Man Charged In Killing Of First-Grade Teacher

[odette]

Centralia Man Charged In Killing Of First-Grade Teacher

Prosecutor may pursue death penalty

bnd.com - IM SUHR - Associated Press - Thu, Oct. 25, 2007

Neil Barrall didn't break a sweat in recounting how he drove up and rammed an unsuspecting stranger with his Jeep during her morning walk along a rural Southern Illinois road, a prosecutor said.

Barrall had never met 38-year-old Rita "Michelle" Cavaletto, Marion County State's Attorney Matthew Wilzbach said. And according to his alleged confession, Barrall made certain the first-grade teacher, mother of two and fireman's wife would never have the chance to remember him.

Three days after Cavaletto's body was found in trees that lined her walk route, Barrall on Tuesday detailed for investigators how he allegedly drove into the woman, dragged her 40 yards into the woods, repeatedly kicked her in the head with his steel-toed boots and sexually assaulted her, Wilzbach said.

Barrall told police he returned home to Centralia -- about a half-hour drive -- before turning back, pulling Cavaletto into a sitting position and stabbing her again and again with a knife in the chest and neck, Wilzbach said.

An autopsy showed that none of the woman's injuries was inflicted after she died. — continued: »

http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/161628.html

Guestbook | Rita "Michele" Cavaletto (http://www.legacy.com/belleville/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=96714477)

[odette]

Centralia murder suspect admits to killing

southernillinoisan.com - October 25, 2007

MARION COUNTY -- Neil A. Barrall showed no emotion or remorse as he admitted during a police interview to intentionally striking a Centralia teacher with his vehicle Saturday, dragging her some 40 yards into the woods, kicking her repeatedly in the head, sexually assaulting her and then stabbing her multiple times with a knife, Marion County State's Attorney Matt Wilzbach alleged during a court hearing Wednesday. — continued: »

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/10/25/top/doc47209bd6d26b0100636372.txt

http://i20.tinypic.com/1y7h3o.jpg
Neil A. Barrall admitted to the murder of Rita
"Michelle" Cavaletto of Centralia on Wednesday.
(Provided)

[odette]

Centralia Man Held Without Bond for Michele Caveletto Murder

wjbdradio.com - 10-24-07

Judge Sherrie Tungate has ordered 27-year-old Niel Barrall of Spruce Drive in Centralia held without bond on three counts of first degree murder of 38-year-old Michele Caveletto of rural Walnut Hill. Barrall appeared in Marion County Court for the first time Wednesday afternoon on the charges. In the probable cause statement, State's Attorney Matt Wilzbach said Barrall purposely struck Caveletto with his vehicle then drug her off the road where she was reportedly beaten and sexually assaulted. Wilzbach says Barrall then returned later when he is accussed of stabbing Caveletto multiple times.

Wilzbach says an alert citizen provided the initial description of the suspect and his vehicle. A police check of owners of all white jeeps and a chance stop of Barrall by Centralia Police further narrowed the investigation. When Centralia Police later went to Barrall's home and found a fresh dent on his vehicle that he was trying to repair, he was brought in for further questioning. Wilzbach says Barrall then admitted his involvement, but avoided questions on a motive. He reports there is no evidence Barrall knew Caveletto or that he was under the influence of drugs at the time.

Wilzbach and Marion County Sheriff Brad Wolenhaupt both are calling the crime the most brutal they have handled in their careers. Wilzbach is strongly considering seeking the death penalty if Barrall is found guilty of the murder charge also accusing him of criminal sexual assault. However, he wants to first consult with the family.

Barrall had Public Defender Erica Sanders appointed to represent him.

http://wjbdradio.com/news_view.asp?WEBID=10475

[odette]

Centralia Man Charged In Murder Of First Grade Teacher

ksdk.com - Last updated: 10/25/2007

http://i23.tinypic.com/15f198k.gif » Ann Rubin's live report from NewsChannel 5 at 10.

(KSDK) - Neil Barrall, 27, of Centralia, Ill., had his first court appearance around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Barrall is accused of sexually assaulting, and then murdering Rita Michele Cavaletto, 38, of Walnut Hill in Marion County, Ill.

In court Wednesday, Marion County's State's Attorney said Barrall admitted to investigators that he intentionally ran into Cavaletto in his Jeep as she was walking near her home on Saturday morning.

He also claims Barrall admits he dragged Cavaletto, an elementary school teacher and mother of two, off into a wooded area where he kicked her in the head multiple times with steel-toed work boots, then sexually assaulted her.

Then, prosecutors say, Barrall admitted he left the scene, only to return a few hours later with a knife. The prosecutor says Barrall stabbed her multiple times in her neck and chest before leaving the scene. — continued: »

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=132535

http://i21.tinypic.com/2pzju5i.jpg
Neil Barrall

[odette]

Cavaletto Homicide

wsiltv.com - October 26, 2007

CENTRALIA -- 27-year-old Neil Barrall made his first appearance in Marion County court today. The Centralia man was arrested last night in the murder of 38-year-old Michele Cavaletto. Cavaletto was last seen Saturday morning when she left home for a walk.

