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Suicide party trial postponed
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| Krein |
Published September 29, 2005
By DYLAN DARLING
H&N Staff Writer
A Klamath Falls man accused of trying to plan a Valentine's Day sex party that would end in mass suicide is being sent to the state mental hospital.
The criminal trial of Gerald Dean Krein Jr., 27, is suspended until he undergoes evaluation at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. Krein is set to be moved soon. He has been held at the Klamath County Jail since his arrest in February on charges of soliciting murder.
His bail is still at $100,000, a jail official said.
"I have talked with my client, Gerald Krein, and do not believe that at this point he is competent to participate in the presentation of his defense in this case," wrote Eve Merritt, Krein's public defender.
Merritt declined to comment further.
A psychiatrist who evaluated Krein at the jail said he "suffers from a myriad of mental health disorders," according to court records. The psychiatrist said Krein is not fit to proceed in his trial.
The Klamath County District Attorney's office has agreed with Merritt's request to have Krein taken to the state hospital and evaluated. Judge Marci Adkisson granted the motion last week.
Authorities said Krein used the Internet to tell women that he was going to have a suicide party at his home on Madison Street on Valentine's Day and that 32 people planned on attending. He used a Yahoo instant messenger account called "suicideparty2005."
The case garnered national and international attention from newspapers and television networks as authorities tried to find the women they suspected were interested in the party pact.
Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said authorities were able to find five women who had chatted with Krein about the suicide party, but only a woman from Toronto said she was considering taking part.
She had tipped police to the pact after she said there might be children involved whose mothers had asked for help in killing.
Krein was charged with solicitation to commit murder and four counts of solicitation to commit second-degree manslaughter.
District Attorney Ed Caleb said if Krein is found fit for trial then he will face "all the charges we had initially and perhaps some other ones."
Those other charges could come from what FBI agents find on the hard drive of Krein's personal computer. Authorities took the computer when he was arrested, and it is still being examined by FBI agents in Portland.
By DYLAN DARLING
H&N Staff Writer
A Klamath Falls man accused of trying to plan a Valentine's Day sex party that would end in mass suicide is being sent to the state mental hospital.
The criminal trial of Gerald Dean Krein Jr., 27, is suspended until he undergoes evaluation at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. Krein is set to be moved soon. He has been held at the Klamath County Jail since his arrest in February on charges of soliciting murder.
His bail is still at $100,000, a jail official said.
"I have talked with my client, Gerald Krein, and do not believe that at this point he is competent to participate in the presentation of his defense in this case," wrote Eve Merritt, Krein's public defender.
Merritt declined to comment further.
A psychiatrist who evaluated Krein at the jail said he "suffers from a myriad of mental health disorders," according to court records. The psychiatrist said Krein is not fit to proceed in his trial.
The Klamath County District Attorney's office has agreed with Merritt's request to have Krein taken to the state hospital and evaluated. Judge Marci Adkisson granted the motion last week.
Authorities said Krein used the Internet to tell women that he was going to have a suicide party at his home on Madison Street on Valentine's Day and that 32 people planned on attending. He used a Yahoo instant messenger account called "suicideparty2005."
The case garnered national and international attention from newspapers and television networks as authorities tried to find the women they suspected were interested in the party pact.
Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said authorities were able to find five women who had chatted with Krein about the suicide party, but only a woman from Toronto said she was considering taking part.
She had tipped police to the pact after she said there might be children involved whose mothers had asked for help in killing.
Krein was charged with solicitation to commit murder and four counts of solicitation to commit second-degree manslaughter.
District Attorney Ed Caleb said if Krein is found fit for trial then he will face "all the charges we had initially and perhaps some other ones."
Those other charges could come from what FBI agents find on the hard drive of Krein's personal computer. Authorities took the computer when he was arrested, and it is still being examined by FBI agents in Portland.
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| Elementary scare |
Reader Comments
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Ralph Sayre wrote on Jan 31, 2009 6:13 AM:
" I've just read an article (2005) titled "Discarded Soul at Peace."
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
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Ilene S wrote on May 21, 2009 9:36 AM: