LilMtnCbn
02-11-2004, 12:04 PM
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/articles/2004/02/11/1076388395602.html
Murder victim's adoption tragedy
By ERIN O'DWYER
February 11, 2004
MURDERED Albion Park Rail woman Lynette Bugden was stabbed to death just days
before she was to meet her adopted daughter for the first time.
Mrs Budgen's mother Carole Medina told the NSW Supreme Court her daughter had
given birth to a girl while she was still young, and chose to put her up for
adoption.
The girl, Debbie, had married and had a daughter of her own, and later made
contact with her birth mother, Mrs Medina said in a victim impact statement.
Mother and daughter were to meet for the first time in January 1999, but that
dream was shattered when Peter John Loeber broke into Mrs Bugden's home and
stabbed her to death.
A statement of facts tendered to the court yesterday revealed Loeber had been a
close family friend for years before Mrs Bugden accused one of his three sons
of stealing marijuana.
The conversation took place at The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail where the two
families had been drinking on January 14, the night Mrs Bugden died.
"I want to speak to you about something," Mrs Bugden said.
"No worries," Loeber said.
"Do you know anything about Ricky smoking marijuana?"
"Why do you ask?"
"When the boys had gone to my place on Tuesday, my stash had gone. Do you know
anything about it?"
"I have my suspicions with Ricky, but I haven't had a chance to speak to him
.... I'll try to get it sorted out ... you can't just blame the one, you've
gotta blame all three."
The statement of facts revealed Loeber held resentment towards the Bugden
family for offering advice on raising his children, and took exception to the
new accusation.
That night, the Bugdens left the hotel around 10pm. Mrs Bugden went to bed and
Mr Bugden left for the steelworks at 10.20pm.
Loeber also went home, but later walked around to the Bugden's house. He
knocked, but when there was no answer he entered through an open window.
He grabbed a pillow case, cutting two eye-holes and pulling it over his head as
a disguise.
He then entered Mrs Bugden's bedroom and stabbed her more than 40 times with a
knife. Loeber fled, leaving Mrs Bugden alive.
By 1am, when her two sons and their babysitter arrived home from a fishing
trip, Mrs Bugden had reached the lounge room and was trying in vain to call
triple-0.
The babysitter took over and ambulance officers arrived within minutes. She was
rushed to Wollongong Hospital, but pronounced dead a short time later.
Loeber was initially cleared, but improved DNA testing linked him to hairs
found on the pillowcase. He was arrested in January 2003.
Loeber will be sentenced on April 2.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
Murder victim's adoption tragedy
By ERIN O'DWYER
February 11, 2004
MURDERED Albion Park Rail woman Lynette Bugden was stabbed to death just days
before she was to meet her adopted daughter for the first time.
Mrs Budgen's mother Carole Medina told the NSW Supreme Court her daughter had
given birth to a girl while she was still young, and chose to put her up for
adoption.
The girl, Debbie, had married and had a daughter of her own, and later made
contact with her birth mother, Mrs Medina said in a victim impact statement.
Mother and daughter were to meet for the first time in January 1999, but that
dream was shattered when Peter John Loeber broke into Mrs Bugden's home and
stabbed her to death.
A statement of facts tendered to the court yesterday revealed Loeber had been a
close family friend for years before Mrs Bugden accused one of his three sons
of stealing marijuana.
The conversation took place at The Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail where the two
families had been drinking on January 14, the night Mrs Bugden died.
"I want to speak to you about something," Mrs Bugden said.
"No worries," Loeber said.
"Do you know anything about Ricky smoking marijuana?"
"Why do you ask?"
"When the boys had gone to my place on Tuesday, my stash had gone. Do you know
anything about it?"
"I have my suspicions with Ricky, but I haven't had a chance to speak to him
.... I'll try to get it sorted out ... you can't just blame the one, you've
gotta blame all three."
The statement of facts revealed Loeber held resentment towards the Bugden
family for offering advice on raising his children, and took exception to the
new accusation.
That night, the Bugdens left the hotel around 10pm. Mrs Bugden went to bed and
Mr Bugden left for the steelworks at 10.20pm.
Loeber also went home, but later walked around to the Bugden's house. He
knocked, but when there was no answer he entered through an open window.
He grabbed a pillow case, cutting two eye-holes and pulling it over his head as
a disguise.
He then entered Mrs Bugden's bedroom and stabbed her more than 40 times with a
knife. Loeber fled, leaving Mrs Bugden alive.
By 1am, when her two sons and their babysitter arrived home from a fishing
trip, Mrs Bugden had reached the lounge room and was trying in vain to call
triple-0.
The babysitter took over and ambulance officers arrived within minutes. She was
rushed to Wollongong Hospital, but pronounced dead a short time later.
Loeber was initially cleared, but improved DNA testing linked him to hairs
found on the pillowcase. He was arrested in January 2003.
Loeber will be sentenced on April 2.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
