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Samuels Pleads Guilty in April Sykes Case |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
Virgil E. Samuels, Jr. was led into Henry County Circuit
Court on Thursday. At least six law enforcement officers
were in the courtroom for the hearing. Samuels were
clothed in orange and white striped jail shirt and wore
ankle cuffs.
PARIS (June 21, 2007) Virgil E. Samuels, Jr., age 22, of
1330 Highway 77, Paris, pled guilty to especially
aggravated kidnapping, attempted first degree murder,
and aggravated rape in connection with the November 28,
2005, kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder of then
18-year-old April Sykes, also of Paris.
Standing before Circuit Court Judge Donald Parish,
Samuels entered a guilty plea to the three counts and
received a 35-year prison sentence on each of the three
counts. All sentences are to run concurrently. Parish
said Samuels must serve 100 percent of the sentence,
except for any good behavior discounts not to exceed 15
percent, is not eligible for parole, must provide a
sample of DNA, and must receive treatment for his sexual
behavior in connection with the rape. When released, he
is to have life-long supervision and be listed as a
sexual offender. The Sykes family and the prosecution
agreed to drop five other, lesser counts against Samuels
in exchange for his plea of guilty. He is also to never
have contact with the victim.
The series of events began in the parking lot of a
restaurant in Paris. Samuels reportedly abducted Sykes
and her ex-boyfriend, Brandon McMinn. Samuels choked the
ex-boyfriend of April Sykes, Brandon McMinn, into
unconsciousness and chased Sykes, who had fled the
driver seat of her Chevrolet Malibu. He captured her and
forcefully returned her to the vehicle where Samuels
knocked out the window and forced McMinn into the trunk
of the vehicle.
Samuels drove to a cemetery in Paris, where he dragged
Sykes into a ravine area, raped and assaulted her
repeatedly.
Samuels then drove the Malibu further away from the
cemetery, backed into a driveway and obtained a can of
gasoline. Throughout the drive, Samuels continued to
assault Sykes, forcing her to lie down in the seat.
At some unknown point, McMinn was able to escape from
the trunk of the vehicle.
Samuels drove to an isolated field road off Van Dyke
Grove Road where an additional rape and violent assault
occurred. He also stabbed her, leaving her in a state of
semi-consciousness, and attempted to run over her on the
field road.
He locked her in the trunk of the vehicle and set her
and the vehicle on fire. He poured gasoline on the
victim and the car.
Despite the fright, shock, and terror of being burned
alive, Sykes somehow located the trunk emergency latch
and somehow struggled for her life to make it to the
hard surface road.
She was transported to Henry County Medical Center and
then airlifted to a trauma center. When her dad saw her
at H.C.M.C., he said he could not identify her as his
daughter.
Sykes was released March 29, 2006 from Regional Medical
Center (The Med) in Memphis following a 116-day
hospitalization. She received burns over 65 percent of
her body, 45 percent of which were third degree, in
addition to other injuries, including stab wounds. She
underwent multiple surgeries to repair burned skin on
her face, arms, hands, abdomen, back, and legs. Her
injuries were so severe they necessitated the removal of
her right hand and some or all of each finger on her
left hand.
April and her family sat in the courtroom during the
Thursday morning proceedings. April, physically and
emotionally scarred from the event, sat quietly as each
of the charges was read and Samuels responded to the
questions. Parish finished by saying, Are you guilty of
these crimes? Samuels responded, Yes, sir.
District Attorney Hansel McCadams read a statement for
the Sykes family. He said the Sykes family realizes that
they will endure the life-long physical and emotional
scars but they will no longer live in fear of Samuels.
They thanked the communities of Henry and Carroll
counties for the outpouring of love and comfort, and the
law enforcement communities. He said April will move
forward with her life and will pursue a college
education.
In May, April was featured on the Montel Williams
television show to tell her incredible story. As a
surprise during the show, Lambuth University offered
Sykes a four-year tuition-free scholarship to the
liberal arts university in Jackson. Sykes said Thursday
she is exciting about entering Lambuth University.
Sykes is the daughter of McKenzie Police Officer Jackie
Sykes, who serves as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) officer at McKenzie schools, and Donna Knowles of
Henry County.
