ccording to our partners at the Times Daily, 66 year old Pamela Hester surrendered to the Sheriff’s Department Thursday after an indictment was handed down. She was released on bond later that day.
Investigators say Hester was behind the wheel of an SUV that collided with another SUV on Highway 43 just outside Russellville on September 27th, 2023. 34 year old Jennifer Fretwell and her 11 year old son, Jase Fretwell were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other teen boys were flown to a hospital in Birmingham.
Sheriff Shannon Oliver told the Times Daily that he spoke with Hester’s family during the arrest Thursday. “She didn’t know what was going on or why she was there at the jail,” Oliver said. “I think one of the family members said she was suffering from dementia.”
WASHINGTON (AP) – An Army general has been suspended from his job for allegedly trying to use his power to influence the selection of a lower-ranking officer for a command job, according to the Army.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth reviewed allegations that Gen. Charles Hamilton interfered with the command assessment program and determined that they were “credible.” Wormuth temporarily suspended Hamilton from his job as head of Army Materiel Command and referred the matter to the Defense Department’s inspector general, said Army Col. Randee Farrell, Wormuth’s spokeswoman.
According to officials and documents, Hamilton inappropriately tried to push an assessment board to approve a command assignment for a female lieutenant colonel. He successfully persuaded the board to give the officer a second interview after the initial board voted 5-0 not to recommend her for command. Before the second interview took place, Hamilton contacted senior leaders who could have been on her second panel to discuss their voting parameters and the candidates.
he second panel also deemed her not certified for command. The officer can try again next year, since the Army allows any officer not certified for command to participate in future assessment reviews.
Hamilton has been reassigned until the investigation is finished.
Farrell said Wormuth is committed to the integrity of the so-called Battalion Commander Assessment Program, and once the investigation is over the Army will review the overall process “to ensure maximum fairness.” The more extensive selection program was set up to ensure that the Army was choosing good officers for command jobs and was part of a campaign to weed out toxic leadership.
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