Becker Family Speaks Out Against Mental Illness

((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))

The HQ covered the murder trial of Mark Becker after he shot and killed his high school football coach, Ed Thomas of Aplington-Parkersburg High in Iowa last year.

The amazing story of forgiveness with the Thomas family and the Beckers is one we all need to keep close by these days.

Mark Becker's mother, Joan, is now speaking out against mental illness and got an opportunity to do just that at a walk in Des Moines over the weekend.

Dan Winters has the update and puts the story together...
 

Becker Gets Life Without Parole In Thomas Murder

((HT: KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids))

An Iowa judge has sentenced Mark Becker to life in prison after the family of slain Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) high school football coach Ed Thomas gave tearful testimony about the impact of Thomas' murder.

Mark Becker was convicted March 2nd of first-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence without parole. The 24-year-old Becker gunned down Thomas in the Aplington-Parkersburg High School weight room on June 24, 2009.

Iowa District Court Judge Stephen Carroll says Becker "imposed a nightmare" on Becker's and Thomas' families, along with the entire town of Parkersburg.

Carroll says Becker made a choice when he shot Thomas. Becker declined to comment before his sentence, but his attorney, Susan Flander, says "schizophrenia is not a choice."

Here's Dave Franzman on the phone, thanks again to KCRG-TV


Becker was also ordered to pay more than $150,000 in restitution and court fees.

Mark Becker Guilty In Coach Murder

((HT: KCRG-TV))

Mark Becker was found guilty of first-degree murder today in the shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) high school football coach Ed Thomas last June. It was a unanimous verdict after 25 hours of deliberation over five days.

Here's the reaction as the verdict was read in the Allison, Iowa courtroom...


Becker's mother, Joan, spoke about her son as he went from being the son she knew to a son battling mental illness. She said her son could have never killed Thomas "in his sane mind."
"The system failed him miserably," she said.

Here's the rest of her brief statement...


Sentencing for Becker has been set for April 14th at 10AM local time...

Mark Becker Trial: Jury Given "Allen Charge" On Day 4

((HT: KCRG-TV))

The jury commissioned in the trial of Mark Becker continued its deliberation in Allison, Iowa Monday morning at 11AM eastern time.

They adjourned for the weekend without reaching a decision of "guilty" or "not guilty by reason of insanity" for Becker in the June murder of Aplington-Parkersburg High School ((IA)) head football coach Ed Thomas.

The judge gave an "Allen Charge" to the jurors late Monday morning after, about 40 minutes of resuming their duty.

He referred to the jury instruction which informs them "...it's their duty to agree on a verdict... not to hesitate... to reexamine their views and opinions if convinced it's wrong... but don't change your opinion as to the weight or effect of the evidence just because it is the opinion of the other jurors, or for the mere purpose of returning a verdict."

The judge went on to say: "Remember, you are the judges of the facts. Your sole duty is to find the truth and do justice."

TV9's Dave Franzman was outside for his live shot on a rare, sunny day during the trial... thanks again to our friends at KCRG-TV

Mark Becker Trial: The Jury Is "Sleeping On It..."

((HT: KCRG-TV))

Jurors are in their second day of deliberating the guilt or innocence of Mark Becker, the man who shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) head football coach Ed Thomas.

Just before 3:30 ((local time)) Thursday afternoon, the jury of eight men and four women submitted a note to the judge that read: "We are at stalemate. Much discussion."

The judge sent them home at that point, but they are to return at 9AM ((local time)) Friday morning.

Court reconvened earlier in the day when the judge received a note that jurors had a question...

They wanted another look at a video and audio recording made during an interrogation.

On the recording Becker is heard to say the words "deep animosity" but the rest of the conversation couldn't be made out. It's not clear as to what the quoted remark is referring to when Becker said during the interrogation.

Dave Franzman got to freeze this time outside for his live shot from the town of Allison...

Mark Becker Trial: With The Jury

((HT: KWWL-TV))

Mark Becker's defense is based on a plea of not guilty by insanity to the shooting of Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) high school head football coach Ed Thomas.

Prosecutors didn't spend a lot of time on the evidence that Becker shot Thomas in front of 20 witnesses. Instead, both sides focused final arguments on the definition of "sanity."

Prosecutors told jurors that Mark Becker had a choice.
He made the choice to shoot his former coach.

For the state, their best argument against an insanity plea was all the careful preparation Becker made to hunt down the coach that day.

