Body found in Oklahoma identified as missing Texas professor

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Two people have been charged with capital murder in the robbery and death of a missing retired TCU professor whose body was identified Wednesday. <br><br>Edward Busby, 31, and

Wednesday, February 4th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Two people have been charged with capital murder in the robbery and death of a missing retired TCU professor whose body was identified Wednesday.

Edward Busby, 31, and Kathleen Latimer, 39, both of Fort Worth, remained jailed in Oklahoma City, where they were arrested Sunday after being stopped driving a car belonging to Laura Lee Crane, the victim.

Crane, 77, was abducted from a grocery store parking lot Friday, said Fort Worth police Lt. Abdul Pridgen. Her body was found Tuesday off Interstate 35 near Davis, Okla.

Authorities were led to the body after Busby confessed, said Fort Worth police Lt. Roger Dixon, a detective who went to Oklahoma City to question the suspects. Dixon would not elaborate on what Busby said and would not say whether Latimer confessed.

Crane's body was found at the bottom of an embankment with duct tape across her face, Dixon said.

Her death was ruled homicide by asphyxiation, and she also had suffered blunt force trauma, he said.

Dixon would not say exactly where or when Crane was killed. He said robbery was a motive and she appeared to be a random target.

Crane's daughter, Allen Walker, said the family would put faith in the judicial system.

She also gave a message for her mother's former students. ``Your success will keep her memory alive,'' Walker said.

Crane left her southwest Fort Worth home for the grocery store about 11 a.m. Friday.