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Police seek tips in murder case
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Additional video released as police continue investigation
By: MAUNETTE LOEKS, Staff Reporter
Scottsbluff Police plan to release a second video in the murder case of Jason Vesper today.
While police continue to follow up on leads, investigators do not yet have a suspect in the Jan. 2, 2008, murder. Police are hoping to get information about a vehicle seen following Vesper in video footage obtained by police.
Scottsbluff Police Chief Alex Moreno said the public’s help is greatly needed in solving Vesper’s murder.
“People should know that this case is still important to us,” he said, saying it still remains one of the top cases in the department. “We aren’t going to let it go into a cold-case file, so to speak.”
Vesper was found just a half-block from his home in the 1200 block of Avenue H. He had been stabbed several times and died at Regional West Medical Center.
Vesper’s murder is believed to have occurred within a 20-minute time span from when he left his home.
Police know that at 12:47 a.m., he had stopped at the Western Travel Terminal and purchased a soda. A clerk told police that Vesper did not appear to have any confrontations or problems and his visit to the store is captured on video camera. The clerk told police that Vesper drove out of the west entrance of the parking lot onto Avenue I.
From there, police are not sure if Vesper traveled down Avenue I or South Beltline Highway, but he returned to Avenue H. The newly released video shows Vesper, driving his 1999 blue Dodge Dakota Sport, stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Avenue H and West Overland at about 12:57 a.m.
In the video, which is taken from a security camera on city-owned property near the intersection, a driver of a light-colored car is seen turning onto Avenue H, doing a U-turn and following Vesper west. Vesper and the driver both circle the block. The driver continues to follow Vesper onto West Overland and both vehicles are captured on a security camera at Community Christian School, 511 W. 14 St., about one to two minutes later.
From that footage, which police released in January, Vesper is seen traveling north on Avenue E and the second driver is seen traveling behind him, flashing the vehicle’s headlights. Police believe the driver was indicating that the driver wanted Vesper to stop.
Vesper and the other vehicle stop in an area near West 14th Street and Avenue F. The view of the camera is obstructed by a tree and a home, but police believe Vesper was stabbed at that time. Spencer said that the time that the two vehicles were off-camera is short, with the stabbing believed to have taken place within a 49-second time period.
It is believed that Vesper attempted to make it home, as his vehicle is spotted traveling west on West 14th Street and turning south on Bryant Street. The other vehicle is seen fleeing the scene, traveling north on Avenue F.
At about 1:06 a.m., Spencer said, police received two 911 calls after his vehicle was found stopped in the snow. Vesper’s wife and daughter saw headlights from Vesper’s vehicle and discovered him in the truck.
Police believe that the murder suspect was traveling in the vehicle spotted on both the Avenue H and Community Christian video.
Police are seeking any information the public may have about the driver or the vehicle. The vehicle is believed to be light-colored. Police are not sure of the make or model, but have determined that it may be a 1985 to 1988 Cadillac Deville or a Cadillac Fleetwood, or a 1985 to 1990 Buick or Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight.
A $5,000 reward is being offered through the Jason Vesper Memorial Fund.
Both videos are available on the Star-Herald Web site and can be accessed under “Local Video.” The Star-Herald Web site can be visited at www.starherald.com.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Scottsbluff Police Department, (308) 630-6265, or Scotts Bluff County Crime Stoppers, (308) 632-STOP (7867).
While police continue to follow up on leads, investigators do not yet have a suspect in the Jan. 2, 2008, murder. Police are hoping to get information about a vehicle seen following Vesper in video footage obtained by police.
Scottsbluff Police Chief Alex Moreno said the public’s help is greatly needed in solving Vesper’s murder.
“People should know that this case is still important to us,” he said, saying it still remains one of the top cases in the department. “We aren’t going to let it go into a cold-case file, so to speak.”
Vesper was found just a half-block from his home in the 1200 block of Avenue H. He had been stabbed several times and died at Regional West Medical Center.
Vesper’s murder is believed to have occurred within a 20-minute time span from when he left his home.
Police know that at 12:47 a.m., he had stopped at the Western Travel Terminal and purchased a soda. A clerk told police that Vesper did not appear to have any confrontations or problems and his visit to the store is captured on video camera. The clerk told police that Vesper drove out of the west entrance of the parking lot onto Avenue I.
From there, police are not sure if Vesper traveled down Avenue I or South Beltline Highway, but he returned to Avenue H. The newly released video shows Vesper, driving his 1999 blue Dodge Dakota Sport, stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Avenue H and West Overland at about 12:57 a.m.
In the video, which is taken from a security camera on city-owned property near the intersection, a driver of a light-colored car is seen turning onto Avenue H, doing a U-turn and following Vesper west. Vesper and the driver both circle the block. The driver continues to follow Vesper onto West Overland and both vehicles are captured on a security camera at Community Christian School, 511 W. 14 St., about one to two minutes later.
From that footage, which police released in January, Vesper is seen traveling north on Avenue E and the second driver is seen traveling behind him, flashing the vehicle’s headlights. Police believe the driver was indicating that the driver wanted Vesper to stop.
Vesper and the other vehicle stop in an area near West 14th Street and Avenue F. The view of the camera is obstructed by a tree and a home, but police believe Vesper was stabbed at that time. Spencer said that the time that the two vehicles were off-camera is short, with the stabbing believed to have taken place within a 49-second time period.
It is believed that Vesper attempted to make it home, as his vehicle is spotted traveling west on West 14th Street and turning south on Bryant Street. The other vehicle is seen fleeing the scene, traveling north on Avenue F.
At about 1:06 a.m., Spencer said, police received two 911 calls after his vehicle was found stopped in the snow. Vesper’s wife and daughter saw headlights from Vesper’s vehicle and discovered him in the truck.
Police believe that the murder suspect was traveling in the vehicle spotted on both the Avenue H and Community Christian video.
Police are seeking any information the public may have about the driver or the vehicle. The vehicle is believed to be light-colored. Police are not sure of the make or model, but have determined that it may be a 1985 to 1988 Cadillac Deville or a Cadillac Fleetwood, or a 1985 to 1990 Buick or Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight.
A $5,000 reward is being offered through the Jason Vesper Memorial Fund.
Both videos are available on the Star-Herald Web site and can be accessed under “Local Video.” The Star-Herald Web site can be visited at www.starherald.com.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Scottsbluff Police Department, (308) 630-6265, or Scotts Bluff County Crime Stoppers, (308) 632-STOP (7867).
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