Idaho Mountain Express: Twin Falls murder suspect was a Blaine County ?narc?

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Twin Falls murder suspect was a Blaine County ?narc?

McElhiney cooperated with police in drug investigations

By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

John Henry McElhiney

A Hailey man charged with murder in Twin Falls was an informant for the Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team.

John Henry McElhiney, accused of killing an 18-year-old Twin Falls man and hiding the body in a barrel, assisted police with drug investigations in Blaine County, the director of the Narcotics Enforcement Team confirmed to the Idaho Mountain Express.

Steve Harkins, who is also a detective with the Blaine County Sheriff's Office, stopped short of calling McElhiney a confidential informant, but referred to him instead as a "cooperative individual."

Harkins said McElhiney did not assist the narcotics team in a major county drug bust on April 11 of this year, but declined to discuss investigations in which McElhiney did assist police.

The Narcotics Enforcement Team, sometimes referred to as NET, is a special Blaine County drug investigation team composed of officers from Idaho State Police, the sheriff's office and other local police agencies.

Police often recruit people associated with illegal drugs to assist with drug investigations. These people are typically referred to as "confidential informants." They are also sometimes called "narcs."

McElhiney, 31, had lived in Hailey for several years but was staying in Twin Falls at the time of his arrest on the homicide charge. He and Cameron Watts, a 29-year-old Gooding man, have been indicted by a Twin Falls County grand jury on first-degree murder charges for allegedly killing 18-year-old Dale Miller, whose body was discovered Sept. 12 in the garage of an apartment where McElhiney was living on Morningside Drive in east Twin Falls.

Authorities in Twin Falls have not released information on the cause of Miller's death.

A jury trial for McElhiney and Watts is scheduled for March 3-14, 2008. Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs is not seeking the death penalty for the two suspects.

Loebs said on Friday, Dec. 21, that he is aware that McElhiney was an informant for the Blaine County narcotics team, but said it has no bearing on the murder charge.

"I certainly wasn't aware of it at first, but I became aware of it later on," Loebs said.

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The comments below are from the readers of mtexpress.com and in no way represent the views of Express Publishing Inc.

Michelle

10/07/08 - 11:53

Okay , how much of the facts can we put out to the media . I would love to tell you .Do you want criminal backgrounds. That is suppose to be public record anyways . I know there is people out there who only believe what they read. There are also lies after lies from individuals who were there. Yes I do know the facts just don't know how much I can put out there. Paperwork not just me running my mouth.

Michelle

10/07/08 - 11:52

A Sorrowful Reader

04/17/08 - 02:16

There are a lot of people that read these commments that believe in the guilt of these men and many that believe them innocent.
The saddest part of it all is the young man that was killed and then stuffed into a garbage can like he wasn't anything more than waste.
I have no idea whether or not this man was guilty of anything. Maybe he was envolved in some kind of illegal activity and this was a way to get rid of him.
Or maybe he was just an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the right time.
But regardless. The way that he was treated. I wouldn't have wished on anyone.Encluding anyone of my animals.
I once believed in the Death penalty.
I am against it because someone has to kill the guilty man. And I am sure that the man that is the one who gives the lethal injection hasn't ever been envolved with this man that he is going to take the life from.
So what does that make him? He is killing someone who never did him any harm. He is just killing because that is his job.
Only God has the right to take a mans life.
Killing has become so very easy anymore.
It makes no difference how big or small the city, you cross someone and you'll be lucky if your body is ever found.
It makes no difference what the newspapers say.
If the information is right or wrong. The evidence in the court of law is what will convict or release someone.
People want money so bad they are willing to do anything for it.
The only reason drugs are so bad is because that is an easy way to get money.
Pretty sad when paper and coin become more than a human life.
All of those that are saying that the media and newspapers are inaccurate.
If you know for a fact as you say that the media and papers have given false information. Then why are you not talking about it here where comments are allowed.
Why have you not gone to the News papers with your story?
If you think they won't print it then get the information out any other way you can.
I myself believe only what I see for myself. And if I know a person is trustworthy then I also believe in them.
But when you skate around about it and then say that the people know who they are that has committed falsehoods. You need to speak up yourself and give the side you feel is the real truth.You should get both sides of the story out. Otherwise the innocent person might be convicted and the guilty person could be set free.
Give facts about someones innocence or guilt. Otherwise your silence is just as guilty if someones life is taken away because of it.
I do send my Deepest Sympathy To Dale Millers family. And I hope that the persons guilty of his murder are found and his death put to right.
He will never be btought back and no amount of sympathy letters will mend your hearts. But I truely am sorry for your loss.

