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Show mx AI2 THF. DIIY HFRALU. Ptomx, Utah, Thursday. August 19, I9V9 NATION FT Questions arise concerning mercy lulling By LESLIE MILLER Associated Press Wriler David Coughlin BOSTON frent camping in the New Jrferico desert with his best j.friend and never made it out live. Raffl. Kodikian stabbed the Jlassachusetts man twice in flie chest, claiming later that th two gtjt lost and ran out of watec and that a dehydrated, panicky, Coughlin begged to be put out of his misery. won't nay Investigators exactly what they think hapin - Carlsbad Caverns f.pened National Park on Aug. 7, but one thing is clear: They don't buy Kodikian's story. who met Kodikian, while Coughlin attending school in Boston, is charged with murder. He returned to his family's home Sunday in Doylestown, Pa., after posting $50,000 bail but must return to New Mexico for trial. His attorney did not return calls for comment. Gary McCandless, chief of detectives for the Eddy County Sheriff's Department, said this is as unusual and puzzling as any case he's seen. Kodikian, 25, and Coughlin, 26, had arrived at the park Aug. 4 and got a two-da- y camping permit. Four days later, rescuers found Kodikian in a a lean-to- dehydrated . lost. Their campsite was only 250 feet from the trail and a mile away from Coughlin's If aJ II v f When a ranger asked where his companion was, Kodikian said he had killed him to end his suffering and buried him in a shallow grave nearby. For one thing, McCandless questions whether Kodikian and Coughlin were hopelessly Mazda. Had they climbed to the top of the canyon, they would have seen the park's visitors center. "People actually have gotten lost there, but it didn't take them long to find their way out," McCandless said. Investigators also question Kodikian's claim y KOHI.KI J MOOKHKAU i!9 I v r1 nYcOJ i ' I I J V I vi:,Jj ! i sl : a? I M fill i si;; 1 if I' ci l U- if ; i 10-- 9 y and Sunday 12-- 6 at all Dillard's locations. Salt Lake City: Fashion Place and South Towne Center. In Ogden: Newgate Mall. We welcome your Dillard's Credit Card, The American Express Card, Diners Club International, Mastercard, Visa and the Discover Card. Shop Provo: Provo Towne Centre. Monday-Saturda- In I t)u 1 TC: I I i he Auocuurf Hma Chained: Sheriff M.A. "Chunky" Click, left. Chief Detective Gary McCandless, in suit, and Deputy Ron Tackett, far right, walk with ; -murder suspect Raffi Kodikian in Carlsbad, N.M., recently. ZZ ( mm,wwmm I - )M..0 that Coughlin die. cross-countr- A W suffered so much he begged to The mystery has sent local, state and federal investigators in search of whether something happened on the young men's road trip to cause its tragic ending. If A In A mm |
