Iraq

Fort Riley soldier killed in second deployment

An Army specialist from West Henrietta, N.Y., was killed Wednesday in an explosion in Taji, Iraq, Army officials said Friday.

Killed was Spc. Matthew A. Koch, 23, a member of Company C, 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. It was his second deployment to Iraq, where he returned in January. The brigade spent a year in Iraq from March 2003 to March 2004.

He is the 47th soldier from Fort Riley killed in Iraq. The incident is under investigation.

Koch was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart after his death. He previously was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon and medals for service in the fight against terrorism.

Koch enlisted in the Army in January 2002 and arrived at Fort Riley in June 2002.

About 4,300 Fort Riley soldiers are deployed in Iraq.

Wichita

Man accused of killing sheriff to appear in court

A man accused of killing Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels is due for an initial appearance Monday.

Scott Cheever, 23, of Virgil, was charged with two counts of murder in the Jan. 19 slaying of Samuels, plus seven other charges related to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

He will be advised of the charges and their potential penalties in the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Karen Humphreys.

Five others were charged in connection with Samuels’ shooting death. Their initial appearances are expected to take place Wednesday before Humphreys’ hearing.

Kansas City, Mo.

Death sought for suspect in serial killings

Prosecutors said Thursday they plan to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with strangling 12 women over a 16-year period.

Lorenzo J. Gilyard has pleaded not guilty to charges filed in April accusing him of strangling a dozen women between the age of 15 to 36 — all but one a prostitute — between 1977 and 1993. On Thursday, Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders filed notice in Jackson County Circuit Court of the aggravating circumstances that qualify the case for a possible death sentence. The case likely will not go to trial for about two years, Sanders said.

Gilyard was a supervisor at a trash-collection company, married and described by neighbors as mild-mannered and friendly, when he was charged with the killings.