Submitted by kpaul.mallasch on Fri, 09/14/2007 - 2:04am.
Cities: MuncieCounties: Delaware CountyMFP Tags: Muncie Star Press, The Star PressTopics: Crime / PoliceTypes: News
Cities: MuncieCounties: Delaware CountyMFP Tags: Muncie Star Press, The Star PressTopics: Crime / PoliceTypes: News
Fake Obituary Published in The Star Press
MUNCIE, IN - According to an Associated Press article at The Indy Star, investigators are looking into whether a false obituary for Shawnda K. Hatfield was published in The Star Press to avoid prosecution for forgery charges.
Kathy Whittenburg, an employee of The Star Press, was quoted as saying someone claiming to be Hatfield's niece called and left a phone number that was supposedly from a Florida crematory.
There's no word on whether The Star Press' classified department called to verify that the obituary was legitimate.
From the article:
But Hatfield, 41, was later found at her home in nearby Dunkirk and arrested by a bail bondsman after rumors began circulating that she was alive. Barnet sentenced her to four years in prison Thursday for altering a check drawn on the account of White Feather Farms, where she formerly worked.
More details as they arrive.
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The Star Press (Gannett) Obituaries
Where to start on this one?
1) Did they get money for the obituary?
2) Did someone call to verify the information? Are any of the obituaries verified? What percentage of obituaries running through The Star Press are verified?
3) I knew they'd eventually have problems when the obituaries went from the NEWSroom (fact checkers, etc.) to the CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING department. Sure, they're getting money from them now, but...
4) Will this story run 'above the fold' on The Star Press? Will there be an apology?
I will eventually have obituaries on Muncie Free Press, but don't have the clout or resources to do it at the moment.
The Star Press Threads
On the forums here and here...
Here's the story they did (which doesn't explain if the obit was checked before being published)... Also, I know they eventually put their content behind a paid wall, so the error will go away on the site after a while...
-kpaul (MFP!!!!)
Obit Answers
Here's what I've been able to find out...
1) It wasn't a paid obit, it was one of the free ones - which is why it was only one graf
2) It still sounds like they didn't call the funeral home to verify this one. No straight answer as to whether they check (via calling) every obituary or just suspicious ones, etc.
3) not really a question. heh.
4) it ran on A1 in print, which is good. It got below the fold play online, and slipped off the front page after 12 to 24 hours. Not sure how long it will be available before it goes behind their paid content wall. The news (as well as all the other stories) will be archived here for free for as long as the Lord wants it here on the web.
I'm surprised this didn't get more conversation going...
-kpaul
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