Her body was found that evening along a rural road. — continued: »

http://i24.tinypic.com/iqczza.jpg
Rita "Michelle" Cavaletto

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=3361&type=top

[odette]

Cops: Teacher was sexually attacked, later stabbed

stltoday.com - ASSOCIATED PRESS - 10/25/2007

A man accused of killing a teacher said he intentionally hit the woman with his jeep as she walked along a rural southern Illinois road, then kicked and sexually attacked her in the woods before going home and returning to stab her, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

A judge ordered Neil Barrall, 27, jailed without bond on three counts of first-degree murder — one punishable by a possible death penalty _ in the slaying last weekend of Rita "Michelle" Cavaletto.

There was no known relationship between Barrall, who was arrested Tuesday night, and the first-grade teacher he's accused of killing during her morning walk a few miles from her home near Walnut Hill, Ill., said Marion County State's Attorney Matthew Wilzbach.

"It appears to be random, which makes it pretty spooky," Wilzbach said. — continued: »

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/B9463D0954DE85068625737F003D08C2?OpenDocument

[odette]

BREAKING PHOTO: Illinois police investigating homicide

The Tribune-Star - October 23, 2007

Effingham, Ill. — The body of Rita Cavaletto, 38, of Walnut Hill, Ill., was found at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in a wooded area in the 1800 block of Copple Road in rural Marion County, according to information released by Lt. Tom Oliverio of the Illinois State Police, Zone 7 Investigations. — continued: »

http://i24.tinypic.com/wjvwjs.jpg
Jeep and composite sketch of suspect in Marion
County, Ill., homicide released by Illinois State
Police, Zone 7 Investigations

[odette]

Prosecutor: Man took break during slaying of Marion County teacher

daily-journal.com - By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer

Excerpt: Cavaletto "apparently didn't even see him coming" when Barrall hit her from behind as she went for a morning walk near her home, Wilzbach said.

"He admits he hit her intentionally. He denied it was an accident," Wilzbach said.

Barrall allegedly kicked the woman in the head repeatedly with steel-toed boots, sexually assaulted her and went home, only to return later to stab her in the chest and neck with a knife, Wilzbach said.

Barrall gathered up Cavaletto's clothing except for the bra she was found still wearing and disposed of those items, along with the knife, at various places, according to Wilzbach's probable-cause statement.

http://www.daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=406273

[odette]

27-year-old Centralia man charged with rape, murder of teacher

bnd.com - BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN - Wed, Oct. 24, 2007

Prosecutors charged a 27-year-old Centralia man today with raping and murdering a first-grade teacher whose body was found a couple of miles from her Walnut Hill home after she went for a walk. — continued: »

Excerpt: The charges accuse Barrall of hitting Cavaletto with a vehicle, then sexually assaulting her. He also is accused of stabbing her multiple times with a knife in the neck and chest, and repeatedly kicking her in the head.

Rita “Michele” Cavaletto, a daughter-in-law of state representative candidate John Cavaletto, left her rural Walnut Hill home about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to go for a walk. Her body was found in a wooded area a couple of miles from her home about eight hours later after friends and family went searching for her.

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/160871.html

[odette]

'We'll see you later'

southernillinoisan.com - Tara Fasol - October 25, 2007

CENTRALIA - Fire engines adorned with flowers lined Pleasant Avenue just outside the Trinity Lutheran Church Thursday morning.

Inside, tearful sobs could be heard as family and friends paid last respects to Rita "Michele" Cavaletto of Walnut Hill.

Cavaletto, described as a woman of great faith, was murdered Saturday while on one of her not uncommon morning walks. Neil A. Barrall, 27, of Centralia has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of capital murder in connection with the homicide. — continued: »

http://i22.tinypic.com/21diwdu.jpg
Family and friends gather at Hillcrest Memorial cemetery to pay their final respects to Rita 'Michele' Cavaletto on Thursday. (CHUCK NOVARA / THE SOUTHERN)

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/10/25/top/21945193.txt

[crimedog]

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=1267&type=health

His brother perhaps? I know he has a 30 yr. old brother because I went to school with them both. Maybe the whole family decided to embark on a life of crime.

[Mishell1383]

This is one of the most horrendous news reports I have read! Was she dead when he went back to stab her? I'm just curious if she had a chance at living after he struck her with the car. I am appaulled by this inhumane act of cruelty. Im totally and utterly shocked.

RIP Rita Michele Cavaletto :rose:

[crimedog]

According to the autopsy, none of her injuries were inflicted after her death. So yes, she probably would have lived if he didn't go back and stab her.

[Mishell1383]

According to the autopsy, none of her injuries were inflicted after her death. So yes, she probably would have lived if he didn't go back and stab her.
oh dear heavens, my heart breaks for this woman and her family. I hope he rots. :cuss:

[odette]

Centralia man enters plea of 'not guilty' in Cavaletto murder

By Tara Fasol, The Southern - November 14, 2007

MARION COUNTY - A January trial was set for Neil A. Barrall on Tuesday morning.

Barrall, 27, of Centralia is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of capital murder in connection with the Oct. 20 death of a Centralia school teacher, Rita "Michele" Cavaletto, 38, of Walnut Hill.

At around 11:18 a.m. Barrall walked from the Marion County Law Enforcement Center and Jail to the courthouse, where he was escorted by deputies into the courtroom. — continued

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/11/14/top/22172966.txt

[KTScarlettOkity]

:rose: For Michele...may she be in a place of comfort and safety. I pray her children and family find peace as well.

What a horrible story this is.

[Its just me]

:rose: For Michele...may she be in a place of comfort and safety. I pray her children and family find peace as well.

What a horrible story this is.

Bumping last post to get beyond stupid posted porn.