Nebraska
Nebraska man arrested on suspicion of Frederick mom’s cold-case murder
A 72-year-old Nebraska man was arrested on suspicion of murder in the 2007 stabbing death of a Frederick mom, Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials said Tuesday.
Jessica Bejarano, 25, was found dead in the bathroom of her home in the 7900 block of Larkspur Circle on April 6, 2007, with a stab wound to the chest.
Her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son were also home at the time, according to CBI.
Investigators initially looked at several suspects, including Bejarano’s husband, but later cleared him from involvement after they confirmed he was at work at the time of her death.
Police identified former maintenance worker Darrell Lee Burklund as a suspect in the cold case through DNA evidence, state officials said. Burklund was 54 at the time of Bejarano’s death.
Investigators interviewed Burklund on Friday in York, Nebraska and then arrested him on suspicion of second-degree murder.
He is set for an extradition hearing in Nebraska on Wednesday.
Bejarano’s mother, Cece Merrow, in a statement thanked CBI’s cold case team, Agent Kevin Koback and Director Chris Shaefer, who was one of the original agents assigned to the case.
“We never gave up hope,” Merrow said. “…There were so many twists and turns in her case, but we always had faith in the CBI.”
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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Originally Published:
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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LOWELL, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1872, the boomtown of Lowell, Nebraska was named the seat of Kearney County.
The Nebraska State Historical Society says the Burlington and Missouri River Railroads chose it as a town site the year before.
For a short time, it became a major shipping point for central Nebraska.
Its status would be short-lived.
Later that year, the railroad expanded to Kearney, which became the center for regional trading.
Lowell’s land office was removed in 1874.
Four years later, the boom town was nothing more than a village.
MORE LOCAL HISTORY
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On July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th birthday. Every day leading up to it, First Alert 6 will take a look at the people and events that shaped our area.
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