GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- Deputies are investigating the death of a man who was shot and killed late Thursday night.
A woman called 911 and said that her 45-year-old ex-boyfriend was armed with a knife and threatened people in the residence before he was shot.
Greenville County Deputy Matt Armstrong said, "(The man) came in there and began to assault two individuals. When he turned his attention to a third individual with a knife in his hand, he ended up being shot and ended up dying from his injuries.”
Scott Ramsey with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Erasmo Garza.
Deputies are not saying who shot and killed Garza. No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made.
The shooting happened at a home on Sioux Drive near the intersection of White Horse Road and Augusta Road in the Donaldson Center area.
Armstrong said the names of those in the home will not be released.
Deputies said three children were in the home during the incident, but they were not injured.
The two people Garza assaulted received minor injuries, deputies said.
Deputies are conducting interviews with those who were inside the home during at the time of the shooting to see if any charges are warranted.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Shreveport, LA: Questions remain in local murder-suicide case
SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -
So many questions still remain as to why a prominent pastor would allegedly kill his wife then take his own life.
Pastor Willie Guiden and his wife Jane were found around 10:30 this morning at their home in the 800 block of Elmdale Street in Shreveport's Southern Hills.
Those who knew Willie Guiden say the thought of him killing his wife, then taking his own is just unbelievable.
At 10:30 Thursday morning, police were called to the Southern Hills home to check on 60-year-old Willie Guiden and his wife, 60-year-old Jane Guiden. A relative told police the pastor of Unity in Prayer Ministries and his wife would not answer the door.
"Officers themselves forced entry into the home through a rear patio door and subsequently located inside an adult male and an adult female," says Bill Goodin with Shreveport Police.
They were later identified as the Guidens.
"This has all the appearances of a murder-suicide. I'm not making that call at this point in time or ruling it that at this point and time," says Caddo Coronoer Dr. Todd Thoma.
The investigation indicated that Willie Guiden had one gunshot wound to the head. Jane suffered two gunshot wounds.
"He brought me in and took time and try to teach me the right way to serve God," says church member Lakendrick Houston.
Church members describe Willie as a respectable man of God and very giving.
"And we all love him. It just hurts so bad," says Zelma Wyatt, also a church member.
Guiden owned this restaurant across the street from his church.
"If you ain't got no money and want something to eat, he'll feed you. He was just that type of person," adds Wyatt.
Those who knew Guiden say he showed no signs of depression or stress. The investigation is ongoing.
So many questions still remain as to why a prominent pastor would allegedly kill his wife then take his own life.
Pastor Willie Guiden and his wife Jane were found around 10:30 this morning at their home in the 800 block of Elmdale Street in Shreveport's Southern Hills.
Those who knew Willie Guiden say the thought of him killing his wife, then taking his own is just unbelievable.
At 10:30 Thursday morning, police were called to the Southern Hills home to check on 60-year-old Willie Guiden and his wife, 60-year-old Jane Guiden. A relative told police the pastor of Unity in Prayer Ministries and his wife would not answer the door.
"Officers themselves forced entry into the home through a rear patio door and subsequently located inside an adult male and an adult female," says Bill Goodin with Shreveport Police.
They were later identified as the Guidens.
"This has all the appearances of a murder-suicide. I'm not making that call at this point in time or ruling it that at this point and time," says Caddo Coronoer Dr. Todd Thoma.
The investigation indicated that Willie Guiden had one gunshot wound to the head. Jane suffered two gunshot wounds.
"He brought me in and took time and try to teach me the right way to serve God," says church member Lakendrick Houston.
Church members describe Willie as a respectable man of God and very giving.
"And we all love him. It just hurts so bad," says Zelma Wyatt, also a church member.
Guiden owned this restaurant across the street from his church.
"If you ain't got no money and want something to eat, he'll feed you. He was just that type of person," adds Wyatt.
Those who knew Guiden say he showed no signs of depression or stress. The investigation is ongoing.
Dallas, TX: Woman killed on Dallas street; husband kills self
DALLAS — Dallas police say a domestic dispute has left a woman and her estranged husband dead after he shot her on a street, then took his own life at home.
A police statement identified the woman as Martha Elena Garcia and her husband as Jalmar (HAL'-mar) Garcia. Police say the pair recently separated.
Lt. David Pughes says the two were arguing in a vehicle Friday when she tried to flee on foot. Pughes says the fatal shooting happened near a bus stop and some passengers witnessed the attack.
Police say the man, whose own vehicle had been left in gear and rolled away, carjacked another vehicle and drove home, where he barricaded himself. A gunshot was heard from inside the home as
officers arrived. Police entered and found the man dead.
A police statement identified the woman as Martha Elena Garcia and her husband as Jalmar (HAL'-mar) Garcia. Police say the pair recently separated.
Lt. David Pughes says the two were arguing in a vehicle Friday when she tried to flee on foot. Pughes says the fatal shooting happened near a bus stop and some passengers witnessed the attack.
Police say the man, whose own vehicle had been left in gear and rolled away, carjacked another vehicle and drove home, where he barricaded himself. A gunshot was heard from inside the home as
officers arrived. Police entered and found the man dead.
Vernon Hills, IL: Husband held on $3M bond for wife’s murder
VERNON HILLS — A Vernon Hills man is being held in Lake County Jail on $3 million bond on the charge he murdered his wife during a domestic dispute.
Ronald Stolberg, 47, of 330 Farmington Road, has been charged with first-degree murder/intent to kill or injure. Judge George Strickland set bond Friday during a hearing in Lake County Circuit Court.
At about 5:21 p.m. Wednesday, Vernon Hills police responded to a 9-1-1 call from Stolberg saying he had come home to find his 54-year-old wife dead. When police arrived they observed the deceased woman inside the residence.
Vernon Hills Police Cmdr. Rick Davies said a coroner’s autopsy was conducted on the woman’s body Thursday afternoon and it was determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation. The name of the victim was not being immediately released.
Davies said the investigation indicates there had been a domestic struggle between Stolberg and his wife and during the struggle the woman died.
“It appears he was on top of her and her face was forced into the floor and at some point she stopped breathing,” he said.
Stolberg is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on the murder charge June 27.
Davies said Stolberg was questioned by police following the incident on Wednesday and formally charged following the autopsy late Thursday.
Ronald Stolberg, 47, of 330 Farmington Road, has been charged with first-degree murder/intent to kill or injure. Judge George Strickland set bond Friday during a hearing in Lake County Circuit Court.
At about 5:21 p.m. Wednesday, Vernon Hills police responded to a 9-1-1 call from Stolberg saying he had come home to find his 54-year-old wife dead. When police arrived they observed the deceased woman inside the residence.
Vernon Hills Police Cmdr. Rick Davies said a coroner’s autopsy was conducted on the woman’s body Thursday afternoon and it was determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation. The name of the victim was not being immediately released.
Davies said the investigation indicates there had been a domestic struggle between Stolberg and his wife and during the struggle the woman died.
“It appears he was on top of her and her face was forced into the floor and at some point she stopped breathing,” he said.
Stolberg is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on the murder charge June 27.
Davies said Stolberg was questioned by police following the incident on Wednesday and formally charged following the autopsy late Thursday.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Oak Cliff, TX: Woman shot and killed at Oak Cliff bus stop; ex-husband tracked to nearby home
A woman was shot and killed on an Oak Cliff street Friday morning, and police suspect her ex-husband was the gunman.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 a.m. at Cockrell Hill Road and Illinois Avenue where the man and woman got into an argument in a car.
The victim jumped out at a bus stop, and her ex-husband followed and shot her, homicide Lt. David Pughes said. He said the shooting was witnessed by more than a dozen people on two DART buses.
Police said the suspect left the car in gear when he jumped out, and it rolled into a taco shop down the street, damaging the business.
The suspect abandoned the car and fled on foot before carjacking another vehicle and driving to his home about a mile away.
Officers have surrounded the home in the 5200 block of Tato Road, near Loop 12 and Illinois.
Neither the victim nor the suspect had been identified.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 a.m. at Cockrell Hill Road and Illinois Avenue where the man and woman got into an argument in a car.
The victim jumped out at a bus stop, and her ex-husband followed and shot her, homicide Lt. David Pughes said. He said the shooting was witnessed by more than a dozen people on two DART buses.
Police said the suspect left the car in gear when he jumped out, and it rolled into a taco shop down the street, damaging the business.
The suspect abandoned the car and fled on foot before carjacking another vehicle and driving to his home about a mile away.
Officers have surrounded the home in the 5200 block of Tato Road, near Loop 12 and Illinois.
Neither the victim nor the suspect had been identified.
Pasco, WA: Young Woman Killed in East Pasco
PASCO -- The Franklin County Coroner reports Magdalena Velasco-Garcia, 22, is the woman found dead at a home on the 2700 block of Glendive Court in Pasco. Police call it a case of "homicidal violence."
The body of Velasco-Garcia was found outside the home off "A" Street. A man was arrested at the scene. He is also in his 20's.
A 911 call came from the home reporting a domestic violence incident about 3pm Thursday. By the time police arrived, the woman was already dead. Cops quickly arrested a man related to her. They would not identify the relationship, say how the woman died, or confirm the man was arrested for his death. They would only say they were not looking for anyone else.
Neighbor Joel Fernadez spoke about the family who lives at the home, "I am shocked. I feel sorry for him. I know he's in shock right now."
An autopsy is planned for Saturday to determine the cause of death for Velasco-Garcia. KEPR will continue pursuing this story Friday and post updates here and on Twitter and Facebook.
The body of Velasco-Garcia was found outside the home off "A" Street. A man was arrested at the scene. He is also in his 20's.
A 911 call came from the home reporting a domestic violence incident about 3pm Thursday. By the time police arrived, the woman was already dead. Cops quickly arrested a man related to her. They would not identify the relationship, say how the woman died, or confirm the man was arrested for his death. They would only say they were not looking for anyone else.
Neighbor Joel Fernadez spoke about the family who lives at the home, "I am shocked. I feel sorry for him. I know he's in shock right now."
An autopsy is planned for Saturday to determine the cause of death for Velasco-Garcia. KEPR will continue pursuing this story Friday and post updates here and on Twitter and Facebook.
New Hope, MN: New Hope woman found strangled in her apartment
The night before Kristin E. Sandeen was found strangled in her New Hope apartment, police were called to a dispute at the home she shared with her longtime boyfriend, Douglas C. Manney, according to court documents.
She was examined and wasn't hurt, the officers reported. Manney said that she'd assaulted him but that he didn't want to press charges, and he agreed to go to a motel for the night.
The next morning, New Hope police were again sent to the couple's apartment. This time, Sandeen, 40, was dead. On Thursday, Manney, 50, was charged with second-degree murder in her death.
Although New Hope police and the medical examiner's office wouldn't release Sandeen's name, family members said they were holding a memorial service for her.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court:
About 11:10 a.m. Sunday, officers were sent to an apartment building in the 6000 block of W. Broadway after the victim's sister called 911. The victim was lying on the living room floor. Her body was still warm, but she was dead, the complaint said. Police learned that she'd been alive at 5 a.m., when she had called her boss to say she wasn't coming to work.
The victim's sister told police that Manney had called her at 11:04 a.m. to tell her that the victim was unconscious and he didn't know whether she was dead or alive. He told her that she should call 911 and that he was leaving the apartment, the complaint said.
The complaint said that Manney had stayed at a motel Saturday night. He left just before 10 a.m. Sunday and took a taxi back to his apartment.
Manney told police he and Sundeen had been dating for eight years and had lived together for four. He said she was alive Sunday morning but then fell off the couch and appeared unconscious.
During an autopsy, internal injuries and external bruising consistent with strangulation were found, the complaint said.
When confronted with that information, Manney admitted that he'd grabbed her by the neck and squeezed "so hard that she gasped for air," the complaint said. But he said he'd done that the night before her death, the complaint said.
Manney is being held on $1 million bail. Minnesota court records show that Manney has previously been arrested and charged with domestic assault, in 1998 and 2001 in Carlton County.
In each of those cases, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. He also was charged and convicted of violating an order for protection. His criminal history also includes drunken driving, property damage and passing worthless checks.
Sundeen's death was the first homicide in New Hope in about nine years, said police Sgt. Scott Slawson.
She was examined and wasn't hurt, the officers reported. Manney said that she'd assaulted him but that he didn't want to press charges, and he agreed to go to a motel for the night.
The next morning, New Hope police were again sent to the couple's apartment. This time, Sandeen, 40, was dead. On Thursday, Manney, 50, was charged with second-degree murder in her death.
Although New Hope police and the medical examiner's office wouldn't release Sandeen's name, family members said they were holding a memorial service for her.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court:
About 11:10 a.m. Sunday, officers were sent to an apartment building in the 6000 block of W. Broadway after the victim's sister called 911. The victim was lying on the living room floor. Her body was still warm, but she was dead, the complaint said. Police learned that she'd been alive at 5 a.m., when she had called her boss to say she wasn't coming to work.
The victim's sister told police that Manney had called her at 11:04 a.m. to tell her that the victim was unconscious and he didn't know whether she was dead or alive. He told her that she should call 911 and that he was leaving the apartment, the complaint said.
The complaint said that Manney had stayed at a motel Saturday night. He left just before 10 a.m. Sunday and took a taxi back to his apartment.
Manney told police he and Sundeen had been dating for eight years and had lived together for four. He said she was alive Sunday morning but then fell off the couch and appeared unconscious.
During an autopsy, internal injuries and external bruising consistent with strangulation were found, the complaint said.
When confronted with that information, Manney admitted that he'd grabbed her by the neck and squeezed "so hard that she gasped for air," the complaint said. But he said he'd done that the night before her death, the complaint said.
Manney is being held on $1 million bail. Minnesota court records show that Manney has previously been arrested and charged with domestic assault, in 1998 and 2001 in Carlton County.
In each of those cases, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. He also was charged and convicted of violating an order for protection. His criminal history also includes drunken driving, property damage and passing worthless checks.
Sundeen's death was the first homicide in New Hope in about nine years, said police Sgt. Scott Slawson.
Pottsville, PA: Police: Pottsville woman killed during fight with boyfriend
A Pottsville woman found dead inside her apartment Wednesday was killed during a fight with her boyfriend, who then fled the state before returning to turn himself in, authorities said Thursday.
The county district attorney will decide whether to charge Joseph P. Pinnelle, 60, in the death of Ruth Ann Golden, 45.
According to Pottsville police Capt. Ronald Moser, Pinnelle and Golden apparently were involved in a fight Monday at Golden's home at 717 Mahantongo St., Apt. 1R. Golden bit hard on one of Pinnelle's fingers, Moser said, and Pinnelle, in an attempt to free himself, used his other hand to push her head back. At some point, Golden passed out and released her bite, Moser said.
"He said she was biting him and had his finger in her mouth and he was pushing on her jaw to break free," Moser said.
Moser said Pinnelle panicked and contacted his sister in Cape Cod, Mass., who gave him money for bus fare. When he arrived at his sister's home, Pinnelle told her about the fight and that he thought Golden was dead.
"At that point, the sister got him in the car and drove back to Pottsville and City Hall to report the incident," Moser said.
Officers immediately went to the apartment early Wednesday and found Golden's body, Moser said. Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett pronounced her dead at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Moser said Pinnelle was taken to a local hospital after he reported the incident, where an examination determined that bite marks on his body were fewer than 48 hours old - consistent with the story he told investigators.
Lipsett said Thursday that after an autopsy performed Wednesday by forensic pathologist Dr. Richard P. Bindie, Golden's death was ruled a homicide.
Moser and police Chief Joseph Murton said District Attorney James P. Goodman will make the final call on whether to charge Pinnelle with homicide.
Murton said that charge carries several degrees of severity: first-, second- and third-degree murder, involuntary and voluntary manslaughter and justifiable homicide.
Goodman said Thursday his office will make a decision sometime next week. Since Pinnelle was allegedly attempting to free himself from the woman's bite, he said justifiable homicide will be considered.
"At this point, we're waiting for more reports and toxicology tests," Goodman said. "At that point, we'll have to determine if it's criminal homicide."
Moser said the toxicology results are important because police believe drugs and alcohol may have played a part in the fight.
Lipsett said Thursday that Golden died from "positional asphyxia during an altercation with head and neck pushed to the side," blunt force head trauma and cardiorespiratory arrest.
Moser said this week's altercation between Pinnelle and Golden was not the first.
He said Golden was arrested by police June 2 and charged with simple assault and simple assault pursuant to domestic violence for attacking Pinnelle and leaving bite marks on his body. She was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
Moser said Golden was out on bail at the time of Monday's fight.
On Sept. 16, 2010, Golden was arrested on charges of simple assault and harassment pursuant to domestic violence in connection with a similar incident.
She was arraigned and jailed on 10 percent of $5,000 bail, Moser said.
"I think it would be safe to say this was a very tumultuous relationship," Moser said.
The county district attorney will decide whether to charge Joseph P. Pinnelle, 60, in the death of Ruth Ann Golden, 45.
According to Pottsville police Capt. Ronald Moser, Pinnelle and Golden apparently were involved in a fight Monday at Golden's home at 717 Mahantongo St., Apt. 1R. Golden bit hard on one of Pinnelle's fingers, Moser said, and Pinnelle, in an attempt to free himself, used his other hand to push her head back. At some point, Golden passed out and released her bite, Moser said.
"He said she was biting him and had his finger in her mouth and he was pushing on her jaw to break free," Moser said.
Moser said Pinnelle panicked and contacted his sister in Cape Cod, Mass., who gave him money for bus fare. When he arrived at his sister's home, Pinnelle told her about the fight and that he thought Golden was dead.
"At that point, the sister got him in the car and drove back to Pottsville and City Hall to report the incident," Moser said.
Officers immediately went to the apartment early Wednesday and found Golden's body, Moser said. Schuylkill County Coroner Joseph Lipsett pronounced her dead at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Moser said Pinnelle was taken to a local hospital after he reported the incident, where an examination determined that bite marks on his body were fewer than 48 hours old - consistent with the story he told investigators.
