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Tuesday,
February 03, 2004
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Search
continues for Crane
Two
suspects were arrested in connection with a retired professorÕs
disappearance.
By Lori
Russell
Staff Reporter
Law enforcement officials were still searching Monday
night for retired professor Laura Lee Crane after her
car was discovered in Oklahoma City and two suspects arrested
in connection with her weekend disappearance.
Crane, 77, left her Bellaire Drive South home around 11
a.m. Friday to buy groceries and cash a check at the Tom
Thumb supermarket at 3050 S. Hulen, Lt. Abdul Pridgen
said. Crane stopped to visit a friend on the way to the
grocery store around 11:15 a.m. and hadnÕt been seen since,
Pridgen said.
While a Fort Worth man and woman have been arrested, Oklahoma
City police and Oklahoma County sheriffÕs office accounts
differ regarding their capture. Lt. Roger Dixon told a
WFAA reporter that they were arrested at about 1:15 a.m.
Monday morning after police pulled the Nissan Sentra over
for a suspected illegal right turn. The two are also expected
to be charged with auto theft and aggrevated kidnapping,
Dixon said.
However, a jailer at the Oklahoma County jail said that
the suspects were taken into custody at 1:08 a.m. Sunday.
Fort Worth police declined to comment on the conflicting
information Monday night. Edward Busby, 31, of Fort Worth,
was being held on suspicion of unauthorized use of a motor
vehicle, driving under suspension and improper right turn,
the jailer said. Kathleen Latimer, 39, of Fort Worth,
was being held on suspicion of unauthorized use of a motor
vehicle, possession of controlled drug substances and
possession of drug paraphernalia, the jailer said.
The FBI was called into the investigation because CraneÕs
ATM card was used to withdraw cash Friday, Pridgen said.
Authorities have not been able to determine where the
transaction was made, he said. Pridgen said two search
teams have been working on the west and east sides of
Fort Worth. Earlier Monday officials were cautious about
disclosing information about the Oklahoma City developments.
ÒThe location of the recovered vehicle and other information
regarding the dynamics of this investigation are too sensitive
to release,Ó Pridgen said. ÒWe are concerned about the
safety of individuals and the potential destruction of
evidence.Ó
Crane is 5 feet 8 inches tall, with brown eyes and gray
hair. She was last seen wearing black slacks, a red sweater
and a black jacket. Anyone with information is asked to
call 911 or the nonemergency number, (817) 335-4222. Crane
worked at TCU for 28 years, first as a professor of education
and later as director of the Starpoint School, according
to a human resources representative. Many of the teachers
at Starpoint now were her students at TCU, said La Jean
Sturman, administrative assistant at Starpoint. ÒHer roots
here run long and deep,Ó said Shelley Cochran, a Starpoint
School teacher.
For many years Crane served a dual function, teaching
most of the special education classes at TCU and directing
the Starpoint School, Cochran said. Her students at TCU
also received teaching experience at Starpoint. This brought
great continuity and consistency, Cochran said. ÒShe is
very ingrained in this building and the people who work
here,Ó Cochran said. After retiring from Starpoint in
December 1990, Crane decided to tutor, Cochran said. She
tutors all ages from elementary school through college
and any subject, Cochran said. ÒShe is able to teach so
many subjects because she shows students the strategiesto
break things down so they can be understood,Ó Cochran
said. |
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