Julia Campbell (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Julia Campbell was an American
journalist. She disappeared on April 8, 2007 while working as a U.S. Peace Corps
volunteer in the Philippines
.
The man who has confessed to killing Campbell, Juan Duntugan, claimed that Campbell's death was not premeditated. He stated that he had just finished having a fight with his neighbor when Campbell bumped into him, making him drop what he was carrying. In his anger, he hit Campbell with a rock.
Prior to her Peace Corps stint, she worked as a journalist based in New York City
, having worked for ABCNews.com and CourtTV and also contributed as a freelancer to The New York Times
and People Magazine, among others. A notable event while working as a freelance reporter with the Times was when she was arrested while covering the funeral of Notorious B.I.G., a rapper. She was charged with disorderly conduct for verbally arguing with a police officer at the funeral. The charges were later dropped.
In a controversial statement made during the April 20, 2007 broadcast of a local news program, Philippine Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez hastily stated that Campbell was partially to blame for her demise. He stated that the Peace Corps volunteer was "a little irresponsible" and that "if she was not alone, it would not have happened.". He also called Campbell "careless" in the same statement.
On April 25, 2007, her remains were cremated in Manila
. After her remains were cremated, a memorial service for her was held at the Roman Catholic church in Fairfax
, Virginia
. Her brother-in-law, Ed Morris, speaking on behalf of the family, said her greatest contribution was her Peace Corps service in the Philippines
.
Juan Duntugan, 27, was found guilty of murder ("treachery
and use of superior strength" as 2 of the aggravating circumstances) and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment (reclusion perpetua) without parole. Campbell's elder sister and her American friends were present, when Judge Ester Piscoso-Flor on June 30, 2008, RTC, Ifugao
, ordered Duntugan to pay Campbell's family P 39.67 million ($ 889,000) in damages, including her funeral expenses.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist. She disappeared on April 8, 2007 while working as a U.S. Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteer in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Death
On April 18, her body was found in a shallow grave near the village of Batad in Ifugao Province. A search party of Philippine army soldiers noticed her feet sticking out of a mound of fresh earth in a creek near the remote village.The man who has confessed to killing Campbell, Juan Duntugan, claimed that Campbell's death was not premeditated. He stated that he had just finished having a fight with his neighbor when Campbell bumped into him, making him drop what he was carrying. In his anger, he hit Campbell with a rock.
Prior to her Peace Corps stint, she worked as a journalist based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, having worked for ABCNews.com and CourtTV and also contributed as a freelancer to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and People Magazine, among others. A notable event while working as a freelance reporter with the Times was when she was arrested while covering the funeral of Notorious B.I.G., a rapper. She was charged with disorderly conduct for verbally arguing with a police officer at the funeral. The charges were later dropped.
In a controversial statement made during the April 20, 2007 broadcast of a local news program, Philippine Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez hastily stated that Campbell was partially to blame for her demise. He stated that the Peace Corps volunteer was "a little irresponsible" and that "if she was not alone, it would not have happened.". He also called Campbell "careless" in the same statement.
On April 25, 2007, her remains were cremated in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. After her remains were cremated, a memorial service for her was held at the Roman Catholic church in Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Her brother-in-law, Ed Morris, speaking on behalf of the family, said her greatest contribution was her Peace Corps service in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Juan Duntugan, 27, was found guilty of murder ("treachery
Treachery
Treachery is a statutory offence in Australia. There was also an unrelated statutory offence bearing that name in the United Kingdom, but it has been abolished. Both of these offences were derived from or inspired by the related offence of treason. The name treachery was chosen because it is a...
and use of superior strength" as 2 of the aggravating circumstances) and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment (reclusion perpetua) without parole. Campbell's elder sister and her American friends were present, when Judge Ester Piscoso-Flor on June 30, 2008, RTC, Ifugao
Ifugao
Ifugao is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Covering a total land area of 262,820 hectares, the province of Ifugao is located in a mountainous region characterized by rugged terrain, river valleys, and massive forests...
, ordered Duntugan to pay Campbell's family P 39.67 million ($ 889,000) in damages, including her funeral expenses.
External links
- Julia in the Philippines - Julia's personal blog
- Julia Campbell Memorial Foundation
- Land. Life. Remembrance - The Julia Campbell Agroforest Memorial Eco-Park