Year In Review: 2013 Had Its Tragedies And Triumphs

Last updated on Wednesday, January 1, 2014

(UNDATED) - 2013 had its tragedies and triumphs.

The stories following this one, highlights those tragedies and triumphs.

Below is brief overlook at 2013:

* In January a girl stolen from her father was found in Orange County. A Bloomington man will probably spend the rest of his life in prison after he stabbed to death his girl friend. An Indiana University relief pitcher was arrested after police discovered he had more than 20 pounds of marijuana sent to him in the mail.

* In February, Jason Hays, received a 20 years prison term for operating a vehicle with meth in his body causing a crash on Feb. 15, 2012 which claimed the life of Savanah Allen. Also in February Bryce Leighton, of Solsberry was sentenced to 14 years in prison after causing the death of Gwendolynn Sanders, of Bedford.

* A pyrotechnic facility explosion At Crane Army Ammunition Activity on March 28, 2013 sent five employees to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for outpatient treatment and temporarily closed the unit. Crane Officials are working with OHSA to remedy several serious safety violations related to the March explosion. Vanessa Martin, director of OSHA's Indianapolis Area Office, called the violations an "unacceptable lapse in workplace safety."

* In March the Bedford North Lawrence Lady Stars defeated Fort Wayne South in the Class 4A girls basketball state championship game taking the title 54 to 51. Lady Stars Senior reserve forward Carli Fields enjoyed a double-win as she helped Bedford North Lawrence to the third girls basketball state championship in BNL history. She also became the fourth winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award during post-game festivities.

* The historic Orleans movie theater was destroyed in April 2013 by fire. Owner Ray Thompson watched as the building burned. Orleans Clerk-Treasurer Robert Henderson says the theater anchored the square for 120 years. The building was constructed in the 1890s and served as a dry goods store. It was converted into a theater in the 1930s.

* It only took only an hour in May of 2013 for a Lawrence Superior Court I jury to determine that Michael Dustin Moore delivered the lethal dose of heroin that killed 43-year-old William Alan Napier on April 10, 2010. Corey Lyons, of Washington, was sentenced to 65 years in prison for killing his 4-month old son.

* The City of Bedford was awarded one of two 2013 Stellar Community grants in June 2013. Bedford could reap up to $12 million dollars. An Indiana state trooper was shot when an armed robbery suspect opened fire. Trooper Jarrod Lents, of Springville, was responding to an armed robbery at a gun store when he was shot multiple times. He shot and killed the suspect.

* In July, David Terrell, of Bedford, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in July 2013 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting the death of his fiancee 42-year-old Leslie Mitchell. Kyle Brown, chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County, recognizing a Boy of the Year and Girl of the Year in July 2013. Girl of the Year for 2012 was 13-year-old MaKayla Reid. The 2012 Boy of the Year was J.T. Ernst.

* 20-year-old Cody Silvers, of Norman, was arrested in August 2013 after police say he caused the death of a Medora teen and seriously injured another. The accident killed 16-year-old Kassi Lewis-Yoskovich and injured 14-year-old Noah Brown, both of Medora. The Bedford 13 & 14 year old All Stars earned the right to play in the Junior League World Series. The Central Regional was played in Fort Wayne. After advancing the team then traveled to Taylor, Michigan to play in the finals.

* A baby's mother and her boyfriend were charged with the death of 8-month-old Leelan Crain in September 2013. Casey Crain, of Salem, is charged with a felony charge of neglect of a dependent. Salem police say 24-year-old James "Jamie" Lykin, beat the child to death at the couple's home on Ridgeview Drive in Salem.

* In September, four CSX flatbed train cars derailed south of Bedford. The CSX train derailed south of the White River Trestle off Dixie Highway near Cresthaven Cemetery. A fire caused extensive damage to a turkey barn on County Road 200 East in Orleans. According to Rural District II Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bill Sallee the fire at Riverview Farms damaged a large portion of the barn and killed thousands of young turkeys.

* Michael Angle Jr. was sentenced in October 2013 to 65 years in the 2011 stabbing death of Lauren Kahn. A jury found Angle guilty of voluntary manslaughter and murder committed during the commission of a robbery. Cody Brooks of Orleans, who pleaded guilty to two charges of arson, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Brooks was arrested for setting fire to his ex-girlfriend's apartment in Mitchell last year.

* The man convicted of murdering Adam Sarnecki in a Bloomington Pizza X parking lot was sentenced 73 years in prison in November 2013. A 12-person jury found 23-year-old James Finney guilty of murdering Sarnecki and two felony counts of carrying a handgun without a permit.v Dumon McCain, a Bedford Middle School Studentlost his battle with cancer on November 25, 2013 at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. The community rallied around Dumon and his family with fundraising eventsand to fulfill some of Dumon's dreams, like becoming a police officers for a day.

* Jordan Buskirk appeared before Judge Dena Martin in Greene Superior Court in December 2013 and admitted he and Randal Crosley planned and then killed 19-year-old Katelyn Wolfe in early June. Washington Police arrested a Washington man for the murder of 17-year-old Devan Burris. Burris was killed after a drug deal turned bad. Officers arrested 18-year-old Logan Evans at an apartment on Highland Avenue on a charge of murder. Two other people were also arrested in connection to the murder. Washington Police arrested 19-year-old Lucas Benjamin, of Washington, Sunday on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder and 18-year-old Heaven Marie Berry of Washington, for providing assistance to another who committed the crime of murder.

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