An Ohio babysitter has been charged with murder after she administered a fatal dose of allergy medication Benadryl to a baby in her care, according to the Reynoldsburg Police Department.

Katie Mukley left her 8-month-old son, Haddix Mulkey, in the care of Lori Conley, a woman who authorities described as an unlicensed childcare provider, on May 13 of this year. According to ABC News, Conley was babysitting seven other children that day, and when little Haddix would not go to sleep, Conley administered him a dose of Benadryl, which later proved to be lethal.

Some time later during the day, police officers at the Reynoldsburg Police Department received a call about an unresponsive child, and although first responders attempted to revive Haddix en route to the hospital, the young child was pronounced dead on arrival.

But while the incident took place more than three weeks ago, it was only on Friday that the coroner’s office released a toxicology report, confirming that the baby had died from Benadryl overdose. The child’s mother, who admitted that she was “in the dark” about what happened to Haddix until the report came in, expressed her “shock” at having learned about the reason.

“I was in complete shock. He was just learning to crawl.”

“I entrusted her to take care of my son Haddix and my daughter while I worked to provide for my family.”

“I just really want justice for my baby. I’ll have to see my baby in a cemetery, not in my arms.”

Lieutenant Ron Wright of the Reynoldsburg Police Department told WBNS-10TV that officers, as well as doctors, were completely stumped when they realized that a healthy baby had suddenly died for no apparent reason. But when they came to know about what exactly had led to his death, they confronted Conley about it, and the babysitter admitted that she had administered adult size dosages to the young child to try to make him go to sleep.

“She told us it was Benadryl to try to get the baby to go to sleep,” he said. “She was very vague on exactly how much, but she did give adult size dosages — the pills that are adult size dosages.”

A dosing guide on Benadryl’s website recommends that children under the age of two must not be administered any version of the drug, while its adult version can only be given to children over six years of age.

Although not a licensed childcare provider, Lori Conley babysat to provide for three teenage children of her own.

Conley was arraigned Saturday in Franklin County Municipal Court and her bond was set at $750,000, and even if she manages to meet the bond, she will have to stay away from children.

The child’s mother said that she will attend Conley’s trial in order to “bring closure” to Haddix’s death, adding that his untimely demise should serve as a reminder to parents to be careful about whom they trust their child with.

“I was never aware that my son was drugged. I didn’t condone it. I didn’t ask for this,” she said.

Although Haddix’s passing away is certainly a rare incident, this is not the first time that a child has died under similar circumstances. In 2001, babysitter Paula Burcham, 53, mixed a dose of a liquid generic form of Benadryl into the formula of 3-and-a-half-month-old infant Grace Fields, leading to the kid’s death.

[Image via Reynoldsburg Police Department]

Ohio Babysitter Charged With Murder After 8-Month-Old Dies From Benadryl Overdose is an article from: The Inquisitr News

For one aspiring screenwriter, life may have imitated art, according to charges filed in the case of a murder victim found drained of blood. In a bizarre twist that could have come straight out of one of the screenwriter’s graphic novels about a serial killer, Iana Kasian was found murdered in the most gruesome way, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

“Kasian was tortured and mutilated before she was killed, and all of her blood was drained from her body.”

Now Huffington Post reports her estranged boyfriend, 35-year-old Blake Leibel, has been charged with murder, mayhem, aggravated mayhem, and torture, plus special circumstance allegations which make him eligible for the death penalty. The Canadian native, who has been living in West Hollywood, allegedly killed Kasian between May 23 and May 26, with her body being discovered last Thursday after authorities forced their way into the apartment where Leibel had barricaded himself with furniture.

The bizarre twist in the story, besides the fact that the victim’s blood was drained from her body, is that Leibel had written about a serial killer in one of his graphic novels back in 2010, titled Syndrome. The villain in the graphic novel hangs victims from their ankles and slashes their throats to drain them completely of blood, echoing some of the injuries that occurred to Kasian, who was only 30 years old at the time of her murder.

As if the murder allegedly committed by Leibel wasn’t horrific enough, the victim had just given birth to the couple’s first child at the beginning of May. On top of the usual stress to a relationship that comes along with a newborn baby, Leibel had been arrested on May 20 on suspicion of sexual assault, although no details of that arrest or alleged crime have been made available to the media or the public at this time.

It appears that arrest triggered the conflict between the couple that prompted Kasian to pack up and move back into her mother’s home, where she stayed until making a return visit back to her old apartment to meet and speak with Leibel, according to Huffington Post. Leibel had been released on $100,000 bail at the time of the alleged disappearance and murder of Kasian.

Leibel is now being held without bail on the latest charges filed against him in the death of Kasian, but unfortunately if the charges against him are true, Leibel’s current incarceration without bail comes a little too late for the woman who came from her native Ukraine in 2014 to study law and make a better life for herself in California. Kasian’s sister, Zhenia, spoke with the National Post about her family’s devastating tragedy.

“For me it’s a big loss. I do not know how to live without my beloved sister.”

This case may create another legal battle, over custody of the couple’s child, who is currently in the care of Kasian’s mother. Leibel is the heir of a wealthy family in Toronto, including his deceased mother, who was the heiress to a fortune from the plastics industry. The Los Angeles Times reports Leibel received a monthly allowance of $18,000.

Ronald Richards, who was representing Leibel in the case not related to the current murder charges, says he was shocked to hear about his client’s arrest on the murder and mutilation (mayhem) charges.

“Him being violent is so uncharacteristic of the person I’ve known for many years.”

Leibel is currently being held in Los Angeles County Jail with his next scheduled court appearance on June 14. Prosecutors are still deciding whether they were pursue the death penalty in the case.