Lipsett said Thursday that after an autopsy performed Wednesday by forensic pathologist Dr. Richard P. Bindie, Golden's death was ruled a homicide.
Moser and police Chief Joseph Murton said District Attorney James P. Goodman will make the final call on whether to charge Pinnelle with homicide.
Murton said that charge carries several degrees of severity: first-, second- and third-degree murder, involuntary and voluntary manslaughter and justifiable homicide.
Goodman said Thursday his office will make a decision sometime next week. Since Pinnelle was allegedly attempting to free himself from the woman's bite, he said justifiable homicide will be considered.
"At this point, we're waiting for more reports and toxicology tests," Goodman said. "At that point, we'll have to determine if it's criminal homicide."
Moser said the toxicology results are important because police believe drugs and alcohol may have played a part in the fight.
Lipsett said Thursday that Golden died from "positional asphyxia during an altercation with head and neck pushed to the side," blunt force head trauma and cardiorespiratory arrest.
Moser said this week's altercation between Pinnelle and Golden was not the first.
He said Golden was arrested by police June 2 and charged with simple assault and simple assault pursuant to domestic violence for attacking Pinnelle and leaving bite marks on his body. She was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
Moser said Golden was out on bail at the time of Monday's fight.
On Sept. 16, 2010, Golden was arrested on charges of simple assault and harassment pursuant to domestic violence in connection with a similar incident.
She was arraigned and jailed on 10 percent of $5,000 bail, Moser said.
"I think it would be safe to say this was a very tumultuous relationship," Moser said.
Fort Smith, AK: Crawford County woman arrested for murder in stabbing death of man at home the 2 shared
FORT SMITH, Ark. — A Crawford County woman has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a man at the home where the two lived.
Deputies arrested Michelle Monroe early Wednesday morning after being called to the home where they found 57-year-old Bobby Gene Tuck dead on the living room floor. Sheriff Ron Brown told the Southwest Times Record that Tuck was stabbed in the back.
Monroe said Tuck had threatened her with a knife and that she was defending herself.
Monroe is jailed without bond.
Deputies arrested Michelle Monroe early Wednesday morning after being called to the home where they found 57-year-old Bobby Gene Tuck dead on the living room floor. Sheriff Ron Brown told the Southwest Times Record that Tuck was stabbed in the back.
Monroe said Tuck had threatened her with a knife and that she was defending herself.
Monroe is jailed without bond.
Winston-Salem, NC: Man guilty in wife's stabbing death
On Nov. 3, 2008, Alfredo Garza Ayala’s 3-year-old son tried to stop him as he stabbed his wife to death in the home they shared on Chestnut Trail, a prosecutor said in Forsyth Superior Court on Thursday.
As Linda Nelly Munoz-Rivera lay dying, she managed to tell her 7-year-old daughter to call 911, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Martin said.
When Winston-Salem police officers arrived, they found Munoz-Rivera, a 42-year-old preschool teacher, dead with three stab wounds to her chest, one to her face and one in her back. Her lungs had filled with blood because of the stab wounds.
Ayala, 41, of 108 Chestnut Trail, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse inflicting serious emotional injury. Judge Todd Burke sentenced him to 28 years and five months to 36 years and seven months in prison.
Police had initially charged Ayala with first-degree murder, but Martin agreed to a plea deal to spare the two children, now ages 10 and 6, from testifying in court, she said.
“It would be too traumatic and cause setbacks for the kids to come back and testify,” Martin said in court.
The Rev. Spencer Swain, pastor of Grace Lower Stone Church in Rockwell, said Munoz-Rivera dedicated her life to God and to teaching and serving others. Hundreds of former preschool students came to her funeral, he said.
“She was truly a treasure chest of love walking around,” he said.
According to Martin, Ayala and Munoz-Rivera had an argument on the day of her death. Their children were in the other room, but they came out when they heard their mother yelling for Ayala to stop hitting her.
Then, Ayala started stabbing Munoz-Rivera, and her son grabbed Ayala to make him stop, Martin said. Munoz-Rivera told her daughter to call 911, which she did.
When police arrived, they found Ayala at the computer, and the two children had blood on them, Martin said. Ayala took a knife and tried to cut his throat, but his self-inflicted injury was only minor. He was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he took a blood alcohol test. His level was 0.40 percent, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent.
David Botchin, an attorney for Ayala, said his client suffers from brain damage. No one knows when or how the damage occurred, he said.
Richard Ramsey, also a defense attorney, said Ayala attempted suicide because he was remorseful.
“He stands before you and knows he should be punished,” Ramsey said.
Polly Munoz, Munoz-Rivera’s sister, said after the hearing that the children are still coping with their mother’s death. They see a psychiatrist regularly and have been adopted by their maternal grandmother.
At night, they have flashbacks of what happened, she said.
The family, she said, wanted to make sure the children didn’t go through any more trauma.
“The only thing we wanted was for the kids to not come to court,” Munoz-Rivera said.
As Linda Nelly Munoz-Rivera lay dying, she managed to tell her 7-year-old daughter to call 911, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Martin said.
When Winston-Salem police officers arrived, they found Munoz-Rivera, a 42-year-old preschool teacher, dead with three stab wounds to her chest, one to her face and one in her back. Her lungs had filled with blood because of the stab wounds.
Ayala, 41, of 108 Chestnut Trail, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse inflicting serious emotional injury. Judge Todd Burke sentenced him to 28 years and five months to 36 years and seven months in prison.
Police had initially charged Ayala with first-degree murder, but Martin agreed to a plea deal to spare the two children, now ages 10 and 6, from testifying in court, she said.
“It would be too traumatic and cause setbacks for the kids to come back and testify,” Martin said in court.
The Rev. Spencer Swain, pastor of Grace Lower Stone Church in Rockwell, said Munoz-Rivera dedicated her life to God and to teaching and serving others. Hundreds of former preschool students came to her funeral, he said.
“She was truly a treasure chest of love walking around,” he said.
According to Martin, Ayala and Munoz-Rivera had an argument on the day of her death. Their children were in the other room, but they came out when they heard their mother yelling for Ayala to stop hitting her.
Then, Ayala started stabbing Munoz-Rivera, and her son grabbed Ayala to make him stop, Martin said. Munoz-Rivera told her daughter to call 911, which she did.
When police arrived, they found Ayala at the computer, and the two children had blood on them, Martin said. Ayala took a knife and tried to cut his throat, but his self-inflicted injury was only minor. He was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he took a blood alcohol test. His level was 0.40 percent, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent.
David Botchin, an attorney for Ayala, said his client suffers from brain damage. No one knows when or how the damage occurred, he said.
Richard Ramsey, also a defense attorney, said Ayala attempted suicide because he was remorseful.
“He stands before you and knows he should be punished,” Ramsey said.
Polly Munoz, Munoz-Rivera’s sister, said after the hearing that the children are still coping with their mother’s death. They see a psychiatrist regularly and have been adopted by their maternal grandmother.
At night, they have flashbacks of what happened, she said.
The family, she said, wanted to make sure the children didn’t go through any more trauma.
“The only thing we wanted was for the kids to not come to court,” Munoz-Rivera said.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Malone, NY: Woman accused in stabbing freed
MALONE — A Franklin County woman charged with stabbing her husband is free after a grand jury found she was justified in defending herself.
Elianne D. Assinewai, 44, of 33 Water St., Fort Covington was released from the County Jail, where she had been held since March 4 for stabbing her husband, James, in the chest, back and hand with a large kitchen knife.
"It was the grand jury's judgment that her use of physical force was justified because of prior domestic violence," District Attorney Derek Champagne said.
"This is the first time in a long time someone has been released. We're pleased the grand jury sorted through all of the testimony and made this decision.
"And it's why we encourage anyone in a domestic-violence situation to come forward before it gets to this point."
THREATS FROM HUSBAND
Mrs. Assinewai called Emergency Services 911 operators at about 9:30 a.m. that day, asking dispatchers to send help immediately.
When State Police arrived, she was waiting on the front porch and told them, "I just stabbed my husband. I did it."
Neighbors testified at the grand-jury hearing that they heard the pair arguing and that, at one point, Mr. Assinewai shouted, "I'll kill you, bitch."
That was followed by a loud thud.
Police said Mrs. Assinewai had a bump on her head and a cut on her leg when she was arrested. After treatment at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, she was taken for arraignment and jailed.
She was charged with first-degree assault and could have faced between five to 25 years in state prison if convicted.
SURVIVED
Mr. Assinewai was covered in blood when patrols arrived, and initial reports to Champagne were that "he might not make it."
But once the blood was cleaned away, it was discovered that the man had suffered no life-threatening injuries, the DA said.
Champagne said Mr. Assinewai "was extremely intoxicated" that day and that is wife "had consumed alcohol, as well."
The couple had been together for a number of years but had lived in the Fort Covington apartment for only a few months before the stabbing occurred.
Mr. Assinewai, he said, has moved out of the area, and his wife has been staying with relatives since her release.
'JUST RESULT'
Champagne said Mrs. Assinewai had no prior criminal record.
The police had gone to their apartment on a previous occasion when she called to have her husband removed from the place.
"We were able to confirm previous allegations of domestic violence," the DA said.
"Domestic violence is unacceptable; yet all too often it goes unreported and occurs behind closed doors.
"No person should have to resort to using a knife or other weapon to ultimately defend themselves from an attack by their partner.
"But, in this case, the facts were heard, deliberated upon, and a just result has occurred."
Elianne D. Assinewai, 44, of 33 Water St., Fort Covington was released from the County Jail, where she had been held since March 4 for stabbing her husband, James, in the chest, back and hand with a large kitchen knife.
"It was the grand jury's judgment that her use of physical force was justified because of prior domestic violence," District Attorney Derek Champagne said.
"This is the first time in a long time someone has been released. We're pleased the grand jury sorted through all of the testimony and made this decision.
"And it's why we encourage anyone in a domestic-violence situation to come forward before it gets to this point."
THREATS FROM HUSBAND
Mrs. Assinewai called Emergency Services 911 operators at about 9:30 a.m. that day, asking dispatchers to send help immediately.
When State Police arrived, she was waiting on the front porch and told them, "I just stabbed my husband. I did it."
Neighbors testified at the grand-jury hearing that they heard the pair arguing and that, at one point, Mr. Assinewai shouted, "I'll kill you, bitch."
That was followed by a loud thud.
Police said Mrs. Assinewai had a bump on her head and a cut on her leg when she was arrested. After treatment at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, she was taken for arraignment and jailed.
She was charged with first-degree assault and could have faced between five to 25 years in state prison if convicted.
SURVIVED
Mr. Assinewai was covered in blood when patrols arrived, and initial reports to Champagne were that "he might not make it."
But once the blood was cleaned away, it was discovered that the man had suffered no life-threatening injuries, the DA said.
Champagne said Mr. Assinewai "was extremely intoxicated" that day and that is wife "had consumed alcohol, as well."
The couple had been together for a number of years but had lived in the Fort Covington apartment for only a few months before the stabbing occurred.
Mr. Assinewai, he said, has moved out of the area, and his wife has been staying with relatives since her release.
'JUST RESULT'
Champagne said Mrs. Assinewai had no prior criminal record.
The police had gone to their apartment on a previous occasion when she called to have her husband removed from the place.
"We were able to confirm previous allegations of domestic violence," the DA said.
"Domestic violence is unacceptable; yet all too often it goes unreported and occurs behind closed doors.
"No person should have to resort to using a knife or other weapon to ultimately defend themselves from an attack by their partner.
"But, in this case, the facts were heard, deliberated upon, and a just result has occurred."
Article: Father of Slain NYPD Officer, Pols Call for Stricter Domestic Violence Penalties
On the morning of March 13, NYPD Officer Alain Schaberger of the 84th Precinct responded to a domestic violence call in Boerum Hill. After a struggle with a career criminal, Schaberger was pushed over a railing, falling and breaking his neck.
Schaberger's death could have been prevented, had stricter domestic violence penalties been in place, his father Paul Schaberger said.
"My son was not directly involved with domestic violence but because of domestic violence he's dead," Schaberger said.
A new piece of legislation in the State Senate, introduced by Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and State Senator Martin J. Golden would strengthen the law against repeat abusers.
The bill will establish "aggravated domestic violence" as a felony crime for abusers who commit two or more offenses within five years.
According to a release on the new bill, the current law says only abusers who kill their victims or cause serious physical injury face felony charges, and those who repeatedly commit domestic violence offenses can only be charged with a misdemeanor, which puts them back on the streets.
Cops responded to previous domestic violence calls 12 times at the Bergen Street address where Schaberger and other officers tried to apprehend George Villanueva, who is charged with the murder of Schaberger. He had previously been arrested for acts of domestic violence on February 4 and 9 of this year, and has been arrested 28 times in his life. He was released from prison in 2005.
“By elevating repeat offenses to a felony, this bill would protect victims and prevent incidents like the one that took Officer Schaberger’s life," said Squadron.
For Officer Schaberger's father, his son's death proved that the actions of others can have serious repurcussions on unsuspecting people.
"My wife and I are two people that know that domestic violence is wrong. We are two people in a loving relationship for more than 40 years," he said. "And because of domestic violence our son is dead."
"Something needs to be done," he added.
The legislative session is ending in Albany on June 20.
"In the name of Officer Schaberger and the many others affected by domestic violence, Albany must act now to make New York a safer place," said Squadron.
Schaberger's death could have been prevented, had stricter domestic violence penalties been in place, his father Paul Schaberger said.
"My son was not directly involved with domestic violence but because of domestic violence he's dead," Schaberger said.
A new piece of legislation in the State Senate, introduced by Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and State Senator Martin J. Golden would strengthen the law against repeat abusers.
The bill will establish "aggravated domestic violence" as a felony crime for abusers who commit two or more offenses within five years.
According to a release on the new bill, the current law says only abusers who kill their victims or cause serious physical injury face felony charges, and those who repeatedly commit domestic violence offenses can only be charged with a misdemeanor, which puts them back on the streets.
Cops responded to previous domestic violence calls 12 times at the Bergen Street address where Schaberger and other officers tried to apprehend George Villanueva, who is charged with the murder of Schaberger. He had previously been arrested for acts of domestic violence on February 4 and 9 of this year, and has been arrested 28 times in his life. He was released from prison in 2005.
“By elevating repeat offenses to a felony, this bill would protect victims and prevent incidents like the one that took Officer Schaberger’s life," said Squadron.
For Officer Schaberger's father, his son's death proved that the actions of others can have serious repurcussions on unsuspecting people.
"My wife and I are two people that know that domestic violence is wrong. We are two people in a loving relationship for more than 40 years," he said. "And because of domestic violence our son is dead."
"Something needs to be done," he added.
The legislative session is ending in Albany on June 20.
"In the name of Officer Schaberger and the many others affected by domestic violence, Albany must act now to make New York a safer place," said Squadron.
Marinette County, WI: Marinette Sheriff updates domestic violence killing
MARINETTE CO. -- "A sad day in Marinette County."
That's how Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Suave started his press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Around 1:10 a.m. Wednesday three sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute at N 6114 West 26th Road in Beaver, Wisconsin.
The 80-year-old female caller stated her 83-year-old husband had a gun.
Deputies were unable to make contact with the man and shortly after his wife escaped the home safely.
Then the man came out with a shotgun and did not respond to police commands to drop the weapon.
"There was a racking of the shotgun and that is an unmistakable noise and the gun was pointed at the officer," Suave said.
The deputy then fired three shots killing the man.
Suave said the department received no calls to the residence in the past but the wife later indicated there were problems.
The deputy has been put on administrative leave with pay in accordance with the Marinette Sheriff Department’s policy while the incident is investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
"I'm very proud of their actions and at this point in the investigation I see nothing that leads me to believe that they did not act appropriately nor respond to a situation other than how they've been trained to do" Suave said.
This is the first shooting incident involving an officer for the sheriff's department since July 1988.
No names or reasons why this happened were released Wednesday.
A press conference to update the investigation is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.
That's how Marinette County Sheriff Jerry Suave started his press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Around 1:10 a.m. Wednesday three sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute at N 6114 West 26th Road in Beaver, Wisconsin.
The 80-year-old female caller stated her 83-year-old husband had a gun.
Deputies were unable to make contact with the man and shortly after his wife escaped the home safely.
Then the man came out with a shotgun and did not respond to police commands to drop the weapon.
"There was a racking of the shotgun and that is an unmistakable noise and the gun was pointed at the officer," Suave said.
The deputy then fired three shots killing the man.
Suave said the department received no calls to the residence in the past but the wife later indicated there were problems.
The deputy has been put on administrative leave with pay in accordance with the Marinette Sheriff Department’s policy while the incident is investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
"I'm very proud of their actions and at this point in the investigation I see nothing that leads me to believe that they did not act appropriately nor respond to a situation other than how they've been trained to do" Suave said.
This is the first shooting incident involving an officer for the sheriff's department since July 1988.
No names or reasons why this happened were released Wednesday.
A press conference to update the investigation is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.
Worcester, MA: Police say man admits killing wife
WORCESTER — A city man walked into the Worcester Police Department yesterday and told police he had murdered his wife and wanted to turn himself in, authorities said.
Natalio Felix, 39, entered the station at 9 a.m. and told police they could find his wife’s body in their Huntingdon Avenue home.
Police went to the house and found the man’s wife, Janice Santos, 39, in a bedroom on the home’s second floor, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at 10:08 a.m. at UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus.
The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy, police said in a press release.
Felix has been charged with murder. Police said he is at a local hospital for an undisclosed injury, and will be arraigned in Worcester Central Court when he is released from the hospital.
Felix was interviewed by detectives during the day, and investigators with a search warrant collected evidence from the house.
Santos is the mother of three children and had worked for the past three years as the supervisor of support staff in the Worcester Superior Court Probation Department.
She had previously worked in similar positions in Westborough District Court and Dudley District Court.
“She was a very intelligent, personable individual. It’s a devastating loss to this department,’’ said her boss, chief probation officer Thomas A. Turco III.
Turco said he met Santos in the mid-1990s, when both worked in the Westborough court.
“Such a waste of a young life and a beautiful mother. My heart goes out to those kids. She was a dedicated mother, as well as a dedicated employee,’’ he said.
