July 10, 2009

Couple in Astronaut Case to Marry

Ex-Astronaut To Go To Trial in December on Charges of Attempted Kidnapping

  • Lisa Nowak, left, Bill Oefelein, center and Colleen Shipman, right.

    Lisa Nowak, left, Bill Oefelein, center and Colleen Shipman, right.  (AP Photo/Penn State Univ.)

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(AP)  A Florida attorney says a couple who were rocketed into the public eye by the antics of a former astronaut are getting married.

Kepler Funk, a Melbourne attorney who represents Colleen Shipman, said Friday that she and former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein have gotten engaged. The couple, who now live in Alaska, have not set a date.

Authorities say Lisa Nowak, who worked with Oefelein in the space program, famously drove from Houston to the parking lot of Orlando International Airport in February 2007 to confront Shipman.

Nowak is set to go on trial Dec. 7 on charges of attempted kidnapping, burglary and battery with assault. She was dismissed from the astronaut corps after her arrest and has since been on active duty at a Navy base in Corpus Christi, Texas.


© MMIX, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 27 Comments
by Void_Master July 12, 2009 5:45 AM EDT
Kepler Funk? I thought that was what you cleaned out from under a Kepler Belt -- apparently what astronauts use to hold up their diapers.
Reply to this comment
by Void_Master July 12, 2009 5:48 AM EDT
Ok, it's a rather lame joke, rooted entirely in puns and ought to embarrass anyone who gets it.
by excoachken July 11, 2009 3:50 PM EDT
Dr Gleen, the term is Ph.D.
Reply to this comment
by DoctorGlennPHD July 11, 2009 6:30 PM EDT
If you don't mind it's 'Dr. Glenn'. And, CBS wouldn't accept Ph.D.thus PHD. Thanks anyhow.

Dr.GlennPHD in Texas
by margieboy July 12, 2009 3:52 AM EDT
And you know, Dr. Glenn, PH.D, that the correct form of address for you is either Dr. Glenn or (first name) Glenn, PH.D. You don't use both Dr and your title at the same time. I'm guessing your Ph.D. isn't in English. And I'm guessing you are a weeensy bit insecure to feel you have to let everyone know you are a PH.D. and prefer to be called "Dr." Most Ph.D.'s only use the Dr. if they are professors in universities or psychologists. Or dreadfully insecure.

Sincerely Ms. Tart of Darkness, B.S., M.S. M.A.
by Void_Master July 12, 2009 5:43 AM EDT
ROTFLMAO
by quapawsix July 11, 2009 2:15 PM EDT
She has other things to keep her occupied like jail and the old naval career is over.
Reply to this comment
by JuneGoose July 11, 2009 12:08 PM EDT
Well, those two better watch out. If Nowak finds out they're engaged, old crazy pants might make another road trip.
Reply to this comment
by Solarrays247 July 11, 2009 2:07 PM EDT
LOL...my thoughts exactly!
by DoctorGlennPHD July 11, 2009 11:42 AM EDT
excoachken: Another Obama supporter.

DrGlennPHD in Texas
Reply to this comment
by scabbard2 July 11, 2009 9:25 AM EDT
How's that for a broad side? No way for Nowak! Shipman and Oefelein are proposed mates. Steady as she goes, Nowak is not a single stage weapon!!
Reply to this comment
by excoachken July 11, 2009 8:16 AM EDT
When Texass and Alasska are the two states involved in anything you can expect it to be strictly backwoods theater. Try to name a single sane person who lives in either place. All the inbreeds that used to live in West Virginia and Georgia now occupy those two states. This is Palinesque show time.
Reply to this comment
by tincup356 July 11, 2009 4:29 PM EDT
**** you don't have any room to talk when it comes being an idiot.
by rambleingtree July 13, 2009 10:30 AM EDT
To excoachken, go crawl back under your rock.
by gramto8 July 11, 2009 6:59 AM EDT
I think we have a really big problem with reading comprehension in this country. ;-)
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 July 11, 2009 2:47 AM EDT
Shipman stayed on active duty after drove hundreds of miles in astronaut diapers to commit an act of violence, if not murder? Talk about low standards in the Navy!!
Reply to this comment
by tmittelstaed July 11, 2009 6:07 AM EDT
Maybe NASA asked the Navy to test various models of astronaut diapers and they have Shipman doing the deed? ;-)
by toldyouso29 July 11, 2009 10:42 AM EDT
LOL. It was Nowak who drove for hundreds of miles in diapers and tried to mace Shipman. Shipman is the one who allegedly was assaulted.
by Stormy500 July 11, 2009 1:51 AM EDT
We name collectors only heard Kepler Funk. That's a good one.
Reply to this comment
by drthvader July 11, 2009 12:30 AM EDT
Ms. Shipman gets the astronaut Bill Oefelein. Nowak goes to jail and the lawyer Keplar Funk gets paid. I think.
Reply to this comment
by Marvin321 July 10, 2009 11:52 PM EDT
Shipman and Nowak still have each other. If they so choose.
Reply to this comment
by toldyouso29 July 10, 2009 11:25 PM EDT
This is silly. Of note is that neither Shipman or Nowak ended up with the guy--the attorney did--how sick is that? LOL
Reply to this comment
by Solarrays247 July 11, 2009 12:02 AM EDT
Please read the article again? Here, I'll help you....The attorney, Kepler Funk(a male) represents Ms. Shipman, who is newly engaged to Mr. Oefelein. Ms. Nowak, on the other hand, will be heading to trial, alas, she will not be receiving an engagement ring, but possibly a jail cell. Hope this has been of help to you? ;=)
by toldyouso29 July 11, 2009 1:50 AM EDT
by Solarrays247 July 10, 2009 9:02 PM PDT
Please read the article again? Here, I'll help you....The attorney, Kepler Funk(a male) represents Ms. Shipman, who is newly engaged to Mr. Oefelein. Ms. Nowak, on the other hand, will be heading to trial, alas, she will not be receiving an engagement ring, but possibly a jail cell. Hope this has been of help to you? ;=)

**************************8

Too bad the article did not word it the way you did. here it is and it implies that Kepler is a "she" and is now engaged to the guy. Syntax is a very tricky thing, eh? But thanks for the clarification.


"Kepler Funk, a Melbourne attorney who represents Colleen Shipman, said Friday that she and former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein have gotten engaged. The couple, who now live in Alaska, have not set a date."

One could take this to read that Kepler is a girl who is now engaged and just happens to represent Shipman...eh?
by toldyouso29 July 11, 2009 10:40 AM EDT
Make it a million bucks then you and I can split the money. LMAO
by margieboy July 12, 2009 3:48 AM EDT
I have to hand it to you. It is rare that someone who makes a mistake in reading something admits it and thanks the person who corrects it. You get my vote for most sincere commenter today.
by Solarrays247 July 12, 2009 10:07 PM EDT
I agree 100% with your opinion of toldyouso29's comment, margieboy!

The article was poorly written.
See all 27 Comments

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