A new charge of attempted murder will be filed against a NASA astronaut who allegedly drove from Houston to Central Florida -- armed with a BB gun and wearing diapers -- as part of a bizarre plot related to a possible love triangle, officials said.
Lisa Nowak, who already faced lesser charges and had been expected to be released on bail, was still being held this afternoon and will be charged with attempted first-degree murder, officials said shortly after noon.
''Nowak said that she just wanted to talk to the victim,'' said Barbara Jones, a spokeswoman for the Orlando Police Department. 'But everything we found associated with it puts it in a different perspective than `I just want to talk to you.' '' ...
...According to a police affidavit, Nowak drove 900 miles from Houston to Orlando, donned a wig and a trench coat and was armed with a BB gun, pepper spray and other equipment when she confronted Colleen Shipman shortly after 3 a.m. Monday at Orlando International Airport's Blue Satellite Parking Lot.
''Somebody looked at the details based on the facts that she had a steel mallet, a brand new four-inch knife and rubber tubing,'' Jones said. ``They decided that the additional charge should be added.''
Nowak believed that Shipman, an Air Force captain stationed at Patrick Air Force Base near the Kennedy Space Center, was a rival for the affections of Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, according to the affidavit.
Nowak, who triumphantly lifted off from the space center on a shuttle mission last summer, appeared at a hearing earlier this morning in shackles and a blue prison uniform. She kept her head bowed throughout the appearance and rarely spoke.
... he 43-year-old Nowak is married and has three children -- a 14-year-old son and twin 5-year-old daughters. Her husband, Richard, works for NASA as a flight controller.
According to the police report, Nowak said she and Oefelein were involved in a relationship that ``was categorized as more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship.''
The ambiguity of that statement left open the possibility that neither Oefelein nor Shipman were aware of Nowak's feelings.
Okay, now here's where it really gets crazy:
According to the affidavit, Shipman told police that she spotted Nowak stalking her, heard ''running footsteps'' as Shipman entered her car and became particularly alarmed when Nowak slapped on the window and attempted to open the door.
''Can you help me please?'' Nowak allegedly asked Shipman. ``My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up and he is not here.''
Shipman told police that she refused, but opened her window about two inches after Nowak began to cry. At that point, Shipman said, Nowak sprayed her with a chemical substance, apparently pepper spray.
Shipman drove hurriedly away and sought help from police officers.
Within a few minutes, officers detained Nowak, who matched a description provided by Shipman.
Police said they also found a wig and a trench coat used as a disguise, a folding knife with a four-inch blade, six Latex gloves, at least three feet of rubber tubing and several large garbage bags.
They said Nowak denied that she was attempting to kidnap Shipman, saying she only wanted to speak to the other woman.
Asked about the alleged use of pepper spray, Nowak reportedly told officers: ``That was stupid.''
Police said Nowak told officers that she wore adult diapers during the long drive from Houston so she wouldn't have to stop to use bathrooms. Shuttle astronauts wear similar diapers during launches and landings.
Diapers, man ... diapers...
Oh, my damn, now I suppose the Seniors who wear Depends lobby will be blog-whining to the New York Times and demanding an apology. I guess I'll get started writing one...
Next up in 'The Week in Crazy': Charlize Theron wants to make out with Rick Sanchez! ... and she's going to teach you about hip-hop...
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dim done
done = request.form("done")
if done = "" then
done = "No"
%>
Tell a friend
<%
Else
if request.form("done") = "Yes" then
'sets variables
dim email, sendmail
email = request.form("email")
Set sendmail = Server.CreateObject("CDONTS.NewMail")
'put the webmaster address here
sendmail.From = "webmaster@aspbasics.com"
'The mail is sent to the address entered in the previous page.
sendmail.To = email
'Enter the subject of your mail here
sendmail.Subject = "Check out this website"
'send a specific page or send a site url
dim url
'url = Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")
url = "http://www.aspbasics.net"
'This is the content of the message.
sendmail.Body = "Site recommendation from a friend!" & _
vbCrlf & vbCrlf & "A friend has sent you this email and thought you would should check out this site." & _
vbCrlf & url & vbCrlf
'this sets mail priority.... 0=low 1=normal 2=high
sendmail.Importance = 1
sendmail.Send 'Send the email!
response.redirect Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")
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End if
End if
%>
"[T]he practice of arbitrary imprisonments, have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.' Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 84, August, 1788
