Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Kelly Armstrong Case: Victim's Family Claims Victory With Murder Charge Against Travis Funke

The family of homicide victim Kelly Armstrong said media attention prompted Indiana prosecutors to upgrade charges against boyfriend Travis Funke from manslaughter to murder.
"We honestly think that the DA would not have done this if it was not for the national attention brought by The Huffington Post and local efforts by FOX59. We just don't think he would have done it," said Armstrong's cousin, Charity Grable.
Prosecutor Mark McCann filed the murder charge against 34-year-old Funke on Friday afternoon, according to Howard Superior Court Judge Brant Howard. A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.
This is the second victory in a week for Armstrong's family. On Tuesday, a plea deal that may have freed Funke in 17-1/2 years and allowed him to retain custody of his 4-year-old son was withdrawn.
Armstrong's family members, saying the plea deal wasn't discussed with them, had expressed anger and filed a formal
complaint against McCann.
Armstrong's father said the plea deal fell apart amid media reports. He singled out the Huffington Post for being the first national news organization to report on the issue.
"I think it was a combination of those things," Armstrong said Thursday, referring to the media attention and the family's protests.
Source :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/kelly-armstrong-case-murder-travis-funke_n_1766376.html

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