What’s in the news: A truck theft ring, a possible trial in a motorcycle death, murder investigation, TB scare, more on ‘the choking game’

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Here’s what WLOSers had on the Tuesday 6:

Truck theft ring?
Frank Fraboni actually showed himself on television looking through police reports to get a story. Good job Frank! That’s what reporters do.

So Franboni says there might be a truck theft ring operating in the mountains because three trucks worth more than $60,000 were stolen last weekend. Frank talked to a guy who lost truck, tools and tax records when his truck was snatched from the McDonald’s on Leicester Highway.

Possible trial in motorcycle death
WLOSers had a story about a possible trial in the case of a man charged with felony manslaughter in the death of Rachel Ledford, a 20-year-old woman who “fell off” the back of a motorcycle on Interstate 240 on May 31, 2006 and was hit by several other oncoming vehicles and killed.

Conan Ford faces the charges, according to WLOSer Carolyn Ryan. The 32-year-old was a member of a riding club called The Legion of Doom, said Ryan, who showed us video from a previous WLOS interview with the club’s leader, Aaron Lewis. Lewis said Ford panicked, didn’t stop at the scene but instead came to his house when he realized Ledford had fallen off. The two returned to the scene.

Loyal reader Lena told us what Carolyn didn’t: that Aaron Lewis is now dead. He died in a motorcycle wreck.

Michelle Young investigation
Sheraldo did another story on old news. It’s old for two reasons – first, investigators on Monday executed search warrants at homes in Etowah and Brevard, both places that Jason Young has lived. Young was the husband of Michelle Young, who was found beaten to death in Raleigh 15 months ago, the second reason the story is moldy.

Sheraldo said Jason Young and his daughter moved to the mountains after his wife’s death to be close to some of his family here. He has refused to talk with investigators regarding his wife’s death. Police have not charged him, nor have they called him a suspect. He has complied with a judge’s order asking him to submit DNA. That’s it.

Sheraldo talked to a neighbor, who said yeah, it’s scary that a possible murderer is living nearby.

In other news…
There’s a TB scare in Cleveland County schools, and that’s raising concern in Rutherford County because the schools play each other in sports… The Rev. Billy Graham was released from the hospital after recovering from elective surgery to fix a shunt in his skull… A tractor trailer turned over on I-240 after taking a curve too sharply… And a scholarship has been set up in honor of a former Enka High School teacher who was killed in a wreck last year.

All about the choking game
WLOSer Heather Graf told us all about the “choking game” Tuesday. She told it through the eyes of Dale and Michelle Galloway, who’s 12-year-old son died in October 2007 while choking himself in search of a brief high.

Graf said Connor Galloway tied a belt around his neck and hung himself from his bunk bed. The “game” cuts off oxygen to the grain, which gives kids a euphoric floating sensation just before losing consciousness. It’s also called the “sleeper hold,” seven minutes till heaven” and “the blackout game.”

The Galloways tearfully told their story, and will continue to tell it. Heather said they speak to church and school groups and plan to talk to children and parents at Brevard High School on March 24.

In still other news…
Asheville City Council will look at more traffic calming measures around town… A new livestock in market will open up in Canton in March. It will be a relief for farmers, who have had to travel greater distances to sell since the Asheville livestock market shut down a few years ago… It got colder and windier outside.

In even more news…
There’s a disturbing animal cruelty case in McDowell County, where a boxer puppy was found with a string tied around its tail. The idea was to cut off circulation to the tail so it would fall off, something called “docking” the tail. But animal rights folks call the practice cruel and senseless… And teachers assistants want higher pay.