Statesman-Journal, Salem, Saturday, August 22, 1987
Testimony causes mistrial ROSEBURG (AP)
A mistrial was declared Friday in the trial of Nicholas Trapalis. Trapalis was charged in the 1986 robbery of $1 million worth of valuables from a Roseburg couple. Judge Ronald Poole, of Douglas County Circuit Court, called for the mistrial after state's witness Steven Fowler remarked that taking a lie-detector test was part of the plea bargain in which six felony counts against Fowler were dismissed. Fowler was allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Trapalis is charged with conspiracy and robbery in the April 23, 1986 house invasion of Howard and Hazel Hunsaker.
Six others have pleaded guilty, but Trapalis' brother, Stephen, has been acquitted. Ken Morrow, Nicholas Trapalis lawyer, said he wanted the trial to continue, but was forced to ask for a mistrial because mention of the lie-detector test might cause the jury to place too much weight on Fowler's testimony. Special prosecutor Paul De-Muniz said the mere mention of a polygraph was not in itself prejudicial and he did not think a mistrial was warranted.
UPI ARCHIVES JAN. 29, 1987
Accused robbers suing victim for $2 million
ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Two men accused in a $1 million house robbery sued the victims for $2 million, claiming they sent a threatening greeting card to a potential witness, but police believe it was the suspects who mailed the card.
Stephen Trapalis and his brother, Nicholas Trapalis, filed suit in Douglas County Circuit Court Tuesday against Howard and Hazel Hunsaker.
They allege Hunsaker mailed a card to Steven Fowler, who pleaded guilty in the case and is in the Douglas County Jail waiting to testify at the Trapalis brothers' trial.
The men are accused of robbing the Hunsakers April 23 of $1 million worth of coins, jewelry and other items. Stephen Trapalis's trial is Feb. 24. His brother's trial date has not been set.
The greeting card featured a picture of a wooden screw and the printed words 'You screwed up again,' with the handwritten threat, 'Testify, your family will start dying. Then you.'
Police intercepted the card at the jail and said they are investigating the Trapalis brothers as the suspected authors.
The Trapalis brothers, through attorney Ken Morrow of Eugene, accused Howard Hunsasker of mailing the card 'with the intent that the plaintiffs (the Trapalis brothers) would be blamed.'
The brothers are asking $1 million for 'extreme emotional distress,' $1 million for punitive damages and $5,500 for legal services, a private detective and a handwriting expert.
Roseburg New Review January 08, 1987
Two rings from Hunsaker robbery are recovered
Two gold rings valued at $40,000 were found in clothing being kept as evidence in connection with the arrest of John Humphries, who has pleaded guilty to the $1 million robbery April 23 of the Howard and Hazel Hunsaker residence, Roseburg Police said today.
One man’s ring and one woman’s ring were found in the pocket of a pair of pants after Humphries, through his attorney James Farrell, told police where to find the jewelry. Howard Hunsaker identified the rings Wednesday and told police the man’s ring was the one taken from his finger during the robbery of his Southeast Chadwick Street home.
The man’s ring was a 14-carat gold and diamond ring, valued at $30,000, and the woman’s ring was a 14-carat gold and emerald dinner ring, valued at $10,000, police said. Detective John Hodgson said a large amount of clothing had been seized from cars recovered during the robbery investigation. No other jewelry has been found inside any clothing, but all will be checked thoroughly before being released from evidence, he said. Humphries, 27, pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to two counts of robbery with a firearm in connection with the robbery. He is the sixth of eight defendants in the robbery to plead guilty. Stephen Fowler, Peggy Humphries, Nellie Beck, Deniece Humphries and Helen Bedell have also pleaded guilty.
Bedell was scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon in Douglas County Circuit Court.
Roseburg New Review, January 09, 1987
Robbery defendant sentenced
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Bedell’s participation 'absolutely outrageous and to my mind you deserve that treatment.'
Judge Ronald Poole
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The first sentence in the April 23 $1 million robbery of a Roseburg couple was handed down Thursday afternoon when Helen Jolaine Bedell was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Douglas County Circuit Judge Ronald Poole ordered that Bedell, 45, of Roseburg serve a mandatory minimum of 10 years before being eligible for parole, and that payment oof $100,000 restitution be a condition of parole.
