Cedar Rapids, March 29th, 2005 - The ten year old girl abducted from her Cedar Rapids home then killed, will be laid to rest today. Jetseta Gage's funeral begins at one o'clock at the First Church of the Open Bible. Her burial follows at Linwood Cemetary.
Meanwhile, the registered sex offender accused of killing Jetseta.was formally charged with her murder on Monday. Roger Bently is charged with murder and kidnapping.
Police found the girl's body Friday in an abandoned mobile home near the town of Kalona. Police say she was sexually assaulted and was suffocated. Police say Bently had blood on his clothing when he was arrested. Officials say a state-wide amber alert helped lead them to Bentley. He will be back in court next week for a preliminary hearing.
The Bentley case has some Iowa lawmakers at least talking about a return of the death penalty. Representative James Van Fossen from Davenport says there isn't a crime that meets the death penalty criteria more perfectly than the murder of a child with special needs.
The last time Iowa put an inmate to death was in 1962. Three years later the death penalty was banned in the state.
Jetseta Gage's murder also has lawmakers considering new restrictions for registered sex offenders as well. Last year a federal judge ruled a law banning sex offenders from living within two-thousand feet of a school or daycare unconstitutional.
Later this week lawmakers will consider a similar bill but this time sex offenders will be restricted from living within one-thousand feet of a school or daycare.
/peacock_7788aa.gif) | MORE FROM TOP STORIES |
Top Stories Section Front |
| |
| | /peacock_999999.gif) | MSNBC TV HIGHLIGHTS |
|
PRINT THIS
