Identity

Like any newspaper, we have guidelines in place for any number of eventualities, including when we use names of people involved in crimes. The guidelines come into play for victims, witnesses and, in some cases, for those charged. Most newspapers, and other media, do not use the names of rape victims in an effort to avoid further traumatizing someone who already may have been seriously affected by what has been done to them. That's one of the easy calls. It requires no moral debate, no discussion.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Authorities have received several telephone calls about the discovery Sunday of a female's dismembered remains along Back Creek, but her identity remains unknown, Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said Thursday. "They're running down some leads," said Games-Neely, noting West Virginia State Police and her office have been contacted about the case. Investigators also have been contacted about missing person cases and Games-Neely said officials now are expected to try to make a positive identification through fingerprints, dental records or a possible forensic artist rendering.

Washington County Sheriff's Department deputies still are withholding the identity of the man struck and killed early Sunday on Downsville Pike until they are sure they have the right person. "We believe he is a transient from somewhere in the Pacific Northwest," Lt. Tim Baker said Monday afternoon. Deputies were waiting for confirmation from police in that area, Baker said. The man, who was struck by two vehicles around 3 a.m., apparently was lying in the roadway, deputies said.

A West Virginia woman accused of beating her children and taking the identity of her oldest child for financial gain also is accused of using her ex-husband's identity to obtain electrical service, according to court records. Rebecca Jean Ferguson, 40, of 10245 Williamsport Pike, Falling Waters, was arraigned Thursday on one felony count of taking the identity of another person by Berkeley County Magistrate Sandra L. Miller, the court records said. An audio recording that Potomac Edison emailed to West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.M. Walker on Monday allegedly documents Ferguson's use of her ex-husband's name, Social Security number and date of birth to transfer service to 33 Grubb Landing in Inwood, W.Va., where she once lived, the records said.

The death of a man who was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head Thursday morning behind the Walmart store along Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg was ruled a suicide by the state medical examiner's office in Charleston, W.Va., police said Friday. The suicide happened about 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. Martinsburg police are still trying to determine the identity of a man, Martinsburg Police Cpl. Scott Doyle said in a news release Friday. On Friday, police released a photo that was found in the man's possession.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The identity of a woman found beaten to death in a Berkeley County subdivision last week remains a mystery, Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said Monday. [cont. from news page ] Without any clue to the woman's identity, investigators have been unable to try to match dental records, fingerprints or DNA, Games-Neely said. "Until somebody steps forward with who this woman might be, she'll forever be a Jane Doe," Games-Neely said.

WILLIAMSPORT - A human skull was recovered from the Potomac River on Friday about two miles south of the Interstate 81 bridge heading into West Virginia, according to Maryland State Police. The skull was found by a fisherman from Falling Waters, W.Va. at about 4:20 p.m., police said. It appears to have been in the water for a long period of time, police said. The skull was sent to the medical examiner's office in Baltimore for examination to determine an identity, police said.

Question: Does the middle child really have greater adaptive problems than his or her siblings? Dr. Dobson: The middle child does sometimes find it more difficult to establish his or her identity within the family. She enjoys neither the status of the eldest nor the attention given to the baby. Furthermore, she is likely to be born at a busy period in the life of her parents, especially her mother. Then, during her preschool years, her precious territory is invaded by a cute little newborn who steals Mama from her. Is it any wonder that she often asks, "Who am I and where is my place in life?"

Man killed in accident MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Berkeley County man died late Monday night of injuries he suffered earlier in the day in a one-vehicle accident on the Arden-Nollville Road. Trooper D.M. Olack said the victim, a black male in his late 30s, died at 10:24 p.m. at Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va. He had been flown there following initial treatment at City Hospital in Martinsburg. Olack said Monday night police were still trying to verify the man's identity, although his family had been notified.

Allegheny Power says be beware of imposters Impostors posing as Allegheny Power employees have showed up at homes throughout the electric company's service area in recent weeks, company officials said Thursday. "All Allegheny Power employees, including linemen, meter readers and right-of-way maintenance personnel, carry the same type of company photo identification card," said Jim Haney, director of operations services, in a statement. Haney stated that employees are trained to show the ID card upon request.