In handing down the maximum sentence for first-degree robbery, Poole said Bedell’s participation in the crime was '‘absolutely outrageous, and to my mind, you deserve that treatment.”
He said the robbery was “something you don’t think of as happening in a small town,” and that “so much violence” had been visited on Howard and Hazel Hunsaker, the robbery victims. Although Bedell did not go in the house during the robbery, Poole said, she was as responsible for the crime as those who did.
Bedell pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree robbery Nov. 19, the day she was scheduled to go on trial. In exchange for the guilty plea, the District Attorney’s office agreed to dismiss three charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and a charge of burglary.
At her sentencing, Poole said the fact that Bedell was on probation for another property crime at the time of the robbery was an aggravating factor in determining her sentence. Bedell was on five years federal probation after pleading guilty to embezzling funds from the Myrtle Creek Post Office while she was postmaster.
Bedell is one of six defendants who have pleaded guilty in the robbery and is the first to be sentenced. Awaiting sentencing are John Humphries, Steven Fowler, Nellie Beck, Deniece Humphries and Peggy Humphries, all of Roseburg.
Two men also charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and burglary in the case are Stephen Trapalis, 30, and his brother, Nicholas Trapalis, 28. Stephen Trapalis is scheduled to go on trial Feb. 24. Although no date has been set for Nicholas Trapalis, a motion was filed in Douglas County Circuit Court this week by Paul DeMuniz, special prosecutor for the District Attorney’s office, to have both trials consolidated. No hearing has been set on the motion.
Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon, Wednesday, May 7, 1986
Roseburg suspect held in Washington
ROSEBURG (AP) - Police announced Tuesday that the last man sought in the $1-million robbery of a Roseburg couple was arrested in Washington state, where he aroused suspicion by flashing a bag full of cash in a restaurant.
John Humphries, 26, of Roseburg waived his right to oppose extradition and was being transported to Oregon for arraignment on charges of robbery and burglary, said Rose-burg Public Safety director Charles Wuergler.
Lewis County deputies arrested Humphries on Sunday night in a restaurant in Morton, Wash.
"I think he was trying to pay for coffee and had a large bag of $100 bills," said Wuergler, "Some waitress apparently got a little suspicious."
Humphries was the seventh person arrested in connection with the April 23 robbery of retired jewlery-store owner Howard Hunsaker and his wife, Hazel.
Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon, Wednesday, May 21, 1986
Two lives changed; Robbery victims grow more cautious
ROSEBURG (AP) - Life has changed for Howard and Hazel Hunsaker in the past month since three people barged into their home and robbed them of an estimated $1 million in cash, coins and jewels.
The three people accused of ivading the Hunsakers' home and four others accused of conspiring with them have all been arrested, but Hazel Hunsaker, 70, won't answer the door unless someone has called first to say they are coming over.
Her husband, 65, has started keeping some of his guns loaded and won't leave the house without first notifying police detectives.
Despite being beaten until he agreed to open safes containing the valuables and seeing his wife bond and gagged, Howard Hunsaker said he feels lucky — lucky to be alive.
The valuables that were stolen were normally kept at three local banks, but Howard Hunsaker had taken them home to prepare for opening a downtown office to sell them. He even bought a special security door for the office.
"They liquidated me a little bit quick — I should have put the $400 door on the house. I'm not going to keep any money anymore - nothing will come back into the house." he said.
A businessman in Roseburg since 1940, Hunsaker opened Umpqua Jewelers 10 years ago.
He took on Nick Trapalis as a partner five years ago, and later sold the business to him. Trapalis, 29. and his brother Steve, 27, were among those arrested in connection with the robbery.
Hunsaker said it was especially painful because he and his wife were friends with the Trapalis family for many уеаrs.
Hazel Hunsaker said the ordeal started when she answered her door April 23 and was faced with a woman on the verge of tears because she had lost her dog.
"By the time she left (after the robbery), it was me who was crying." Hazel Hunsaker said.
Two others wearing nylon stockings over their heads broke in through a basement window and bound and gagged Hazel Hunsaker with adhesive tape and her husband's neckties. She still has sores on her ankles.
She said that while waiting for her husband to come home, the robbers beat her and questioned her about the safes in the house.
