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Show t WEEKLY I NEWS JOURNAL, DECEMBER 27, 1979 REFLEX-DA- VIS NORTH DAVIS LEADER, DECEMBER 27, 1979 Foul Guilty Of Manslaughter . : By GARY R. BLODGETT - FARMINGTON A. jury returned ver- dicts of guilty to two counts of a manslaughter against Layton man accused of shooting to death his eswife and her tranged boytriend last June 23. IT WAS an emotion-packe- d courtroom as the court clerk read the guilty verdict. The defendant, Charles Daniel Arnold, of 1691 North Hill Field Road, Layton, wept in the arms of his Ogden attorney, L.G. Bingham, as the verdicts were read. FERSONS room also shaken, had become very despondent, frustrated and hurt because his wife admittedly was having an affair with Miller. The two (defendant and his wife) had become separated about two weeks before the wife and Airman Miller, finding them together at her alleged shootings and Mrs. Arnold had moved from their home into an apartment and the defendant Lad moved the ARNOLD testified that he did not want to get a divorce and did everything possible to remain with his wife. I even resorted to wife swapping while in Japan and to smoking marijuana IN the courtwere visibly because 1 HE TOLD the jury that he wanted very much for the marriage to succeed but as time went on and they returned home (to Layton) it became evident that she would seek a divorce and would keep the two children. "I was told by several attorneys that it would be impossible for me to have the children, that they automatically go to the mother, he said. This made me feel more frustrated, lonely and THE JURY foreman, the last to leave the jury box the verdict, stopped at the defendants table, ' killing his estranged wife, Retta Heath Arnold, 26, of 443 North Fairfield Road, Layton and Airman Ronald Martin Miller, 21, of St. Paul, Minn., who was stationed at Hill Air Force Base. depressed because I knew was not only losing her but my children as well. 1 HE ALSO told the jury that Airman Miller was constantly at his estranged wifes apartment and that it hurt him deeply to see the two together with his children. He said his estranged wife would sometimes treat him as though nothing had ever happened between them, then turn around and ask him to shot by a rifle which defendant testified that then tried to take his own by placing the barrel of the he life the gun under his jaw and pulled the trigger. Second District Judge J. set senDuffy Palmer tencing for Jan. 10 at 1:30 p.m. d tend the children because she had a date with Miller. STEVEN Vanderlinden, assistant Davis County Attorney, attempted to convince the eight-mejury that Arnold did intentionally and knowingly kill his estranged wife and Air- man Miller, constituting murder. ' The defendant pleaded innocent to the charges by reason of insanity, but testified that he did kill the two with use of a huning rifle. d ARNOLD testified that he RADIO & TV REPAIRING LL MAKES Calls 6" Anytime BRANDF.N8URC TJf Reasonable Rates ARNOLD TOLD the jury on one occasion they (he and his wife) were together for dinner and she asked him to take her home because she didnt feel well. He said he drove past her apartment a few hours later and Miller was there. Even on our eighth wedding anniversary she broke a dinner engagement with me to be with Miller, he said. "She openly admitted to hav-- , ing an affair with him and with others while we were overseas. that four-wome- n first-degre- e believed that is 1 first-degre- THEY WERE I what she wanted to do and was willing to do anything to stay close to her. loved her very much and I still do, he sobbed. and many wept shook his hand, and wished him well. Arnold was accused of longer, he sobbed. I went home (parents home) and found my rifle, picked up some shells, and returned to back with his pare its. openly. But the weeping was not in sadness, but relief that the verdict had not been more severe. Arnold was charged e with two counts of murder and the state (prosecution) was attempting to get guilty verdicts to those charges. following apartment. I just couldnt take it any UNDER Arnold, too, admitted to participating in wife swapping with his wife, but denied other affairs. The incident later led to his excommunication from the LDS Church, he said. Arnold told the jury that he was so despondent on the night of the shootings that he felt that it (killing them both) was the right thing to do." 141 West 1900 North, Sunset 825-36- 76 773-822- 6 HE SAID that he had been drinking beer that night and went looking for his estranged apartment. I RANG the doorbell several times before she appeared in her robe. As she opened the inner door and stood there I shot through the screen door and she fell to the floor. Then I walked to the back bedroom but the door was locked. I shot through the door and heard a noise from inside. The impact on the door caused it to open and Miller was sitting on the floor looking up at me. I shot him a second time. RETURNING TO the living room, I saw that Retta was still alive but rather than shoot her again, I put the gun barrel under my chin and pulled the trigger." Arnold then related a dream (or vision) that he had depicting a long, dark tunnel with Retta at the other end. I TRIED to get close to her, holding out my irms for her, but it was no use, he related. He told the jury that he then awoke and after going to a nearby home for help, he drove to the Layton police station and was later taken to the hospital where he was treated for the gunshot wound that fractured his