Becker's attorneys claim that responding to irrational impulses and illusions are signs of a mental disease, not pre-meditation of a crime.

"No one made Mark Becker say these things he talks about his plan how he practiced he explained it in an interview you can hear it in his own voice," said Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown- the lead prosecutor for the case.

"Voices were telling him to do bad things he thought he was under a spell," said his defense attorney, Susan Slander.

Here's noon-time, team coverage from KWWL with both Jamie Grey and Colleen O'Shaughnessy outside the courthouse freezing...

Mark Becker Trial: Heading To The Jury

((HT: KWWL-TV))

The only items left on the checklist in the Mark Becker murder trial are closing arguments, deliberation, and a verdict in the murder of Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) head football coach Ed Thomas last June.

Tuesday, the last rebuttal witnesses were presented by the prosecution to combat the "expert witness" testimony of the defense.

Psychiatrist Doctor Michael Taylor agreed with every other expert witness- that Mark Becker is a paranoid schizophrenic. But both prosecution experts insist that medical diagnosis falls far short of legal insanity under Iowa law.

"He did have sufficient mental capacity to know and understand the nature and quality of his acts," Taylor said. He based his opinion on Becker thorough attention to detail in the search for a weapon to kill Thomas, and finding out where Thomas was that morning.

The process begins again Wednesday morning...

Jamie Grey got to do a noon live shot outside in the cold...


Here's coverage from KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids as well...

Mark Becker Trial: Defense Rests

((HT: KWWL-TV))

On Monday, the defense brought in a psychiatrist from Cleveland, Ohio, who testified that Mark Becker fit the state's definition of insane.

Dr. Phillip Resnick has taken the stand in cases including the Oklahoma City bombing, the Unabomber trial, and the Andrea Yates trial.

Resnick testified Becker meets the definition for legal insanity in Iowa, which includes a person not knowing the difference between right and wrong and not knowing the nature and quality of their acts.

Resnick said Becker's psychiatric history of problems and the video tape following Becker's arrest led him to that conclusion. Resnick also said Becker did not believe he was hurting a "person" when he shot Thomas, but was instead saving children by "killing the devil."

"You do not know the nature and quality of your acts, you don't know that you're taking a human life if you believe that you are killing Satan," Resnick said.

During cross examination, the prosecution brought up that immediately following the shooting, Becker called Thomas, "old man," and also used Thomas' name.

The psychiatrist also testified that despite any planning before a crime, or rational decisions made while carrying out the crime, a person may still be acting on irrational thoughts or delusions.

"It's common for jurors to have the idea that if someone is capable of planning a crime, then they could not be legally insane, but that's simply not accurate," Resnick said.

KWWL-TV's Jamie Grey got to stand outside in the cold again today for a live shot...

Mark Becker Trial Day 7: A-P Students Called To Stand

((HT: KWWL-TV))

The defense continued its case in the Mark Becker murder trial on Friday with Aplington-Parkersburg High School students called to the stand.

The defense called three Aplington-Parkersburg student-athletes to testify. All were outside the weight room when Becker fatally shot head football coach Ed Thomas. They all had just pulled up to the school's weight room as the shooting happened.

They described hearing "loud cracks" or "firecracker sounds," later learning the sounds were gun shots.

Then they each said they saw students leaving the building, and Becker coming out of the door. One of the athletes said Becker started walking in circles and looked frustrated and angry.

Jamie Grey got to do her package on tape for Friday...

Mark Becker Trial Day 6: Defense Continues

((HT: KWWL-TV))

As Mark Becker's ((pictured, thanks KWWL-TV)) attorneys continue to build his insanity defense in the murder of Ed Thomas, the defense played an video interview with Becker, recorded just hours after Thomas was shot.

Becker sits alone in the sheriff's office for more than 30 minutes, occasionally shouting about the Devil and Lucifer.

"Get back Ed. It's done, you're done. You're simply done...Ed Thomas, you are done. You are never coming back," Becker shouted in the video.

He also shouts about "being on the white side, not the dark side."

In an interview with the Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigations ((DCI)), Becker claims he did a "great and selfless thing," also saying it was an act of God. Becker told investigators that the only way for the children to be free was for Thomas to be gone.

Becker also told DCI agents he had felt dead nearly his entire life until that point, saying he felt awakened from the grave. He also told the agents he did not plan to hurt anyone else that day, and that he went into the weight room to make sure students were out of the way before he brought in the gun to killed Thomas.

