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Show Wednesday, November 30, 1988 Chronicle - Page Two IN BRIE Dead murder suspect inspired by scary flicks? body of a murder suspect whose taste for Hollywood horror films may have played a role in the grisly stabbing death of a female college student was found swinging from a tree BUCKLAND, MASS. (UPI)-T- he Tuesday, police said. The death was "tentatively ruled a suicide by hanging," authorities said. A hunter discovered the partially decomposed body of Mark Branch, 19, of Greenfield, off Route 112 in : nearby Buckland. Branch had been the subject of a manhunt since the Oct. 24 stabbing death of Sharon Gregory, 18, whose mutilated body was found by her identical twin sister in a bathroom of their Greenfield home. Branch's body was found about a mile from the spot where his car, was found last month, Judd Carhart, the district attorney for Hampshire and Franklin counties, said at a news conference. He said authorities were not certain how long Branch had been dead, but added, "I will say he was partially decomposed. The body appeared to have been in the woods for quite a bit of time." Branch was identified by a driver's license found in his wallet, and by police officers who led an intensive search for him. Authorities declined to release further details on the murder, or disclose what evidence led police to suspect' Branch. The murder weapon has not been found, Carhart said, adding that details of the case were contained in a search warrant that had been sealed on a judge's order. The suspect had been acquainted with the victim, who was a student at Greenfield Community College, but there was no romantic attachment between them, Carhart said. 'There are no other suspects in the murder of Sharon Gregory," he explained. closed." SAN FRANCISCO 4 3SUU iniil QB star Joe Montana, (UPI)-Foot- ball stepping away from the pressures and glories of the San Francisco 49ers playoff drive, made a public appeal Tuesday as the father of two daughters for the return of a girl kidnapped 10 days late-seas- on ago. Montana, accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, appeared before a barrage of television cameras and reporters at San Francisco's FBI headquarters in an effort to bring added r'.ention to the search for Michaela Joy Garecht, who was abducted in front of a nearby Hayward, Calif., supermarket in broad daylight 10 days ago. 'To sit and think about losing one of our daughters brings tears to our eyes," Montana said. "We are here to help bring attention the search." The Montanas were asked to appear by FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Held, who felt the appearance of a celebrity would drive home the idea that authorities need all the help they can get in the high-profi- le case. "We need help in this case. It's not going to be solved by some magic the Hayward Police or the FBI has," Held said. The Montanas are the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth. They say Alexandra and the local abductions have driven home the dangers to their own children. District judge dismisses one of North's charges judge in the case dismissed Tuesday a wire fraud count against House aide Oliver North but rejected defense motions to throw out six of the remaining 14 counts. The felony count that was dropped concerned North's use of wires to transfer to the Nicaragua Contra rebels millions of dollars in proceeds from the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran. However, the allegedly illegal diversion of those funds still remains a central issue in the case. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Gerhard Gesell means that all but two of 37 defense motions to dismiss various counts in the indictment have been cleared away in advance of key closed hearings to begin WASHINGTON Iran-Cont- ra (UPI)-T- he ex-Whi- te Wednesday. Earlier Tuesday, Gesell rejected North's bid to exclude independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh from the hearings, in which Gesell hopes to decide which classified documents may be used in the case. A source close to Walsh said he and his staff were "very pleased" with the ruling on the defense motions. "The indictment remains virtually intact despite the strenuous challenge to all of the counts" by the defense, the source said. North, a former aide on the National Security Council, was indicted March 16 on 16 counts of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and conspiracy scanto defraud the government in the Iran-Cont- ra dal. Last month, Gesell dismissed a fraud count that con- cerned the installation of a security fence at North's Virginia home. Gesell said in the dismissal order Tuesday he agreed to throw out the wire fraud count because it might have created "substantial confusion in the minds of the jurors." Community Service is an Adventure Be a Wild Thing . . . VOLUNTEER! from page one state will be able to provide the necessary funds, he predicted. A tuition increase should only be a last resort, he argued. house Meanwhile, James Yardley, chair of the subcommittee, predicted higher education, will receive only $11 million to $12 million, about half of the Regents' request. He predicted the tuitionf increase would be approved as it now stands. "I think (the Regents) have a good chance of getting part of it," Yardley said referring to the request for an increase in state funds, "but I don't think they'll get it ' all." Yardley also said it's too early to tell what action the Legislature might take, especially since no one knows what the governor's recommendations might be. "I haven't talked to a soul," he said. i is pleads for return of abducted girl 49ers' legislature K This chapter of this tragedy Police sources have said they believe the slaying may have been inspired by the Friday the 13th series of horror movies. A top investigator said at the outset that Branch "thinks he's Jason," the maniacal murderer featured in the film series. self-inflict- ed -- o o o The Lowell Bennion Community Service Center helps interested people serve the needs of the community. If you are interested in volunteering for any 1 of the following services, phone the center at or stop by 101 Union. Utah Alliance for the Mentally 111: Help select and 581-481- deliver toys for mentally ill children. Call Debbie at 584-202- 3. Veggie Project: Drivers are needed for store pickups, sorters and baggers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Call Mike Weaver at 581-793- 8 or 278-735- 4. The Great Jell-- 0 1. needed. CrossroadsUrban Center: Help Santa by donating clothing at the First Presbyterian Church on 12 C Street. Volunteers are needed for mail campaign. Call ; 364-776- 5. Help the Elderly: Visit an elderly man who is recovering from a stroke, while spouse has personal ' - New Hope Refugee Center: Volunteer to tutor English or to work as a medical assistant. Bovs and Girls Club: Volunteers are needed for phone bank to raise funds. tr - SUCK OFF Pi Kappa Alpha and the Pie 322-560- Womens Resource Center: Move boxes for clothing bazaars on Nov. 30. A volunteer with a truck is time. Odyssey House: Recovering alcohol and drug abusers need winter clothes. Please bring them to the Bennion Center. Heart Association: Help with general cleanup of stikieiir i;ulu welcome- the Haunted Old Mill. Call Cheryl or Trisha at in v izzfria present the 1st annual XeVIeU v Ouck-of- f 1st Prize Mountain Bike 3 Courtesy of Stout Cycle X WM-PreUnariesHoy.lS- 22-23,29-- Great SATURDAY. DEC. 3 GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS $10 soundOFF records vlMMMKMlSlli? LlMTEC MMf pflH &rm$5TlCKETSF0R OF U STUDENTS ii KT UNION DESK ONU F 30 Saturday Dec. 3 8:00 p.m. WHERE - The Pie Pizzeria 1320 200 S. WHY - To raise money for Primary Children 's Hospital - And a chance to be famous1. Suck-Of- f TO REGISTER CALL 581-551- 3 V n' TV Trolly S(ju,are holiday's Q Happy From Us To J aylor Maid Beauty Supply 'XT' jf 52 1 -- 9087 M f $ |