| January
20, 2006 |
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| Ostrander: "I Take Responsibility" |
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"I would like
to say that I understand that the first step to my getting well is for me to
take responsibility for what I have done."
Those are the words convicted
sex offender Michael Sean Ostrander requested investigators with the Burke
County Sheriff's Office to convey to the media, according to a Sheriff's Office
press release.
Ostrander, 33, of 250 North Anderson Street, Morganton,
made the statement after |
Photo Courtesy
N.C.D.O.C. |
reportedly confessing to at least three more break-ins
in Burke County, in addition to the burglary which resulted in his capture on
January 16th. |
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| According to Lt. Becky Brendle, supervisor of
the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, Ostrander admitted to
investigators that he researched at least two of his victims, and eventually
burglarized their homes to steal items such as photographs, lingerie, stockings
and underwear. |
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| Brendle said some of the burglaries occurred
beginning in 2000 and prior to the man entering prison after being convicted of
attempted rape in Catawba County. |
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| "He said he was obsessed with two of the victims
and they remained his focus the whole time he was incarcerated in prison,"
Brendle stated. |
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| Detectives searched Ostrander's home on Thursday
and reportedly located items stolen from the break-ins. Brendle said the man
told investigators where the property could be found. |
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| Sheriff's officials did not identify any of the
victims, but said the property belonged to "a few prominent business women"
living in Burke County. |
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| Ostrander's present dilemma began Monday after
he was arrested by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol at the end of a car
chase near the Avery County line on Highway 181. |
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| Just prior to the chase, authorities were
seeking a burglary suspect who broke into a woman's home on Fish Hatchery Road.
The woman, who was visiting neighbors nearby, heard her burglar alarm sound and
saw Ostrander exit her home with some of her clothing, reports state. |
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| The suspect got into his vehicle and drove off,
while the woman followed him and contacted the Sheriff's Office on her cell
phone. |
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| A N.C. Highway Patrolman encountered the
vehicle near Steele Creek Park and pursued it up Highway 181 to the Avery
County line until the driver, later identified as Ostrander, finally pulled
over. |
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| Ostrander was wearing a "toga" sheet and was
nude from the waist down, according to investigators. |
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| Authorities recovered panties belonging to the
woman from the suspect's vehicle, along with photos Ostrander allegedly stole
from her home. |
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| "This is one reason the
North Carolina Sexual Offender Registry exists," said Burke
County Sheriff John T. McDevitt. "The public needs to be warned about
individuals such as this." |
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| Ostrander, who was convicted in Catawba County
in 2001 for attempted second degree rape, spent approximately 4 1/2 years in
prison before being paroled in August, 2005, according to the N.C. Department
of Corrections offender website. |
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| The man also has previous convictions in Watauga
County for misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury, and a drug charge in
Burke County. |
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| Ostrander had a first court appearance on
Wednesday, and will soon be charged with parole violations, Brendle said. The
parole violations will prevent the man from having a bond set, according to the
detective. |
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| Stated Brendle: "We would like to make women
aware that they need to be more alert to their surroundings, due to Ostrander's
own words that he stalked and researched his victims before he committed these
crimes." |
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| ************************************************************** |
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