Vodstok
02-07-2007, 09:47 AM
I had to dig into wikipedia to get anything useful, but i am really surprised Bloodrayne didnt post this first:
Alleged kidnapping and attempted murder
On February 5, 2007, Nowak was arrested at Orlando International Airport on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, and destruction of evidence. She told the Orlando Police Department she was involved in a relationship with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, with whom she trained, which she described as being "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship." [1] She believed U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman, who works as an engineer at Patrick Air Force Base,[7] was also involved with Oefelein.[8] Canadian news sources have reported that Oefelein and Nowak's relationship was at one point of a romantic nature.[9]
Arrest
According to police and news reports, upon arriving on a flight from Houston, Shipman said she was aware of someone following her to a satellite parking area and when she got into her car, she heard running steps and quickly locked the door. Nowak slapped the window and tried to open the car door, asked for a ride, then started crying. Shipman rolled down the window a couple of inches and Nowak allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the car. Shipman drove off to the parking lot booth where police were summoned.[10]
Nowak was arrested after the first police officer to arrive saw her attempting to throw a bag containing a wig and a BB pistol into the trash at a parking shuttle bus stop. The Orlando Police said Nowak had disguised herself during the assault by wearing a hooded tan trench coat and black wig and, along with the BB gun, was carrying a four-inch folding buck knife, a new steel mallet, black gloves, rubber tubing, plastic garbage bags and about US $600 in cash. In her statement to police, Nowak said she wanted to talk to Shipman and discuss their relationships with Oefelein. When asked if she thought the pepper spray was going to help her talking with Shipman, she replied, "That was stupid." During a search of Nowak's car parked at a nearby motel, the police found a letter written by Nowak in which they allege she proclaimed her love for Oefelein, along with latex gloves, opened packages for both a buck knife and pepper spray, an unused BB cartridge, handwritten directions to Shipman's house, copies of e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, and diapers.[11] The astronaut explained she had used the latter during the 900-mile drive from her home in Houston, Texas to Orlando so she did not have to stop to urinate (U.S. shuttle astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry). They also found receipts indicating Nowak paid only in cash during her trip from Houston, including for her hotel stay.[12] Citing evidence of elaborate planning, disguises and weapons, police recommended she be held without bail.[8]
Arraignment
Nowak's court hearingTwo fellow astronauts went to Florida to visit Nowak in jail and otherwise make contact with her. Christopher Ferguson piloted Atlantis' STS-115 mission in September 2006 and retired Air Force Colonel Steve Lindsey, chief of the NASA astronaut corps, had commanded Nowak's Shuttle mission. On February 6, 2007, both appeared before a judge on her behalf wearing brown leather jackets. The state attorney argued that the facts indicated a well-thought-out plan to kidnap and perhaps to injure Ms. Shipman.[10] While arguing for pre-trial release Nowak's attorney remarked, “One’s good works must count for something.” Nowak was ordered released on bail ($15,500 bond) under the condition she wear a GPS tracking device[13] and not contact Shipman.
Before Nowak could be released, however, Orlando police charged Nowak with attempted first-degree murder and announced she would not be released on bail. Her lawyer alleged that police and prosecutors, unhappy that Nowak had been granted bail, pressed more serious charges solely to keep her confined to jail.[7][14] In the second arraignment Nowak was charged with attempted first degree murder with a deadly weapon and the judge ordered her release while raising bail to $25,000.
Nowak was subsequently placed on 30-day leave by NASA.[15]
Reactions
"The mood at NASA is we're stunned," said space agency spokesman James Hartsfield. He added that in spite of the extensive psychological testing astronauts go through, "we don't track the personal lives of the individuals that work for the agency."
