News Digest News Digest (December 07, 2005)

Rehab of Palo Alto's first black church gets OK

A proposed rehabilitation of two of Palo Alto's historic buildings -- the city's first African-American church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and a 1931 laundry mat, the French Laundry -- was given the OK from the city's Architectural Review Board and Historic Resources Board last Thursday morning.

"We thought in the end that the applicant had done a pretty good job of respecting the historic buildings," said Judith Wasserman, the chair of the Architectural Review Board.

The large, three-story project, from Menlo Equities, will also construct 35,542 square feet of office and retail, nearly 9,000 square feet of underground parking and four residential units at the site, 260 Homer Avenue.

The city's planning director was expected to give the final approval for the project this week, subject to a few minor modifications the two boards requested. The director's approval will be subject to any appeals, although none are expected.

It's the second time the city approved a project from Menlo Equities for the site. In 2001, the developer applied for and received permits for a similar project, but it let the permit expire. --Bill D'Agostino

Crash victim remains on life support

A 37-year-old woman severely injured in an East Palo Alto auto crash a week ago remains on life support, Police Sgt. Alma Zamora said Monday morning. The single-car crash at 2 a.m. Nov. 26 killed Larry Glenn Young, 57, of East Palo Alto when he was thrown from the car.

The car's driver, Silvia Romero, 39, of East Palo Alto, pleaded not guilty last Tuesday to multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter.

The car spun out of control and hit a telephone poll in the 1400 block of East Bayshore Road. -- Don Kazak
Murder charges still pending against Menlo Park man

A Menlo Park man suspected of killing his wife 14 years ago will have to wait at least two more weeks to find out whether his attorney's motion to have the charges against him thrown out is granted.

Joseph Eli Morrow, 54, appeared in San Mateo County Superior Court Monday accused of killing his 37-year-old wife Donna on Dec. 19, 1991.

In Judge Craig Parsons' courtroom, Morrow's defense attorney, Bob Courshon, said there was a substantial delay and prejudice throughout the case that should prompt its dismissal as a result of due process denial.

"We're talking about the definition of the right to a speedy trial," Courshon said. "There was no legitimate reason for the delay."

In 1997, a $10 million arrest warrant was issued for Morrow, although Donna Morrow's body had not yet been found, according to the prosecution. Morrow wasn't arrested until January 2003, when he was living in the Philippines, according to the prosecution. Morrow was extradited on the $10 million warrant, which stemmed from a theft charge in Santa Clara County, the prosecution reported.

It wasn't until September 2003 that Donna Morrow's body was found in a nine-foot grave on a piece of property in Los Gatos that once belonged to Morrow.

Menlo Park police detectives were reportedly made aware of the grave by San Leandro resident Jose Maldonado, who at one point worked for Morrow at the property.

According to police investigator Randy Billingsley, Maldonado said that "Joe had asked him to do a side job for cash," later stating that he "dug a hole" as part of the job.

Because of the length of time Donna Morrow's body had been buried, forensic pathologist Paul W. Herrmann said he was unable to identify a cause of death. "The only thing that was preserved in this body were bones," Herrmann said.

Herrmann said he was unable to say whether Donna Morrow had died as a result of a drug overdose, a bullet or stab wound, or some sort of blunt force trauma to the head. Donna Morrow did have a fractured nasal bone, but Herrmann said there was no way to pinpoint how that injury occurred.

Morrow has maintained his innocence since the day his wife was reported missing, but prosecutors allege Morrow killed her for financial gain.

The trial on the motion for dismissal was continued to Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. for the further examination of witnesses. -- Bay City News Service
Police chief leaving Menlo Park

Chris Boyd, who has been Menlo Park's chief of police for three years, will leave the city's force in early 2006 to head a new police department for the city of Citrus Heights, a Sacramento suburb of 88,000 residents.

Chosen from a field of 47 applicants, he will take charge of forming the new department for a city that has been contracting for law-enforcement services with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Boyd has been with Menlo Park's police force for 15 years, serving as a patrol officer, gang task force officer, sergeant and commander before being appointed chief in 2002.

He was the first chief named from within the department in approximately 35 years.

During Boyd's tenure, several officers resigned from the department, often taking jobs with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. This year, eight officers resigned. -- Rory Brown

E-mail a friend a link to this story.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]