Linda Mastro, operations supervisor at the Westborough courthouse, also worked with Santos.
“It’s a terrible thing,’’ she said. “She was a wonderful girl, beautiful. We kept telling her she should be a model.’’
Mastro said Santos stayed in touch with her by e-mail when she left the Westborough job. In the years they had known each other, Santos never mentioned any abuse at home, Mastro said.
Santos sometimes brought her young children when she visited her former co-workers in Westborough. She was the kind of person who remembered to send flowers or a card when a friend was going through an illness or a loss in the family, Mastro recalled.
Felix and Santos were married Jan. 5, 2000, and a year later bought a house in a residential neighborhood off West Boylston Street, according to city and state records.
A neighbor, John Lamacchia, walked down the quiet street yesterday after his son called him to tell him the news.
“I’m in shock. It’s a very nice neighborhood,’’ Lamacchia said.
“I just feel really bad for everyone involved. I feel really bad for her,’’ he said.
Natalio Felix, 39, entered the station at 9 a.m. and told police they could find his wife’s body in their Huntingdon Avenue home.
Police went to the house and found the man’s wife, Janice Santos, 39, in a bedroom on the home’s second floor, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at 10:08 a.m. at UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus.
The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy, police said in a press release.
Felix has been charged with murder. Police said he is at a local hospital for an undisclosed injury, and will be arraigned in Worcester Central Court when he is released from the hospital.
Felix was interviewed by detectives during the day, and investigators with a search warrant collected evidence from the house.
Santos is the mother of three children and had worked for the past three years as the supervisor of support staff in the Worcester Superior Court Probation Department.
She had previously worked in similar positions in Westborough District Court and Dudley District Court.
“She was a very intelligent, personable individual. It’s a devastating loss to this department,’’ said her boss, chief probation officer Thomas A. Turco III.
Turco said he met Santos in the mid-1990s, when both worked in the Westborough court.
“Such a waste of a young life and a beautiful mother. My heart goes out to those kids. She was a dedicated mother, as well as a dedicated employee,’’ he said.
Linda Mastro, operations supervisor at the Westborough courthouse, also worked with Santos.
“It’s a terrible thing,’’ she said. “She was a wonderful girl, beautiful. We kept telling her she should be a model.’’
Mastro said Santos stayed in touch with her by e-mail when she left the Westborough job. In the years they had known each other, Santos never mentioned any abuse at home, Mastro said.
Santos sometimes brought her young children when she visited her former co-workers in Westborough. She was the kind of person who remembered to send flowers or a card when a friend was going through an illness or a loss in the family, Mastro recalled.
Felix and Santos were married Jan. 5, 2000, and a year later bought a house in a residential neighborhood off West Boylston Street, according to city and state records.
A neighbor, John Lamacchia, walked down the quiet street yesterday after his son called him to tell him the news.
“I’m in shock. It’s a very nice neighborhood,’’ Lamacchia said.
“I just feel really bad for everyone involved. I feel really bad for her,’’ he said.
Lake Charles, LA: Recent murders refocus attention on domestic violence
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) -
There have been six murders in Southwest Louisiana in the last three weeks.
Five of the six murders have taken place in Calcasieu Parish. One has taken place in Jeff Davis Parish.
Four of the victims have been women. Each of whom died at the hands of a current or former lover, according to authorities.
The most recent murder took place Tuesday afternoon in Lake Charles.
Lake Charles Police said 39-year-old Dale Winters shot and killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Michelle Martin at a residence on East Prien Lake Road.
"She fled and ran across the street to a local business and asked for help," said Lake Charles Deputy Chief of Police Mark Kraus. "Those people called 911 and administered whatever medical attention they could provide to her."
Tuesday's shooting marked the first deadly domestic violence case in recent weeks that Lake Charles Police have handled. Other recent cases have been investigated by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and the Jennings Police Department.
But Kraus said each of these incidents, no matter where they occurred, can serve as important lessons for others.
"Nothing is solved by the action that is taken in violent situations," said Kraus. "There is no room for domestic violence in any shape or form, not only in our own moral philosophy, but in the philosophy of the Louisiana judicial system."
Kraus said the LCPD, like other local law enforcement agencies, works to empower the public with education about domestic violence and encourages those who need help with an abusive relationship to seek it through local and state offered programs.
"It's a sad statement, but sometimes these things occur and we are trying to do everything through education, enforcement and things of that nature to empower the public with knowledge to avoid these scenarios," said Kraus.
According to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, signs of a battering personality include someone who often exhibits jealousy, is controlling and tries isolating the victim from all resources, including family and friends.
LEARN MORE, GET HELP
For more information on domestic violence and to find local programs that could help, click here or call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-888-411-1333.
There have been six murders in Southwest Louisiana in the last three weeks.
Five of the six murders have taken place in Calcasieu Parish. One has taken place in Jeff Davis Parish.
Four of the victims have been women. Each of whom died at the hands of a current or former lover, according to authorities.
The most recent murder took place Tuesday afternoon in Lake Charles.
Lake Charles Police said 39-year-old Dale Winters shot and killed his 30-year-old girlfriend Michelle Martin at a residence on East Prien Lake Road.
"She fled and ran across the street to a local business and asked for help," said Lake Charles Deputy Chief of Police Mark Kraus. "Those people called 911 and administered whatever medical attention they could provide to her."
Tuesday's shooting marked the first deadly domestic violence case in recent weeks that Lake Charles Police have handled. Other recent cases have been investigated by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and the Jennings Police Department.
But Kraus said each of these incidents, no matter where they occurred, can serve as important lessons for others.
"Nothing is solved by the action that is taken in violent situations," said Kraus. "There is no room for domestic violence in any shape or form, not only in our own moral philosophy, but in the philosophy of the Louisiana judicial system."
Kraus said the LCPD, like other local law enforcement agencies, works to empower the public with education about domestic violence and encourages those who need help with an abusive relationship to seek it through local and state offered programs.
"It's a sad statement, but sometimes these things occur and we are trying to do everything through education, enforcement and things of that nature to empower the public with knowledge to avoid these scenarios," said Kraus.
According to the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, signs of a battering personality include someone who often exhibits jealousy, is controlling and tries isolating the victim from all resources, including family and friends.
LEARN MORE, GET HELP
For more information on domestic violence and to find local programs that could help, click here or call the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-888-411-1333.
San Jose, CA: Murderer of Michelle Le possibly "not a stranger"
“Compelling evidence” in the investigation of the disappearance of Michelle Le, a Hayward, California, nursing student missing since May 27, caused police to reclassify the case as a homicide. Police say strong forensic and other evidence leads them to believe Le was killed in the Kaiser parking lot by someone who was “not a stranger.”
Surveillance cameras recorded what appeared to be Le’s white Honda SUV exiting the parking garage that night, but it is not clear who is behind the wheel.
Giselle Esteban, 27, a Union City woman and a “person of interest” in the case, is a former friend of Le’s from high school. Hayward police searched Esteban’s apartment twice in connection with this case.
Three days before Michelle Le “went missing,” a restraining order was filed against Esteban in Alameda County court. Records allege Esteban had been harassing her ex-boyfriend, a man also dated by Le. News reports quote Esteban as saying she “openly hates” Le for stealing her boyfriend, but she denies having anything to do with Le’s disappearance.
According to court records, Esteban’s erratic behavior was the result of an apparent grudge against the Fremont man, who is the father of, and has 80 percent custody of, her 5-year-old child. She not only stalked the man and sent threatening text messages, but also broke into his home. When Esteban threatened to shoot herself if he did not speak to her, he called police, indicating that he believed she possessed a firearm. Officers found live rounds of ammunition, but no gun. She was arrested.
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He also stated Esteban sent him text messages in February and March at least once a day telling him to “put a bullet in his brain."
She repeatedly told him she was having him followed. The petitioner wrote, “She has at times accurately informed me of what I had done the previous evening." The temporary restraining order forbids Esteban from coming within 100 yards of the family. A court hearing is scheduled for June 14.
Residents of Esteban’s apartment complex say they have not seen her since Monday, May 30, when she knocked on doors, apologizing for the police presence. A neighbor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Esteban was upset because she felt she was being targeted by media and would be relocating.
Hayward police have not called Esteban, a suspect. She is a "person of interest," and they have visited her apartment twice and interviewed her as many times.
Surveillance cameras recorded what appeared to be Le’s white Honda SUV exiting the parking garage that night, but it is not clear who is behind the wheel.
Giselle Esteban, 27, a Union City woman and a “person of interest” in the case, is a former friend of Le’s from high school. Hayward police searched Esteban’s apartment twice in connection with this case.
Three days before Michelle Le “went missing,” a restraining order was filed against Esteban in Alameda County court. Records allege Esteban had been harassing her ex-boyfriend, a man also dated by Le. News reports quote Esteban as saying she “openly hates” Le for stealing her boyfriend, but she denies having anything to do with Le’s disappearance.
According to court records, Esteban’s erratic behavior was the result of an apparent grudge against the Fremont man, who is the father of, and has 80 percent custody of, her 5-year-old child. She not only stalked the man and sent threatening text messages, but also broke into his home. When Esteban threatened to shoot herself if he did not speak to her, he called police, indicating that he believed she possessed a firearm. Officers found live rounds of ammunition, but no gun. She was arrested.
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He also stated Esteban sent him text messages in February and March at least once a day telling him to “put a bullet in his brain."
She repeatedly told him she was having him followed. The petitioner wrote, “She has at times accurately informed me of what I had done the previous evening." The temporary restraining order forbids Esteban from coming within 100 yards of the family. A court hearing is scheduled for June 14.
Residents of Esteban’s apartment complex say they have not seen her since Monday, May 30, when she knocked on doors, apologizing for the police presence. A neighbor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Esteban was upset because she felt she was being targeted by media and would be relocating.
Hayward police have not called Esteban, a suspect. She is a "person of interest," and they have visited her apartment twice and interviewed her as many times.
Wallingford, CT: Murder-Suicide in Wallingford Apartment
Police are investigating the deaths of a couple found inside a Wallingford apartment on Wednesday afternoon as a possible murder-suicide.
John Graves, 63, of Colchester, and Wendy Warzeniak, 57, of Wallingford, were found dead at the Silver Tree apartment complex at 179 Knollwood Drive.
The property manager called 911 around 3:30 p.m on Wednesday afternoon after a family member called him to do a welfare check on Warzeniak, police said.
Investigators said they found a suicide note apparently written by Graves at the scene.
Warzeniak and Graves were dating, police said. Both died from a gunshot wound.
John Graves, 63, of Colchester, and Wendy Warzeniak, 57, of Wallingford, were found dead at the Silver Tree apartment complex at 179 Knollwood Drive.
The property manager called 911 around 3:30 p.m on Wednesday afternoon after a family member called him to do a welfare check on Warzeniak, police said.
Investigators said they found a suicide note apparently written by Graves at the scene.
Warzeniak and Graves were dating, police said. Both died from a gunshot wound.
Greenfield, WI: Greenfield man killed in apparent domestic dispute
A 46-year-old Greenfield man was killed Wednesday in what appears to be a shooting linked to domestic violence, according to the Greenfield Police Department.
At 1 p.m., multiple 911 calls reported gunshots and a woman screaming on the 4500 block of W. Morgan Ave., said Deputy Inspector Brad Wentlandt.
Police found the man dead inside his home with a gunshot wound to the chest. The man's 35-year-old wife is in custody and being questioned. A weapon was also recovered.
Wentlandt said that they are not seeking any other suspects.
At 1 p.m., multiple 911 calls reported gunshots and a woman screaming on the 4500 block of W. Morgan Ave., said Deputy Inspector Brad Wentlandt.
Police found the man dead inside his home with a gunshot wound to the chest. The man's 35-year-old wife is in custody and being questioned. A weapon was also recovered.
Wentlandt said that they are not seeking any other suspects.
Article: Our view: Take aim at domestic violence
Once again the Oneida County community has been numbed by tragedy rooted in domestic violence. And once again, through what can only be described as life’s ultimate horror story, we are reminded that the effort to raise community consciousness to this type of violence cannot be understated.
Details of the tragic shooting early Tuesday morning have yet to be revealed and eventually, they must be. What is painfully clear is that 24-year-old Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Wyman is dead. He leaves behind an 18-month-old son and his wife, who went into labor after hearing the news of her husband’s shooting, and delivered a healthy baby girl hours later. Wyman also leaves his parents and a sister.
Police say Wyman was shot by Christian Patterson, 40, who had been holed up in the garage at his 5488 Knoxboro Road home in the southern Oneida County town of Augusta. Patterson was subsequently shot by police and underwent surgery at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica and is now in a medically induced coma.
The tragedy began as a domestic dispute call — one many officers fear most because of their unpredictability — during which Patterson allegedly threatened to kill his live-in girlfriend. She reportedly called police, after which Patterson barricaded himself in the garage. Following six hours of negotiations, he fired two shots as deputies attempted to take him into custody. One hit Wyman.
This is the fourth incident in the past three years where lives have been lost following incidents of domestic violence.
In September 2009, Kristen Palumbo Longo was stabbed to death by her husband, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo, who later killed himself. Palumbo Longo was in the process of divorcing her husband, who had a history of mental and verbal abuse.
In June 2010, Adam Theall shot his 3-month-old son to death at point-blank range in Blossvale following a dispute with the child’s mother. Multiple domestic violence issues between the couple had been reported.
In August 2010, Lisa Guzzardo, of Westmoreland was fatally shot by her husband, David Hoole. He then killed himself. Hoole had a pattern of abuse, which included shooting at his first wife 10 years ago, records showed.
In each case, domestic violence has been the trigger for tragedy. While not every case can be defused, we all have a social responsibility to be eyes and ears in the community because often victims of domestic violence are alone and frightened. Victims are often reluctant to report abuse, and that’s why it’s important to watch for signs that might indicate that something is wrong. You might then help point the way to a safer place.
Locally, the YWCA Mohawk Valley has long been a key player in the battle against domestic violence. It offers numerous programs aimed at educating and raising awareness, and also provides a 24-hour emergency hotline as well as a safe house and emergency shelter for those who need protection. The most difficult thing often is getting victims to make the call.
Unfortunately, not all tragedies will be prevented. But each one of us needs to make a commitment to do whatever we can to short-circuit trouble, even if it means just getting victims to make that call. Remember, domestic violence affects everyone — men, women and children. It robs children of their innocence. It destroys families.
And in the most horrific cases, it ends lives.
Details of the tragic shooting early Tuesday morning have yet to be revealed and eventually, they must be. What is painfully clear is that 24-year-old Oneida County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurt Wyman is dead. He leaves behind an 18-month-old son and his wife, who went into labor after hearing the news of her husband’s shooting, and delivered a healthy baby girl hours later. Wyman also leaves his parents and a sister.
Police say Wyman was shot by Christian Patterson, 40, who had been holed up in the garage at his 5488 Knoxboro Road home in the southern Oneida County town of Augusta. Patterson was subsequently shot by police and underwent surgery at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica and is now in a medically induced coma.
The tragedy began as a domestic dispute call — one many officers fear most because of their unpredictability — during which Patterson allegedly threatened to kill his live-in girlfriend. She reportedly called police, after which Patterson barricaded himself in the garage. Following six hours of negotiations, he fired two shots as deputies attempted to take him into custody. One hit Wyman.
This is the fourth incident in the past three years where lives have been lost following incidents of domestic violence.
In September 2009, Kristen Palumbo Longo was stabbed to death by her husband, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo, who later killed himself. Palumbo Longo was in the process of divorcing her husband, who had a history of mental and verbal abuse.
In June 2010, Adam Theall shot his 3-month-old son to death at point-blank range in Blossvale following a dispute with the child’s mother. Multiple domestic violence issues between the couple had been reported.
In August 2010, Lisa Guzzardo, of Westmoreland was fatally shot by her husband, David Hoole. He then killed himself. Hoole had a pattern of abuse, which included shooting at his first wife 10 years ago, records showed.
In each case, domestic violence has been the trigger for tragedy. While not every case can be defused, we all have a social responsibility to be eyes and ears in the community because often victims of domestic violence are alone and frightened. Victims are often reluctant to report abuse, and that’s why it’s important to watch for signs that might indicate that something is wrong. You might then help point the way to a safer place.
Locally, the YWCA Mohawk Valley has long been a key player in the battle against domestic violence. It offers numerous programs aimed at educating and raising awareness, and also provides a 24-hour emergency hotline as well as a safe house and emergency shelter for those who need protection. The most difficult thing often is getting victims to make the call.
Unfortunately, not all tragedies will be prevented. But each one of us needs to make a commitment to do whatever we can to short-circuit trouble, even if it means just getting victims to make that call. Remember, domestic violence affects everyone — men, women and children. It robs children of their innocence. It destroys families.
And in the most horrific cases, it ends lives.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Riverside County, CA: Deputies fatally shoot Riverside County man after domestic violence call
Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man early Tuesday after he pointed a gun at them outside his southern Riverside County home, authorities said.
Deputies responded just before 1 a.m. to a report of domestic violence between a man and his girlfriend and shots fired inside a home in Anza, an unincorporated community near El Centro.
When deputies arrived they said they found a man sitting in a vehicle outside, holding a handgun to his head, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.
After spending nearly an hour trying to persuade him to come out, deputies called in crisis negotiators. Before the team arrived, the man emerged from the vehicle and pointed the handgun at deputies, who opened fire, authorities said.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released.
No deputies were injured, and those involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave while it is under investigation.
A Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman would not identify the officers involved in the shooting, how many shots they fired or where the man was hit.
Deputies responded just before 1 a.m. to a report of domestic violence between a man and his girlfriend and shots fired inside a home in Anza, an unincorporated community near El Centro.
When deputies arrived they said they found a man sitting in a vehicle outside, holding a handgun to his head, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.
After spending nearly an hour trying to persuade him to come out, deputies called in crisis negotiators. Before the team arrived, the man emerged from the vehicle and pointed the handgun at deputies, who opened fire, authorities said.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released.
No deputies were injured, and those involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave while it is under investigation.
A Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman would not identify the officers involved in the shooting, how many shots they fired or where the man was hit.
Brookesville, FL: Husband of deceased Realtor arrested
BROOKSVILLE - The man who called 911 last week following his wife's death was arrested Monday afternoon on charges he violated his probation.
Robert Anthony Julig Jr., 64, was arrested shortly after 2:30 p.m. at 1477 Hastings Road, located a short distance west of the house he shared with his wife, Jackie Studer.
Paramedics arrived June 1 to the couple's home at the corner of Finland and Spring Hill drives and found Studer's body in her bedroom, deputies said.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office responded moments later and opened a death investigation.
Julig was questioned and released, but picked up five days later on his latest charges, deputies said.
Two warrants were issued for Julig's arrest. The first was for violation of probation on a battery conviction. Deputies said he also violated probation on a charge of defying a domestic violence injunction.
The victim in both cases was Studer. Julig was convicted in April on both charges and was sentenced to one year probation.
Sgt. Donna Black, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said Studer's death remains open "pending toxicology and forensic testing." Detectives have not determined whether it was a homicide, suicide or accidental death.
"As I stated before, these are complex processes so it could be weeks before results are received," she said.
Black confirmed last week Studer died from a gunshot wound.
A property records search revealed the home on Hastings where Julig was apprehended was owned by his late wife.
Studer, 65, owned several houses, including the one the couple shared on Finland, friends and family said.
Studer was employed as a Realtor in Spring Hill.
Court records show Julig has been arrested and convicted several times. His charges include domestic battery and aggravated stalking.
Deputy Stephen Pritz, who arrested Julig on Monday, wrote in his arrest report that he detected "the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from (his) breath" and also noticed he had "bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech."
In February, Julig was arrested following accusations he violated a previous domestic violence injunction. The arrest came after Studer called 911 thinking her husband had swallowed a large amount of pills in an attempt to commit suicide, according to an arrest report.
The arresting deputy listened to the 911 call and stated she heard a man's voice "garbling in the background stating he (wanted) to die."
Julig was arrested in February because deputies discovered him in Studer's house. The injunction stated he was not allowed to live with or come in contact with Studer.
He was arrested again Monday for the same reasons, according to the sheriff's office.
Julig was transported Monday to the Hernando County Jail. He is being held without bond.
Robert Anthony Julig Jr., 64, was arrested shortly after 2:30 p.m. at 1477 Hastings Road, located a short distance west of the house he shared with his wife, Jackie Studer.
Paramedics arrived June 1 to the couple's home at the corner of Finland and Spring Hill drives and found Studer's body in her bedroom, deputies said.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office responded moments later and opened a death investigation.
Julig was questioned and released, but picked up five days later on his latest charges, deputies said.
Two warrants were issued for Julig's arrest. The first was for violation of probation on a battery conviction. Deputies said he also violated probation on a charge of defying a domestic violence injunction.
The victim in both cases was Studer. Julig was convicted in April on both charges and was sentenced to one year probation.
Sgt. Donna Black, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said Studer's death remains open "pending toxicology and forensic testing." Detectives have not determined whether it was a homicide, suicide or accidental death.
"As I stated before, these are complex processes so it could be weeks before results are received," she said.
Black confirmed last week Studer died from a gunshot wound.
A property records search revealed the home on Hastings where Julig was apprehended was owned by his late wife.
Studer, 65, owned several houses, including the one the couple shared on Finland, friends and family said.
Studer was employed as a Realtor in Spring Hill.
Court records show Julig has been arrested and convicted several times. His charges include domestic battery and aggravated stalking.
Deputy Stephen Pritz, who arrested Julig on Monday, wrote in his arrest report that he detected "the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from (his) breath" and also noticed he had "bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech."
In February, Julig was arrested following accusations he violated a previous domestic violence injunction. The arrest came after Studer called 911 thinking her husband had swallowed a large amount of pills in an attempt to commit suicide, according to an arrest report.
The arresting deputy listened to the 911 call and stated she heard a man's voice "garbling in the background stating he (wanted) to die."
Julig was arrested in February because deputies discovered him in Studer's house. The injunction stated he was not allowed to live with or come in contact with Studer.
He was arrested again Monday for the same reasons, according to the sheriff's office.
Julig was transported Monday to the Hernando County Jail. He is being held without bond.
Ray, MN: Totem Pole Carver Arrested in Wife's Death
A well-known totem pole carver from Koochiching County has been arrested and charged, for allegedly killing his wife last November.
Following a six month investigation, 49-year-old Carl Chester Muggli is facing a second degree murder charge, for allegedly killing his wife on their property in Ray, Minnesota.
According to the criminal complaint, Muggli's 61-year-old wife, Linda, died after a 2,900 lbs. totem pole fell onto her chest and shoulder. Muggli said it was an accident, but Jeff Naglosky, attorney for Koochiching County, believes otherwise.
"Due to the diligent work of the Koochiching Sheriff's Department, more information was uncovered that led us to believe that Mr. Muggli was in fact the perpetrator of this crime," Naglosky told Eyewitness News.
The couple carved totem poles. Their artwork is well known. Their clients included big name businesses like Six Flags Theme Parks and Warner Bros. International Television.
After Linda's death, the business's website carried a message that said she died doing what she loved, and that Muggli would continue the work.
Muggli since moved to Stockdale, Texas where he was arrested Tuesday morning. Texas authorities helped Koochiching County and state officials make the arrest.
"They needed some assistance. It was a combined effort," said Joe Tackett, sheriff for Wislon Co. "That's what it's all about is helping other officers."
Muggli is currently being held in a local jail in Texas, but Neglosky expects he'll be extradited to Minnesota.
Muggli is expected to make his initial court appearance later this week.
Following a six month investigation, 49-year-old Carl Chester Muggli is facing a second degree murder charge, for allegedly killing his wife on their property in Ray, Minnesota.
According to the criminal complaint, Muggli's 61-year-old wife, Linda, died after a 2,900 lbs. totem pole fell onto her chest and shoulder. Muggli said it was an accident, but Jeff Naglosky, attorney for Koochiching County, believes otherwise.
"Due to the diligent work of the Koochiching Sheriff's Department, more information was uncovered that led us to believe that Mr. Muggli was in fact the perpetrator of this crime," Naglosky told Eyewitness News.
The couple carved totem poles. Their artwork is well known. Their clients included big name businesses like Six Flags Theme Parks and Warner Bros. International Television.
After Linda's death, the business's website carried a message that said she died doing what she loved, and that Muggli would continue the work.
Muggli since moved to Stockdale, Texas where he was arrested Tuesday morning. Texas authorities helped Koochiching County and state officials make the arrest.
"They needed some assistance. It was a combined effort," said Joe Tackett, sheriff for Wislon Co. "That's what it's all about is helping other officers."
Muggli is currently being held in a local jail in Texas, but Neglosky expects he'll be extradited to Minnesota.
Muggli is expected to make his initial court appearance later this week.
Tom Green County, TX: Collin County murder victim's widow pleads guilty to separate murder
The widow of two murdered husbands, one from Princeton and the other from San Angelo, pleaded guilty in a Tom Green County courthouse to murdering her second husband.
Purdie Guerra Clark pleaded guilty last Wednesday to a first-degree charge of murder for poisoning her 60-year-old common-law husband, James "Bud" Phillips, in 2009, according to Tom Green County Courthouse records.
Her plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors from the Tom Green County District Attorney's Office in exchange for a 40-year state prison sentence, which she also received June 1 in the 119th Judicial District Court of Tom Green County, according to court records.
San Angelo police officers found Phillips in front of his home on Feb. 16, 2009, unconscious and not breathing. An ambulance transported him to the nearest hospital, where he later passed away from "unusual circumstances," according to released statements.
Investigators took a sample of Phillips' blood and sent it to the Fort Worth Medical Examiner's Office for further examination. The medical examiner's office found poison in the blood sample and ruled it as the definitive cause of Phillips' death. San Angelo police detectives then obtained a warrant for Mrs. Clark's arrest, according to statements released by the San Angelo Police Department.
Officers arrested Clark in March 2009 in Collin County. Several Texas Rangers and Collin County's Major Crime Task Force received a tip about Mrs. Clark's whereabouts and set up a surveillance on the location. Officers spotted Mrs. Clark in the area and attempted to stop her, but she refused to comply with their requests. A short chase ensued and officers were able to stop her car within a few minutes without further incident, according to the statement.
Clark is still a suspect in the death of her previous husband, 41-year-old Kimberly Alan Clark of Princeton. Mr. Clark's body was found with two gunshot wounds to the head in September 2006 on the side of County Road 205 north of McKinney. Collin County sheriff's investigators noted that the body had been there for possibly three to five days prior to the discovery, as evidenced by the rate of decomposition.
Lt. John Norton of the Collin County Sheriff's Office said they have not received any evidence from Phillips' case to indicate Mrs. Clark's guilt in the 2006 murder case. He noted, however, that she remains a suspect in Mr. Clark's murder. No charges have been filed in connection with Mr. Clark's murder since 2006.
Allison Palmer, Tom Green County first assistant district attorney, said Clark killed Phillips by poisoning him on Feb. 16, 2009, by placing a lethal dose of strychnine in a bowl of ice cream he then ate. She said that Clark did not offer a motive for the crime she pleaded guilty to last week.
"Most cases are resolved by a plea of guilty and in most cases, we try to recommend a sentence that would achieve justice but eliminate the need for a trial," Palmer said.
Phillips' and Mr. Clark's cases don't have any apparent evidentiary connection other than their relationship with Mrs. Clark, but Palmer said she could not comment on whether or not that was the only connection between the two murders.
"I will say one thing," Palmer said. "What Purdie Clark did in 2006 could always come back to haunt her."
Purdie Guerra Clark pleaded guilty last Wednesday to a first-degree charge of murder for poisoning her 60-year-old common-law husband, James "Bud" Phillips, in 2009, according to Tom Green County Courthouse records.
Her plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors from the Tom Green County District Attorney's Office in exchange for a 40-year state prison sentence, which she also received June 1 in the 119th Judicial District Court of Tom Green County, according to court records.
San Angelo police officers found Phillips in front of his home on Feb. 16, 2009, unconscious and not breathing. An ambulance transported him to the nearest hospital, where he later passed away from "unusual circumstances," according to released statements.
Investigators took a sample of Phillips' blood and sent it to the Fort Worth Medical Examiner's Office for further examination. The medical examiner's office found poison in the blood sample and ruled it as the definitive cause of Phillips' death. San Angelo police detectives then obtained a warrant for Mrs. Clark's arrest, according to statements released by the San Angelo Police Department.
Officers arrested Clark in March 2009 in Collin County. Several Texas Rangers and Collin County's Major Crime Task Force received a tip about Mrs. Clark's whereabouts and set up a surveillance on the location. Officers spotted Mrs. Clark in the area and attempted to stop her, but she refused to comply with their requests. A short chase ensued and officers were able to stop her car within a few minutes without further incident, according to the statement.
Clark is still a suspect in the death of her previous husband, 41-year-old Kimberly Alan Clark of Princeton. Mr. Clark's body was found with two gunshot wounds to the head in September 2006 on the side of County Road 205 north of McKinney. Collin County sheriff's investigators noted that the body had been there for possibly three to five days prior to the discovery, as evidenced by the rate of decomposition.
Lt. John Norton of the Collin County Sheriff's Office said they have not received any evidence from Phillips' case to indicate Mrs. Clark's guilt in the 2006 murder case. He noted, however, that she remains a suspect in Mr. Clark's murder. No charges have been filed in connection with Mr. Clark's murder since 2006.
Allison Palmer, Tom Green County first assistant district attorney, said Clark killed Phillips by poisoning him on Feb. 16, 2009, by placing a lethal dose of strychnine in a bowl of ice cream he then ate. She said that Clark did not offer a motive for the crime she pleaded guilty to last week.
"Most cases are resolved by a plea of guilty and in most cases, we try to recommend a sentence that would achieve justice but eliminate the need for a trial," Palmer said.
Phillips' and Mr. Clark's cases don't have any apparent evidentiary connection other than their relationship with Mrs. Clark, but Palmer said she could not comment on whether or not that was the only connection between the two murders.
"I will say one thing," Palmer said. "What Purdie Clark did in 2006 could always come back to haunt her."
Tulsa, OK: Police arrest woman after husband's 17-story fall
A woman was jailed on a second-degree murder complaint after her husband fell from the 25th floor of the University Club tower to his death Tuesday afternoon, police said.
An argument between the couple preceded the man's 17-story fall to the parking garage below, Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker.
Amber Michelle Hilberling, 19, was booked into the Tulsa Jail later Tuesday with bail set at $500,000.
Police were called to the high-rise apartment building at 1722 S. Carson Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Joshua Hilberling, 23, on top of the parking garage that encircles the bottom of the structure and an open window on the 25th floor, Walker said.
He said the couple had argued before Joshua Hilberling fell out the living room window.
According to Amber Hilberling's arrest report, she pushed her husband, causing him to fall through the window. Amber Hilberling also "made statements to witnesses that she pushed the victim and that caused him to fall through the window," according to the report.
Walker said evidence at the scene was sufficient to arrest her on the murder complaint.
Joshua Hilberling filed a protective order against Amber Hilberling on May 10, but it was dismissed when neither party appeared in court, records state.
Resident Mina White, who said she lives on the bottom floor of apartments, near where Joshua Hilberling landed, said she felt the building shake when he hit the parking garage.
"I thought it was an earthquake, then I looked outside," White said.
Tuesday's death was the second time in a month that someone has fallen from the high-rise.
The death last month was ruled a suicide, police said.
An argument between the couple preceded the man's 17-story fall to the parking garage below, Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker.
Amber Michelle Hilberling, 19, was booked into the Tulsa Jail later Tuesday with bail set at $500,000.
Police were called to the high-rise apartment building at 1722 S. Carson Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Joshua Hilberling, 23, on top of the parking garage that encircles the bottom of the structure and an open window on the 25th floor, Walker said.
He said the couple had argued before Joshua Hilberling fell out the living room window.
According to Amber Hilberling's arrest report, she pushed her husband, causing him to fall through the window. Amber Hilberling also "made statements to witnesses that she pushed the victim and that caused him to fall through the window," according to the report.
Walker said evidence at the scene was sufficient to arrest her on the murder complaint.
Joshua Hilberling filed a protective order against Amber Hilberling on May 10, but it was dismissed when neither party appeared in court, records state.
Resident Mina White, who said she lives on the bottom floor of apartments, near where Joshua Hilberling landed, said she felt the building shake when he hit the parking garage.
"I thought it was an earthquake, then I looked outside," White said.
Tuesday's death was the second time in a month that someone has fallen from the high-rise.
The death last month was ruled a suicide, police said.
China Spring, TX: Elderly couple found dead in China Spring home in apparent murder-suicide
A crime scene clean-up crew goes in and out of William and Barbara Richardson's home on Range Road in China Spring Tuesday morning.
Neighbors say Monday afternoon one of the couple's three sons walked into the home and found his parents shot to death. McLennan County Sheriff's deputies say it appears to be a murder suicide.
"It's extremely shocking. You wouldn't expect it from someone like that," says Wayne Webb who lives across the street from the Richardson's. "We were saying 'no way.' We just absolutely did not believe that could be possible, but you know I guess anything's possible."
Wayne has owned property on Range Road for more than 35 years. He says he knew the Richardson's, but only in passing.
"I'd wave at them everyday, would see them when we clean our car and we'd wave and as always, every time you'd see them they were smiling."
Wayne's daughter-in-law grew up with the couple's sons. "All of the kids grew up in the same church as that family. And...they consider each other family even though they're not family you know because they all grew up together."
The Richardson's were long-time members of Northside Church of Christ near Waco. They did a lot of volunteer work with the church and both William, 73-years old, and Barbara, 71-years old, taught Sunday school.
Many neighbors say they are struggling to figure out why this would happen. They don't believe William or Barbara were sick and say they seemed happy.
"We're still upset about it and we didn't even know them very well. We just know what good of people they were and it bothers us real bad," Wayne adds.
Neighbors say William and Barbara had three sons and six grandchildren. The couple's bodies have been sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
Neighbors say Monday afternoon one of the couple's three sons walked into the home and found his parents shot to death. McLennan County Sheriff's deputies say it appears to be a murder suicide.
"It's extremely shocking. You wouldn't expect it from someone like that," says Wayne Webb who lives across the street from the Richardson's. "We were saying 'no way.' We just absolutely did not believe that could be possible, but you know I guess anything's possible."
Wayne has owned property on Range Road for more than 35 years. He says he knew the Richardson's, but only in passing.
"I'd wave at them everyday, would see them when we clean our car and we'd wave and as always, every time you'd see them they were smiling."
Wayne's daughter-in-law grew up with the couple's sons. "All of the kids grew up in the same church as that family. And...they consider each other family even though they're not family you know because they all grew up together."
The Richardson's were long-time members of Northside Church of Christ near Waco. They did a lot of volunteer work with the church and both William, 73-years old, and Barbara, 71-years old, taught Sunday school.
Many neighbors say they are struggling to figure out why this would happen. They don't believe William or Barbara were sick and say they seemed happy.
"We're still upset about it and we didn't even know them very well. We just know what good of people they were and it bothers us real bad," Wayne adds.
Neighbors say William and Barbara had three sons and six grandchildren. The couple's bodies have been sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
Miami, FL: Man arrested after allegedly stabbing wife to death
MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police have arrested a man who had barricaded himself inside an apartment after allegedly stabbing his wife to death.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, a City of Miami police officer responded to the report of a woman who had suffered multiple stab wounds at 135 NW 26 Ave. She was found under the awning of an apartment at the back of a home. "A woman was here in a blood bath," said Miami Police spokesperson Kenia Reyes. "It all stemmed from domestic violence."
A neighbor said the attack happened right in front of her. "I saw it," said the neighbor. "She came running, and he stabbed her with the knife, three times, right inside her."
The woman would later lose her life at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to police. Police later identified the victim as 33-year-old Eileen Lozano. She was the wife of 49-year-old Lazaro Bernabeu, who has a lengthy history of domestic violence, and had barricaded himself inside the home the couple shared.
