U. S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), author of the unanimously-passed Senate resolution (S. Res. 609) which called on Cuba to immediately and unconditionally release American citizen Alan Gross, released the following statement today on the 4th Anniversary of Mr. Gross’ arrest in Havana, Cuba:

“Today marks the fourth anniversary of Alan Gross’s arrest in Cuba. For four years, Alan has been unjustly detained and punished for seeking to help a small, peaceful, non-dissident Jewish community access the Internet.

“I have not yet had the privilege to meet Alan, but I know his wife Judy, and my heart is filled with a great sadness knowing the pain Judy, Alan and their family have endured these past four years. As fellow Americans and human beings, we all share in their sadness and determination to bring Alan home.

“While their suffering continues, they are not alone in their fight for family and for justice. The United States Senate has made clear its wish that Alan be immediately released and allowed to return home to the United States. This is the sense of both the body and the citizens it represents – the wish of the American people.

“Today I reiterate this call to President Obama, asking him to do everything he can to deliver Alan from his state of detention in Cuba. This is about freedom, and family, and an American son. It’s well past time for Alan to return to the United States. I look forward with great anticipation to meeting Alan and welcoming him home. Let us not tire in our efforts until that day when Alan is free and his family is reunited.”

Alan Gross was arrested on December 3, 2009, and after a two-day trial, was given a 15-year prison sentence by Cuban authorities for facilitating communications between Cuba’s Jewish community and the rest of the world. Mr. Gross was in Cuba working as a sub-contractor for the United States Agency for International Development, helping a small, peaceful, non-dissident community. He was doing the type of work he had done his whole career in international development – helping others in need.

A 64-year-old husband and father, Mr. Gross has lost more than 100 pounds since his arrest and suffers from severe degenerative arthritis that affects his mobility, as well as other health problems. Members of his family have also faced serious illnesses during this time.

Tuesday 10 a.m. (AP) — Authorities have identified a third deceased victim found at a Topeka home but have yet to identify a suspect or motive.

A fourth person remains hospitalized.

Topeka police identified the victim as 34-year-oled Tamesha Lee of Topeka. Her body and those of two men were found Sunday in a home not far from Washburn University.

Authorities have released few details and haven’t said how the three people were killed.

The investigation began with the shooting of 45-year-old Carla Jean Avery, who was found behind a Topeka restaurant with gunshot wound. Police say Tuesday that she remained in critical condition.

Police traced Avery’s movements back to the home where the three bodies were found. The other victims were Avery’s brother and her ex-husband.

 

 

 

(AP) — Police say an investigation into a shooting that left a woman wounded in Topeka has led to the discovery of three bodies at another location.

Lt. Scott Gilchrist said in a news release late Sunday night that the victims were three adults. Their names were not immediately released and police didn’t say how they are believed to have died.

Gilchrist said the woman whose gunshot injury initiated the investigation was found Sunday afternoon behind a restaurant. He said she had sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital.

It’s not clear whether police have a suspect. No other details were included in the news release and Gilchrist did not immediately return a phone message to The Associated Press for comment.