TWO CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED MURDER IN DEATH OF WOMAN

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) -- Two Clatsop County men are charged with aggravated
murder in the stabbing and burning death of a 37-year-old woman who
reportedly informed police of their drug activities, authorities said.

Anthony Scott Garner, 38, and Leslie Roy Simpkins, 36, are held on two
counts of aggravated murder each for the death of Dana Ann Bailey.

Garner is also charged with first-degree arson and hindering prosecution
for allegedly burning the boat he was living on early Sunday in an effort
to conceal the killing at the Warrenton Boat Basin.

Clatsop County District Attorney Joshua Marquis has not said whether he
will seek a death penalty.

Bailey's badly burned body was recovered Sunday morning from the charred
38-foot motor yacht "Foxy Lady" by Clatsop County Search and Rescue divers.

Both men were arraigned Monday afternoon.

A Warrenton bartender alerted police Saturday night, according to an
affidavit.

The bartender said Simpkins had walked into the bar, ordered a beer and
told her his friend had just killed a woman aboard his boat. Simpkins was
playing pool when police arrived.

Simpkins told police that Garner had killed Bailey because she had informed
on him and a couple of friends to police for drugs and she knew the
identity of his drug connection, according to the affidavit filed by
Warrenton Police Sgt. Bart Ellerbroek.

"She has to go," Simpkins said Garner told him.

Simpkins gave Ellerbroek his knife which he said was used to kill her. He
told the officer he sat three feet away and watched as Garner stabbed Bailey.

Garner wanted to dump her body in the Skipanon River but Simpkins said he
advised him to wait until dark because there was too much traffic on the
bridge right above the boat.

Later, Simpkins said, he talked Garner into them leaving the boat to call
friends for help. The men separated and Simpkins rode his bicycle to the bar.

Garner refused to allow officers aboard the boat and threatened to blow it
up, Ellerbroek wrote in the affidavit.

Warrenton Police Chief John Greisen tried to talk Garner off the boat,
shouting down to him from the bridge. Marquis also was at the scene.

Officers spotted a fire on the boat, Marquis said. The boat burst into
flames. Naked, Garner jumped onto the floating dock and then into the
water. Ellerbroek and another Warrenton officer pulled him out of the water.

Copyright 1997 Associated Press.

Checked-by: Richard Lake