In brief: Police arrest man in 26-year-old murder case

BREMERTON, Wash. – Police say detectives have arrested a man in Idaho in connection with a 26-year-old Washington state murder case after DNA evidence linked him to the crime.

KOMO-TV reported 54-year-old Robert Lee Miller was arrested this week in Boise on a murder warrant.

The arrest stems from the 1992 killing of 57-year-old Marilyn Hickey of Bremerton. Her body was found Sept. 10, 1992, in her apartment after police received a call requesting a welfare check.

Her death was ruled a homicide and evidence was collected but no arrests were made.

The case was reopened in 2006 and the Washington State Patrol’s crime lab was able to extract a DNA profile of a suspected killer. The DNA matched DNA in another unsolved homicide case from Boise.

Garland said police in both departments worked to identify Miller as the suspect using DNA.

Measles cases confirmed in Vancouver and Portland

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Authorities in Vancouver, Washington, have confirmed a case of measles in a child while the Oregon Health Authority has confirmed a separate measles case this week in Portland, Oregon.

Clark County Public Health says people who visited PeaceHealth Urgent Care – Memorial in Vancouver in the afternoon Monday may have been exposed.

The Oregon Health Authority said a measles case was confirmed in a person who spent time in The Dalles and Hood River. People in The Dalles may have been exposed Dec. 29 at the Discovery Center or Monday at Fred Meyer.

People in Hood River may have been exposed Sunday if they were at Doppio Cafe, Goodwill or Full Sail Brewery in the early afternoon. People who were at the Oregon Health and Science University Emergency Department on Wednesday morning may have been exposed.

Officials advise anyone who may have measles symptoms to call before visiting a medical office.

Measles symptoms begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash.

Prosecutors charge parents of toddler who fatally shot self

BAKER CITY, Ore. – Prosecutors in Baker County have charged the parents of a toddler who shot himself in the head.

The Baker City Herald reported 2-year-old Liam Mankins shot himself with a loaded handgun in the family’s home in November. Authorities say they also found methamphetamine in the home.

Peter Lee Mankins, 33, and Diana Lynn Goodman, 32, were arrested after a grand jury indicted them last week on charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, child endangerment and methamphetamine possession.

Baker County District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said both parents were in the home when Liam shot himself.

A 4-month-old baby was also in the home.

The couple’s defense attorneys, Kyra Kay Rohner-Ingram and Damien Yervasi, did not return calls.

A plea hearing is set for Jan. 23 for both parents.

Teacher accused of feeding puppy to turtle found not guilty

PRESTON, Idaho – A southeast Idaho teacher accused of feeding a live puppy to a snapping turtle in front of students has been acquitted of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Media outlets report a Franklin County jury found Robert Crosland not guilty Friday after deliberating for about 30 minutes.

The charge was filed in June after allegations surfaced that Crosland put the puppy into an aquarium with a turtle at Preston Junior High in March.

Crosland pleaded not guilty in July.

During trial Friday the jury heard Crosland say in a recorded interview with investigators that he thought he was doing the right thing because the puppy was sick and likely to die.

The state Department of Agriculture euthanized the turtle, which Crosland owned. It was an invasive species in Idaho, and he didn’t have a permit for it.