April filed a lawsuit against Samuels in December 2006
for $11.5 million in compensatory damages and $15
million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit states Miss Sykes has already incurred
medical expenses estimated at $1,700,000.00, with
additional expenses to be incurred in the future as the
result of severe, permanent, and disabling physical,
psychological, and emotional injuries at the hands of
Virgil Samuels, Jr. |
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Dana Corporation Receives Court Approval to Sell
Non-Core Fluid Products Businesses |
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June 6 -- Dana Corporation (Pink Sheets: DCNAQ) announced
today that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Southern District of New York, which has jurisdiction over
Dana's Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings, approved today
the sale of the two businesses that compose the Fluid
Products business that the company announced for sale in
late 2005. Dana's fluid products hose and tubing business
will be sold to Orhan Holding, A.S., a Turkish industrial
firm and joint-venture partner of Dana, for a purchase price
of $85 million, and the company's coupled products business
will be sold to Coupled Products Acquisition LLC, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Wanxiang (USA) Holdings Corporation, for
a nominal price.
Competitive bidding procedures for the sale of these
businesses concluded on June 4. Dana expects to close the
sale of both businesses by the end of July 2007.
Fluid Products Hose & Tubing Transaction Overview
Orhan and certain of its affiliates will acquire certain
assets of Dana's fluid products hose and tubing business and
the stock of certain Dana affiliates engaged in the
business. The assets to be sold are located in three plants
in the United States and one each in Mexico and the United
Kingdom. Dana will also sell its stock in three companies in
France, Slovakia, and Spain and interests in three joint
ventures with Orhan Holdings, which include one operation in
France and two in Turkey. The operations being sold reported
consolidated revenues of $266 million in 2006. The aggregate
purchase price will be $85 million, subject to usual closing
adjustments, and the buyers will assume certain liabilities
of the business at closing.
The fluid products hose and tubing plants and/or assets
proposed to be sold to Orhan are located in: Vitry, France;
San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Dolny Kubin, Slovakia; Barcelona,
Spain; Birmingham, U.K.; and Archbold, Ohio; Paris, Tenn.;
and Rochester Hills, Mich., U.S.A. Collectively, the
operations manufacture fuel lines; power-assisted steering
products; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
under body products; engine and transmission cooling lines;
exhaust gas recirculation tubes; and airbag fill tubes.
These operations employ approximately 1,750 people in seven
countries.
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Memphis Sound Drum And Bugle Corps Prepares At Bethel
For Nationwide Tour |
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Executive Director Andre Feagin leads a
section of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps during
morning practice.
MCKENZIE (June 15) If you live in the surrounding area of
Bethel College or the McKenzie Middle School, there's a good
chance that you've heard the musical instruments playing in
the past few weeks. The Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps,
approximately 65 members strong, have set up shop on
Bethel's campus for a four-week period as they rehearse for
their upcoming tour.
The Memphis Sound will present its summer production
entitled "Harmonic Voices" at the show, which will be free
and open to the public. The event will be at Wildcat Stadium
on the Bethel College campus on Monday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m.
The mission of the Memphis Sound Drum & Bugle Corps is to
release the full potential of today's youth by promoting
self-awareness, acceptance, respect, dedication, and
teamwork through the participation in the competitive
marching arts.
The Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps is incorporated in
the State of Tennessee and is registered with the United
States Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit
Corporation, and is governed by a dedicated and experienced
Board of Directors.
A section of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps surround
executive director Andre Feagin during practice.
Memphis Sound was established in 2002 to serve the youth of
Memphis, the Mid-South, and the surrounding region. The
corps offers youth, ages 14 - 21, an opportunity to
participate in the arts of interpretive dance, and
instrumental ensemble performance. Only in its 5th year of
existence, the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps has
received many honors in Division II competition and
continues to improve on its high level of performance.
The drum corps is comprised of performers in three distinct,
yet complimenting areas: brass, percussion and color guard.
Each year the organization undergoes a demanding winter and
spring training program, accompanied by a rigorous 65-day
national competitive tour that culminates in the
participation at the Drum Corps International World
Championships in Pasadena, California on August 11. Memphis
Sound finished in ninth place in 2006, but is confident they
will progress well enough to exceed their previous mark in
2007.
Members of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps pay less
than one-third of the total annual cost to operate the
corps. Some of our costs we earn ourselves with performance
fees and souvenir sales. The remainder of the funding needed
to operate the organization comes from the efforts of the
Board of Directors, the Booster Club, member fund-raisers,
corporate sponsorships, and donations.
Membership fees are approximately $1,600 for instruction,
food, housing, equipment and travel. Very little money is
required out-of-pocket beyond these fees during the corps
season.
Executive director, Andre Feagin commented that this was a
great experience for the band members.
