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LABOR OF LOVE!
What an August this has been. My amazement and wonder grow every day. An average of 1,133 visitors came to this site daily this month to find information on the Roseboro murder and Angela Funk. That number startles and amazes me – and also reminds me of my responsibility to do the best, most responsible job I can.
They come to this site because there is no where else to get information. Covering the Roseboro murder was the last thing on my mind – until the Lancaster Newspapers pulled down a photo of Angela Funk they had on their lancmoms.com website and closed and censored threads on their Talkback forum. I ran the picture of Angela Funk on this site and the people and the information began to pour in.
People who knew her and had information had no where to talk about her. The birth and growth of the Denver Online Forum (click here) is simply astonishing and has become the place to discuss the murder. The interest in this case is intense and people need to talk about it. People have to try to come to terms with it. A married man with four children allegedly kills his wife to be with his mistress.
People want information and the Lancaster Newspapers are giving them nothing. Emails began to pour in to me. It took me several days to respond to one – someone who said they were a family member and never liked Angie and knew a lot about her and wanted to talk more about it. The email address had me leery. It turned out to be a false coincidence. I reread it several days later and contacted the emailer. Could I call?
Yes, they said and they sent me their number. I did a reverse search and found it was a listed number and the name matched a family member I found while researching Funk’s family. I called.
They said they knew the day they sent me the email that Angela was pregnant. The unbelievable information flowed freely. Funk’s husband had a vasectomy so the child is Roseboro’s. Angela needed to be the center of attention and had a troubled history of dating married men. Her first marriage ended because she cheated. In between her first and current marriage she dated a number of married men. A member on the other side of the family contacted me and said it seemed like a game to Angela. They confirmed the pregnancy and that Randall Funk had a vasectomy.
Perhaps the most shocking and revealing item about Angela Funk came in this email:
I also know Randy found out she was pregnant, after your post....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!....Angie never told him anything till she had to.
I have come under criticism for using “anonymous sources”. That was my choice and I was never asked to keep their identity a secret (that is not true of the second source – they have asked to remain anonymous and both of them will until that time it is appropriate and if they agree to be named.)
I have attacked the Lancaster Newspapers repeatedly over their use of anonymous sources. One famous time was when Helen Colwell Adams of the Sunday news used direct quotes from unnamed “political insiders” and “people in the know” and “important Democrats” at least seven times in one article to attack then commissioner Molly Henderson.
The A.P. Statement of Values says this:
It means we always strive to identify all the sources of our information, shielding them with anonymity only when they insist upon it and when they provide vital information – not opinion or speculation; when there is no other way to obtain that information; and when we know the source is knowledgeable and reliable.
I believe I have met those standards. Again, it was my choice not to name one of the family members. I stand by that decision. There is no question they are who they say they are – they have vital information – and I believe them to be exceeding knowledgeable and reliable. This is obviously a difficult situation for all those involved, and to protect the individuals and maintain a flow of information, I am withholding their names.
I have stated the obvious before - only Angela Funk knows whether she is pregnant. But she told family members she is and that her test was positive. And time will certainly reveal whether this unbelievable development in this unbelievable case is the truth.
DEATH OF THE ERA
Some other updates today – the demise of the Lancaster New Era is imminent. It began in January with a combined Intell/New Era Saturday edition and in this Saturday’s edition there was this headline on page B1:
“Young promoted to sports editor of daily newspapers”
These are the opening two paragraphs:
Lancaster Newspapers Inc. has announced that Jeff Young has been promoted to the position of sports editor/daily. He will be responsible for the contents of the sports sections that appear in the Intelligencer Journal and Lancaster New Era during the week and the combined edition of the two papers on Saturday. He is currently sports editor of the Intelligencer Journal.
At the same time, Kevin Freeman, a sports writer for the Intell, and Philip Glatfelter, assistant sports editor of the New Era, have been named assistant sports editors/daily.
This one is pretty easy to read between the lines - there will only be one daily paper in Lancaster in the very near future. Yes, afternoon papers are dying in droves – but the Lancaster Newspapers brought this upon themselves (see “WRONGED” below on this site).
WE NEED YOU!
“We expect to be back next week. We will be bigger and better. We are planning to expand.”
That is Chris Hart-Nibbrig’s, co-publisher of the Lancaster Post, response in a phone call yesterday to as to whether the Post will publish again. They have a note on their site that they were tired and weary and took this week off. I certainly hope they will be back. We need them! Have a good rest and then let's get going guys! Hey, there's a story the Lancaster Newspapers are not covering...
