Charmaine Lawson speaks at a rally for her son in May 2017. Photo: Andrew Goff.
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Press release from the City of Arcata:
The City of Arcata and the Lawson family have come to terms on a
confidential settlement of a lawsuit that was filed against the City in relation to the killing of
David Josiah Lawson.
As part of the mutual agreement, the City will partner with the Lawson Family on the creation
of a mural honoring David Josiah Lawson and will donate $25,000 to the Justice for Josiah
Scholarship Fund. More information regarding the mural will be released as it becomes
available.
Charmaine Lawson said that she will continue to fight for justice on behalf of her son and that
she will never give up until justice is served. Charmaine said that she misses her son’s laughter,
smiles and most importantly his big warm hugs.
The Lawson murder investigation remains an open case, and the Lawson Family and the Arcata
Police Department (APD) continue to ask the community for assistance to solve this murder. A
$55,000 reward for information directly leading to the arrest and conviction of the person
responsible for the killing of David Josiah Lawson has been established. Anyone with
information regarding the Lawson case is encouraged to call the APD’s 24-hour confidential
tip-line at (707) 825-2590 or the APD Dispatch Center at (707) 822-2424.
On July 7th, 2021, agents with the
Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) conducted a probation search
on Derek Buchkoski (32 years old) at his residence in the 1900 block
of Myrtle Ave. in Eureka. Buchkoski was on active Humboldt County
probation for 11370.1 H&S (possession of a controlled substance
while armed). The HCDTF had been investigating Buchkoski for
trafficking large quantities of heroin into Humboldt County.
Buchkoski was detained inside his residence without incident.
Agents
located a safe inside Buchkoski’s bedroom that contained the
following evidence:
3 pounds of heroin
½ pound of methamphetamine
½ pound of psilocybin mushrooms
1 ounce of “crack” cocaine
Approx. 20 “Molly” pills
Multiple digital scales
Packaging materials
Pay/Owe sheets
Derek
Buchkoski was booked at the Humboldt County jail for the following
charges:
H&S 11378 Possession of
methamphetamine for sale
H&S 11351 Possession of controlled
substances for sale
H&S 11366.5 Maintaining or
operating a drug house
PC 1203.2 Probation Violation
The
Humboldt County Drug Task Force would like to thank the Eureka Police
Department’s POP Team for their assistance with this investigation.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other
narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County
Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
Freda Ann Robinson passed away peacefully in her home on June 20,
2021 at the age of 79. She was born on June 4, 1942, in
Sharon, Pennsylvania to George and Anna Kuhnlenz. She moved to Sonoma
as a child and then spent her adult years in Humboldt County.
Freda worked as a
nurse before choosing to stay home with her three children and she
spent all of her years caring for and loving on people in her home.
Freda enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. And most of all, she
loved sharing her love of these things with her grandchildren. Many
joyful summers were spent pulling weeds, harvesting fruits and
vegetables, spotting deer from the back of the pickup, and learning
the fine art of “hug it to ya” when catching a wriggling fish.
She took joy in every rainbow and butterfly and all things Elvis
Presley. Freda spent many years praying through life’s ups and
downs and drawing support from her dear friends she called her “Bible
study gals.”
Freda was
preceded in death by her husband Charlie Rowe, her ex-husband and
father of her children, Thomas Koontz, her parents George and Anna
Kuhnlenz, and her brother William Kuhnlenz. She is survived by her
husband, Jim Robinson (along with his family, whom she loved as her
own); her children, Amanda Koontz, Nancy (Brad) McWhorter, and Thomas
Koontz; her grandchildren, Jessica (Jason), Rachel (Mateo), Alisha
(Donald), Kyle, and Barbara (Scott); her great-grandchildren,
Zabrina, Hannah (Drew), Braedan, Hailey, Kennedy, Logan, Kenneth,
Charlie, Adalynn, and Kain; her great-great-grandchildren Melody and
Waylon; her nieces, Christine and Leah; her nephew Bill; her
great-nephews, Edward, Brodie, and Riley; and her great nieces,
Olivia and Gianna; as well as many more whom she loved dearly.