Though critically wounded at the scene, Reyes said, Lozano was able to tell responding officers that her 10-year-old daughter was in the home with her husband, who had only recently been released from jail.
More officers from the Miami Police Department, along with Miami Fire Rescue responded, and MFR transported the woman to JMH in critical condition where she would later die.
Her common-law husband then barricaded himself inside the apartment. SWAT was then called to the scene.
At around 11:25 in the morning, as negotiators were talking with Bernabeu, he told negotiators that he wanted to say goodbye to his 11-year-old son, who was at school at the time. SWAT then moved in, using a battering ram to knock in the door and took the man into custody.
The girl inside the home ran out of the home unharmed, as SWAT moved in to take Bernabeu into custody.
The property happens to be owned by Miami Fire Lt. Angel Sotolongo. His aunt was living in an efficiency at the back of the house, along with his cousin and her two children. Miami Fire Lieutenant Ignacious Carroll said, "When he heard the call go out on the radio, that's what set the buzzer of that 'Oh, my God, this is my house.'"
Sotolongo also appeared at the scene, later seen carrying the 10-year-old girl in his arms after she escaped the home following the raid by SWAT. "He's very relieved," Carroll said. "This is his goddaughter, so almost like his own daughter. That was his biggest concern while he was here. He was concerned about his cousin that was at the trauma center, but his main concern was that little girl."
Police noted that Bernabeu had a lengthy criminal history involving domestic violence that included Battery and kidnapping. Now he stands charged with first-degree murder. "It appears the man has an extensive criminal history, possible domestic violence from the past," noted Reyes. "Now, I'm hearing from family members and police that indeed that man was in jail, and her own family took him out of jail to reunite him with the family, and this is where we're at today."
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, a City of Miami police officer responded to the report of a woman who had suffered multiple stab wounds at 135 NW 26 Ave. She was found under the awning of an apartment at the back of a home. "A woman was here in a blood bath," said Miami Police spokesperson Kenia Reyes. "It all stemmed from domestic violence."
A neighbor said the attack happened right in front of her. "I saw it," said the neighbor. "She came running, and he stabbed her with the knife, three times, right inside her."
The woman would later lose her life at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to police. Police later identified the victim as 33-year-old Eileen Lozano. She was the wife of 49-year-old Lazaro Bernabeu, who has a lengthy history of domestic violence, and had barricaded himself inside the home the couple shared.
Though critically wounded at the scene, Reyes said, Lozano was able to tell responding officers that her 10-year-old daughter was in the home with her husband, who had only recently been released from jail.
More officers from the Miami Police Department, along with Miami Fire Rescue responded, and MFR transported the woman to JMH in critical condition where she would later die.
Her common-law husband then barricaded himself inside the apartment. SWAT was then called to the scene.
At around 11:25 in the morning, as negotiators were talking with Bernabeu, he told negotiators that he wanted to say goodbye to his 11-year-old son, who was at school at the time. SWAT then moved in, using a battering ram to knock in the door and took the man into custody.
The girl inside the home ran out of the home unharmed, as SWAT moved in to take Bernabeu into custody.
The property happens to be owned by Miami Fire Lt. Angel Sotolongo. His aunt was living in an efficiency at the back of the house, along with his cousin and her two children. Miami Fire Lieutenant Ignacious Carroll said, "When he heard the call go out on the radio, that's what set the buzzer of that 'Oh, my God, this is my house.'"
Sotolongo also appeared at the scene, later seen carrying the 10-year-old girl in his arms after she escaped the home following the raid by SWAT. "He's very relieved," Carroll said. "This is his goddaughter, so almost like his own daughter. That was his biggest concern while he was here. He was concerned about his cousin that was at the trauma center, but his main concern was that little girl."
Police noted that Bernabeu had a lengthy criminal history involving domestic violence that included Battery and kidnapping. Now he stands charged with first-degree murder. "It appears the man has an extensive criminal history, possible domestic violence from the past," noted Reyes. "Now, I'm hearing from family members and police that indeed that man was in jail, and her own family took him out of jail to reunite him with the family, and this is where we're at today."
Pittsburgh, PA: Girlfriend Charged With Killing Boyfriend In Hill District
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh police have charged a woman with the stabbing death of her boyfriend in the Hill District.
Ashley Wilson, 23, turned herself in to detectives Tuesday evening. She is charged with homicide.
Police said she killed Marquis White, 22, during an argument at an apartment on Grove Street on May 22.
He had been stabbed in the chest.
Officers questioned her that day but did not charge her pending a review of the case by the Allegheny County district attorney.
On Tuesday, homicide charges were approved and an arrest warrant was issued.
Ashley Wilson, 23, turned herself in to detectives Tuesday evening. She is charged with homicide.
Police said she killed Marquis White, 22, during an argument at an apartment on Grove Street on May 22.
He had been stabbed in the chest.
Officers questioned her that day but did not charge her pending a review of the case by the Allegheny County district attorney.
On Tuesday, homicide charges were approved and an arrest warrant was issued.
Mount Pleasant, MI: Man sentenced for kicking puppy to death
MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) -- A Mount Pleasant man, who police say drunkenly kicked a puppy to death in northern Lower Michigan, has been sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Maurice Francis was sentenced Monday in Suttons Bay to one-and-a-half to five years in the case. He plead guilty last month to killing or torturing an animal and felony drunken driving.
The 21-year-old blames his behavior on alcohol abuse. He apologized to a packed courtroom and asked for forgiveness before being sentenced.
Authorities say Francis smashed out the windows of a woman's vehicle in the Leelanau County community of Northport in March and began kicking Blu, a 12-week-old dog. Blu later died from the injuries.
Maurice Francis was sentenced Monday in Suttons Bay to one-and-a-half to five years in the case. He plead guilty last month to killing or torturing an animal and felony drunken driving.
The 21-year-old blames his behavior on alcohol abuse. He apologized to a packed courtroom and asked for forgiveness before being sentenced.
Authorities say Francis smashed out the windows of a woman's vehicle in the Leelanau County community of Northport in March and began kicking Blu, a 12-week-old dog. Blu later died from the injuries.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Imogene, MN: Police: Murder-Suicide Led to Discovery of Bodies in Van
IMOGENE, Minn. - Police say a murder-suicide led to the grisly discovery of two bodies inside a van last week.
Officials with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 51-year-old Linda Kay Norman, of Granada, Minn., and 50-year-old Curtis Lynn Larson, of Welcome, Minn.
The two were found in a parked van outside of Our Place bar, with Norman in the driver’s seat and Larson in the passenger’s seat.
Autopsies were completed on Friday, and the medical examiner said Larson likely shot Norman in the head with a .22-caliber rifle before turning the gun on himself.
Martin County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Corey Klanderud said the two had a previous relationship and that a note was later found in Larson's vehicle.
There were no witnesses to the shootings. which happened inside the minivan.
Imogene is located about 5 miles outside of Fairmont, Minn.
Officials with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 51-year-old Linda Kay Norman, of Granada, Minn., and 50-year-old Curtis Lynn Larson, of Welcome, Minn.
The two were found in a parked van outside of Our Place bar, with Norman in the driver’s seat and Larson in the passenger’s seat.
Autopsies were completed on Friday, and the medical examiner said Larson likely shot Norman in the head with a .22-caliber rifle before turning the gun on himself.
Martin County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Corey Klanderud said the two had a previous relationship and that a note was later found in Larson's vehicle.
There were no witnesses to the shootings. which happened inside the minivan.
Imogene is located about 5 miles outside of Fairmont, Minn.
West Palm Beach, FL: Man gets 4 years for wife's death
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A South Florida man has been sentenced to four years in prison for the death of his wife.
Palm Beach County prosecutors made a deal with 53-year-old Jorge Borges on Monday after a judge granted Borges' motion to suppress statements he gave to authorities after his arrest. Borges had been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in March 2007.
Authorities say Borges was first arrested after he forged his dead wife's signature on Social Security checks for her disabled daughter. He's already served six months for the forgery conviction.
Borges insisted after his arrest that he was somewhere else when his wife was killed.
Palm Beach County prosecutors made a deal with 53-year-old Jorge Borges on Monday after a judge granted Borges' motion to suppress statements he gave to authorities after his arrest. Borges had been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in March 2007.
Authorities say Borges was first arrested after he forged his dead wife's signature on Social Security checks for her disabled daughter. He's already served six months for the forgery conviction.
Borges insisted after his arrest that he was somewhere else when his wife was killed.
Knoxboro, NY: Sheriff's deputy shot and killed in Knoxboro standoff
KNOXBORO, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oneida County Sheriff's Department has confirmed to NEWSChannel 2 that Deputy Kurt Wyman, 24, was shot and killed during a standoff in Knoxboro in the Hamlet of Knoxboro in Southern Oneida County.
Members of Wyman's church were notified via text message Tuesday morning that he had been killed and his wife, who was pregnant and expecting their second baby Tuesday morning, had gone into labor.
Wyman's family was at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Tuesday morning along with numerous members of law enforcement.
Police were responding to a domestic incident at a home on Knoxboro Road where a man was barricaded in his garage. That man, 41-year-old Chris Patterson, reportedly shot the deputy when he and his fellow deputies tried to take him into custody.
No word on the injuries of the alleged gunman.
The domestic incident at the home originally involved Patterson's wife and child, but they were released early on without harm.
At a press conference held Tuesday morning, Sheriff Maciol explained that Wyman had been an active member of the Marine Corps as a Corporel and served overseas.
"He served with pride and he will be greatly missed," Sheriff Maciol said.
Maciol said the incident is still an active aggravated murder investigation, which limited the amount of information that could be released Tuesday morning.
"Our hearts go out to the Wyman family, and more importantly this law enforcemtn comunity that continues to protet us night and day who never understand what they face whenever they go out on a call," Oneida County Executive Anthoyn Picente said at the press conference.
Both Sheriff Maciol and County Executive Picente asked media to refrain from contacting the grieving family.
Patterson will be charged with aggravated murder, an A-1 felony, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said.
"The pnly punishment for it is life imprisonment without parole," D.A. McNamara said, who added that those charges will be filed when it is appropriate, pending Patterson's release from St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where he was still recovering from his injuries Tuesday morning.
The investigation is still ongoing, Sheriff Maciol said.
"His service to this country and this county were second to none," Sheriff Maciol said of Deputy Wyman.
Members of Wyman's church were notified via text message Tuesday morning that he had been killed and his wife, who was pregnant and expecting their second baby Tuesday morning, had gone into labor.
Wyman's family was at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Tuesday morning along with numerous members of law enforcement.
Police were responding to a domestic incident at a home on Knoxboro Road where a man was barricaded in his garage. That man, 41-year-old Chris Patterson, reportedly shot the deputy when he and his fellow deputies tried to take him into custody.
No word on the injuries of the alleged gunman.
The domestic incident at the home originally involved Patterson's wife and child, but they were released early on without harm.
At a press conference held Tuesday morning, Sheriff Maciol explained that Wyman had been an active member of the Marine Corps as a Corporel and served overseas.
"He served with pride and he will be greatly missed," Sheriff Maciol said.
Maciol said the incident is still an active aggravated murder investigation, which limited the amount of information that could be released Tuesday morning.
"Our hearts go out to the Wyman family, and more importantly this law enforcemtn comunity that continues to protet us night and day who never understand what they face whenever they go out on a call," Oneida County Executive Anthoyn Picente said at the press conference.
Both Sheriff Maciol and County Executive Picente asked media to refrain from contacting the grieving family.
Patterson will be charged with aggravated murder, an A-1 felony, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said.
"The pnly punishment for it is life imprisonment without parole," D.A. McNamara said, who added that those charges will be filed when it is appropriate, pending Patterson's release from St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where he was still recovering from his injuries Tuesday morning.
The investigation is still ongoing, Sheriff Maciol said.
"His service to this country and this county were second to none," Sheriff Maciol said of Deputy Wyman.
Winslow, ME: Man shoots and kills wife, then himself, in Winslow, police say
WINSLOW — A woman was shot and killed in Winslow on Monday night by her husband, who then shot and killed himself after a police chase along the Maine Turnpike.
click image to enlargeMaine State Police troopers converge at the scene of a crash just off Exit 63 on Interstate 95 late Monday night following a shooting and police chase. After the car visible at the top was stopped by spike mats, the driver, Nathaniel Gordon, killed himself, police say. He earlier had killed his wife, Sarah Gordon, in Winslow, according to police.
Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer
click image to enlargeMaine State Police troopers gather around Nathaniel Gordon's vehicle after it crashed and he killed himself just off Exit 63 on Interstate 95 late Monday night.
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Nathaniel Gordon, 32, shot his wife, Sarah Gordon, 30, near their home on Marie Street, state police spokesman Steve McCausland said in a statement late Monday.
Nathaniel Gordon fled the scene, but his vehicle was spotted by state troopers, who followed him along the Maine Turnpike through Lewiston.
The chase ended about 9:10 p.m. near the Gray interchange.
“He went over a spike mat and that deflated one tire,” McCausland said.
He said troopers told him that the driver then shot and killed himself.
Autopsies are scheduled for today at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta.
click image to enlargeMaine State Police troopers converge at the scene of a crash just off Exit 63 on Interstate 95 late Monday night following a shooting and police chase. After the car visible at the top was stopped by spike mats, the driver, Nathaniel Gordon, killed himself, police say. He earlier had killed his wife, Sarah Gordon, in Winslow, according to police.
Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer
click image to enlargeMaine State Police troopers gather around Nathaniel Gordon's vehicle after it crashed and he killed himself just off Exit 63 on Interstate 95 late Monday night.
Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer
Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store
Nathaniel Gordon, 32, shot his wife, Sarah Gordon, 30, near their home on Marie Street, state police spokesman Steve McCausland said in a statement late Monday.
Nathaniel Gordon fled the scene, but his vehicle was spotted by state troopers, who followed him along the Maine Turnpike through Lewiston.
The chase ended about 9:10 p.m. near the Gray interchange.
“He went over a spike mat and that deflated one tire,” McCausland said.
He said troopers told him that the driver then shot and killed himself.
Autopsies are scheduled for today at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta.
Superior, MT: Prosecutors say Superior murder suspect strangled his ex-wife
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Ex-husband charged with murder of Superior woman
Woman missing in Mineral County confirmed dead
SUPERIOR- Prosecutors say a woman who they say was strangled to death tried to call for "help", but the call dropped before dispatchers could learn what was going on.
That new information is contained in the charging papers filed in court Monday against 52-year old Michael John Woodard, who now stands accused of murdering his ex-wife Kelly Jo Dube-Woodard in late May.
Mineral County detectives had listed Woodard as a "person of interest" since right after Kelly Jo disappeared. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant in Nevada a few days later.
Woodard was reported missing by friends and family the morning of May 24th. Prosecutors say one of her friends had received a text message, saying she was going to the Trout Creek Campground to meet "Mick", which is the nickname of her ex-husband. That's where friends found her Jeep.
Prosecutors say dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call where they could hear the calling saying "help" before the call was dropped. Dispatchers had a number, but couldn't narrow down the location of the call. They later determined the call was made from Kelly's phone.
Prosecutors say witnesses also say Woodard's pickup truck in the vicinity of the campground that same day, although he initially denied being there when he was first contacted by deputies.
Searchers found Kelly Jo's body in a wooded area a few miles from the campground later in the week. An autopsy determined she died from strangulation.
Woodard made an initial appearance in court Monday with bail set at $500,000. If convicted he could face the death penalty or between 10 and 100 years in prison.
Related Articles
Ex-husband charged with murder of Superior woman
Woman missing in Mineral County confirmed dead
SUPERIOR- Prosecutors say a woman who they say was strangled to death tried to call for "help", but the call dropped before dispatchers could learn what was going on.
That new information is contained in the charging papers filed in court Monday against 52-year old Michael John Woodard, who now stands accused of murdering his ex-wife Kelly Jo Dube-Woodard in late May.
Mineral County detectives had listed Woodard as a "person of interest" since right after Kelly Jo disappeared. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant in Nevada a few days later.
Woodard was reported missing by friends and family the morning of May 24th. Prosecutors say one of her friends had received a text message, saying she was going to the Trout Creek Campground to meet "Mick", which is the nickname of her ex-husband. That's where friends found her Jeep.
Prosecutors say dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call where they could hear the calling saying "help" before the call was dropped. Dispatchers had a number, but couldn't narrow down the location of the call. They later determined the call was made from Kelly's phone.
Prosecutors say witnesses also say Woodard's pickup truck in the vicinity of the campground that same day, although he initially denied being there when he was first contacted by deputies.
Searchers found Kelly Jo's body in a wooded area a few miles from the campground later in the week. An autopsy determined she died from strangulation.
Woodard made an initial appearance in court Monday with bail set at $500,000. If convicted he could face the death penalty or between 10 and 100 years in prison.
Wayne, NJ: Appeals court denies request by Paul Foglia to be informed about children
A state appeals court on Monday denied a bid by a Wayne man seeking to maintain contact with his two sons while awaiting a retrial on charges that he killed his ex-girlfriend’s mother in Wantage.
In denying Paul Foglia’s appeal, the court ruled that Gina Liotta, the mother of Foglia’s children and daughter of the victim, does not have to provide Foglia with pictures, progress reports and report cards of the children. The court wrote that “Foglia’s contentions are without sufficient merit” because he didn’t provide adequate evidence — namely, a complete record of prior motions — to support his case for why he should be entitled to receive information about his sons.
With his appeal, Foglia, 50, who is incarcerated in the Sussex County Jail, sought to reverse a lower court’s decision that Gina Liotta did not have to provide Foglia with the pictures and other materials pertaining to the children every three months. That court noted that Foglia had been convicted of murdering the children’s grandmother, Elizabeth Liotta, 67, of Wantage in 2004, who was “a substantial caretaker for the children” and that “the psychological damage done to this family by virtue of (Foglia’s) acts are unconscionable.”
Foglia was convicted in 2008 of killing Liotta in her home and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the conviction was overturned in July 2010 when an appeals court found that parts of the prosecutor’s case, including background character information on Foglia such as his past job as an exotic dancer and insinuations of prostitution and credit card fraud, were irrelevant to the murder allegations and motive.
