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ize what can happen when we all work together.”The new playground complex was decorated with balloons for the event. The complex features a colorful corkscrew slide and a bridge with handrails.The Hansen PTA donated $10,000 to the project, and■ • a ■ m w ^ ^ w « « ■ ■ w i. ^ w » ■ w »» m ■ m w ■ ■ » ■ ■ ■ ■ ^ « i m m *-0 ■« # ft a « » ^ »dream come true.”“All children belong, all parents belong, all grandparents belong in this school community,” said Jackson. “It is a caring and giving and thoughtful and kind community.”Slain child s mother testifies murder defendant apologizedBy ANN LANGELCourier Staff WriterThe mother of a 3-ycar-old boy killed last year testifled in court this morning that her then-live-in boyfriend told her “that he was sorry he hurt Darren.”Trcnia Gerdemann, 22, was testifying in the openingday of the first-degree murder trial of Gary Ruck, 21. He isaccused of shooting Gerdemann’s son, Darren, with a pellet gun and then slashing his throat on Nov. 25, 1991.Gerdemann said a search had been launched to find the boy after Buck told her Darren had run out their front door at 840 Central Ave., Evansdale, that day. Gerdemann had left the home briefly to call into work sick, and to pick up groceries.When she returned, she found Buck and her other two children searching for Darren.She testified Buck told her Darren had been beating up 011 her two daughters, and Buck had sent him to his room, but Darren had instead left the house.Gerdemann said she’d mentioned to Buck previously that Darren had a habit of leaving the house and hiding.She testified said she told Buck she was “getting scared,” and told him to call the police. She said Buck was comforting her and assuring her they would find Darren.She said they were in the kitchen when authorities found Darren’s body in some garbage bags stuffed in a picnic cooler in the basement.“Two officers were in the basement, anti then a whole bunch of people came running in. Two officers came up and put handcuffs on Gary,” Gerdemann said.Buck then “said he loved me, and that lie was sorry he hurt Darren, Gerdemann said.She said she and Buck met in August 1991 svhile both worked at IBP inc. They began dating, and at the end of October, decided to move in together.In his opening statement, Black Hawk County Attorney Tom Ferguson said that in the moments before the boy’s death. Buck threatened to shoot Darren with a pellet pistol if he didn’t go to his room.A screaming Darren didn’t go to his room, “so he (Buck) pulls the trigger,” Ferguson said.Buck didn't want Darren to “suffer anymore” and thought he was in shock, so he cut Darren’s neck “down to the bone,” holding him over the bathtub, Ferguson said.He said the cut was 10 inches long and several inches deep. Buck held Darren over the tub until he didn’t bleed anymore, rinsed the tub out. and put Darren in a garbage bag, Ferguson said.Buck allegedly set the body in the basement by their other garbage, and then later put the bag in a picnic cooler.Ferguson said that after authorities found the body andBuck was arrested, he told them, “I just lost it. I deserve togo to jail. I shot him with a pellet gun and cut his throat so he wouldn't suffer.Buck is relying on an insanity defense, but Ferguson said that at no time “did he ever indicate he was forced or compelled to do this by outside forces.He said Buck knew right from wrong, and had the capacity to form the intent to kill.Buck’s attorney, Karl Briner, reserved his opening statement.Judge James Bauch is hearing the case, as Buck waived his right to a jury trial.
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