor said Thursday.
"I think that both of those things may have occurred. And I think it's impossible to say, at least at this point, what the precise cause of death was," said Minnehaha County State's Attorney Dave Nelson.
Darlene VanderGiesen, 42, had been missing since Feb. 1. Another deaf woman, Daphne Wright, 42, is in jail without bond. Both women are from Sioux Falls and were acquaintances, police said.
Wright has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, first-degree murder and murder while committing a felony on Feb. 28.
After she was arrested, Wright said she was upset because she thought VanderGiesen was trying to ruin her long-term relationship with her girlfriend, according to a police affidavit.
Wright was arrested Feb. 10 after a search of her basement yielded bone fragments, muscle and fat that matched DNA taken from VanderGiesen's toothbrush, according to court papers.
A witness told police that Wright removed some carpet, concrete blocks and a large black plastic bag from the house two days after VanderGiesen disappeared.
Officers also determined that a small basement room had been painted and there was a smell of cleaning agents, court papers said.
The discovery of that evidence led investigators to search the landfill, where they found VanderGiesen's legs and lower torso.
On Tuesday, about 25 miles east, county highway workers found the rest of VanderGiesen's body, intact, in a road ditch near Beaver Creek, Minn., a few miles from the state border. Those remains were wrapped in blankets, police said.
Nelson would not release other details, nor would he discuss a possible motive until the case goes to trial.
"I don't want to jeopardize the continuing investigation. And I think that there's a potential to do that in the event we go into more details," he said.
VanderGiesen's father, Gene VanderGiesen of Rock Valley, Iowa, said the latest discovery will help bring closure.
"At least we know where she is. We don't have to wonder if she's here or there," he said. "We can hopefully soon get the rest of the remains and put it all together in one place and put it behind us and put it to rest."
Postings to some Internet sites indicate that deaf people around the country are following the case, since it involves two deaf women.
Tom Kober, president of South Dakota Association of the Deaf, thanked law enforcement officers for their work so VanderGiesen's friends can go on with their lives.
"We are struggling (with) the loss of our friend but glad that we can have the closure of the mystery," he wrote in an e-mailed response to The Associated Press. "As time goes, we are together to heal the wounds and go forward with our lives."