State briefs 2/23/06

Scrap metal thieves target Kansas City utilities

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Record-high market prices for scrap metal have contributed to a rash of burglaries and vandalism at electric companies, leading two local utilities to offer a cash reward for information leading to arrests and convictions. Kansas City Power & Light Co. and Aquila Inc., both based in Kansas City, have experienced more than 20 incidents in which people have stolen metal and vandalized substations. They are each offering a $5,000 reward for information. Incidents have happened in the Kansas City area, St. Joseph and rural parts of western Missouri, the companies said.

Two killed in home where different suspect caught

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man and woman were killed in the same home where hours police had apprehended a suspect in another homicide. Police identified the victims of the early Tuesday shooting as Tiffany D. Carter, 23, and Marshawn D. Walker, 20. Carter's mother, as well as her 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son, also were in the home during the shooting, but police said they were not injured or confronted. Police were trying to determine if Tuesday's slayings and the arrest Monday night of John B. Parker were linked. They were also trying to figure out how Parker and the home's residents were connected. Police said they found him at the home after receiving a tip.

20 charges filed against tanning salon owner

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Additional charges have been filed against a Springfield tanning salon owner accused of using hidden cameras to videotape female customers. Brett P. Kent, 33, was charged in December with two counts of second-degree invasion of privacy, a felony. Twenty more invasion of privacy charges were filed against him Tuesday. In addition, three women and a minor girl have filed lawsuits seeking damages for invasion of their privacy. The latest suit, filed Feb. 14 by the minor plaintiff, also alleges negligence and reckless infliction of emotional distress.

Man gets life in prison in former girlfriend's death

PINEVILLE, Mo. -- A gang member from Oklahoma has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing his former girlfriend because she had started a relationship with another man and was selling his drugs. Brian L. McDaniel, 30, was convicted in January of first-degree murder in the death of Kendace "Sissy" DeCarlo, 23. She was shot in July 2001 at her home in Joplin in front of her two children, then 6 and 8. Prosecutors said a fellow member of the Red Mob Gangsters, a Bloods gang in Tulsa, did the shooting while McDaniel waited in a getaway car two blocks away. Co-defendant Donald Overton, 24, faces trial starting May 30. Overton is already under a 55-year sentence in Texas for a drug-related murder there.

Greenies dog treat maker to change packaging

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The maker of Greenies, the country's best-selling dog treat, said Wednesday it plans to change its packaging in response to complaints from some pet owners and veterinarians that the treat could pose a health hazard to some dogs. S&M NuTec, based in North Kansas City, also said it may remove a claim that Greenies are fully edible, saying its own study shows a dog can only digest up to 85 percent of the bone-shaped treat. "What we're interested in is the safety of the dog," said Joe Roetheli, the company's co-founder and chief executive. Roetheli said the company plans to enlarge and expand wording on the packaging that tells dog owners to monitor their pets when feeding them Greenies and make sure they feed their dog the right size of treat.

-- From wire reports