A date for Foglia’s second trial has not yet been determined.
In denying Paul Foglia’s appeal, the court ruled that Gina Liotta, the mother of Foglia’s children and daughter of the victim, does not have to provide Foglia with pictures, progress reports and report cards of the children. The court wrote that “Foglia’s contentions are without sufficient merit” because he didn’t provide adequate evidence — namely, a complete record of prior motions — to support his case for why he should be entitled to receive information about his sons.
With his appeal, Foglia, 50, who is incarcerated in the Sussex County Jail, sought to reverse a lower court’s decision that Gina Liotta did not have to provide Foglia with the pictures and other materials pertaining to the children every three months. That court noted that Foglia had been convicted of murdering the children’s grandmother, Elizabeth Liotta, 67, of Wantage in 2004, who was “a substantial caretaker for the children” and that “the psychological damage done to this family by virtue of (Foglia’s) acts are unconscionable.”
Foglia was convicted in 2008 of killing Liotta in her home and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the conviction was overturned in July 2010 when an appeals court found that parts of the prosecutor’s case, including background character information on Foglia such as his past job as an exotic dancer and insinuations of prostitution and credit card fraud, were irrelevant to the murder allegations and motive.
A date for Foglia’s second trial has not yet been determined.
Reno, NV: Woman Dead After Murder-Attempted Suicide in Lyon County
Reno, Nev. -- A Silver Springs woman is dead and her boyfriend is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head after authorities say the man called 911 to report he had killed his girlfriend and was about to commit suicide.
Lyon County Sheriff's investigators say Leland Scott Lawson, 33, called emergency operators shortly before 1pm Monday to say he had killed his girlfriend, that he was about to shoot himself, and that there was a one-year-old child in the home on Deodar Street in Silver Springs.
"Tell the cop to come on in," Lawson reportedly told the operator during the call.
Deputies responded to 3466 Deodar Street and found a woman dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Lawson was also shot in the head, but was still alive. He was flown to the hospital for treatment, and his condition is unknown.
An 18-month-old child was found unharmed in the back bedroom of the home and was placed with Child Protective Services.
Authorities are still investigating whether there was a history of domestic violence between the pair.
The woman has not yet been publicly identified.
Lyon County Sheriff's investigators say Leland Scott Lawson, 33, called emergency operators shortly before 1pm Monday to say he had killed his girlfriend, that he was about to shoot himself, and that there was a one-year-old child in the home on Deodar Street in Silver Springs.
"Tell the cop to come on in," Lawson reportedly told the operator during the call.
Deputies responded to 3466 Deodar Street and found a woman dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Lawson was also shot in the head, but was still alive. He was flown to the hospital for treatment, and his condition is unknown.
An 18-month-old child was found unharmed in the back bedroom of the home and was placed with Child Protective Services.
Authorities are still investigating whether there was a history of domestic violence between the pair.
The woman has not yet been publicly identified.
East Pennsboro Township, PA: York woman fatally shot ex-girlfriend, then killed herself
A York woman committed suicide after fatally shooting her estranged girlfriend in the victim's Cumberland County home on Sunday.
Melissa Harris, 43, went to the East Pennsboro Township home of former girlfriend Lisa Goss, 46, in the 700 block of Sterling Court about noon on Sunday, according to East Pennsboro Township Detective Sgt. Michael Cotton.
"(Harris) was moving out some items of hers that were still there," Cotton said. "An argument started up about a half-hour into it."
Harris fatally shot Goss, the detective said, and Goss' 17-year-old son was in his bedroom at the time.
"The son heard the argument, then heard a loud bang," Cotton said, at which point the teen opened his bedroom door.
"He was face-to-face with the shooter," Cotton said. "The shooter fired one round at him, but missed."
The teen locked himself in the room and called 911, then heard a third shot, according to the detective.
When police arrived, they found Goss and Harris dead on the first floor of the home at the base of the stairs, Cotton said.
"(The son) was not injured, though he was obviously very emotionally distraught," Cotton said.
Cotton said Harris lived with Goss until they broke up about two months ago, which is when Harris moved to York.
Cumberland County Coroner Todd Eckenrode said officials are trying to track down Harris' address in York. She had been staying at three to four different houses in the area, he said.
"I don't think she really had any permanent address right now," Eckenrode said. "She has been, from what I was told, kind of jumping around."
Eckenrode said each woman died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Licensed to carry: Harris had a license to carry a firearm in Cumberland County and owned a .38-caliber pistol, according to the detective, who said Harris used a .38-caliber handgun Sunday to kill Goss and herself.
Dolores Ehrhart-Haney, who worked with Harris at Swanson Health Products in Harrisburg, said she and her co-workers were "speechless" when they learned of the shooting.
"All I will say is it is a tragic loss all around and Melissa is not a monster, she had such a good heart and none of this makes sense to any of us," she said.
Anyone with information about Harris can call Cotton at 238-9676.
Melissa Harris, 43, went to the East Pennsboro Township home of former girlfriend Lisa Goss, 46, in the 700 block of Sterling Court about noon on Sunday, according to East Pennsboro Township Detective Sgt. Michael Cotton.
"(Harris) was moving out some items of hers that were still there," Cotton said. "An argument started up about a half-hour into it."
Harris fatally shot Goss, the detective said, and Goss' 17-year-old son was in his bedroom at the time.
"The son heard the argument, then heard a loud bang," Cotton said, at which point the teen opened his bedroom door.
"He was face-to-face with the shooter," Cotton said. "The shooter fired one round at him, but missed."
The teen locked himself in the room and called 911, then heard a third shot, according to the detective.
When police arrived, they found Goss and Harris dead on the first floor of the home at the base of the stairs, Cotton said.
"(The son) was not injured, though he was obviously very emotionally distraught," Cotton said.
Cotton said Harris lived with Goss until they broke up about two months ago, which is when Harris moved to York.
Cumberland County Coroner Todd Eckenrode said officials are trying to track down Harris' address in York. She had been staying at three to four different houses in the area, he said.
"I don't think she really had any permanent address right now," Eckenrode said. "She has been, from what I was told, kind of jumping around."
Eckenrode said each woman died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Licensed to carry: Harris had a license to carry a firearm in Cumberland County and owned a .38-caliber pistol, according to the detective, who said Harris used a .38-caliber handgun Sunday to kill Goss and herself.
Dolores Ehrhart-Haney, who worked with Harris at Swanson Health Products in Harrisburg, said she and her co-workers were "speechless" when they learned of the shooting.
"All I will say is it is a tragic loss all around and Melissa is not a monster, she had such a good heart and none of this makes sense to any of us," she said.
Anyone with information about Harris can call Cotton at 238-9676.
Boardman, OH: Neighbors Recount Man Being Run Over, Killed by Girlfriend
Residents at the Chelsea Court Apartments in Boardman were still reeling Monday after a fatal accident took place in the complex's parking lot on Sunday.
John Marr, 52, died after his girlfriend allegedly hit him with her car. Residents of the complex said it's not unusual to hear Billie Mohr arguing with Marr, and police said they have responded to the apartment before for domestic violence, but Marr never wanted to pursue the charges.
"Before they're always into fights and she's having a fit and everything else. We figured she wanted to drive and that was it," said Stephen Harrison, who witnessed the incident.
Harrison said it appeared Marr tried to stop the 32-year-old Boardman woman from leaving in a Mustang Sunday evening, but Mohr continued to drive.
"She just kept on going. I said, 'Oh my goodness.' I can't believe she ran over him," Harrison said.
While not everyone saw the incident take place, plenty of people heard it.
"Then I heard a real bang and it sounded like boom, boom. Real loud. And then I heard her screaming," said Wilfredo Rosa.
Rosa ran to the scene, and found Marr pinned under the car.
"I see his head right by the front tire and that his whole body was underneath and that. And then I told him, 'John are you ok, are you ok?' And 'Can you breathe?' And I seen him gasp for air," Rosa said.
So neighbors immediately took action. Three men lifted the vehicle as Rosa grabbed the 52-year-old and pulled him out.
"I just held his hand and started talking and talking. 'Stay with me, stay with me'," Rosa said he told Marr.
Marr was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
Mohr was cited for a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, but detectives continue to investigate, saying at this point they don't know if it was intentional or an accident. She could face additional charges.
"We did what we could do and that. But I feel sorry for him. I hoped he would have lived," Rosa said.
John Marr, 52, died after his girlfriend allegedly hit him with her car. Residents of the complex said it's not unusual to hear Billie Mohr arguing with Marr, and police said they have responded to the apartment before for domestic violence, but Marr never wanted to pursue the charges.
"Before they're always into fights and she's having a fit and everything else. We figured she wanted to drive and that was it," said Stephen Harrison, who witnessed the incident.
Harrison said it appeared Marr tried to stop the 32-year-old Boardman woman from leaving in a Mustang Sunday evening, but Mohr continued to drive.
"She just kept on going. I said, 'Oh my goodness.' I can't believe she ran over him," Harrison said.
While not everyone saw the incident take place, plenty of people heard it.
"Then I heard a real bang and it sounded like boom, boom. Real loud. And then I heard her screaming," said Wilfredo Rosa.
Rosa ran to the scene, and found Marr pinned under the car.
"I see his head right by the front tire and that his whole body was underneath and that. And then I told him, 'John are you ok, are you ok?' And 'Can you breathe?' And I seen him gasp for air," Rosa said.
So neighbors immediately took action. Three men lifted the vehicle as Rosa grabbed the 52-year-old and pulled him out.
"I just held his hand and started talking and talking. 'Stay with me, stay with me'," Rosa said he told Marr.
Marr was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
Mohr was cited for a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, but detectives continue to investigate, saying at this point they don't know if it was intentional or an accident. She could face additional charges.
"We did what we could do and that. But I feel sorry for him. I hoped he would have lived," Rosa said.
Article: Four killed in three days of domestic bloodshed; two alleged abusers commit suicide
Family violence took a deadly turn in the past three days, with four victims killed, allegedly by people who were supposed to be loved ones.
And two of those culprits took their own lives, authorities said.
Domestic violence experts are troubled by the death toll in what they say reflects a growing trend.
And there are no easy answers for why statistics show domestic deaths in Georgia growing over the past three years, from 111 in 2008 to 131 in 2010, with 40 so far this year.
But at least one expert blames the economy.
“Incidents seem to go up as economy goes down,” said Allison Smith, economic justice coordinator with the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “That’s pretty much a nationwide trend.”
Another, Sulaiman Nuriddin, of nonprofit Men Stopping Violence, pins the trend to growing control issues.
“It’s still about control and power and wanting to dominate someone’s life,” Nuriddin said. “Especially when you’re not getting what you want.”
Yet the impact is inescapable.
“This weekend is a tragic showcase of the epidemic of domestic violence,” said Greg Loughlan, acting executive director of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.
Smith, who’s worked with the coalition six years, said the weekend presented more deaths than she’d seen before.
“Not seen this many separate incidents,” she said.
The bloody weekend ended Monday afternoon, when Anthony Tyrone Appling, 42, shot himself to death in front of witnesses after Jefferson police said he killed his estranged wife, Carlotta Appling.
Anthony Appling drove to Carlotta Appling’s neighborhood in Jefferson early Monday morning, parked his truck and walked to her home, forced his way in and shot her, Jefferson police Chief Joe Wirthman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He then took her car and led authorities on a day-long manhunt until he was found dead near Clarke Central High School in Athens.
Sunday, Christopher Erdman met his ex-girlfriend Shannon Lawrence in Milton to exchange custody of their children. Police said he shot her as their toddlers – ages 1 and 3 – watched.
They were scheduled to meet in a public place, but police said Erdman called Lawrence to move the meet to a more remote place.
A day earlier, Alena Marble’s body was found in the trunk of her abandoned car after her daughter’s boyfriend beat her and wrapped her alive in a rug to stuff into the back of the vehicle, Clayton County police said.
Marble’s daughter, Kajul Harvey, 21, and her 20-year-old boyfriend Latoris Grovner were arrested and charged with murder. Harvey had a temporary protective order against Grovner, authorities said.
Also on Saturday, Kyle Webb and his mother Wilma Webb were found dead in their Roswell home.
Faced with financial troubles, police said Kyle Webb killed his mother then himself, leaving instructions for their funerals.
“I really see it as bad economy making it more lethal,” Smith said. “People who are out of work or lose their jobs or homes, it just exacerbates the violence.”
Jean Douglas, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, said Lawrence’s death was particularly preventable, given the temporary protective order the mother had put on Erdman.
“Most times, women want their children to have interaction with the father, but she just wants to be safe,” Douglas said. “I think that in some instances, where there are major safety concerns, there should not be visitation or exchange, period.”
She pointed to supervised custody exchanges like the ones provided by her organization, and said victims of domestic violence shouldn’t have to face their intimidators alone.
And the effects of domestic violence can pass over generations.
While Clayton police say Grovner and Harvey conspired to kill Marble, neighbors said he’d broken his girlfriend’s arm at one point. Douglas wondered allowed if Harvey acted out of fear.
“Did she feel like if she didn’t participate, he’d try to kill her, too?” Douglas asked.
Nuriddin lamented that children witnessed the violence both in Clayton County and in Milton.
“Stop and you think about the devastation that that’s going to have on those little people for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Each of these organizations ask that if domestic violence is suspected in a home, or if someone is a victim of violence, to call the state’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836.
And two of those culprits took their own lives, authorities said.
Domestic violence experts are troubled by the death toll in what they say reflects a growing trend.
And there are no easy answers for why statistics show domestic deaths in Georgia growing over the past three years, from 111 in 2008 to 131 in 2010, with 40 so far this year.
But at least one expert blames the economy.
“Incidents seem to go up as economy goes down,” said Allison Smith, economic justice coordinator with the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “That’s pretty much a nationwide trend.”
Another, Sulaiman Nuriddin, of nonprofit Men Stopping Violence, pins the trend to growing control issues.
“It’s still about control and power and wanting to dominate someone’s life,” Nuriddin said. “Especially when you’re not getting what you want.”
Yet the impact is inescapable.
“This weekend is a tragic showcase of the epidemic of domestic violence,” said Greg Loughlan, acting executive director of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.
Smith, who’s worked with the coalition six years, said the weekend presented more deaths than she’d seen before.
“Not seen this many separate incidents,” she said.
The bloody weekend ended Monday afternoon, when Anthony Tyrone Appling, 42, shot himself to death in front of witnesses after Jefferson police said he killed his estranged wife, Carlotta Appling.
Anthony Appling drove to Carlotta Appling’s neighborhood in Jefferson early Monday morning, parked his truck and walked to her home, forced his way in and shot her, Jefferson police Chief Joe Wirthman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He then took her car and led authorities on a day-long manhunt until he was found dead near Clarke Central High School in Athens.
Sunday, Christopher Erdman met his ex-girlfriend Shannon Lawrence in Milton to exchange custody of their children. Police said he shot her as their toddlers – ages 1 and 3 – watched.
They were scheduled to meet in a public place, but police said Erdman called Lawrence to move the meet to a more remote place.
A day earlier, Alena Marble’s body was found in the trunk of her abandoned car after her daughter’s boyfriend beat her and wrapped her alive in a rug to stuff into the back of the vehicle, Clayton County police said.
Marble’s daughter, Kajul Harvey, 21, and her 20-year-old boyfriend Latoris Grovner were arrested and charged with murder. Harvey had a temporary protective order against Grovner, authorities said.
Also on Saturday, Kyle Webb and his mother Wilma Webb were found dead in their Roswell home.
Faced with financial troubles, police said Kyle Webb killed his mother then himself, leaving instructions for their funerals.
“I really see it as bad economy making it more lethal,” Smith said. “People who are out of work or lose their jobs or homes, it just exacerbates the violence.”
Jean Douglas, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, said Lawrence’s death was particularly preventable, given the temporary protective order the mother had put on Erdman.
“Most times, women want their children to have interaction with the father, but she just wants to be safe,” Douglas said. “I think that in some instances, where there are major safety concerns, there should not be visitation or exchange, period.”
She pointed to supervised custody exchanges like the ones provided by her organization, and said victims of domestic violence shouldn’t have to face their intimidators alone.
And the effects of domestic violence can pass over generations.
While Clayton police say Grovner and Harvey conspired to kill Marble, neighbors said he’d broken his girlfriend’s arm at one point. Douglas wondered allowed if Harvey acted out of fear.
“Did she feel like if she didn’t participate, he’d try to kill her, too?” Douglas asked.
Nuriddin lamented that children witnessed the violence both in Clayton County and in Milton.
“Stop and you think about the devastation that that’s going to have on those little people for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Each of these organizations ask that if domestic violence is suspected in a home, or if someone is a victim of violence, to call the state’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-334-2836.
Hayes, VA: Man kills ex's boyfriend, then self
HAYES, Va. (WAVY) - Gloucester County deputies responded to the scene of a what they're calling a murder, suicide in the 1800 block of Gloucester Road in Hayes, Virginia Sunday.
It was around 2 p.m. when officials say they got the initial call from a woman claiming her estranged husband, Keith Philip Ketch, had just shot her boyfriend.
Ali Ketch said she was hanging out with her boyfriend Jack McKinsey and her children. They were all swimming. She told WAVY.com her ex-husband showed up unexpectedly.
"We got the kids out of the pool and got them into the sun room," said Ketch. "Jack looked at me and he said he saw my ex-husband with a gun behind the fence. My ex-husband started running towards Jack with the gun and Jack told me to go. He told me to go and then he shot him."
Ketch and the kids ran into the home. Deputies say her ex-husband Keith Ketch followed them in.
"He pointed the gun at me and my son Hunter," Ketch added. "Hunter got in front of him and told him not to, so he backed off and then he took his own life."
Upon arrival, deputies were told the suspect had fled out the back door of the residence where another gunshot was heard. That's when deputies told the homeowner and children to break out a front window and escape.
Deputies cleared the backyard and determined the second gunshot heard was the suspect taking his own life, right next to the where the initial victim was shot.
"He just had a future," said McKinsey's mother Nancy Borbe. "They were looking forward to a future and now there is no future."