In the video shown in court, Becker said, "It crossed my mind to take his family when I was drinking coffee. But, I decided against it right away. It must have been him in there. His force is that big. It felt so right and so true. I have no guilt or shame."

Becker told agents he never intended to run after the shooting, saying he knew he was caught. When agents asked him what should be done if he was charged with the crime, Becker finally said he just wanted to be accepted onto the "white team"- alluding to his desire to be on the "white side, not the dark side."

The trial resumes Friday morning at 9AM local time.

Jamie Grey gets to contend with emergency vehicles outside court today...

Mark Becker Trial Day 5: The Defense Begins

((HT: KWWL-TV))

The defense's first day started by calling Joan Becker, Mark Becker's mother, as their first witness.

Joan Becker described her son's recent past, saying he had "become more inward, more depressed... It just kept going deeper and deeper."

She also said Mark ((pictured, in court, thanks KWWL-TV)) changed in September 2008, saying her son believed he was being turned into the family's dog.

Joan Becker says her son was committed to a hospital several times beginning in 2008. She says he would be given prescriptions when he was discharged, but did not always get them filled.

She would then describe what she called in her testimony "episodes" that Mark would have where he would become violent, and sometimes not even recognize his family. She said during Mark's first episode, he ripped down a poster of Ed Thomas and four former Aplington-Parkersburg High School ((IA)) players currently in the NFL hanging in his room.

The night before Thomas was killed, Becker called his parents, asking to stay at their home. The day of the murder, Mark woke his father up around 4:30 a.m. and wanted to have coffee.

"He seemed very happy, very at peace," Joan Becker said. She said there was no indication Mark was having an episode on the morning of the murder.

KWWL's Jamie Grey got to tape her report today...

Mark Becker Trial Day 4: Prosecution Rests

((HT: KWWL-TV))

The prosecution has rested after only two days of testimony in the murder trial of Mark Becker. He is facing first degree murder charges in the shooting of Aplington-Parkersburg teacher and head football coach Ed Thomas.

He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Prosecutors showed a video tape of Becker just hours after the murder. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations ((DCI)) agent who interviewed Becker said Becker's demeanor did not match his words. According to the agent, Becker said he was happy. But, the agent described Becker as sad, even saying Becker was slumped over in his chair and cried during the interview.

If that makes any sense...

During the interview, Becker described the series of events leading up to the murder, saying he believed Thomas to be a devil tyrant who was hurting people.

Becker told the agent that after shooting Thomas he said, "You're free, it's done."

Also during the interview, Becker describes elation over shooting Thomas, even telling agents, "I feel so sane right now. So straight-edged and right...and drug-free...I feel so much better."

The State Medical Examiner also testified about Thomas' injuries, including the placement of gunshot 6-7 gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to Thomas' head, chest and right leg.

The defense asked for an acquittal, saying the state had not proved its case.
The judge overruled the motion.

Here's Jamie Grey's continuing coverage outside of the courthouse...
She's still freezing...

Trial Begins In Iowa HS Football Coach Murder

((HT: KWWL-TV))

Opening statements were delivered Friday morning at the Butler County Courthouse and testimony began in the murder trial of Mark Becker. Becker is accused of killing Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) head football coach Ed Thomas in the school's temporary weight room last June 24th.

The judge gave instructions to the jurors, explaining the state must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and that they would be expected to take detailed notes to help remember the facts presented.

The prosecution explained a timeline of the morning events saying Becker broke into his parents' gun cabinet and practiced shooting a 22-caliber gun at a bird house.

They also maintain Becker went to the school and asked the junior high assistant principal where Coach Thomas was so they could talk about the Tornado Relief Fund. According to the prosecution, Becker went into the weight room, shot Thomas multiple times, then began kicking Thomas and swearing at him.

The prosecution says even if Becker suffered from a mental illness, it doesn't equal the insanity plea they have entered.

The defense argued during their opening statement that Becker suffered from mental illness that kept him from distinguishing right from wrong. They also say Becker had delusions the night before the murder and believed Thomas was Satan and was turning people into fish.

Jamie Grey of KWWL-TV in Cedar Rapids was outside the courthouse
Presumably, she was freezing...


The trial resumes Tuesday after a court furlough day Monday and could last up to a month...

Competency Hearing Set For Mark Becker

((HT: KCRG-TV/Cedar Rapids))

A state court judge has determined that there is probable cause for a mental competency hearing for a man charged with killing an Iowa high school football coach.

