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Suspects' stories differ on tied-up woman's demise

BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
sswenson@bakersfield.com | Thursday, May 22 2008 4:24 PM

Last Updated: Friday, May 23 2008 8:42 AM

Taft College teacher James Arthur Wyatt gave a harrowing account to police about how his longtime girlfriend was tied up and suffocated to death, but police noted that Wyatt didn’t seem upset or troubled by what happened to her.

The police comments about Wyatt’s reactions to the April 17 death of Lora Louise Shine are in investigation reports released this week in Kern County Superior Court.

Wyatt, 60, and 21-year-old Justin Mark Ennis, are charged with murdering 44-year-old victim who was found in an upstairs bedroom in Wyatt’s house in the 3500 block of Trojes Ave.

The two men differ strongly about what happened.

WYATT'S STORY

Wyatt has dated Shine for off and on for 18 years and she lived with him for the past four years. Wyatt used to date Ennis’ mother and Ennis has become a friend. Wyatt invited Ennis and Megan Greshem over to have dinner with him and Shine.

Ten minutes after Ennis arrived, Ennis argued with Shine. Ennis took Shine upstairs and tied her up. Wyatt went upstairs, saw them and thought they were playing. Wyatt and Ennis returned downstairs.

As much as a couple hours later, Wyatt went back upstairs to check on Shine and found her bound with duct tape and red nylon ties. She was unresponsive, but he thought she was still breathing.

Wyatt screamed for help and tried to take her restraints off. But Ennis and Brian Bales, a friend of Ennis’, pulled him off and prevented him from helping her.

Ennis and Bales dragged him out of the room and Wyatt struggled with them for more than an hour. Wyatt pretended to be unconscious. Ennis and Bales left him alone, and Wyatt ran to his bedroom, locked the door, jumped off a balcony to a trampoline, and went to a neighbor’s to call police.

Wyatt said he had no problems with Shine that day. He said Ennis and Bales caused all his injuries.

ENNIS' STORY

Ennis and Greshem arrived, finding Wyatt outside wearing shorts and no shirt. He was bleeding and scratched. Wyatt said Shine caused those injuries.

They went inside where Shine and Wyatt continued to argue. Shine also argued with Ennis. Both men tied her up with duct tape and nylon tie downs. They took her upstairs.

They left her there alive and able to scream.

Greshem went out and got some pizza. Ennis called Bales to come over. Ennis and Bales were talking outside when they heard yelling.

They went inside and found Wyatt on top of Shine, yelling, “Justin, you (expletive) killed her. You murdered my girlfriend.”

Ennis felt Shine’s pulse and found none. Ennis took Wyatt out of the room and told Wyatt they needed to talk about what to do.

They drank margaritas and smoked marijuana as they did this. Ennis and Bales went downstairs.

Wyatt ran to his bedroom and locked the door. Ennis and Bales went to a friend’s house on Hudson Drive where they were later arrested.

Ennis said Wyatt tied up Shine a lot. Ennis said Shine caused Wyatt’s injuries that day and he was also hurt when he slipped in the kitchen, hitting his head on the refrigerator, as he chased Greshem to try to touch her in lewd ways.

Greshem backed up being chased by Wyatt, who fell in the kitchen.

THE ARREST

Bales’ car was found by police covered with blankets in the backyard on Hudson Drive. Bales was charged only as an accessory in the case.

Police tried for a long time to get a response at Hudson Drive before the occupant finally answered the door. Ennis said he wanted to wait for morning to sort things out.

A preliminary hearing is set June 18 in Kern County Superior Court.