SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX008
ARLX008 Arrest made in murder of ham couple

ZCZC AX54
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 8  ARLX008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 22, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB SPCL ARL ARLX008
ARLX008 Arrest made in murder of ham couple

Authorities in Louisiana have arrested an 18-year-old man in the
brutal slayings of former ARRL Delta Director Floyd Teetson, W5MUG,
and his wife Winnie, WN5YTR.  Webster Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff's
Department Investigator Gary Valentine said Kevin Coleman of Heflin,
Louisiana, who used to do yard work for the couple, was arrested
March 18 and charged with two counts of homicide.  Coleman, a
suspect from the day the bodies were found, confessed to the
murders, Valentine said.  Coleman already was behind bars at the
Webster Jail in Minden when he was arrested, serving a sentence on
an unrelated traffic charge.

According to Valentine, robbery was the apparent motive in the
killings.  Authorities recovered jewelry and valuables that had been
taken from the Teetsons' home.  They also recovered a knife and a
length of pipe believed used in the killings.  Valentine said
Coleman struck while the couple was at home, apparently hoping the
Teetsons would tell him where they kept other valuables and money.
Coleman is being held without bond.  The case is to be presented to
a Webster Parish grand jury, which will decide whether to indict.

The couple's family had offered a 10,000 dollar(s) reward for information
leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the couple's
killer.  The Teetsons' bodies were found outside their home near
Heflin, Louisiana, February 23.  Authorities believe the couple died
two days earlier.

Valentine said the Teetsons' fellow ham radio operators helped
authorities by offering what they knew about the Teetsons'
activities.  He said Coleman's arrest was a relief for both the
community and authorities.

Floyd served as ARRL Delta Division director in 1962 and '63.  Prior
to that, he was the SCM of Mississippi (1960-61).  He was an Honor
Roll DXer and active contester and had been a member of several
multi-op contest teams operating from various Caribbean DX sites.
The Teetsons were active ARRL members.
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