Suspect acquitted of murder in 10 minutes

Medicine Lodge — A Barber County jury has acquitted a rural Medicine Lodge man of first-degree murder after only 10 minutes of deliberations.

Bob Miller, 66, was acquitted Wednesday in the October 2000 shooting death of Alan Brent Thornburg, 36, of Attica.

Miller’s attorney, Brent Lonker, presented a case claiming that a slipshod investigation by Barber County and Kansas Bureau of Investigation officials created more doubts than proof that his client shot Thornburg in the head and stomach.

Lisa Pinnick, 35, of Lake City, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in Thornburg’s death and will begin serving a 13-year prison sentence later this month.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Miller, fueled by a fit of jealousy, stepped in after an argument to help Pinnick kill her boyfriend, Thornburg.

But Lonker reminded jurors that Pinnick first told officers that a Lake City acquaintance, Jesse DeLeon, shot Thornburg and together they dumped his dead body 13 miles west of Medicine Lodge on U.S. 160. Pinnick later implicated Miller in the slaying.

Lonker contended Pinnick likely enlisted the help of another friend, not his client, in the slaying.

Kansas Citian accused in HIV exposure case

Kansas City, Mo. — A Kansas City man accused of knowingly exposing a woman to the virus that causes AIDS has waived extradition from Kansas and will be brought to Jackson County, authorities said Thursday.

Ronnie E. Alery, 34, was charged March 20 with one felony count of recklessly exposing another to HIV. Alery was found Tuesday in Wyandotte County, Kan., and taken into custody.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office did not know when Alery would be transferred to Missouri.

The department said an investigation began in October, when a 40-year-old woman told authorities she had had sex with a man who knew he had AIDS. The department said investigators found that Alery did have AIDS and that he knew that when he had sex with the victim.

Authorities are asking anyone who has had physical contact with Alery to contact their local authorities and to seek medical advice.

Winning Lotto sold in Excelsior Springs

Jefferson City — The winning ticket in Wednesday’s Missouri Lotto drawing worth $1.4 million was sold in Excelsior Springs, officials said Thursday.

The Missouri Lottery said the ticket was sold at the Clay Ray Veterans Assn. The winning numbers were 9, 10, 14, 22, 29 and 31.

Gary Conder, a spokesman for the Missouri Lottery, said the winner should sign the back of the ticket and put it in a safe place until going to a Missouri Lottery office.

Lotto players have 180 days to claim jackpot prizes.