FAITH MUGWE
I was covering the Faith Mugwe case when the Roseboro case intervened and overshadowed it. Mugwe is the black New Holland woman who threw a birthday party in her home for a friend. As a result of an alleged loud music call, Mugwe was thrown to the ground, pepper sprayed twice, taken in her bra to the hospital, tasered and subjected to an involuntary urinary catheterization with Officer Clingan standing in the room at Ephrata Community Hospital, charged with six offenses and thrown in the Lancaster County jail. The story is archived here.
She was scheduled to have her arraignment this Wednesday and her attorney, Peter McHugh left me this voicemail on Tuesday night:
What was supposed to go on this week was an arraignment and we had submitted what’s called a “Waiver of Arraignment” where she just entered her plea of not guilty to the charges and that would preclude her having to show up at the courthouse in Lancaster.
I will stay with this horrific story.
CONTEST!
LIPNews will not publish tomorrow. Have a great Labor Day! I will be back on Tuesday with the announcement of (gasp!) a new contest. It’s been a long time since the infamous “Find the Grand Jury” contest! Yes, I am pleased to publish that we will have a “Find a Minority at the Lancaster Newspapers” competition. Official rules and details on Tuesday. Wow!
~ With Roseboro’s Baby ~
ANGELA: STILL PREGNANT!
“Yes, she’s still pregnant,” a close family member of Angela Funk said today in a telephone conversation. They report that Angela started wearing baggy clothing in July, so time should tell us very shortly with absolute certainty whether Angela Funk is pregnant with Michael Roseboro’s baby. As reported here previously, Funk’s husband Randall had a vasectomy after their second daughter was born.
Several family members have reported that Angela and her husband are in counseling and reportedly the counselor told them they “don’t stand a chance.”
“She has no one sticking up for her,” the relative said. “She has no girlfriends. Nobody likes her.”
An “interesting” piece of information I was told before but verified again today, when Angela’s first daughter was born and when she a very young baby, Angela posed her for a picture with her middle finger up. “It was a family photo. She sent it to all of the family members,” they said.
It has also been reported to me that Angela’s only alibi for the night of the murder is being at home with her husband.
Angela reportedly works for an insurance company and began that job not long ago because she planned on leaving Funk. The relative reports that her affair with Roseboro had been going on for some time.
The relative said Angela lied to her own mother saying she never slept with Roseboro. When the news came out in the paper, Angela reportedly told her mother she got pregnant the afternoon of the murder when she and Roseboro had sex. The relative reiterated today that Angela has told people that she does not believe Michael Roseboro is guilty and that she hopes to be with him one day.
Please check back tomorrow for more on the Roseboro murder, commentary on Gil Smart and his blog post “Obama update: Still black,” and the demise of the Lancaster New Era. It will be gone very shortly…and will the Lancaster Post be back? This is on their site:
NOTE: Friday, August 29th
It's Labor Day Weekend and we took off this week - we are weary and resting just like you!
We will be back September 5.
LIPNews knows! Did you doubt it for a minute?
THE END OF THE ERA!
Please check back later today…
THE ANGELA AFFAIR?
Jack, this is Marv!
Marv who?
Jack, this is Marv Adams, your editor of the Sunday News.
You’re still the editor, Marv? I thought we took care of that problem. Oops! I mean hi, Marv! What’s up?
Jack, what should we do? We’re getting inundated with calls and emails about why we aren’t covering the Roseboro murder. Our readers want information.
What kind of information do they want, Marv?
Well, we’ve never even published a picture of Angela Funk or stated that this is her second marriage.
Marv, get a grip! I’ve told you never to mention her name to me.
Why, Jack? Why?
Marv, that’s personal and I’ve told you that.
And, Jack, it’s been reported that her first marriage ended because she cheated!
Not with me, Marv. Our affair was later…Oops! Scratch that, Marv. Hey, has that private investigator of Roseboro’s called you?
No, Jack. Why do you ask?
Well, he left me a message to call him. Tell everyone if he calls again to tell him I’m not in the office.
Fine, Jack. Now listen. This Roseboro thing could sell a lot of papers. Have you heard that Angela Funk is pregnant with Michael Roseboro’s baby? That’s big news, Jack. That's huge!
I’m just glad it’s not mine, Marv. Oops! Scratch that, Marv.