Hunsaker said that when he arrived, a man slammed the front door behind him, locked it and put a gun to his head, threatening to kill him if he didn't do what he was told.
The robbers led him downstairs, where he saw his wife tied up. He was kicked and pistol-whipped when he lunged at one of the robbers.
The intruders found the combinations to the safes, but couldn't open one of them and threatened to break Hunsaker's fingers one at a time unless he opened it.
Three hours after the ordeat began, the robbers telephoned for a ride and left with the loot, Hunsaker said.
Using a knife left on a table, Hunsaker quickly freed himself and his wife and called for help.
Within two weeks, police had arrested seven people in connection with the robbery, though Hunsaker said large amounts of gold and jewels have yet to be found.
Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon, Tuesday, April 29, 1986
Robbers of Roseburg couple make million dollar haul
ROSEBURG (AP) - Police said Monday that a Roseburg couple lost an estimated $1 million worth of valuables when three people invaded their home last week.
"As far as the FBI agents are concerned, it's the biggest (Oregon residential robbery) they've heard of," said Detective John Hodgson.
Police said two men and a woman made off with an estimated $1 million worth of jewels and cash Wednesday after breaking into the home of Howard and Hazel Hunsaker, who once owned Howard's Men's Wear and Umpqua Jewelers.
Police said a woman came to the door and asked Hazel Hunsaker, 70, about a lost dog. Meanwhile, police said, two men broke into the house through a basement window.
Hazel Hunsaker was bound and gagged while the robbers, armed with revolvers, looted the home, police said.
The robbers waited for the return of Howard Hunsaker, 65, then beat him until he agreed to open several safes containing money and jewelry, police said.
Police described the robbers as two white males in their late 20s or early 30s and a white female in her early 20s. The three were believed to he driving a battered old Chevrolet "Luv" pickup, red in color with a green toolbox in the bed, police said.
Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon, Thursday, July 17, 1986
Detective follows suspects, finds loot
ROSEBURG (AP) A private detective tailed two women charged in the $1 million robbery of a retired Roseburg couple and found $200,000 worth of stolen gold and jewelry, police said Wednesday.
The gold coins, chains, watches and other jewelry identified as loot from the April 23 robbery of Howard and Hazel Hunsaker were found in "an area of the northern part of the state," police Lt. Paul Miner said.
Не said a private investigator hired by Howard Hunsaker followed the two Roseburg women accused of forcing their way into the Hunsaker home April 23 and forcing the couple to open basement safes containing the valuables.
Nellie Beck and Deniece Humphries were free on bail after their arrests in the case.
Another defendant in the case, Steven L. Fowler, a Roseburg car salesman, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary. He is being held in the Douglas County Jail pending sentencing.
Statesman-Journal, Salem, Tuesday, February 24, 1987
Woman sentenced in jewel robbery
ROSEBURG (AP) - A 31-year-old woman was sentenced Monday to two concurrent prison terms of as long as 20 years for her part in the robbery of more than $1 million in coins, currency and jewelry from an elderly Roseburg couple.
Deniece Humphries also was ordered by Circuit Judge Ronald Poole of Douglas County to pay $100,000 restitution as a condition of parole.
Poole rejected probation for Humphries, who was one of eight people charged in connection with the April 23 robbery of Hazel and Howard Hunsaker.
Her lawyer, Darryl Johnson, had petitioned the court for probation.
Johnson said Humphries had been athlete of the year at Roseburg High School and a member of the National Honor Society.
However, Deputy District Attorney Roberta Lee told the court that Humphries, in a tape recorded statement to Roseburg police, admitted pointing a gun at Howard Hunsaker during the robbery.
Lee also said Humphries, while she was out on bail, had committed a federal crime by going to Washington where part of the stolen goods had been taken.
Lee said Humphries' involvement in "the plain and simple brutality of an elderly couple for five hours was so she could buy cars, clothes and drugs."
Hunsaker, using a wheelchair, told the court Humphries had threatened to "blow my head off" and had "threatened us with death" during the robbery.
Humphries pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery in August in exchange for the state's dropping conspiracy and burglary charges.
Eight people were charged in the case. Six pleaded guilty, and two are awaiting trial.