Illinois resident shot, chopped up first husband in 1988.
Michael Snyder
Former Sitka woman sentenced in old killing
36-YEAR TERM: Illinois resident shot, chopped up first husband in
1988.
The Associated Press
Published: March 5th, 2011 11:30 PM
Last Modified: March 5th, 2011 11:30 PM
SITKA -- An Illinois woman whose estranged husband told authorities
she admitted killing her first husband in Sitka more than two decades
ago was sentenced Thursday to 36 years in prison.
Jane Reth confessed to shooting her first husband in 1988, cutting up
his body and disposing of the parts in plastic bags that likely were
burned in a municipal incinerator. The 46-year-old pleaded guilty in
November to second-degree murder in the death of Scott Coville .
The Sitka Sentinel reported prosecutor Jean Seaton recommended a
sentence of 70 years, citing the seriousness of the offense, the
grisly dismemberment and Reth's deception of Coville's friends and
family following the murder.
Reth's attorney, Jon-Marc Petersen of Juneau, asked for a sentence of
15 years. Reth was seeking "redemption" for her crime through good
works in her Chicago-area community and mission work abroad for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Reth, dressed in prison-issue gray sweat suit, addressed Superior
Court Judge David George.
"I don't know that I could say anything that would make anything
better," she said. "I do know I'm very sorry for what I've done."
Reth said she wished she had taken opportunities to get help when she
was having problems in her marriage with Coville, and cited her lack
of maturity at the time.
The case was reopened in 2007 when Christopher Reth, Jane Reth's last
husband, sought to have his marriage annulled by the Roman Catholic
Church. He told a church investigator that his wife had told him about
murdering Coville. The investigator notified Alaska authorities.
Alaska State Troopers investigator James Gallen testified Thursday
that officers found the trailer where the couple lived. The carpet,
pad and flooring had been replaced and the wall paneling had been
covered with gypsum wallboard.
Investigators tore off the wallboard and floor covering down to the
subfloor and found blood stains. A DNA analysis proved the blood came
from Scott Coville.
Christopher Reth also cooperated with the investigation and allowed a
phone conversation with his estranged wife -- in which she admitted
the murder -- to be tape-recorded.
Troopers went to Illinois, where Reth was living, and confronted her
with the evidence. She confessed to shooting Coville with a .357
magnum handgun as he slept in their bedroom.
She also said she chopped up the body on the bed with a long-handled
ax, and told troopers that she disposed of the body parts and the
bloody mattress in large metal trash bins. At the time, Sitka burned
solid waste in a municipal incinerator.
Reth was indicted Jan. 8, 2010, and arrested a few days later in
Oswego, Ill., by the Kendall County Sherriff's Office.
Petersen tried to make a case that Reth had been abused and cited
three incidents, including a stay at a shelter.
Judge George said there had been no evidence of domestic violence
other than Reth's recent statements. He said Reth murdered Coville
because she was afraid he would leave her and she would be alone, not
because she was afraid.
He said Reth had intentionally murdered her husband and showed a level
of calculation and callousness.
"You did nothing to relieve the anguish of friends and family," George
said.
The judge also cited Reth's deception about Coville to his family,
including a Mother's Day card sent to Coville's mother a few weeks
after the murder, signed, "Scott and Jane." Reth later sent a multi-
page letter to Reta Coville, blaming her son for problems in the
marriage in part because he used marijuana.
Judge George set the sentence at 55 years, with 19 suspended. With
good behavior in prison she may be eligible for release in 24 years,
which means she will be close to her 70th birthday, George said.
Coville's mother, who lives in California, told reporters the sentence
will allow her to start bringing up good memories about her only
child.
Petersen said he was disappointed by the sentence for his client. He
said a shorter prison term would have been appropriate given Reth's
age at the time of the crime, her life in the 22 years since then, and
her efforts at redemption.
Chocolic
"Michael Snyder" wrote in message
news:168918ec-1dd0-464e...@f31g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
http://www.adn.com/2011/03/05/1738996/ex-sitka-woman-sentenced-in-old.html#
The Associated Press
--------------------------------
Geez Snyder. You really are on a roll. Can't you find a variation of
different perps? I know they are out there.
Chocolic
Michael Snyder
Don't leave it all up to me! If you want variety, you post some!
I posts 'em as I sees 'em!
Michael Snyder
> Chocolic wrote:
>
> > "Michael Snyder" wrote in message
> >news:168918ec-1dd0-464e...@f31g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
>
Um, forgot to say ";-)"
;-)
Chocolic
"Michael Snyder" wrote in message
news:a1e3eeea-e049-4761...@d12g2000prj.googlegroups.com...
---------------------------
There's so many posts I have to weed thru to find a legit (non bot) one that
I figure anything I posted would just be lost.
Chocolic
Poe
Same here.
Mick
> Same here.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I'd appreciate posts from either of you guys. I'm pretty sure I'm not
alone.
Mick
I mean, even though you never post USEFUL stuff that could help end
the mental illness scam, execute illegal immigrants, nor spread the
news about Willam Dufram.
Poe
And don't forget about 9/11 being an inside job!
Michael Snyder
Oh sure, leave it all up to me! ;-)
Mick
> And don't forget about 9/11 being an inside job!-
How irresponsitble of me to neglect that!
Michael Snyder
And gang rapes and Taser attacks...
Chocolic
"Michael Snyder" wrote in message
news:a36115c6-0e6d-4edf...@t19g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
----------------------------
Your posts are harder to find as most of the spam posts are using your name,
sometimes by the hundreds. But I always "look" for them as I know there are
some legit ones in there from you. Sometimes I can tell by the punctuation
in the subject line.
Chocolic
Michael Snyder
Don't give up on the genuine Snyder!