Region in brief: Mead student held in alleged threat

A Mead High School junior faces a felony charge after allegedly jokingly telling a teacher Wednesday he was hired to kill her.

The 16-year-old was booked into Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center on a charge of harassment-threat to kill.

About 8:40 a.m., the boy reportedly entered a classroom with his hands extended as if clasping a pistol, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said. The teacher ran from the classroom after the threat and the boy walked out after her, authorities said.

The boy was found in the hallway about 9 a.m. after a search in which the school was locked down. No weapon was found, officials said.

Mead School District hasn’t decided what action it’ll take against the student, but “he’ll remain out of school until that’s decided,” said district spokesman Ralph Thayer.

Jody Lawrence-Turner

S-R wants your costume photos

Show us your ghosts, your witches, your superheroes, your Michael Jacksons.

E-mail a picture of yourself, your kids or your pets dressed for Halloween fun through Monday, and we’ll collect the pictures online. If we get enough submissions, we’ll run some in Saturday’s newspaper. Send pictures to breaking news@spokesman. com with your name, city and a caption.

Staff reports

Man gets 22-year sentence in slaying

A judge sentenced a man Wednesday to 22 years in prison for helping his girlfriend use a sword and baseball bat to kill her father.

Superior Court Judge Michael Price sentenced 19-year-old Edmund D. Washington to the same 22 years he gave 18-year-old Jacqueline A. Wortham in September.

Each was charged with first-degree murder in the March 21, 2008, slaying of Daniel A. Wortham, 39. Both told police they waited more than five hours for Wortham to return to his home at 2617 E. Sharp Ave. Detectives determined they then used a baseball bat, a wrench and a 3-foot sword to kill him.

Thomas Clouse

Pedestrian hit by car dies from injuries

A 19-year-old woman struck by a car Friday while walking along a sidewalk in northwest Spokane died as a result of her injuries, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Caroline Hoch was rushed to a Spokane hospital after the noon accident along Assembly Street near Northwest Boulevard and died later that day. Hoch graduated in June from Lewis and Clark High School.

The driver, who also died, apparently had a medical problem, which led to him lose control of his vehicle. He was identified as Kenneth Danel, 78, of northwest Spokane County.

Staff reports