Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jul 2001
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2001, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Author: The Associated Press

PROBATION OFFICER SAYS SHE DIDN'T KNOW DELONG WAS INFORMANT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Richard DeLong's probation officer testified Monday 
that she never knew DeLong was working as a police informant and wouldn't 
have allowed it had she known.

DeLong, 37, of Joplin, has been convicted of five counts of first-degree 
murder for killing Erin Vanderhoef, her unborn baby and three children. 
Jurors are weighing whether to sentence him to the death penalty or life in 
prison.

DeLong's attorneys have said their client lived as a police informant from 
1993 to 1999, supplying drug information to police while he used 
methamphetamine himself.

Defense attorneys claim DeLong was kept out of prison by police and 
prosecutors who wanted his information.

Probation officer Kathleen Faddis testified Monday that she has never given 
a client permission to work as a confidential informant.

She said probation officials don't want probationers to be in the criminal 
community getting information or buying drugs for police.

Police Sgt. Troy Smith, who used DeLong as an informant, testified that 
officers aren't responsible for the well-being of informants. He also said 
he didn't know at the time that DeLong was on probation.

Public defender Cynthia Short has said testimony this week is intended to 
humanize DeLong.

Prosecutors have said that DeLong was involved in a love triangle with 
girlfriend Stacie Leffingwell and Vanderhoef.

DeLong had decided to marry Leffingwell after learning that she was 
terminally ill with AIDS, but Vanderhoef wanted to continue their 
relationship and wouldn't leave them alone. So DeLong and Leffingwell, 
along with co-defendant Harold "Bobby" Lingle, plotted to kill Vanderhoef 
and her children, Green County Prosecutor Darrell Moore has said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager