Rewards Being Offered in Abortion Provider’s Slaying

The FBI announced a $100,000 reward Monday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the sniper who shot Dr. Barnett Slepian. A Canadian medical group offered an additional $150,000 reward.

The reward announcements came on the same day as Slepian’s funeral. Hundreds of family, colleagues and patients attended the burial, several with children in tow.

“He brought these two into the world,” said Alan Dickison, hand in hand with his 4-year-old son, Connor, and 2-year-old daughter, Kelsey. “He was here for children. This is all he lived for.”

The children, Dickison said, are what the doctor should be remembered for, not the abortions that made up a small part of his practice.

Hours before the 52-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist was killed by a high-powered rifle shot through his kitchen window on Friday night, his wife faxed local police a warning from the National Abortion Federation, a group of abortion providers, warning of possible violence.

Lynn Slepian did not request police protection and no action was taken, Chief John Askey said. “She did what the fax suggested. She did not ask for help.”

Canadian and American authorities had issued safety tips to doctors Oct. 20, because four earlier sniper attacks on abortion providers in the last four years took place within weeks of Nov. 11, Veterans Day, known as Remembrance Day in Canada.

None of the earlier attacks in the region were fatal. Although American and Canadian authorities acknowledged similarities, they would not say whether they had positively linked Slepian’s killing with the earlier shootings.

The Canadian Medical Assn. said Monday it is offering $150,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the Slepian slaying.

Four attacks in Massachusetts, Florida and Alabama on clinics or doctors providing abortions have claimed six lives since 1994.

A letter from President and Mrs. Clinton, read at the private funeral, said: “Violence in our society hurts all, but few have had to endure its effects so personally.”

Sympathizers left scores of flowers, notes and signs outside Slepian’s office. One large sign read: “We won’t go back. Defend the right to abortion.”

Abortion rights advocate Mary Lou Greenberg of New York City said she went to Amherst to support the clinic and the work of abortion providers nationwide.

“Women must have the right to choose whether they want to give birth or not, otherwise women cannot be free,” Greenberg said outside the funeral home. “Without providers like Dr. Slepian, women cannot be free.”

Police were pursuing tips that included the sightings of a white car in the area and another car with Canadian license plates, Askey said.