Doctor Accused of 4 Omaha Murders Appears in Union Co. Court

By Stephanie Tyrpak
By Andy Shofstall

Story Created: Jul 16, 2013 at 4:52 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 16, 2013 at 6:40 PM CDT

JONESBORO -- A cold case in Nebraska may be getting some answers. The man suspected of killing four people in Omaha has been caught in southern Illinois.
?
Police say Dr. Anthony Garcia of Indiana is responsible for the deaths of three adults and an 11-year-old boy.? The first murder case happened in 2008. The second was in May of this year. The killings involve people linked to the pathology department at Creighton University in Nebraska. The department fired Garcia in 2001.
?
Garcia was arrested Monday while driving on Interstate 57 in southern Illinois. On Tuesday, he made his first appearance in Union County court.
?
"You fled the state of Nebraska with the intent to avoid prosecution," said Judge Mark Boie.
?
Garcia is facing one charge in Illinois for being a fugitive from justice.
?
In Nebraska, he's charged with four counts of first degree murder.
?
"At this time, and every member of the task force feels this, but he does fit the elements of a serial killer," said Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.
?????
The cold cases in Omaha date back to 2008. That's when 11-year-old Thomas Hunter and a family housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, were stabbed to death. Hunter was the son of a Creighton pathology professor.
?
In May 2013, Omaha was rocked again. Another pathology professor, Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, were fatally stabbed.
?
"The task force has been monitoring Dr. Garcia's movements for a period of time," said Schmaderer.
?
Omaha authorities were closing in on their suspect and were planning to search Garcia's home in Terre Haute on Tuesday. The opportunity to arrest him came even earlier.
?
Garcia was pulled over on Interstate 57 near the Lick Creek exit. Police say he appeared to be intoxicated and had a handgun.
?
In the court hearing Tuesday, Garcia seemed confused by the charges.
?
"I've not had a phone call," said Garcia. "And no one is telling me what's going on either."
?
There was also a mix up over an attorney hired to represent Garcia without his knowledge. Union County received a call from Motta Law Firm in Chicago.
?
"Number one, is she an attorney, a paralegal?" asked Garcia.
?
"All I know is she has put herself, or at least, talked to the states attorney's office and presented herself as a licensed attorney," said Boie.
?
Since Garcia's lawyer wasn't present, the hearing and the talks of sending him back to Omaha were put on hold until Wednesday.
?
Motta Law Firm says they were contacted by Garcia's family, who don't believe the charges against him.
?

Source: http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Doctor-Accused-of-4-Omaha-Murders-Appears-in-Union-Co-Court-215737021.html

Justin Bieber cancer Mockingbird Lane peyton manning gold rush gold rush windows 8 Emanuel Steward