USCG PO3 Amy Ignatowski Murder Case

[BuoyJumper]

Woman found dead in apartment

By Mike Baird (Contact)
Originally published 03:35 a.m., June 1, 2008
Updated 03:55 a.m., June 1, 2008

Channel 3 News Video

CORPUS CHRISTI — A 27-year-old woman was found dead about 4 p.m. Saturday in her ground-floor unit at the Candlewood Apartments in the 2000 block of Airline Road. The woman, who is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, was found by a friend, police said.  (Investigators told Channel 3 News, she is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, who was stationed at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi.)

Responding officers told the dispatcher the woman appeared to have been beaten. None of the injuries appeared serious enough to cause her death, said homicide investigator Lt. Bill Breedlove. The woman's name will not be released until relatives have been notified.

"There's nothing blatantly obvious that shows us its foul play, but we haven't ruled it out," Breedlove said.

Criminal investigators were called to the scene, and the incident is being treated as a suspicious death, police said. The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner, said police Capt. John Houston.

Police were told the woman attended a party Friday night and had left her yellow Jeep at a friend's house overnight. Breedlove said law enforcement officials found her vehicle and were trying to reach partygoers to learn how she arrived at her apartment.

Police called an extra unit at about 5 p.m. to canvass all apartments in adjacent buildings and question tenants for information.

Neighbors Saturday gathered near the apartment to grieve.

One neighbor, Arnold Aguirre, said the woman told him she was from Chicago and he visited with her most mornings as she walked her dog.

The friend who found her told police he was returning her dog.

It was unclear how long the friend had been responsible for the woman's dog. Aguirre said the woman had lived in the apartment complex for about a year.

"She was always smiling, and it made me happy," Aguirre said. "Today, I am sad."

Original Article
Updated Information "Petty officer's death is homicide"
Updated June 03, 2008 "Soo Native Found Dead in Texas Apartment"
Updated June 04, 2008 "Slain woman remembered most for her smile"

[BuoyJumper]

I was doing some digging on the internet trying to get an update and from the vague description in the article above of this Coastie being a 27 year old female, having a dog and being stationed at Air Station Corpus Christi, I came across a MySpace Page quite by accident that matches that description.  Her name is AMY.  To further confirm that she is the dead Coastie, look at the blog entries by her friends on her MySpace.  Such a shame that such a vivacious young lady who loved life so much, should be taken so young.

Here's her MySpace Page

RIP Amy, and thank you for your service shipmate.

             

[BuoyJumper]

Suspect arrested in death
of woman found Saturday

Police: Cause of death likely manual strangulation
By Mike Baird
Originally published 10:23 a.m., June 4, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI — Police arrested Micah Lee Spanutius, 21, about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday for the death of Amy Ignatowski, the woman found dead Saturday in her Candlewood Apartments ground floor unit in the 2000 block of Airline Road.



Spanutius was arrested by U.S. Marshals on a murder warrant at a home in the 3600 block of Marion Street, where he was reported to be staying, said Capt. Tim Wilson, with Corpus Christi Police Department’s criminal investigation division. Spanutius’s permanent address is in the 1000 block of Collingswood Drive.

“We suspect her cause of death to be manual strangulation,” Wilson said.

Nueces County Medical Examiner Dr. Ray Fernandez confirmed Ignatowski’s death was a homicide, but said he won’t list the exact cause on a death certificate until he receives toxicology reports, because there was drug and alcohol use in combination that could have been a contributing factor.

The facial trauma suffered by Ignatowski is consistent with marks caused by a suffocating grip over the nose and mouth, he said.

After tracking the 27-year-old U.S. Coast Guard victim’s last hours, police investigators suspect she walked home from nearby Murdock’s early Saturday morning after the bar closed.

“We got a description of a man talking to her in the club,” said Wilson. “We believe the suspect followed her home.” Ignatowski had been out with friends from the Coast Guard toasting a friend’s departure, but she left the bar alone, Wilson said.

There was no evidence of forced entry at the apartment, he said.

Investigators later received a call from someone who told them a friend had said he believed he may have killed a woman, Wilson said. The call led them to Spanutius, and police are still interviewing addition bargoers to confirm he was the same man talking with Ignatowski as the bar closed.

Spanutius wouldn’t talk with investigators.

He remains in Nueces County on a $100,000 bond for murder.

Original Article

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Funeral Services for PO3 Amy Ignatowski Announced



(Clip)

The daughter of Paul and Robin Ignatowski, Amy graduated from Sault High in 1998. Principal Ken Sherman said he did not move to the high school until the year after Ignatowski graduated, but he did recall her from his days as an elementary physical education teacher.

