Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Process server is beaten, stabbed to death

Rocky Mountain News - Bill Scanlon

A 45-year-old man used a baseball bat and a knife to kill the process server who had just handed him divorce papers, and then used his hands to choke his two children into unconsciousness, Larimer County sheriff's deputies said Thursday.

The process server who was bludgeoned and stabbed to death Wednesday night was identified as Stephen D. Allen, 57, of Fort Collins.

James Scott Whitler, 45, is being held without bail in Larimer County Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder and child abuse.

Larimer County deputies said they saw Whitler strangling his own children as they entered Whitler's home near Loveland.

Allen, the process server, had just given Whitler divorce papers and a restraining order at the house in the 4900 block of Glade Drive when the attacks occurred, sheriff's officials say.

Witnesses said Whitler left the room before the attacks, supposedly to gather his personal property. When he returned, he attacked the process server with a baseball bat.

It took two Taser shots to subdue Whitler, deputies said.

The 10- and 12-year- old children were taken to Medical Center of the Rockies. Their conditions have not been released. Whitler's wife, Lisa, also was injured in the incident, deputies said.

Two weeks ago, Lisa Whitler had called the sheriff about disturbing text messages sent to her phone by her husband, sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said.

Four days ago, James Whitler told deputies that his wife was out of control and that the children did not want to go with her.

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Process server is beaten, stabbed to death

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