jaw, cheek and caused facial injury. ATTORNEY Vanderlinden, his summation for the state, said he was seeking only the truth in this case, keeping in mind that there in are two persons that have not testified (the victims). .The defendant has sat here and in every gruesome detail described how he shot those two in cold bfood and how circumstances includ- drinking ing led and smoking marijuana to the crimes. - HE DOESNT have the right to "Blow them away, take the lives of two persons, matter what his feelings might be. There were other ways of solving the matter. He reiterated how Arnold went home, found the gun, loaded it, and then drove back no to the apartment with only one thought in mind to kill his wife and her lover. ATTORNEY Bingham emphasized that the tensions, hostility, anger and erything else built up in the defendant over a long period of time. Dan had more than he e couid hack, the attorney He had been pushed said. too far and something snapped. FOLLOWING the jury verdict and setting the date for sentencing, Judge Palmer called Arnold to the bench and related the following: About 30 some odd years ago I was a Marine in the South Pacific where I learned about death. I saw my buddies and the enemy killed and to this day I still relive those horrors of war. BUT 1 had something (someone) going for me. I got close to God and with his help, and only because of Him, I was able to endure these last 35 or 36 years. Death is never a pretty picture, Dan, and I feel sorry for you because you are going to live the remainder of your life with the horrors of this act. You are going to suffer more than you have ever suffered in your life. THERE IS only one salvation, Dan. Find your God. Get back into your church and keep God a constant companion. Because without Him wont be able to make it. "Yes, Dan, I wish I had the power to take away the pain you are going to suffer, the pain you have already suffered, but I dont. Only with God can your life be made whole again. you The Davis County Association for Retarded Citizens enjoyed sharing Christmas with the Project Turn Home by presenting them with a color television. The local ARC raises funds each year from the Bike-HikFrom these funds many needs of the handicapped are met. The No Decision e. On New Project T.U.R.N. (Teaching TV FOR TURN Superintendent - FARMINGTON Davis County Board of Education members have not reached a decision on who is going to be named the new superintendent of schools to replace Bernell Wrigley. Hills Reading announced that because of the many exceptionally well qualified applicants for the position that board members need more time to choose Mr. Wrigleys successor. Mr. Wrigley will retire on 31. - on UNTIL A new superintendent is named, Deputy Supt. Lawrence E. Welling will serve as acting superintendent. of the goal, she noted. DICK Chamberlain, a Bank of Utah official who is the CFG treasurer, came to the said. "A special thanks goes to Farmington. there have been some conflicts of scheduling meetings on Thursday because of the RECENTLY, Chairman 600 keyworkers at the Mr. Wardleigh added, who were totally dedicated to the success of the drive. Their success was shown in the receipts they turned in from the various organizatbase, AUTOMOBILES STORM DOORS CARS PICTURE WINDOWS FOREIGN CARS PATIO DOORS TRUCK SLIDERS SCREENS 1,000 USED WINDSHIELDS ions. REPRESENTING Hill AFB were Maj. Gen. John J. Murphy, Commander, Ogden Air Logistics Center and CFC Robert Wardleigh, Chairperson. CFC LaRue Ormond, manager at the base, said this year's goal was $276,906. The total collected was 107 percent DENNIS CHUGG is the Northern Utah combined Federal Coordinator. His office is located at Hill AFB. Mr. Chugg said that all of the northern Utah federal agencies involved in the cam- paign donated $404,000 this year to CFC. There are 41 agencies that participate in the drive including Hill AFB. SERVICEjS OUR MIDDLE NAME County Commission meetings at 9a.m thus the reason for the change in meetings, Board the car stood by. - HOMES AS THE dollar total indicates, Hill AFB military and civilian personnel have shown that they do indeed care about our less fortunate neighbors, Mr. Wardleigh g FARMINGTON Beginning in January, the Davis County Library Board will conduct its regular meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. Meetings will begin at 8:30 a. m. in the County Commission Chambers of the Davis County Courthouse, $285,168 HILL AFB Hills 1979 Combined Federal Campaign has come to a close with $295, 168 collected and turned over to the Bank of Utah for distribution to 59 northern Utah charities. base Tuesday to officially wind up a month-londrive. In a symbolic ceremony, CFC base officials turned over the amount to Mr. Chamberlain while a guard and a Wells-Farg- o armored Board To Meet On 4th Monday Retarded 79 Combined Federal Campaign Collects Board members will resume their deliberations Jan. 2, Mrs. Reading said., Nor- sociation; Kitty Valencia, and Annette McKnight, secretary, Davis County Association for IN AN announcement to the press Dec. 21, Mrs. Lucile Dec. Utahs Retarded malization) Home is a temporary home for seven young adults who are striving to learn all that is necessary to become independent citizens in our community. Juan aid Kitty Valencia are new house parents. Carrying the set are, 1 to r, Jerry Mickelson, vice president of the As- -' & TRUCKS INSURANCE SPECIALISTS .EML QUALITY CLASS 327-28- th 399-923- Street, Ogden 8 578 N. 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