A celebration of
life will be held at the end of summer.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf ofFreda Robinson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
The stump of the tree that, until recently, served as a temporary locus of Pride. Photos: Stephanie McGeary.
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Last week, while driving past a city-owned planter on the corner of 18th and H Streets in Arcata, Councilmember Emily Goldstein noticed the latest in a string of anti-LGBTQ acts in our community: Someone had cut down and removed a tree that had been decorated with hand-crafted Pride ornaments.
The ornaments — made out of popsicle sticks and painted to resemble pride flags — along with a banner reading “love, joy, peace,” were hung on the ornamental cherry tree on June 25, during a gathering held in response to the burning of a pride flag that had hung in the same planter as the tree.
“[Hanging] the ornaments on the tree was just supposed to be something small and sweet,” Goldstein, who had attended the June 25 gathering, told the Outpost this afternoon. “The whole event was very positive and very like, ‘we love the community.’”
A couple of days after the event, Goldstein was driving past and wanted to admire the decorations and discovered that there was no tree.
Goldstein immediately texted Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer about the tree’s disappearance, she said. Not only was the tree city-owned property, Goldstein said, but also the act was clearly a part of the recent “hate crimes going on in the community.”
The now treeless planter at 18th and H Streets, next to North Country Clinic
During tonight’s Arcata City Council meeting, the council will discuss these recent events and consider issuing a statement written by Goldstein in support of the LGBTQI+ community. Though Goldstein’s statement only addresses the acts of vandalism in Arcata, she said, all of the recent anti-LGBTQ acts in Humboldt have served as “a wakeup call that we need to do more.”
Goldstein added that she does not see the statement as any kind of solution, but hopes that it will be a part of an ongoing conversation around issues affecting the LGBTQ community.
“I am also part of the LGBTQI community, as a queer person.” Goldstein told the Outpost. “I just want to send a message that these things that happened are not OK and we’re not going to turn a blind eye. I also want to send a lot of love to my siblings in the LGBTQ community in Arcata and beyond. I hope we can work together to make Arcata a safe place for our community.”
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UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.:
After the Outpost published this article, a call we made to Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer was returned. Diemer said she was dismayed by the seemingly hateful act and was also sad to lose the tree, which had been in that Arcata planter for nearly 15 years.
Diemer added that because of the value of the tree and the fact that it was owned by the City, this crime is considered felony vandalism. The incident was reported to the police department and, as far as Diemer knows, the police have found no witnesses.
The City does not know exactly when the tree was removed, but it was sometime between the night of Friday, June 25 and the morning of Sunday, June 27.
Anyone with any information on the incident is encouraged to contact the Arcata Police Department at (707) 822-2428.
“Not only is it vandalism, but there are elements that could rise to a hate crime,” Diemer said. “It certainly warrants an investigation and community support.”
The council will also consider a timeline for returning to in-person meetings. But, at least for tonight, you will still need to attend the meeting via Zoom. You can view the full agenda and directions on how to participate here.
Might want to avoid Highway 255 through Manila for the time being.
At just after 2:30 p.m., a frantic call came in to the Calfire operation center in Fortuna — a fire along a mile-long section of Highway 255 through Manila, presumably caused by a vehicle dragging a chain or something along those lines.
A massive response was prepared, but the first units on scene reported that it was only three spot fires, located between the highway and the old railroad tracks. A couple of engines could handle it.
Still, the CHP is being sent for traffic control. Some smoke is coming into Eureka.
We’ll update if necessary, but the Outpost’s Andrew Goff, at the scene, says it looks like they got this one.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified a potential suspect in the killing of a beloved neighborhood peacock whose bloody body was discovered last week after a Craigslist ad sought someone to eliminate the bird “by any means necessary.”
The strange tale of the potential peacock assassin has been picked up by the Los Angeles Times, SFGATE and various talk radio shock-jocks, but as far as we can tell the fowl slaughter remains unsolved.
