2008 Woodie Awards
Convicted killer gives governor's mansion tours
Rachel Albin
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
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Lines on the rug below his feet represent the state rock, he says, and the abstract painting in the sitting room off the foyer depicts Lincoln's landmark buildings.
Haverkamp rattles off details about each room without notes. The stories and facts are rooted in his mind after leading hundreds of tours through the governor's residence.
He has worked at the mansion for years. He is also a murderer.
The governor's staff does not openly admit this fact, and would rather not see it printed in a newspaper.
Haverkamp, 45, who declined comment on this story, got the job because of his good behavior and participation in programs with Nebraska's Department of Corrections.
Showing off the governor's silver set is a far stretch from where Haverkamp was in 1985, when he was entangled with a cult in Richardson County.
The trouble began with farm foreclosures in the area. Feeling wronged by the government, a small group of farmers and their families, including Haverkamp, united under the white supremacist, anti-government religious teachings of Mike Ryan. They prepared for their future, giving up farming and planning for the battle of Armageddon.
The group of about 20 adults and children stockpiled stolen farm equipment, weapons and food and awaited Earth's final days as they tried to follow the will of their god.
James Thimm fell out of grace and was punished by five of his fellow cult members, including Haverkamp.
They shot off Thimm's fingers, sodomized him with a shovel, threw him in an open grave and shot him in the head.
Since then, several participants in the slaying were released from prison. Only Ryan and Haverkamp remain incarcerated.
Ryan sits on death row for killing Thimm and a child in the cult. Haverkamp was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years to life in prison.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 45
Rich
posted 4/03/08 @ 10:09 AM CST
Why is this in the paper? What does this have to do with anything? This is not news.
Way to ruin this guy. You've actually made me feel sorry for a murderer. (Continued…)
Donnell
posted 4/03/08 @ 10:20 AM CST
You people should be ashamed of yourselves. What does this have to do with anything? Instead of supporting a member of our community who has obviously rehabilitated himself, you choose to lynch him in the most cowardly fashion possible. (Continued…)
Keith
posted 4/03/08 @ 11:03 AM CST
Are you kidding me - do you know what this guy did?! I am suprised he is not dead or on death row where he belongs! Of all the crimes in the state, his crimes merit the death penalty. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 4/03/08 @ 11:54 AM CST
Disappointed you'd run a story like this--really not "news". While the headline "convicted killer...." will attract readers (as it did me) it seems very inappropriate. (Continued…)
Mada
posted 4/03/08 @ 12:13 PM CST
Another fine choice by the Daily Rag. Who is the editor and why is this person a writer? What a joke of a publication. You have no business ruining this guy. (Continued…)
Gordon
posted 4/03/08 @ 12:19 PM CST
Looks like you are running out of stories to print!! Yes he did the crime. Guess there is no room for changing??? Not justifying what he did but what's the point of running a story like this??
Derek
posted 4/03/08 @ 1:39 PM CST
This is a guy who shot a person's fingers off, sodomized him with a shovel, threw him in an open grave and shot him to death. He is currently giving unsupervised tours to your fourth graders. (Continued…)
M D Bruggeman
posted 4/03/08 @ 2:36 PM CST
Ruin this guy's life? Are you kidding me, this heinous, bloodthirsty killer ruined his life when he willingly committed his crime. Rehabbed? You can't rehab a monster like this guy. (Continued…)
Cindy
posted 4/03/08 @ 3:05 PM CST
I find it interesting; no, shocking that inmates are given such freedom and opportunity. This guy ruined his own life. A model citizen, he's not! I hope the parole board continues to see him for what he chose to become, a murderer. (Continued…)
Surfer Gurl
posted 4/03/08 @ 4:16 PM CST
Off topic:
I really can't understand a couple things about your web site. First of all the type that this article is set in is CRAP. It's very hard to read because of the goofy diagonal lines sloping from left to right on some of the letters. (Continued…)
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