Both individuals were pronounced dead on the scene by medics with Abingdon Fire and Rescue who were staged nearby.
"You can't remember the good times when you're arranging funeral plans," Borbe added.
Ketch's vehicle was discovered behind the home, concealed by a privacy fence.
The investigation continues.
It was around 2 p.m. when officials say they got the initial call from a woman claiming her estranged husband, Keith Philip Ketch, had just shot her boyfriend.
Ali Ketch said she was hanging out with her boyfriend Jack McKinsey and her children. They were all swimming. She told WAVY.com her ex-husband showed up unexpectedly.
"We got the kids out of the pool and got them into the sun room," said Ketch. "Jack looked at me and he said he saw my ex-husband with a gun behind the fence. My ex-husband started running towards Jack with the gun and Jack told me to go. He told me to go and then he shot him."
Ketch and the kids ran into the home. Deputies say her ex-husband Keith Ketch followed them in.
"He pointed the gun at me and my son Hunter," Ketch added. "Hunter got in front of him and told him not to, so he backed off and then he took his own life."
Upon arrival, deputies were told the suspect had fled out the back door of the residence where another gunshot was heard. That's when deputies told the homeowner and children to break out a front window and escape.
Deputies cleared the backyard and determined the second gunshot heard was the suspect taking his own life, right next to the where the initial victim was shot.
"He just had a future," said McKinsey's mother Nancy Borbe. "They were looking forward to a future and now there is no future."
Both individuals were pronounced dead on the scene by medics with Abingdon Fire and Rescue who were staged nearby.
"You can't remember the good times when you're arranging funeral plans," Borbe added.
Ketch's vehicle was discovered behind the home, concealed by a privacy fence.
The investigation continues.
Buffalo, NY: Boyfriend gets 19 years to life for slaying at standoff
Jesse L. Jones, wearing a hospital helmet from an injury suffered in a failed suicide attempt and a sling on his right arm from a jail accident, was sentenced Monday to 19 years to life in prison for killing his lover during a police standoff.
Constance Lee, the mother of the slain De'aira Wall, said her daughter "made a fatal mistake by letting him into her life" several months before the May 12, 2009, standoff on Millicent Avenue.
Wall, who was killed just seven days before her 22nd birthday, had three young children.
Jones, 31, tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head near the end of the four-hour standoff after he had killed Wall.
State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller agreed to give Jones less than the maximum sentence to spare the victim's family the trauma of a trial. He told Jones that he expects prison officials will deny him an early parole.
Homicide prosecutor Colleen Curtin Gable said Jones pleaded guilty to the highest charge he had faced in the case -- second-degree murder.
John R. Nuchereno, Jones' attorney, said his client, who had undergone nearly nine months of treatment in a state prison psychiatric facility, was recently deemed mentally fit for trial.
Nuchereno said Jones suffers from a permanent traumatic brain injury that has left him with a low intelligence level. He also said his client lost a finger on his right hand when he failed to take his hand away from the electronically closing door on his cell in the Erie County Holding Center.
Jones' mother, who is deaf, left the courtroom moaning loudly after she was told of the sentence the judge had imposed.
Jones pleaded guilty April 27 to the killing in an apartment at 355 Millicent that he was sharing with Wall and her children.
The standoff ended at 3:30 a.m., when Jones shot himself, according to a police report.
Jones had been involved in another police standoff on April 13, 2003. Jones, reportedly upset that his then-wife, Tasha, was threatening to leave him, held his three stepchildren hostage at knifepoint during the standoff on Guernsey Street.
Constance Lee, the mother of the slain De'aira Wall, said her daughter "made a fatal mistake by letting him into her life" several months before the May 12, 2009, standoff on Millicent Avenue.
Wall, who was killed just seven days before her 22nd birthday, had three young children.
Jones, 31, tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head near the end of the four-hour standoff after he had killed Wall.
State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller agreed to give Jones less than the maximum sentence to spare the victim's family the trauma of a trial. He told Jones that he expects prison officials will deny him an early parole.
Homicide prosecutor Colleen Curtin Gable said Jones pleaded guilty to the highest charge he had faced in the case -- second-degree murder.
John R. Nuchereno, Jones' attorney, said his client, who had undergone nearly nine months of treatment in a state prison psychiatric facility, was recently deemed mentally fit for trial.
Nuchereno said Jones suffers from a permanent traumatic brain injury that has left him with a low intelligence level. He also said his client lost a finger on his right hand when he failed to take his hand away from the electronically closing door on his cell in the Erie County Holding Center.
Jones' mother, who is deaf, left the courtroom moaning loudly after she was told of the sentence the judge had imposed.
Jones pleaded guilty April 27 to the killing in an apartment at 355 Millicent that he was sharing with Wall and her children.
The standoff ended at 3:30 a.m., when Jones shot himself, according to a police report.
Jones had been involved in another police standoff on April 13, 2003. Jones, reportedly upset that his then-wife, Tasha, was threatening to leave him, held his three stepchildren hostage at knifepoint during the standoff on Guernsey Street.
Jefferson, GA: Suspect in woman's murder found dead in Athens
The manhunt for a northeast Georgia man accused of killing his wife is over after police said the suspect was found dead in Athens Monday.
Anthony Tyrone Appling, 42, shot himself to death after Jefferson police said he killed his estranged wife, Carlotta Appling. Anthony Appling drove to Carlotta Appling’s neighborhood in Jefferson early Monday morning, parked his truck and walked to her home where he shot her, Jefferson police Chief Joe Wirthman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He then took her car, and led authorities on a day-long manhunt until he was found dead near Clarke County High School in Athens.
Wirthman said police were still investigating whether there had been any previous domestic disturbances between the couple.
Anthony Tyrone Appling, 42, shot himself to death after Jefferson police said he killed his estranged wife, Carlotta Appling. Anthony Appling drove to Carlotta Appling’s neighborhood in Jefferson early Monday morning, parked his truck and walked to her home where he shot her, Jefferson police Chief Joe Wirthman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He then took her car, and led authorities on a day-long manhunt until he was found dead near Clarke County High School in Athens.
Wirthman said police were still investigating whether there had been any previous domestic disturbances between the couple.
Portsmouth, VA: Report: Portsmouth man killed wife, them himself
An 86-year-old man shot his 95-year-old wife before turning the gun on himself Monday morning, according to a report from WVEC on Friday.
Alfred Cadreau and his wife, Mary, were found dead in their Green Lakes subdivision house on Monday in what appears to have been a murder-suicide, police said.
A mail carrier called police at 11:13 a.m. after finding a note in a mailbox in the 300 block of Sarazen Drive saying he should check inside, Detective Jan Westerbeck said.
There was a second note at the garage, saying to call police and leaving a door code, she said.
Alfred Cadreau and his wife, Mary, were found dead in their Green Lakes subdivision house on Monday in what appears to have been a murder-suicide, police said.
A mail carrier called police at 11:13 a.m. after finding a note in a mailbox in the 300 block of Sarazen Drive saying he should check inside, Detective Jan Westerbeck said.
There was a second note at the garage, saying to call police and leaving a door code, she said.
Oakland Park, FL: Suspect dies in BSO custody; relatives question reason
OAKLAND PARK — A man who was in the custody of deputies from the Broward Sheriff's Office, died early Monday, officials said.
The man, identified by relatives as 31-year-old James Doe, or "Bobo," died after he became violent while in the back of a patrol car and a deputy used a stun gun on him, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The incident happened near the 200 block of Lake Pointe Drive, a gated community south of Commercial Boulevard and just west of the Oak Tree Country Club.
Deputies responded to a call about a man trying to kick down a woman's apartment door shortly before 2 a.m., said Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Dani Moschella.
The man had successfully knocked down the apartment door and was inside the unit when the deputies arrived, Moschella said. They detained him and placed him inside a patrol car, where Moschella said he became violent and repeatedly kicked the car's door and window.
"He ignored all verbal commands and a deputy deployed a Taser one time," she said.
A short time after the stun gun was used, the deputies realized the man was unresponsive, Moschella said. They started to do CPR on him and called Oakland Park Fire Rescue.
He was taken to Florida Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later, Moschella said.
"This is the type is the type of situation where a Taser is usually a very successful, non lethal weapon," Moschella said. "It helps the deputies avoid having to go hands on."
The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.
Gathered a relative's Lauderdale Lakes home on Monday morning, family members said they believe Doe fell victim to police abuse.
"I think the police overdid it with force like they always do, he's so small, they didn't have to use that much force," said Doe's Cousin, Loren Lampley.
Lampley said Doe was thinly built, weighing about 130 pounds.
"We are really devastated to what the police did to our family."
Cousin Gideon Smith expressed the same concern. "We gotta go bury my cousin because cops can't control themselves," he said. "I think they killed him, matter of fact, I know they killed my little cousin."
Smith said Doe once lived with the woman involved in the domestic dispute but had recently moved out and was staying with relatives. He said his cousin went to the apartment Sunday night to see if he could bring two dogs together to mate when an argument ensued.
Doe was the father of one daughter, Smith said.
The man, identified by relatives as 31-year-old James Doe, or "Bobo," died after he became violent while in the back of a patrol car and a deputy used a stun gun on him, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The incident happened near the 200 block of Lake Pointe Drive, a gated community south of Commercial Boulevard and just west of the Oak Tree Country Club.
Deputies responded to a call about a man trying to kick down a woman's apartment door shortly before 2 a.m., said Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Dani Moschella.
The man had successfully knocked down the apartment door and was inside the unit when the deputies arrived, Moschella said. They detained him and placed him inside a patrol car, where Moschella said he became violent and repeatedly kicked the car's door and window.
"He ignored all verbal commands and a deputy deployed a Taser one time," she said.
A short time after the stun gun was used, the deputies realized the man was unresponsive, Moschella said. They started to do CPR on him and called Oakland Park Fire Rescue.
He was taken to Florida Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later, Moschella said.
"This is the type is the type of situation where a Taser is usually a very successful, non lethal weapon," Moschella said. "It helps the deputies avoid having to go hands on."
The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.
Gathered a relative's Lauderdale Lakes home on Monday morning, family members said they believe Doe fell victim to police abuse.
"I think the police overdid it with force like they always do, he's so small, they didn't have to use that much force," said Doe's Cousin, Loren Lampley.
Lampley said Doe was thinly built, weighing about 130 pounds.
"We are really devastated to what the police did to our family."
Cousin Gideon Smith expressed the same concern. "We gotta go bury my cousin because cops can't control themselves," he said. "I think they killed him, matter of fact, I know they killed my little cousin."
Smith said Doe once lived with the woman involved in the domestic dispute but had recently moved out and was staying with relatives. He said his cousin went to the apartment Sunday night to see if he could bring two dogs together to mate when an argument ensued.
Doe was the father of one daughter, Smith said.
Centreville, VA: UPDATE: Woman found stabbed to death in Centreville apartmen
A Centreville man was charged Monday in connection with a fatal early Monday morning stabbing -- the fifth homicide in the county this year, police said.
Police found a 49-year-old woman was found dead with stab wounds in a Centreville apartment, located in the 13800 block of Braddock Springs Road, near the Va. 28 and Va. 29 intersection, around 5:30 a.m., Fairfax County police said.
Man Ha Park, 53, of Braddock Springs Road, was charged in connection with the killing, Fairfax County police said.
Park, as well as a 52-year-old woman in the apartment, were found suffering from apparent stab wounds and were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police confirmed late Monday that the woman and the victim were sisters.
Fairfax County police did not comment on a possible motive, but they did say there are no other suspects at large.
The homicide, which the preliminarily investigation has determined is domestic in nature, was contained within the apartment, Fairfax County police said.
The victim has not yet been identified pending notification of family members, police said.
Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Police found a 49-year-old woman was found dead with stab wounds in a Centreville apartment, located in the 13800 block of Braddock Springs Road, near the Va. 28 and Va. 29 intersection, around 5:30 a.m., Fairfax County police said.
Man Ha Park, 53, of Braddock Springs Road, was charged in connection with the killing, Fairfax County police said.
Park, as well as a 52-year-old woman in the apartment, were found suffering from apparent stab wounds and were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police confirmed late Monday that the woman and the victim were sisters.
Fairfax County police did not comment on a possible motive, but they did say there are no other suspects at large.
The homicide, which the preliminarily investigation has determined is domestic in nature, was contained within the apartment, Fairfax County police said.
The victim has not yet been identified pending notification of family members, police said.
Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Newport, DE: Couple Found Shot Dead In Silview
NEWPORT, Del. - Police in New Castle County are investigating the deaths of a man and woman found shot in their Lindbergh Avenue home in the community of Silview, but say there is no need for area residents to be alarmed.
According to New Castle County Police detectives, police were called to the 200 block of Lindbergh Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday to check on the couple after a relative went to the home and nobody would answer the door.
The relative had told police he had gone to the home to pick up someone, but then called 911 when he didn’t receive an answer.
Police entered the home and located the man and woman dead with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, according to detectives. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remained under investigation.
“Police continue to investigate but do not feel area residents need to be alarmed,” states a release from the county detectives.
The names of the two were not being released Sunday pending the notification of their families.
According to New Castle County Police detectives, police were called to the 200 block of Lindbergh Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday to check on the couple after a relative went to the home and nobody would answer the door.
The relative had told police he had gone to the home to pick up someone, but then called 911 when he didn’t receive an answer.
Police entered the home and located the man and woman dead with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, according to detectives. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remained under investigation.
“Police continue to investigate but do not feel area residents need to be alarmed,” states a release from the county detectives.
The names of the two were not being released Sunday pending the notification of their families.
Lake Charles, LA: Lake Charles murder suspect sought, considered armed & dangerous
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - Authorities continue searching for a man they say shot and killed his estranged wife at her home south of Lake Charles Sunday morning.
Calcasieu Parish Chief Deputy Gary "Stitch" Guillory said the suspect, Joe Constance, 43, should be considered armed and dangerous.
Deputies said Constance broke into Mary Jeanette Duhon's home in the 9200 block of Rustic View Drive around 7:30 a.m.
Armed with a shotgun, deputies said Constance took direct aim at Duhon, fatally shooting the 43-year-old.
Authorities said Constance then fled the scene in his pick-up truck.
Investigators found the truck a short time later, abandoned on Fred Vail Road, a little over a mile away.
With no sign of Constance, deputies from Calcasieu and Cameron parishes began an intense ground and air manhunt, focusing on an area along Gulf Highway.
"The last description that we had of him was that he was wearing khaki shorts with no shirt," said Guillory. "Should anybody see him, just dial 911."
Family members of Duhon tell 7 News that she had only lived at the residence on Rustic View Drive a short time.
Authorities said the suspect was served with a protective order about a week ago. They said he and Duhon were in the process of getting a divorce.
Four others were in the home at the time the shooting took place. They were not physically harmed.
Calcasieu Parish Chief Deputy Gary "Stitch" Guillory said the suspect, Joe Constance, 43, should be considered armed and dangerous.
Deputies said Constance broke into Mary Jeanette Duhon's home in the 9200 block of Rustic View Drive around 7:30 a.m.
Armed with a shotgun, deputies said Constance took direct aim at Duhon, fatally shooting the 43-year-old.
Authorities said Constance then fled the scene in his pick-up truck.
Investigators found the truck a short time later, abandoned on Fred Vail Road, a little over a mile away.
With no sign of Constance, deputies from Calcasieu and Cameron parishes began an intense ground and air manhunt, focusing on an area along Gulf Highway.
"The last description that we had of him was that he was wearing khaki shorts with no shirt," said Guillory. "Should anybody see him, just dial 911."
Family members of Duhon tell 7 News that she had only lived at the residence on Rustic View Drive a short time.
Authorities said the suspect was served with a protective order about a week ago. They said he and Duhon were in the process of getting a divorce.
Four others were in the home at the time the shooting took place. They were not physically harmed.
Chicago, IL: Bail denied for man accused of stealing rival’s car, running him over
A Southwest Side gang member nicknamed “Bear” stole a rival’s car, ran him over with it then “stomped” on his skull until he was dead, prosecutors alleged in court Sunday.
Lazaro Zapata, 24 — a member of the 2-6 street gang — stole Raul Medina’s 1994 Ford Escort, then murdered the 41-year-old in the 4000 block of South Kedzie in the early hours of Thursday, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Denise Loiterstein said. He tried to cover up the crime with a story about his girlfriend being kidnapped, it’s alleged.
Sentenced to 18 years behind bars for the 2nd degree murder of a 69-year-old corn vendor in 2004, Zapata had only recently been released from prison, records show.
Early Thursday morning, Medina and his ex-wife were driving Zapata’s girlfriend to her mother’s home when Zapata called and demanded she come home to him, Loiterstein said. When the girlfriend, who Zapata had beaten, refused, Zapata vowed to steal Medina’s ex-wife’s TV, Loiterstein said.
While Medina’s ex-wife called police to report the robbery threat, Zapata made a 911 call of his own, alleging his girlfriend had been kidnapped, Loiterstein said. Police quickly dismissed that allegation after speaking to the girlfriend on the phone, the prosecutor added.
But when Medina dropped off Zapata’s girlfriend at his ex-wife’s home, Zapata and several of his buddies were waiting, Loiterstein said.
After an argument in the street, Zapata and his buddies beat both women before Zapata jumped into the driver’s seat and ran down Medina, Loiterstein said.
Zapata then got out of the car and “started stomping the victim on his head,” she added. Medina died of massive blunt force trauma to the head and body, Loiterstein said.
This time Zapata and his girlfriend falsely reported to police that she had been kidnapped, it’s alleged.
Wearing turquoise slippers and a blue shirt in court Sunday, Zapata protested that his girlfriend was ready to bail him out after Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil denied him bond.
Records show he was just 17 when he killed corn vendor Antonio Rodriguez by hitting him in the head with a baseball bat in 2003.
Lazaro Zapata, 24 — a member of the 2-6 street gang — stole Raul Medina’s 1994 Ford Escort, then murdered the 41-year-old in the 4000 block of South Kedzie in the early hours of Thursday, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Denise Loiterstein said. He tried to cover up the crime with a story about his girlfriend being kidnapped, it’s alleged.
