Relatives sue over corpse photographs

        Thirteen families Wednesday sued the photographer and a former assistant coroner who were convicted of gross abuse of corpses in the Hamilton County morgue.

        Their suit — seeking unspecified damages — was filed in U.S. District Court by attorneys Stanley M. Chesley and Alphonse A. Gerhardstein.

        Defendants are Hamilton County, photographer Thomas Condon, Dr. Jonathan Tobias, his former boss, Coroner Carl Parrott, and unnamed individuals.

        Mr. Chesley said the prosecution “merely scratched the surface” and more bodies probably were abused than came out in court.

        Judge S. Arthur Spiegel was asked to certify Wednesday's suit as a class action so that all of the families' and at least 200 relatives' claims can be handled at once.

        The 10 claims in Wednesday's complaint range from intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating property and privacy rights and due process of law to conspiracy and negligence.
       

Fatal crash ends chase on interstate

        Douglas L. Boyd, 38, of Metamora, Ind., abducted his estranged wife Tuesday night,led police on a high-speed, 34-mile chase, tossed his wife from the car, crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer rig and died instantly, police said.

        "He obviously did not want to get caught by police. He was driving very recklessly,” said Lt. Michael Black of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Hamilton post.

| ZOOM | HOLIDAY TRADITION: A model steam locomotive awaits its assignment on the tracks of the 57th annual Cinergy-CSX Holiday Train Show. The display is being set up in the lobby of the Cinergy building on Fourth Street. (Dick Swaim photos)

Adding to an old mine in the display are (from left) Mike Crone of Fairfield, Greg Brandt of Colerain Township and Ray McClure of Harrison. The display will be open Nov. 23 to Dec. 31. | ZOOM |

        Mr. Boyd's wife, Tammy, received minor bruises. The tractor-trailer driver, Resad Alic, 47, of Royal Oak, Mich., was not injured.

        According to Lt. Black, deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Indiana alerted state troopers of Mrs. Boyd's abduction at 10:48 p.m. and told them that Mr. Boyd was quickly approaching the Ohio state line on eastbound Interstate 74.

        More law enforcers were pursuing Mr. Boyd when he headed south on Interstate 275. Mr. Boyd turned around in the median at the Kilby Road interchange, pushing his wife out of the car and onto the grass.

        He continued north on I-275 and then west on I-74, then entered eastbound traffic lanes and crashed into the semi.
       

Pilarczyk given liturgical award

        Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk was honored in October for his contributions to the liturgy of the Catholic Church. The Federation of Diocesan Liturgy Commissions presented him with the Frederick R. McManus Award for leadership in U.S. liturgical renewal.
       

Play at Hillel recalls Kristallnacht

        Friday marks the anniversary of Kristallnacht, or “the night of broken glass.” On Nov. 9 and 10 in 1938, Nazi soldiers attacked Jews and destroyed synagogues and businesses in Germany.

        The Cincinnati Hillel Jewish Student Center will observe the anniversary with a one-woman play, Snow People, the story of a woman confronting the Nazis who stole her grandfather's priceless manuscripts.

        The play is free and open to the public. Curtains open at 7:30 tonight at the Hillel center, 2615 Clifton Ave. Information: 513-221-6728.
       

Ministering to the mentally ill is topic

        Area clergy are invited to a seminar today to learn more about ministering to people affected by mental illnesses. The Faith Council of the Mental Health Association of the Cincinnati Area is hosting the workshop, “Finding a Place: the mental health consumer and the faith community.”

        It runs 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 318 Fourth St. Cost is $20. Information: 513-287-8540, ext. 14.
       

Driver accused in trooper death in court

        COLUMBUS — Bail was denied Wednesday for a man accused of hitting and killing an Ohio State Highway Patrol officer with his vehicle.

        David Dye, 33, of Westerville, pleaded innocent in Franklin County Municipal Court to a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. The second-degree felony carries a maximum eight-year prison term. Mr. Dye is accused of killing Frank Vazquez, 26, of Marysville, on the berm of Interstate 270. Mr. Dye's sport-utility vehicle hit the cruiser, sending it into the trooper and the car he had stopped, the patrol said.

        Patrol spokesman Lt. Gary Lewis said preliminary blood-alcohol tests indicated Mr. Dye had been drinking before the accident. He would not release blood-alcohol figures. However, the Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday that initial results put Mr. Dye's blood-alcohol level at 0.43 percent, more than four times the legal limit.
       

Two banks robbed; one suspect charged

        Robbers hit two Firstar banks Wednesday — one in Springfield Township and one in Westwood.

        Johnnie Boone, 49, of the 3300 block of Woodburn Avenue, Evanston, was arrested at his residence and charged with aggravated robbery. Police said witnesses identified him as the man who held up the Firstar branch on Winton Road earlier Wednesday.

        About 2:35 p.m., a man entered the Firstar branch at 3186 Harrison Ave., Westwood, and demanded $100 and $50 bills, Cincinnati police said. The man obtained an undisclosed amount and fled on foot.

        The robber is described as white, 17-21 years old, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8, 120-130 pounds, with blond hair. He was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt with gold design and lettering on the front, black jogging pants and black and white Nike gym shoes.

        Anyone with information is asked to call the Cincinnati homicide unit at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

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