The Monday decision by Butler County District Court Judge Stephen Carroll means a hearing set for Tuesday in Mason City will be canceled. That hearing would have considered whether there was enough evidence that a mental competency hearing was necessary.

Mark D. Becker faces first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas. Prosecution and defense attorneys each had psychological evaluations of Becker conducted last week.

Becker's mental competency hearing will be Sept. 10 in Mason City. His trial is set for Sept. 15 in Butler County.

Aplington-Parkersburg Wins In '09 Debut

((HT: Cedar Rapids Gazette))
A red wave of Aplington-Parkersburg fans applauded in unison last night as their Falcons jogged off the field at halftime.

Nestled among the nearly 4,000 fans who packed Ed Thomas Field ((pictured, thanks the Gazette again)) were about a dozen sporting similar red T-shirts that read “Becker.”

On a night when the community paid one last round of respects to legendary coach Ed Thomas, the irony lies with Aplington-Parkersburg senior Scott Becker. His brother, 24-year-old Mark Becker, is accused of fatally shooting Thomas in front of 20 students June 24 at the school’s weight facility. Yet Scott, a two-way starter, received one of the loudest ovations from the home crowd.

Now in death, Thomas continues to connect the community, including the Beckers. Joan Becker wore the “Becker” red shirt and a pin with Scott’s photo. She stood and cheered as the Falcons intercepted five first-half passes. Watching the game was therapy for her family and a community still coping with Thomas’ death.

“It’s a huge relief for us to have this night here, because it’s what our community and our family needed to just move on,” Joan Becker said. “It’s what Ed would want the whole community to do, and the whole team to do. It’s a relief for the team, too, to get out there and play football and get to work.”

The Thomas and Becker families share the same church (First Congregational) and a love of football. Dave Becker — father of Mark and Scott — played for Thomas, as did Mark. The families also share the incident but are tied together in faith and forgiveness. Anything less would crush the Becker family, Joan said.

“We’ve just had nothing but tremendous support from our families, our church, the Thomas family and the community,” Joan Becker said. “It’s what’s allows us to keep going each day. We just couldn’t do without it.”

Fans wrapped the fences around Ed Thomas Field, also called “The Sacred Acre,” and cheered wildly from opening introductions through the long television timeouts.
As electric as last night was, today brings another reminder for the community.

Thomas is still gone, the team will play again next Friday and Mark Becker faces first-degree murder charges. But A-P’s 30-14 victory provided a much-needed salve to a community still blistered by Thomas’ death. It’s also healing the Becker family.

“We’re coping one day at a time with God’s grace, helping us through each day at a time,” Joan Becker said
((HT: KCRG-TV/Kellett))
Claire Kellett talked to Ed Thomas' widow, Jan, who spoke publicly for the first time since his murder...

Iowa HS Football Coach Murder Suspect "Not Competent" To Stand Trial

((HT: KWWL-TV/Jarvis))

An application filed Tuesday morning claims Mark Becker ((mugshot pictured, thanks KCRG-TV)) is not competent to stand trial.

Becker is charged with 1st degree murder in the death of legendary Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas.

The application says Becker was evaluated by Dr. Dan Rogers, an expert retained by the defense. Becker's attorney claims there are "specific facts showing the Defendant's mental disorder," and that condition would keep him from "understanding the proceedings or assisting effectively in his defense."

According to the court document, the doctor says Becker suffers from hallucinations and has difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy.

According to the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the prosecutors are expected to respond with a request for a separate psychological evaluation.

Thousands Attend Iowa Coach's Funeral

((HT: Cedar Rapids Gazette/Orlan Love))

About 2,500 of Ed Thomas’ closest personal friends converged here Monday morning to pay their final respects to the slain football coach who will be longer remembered for service to God, family and community.

“Everyone here has a personal relationship with him, because that’s the way Ed was,” friend and fellow coach and teacher Ed Kern said during Thomas’ funeral at the First Congregational Church ((NFL players who were players for Martin at A-P carry his casket, thanks The Gazette/Liz Martin)).

Including himself among the many people calling Ed Thomas their best friend, Kern said.
“And all of us are right.”

Thomas connected with people in a way that made them friends for life, said Parkersburg Police Chief Chris Luhring, a 1997 Aplington-Parkersburg High school graduate who played football under Thomas.