Sentenced to 18 years behind bars for the 2nd degree murder of a 69-year-old corn vendor in 2004, Zapata had only recently been released from prison, records show.
Early Thursday morning, Medina and his ex-wife were driving Zapata’s girlfriend to her mother’s home when Zapata called and demanded she come home to him, Loiterstein said. When the girlfriend, who Zapata had beaten, refused, Zapata vowed to steal Medina’s ex-wife’s TV, Loiterstein said.
While Medina’s ex-wife called police to report the robbery threat, Zapata made a 911 call of his own, alleging his girlfriend had been kidnapped, Loiterstein said. Police quickly dismissed that allegation after speaking to the girlfriend on the phone, the prosecutor added.
But when Medina dropped off Zapata’s girlfriend at his ex-wife’s home, Zapata and several of his buddies were waiting, Loiterstein said.
After an argument in the street, Zapata and his buddies beat both women before Zapata jumped into the driver’s seat and ran down Medina, Loiterstein said.
Zapata then got out of the car and “started stomping the victim on his head,” she added. Medina died of massive blunt force trauma to the head and body, Loiterstein said.
This time Zapata and his girlfriend falsely reported to police that she had been kidnapped, it’s alleged.
Wearing turquoise slippers and a blue shirt in court Sunday, Zapata protested that his girlfriend was ready to bail him out after Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil denied him bond.
Records show he was just 17 when he killed corn vendor Antonio Rodriguez by hitting him in the head with a baseball bat in 2003.
Atlanta, GA: Police: Man shot ex-girlfriend in front of couple's two children
Canton man was in the Fulton County Jail Monday, charged with killing his ex-girlfriend and mother of his two children Sunday while the toddlers looked on.
The slaying was the third deadly domestic incident of the weekend in metro Atlanta.
According to Milton police, the shooting happened around 2 p.m. Sunday when Christopher Erdman met Shannon Lawrence in the Birmingham Crossings shopping center parking lot to exchange custody of the children.
Erdman, 25, allegedly shot Lawrence, also 25 and from Canton, four times in the face and neck, then put her in the back of his pickup truck and drove her to Northside Forsyth Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Milton police Capt. Shawn McCarty said that when officers went to shooting scene, “they found four shell casings and a pool of blood in the parking lot.”
The children, ages 1 and 3, witnessed the shooting, according to police. The children were not physically harmed and are staying with relatives.
Erdman was arrested at the hospital and booked into the Fulton County Jail, charged with murder. He is expected to face a judge late Monday morning for a first appearance hearing.
Lawrence's mother, Diana Macksey, described her daughter as "the most beautiful, kind, loving soul."
She said her daughter was attending Kennesaw State University and planned to enter the school's nursing program.
"No mother should have to go through this," Macksey told Channel 2 Action News. "This is just all surreal. I can't believe right now that this is really happening."
Macksey told Channel 2 that Lawrence had a protective order against Erdman and the child custody exchanges were supposed to be supervised. She told the station that Lawrence and Erdman had planned to meet in a Publix parking lot, but at the last minute, he changed the location to a more secluded lot at the Wells Fargo bank in the shopping center.
The slaying was the third deadly domestic incident of the weekend in metro Atlanta.
According to Milton police, the shooting happened around 2 p.m. Sunday when Christopher Erdman met Shannon Lawrence in the Birmingham Crossings shopping center parking lot to exchange custody of the children.
Erdman, 25, allegedly shot Lawrence, also 25 and from Canton, four times in the face and neck, then put her in the back of his pickup truck and drove her to Northside Forsyth Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Milton police Capt. Shawn McCarty said that when officers went to shooting scene, “they found four shell casings and a pool of blood in the parking lot.”
The children, ages 1 and 3, witnessed the shooting, according to police. The children were not physically harmed and are staying with relatives.
Erdman was arrested at the hospital and booked into the Fulton County Jail, charged with murder. He is expected to face a judge late Monday morning for a first appearance hearing.
Lawrence's mother, Diana Macksey, described her daughter as "the most beautiful, kind, loving soul."
She said her daughter was attending Kennesaw State University and planned to enter the school's nursing program.
"No mother should have to go through this," Macksey told Channel 2 Action News. "This is just all surreal. I can't believe right now that this is really happening."
Macksey told Channel 2 that Lawrence had a protective order against Erdman and the child custody exchanges were supposed to be supervised. She told the station that Lawrence and Erdman had planned to meet in a Publix parking lot, but at the last minute, he changed the location to a more secluded lot at the Wells Fargo bank in the shopping center.
Benton, KY: Couple found dead after man's call to Marshall County sheriff
BENTON, Ky. — The Marshall County Sheriff's Office is investigating the killing of a couple.
The incident occurred Saturday night in the Fairdealing community on Kentucky Lake.
The sheriff's office reported Sunday night that 66-year-old John O. Armstrong called a dispatcher Saturday night and said he had shot his wife and planned to kill himself, according to The Paducah Sun.
Deputies responded and found John Armstrong and 73-year-old Marjorie Armstrong dead. The sheriff's office said a handgun was found at the scene, but did not say how the Armstrongs died.
The incident occurred Saturday night in the Fairdealing community on Kentucky Lake.
The sheriff's office reported Sunday night that 66-year-old John O. Armstrong called a dispatcher Saturday night and said he had shot his wife and planned to kill himself, according to The Paducah Sun.
Deputies responded and found John Armstrong and 73-year-old Marjorie Armstrong dead. The sheriff's office said a handgun was found at the scene, but did not say how the Armstrongs died.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Lakeland, FL: Lakeland gunman kills two, wounds former wife
LAKELAND --
Police are looking for a man they say wounded his ex-wife and killed her boyfriend and her 15-year-old daughter Saturday night in Lakeland.
Authorities are looking for Jose Antonio Negron, 54, 345 Hoffman St., in Lakeland.
Officers were called to 1108 N. New York Ave., Lakeland, about 8:20 p.m. Saturday and found Olga Gonzales, 46, shot several times. She managed to get outside the house and get help from a neighbor, the Lakeland Police Department said.
Inside the house, police found the bodies of her daughter, Marta Negron, and Luis Fernandez, 46, boyfriend of Olga Gonzales.
Olga Gonzales was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with injuries police described as life-threatening.
Police are looking for a man they say wounded his ex-wife and killed her boyfriend and her 15-year-old daughter Saturday night in Lakeland.
Authorities are looking for Jose Antonio Negron, 54, 345 Hoffman St., in Lakeland.
Officers were called to 1108 N. New York Ave., Lakeland, about 8:20 p.m. Saturday and found Olga Gonzales, 46, shot several times. She managed to get outside the house and get help from a neighbor, the Lakeland Police Department said.
Inside the house, police found the bodies of her daughter, Marta Negron, and Luis Fernandez, 46, boyfriend of Olga Gonzales.
Olga Gonzales was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with injuries police described as life-threatening.
DeSoto, MS: Murder Jury Takes Trip To Crime Scene
FAST FACTS:
Sequestered jury takes trip to crime scene in Mississippi
Witness testify Gaither called police to get daughter from Hawkins
Gaither's estranged husband testifies
(Memphis 06/04/2011) - A special Saturday session of court for a jury hearing a murder trial that sounds more like a bad horror movie than real life. The case involves the stabbing and decapitation of 28 year old Charlene Gaither. Prosecutors say Gaither was killed by her boyfriend James Hawkins, father of her 3 children. They say Hawkins was involved in an incestuous relationship with their 12 year old daughter and forced her to help dispose of her mother's body. Today the jury got a first hand look at where Gaither's mutilated body was discovered.
The sequestered jury was loaded onto a bus and driven some 40 miles to DeSoto County, MS where Charlene Gaither's body was found dumped off a bridge.
News Channel 3 joined the convoy to the spot where a Mississippi Department of Transportation employee testified Friday he found her. Her head was decapitated. Her hands and feet had been severed.
"What was the purpose of taking the jury out to the scene? we just feel it's the best way to show them the evidence," said Missy Branham, Asst. Dist. Attorney to reporter Stephanie Scurlock.
A helicopter hovered above while officers in DeSoto County blocked off part of Highway 78. There was no discussion, no talking among jurors as they braved the heat for a look at the crime scene. They spent about 15 minutes there. Out of the presence of the jury, defendant James Hawkins was allowed to take a look.
"He wanted to go out there. A client has got a right to go out there. He was glad he did it. He basically rode down and took a look and came back," said Gerald Skahan, defense attorney.
Hawkins and the jury then were taken back to the CJC to continue testimony. A Memphis police officer testified a month before Gaither's death she called police and said she feared Hawkins had an inappropriate relationship with their 12 year old daughter. There was no proof of abuse so officers let the child who was with Hawkins stay with him. Gaither then went for an order of protection.
"He wants my 12 year old daughter to be around him often. Sleep with him and she has changed. Telling lies and disrespectful. I hope he hasn't molested her," read Deborah Coffman, from an order if protection filed by Gaither the month before she died.
Gaither's estranged husband, Melvin Gaither, is set to testify Saturday afternoon.
Sequestered jury takes trip to crime scene in Mississippi
Witness testify Gaither called police to get daughter from Hawkins
Gaither's estranged husband testifies
(Memphis 06/04/2011) - A special Saturday session of court for a jury hearing a murder trial that sounds more like a bad horror movie than real life. The case involves the stabbing and decapitation of 28 year old Charlene Gaither. Prosecutors say Gaither was killed by her boyfriend James Hawkins, father of her 3 children. They say Hawkins was involved in an incestuous relationship with their 12 year old daughter and forced her to help dispose of her mother's body. Today the jury got a first hand look at where Gaither's mutilated body was discovered.
The sequestered jury was loaded onto a bus and driven some 40 miles to DeSoto County, MS where Charlene Gaither's body was found dumped off a bridge.
News Channel 3 joined the convoy to the spot where a Mississippi Department of Transportation employee testified Friday he found her. Her head was decapitated. Her hands and feet had been severed.
"What was the purpose of taking the jury out to the scene? we just feel it's the best way to show them the evidence," said Missy Branham, Asst. Dist. Attorney to reporter Stephanie Scurlock.
A helicopter hovered above while officers in DeSoto County blocked off part of Highway 78. There was no discussion, no talking among jurors as they braved the heat for a look at the crime scene. They spent about 15 minutes there. Out of the presence of the jury, defendant James Hawkins was allowed to take a look.
"He wanted to go out there. A client has got a right to go out there. He was glad he did it. He basically rode down and took a look and came back," said Gerald Skahan, defense attorney.
Hawkins and the jury then were taken back to the CJC to continue testimony. A Memphis police officer testified a month before Gaither's death she called police and said she feared Hawkins had an inappropriate relationship with their 12 year old daughter. There was no proof of abuse so officers let the child who was with Hawkins stay with him. Gaither then went for an order of protection.
"He wants my 12 year old daughter to be around him often. Sleep with him and she has changed. Telling lies and disrespectful. I hope he hasn't molested her," read Deborah Coffman, from an order if protection filed by Gaither the month before she died.
Gaither's estranged husband, Melvin Gaither, is set to testify Saturday afternoon.
Article: Victim becomes full-time advocate against domestic abuse
Three years after her ex-boyfriend killed her 5-week-old twins, Susan Bird-Winbun has become a full-time advocate for protecting children from abuse.
She recently started a nonprofit, Murder is Murder, which is lobbying for stiffer punishment against child abusers. She's also in the process of opening a domestic violence shelter in Sauk County.
Bird-Winbun, 31, who recently moved from Baraboo to Reedsburg, is speaking out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of David Yates, who in October was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of their twin infants, Savannah and Tyler Yates. The babies were found beaten to death in their father's condominium in April 2008.
"One of the goals of me speaking out is to save people from living with the blame that I carry on myself," said Bird-Winbun, who also is writing a book about her experiences with domestic violence. "I am speaking so people know what to do before it turns into a situation - a tragedy - like it did with my children."
Bird-Winbun said she had to be silent until Yates' trial was over.
David Yates, 18 years her senior, was her boss when the two worked for a resort company in Wisconsin Dells. He had been her boyfriend for 3 1/2 years, and she said he was good with her three children from a previous marriage.
The couple had been dating for six months when the verbal abuse started, Bird-Winbun said. Soon he was grabbing her and throwing things at her, she said.
"Over time it began to escalate," Bird-Winbun said. "That's one of the biggest myths about domestic violence, that it begins as full-fledged violence. He didn't knock me unconscious or break my nose the first time he hit me."
By the time she recognized what was happening to her as domestic violence, she said, it was so overwhelming she didn't know what to do. She finally had what she describes as "an awakening" and left him one week after the birth of their twins. They were murdered one month later.
Interestingly, before that, Yates never acted out against any of her children. He yelled at her older son once, but wouldn't even put the kids in a "time out" without checking with her first, she said.
At the time she figured that if her older children were safe with him, it followed that his own infant children would be safe, too.
She knows now that someone who is violent with one person will be violent with others. "Chances are high they don't discriminate against who they are violent against," Bird-Winbun said.
Child abuse is a hidden epidemic, according to Childhelp, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect.
Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse, most of them under the age of 4, the group reports. More than 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States, but each report can include multiple children.
Hanna Roth, co-founder of the Rainbird Foundation, a Madison nonprofit that works to end child abuse, has her own history of abuse. Her father was a teacher and a convicted pedophile. She said she doesn't know how many children he hurt, and he went to prison for his crimes against them. But he never served time for the abuse he committed against Roth and her siblings.
"The fastest way to end child abuse is to take it out of the closet and talk about it," Roth said.
It's important that children know that violence is never OK, whether it's against an adult or a child, Bird-Winbun said. "This is something you can talk about with your family at the dinner table or in the car on the way to soccer practice."
In school, children are taught about safe sex and not doing drugs, she said, "But I don't remember one single instance when it was discussed what to do if your boyfriend hits you or how to help a friend who's been abused."
She recently started a nonprofit, Murder is Murder, which is lobbying for stiffer punishment against child abusers. She's also in the process of opening a domestic violence shelter in Sauk County.
Bird-Winbun, 31, who recently moved from Baraboo to Reedsburg, is speaking out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of David Yates, who in October was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of their twin infants, Savannah and Tyler Yates. The babies were found beaten to death in their father's condominium in April 2008.
"One of the goals of me speaking out is to save people from living with the blame that I carry on myself," said Bird-Winbun, who also is writing a book about her experiences with domestic violence. "I am speaking so people know what to do before it turns into a situation - a tragedy - like it did with my children."
Bird-Winbun said she had to be silent until Yates' trial was over.
David Yates, 18 years her senior, was her boss when the two worked for a resort company in Wisconsin Dells. He had been her boyfriend for 3 1/2 years, and she said he was good with her three children from a previous marriage.
The couple had been dating for six months when the verbal abuse started, Bird-Winbun said. Soon he was grabbing her and throwing things at her, she said.
"Over time it began to escalate," Bird-Winbun said. "That's one of the biggest myths about domestic violence, that it begins as full-fledged violence. He didn't knock me unconscious or break my nose the first time he hit me."
By the time she recognized what was happening to her as domestic violence, she said, it was so overwhelming she didn't know what to do. She finally had what she describes as "an awakening" and left him one week after the birth of their twins. They were murdered one month later.
Interestingly, before that, Yates never acted out against any of her children. He yelled at her older son once, but wouldn't even put the kids in a "time out" without checking with her first, she said.
At the time she figured that if her older children were safe with him, it followed that his own infant children would be safe, too.
She knows now that someone who is violent with one person will be violent with others. "Chances are high they don't discriminate against who they are violent against," Bird-Winbun said.
Child abuse is a hidden epidemic, according to Childhelp, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect.
Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse, most of them under the age of 4, the group reports. More than 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States, but each report can include multiple children.
Hanna Roth, co-founder of the Rainbird Foundation, a Madison nonprofit that works to end child abuse, has her own history of abuse. Her father was a teacher and a convicted pedophile. She said she doesn't know how many children he hurt, and he went to prison for his crimes against them. But he never served time for the abuse he committed against Roth and her siblings.
"The fastest way to end child abuse is to take it out of the closet and talk about it," Roth said.
It's important that children know that violence is never OK, whether it's against an adult or a child, Bird-Winbun said. "This is something you can talk about with your family at the dinner table or in the car on the way to soccer practice."
In school, children are taught about safe sex and not doing drugs, she said, "But I don't remember one single instance when it was discussed what to do if your boyfriend hits you or how to help a friend who's been abused."
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Carson City, NV: Man’s murder conviction in wife’s death upheld
CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court, which once reversed the murder conviction of Leonard W. Hill, has now upheld his first-degree murder conviction in the strangulation of his live-in girlfriend in Las Vegas.
Hill was sentenced to 20 years to life for the killing of Robin Martin in their apartment in December 2005.
At the first trial, a police detective testified that a DNA analysis wasn't conducted of the evidence because it would have been time-consuming and complicated.
The Supreme Court granted Hill a new trial in 2008 because of prosecutorial misconduct and the erroneous admission of expert testimony.
A DNA test was then conducted and introduced at the second trial. Attorneys for Hill sought to recall the detective to question her about the delay.
But District Judge Michelle Leavitt denied the motion on grounds it would open the door to discussion of Hill’s previous trial and conviction. She held this could unfairly prejudice the jury at Hill's second trial.
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of Leavitt and said “We commend the district court for properly balancing Hill’s due process rights with judicial efficiency.”
Hill was sentenced to 20 years to life for the killing of Robin Martin in their apartment in December 2005.
At the first trial, a police detective testified that a DNA analysis wasn't conducted of the evidence because it would have been time-consuming and complicated.
The Supreme Court granted Hill a new trial in 2008 because of prosecutorial misconduct and the erroneous admission of expert testimony.
A DNA test was then conducted and introduced at the second trial. Attorneys for Hill sought to recall the detective to question her about the delay.
But District Judge Michelle Leavitt denied the motion on grounds it would open the door to discussion of Hill’s previous trial and conviction. She held this could unfairly prejudice the jury at Hill's second trial.
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of Leavitt and said “We commend the district court for properly balancing Hill’s due process rights with judicial efficiency.”
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