BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Police have strong evidence that Middletown dismemberment-killing suspect James Lawson may have fled to California at least twice this summer -- both trips after police searches of his home, a federal court document says.
Witnesses told police Mr. Lawson left town June 10 and again in mid-August, FBI Special Agent Terence F. Moran says in a sworn statement used to obtain a federal fugitive warrant for Mr. Lawson late Wednesday.
Mr. Lawson's alleged departures occurred soon after police searches of his Garfield Street home, where Cheryl Ann Durkin, 34, is believed to have been killed in late February. Ms. Durkin's torso was found in the Great Miami River in April; other parts were found buried at sites in Preble County and Indiana on Tuesday.
One "cooperating witness" wore a recording device to a late July meeting with Mr. Lawson -- and while police watched, Mr. Lawson displayed a fake identification card and said he was going to California, "indicating he had sufficient funds to support himself," Mr. Moran's affidavit says.
The affidavit says Mr. Lawson's aunt lives in Temple City, Calif. -- and police there are following up on information provided about Mr. Lawson, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Rod Kusch said Thursday. They're also comparing the case to other unsolved murders in that area to see whether there's any connection, he said.
Mr. Lawson's mother, Ellen Peck, 46, has already been arrested as her son's alleged accomplice. She led police to some of Ms. Durkin's remains, and, according to Mr. Moran's statement, told police her son may have fled to California, Kentucky or West Virginia "to elude law enforcement authorities."
Authorities said they would consider reducing Ms. Peck's $1 million bond if her son surrenders. She faces a charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Meanwhile, the Butler County Sheriff's Office and Middletown police, who have been conducting a joint probe of Ms. Durkin's murder, say they are fielding many possible leads.
Hundreds of citizens have called the sheriff's office -- and people keep stopping deputies on the street, trying to provide tips which might lead to Mr. Lawson's capture, said Sheriff's Maj. Rick Sizemore.
"There's been an outpouring of information from people in our local area, but unfortunately none of those leads has panned out," Maj. Sizemore said Thursday.
"I think there's a great number of people who are trying to provide information because of the nature of the case, the nature of how Ms. Durkin met her end."
Citizens are expressing "great concern" that Mr. Lawson remains free while accused of such a heinous crime, Maj. Sizemore said.
Publicity on the case also has generated numerous calls to Middletown police, said Maj. Greg Schwarber, adding, "We want to encourage those to keep coming, because I'm sure somebody knows where he is."
Ben Kaufman contributed to this report.