Prior to his appointment at Memphis Sound, Mr. Feagin served
as a member of the brass faculty for the DCI Finalist
Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from Fort Mill, SC. Mr.
Feagin's drum corps experience includes four years as
conductor of the World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and
Bugle Corps from Rockford, IL.
He is an active clinician, program coordinator, adjudicator,
and music arranger for some of the country's finest high
school and university band programs. Some of the programs he
has worked with include; Bassett HS (VA), Halls HS (TN),
Union HS (OK), and Victoria Memorial HS (TX). He is
currently on staff for the Mighty Sound of the South
Marching Band at the University of Memphis where he serves
as an Assistant Director. There he serves as music caption
head, music arranger and member of the design team.
Feagin holds a music performance degree from the University
of Memphis and a Masters of Music degree in instrumental
wind conducting at U of M. His conducting mentor is Dr.
Kraig A. Williams. He is a member of the University Wind
Ensemble, Orchestra, and founding-member of both Dolce Trio
and The KAND Clarinet Quartet. He serves as a director of
the University Concert Band, and a guest conductor of the
University Wind Ensemble.
Feagin commented, "On any given Sunday, I watch a pro
football game on television and think, I've performed there
and this is a great outlet for young adults."
Feagin's title of executive director is misleading as he
actually does numerous tasks that could be considered the
equivalent to five positions and puts in grueling hours, but
that doesn't slow him down. The energetic young man remains
focused on the task at hand and his confidence exudes
throughout the camp members.
The band members hail together from as far as sixteen hours
away including members from Texas, Oklahoma, and North
Carolina to name a few and rehearse everyday for twelve
hours in a three and one-half week period before going on
tour where they basically are living out of gymnasiums.
The corps has a support staff of approximately 20-25 people
that travel with them.
Feagin was quick to point out the corps has an incredible
support staff that make his jobs much easier stating, "They
are the hardest working people I've ever seen and they never
let the team down."
When asked to summarize the corps in one sentence Feagin
replied, "A group of people committed to doing whatever it
takes to be incredible."
The corps is currently based out of Memphis, but was drawn
to Bethel College by the environment. The corps are very
thankful for Bethel's part in allowing this tremendous
undertaking a place to practice and commenting they felt
like they were at home in McKenzie as everyone has welcomed
the group with opened arms to the area.
Feagin stated, "McKenzie has hearts that are bigger than the
City of Memphis."
In appreciation of everyone's kindness and hospitality, the
Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps will culminate their camp
at Bethel with a free concert on June 25 beginning at 7:30
p.m. located at Wildcat Stadium on the campus of Bethel
College. Everyone is welcome to attend and food or money
donations would be appreciated.
The tour dates for the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps
are:
ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE AT THIS POINT
June
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29 DCI Central Illinois, Normal, IL
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30 DCI Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, MI
July
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1 Blue Water Brass, Port Huron, MI
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2 Soaring Sounds, Centerville, OH
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3 Performance at Navy Pier (Pending)
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4 Chicago Area Parades
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5 Rehearsal
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6 Music on the March, Dubuque, IA
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7 Drums on the Chippewa, Chippewa
Falls, WI
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8 Rehearsal Day
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9 Emerald City Summer Music Games,
Dublin, OH
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10 Drums Across the Tri-State,
Charleston, WV
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11 DCI Louisville, Louisville, KY
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12 Rehearsal Day, Nashville Area
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14 Rehearsal Day, Nashville Area
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15 Spirit of America, Jacksonville, AL
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16 Drummin' Down the Trace, Tupelo, MS
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17 Sound of Champions, Memphis, TN
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18-24 Rehearsals, Bethel College
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TOUR 2 BEGINS
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25 Rehearsal Day
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26 Music in Motion, Jackson, TN
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27 Battle on the Border, Van Buren, AR
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28 Rehearsal Day
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29 Travel/Rehearsal Day
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30 Show, Midland, TX
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31 Travel/Rehearsal Day
August
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1 Rehearsal Day
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2 Southwest Corps Connection II,
Tucson, AZ
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3 Show, Lake Havasau City, AZ
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4 DCI Division II/III Pacific Coast
Open, Bakersfield, CA
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5 Rehearsal/Laundry Day
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6 Rehearsal Day
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7 Division II/III Prelims, Pasadena,
CA
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8 Rehearsal Day (I&E)
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9 Rehearsal Day
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10 Division II/III Semi-Finals,
Pasadena, CA
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11 Division II/III Grand Finals,
Pasadena, CA
For more information about the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle
Corps, log on to: www.memphisdrumcorps.org. |
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