Thomas, 58, was shot to death Wednesday during a weight-lifting session at the school. A former football player, Mark Becker, 24, of Parkersburg, a is charged with first-degree murder.

Here's coverage of the funeral from our friends at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids...

Iowa Shooting Suspect Transferred

((HT: WHO-TV))

The man charged with the murder of Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $1 million bond. Twenty-four-year-old Mark Becker was transferred from the Butler County Jail Wednesday night. ((Members of the team are pictured from Wednesday's vigil, thanks Andrea Melendez/Des Moines Register))

Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals says Becker was transferred because Butler County's jail does not have a 24 hour guard and Becker is considered a high risk prisoner.

Becker is accused of shooting to death 58-year-old Ed Thomas while he supervised an early-morning weight lifting session at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. DCI officials say Becker entered the weight room around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday and shot Thomas multiple times with a handgun. There were around 20 student-athletes present during the shooting. None of them were harmed.

Thomas was taken to a Waterloo hospital where he died of his injuries.
Becker was arrested shortly after the shooting at his parents' home in rural Parkersburg. He cooperated with authorities.

The DCI has refused to speculate on Becker's motive for the shooting.
Becker was previously involved in an incident with Cedar Falls Police that began on June 20th. He was taken into custody after a high-speed chase when he tried to flee after allegedly vandalizing a Cedar Falls home. In the early morning hours of June 21st, Becker was transferred to a hospital by Butler County Sheriff's deputies for a psychiatric evaluation.

Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson says he contacted the Central Point Coordinator of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities on June 21st and disclosed details about Becker's involvement in the incident on June 20th. Sheriff Johnson asked the coordinator to notify him if Becker was going to be released from the hospital. That notification did not happen.

Covenant Medical Center says a request was not made to them by law enforcement, to be notified when Becker was released and he was released to a third party on June 23rd.

Mark Becker's next scheduled court appearance is set for July 2nd.
Jannay Towne has the follow-up from Parkersburg...
Thanks to our friends at WHO-TV one again...

Tuesday PM Update: Thomas Slaying In Iowa

((HT: KWWL-TV))

Aplington-Parkersburg head football coach Ed Thomas has died after being shot.

Sources tell us that coach Thomas was in the school weight room when someone walked in and opened fire on him.

He was shot several times in the head and was taken to a local hospital. Family members say Coach Thomas passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The school tells us that no students were injured in the shooting. About 20 students were in the weight room around 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday when a man walked in, first pointed a gun at a student, then took aim at Coach Thomas. Crisis counselors are at the elementary school meeting with students.

Police have charged Mark Becker, 24, with First Degree Murder. Becker ((pictured, thanks KWWL-TV)) is a former A-P student and football player.

Police say Becker left the scene and drove back to his parents' house, where the Butler County Sheriff took him into custody.

Becker was also involved in a police chase last weekend. Police say Becker broke into a man's house on Saturday evening. The suspect then led law enforcement on a high speed chase that ended in Butler County when he hit a deer.

Becker was taken in custody, and on Sunday morning, law enforcement decided Becker needed medical attention. He was taken to Covenant Hospital in Waterloo.

Becker was released from the hospital on Tuesday and spent the night at his parents' house in Parkersburg.

Law enforcement say they were never notified that Becker had been released.

Residents of Parkersburg say Thomas was much more than a football coach.

"Our town is pouring out here this morning, our town is distraught," A-P Superintendent Jon Thompson said.

Thompson says in a yearly speech to parents, Thomas would say that after playing football, he wanted his players to be better people and better citizens.

Thomas started working at A-P in 1975. Thomas has four former players currently active in the NFL.

A vigil is planned at the A-P football field, called the Sacred Acre, at 7 p.m. If it's raining, the event will move to the middle school in Aplington. There will be another vigil at the practice field at 9:30 p.m. with candles.

A student has also started a memorial group on Facebook.

LATE UPDATE: Becker made an initial appearance on a first-degree murder charge Wedensday afternoon in the Butler County Jail in front of Judge Peter Newell. The Associate District Court Judge set Becker's bail at $1 million cash. TV9 has learned that authorities plan to move Becker to the Cerro Gordo County Jail in Mason City, however the reason is unclear.

Here's coverage from our friends at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids...

WHO-TV's coverage from Des Moines is below.
Elizabeth Klinge was at the vigil...

Steve Cyphers "E:60" story about the Sacred Acre is below...