AP: Killer's Ashes Ordered Out of (Arlington Natl.) Cemetery [View All]

Killer's Ashes Ordered Out of Cemetery

The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 26, 2006; 8:20 PM

HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- The cremated remains of a convicted murderer must be
removed from Arlington National Cemetery under a new federal law.

The provision ordering the removal of Russell Wayne Wagner's remains was included
in a veterans' health care and benefits bill that President Bush signed into law
on Friday.

Wagner, a Vietnam veteran, was convicted in 2002 of stabbing to death Daniel Davis,
84, and Wilda Davis, 80, in their home in 1994. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Wagner died in 2005 of a heroin overdose in prison at age 52. Because he was honorably
discharged from the Army in 1969, he qualified for interment at Arlington. His remains
were placed there July 27, 2005, at the request of his sister.

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