GUILTY IN - Tara Willenborg, 17, raped & murdered, Clarksville, 2 March 2013

We're leaning more about the murder of a Clarksville teenager. The Clark County Coroner said 17-year-old Tara Willenberg died from asphyxia, pending toxicology results and the medical examiner's complete report.

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According to the database, he was convicted of sexual battery and residential entry last year.
Police say it appeared the teen put up a fight before she was killed.

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MissSunshine said:

RIP Tara. Here is info about Tara, her funeral, and how you can help the family.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...amily.html?soid=1110705357289&aid=LTPsbIqrQjs

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The 49-year-old man accused of raping, strangling and killing a 17-year-old girl in a Clarksville apartment had eluded police for months on outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court and provide a correct address as a registered sex offender.

Clarksville Police on Saturday arrested Richard Hooten, 49, charging him with the murder of Tara Willenborg. Police since have added several other charges, including rape, criminal deviant conduct, sexual battery, criminal confinement and strangulation.

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Stewart has three days from Monday’s initial court appearance to file formal charges. He declined to comment on many specifics of the case — and whether he will seek the death penalty against Hooten — until the formal charges are filed.

“Everything is on the table at this point,” Stewart said.

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According to information posted on Clark County’s sex-offender website, Hooten was convicted of rape in Georgia in 1993. He is listed as a “sexually violent predator.”

Georgia Department of Corrections’ online records show Hooten served 13 years and two months of a 15-year prison sentence for rape, two counts of aggravated sodomy and aggravated assault. He was released in April 2006.

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In March 2009, Hooten was convicted of sexual battery in Clark County and sentenced to one year in prison, according to the sex-offender registry.

Police said Hooten’s driver’s license has a Memphis, Ind., address and he registered his address with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office as Crest Motel in Clarksville. He also was known to have lived in Louisville.

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Neighbors provided police with Hooten’s description and first name, police said. He was picked up while walking on Eastern Boulevard, less than a mile from where Willenberg was found, and police then discovered a warrant for his arrest on parole and probation violations.

“We were just looking in the area, hoping that he might still be around,” Rayborrn said. “We knew he had left on foot.”

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According to a probable-cause affidavit, Hooten, who has previously been charged with sex crimes, admitted to police that he forcibly raped and strangled Willenborg.

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Police spoke with a woman who lives across the hall from Willenborg’s apartment. The woman told police she is Hooten’s girlfriend, but she didn’t know his last name. The woman also said Hooten works at a furniture store in Louisville, but she didn’t know the name of the business. She told police that Hooten often stays in her apartment.

Willenborg’s boyfriend told police that he sold Hooten alcohol Friday, according to the affidavit. The boyfriend also said that he had talked Willenborg about 11:30 p.m. Friday, and Willenborg had told him she had sold more alcohol to Hooten and another man in the neighboring apartment.

Hooten’s girlfriend told police that Willenborg’s boyfriend came to her apartment at about 3 a.m. Saturday wanting to call 911, at which time Hooten “grabbed his clothes and left the apartment,” according to the affidavit.

A physical description of Hooten was given to officers, and he was later found Saturday walking along Eastern Boulevard and taken into custody.

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The visitation for Willenborg will be at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarksville from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Luke's United Church of Christ. The family is requesting that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the Jeffersonville Animal Protection Association.
Thoughts and condolences go out to Willenborg's fiancé, family, and friends during this tragic time. Online condolences can be made at chapmanfuneralhome.net.

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As a 17-year-old Clarksville girl was laid to rest Wednesday afternoon, the man accused of her slaying faced a judge.

Richard Hooten, 49, appeared in court, where he was officially charged in Tara Willenborg's death.

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On Wednesday, police expanded their investigation of Hooten.

Clarksville police and Indiana State Police searched for evidence behind a Memphis, Ind., home where Hooten once had rental property.

Police could not say what they were looking for, but Hooten was taken out of jail to lead detectives there and the search may involve another crime.

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