And people want to know where she was the night of the murder. What should we tell people, Jack?
Tell them the Lancaster Newspapers are above all of this. Yes, we put Gary Kirchner on the front page with his guinea pigs. Yes, we ran a picture of a black grandmother accused of stealing a hundred dollar bill from a casino floor on the front page. And, of course, you put Smart’s story about the Quarryville lesbian on the front page that got us sued, Marv. But just tell them we’re above all this and we will wait for the trial. Geez, I hope I don’t get called to testify.
Why would you be called to testify, Jack?
That’s why I like you, Marv. You really pick up on things! I know what we can do to sell papers and take the readers’ minds off this Roseboro thing! We can put up a video promo of Smart! He looks like Angela's brother.
Do you think that’s wise, Jack? Gil has a big nose and no lips. I’m not sure video is the way we should go…
Listen, Marv. This is brilliant. He’s the newspapers’ great liberal. We have a black man running for president. We are being questioned about our minority hiring practices. This will throw them off the track. We'll kill two birds with one Smart. Make sure there are nice pictures of his wife and babies in the background, Marv. People love that stuff.
But, Jack, if we run a video promo about his upcoming column, why would anyone buy the paper? They’ll know he’s going to be saying the same stupid thing he said last week and the week before and the week before that and…
Marv, I’m the boss here. Have you seen the sign on my desk? It says, “Boss.” Marv, this Angela thing really has me in a funk. We need to get the readers’ minds off it and why we aren’t covering the murder. Let’s get Smart and put up a video. Do you think lipstick would help the no lips problem?
He looks gay enough all ready, Jack.
That was a good one, Marv! Maybe you’re smarter than I thought. Let me take this other call…Oh, no! It’s that private investigator…Listen, Al – I never had sex with that woman. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it. You still there, Marv? Al wants to talk to you next.
Al, this is Marv. I never had sex with that woman. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
Gil, this is Marv. Do you have any pictures of your wife and kids?
Somewhere, Marv. Why do you ask?
Put them up pronto and come into my office. We’re going to take the public’s mind off the Roseboro murder and sell some papers!
Oh, goody, Marv! I’ll be there in a minute. I have to put on some lip…Oops! I mean I have to comb my hair. 
ANGELA FUNK, GIL SMART AND OBAMA ARE COMING LATER TODAY…
~ Allan Sodomsky ~
IT WILL ALL COME OUT
”That’s an excellent question but you’ll have to ask the police. Why don’t you call and ask them? I would like to hear their answer.”
That was Alllan Sodomsky’s answer to my question whether the $40,000 in Jan Roseboro’s jewelry he alleged was missing has been found.
Sodomsky returned a phone call I placed Tuesday afternoon. He is Michael Roseboro’s defense attorney with a practice based in Reading, PA. Roseboro has been charged with the murder of his wife, Jan, on July 22 of this year in their home in Reinholds.
Several weeks ago, Sodomsky held a press conference to declare that Roseboro is innocent and in a prepared statement given to the press said, “It would be premature for me to comment on allegations without having the opportunity to more fully investigate. However, it is important in an adversarial system that the playing field be level. We believe that the extensive coverage of the government’s position has created the potential for community bias. As such, we believe this statement is necessary.”
In our phone conversation, Sodomsky revealed very little, repeatedly saying something very close to this direct quote from his statement: “It is not our intention to try Michael in the polls of public opinion. To do so would belittle our constitution and freedom that protects all of us.”
But Sodomsky obviously enjoys the press and their interest and said he has been contacted by reporters from around the country and he knew exactly which press organizations had printed his statement in full and those who have video of his conference on their sites.
The one question that seemed to catch him honestly off guard was when I asked him if he was aware that Angela Funk was pregnant with Roseboro’s baby. He said, “I’ve heard a lot of things but not that. That would certainly be interesting. It will all come out. It will all come out at a later date.”
He would not answer any questions about Roseboro’s prison experience or how often the two are in contact, citing client confidentiality.
When asked whether a private investigator had been hired, Sodomsky answered, “Michael Roseboro has gathered a team of professionals to investigate who murdered his wife.”
When asked whether Roseboro would attend the preliminary hearing scheduled for September 26, or possibly waive it, Sodomsky said, “That decision will be made later. It will depend on the conditions and status of the case in a month.”
Sodomsky repeatedly answered questions about Angela Funk and others with the answer, “It will all come out.”
Questioned about a possible plea bargain in the case, Sodomsky did not rule it out – but did indicate strongly that he fully expects the case to go to trial.
The opening of his written statement, which has been widely quoted, states this:
“Contrary to published reports and widespread speculation, Michael Roseboro did not kill his wife. In fact, upon finding her in their family pool, Michael did everything in his power to seek medical assistance and to revive his wife. Despite rumors of marital discord, Michael and Jan were married for nineteen years and had four children together. It goes without saying that this tragedy has deeply devastated Michael and his children. Being separated from his children has made the situation even worse. Michael is assembling a team of professionals and experts to investigate and get to the truth of what actually took place that evening.” One other note - they've started a thread about me (gasp!) on Lancaster Online. Since I don't have time to respond to everything here - I'm answering them on DenverPaOnline (click here). Ain't life grand! What a blast!
THE ART OF LAWYERIN’ IS COMING LATER TODAY…
~ Tell Us! ~
WHO HAVE YOU
BEEN TALKING TO?
I feel extremely sorry for Becky - I think she may be mentally ill. I could go on and on about how her family says how crazy she is and her family says this and her family says that about her…
Posted by “vicky” on the Lancaster Talkback forum yesterday on a thread about LIPNews.
Before I make my regular post today, I wanted to address this piece of garbage. Let’s examine this in detail. What members of my family does this person know?
My brother, Tom, whom I haven’t seen in over five years, and who criminally molested his younger brother and molested his foster brother, is in Botswana, Africa and has been for several years. Is he the one telling you I’m crazy?
His twin, Emily, I haven’t seen in over six years since the Thanksgiving my memories came back. She lives in Vermont. She has known Tom is a pedophile for years and knew about his molesting Steve - but never told the rest of the family. Is that who you’ve been talking to?
My brother, Steve, who was criminally molested by Tom when he was 13, lives in Massachusetts and I haven’t seen him in over six years. One of the last times I spoke to him was on a conference call with all of my brothers and sisters. My mother had been “ill” for all most nine weeks (long story) and my father was not letting her talk to her children and wasn’t giving out any information. Steve (who hadn't seen my parents in over three years) said he would drive the eight hours to their house unannounced so he could find out what was going on and personally check on our mother’s health. The question was raised that my father might block the door and not let him in and what would he do? Steve said my father was old and he was stronger and he would push my father out of the way. Does that sound like a normal family to you? Is that who you’ve been talking to?
Quyen, my “foster” brother lives in Virginia and I haven’t seen him in over six years since the Thanksgiving my memories returned. My parents sponsored him as a Vietnamese refugee when he was in his teens. He was also molested by Tom. He's lived a heterosexual lifestyle since. Is that who you’ve been talking to?
My sister, Anne, lives in Minnesota and has modeled herself after my mother. She has the most contact and has visited Lancaster many times recently to see my parents. She is also the only sibling I have had contact with in years and I have seen her several times and she did me a huge favor. I also wrote about her on my site (click here for “A JOURNEY OF PAIN”). Is that who you’ve been talking to?
Have you been talking to my cousin Phil who lives in Lancaster? He is the son of my father’s brother who also taught at F&M his whole life. Phil's sister, June, said her father molested her and she committed suicide several years ago. Her father was known in family circles to have a huge pornography collection – and numerous affairs. Is that who you’ve been talking to?
He’s the only “close” relative I have in Lancaster except my parents. Is that who you’ve been talking to? How do the (fraudulent) anthropologist and the Radcliffe graduate explain what went on in their family? By saying I am mentally ill? And that explains the whole thing?
I figure, Vicky, you are a complete fraud who wants attention or you are an incest loving Lancaster Quaker. Have some guts, "vicky," and tell us who you’ve been talking to.
ALLAN L. SODOMSKY - LATER TODAY…
A CHANGE OF PACE
I received the below email at 3:33 pm today. Thank you so much. Everyone who comes to my site immediately sees the link to the incest story above. It will never come down. Look at what sexual abuse did to a ten-year old girl (see "CALL THE DA" immediately below on this site).
I've had several grueling days, but have much more time in the next week and I will pick up on the Roseboro case and much more beginning tomorrow. The subject of, and the book, “A Murder in Paradise,” has been raised on several threads on DenverPaOnline.com (click here). I will have something to say about that this week as well. Thank you again to the emailer for writing.
