Regional news

Man found dead in submerged car

An Usk, Wash., man was found dead Monday morning in his car, which was mostly submerged in Davis Lake.

Leeodis Dillon, 74, was found inside his 1991 Cadillac Deville, Washington State Patrol Trooper Dave Miller said. WSP got a call at 7 a.m. from a caller who saw a car in Davis Lake, Miller said.

“The top was barely sitting out of the water,” Miller said. “He probably fell asleep and drifted off the roadway. There will probably be an autopsy to determine if he died before or after the crash.”

Dillon was found near milepost 10 on State Route 211. Divers were called in to confirm that someone was in the car and to make sure there were no more passengers, Miller said.

Investigators found no evidence that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, he said. Dillon’s airbag had deployed, but he was not wearing a seat belt, Miller said.

“There were no outward signs of trauma,” Miller said.

A tow truck winched the car from the lake. There was no evidence that oil or gas had leaked into the water, Miller said.

“We probably spent until noon out there going over things to make sure there was nothing criminal that we missed or any outward signs of foul play,” he said.

Arsonist transferred to state custody

Spokane County Jail officials transferred a convicted arsonist who has been trying to starve himself to death to state custody Monday.

Charles Robert McNabb, 50, was moved at about 1:30 p.m. to Airway Heights Corrections Center, sheriff’s spokesman Inspector Dave Wiyrick said.

McNabb pleaded guilty last week to first-degree assault and first-degree arson in connection with a fire last year that severely burned his stepdaughter. McNabb was sentenced to 171 months in prison.

McNabb had told jail officials that he began starving himself in February out of remorse for hurting his stepdaughter. Since early this year, McNabb lost about 100 pounds.

Airway Heights spokeswoman Risa Klemme said McNabb was medically screened and then placed in the prison’s infirmary.

“He’s an offender who has some needs, and we will do all we can within our policies to meet his medical needs and other needs,” Klemme said. “We will provide him with excellent medical care.”

Hunt for murder suspect goes nationwide

Kennewick A nationwide search continued Monday for a Kennewick man sought in the shooting deaths of his in-laws.

James T. Moran, 32, is sought by warrant for investigation of first-degree murder in the Friday shooting deaths of his wife’s parents, Glenn Dale Carr, 57, and Debra Jolene Carr, 50.

A police SWAT team surrounded Moran’s home Sunday but came up empty.

The search expanded nationwide Monday, and authorities were working with the U.S. Marshals Office, trying to come up with new leads, said Sgt. Randy Maynard, a Kennewick police spokesman.

An Amber Alert was issued Friday night for Moran’s four children, ages 5 to 10. They were found Saturday with his mother in Moses Lake, about 90 miles away.

The children’s mother, Mandy Moran, was out of state when the shootings occurred.

The Amber Alert system uses a state’s emergency notification system to give broadcasters a description of a missing child and of a suspect’s vehicle. The information is also displayed on electronic highway signs.

It is named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and killed in Arlington, Texas. It is in use in 47 states.

Police to target Second Avenue exit

The Spokane Police Department’s traffic unit will be targeting the area of Second Avenue and Arthur Street through Friday.

The traffic safety emphasis, called “Crash,” will focus on speeding and seat belt violations. Cars frequently exit westbound Interstate 90 at Second Avenue and continue down the exit at freeway speeds, police said.

EWU computer program plans open house

Eastern Washington University’s master’s in computer science program is holding an open house today beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Gonzaga University, Herak Center 301.

A number of demonstrations will be held, including artificial intelligence, cyber security and computer games. The event is a showcase and celebration to show off how far the master’s in computers department has come since it was begun 20 years ago. Non-alcoholic champagne and gourmet cookies will be available. The public is invited.

Valley Council to meet at Mirabeau Park

Grab your sunscreen. Put on your shorts. No, you’re not going to the lake. You’re going to a Spokane Valley City Council meeting. The council will hold its quarterly Conversation with the Community Wednesday at Mirabeau Meadows in Mirabeau Point Park.

Wednesday’s hot weather should begin to cool by 6 p.m., when the meeting starts. “With the breeze off the river, it should be nice,” said Deputy City Clerk Sue Pearson.

The gathering will follow a town-meeting format. Citizens can express concerns or ask questions of council and staff members on any topic.

The park is at 13500 E. Mirabeau Parkway near the Spokane Valley YMCA.

For more information, call (509) 921-1000.