“She was always very friendly,” said Sherman. “Always quiet - very easy to work with.”

Those who knew her later in life provided their own descriptions for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

“There wasn't a day she wasn't smiling, happy and thinking of the next adventure in her life to undertake,” friend and former roommate Lindsay Weber told the Texas publication. “Even when things weren't great in her life or she was having a bad day she didn't let on.”

Another friend and former roommate from Ignatowski's days at Grand Valley State University, Katie Kopelman, shared similar memories.

“She was a force of nature,” said Kopelman. “There are just so many people whose lives will never be the same now... She touched everybody that she met. If she met somebody one time, they instantly fell in love with her.”

Juan Carlos of the U.S. Coast Guard Sault Station said Ignatowski joined on Nov. 15, 2005 and, after completing basic training, was stationed on the Polar Sea out of Seattle. She went on to the Humboldt Bay Air Station before attending Aircraft Maintenance Technician school. After completing her training, she was stationed at Corpus Christi - working on airplanes and helicopters.

Funeral services will be handled by C.S. Mulder Funeral Home of Sault Ste. Marie. Visitation is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday with funeral services scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral.

Burial, complete with the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard, will follow the funeral at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Original Article Soo Evening News

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Coast Guard Homicide

   
            Click Photo For Video Link

KIIITV News
Story Created: Jun 26, 2008 at 11:19 PM CDT
Story Updated: Jun 26, 2008 at 6:19 PM CDT

June 26, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI:  Some major developments in the murder of a young, female Coast Guard officer found dead in her Corpus Christi apartment.

We officially learned Thursday, that Amy Ignatowski was strangled to death, and toxicology test results also released Thursday show a contributing factor to her death was alcohol intoxication.

May 31st, Amy's body was found in the floor of her apartment. Police believe this man, 21 year old Micah Spanutius followed her home from a nearby bar. According to a police affidavit Spanutius admitted to someone that he had killed a girl by putting a hand over her mouth and squeezing her tight. The court document reads, he met her at a bar at the corner of airline and holly and that they got into an argument before he put his hand over her mouth

We also learned, that Spanutius bonded out of jail just six days ago, on a 100-thousand dollar bond. Earlier, he requested and received a court appointed attorney. Typically, a court appointed attorney is reserved for those folks who can't afford to hire an attorney, let alone, bond out of jail.
It's up to the judge, to make that determination.

KIIITV Original Article

[CGRDCS]

Petty Officer Third Class Amy Ignatowski, was a junior petty officer assigned to CG Air Station Corpus Christi, TX.

During the Memorial Day Weekend, after attending a farewell gettogether, for a departing crewmate, she was attacked in her off-base quarters and murdered.  Her alleged killer, Micah Lee Spanutius, 21, was arrested shortly after and upon arrest and arraignment was granted bail, in the amount of $100,000.00, after requesting a court appointed attorney.  The bail is believed to have been put up be the accused's father.

The case against the alleged murderer of Coast Guard Petty Officer Amy Ignatowski, was presented to the Grand Jury,in Corpus Christi,TX,Thursday,July 31th,2008. The Grand Jury returned an bill of indictment against the accused, according to an email, I received from the Assistant District Attorney, in Corpus Christi, Texas, today.

The alleged killer is  free on bail, which was continued.  A trial date has not yet been scheduled. As information is made available to me, I will in turn post it.

Justice for Amy!!!!!!!!!

Hawk

[BuoyJumper]

Hawk .. here's the news article on the indictment.

Man indicted on murder charge
By Mary Ann Cavazos (Contact)
Originally published 06:01 a.m., August 1, 2008
Updated 06:01 a.m., August 1, 2008

Original Article



CORPUS CHRISI, TX - A grand jury Thursday indicted a 22-year-old man on a murder charge in the death of Amy Ignatowski, a 27-year-old Coast Guard aviation mechanic found dead in her Southside apartment in late May.

Micah Lee Spanutius, 22, is accused of following Ignatowski to her Candlewood Apartments ground floor unit in the 2000 block of Airline Road from a nearby bar in the early morning hours of May 31.

A friend taking care of Ignatowski's dog discovered her body after she didn't answer the phone. Police said there was no evidence of forced entry.

According to an arrest affidavit, a woman told police her friend told her he killed a woman by "putting his hand over her mouth and squeezing her tight." The woman added that he told her he had gotten into an argument with the girl he killed, the affidavit said. That information led authorities to Spanutius, who was arrested June 4 by U.S. marshals.

Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by from five to 99 years or life in prison, and as much as a $10,000 fine. He has since been released from the Nueces County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

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[BuoyJumper]

Man pleads not guilty to
Coast Guard woman's murder

Trial date set for Nov. 17 for Spanutius, who is free on bond
By Mary Ann Cavazos
August 28, 2008



CORPUS CHRISTI — A 22-year-old man was arraigned Thursday on a murder charge in the death of a Coast Guard aviation mechanic found dead in her Southside apartment in late May.

Micah Spanutius, who is free on a $100,000 bond, pleaded not guilty to the charge in 347th District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos' court. His trial is set for Nov. 17.

He is accused of following Amy Ignatowski to her Candlewood Apartments ground floor unit in the 2000 block of Airline Road from a nearby bar in the early morning hours of May 31.

A friend taking care of Ignatowski's dog discovered her body after she didn't answer the phone. Police said there was no evidence of forced entry.

Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison, and as much as a $10,000 fine.

Original Article

[BuoyJumper]

Micah Spanutius was to go on trial for Amy's murder on November 17th.  I can not find anything on the web to indicate that the trial is proceeding.  Nor can I find anything to indicate that the case was plead out or postponed.  I emailed caller.com today to try and get an update for us to find out just what is going on with this murder case. 

If somebody in Corpus Christi should read this and knows what is going on please contact us ..... thanks

[CGRDCS]

Ron,

I emailed the District Attorney's Office in Corpus, but have not yet received a reply.  As soon As I do, if I get and answer, I will pass the word ASAP.

Hawk

[JerryM]

I got this from one of the ladies over at MyCG:

The trial has been reset to Dec. 8 because the state is awaiting DNA results.

Thanks Jerry ..... Buoy

[CGRDCS]

Bouy

I got a reply to my email from the 1st Assistant District Attorney, in Corpus Christi and his mail confirms Jerry M's post of a delay, due to  "Pending DNA Results".  However he did not speak of a new hearing date.

Hawk

[Mudpuppy Sarge]

Criminal trials take months, if not years.

[Mudpuppy Sarge]

Here are all the motions filed so far:

0001 s:FILED by booking number 080604032801 06/04/2008
0002 MAGISTRATE PROCDNG-DFT DOES NOT REQ ATTY 06/05/2008
0003 ORDER APPOINTING ATTY MARK WOERNER 06/06/2008
0004 SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF BOND 06/20/2008
0005 INDICTED YDG 07/31/2008
0006 MTN FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INVESTIGATOR SJ 08/06/2008
0007 MTN FOR DISCOVERY SJ 08/06/2008
0008 MTN IN LIMINE SJ 08/06/2008
0009 MTN TO PROCEED EX PARTE AND MTN FOR APPOINTMENT OF EXPERT 08/06/2008
0010 -- ASSISTANCE SJ 08/06/2008
0011 ORDER ON MTN FOR APPT AN INVESTIGATOR & GRANTED FEES (I) 08/06/2008
0012 ORDER OF APPOITMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERT ASSISTANCE 08/06/2008
0013 FOR THE DEFENSE (I) 08/06/2008
0014 ARRAIGNEMENT SET ON 8/21/08 AT 1:30PM 08/11/2008
0015 DOCKET CALL SET ON 11/13/08 AT 8:30AM 08/11/2008
0016 TRIAL DATE SET ON 11/17/08 AT 8:30AM 08/11/2008
0017 APPL FOR ST SUBPOENA (2) YDG 08/11/2008
0018 INDICTMENT SIGNED BY JUDGE VILLARREAL PLACED IN THE 347TH 08/13/2008
0019 CRT BOX TO PICK UP BY CRIMINAL DEPT. 08/13/2008
0020 INDICTMENT RETURN FROM COURT BOND SET AT $100,000 08/13/2008
0021 *** BOND POSTED NO SVC ISS YDG 08/13/2008
0022 + 08/13/2008
0023 APPEARANCE BAIL BOND POSTED SJ 08/15/2008
0024 DEFT ARRAIGNED W/ATTY PLEAS NOT GUILTY 08/21/2008
0025 DEFENDANTS REQUEST FOR NOTICE OF STATES INTENTION TO USE 11/07/2008
0026 ***EVIDENCE OF EXTRANEOUS OFFFENSES AT TRIAL MCV 11/07/2008
0027 DOCKET CALL SET ON 12/04/08 AT 8:30AM 11/13/2008
0028 TRIAL DATE SET ON 12.08/08 AT 8:30AM 11/13/2008
0029 DC- STATE DEFT NOT READY; WAITING ON DNA RESET 11/13/2008
0030 APPL FOR STATE SUBPOENA-ATTY (2) FP 11/24/2008

I'll let you know when there are more.