Becky,
I took some time and read through some of your site, but concentrated most on your story of incest. I can't say how touched I was and I am so sorry you have gone through this. I don't recall any incest in my family but I am a survivor of being with a man with severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I survived six years of abuse. I slowly lost my self esteem, my power, my self-trust. When you wrote about having to validate what is normal with your therapist, it brought tears to my eyes. The world I was living in was so dysfunctional I had to write it all down and then bounce it off of others to make sure I wasn't crazy in how I felt about it.
My experience in no way is as deep and hurtful as yours. But I have to send you my utmost respect. You've done what you need to do to let the dirty secret see the light of day. And you've endured people disregarding you. After all, "They'll never believe you." The wrong ones never will, Becky. And the right ones will never let you fall.
I've been thinking about you and your experience all day and just had to say this to you. Some of us "get it". Keep going, and keep healing.
Hugs
(717) 299-8100
CALL THE DA!
I am in the process of contacting every major news station. Please do the same.
Posted on the Lancaster Talkback forum today under the article “When children face charges,” (click here),
Please do the same. Contact everyone you know about this story. Call the District Attorney’s office and tell them this is sick and disgusting and outrageous. Call (717) 299-8100 and ask for District Attorney Craig Stedman.
When are they going to help this girl? Ten-year-old girls don't molest other girls unless they have been molested themselves! Get this child help!
Please check back later today
NICE WIFE?
A few quick notes today:
Randall Funk turned 40-years-old this weekend and a planned surprise birthday party organized by Angela Funk for Saturday was apparently cancelled. There was no activity at their Denver home where the party was to be held.
An excellent source states the Roseboro children are living in their family home in Reinhold’s with Jan Roseboro’s sister, Sue. They say the younger Roseboro children will continue to attend Denver Elementary School – the youngest going into the first grade. This is the same school where the Funk’s oldest daughter will be attending kindergarten this year.
It’s reported that Michael Roseboro’s attorney, Allan Sodomsky, has hired the Private Detective Firm of Schade Investigative Services in Reading to investigate Jan Roseboro’s murder. Allan Sodomsky returned a phone call I placed to him last week this morning, but so far we have not been able to touch base. Hopefully we will do so tomorrow.
This email in from a close family relative of the Funks:
When I first was told that Angie was the other woman, I was actually surprised but that emotion was short lived and then it was like "I guess some things never change". She cheated on her first husband with a married man and of course we all know that ended in divorce. She then had a few more husbands -just not her husbands. She then met Randy which was probably the first single guy she had dated since her divorce. The relationships she had with the married men always seemed like a game to her. After she married Randy, who by the way had a little bit of money stashed away, and they bought their first house, which was paid for with cash, so that when they had children she could be a stay at home Mom and raise their kids. Randy was 31, never left home, quiet guy who never really spent any of his money and had saved up about $400,000.00. A very nice thank you.... you buy a house, I stay home to take care of the kids, and then I decide to cheat on you and get pregnant at the same time. Geez, nice wife.
Finally, thank you to everyone for your emails and I am so sorry that I have not had a chance to respond to so many of you. My schedule today is crazy, but tomorrow and Wednesday it will lighten up and I hope to get back to all of you. And that includes Carl! Carl, how the heck are you? I’m so glad you wrote.
Please check back tomorrow…
~ Angela Funk! ~
IN THE LIMELIGHT!
I know she was at the beach when the police came to her. I understand she has been cooperative since that point. I don't know why it was reported that she came forward on her own. She did not come forward. She doesn't believe Mike committed this murder or that she has any part in the murder so why would she come forward? There was another question as to whether she reads this forum. I am assuming she does since I know for a fact she has been reading lipnews. I don't think you can read one without reading the other. :) Bigdenverguy has her down to a tee. Bigdenverguy, do you also think a small part of her is enjoying the limelight?.... because I do. I bet she is also wondering why people aren't calling her and consoling her after all she has been through.
Posted on the DenverPaOnline forum under the "Roseboro case" thread (click here).
Wow! Hello, Angie! Would you like to make a public statement? I think it might be a good idea and I’d be more than happy to publish it for you. Let’s talk…
Please check back later today…
~ Bye Ad & Marv! ~
Angela Funk
WRONGED!
Maybe you've heard. Maybe you've taken satisfaction in it. The newspaper industry as we know it is on the ropes.
Ad Crable of the New Era in a column on August 18 |