Kelsey Radant, whose father was among the residents in McKinleyville’s Azalea Heights neighborhood who enjoyed regular visits from Azul/Mr. P./Peony (as he was variously known), reported to her on Sunday afternoon that law enforcement vehicles had just left the residence of Ragen Tilzey, the man whose house appeared to be inadvertently indicated in the Craigslist ad.
In an interview with the Outpost last week, Tilzey declined to say whether or not he’d posted the ad.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Samantha Karges told the Outpost via email that a potential suspect has been identified by deputies and a search warrant was served at a residence on Hewitt Road.
No arrests have been made, but Karges said potential charges include animal cruelty and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Other crimes could yet be charged in the investigation. Karges told the Outpost last week that the perpetrator could face charges of discharging a firearm near a residence. Today she explained, “If further evidence is found supporting the firearms charge, that could potentially be added.”
Daniella
Patricia Moore must stand trial for the alleged murder and torture of
19-year-old Hannah Hayhurst, whose mutilated body was found two years
ago in a parking lot at the foot of Hilfiker Lane in Eureka.
Judge
Kaleb Cockrum held Moore to answer on all charges this morning, the
third day of her preliminary hearing. Her arraignment is set for July
20.
Attorneys,
presenting their arguments before Cockrum made his ruling, focused
not on the murder charge but on the special allegation that Hayhurst
was tortured. Assistant District Attorney Stacy Eads pointed out that
Hayhurst was conscious and aware as she was being stabbed repeatedly
all over her body. It’s possible she was still alive when the
attacker removed vital organs from her body, Eads said.
“Ms.
Moore’s intent was to inflict pain and suffering,” she said.
Moore.
Deputy
Public Defender Casey Russo said what happened to Hayhurst was
undoubtedly “a violent, brutal, grotesque attack.” But he said
the prosecution had not established the killer’s specific intent
was to inflict pain and suffering.
Earlier
in the preliminary hearing, forensic pathologist Dr. Mark Super
testified the fatal assault could have lasted hours. But as Russo
noted this morning, Super also said it could have been over in
minutes.
Also,
he said, why would Moore want to inflict pain on Hayhurst?
“There’s
no evidence that Ms. Moore knew Ms. Hayhurst,” Russo said. “There’s
no proof of motive, no reason to think it was for revenge.”
Shortly
before the killing, Moore’s boyfriend abandoned her and their twin
babies. But there has been no evidence Hayhurst was involved in the
breakup.
As
to whether the two women knew each other, video surveillance at a
Shell service station and minimart on July 3, 2019, shows Hayhurst
entering the Myrtle Avenue store about 10:45 p.m. on July 3, 2019.
This morning former Eureka police Senior Detective Ron Harpham, who
viewed video evidence in the case, said Moore drove up and ran into
the store “and started talking to Hannah.”
Then,
Harpham said, both Moore and Hayhurst left in Moore’s car.
Earlier
the same night, Moore allegedly attacked another woman, Misty Miller.
She told police she was a passenger in Moore’s car when Moore
stopped the vehicle and began attacking her.
“For
no reason the person (she later identified her as Moore) started
punching at her with something hard in her hand,” Harpham said.
Miller
described her attacker as making “weird animal noises,” and with
a look in her eyes that made Miller believe she was trying to kill
her. Miller escaped but had head injuries, including one that
required stitches. Later Miller’s purse was found in a trash can
near Moore’s home on Myrtle Avenue. Video shows Moore driving up to
the area, and a passenger in her car dropping something in the trash
can.
Moore,
42, has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.
Several witnesses either testified about her strange behavior or told
law enforcement about it.
A
few hours after she allegedly murdered Hayhurst, Moore showed up in
Garberville. At a Chevron station she attempted to pay for her
purchase in money splattered with blood. Her car also was covered in
blood, and Moore made no attempt to clean it up.
She
went to the Blue Room tavern, where at least one patron concluded she
was either on drugs or crazy.
Harpham
said Moore asked one woman at the bar “Am I still dead?’’ She
also was speaking to an invisible person she thought was sitting to
her right.
Hayhurst’s
father was in the courtroom today, wearing a shirt that said “Black
Lives Matter.”
