The Arcata Police Department is preparing to submit its investigation into the 2017 stabbing death of David Josiah Lawson to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office this week and Interim Police Chief Richard Ehle says he thinks there is “unequivocal physical evidence” linking a specific suspect to Lawson’s death. Ehle declined to discuss the evidence […]
Charmaine Lawson
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Rossbacher to Step Down at HSU
Humboldt State University announced today that President Lisa Rossbacher will retired at the end of this academic year, bringing an end to a short but controversial tenure. According to the release, Rossbacher will spend the remainder of her time at the campus focusing on the goals she outlined in her fall welcome address, including “the […]
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Dozens Gather to Remember Josiah Lawson at Beach Vigil
Approximately 30 people gathered in Manila yesterday to celebrate the life of David Josiah Lawson, the Humboldt State University sophomore fatally stabbed at an off-campus party April 15, 2017. Seventeen months later Lawson’s killing remains unsolved. Saturday’s vigil was led by Lawson’s mother, Charmaine Lawson, and was held at his favorite local beach, near the […]
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Students Rally, Plan Vigil for #JusticeforJosiah
A few dozen people gathered on the Humboldt State University quad yesterday as a part of a rally to bring attention to diversity and inclusion issues, standing in solidarity with the mother of slain HSU sophomore David Josiah Lawson as she addressed the California State University Board of Trustees in Southern California. The HSU rally, […]
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‘Justice for Josiah’ Protest Disrupts Arcata Council Meeting
Wednesday’s Arcata City Council meeting was rescheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday after protesters demanding movement on an investigation into the fatal stabbing of Humboldt State University student David Josiah Lawson took over the council chambers. Video footage from local media outlets showed the group lined up along the aisles of the room and in front […]
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Protesters Gather at Local Homeland Security Office
Several dozen people gathered this morning in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in Old Town Eureka to protest the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. Several speakers addressed the crowd, which waved signs emblazoned with slogans like “Keep Families Together,” “Refugees Welcome” and “Chinga La Migra,” and occasional passing cars honked messages of […]
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Few Answers and Much Frustration as Pending Lawsuits, Lawson Questions Stymie Dialogue on Race
With several attendees expressing frustration over a lack of concrete steps coming out of previous events, the May 24 Community Dialogue on Race at the D Street Neighborhood Center was marked by a barrage of questions directed at the two city officials present: City Manager Karen Diemer and City Councilmember Paul Pitino. The questions largely […]
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Mother of Slain HSU Student Expected to Call for Reinstatement of Investigator
The city of Arcata’s Community Dialogue on Race series, which began after the fatal stabbing of Humboldt State University student Josiah Lawson last year, continues tonight with his mother expected to call for the reinstatement of an outside investigator brought on to help solve the case. According to a release from the family, Charmaine Lawson, […]
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Arcata to Vet Bringing Back Former FBI Agent in Lawson Investigation, Other Measures
The Arcata City Council directed staff to look at bringing back a retired FBI agent who recently stepped down from the David Josiah Lawson murder investigation or hiring another expert during Wednesday’s meeting after hearing demands for action from a packed room that included the slain 19 year old’s mother. While not taking an official […]
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Languishing or Progressing?
Tom Parker, a retired FBI agent who recently stepped down from assisting the Arcata Police Department’s investigation into David Josiah Lawson’s killing, says he’s convinced the case could be solved in just a few months, if not weeks, if he were able to bring the right people on board. “We’d have this thing finished up,” […]
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UPDATE: Mother of Slain HSU Student Files Claim Against Arcata, Council Responds
The civil rights attorney for the mother of slain Humboldt State University student David Josiah Lawson has filed a claim seeking at least $500,000 from the city of Arcata, alleging Charmaine Lawson suffered injuries including emotional distress and anxiety due to a “negligent” police investigation into her son’s death. The 13-page document, the precursor to […]