When asked about the arrest after Nowak's first arraignment, Ferguson said, "Perplexed is the word I'm sticking with."[11]
Retired astronaut Jerry Linenger expressed concerns about NASA's screening process, commenting that with plans for a 30-month trip to Mars, it would be dangerous for someone to "snap like this" during a mission.[16]
Alleged kidnapping and attempted murder
On February 5, 2007, Nowak was arrested at Orlando International Airport on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, and destruction of evidence. She told the Orlando Police Department she was involved in a relationship with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, with whom she trained, which she described as being "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship." [1] She believed U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman, who works as an engineer at Patrick Air Force Base,[7] was also involved with Oefelein.[8] Canadian news sources have reported that Oefelein and Nowak's relationship was at one point of a romantic nature.[9]
Arrest
According to police and news reports, upon arriving on a flight from Houston, Shipman said she was aware of someone following her to a satellite parking area and when she got into her car, she heard running steps and quickly locked the door. Nowak slapped the window and tried to open the car door, asked for a ride, then started crying. Shipman rolled down the window a couple of inches and Nowak allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the car. Shipman drove off to the parking lot booth where police were summoned.[10]
Nowak was arrested after the first police officer to arrive saw her attempting to throw a bag containing a wig and a BB pistol into the trash at a parking shuttle bus stop. The Orlando Police said Nowak had disguised herself during the assault by wearing a hooded tan trench coat and black wig and, along with the BB gun, was carrying a four-inch folding buck knife, a new steel mallet, black gloves, rubber tubing, plastic garbage bags and about US $600 in cash. In her statement to police, Nowak said she wanted to talk to Shipman and discuss their relationships with Oefelein. When asked if she thought the pepper spray was going to help her talking with Shipman, she replied, "That was stupid." During a search of Nowak's car parked at a nearby motel, the police found a letter written by Nowak in which they allege she proclaimed her love for Oefelein, along with latex gloves, opened packages for both a buck knife and pepper spray, an unused BB cartridge, handwritten directions to Shipman's house, copies of e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, and diapers.[11] The astronaut explained she had used the latter during the 900-mile drive from her home in Houston, Texas to Orlando so she did not have to stop to urinate (U.S. shuttle astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry). They also found receipts indicating Nowak paid only in cash during her trip from Houston, including for her hotel stay.[12] Citing evidence of elaborate planning, disguises and weapons, police recommended she be held without bail.[8]
Arraignment
Nowak's court hearingTwo fellow astronauts went to Florida to visit Nowak in jail and otherwise make contact with her. Christopher Ferguson piloted Atlantis' STS-115 mission in September 2006 and retired Air Force Colonel Steve Lindsey, chief of the NASA astronaut corps, had commanded Nowak's Shuttle mission. On February 6, 2007, both appeared before a judge on her behalf wearing brown leather jackets. The state attorney argued that the facts indicated a well-thought-out plan to kidnap and perhaps to injure Ms. Shipman.[10] While arguing for pre-trial release Nowak's attorney remarked, “One’s good works must count for something.” Nowak was ordered released on bail ($15,500 bond) under the condition she wear a GPS tracking device[13] and not contact Shipman.
Before Nowak could be released, however, Orlando police charged Nowak with attempted first-degree murder and announced she would not be released on bail. Her lawyer alleged that police and prosecutors, unhappy that Nowak had been granted bail, pressed more serious charges solely to keep her confined to jail.[7][14] In the second arraignment Nowak was charged with attempted first degree murder with a deadly weapon and the judge ordered her release while raising bail to $25,000.
Nowak was subsequently placed on 30-day leave by NASA.[15]
Reactions
"The mood at NASA is we're stunned," said space agency spokesman James Hartsfield. He added that in spite of the extensive psychological testing astronauts go through, "we don't track the personal lives of the individuals that work for the agency."
When asked about the arrest after Nowak's first arraignment, Ferguson said, "Perplexed is the word I'm sticking with."[11]
Retired astronaut Jerry Linenger expressed concerns about NASA's screening process, commenting that with plans for a 30-month trip to Mars, it would be dangerous for someone to "snap like this" during a mission.[16]