Sheila – anywhere, USA

04/11/08 - 00:05

Excuse me "hurt" but those two men are not innocent men. Anyone who takes a life for any reason is not innocent! It is amazing how many reborn "Christians" there are in prison and jail. Seems to me that incarceration works wonders on so many, they should just make out a form letter for inmates with all the Amens and God is great and just let them sign on the dotted line. The saying there are no Atheists in the fox hole holds true for prison. That is of course until their release.

Reply to Sheila

Bobbi

08/24/08 - 08:30

Now L\let me explain somthing to you.Youo dot know either of these men so how dare you say wether they are innocent or guilty.it is jugemental people like youo that cause so much hate and discontent.I happen to knonw both of theseme "very" well,and they both have good hearts.Things happen,mistakes, "accidents" and misfortunes.So before you judge maybe you should take a good look in the mirror and judge yourself.People like you are the reason for so many teens,and adults for that matter,commit suicide and are misrable.Learn not to judge.Its not your jjob.

informed

02/26/08 - 14:52

who ever secret is they should mabye do some history reports on the so called innocent men in this case. people who live like they have, (my experience being with only one of them). are bound to eventually end up where they are now. Its just to bad that they get away with so much and hurt so many people along the way first. I think if they had been punished accordingly for things they had done in the past, ( and thats just the ones they were caught in) then Dale Miller may still be alive today. I have no doubt that there is NO innocence in John and Cameron if you lead lives like they had and made choices like they did, never learning or changing when given another chance over and over. Then you find yourself in situations like they are in now. So in my opnion the "truth" is that Dale Millers family will NEVER be the same and that two people who have hurt MANY people still have the gift of life. They should have used it for good, instead of repeated evil, harm, and hurt. I hope they never leave a jail cell for the rest of there lives, because that is still more than they deserve, and more than Dale Miller will ever recieve. Just because you want to belive someone is good, dosen't make them that way and for the families and friends of John and Cameron I am also sorry.

Huh!

02/12/08 - 11:32

Hey Secret, you make NO sense. I do not know what you are trying to say, but you should just say it. This is a aaaanouyomos set up anyhow. All you are doing is beating around the bush. If you have facts post them...if not you need to learn how to express yourself

secret – Burley,ID

02/08/08 - 13:14

You know,if we are to depend on the news for the truth,why are they not printing it? I happen to know for a fact that some of the articles printed on this story, are not true,and that ALOT of other info is not being told.I think as people read the paper they should keep in mind that everything they read is NOT the truth.I know its ashame we should feel confident that we are beng told the truth by the media,but unfortunately thats not the case, But i am a firm believer that it will all come out in the end,and those of you who,you know who you are, who have distorted,stretched,and even flat out lied,you will stand judged one day,And to everyone reading the false statements printed in the papers,dont be so quick to judge,you one day to could be the victim of all the false media and news.
As far as the people reporting this,the only advise i can give (not that it matters) is learn your job better.Do it more on facts and research than 'rumors' and here say.This case should be so open and shut cause all the facts are right there.Even a confession,but instead of focusing on punishing the 'guilty',they are trying to ruin or even take the life of another innocent man.Now as far as my opinion goes,well we know how that sayin goes,I just thought people should know,that alot of this story that has been printed is not accurate,and i believe people deserve to know the truth.But how do we know the truth when the people we depend and trust for it are failling at giving it to us. but thats ju,"My Opinion"

Reply to secret

hurt

03/03/08 - 10:08

secret is right there are alot of false info given in the media, and alot of hear say and they are trying to ruin or even take the life of another innocent man, and his family.