Man Charged In Dragging Death Of Student

Friday, November 30th 2007, 8:57 am

By: News On 6

NEWPORT, Wash. (AP) - A man accused of tying a rope around the neck of a college student who was strangled while being dragged 13 miles behind a pickup truck has been charged in the student's death.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Koures said Thursday he filed documents that charge Wendell C. Sinn Jr., 45, with second-degree murder in the Saturday death of Jerid Sturman-Camyn. Jurors would also have the option of convicting Sinn of first-degree manslaughter. A message left Thursday night with Sinn's lawyer, John P. Nollette, was not immediately returned. Nollette has said his client acted in self-defense and to protect others at a northeastern Washington hunting camp where witnesses said Sturman-Camyn became violent and out of control.

Court documents allege that Sinn, of Newman Lake, placed a noose around Sturman-Camyn's neck when he was distracted and attached the rope to the truck's trailer hitch. Sinn yelled to his 17-year-old son, Justin D. Sinn, to drive away, the documents allege.

Sheriff's Deputy Tony Ingram said in an affidavit that the younger Sinn apparently was not aware he was dragging Sturman-Camyn, a 20-year-old Eastern Washington University student, when he sped away. But Koures said Wednesday that made no sense, in part because the youth presumably saw Sturman-Camyn being roped. No charges have been filed against Justin Sinn.

Wendell Sinn remained free on $100,000 bail Thursday. A message left at the Sinn family home was not immediately returned.