After its first act, "Identity Thief" becomes a predictable, mildly amusing road trip comedy. This is actually a really good creative decision because the film is effectively cutting its losses after realizing that it can't keep milking laughs from identity theft. I can accept that it's supposed to be funny to see Melissa McCarthy's con artist "Diana" paint the town red with ill-gotten funds. But I simply cannot buy into the humor involving Jason Bateman's hapless victim Sandy Patterson.

The death of a man who was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head Thursday morning behind the Walmart store along Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg was ruled a suicide by the state medical examiner's office in Charleston, W.Va., police said Friday. The suicide happened about 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. Martinsburg police are still trying to determine the identity of a man, Martinsburg Police Cpl. Scott Doyle said in a news release Friday. On Friday, police released a photo that was found in the man's possession.

TRIAD of Washington County, a senior citizen advocacy organization, will have a free seminar from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Western Maryland Hospital Center Auditorium, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Deputy 1st Class Carly Hose, public information officer and crime prevention specialist with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, will discuss "How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft and Scams. "

Vicky Bullett is learning the art of fence straddling. That's part of the balancing act it takes to be a coach, especially on the junior college level. Bullett is starting her first season as Hagerstown Community College's women's basketball coach. And just like the coach herself, it is a time of new faces, terminology and procedures that leads to the noncommittal response coming off the first month of preseason practices. “So far, so good,” Bullett said. “I'm optimistic, but I'm going to need to be patient.” Optimistic equals looking for the best.

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall had quite a season in 2010. He returned a fumble for a touchdown to beat Dallas in the opener, tied an NFL record with four interceptions at Chicago, and concluded the campaign by winning Most Valuable Player honors in the Pro Bowl. Not bad. Last season? Different story. His three interceptions were fewer than he had in the 2010 game vs. Chicago alone. He didn't reach the end zone at all. And Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant victimized Hall with deep grabs on third-and-long for the decisive plays that dealt the Redskins two late defeats.

The man who was fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police troopers on Saturday morning after he pointed a handgun toward them was from Saugerties, N.Y., according to a news release from the Franklin County Coroner's office. The man was identified as Adam L. Schillinger, 27, according to a news release from Coroner Jeffrey R. Conner's office. Saugerties is about 46 miles south of Albany, N.Y. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at the Lehigh Valley Medical Center in Allentown, Pa., the release states.

A federal judge Friday sentenced a Dominican Republic citizen to 3 1/2 years in prison for twice fraudulently trying to obtain a U.S. passport through the Hagerstown Post Office,  the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office said.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Leavitt Rodriguez, also known as Jose Luis Rosario Colon, 29, on two counts each of passport fraud and aggravated identity the, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Rodriguez will also spend three years of supervision after getting out of prison, the release said.

Rebecca Jean Ferguson, a former Berkeley County public school teacher, is facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to eight counts of identity theft in Berkeley County Circuit Court. Ferguson, 40, of 10245 Williamsport Pike in Falling Waters, W.Va., set up eight credit card accounts using her then-14-year-old daughter's name, according to testimony at a 2 1/2-hour pretrial hearing Monday before 23rd Circuit Judge Christopher Wilkes. The plea bargain calls for Wilkes to sentence Ferguson to serve a maximum of 10 years in prison.

A West Virginia woman accused of beating her children and taking the identity of her oldest child for financial gain also is accused of using her ex-husband's identity to obtain electrical service, according to court records. Rebecca Jean Ferguson, 40, of 10245 Williamsport Pike, Falling Waters, was arraigned Thursday on one felony count of taking the identity of another person by Berkeley County Magistrate Sandra L. Miller, the court records said. An audio recording that Potomac Edison emailed to West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.M. Walker on Monday allegedly documents Ferguson's use of her ex-husband's name, Social Security number and date of birth to transfer service to 33 Grubb Landing in Inwood, W.Va., where she once lived, the records said.

Identity thieves have broadened their reach by obtaining children's inactive Social Security numbers and using them to illegally get jobs, credit accounts, mortgages or car loans and much worse. Many victims, because they are children, have no idea there is a problem until they apply for a student loan, bank account, job or apartment and are turned down because of poor credit history. Each person's Social Security Number (SSN) is unique, so it is not uncommon for schools, healthcare providers, insurance companies and others to require that parents provide a SSN as an identification tool.