Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 6, 2019 Ryan Power found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with 2017 Malden homicide O n August 29, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Chief of Police Kevin Molis announced that a Middlesex Superior Court jury found Ryan Power, 34, of Malden, guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the 2017 death of Leah Penny, 32, of Malden. Judge Peter Krupp sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On June 21, 2017, at approximately 9:49 a.m., Malden Police took action due to a reportedly unresponsive female inside a Lebanon Street home in Malden. When the police arrived, they located the body of Leah Penny. She was found at the bottom of a staircase with a dog leash wrapped around her neck and a vodka bottle located underneath her. Two children, ages one and two years old, and a dog were located inside the home – unharmed. Malden Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office immediately began an investigation. After the victim’s body was discovered, police sought to locate Ryan Power. He was found in Seabrook, N.H., where he was arrested and charged as a fugitive from justice. Power waived extradition and was transported back to Massachusetts by Malden Police and Massachusetts State Police. Through their investigation authorities learned that the victim and defendant had been in a relationship beginning in 2014 and that they had two children together. Authorities determined that based on the positioning of the body, and State Police set sobriety checkpoint for this weekend C olonel Kerry Gilpin, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that a sobriety checkpoint will be implemented on a public way in Middlesex County from September 7-8. The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and the bottle placed beneath her, the scene had been staged by the defendant, who after strangling the victim from behind with the leash, posed her body in an effort to make it appear the victim’s death was accidental or committed by another person. When authorities searched removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It will be operated during varied hours; the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary; safety will be assured; and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety. Power’s phone, they discovered 48 audio recordings in which he had secretly recorded arguments between the victim and himself as well as multiple voice recordings he made to document his interactions with the victim. The recordings were made between April and May of 2017, coinciding with the dissolution of Ryan Power and Leah Penny’s relationship, including during a period when Power was not living in the Lebanon Street residence. On June 3, 2017, Power also installed hidden cameras within the home he had shared with the victim in order to record her without her knowledge. Investigators also discovered a nearly hour-long disturbing recording that appeared to have been unwitting created by Power during which time he physically assaulted and threatened to kill Penny. Malden Cultural Council seeks funding proposals T he Malden Cultural Council invites organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. The application period opened on September 1 and closes on October 15. These grants may support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Malden including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, performances in schools, workshops, and lectures. The Malden Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. In prior years, the Malden Cultural Council has distributed approximately $25,000 annually in grants. Previously funded projects include: Discover the Philippines, the Hispanic Heritage Month Festival, Housing Families, Inc., the Malden Pop-Up Gallery, Malden Reads, and MATV. For local guidelines and complete information on the funding priorities of the Malden Cultural Council, please visit: https://www. mass-culture.org/Malden or contact Cultural Council Chair Annie Rousseau at 781-606-0956 or malden.cultural@gmail.com. Application forms and additional information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at: www. mass-culture.org. September Happenings at Temple Emmanuel of Wakefield T he Temple Emmanuel Board of Directors wishes to invite interested area folks to several interesting programs happening in September at our home at 120 Chestnut St. in Wakefield. We offer a stimulating and friendly environment where adults and children of all ages can embrace their Jewish roots, regardless of their level of observance or affiliation. Rabbi Gregory Hersh begins his fourth year at Temple as our spiritual leader. WAKEFIELD | SEE PAGE 18
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