[Image via Facebook]

Boyfriend Of Murder Victim Who Was Drained Of Blood Facing Death Penalty is an article from: The Inquisitr News

A couple has been charged with trying to sell their 3-month-old baby. When they couldn’t locate a seller for the asking price — $500 to $1,000 — both of them ran off, abandoning the infant at a house in Layland, West Virginia.

On Saturday evening, the Fayette County 911 center received a call about a “sick infant.” The woman who called said the child had been abandoned earlier in the day by a young couple. Witnesses at the home in Layland told law enforcement that the infant was left in the woman’s care when she would not agree to buy it. Individuals on the scene later told police the name of the 20-year-old father, Jonathan Isaac Lucas Flint.

Before officials were given this information, Child Protective Services took the baby to the hospital first. The child was then placed in foster care until the parents could be named. Authorities said the baby would not stop crying and shaking and may have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms. This may have led police to suspect that the reason for the parents’ unusual behavior was their desire for drug money.

Investigators were then able to determine the name of the father and paternal grandmother. After questioning the two of them, deputies were told the mother was 25-year-old Ashley Nichole Harmon.

Both the mother and the father now face charges of attempting to sell a baby and gross child neglect, per the Washington Times. Police discovered that Harmon had left her home in Rupert, West Virginia, in Greenbrier County on Thursday with the 3-month-old. She also left two other children under the age of three at the same house. Reports did not state whether she left the other children alone or in someone’s care.

Couple arrested for allegedly trying to sell their own baby https://t.co/hU5xeFWOOZ

— WSAZ NewsChannel 3 (@WSAZnews) June 4, 2016

Sheriff Steve Kessler said the situation was an odd one, meaning that police deal with incidents of child neglect and abandonment every day, but not with parents trying to sell their offspring.

“Law enforcement officers frequently deal with some pretty strange situations. A situation like this is really out of the ordinary though.”

Other accusations against the couple are that they knocked on the door of a woman (the same one who later called 911). When she refused to buy the baby, they asked her to babysit the child. She agreed and when Flint and Harmon returned the following day, the child was in CPS custody. Apparently, the woman was not part of the scheme, and likely due to her willingness to provide child care, the infant didn’t suffer further harm, nor was it actually sold to someone else. What is not obvious is what the parents were thinking or if they actually believed the child would be there with the woman when they returned the following day.

West Virginia couple accused of trying to sell 3-month-old baby https://t.co/eHNmz5EuTp

— KDKA (@CBSPittsburgh) June 5, 2016

The following day, both of the child’s parents were arrested. Kessler thanked everyone who kept the baby safe, according to WVVA.

“We are extremely grateful for the assistance provided to us by the Child Protective Services Workers who worked diligently to insure the health and safety of this innocent infant child and helped us identify and locate the individuals who allegedly attempted to sell this child.”

Harmon and Flint, who tried to get drug money by selling their own child, remain in the Southern Regional Jail in Fayette County. Each is being held on $100,000 bond, and jail records do not indicate whether either has an attorney. The case is now under further investigation.

[Image via Southern Regional Jail/Fayette County Sheriff’s Department]

West Virginia Couple Wanted Drug Money, Tried To Sell Their 3-Month-Old Baby For $500 To $1000 is an article from: The Inquisitr News

A group of Texas teens have found themselves at the center of controversy following a series of violent crimes toward two llamas. According to ABC News, the Tomball High School teens reportedly shot and beheaded the defenseless animals and confessed to the crimes they committed on March 6 of this year.

Police reports have revealed the two teens, both 16 years of age, allegedly shot one of the llamas and beheaded the other. Due to their age, their names have not been released to the public. Harris County Pct. 1 Constable Alan Rosen recently shared details about the boys and the criminal charges that have been filed against them. On Thursday, June 2, the boys were arrested and charged with “one count each of animal cruelty, a felony and two counts each of misdemeanor criminal mischief,” according to The Blaze.

During a news interview, Constable Rosen shared his reaction to the disturbing crime. “Just when you think you’ve heard it all, along comes a bizarre case that makes you wonder what goes through people’s minds, especially young people,” Rosen said.

Ruby Herron – co-owner of the Figment Ranch in Cypress, TX where the incident took place – has also spoken publicly about the incident. She recounted the series of events that took place and shared details about the condition of Lorenzo, the llama that was fortunate to survive the shooting. He was reportedly trying to protect La Tida, the llama that was sadly beheaded. “He was trying to protect [La Tida],” Herron said. “He was the best guard in the world.”

However, Lorenzo still has two bullets lodged in his spine. Due to the location of the bullets, veterinary caretakers have warned that removing the bullets could be a potentially deadly procedure.

Herron, who discovered the beheaded llama, revealed the gruesome scene was unlike anything she’s ever seen in her 30 years of experience as a rancher. She admitted they now fear for the animals since the boys trespassed to enter the property. “It’s a feeling that you never want to have,” she said. “These kids need help. I don’t know what would even possess them.”

In fact, she also revealed how the horrific experience has changed Lorenzo. The poor animal is reportedly frightened at the site of new people. “Now, he is so frightened every time someone comes up,” Herron said. “His whole personality has changed.”

The crime itself is highly disturbing, but there are other mental factors that such crimes insinuate. According to the Psychology Today, there are numerous psychological levels to childhood animal cruelty and age levels determine the severity of the possible mental issue with the child or teen. Whenever children over the age of 12 abuse animals, their actions may require professional intervention to get to the root of the problem. As young adults, like the 16-year-olds facing charges for cruelty to the llamas, they had the cognitive maturity to decipher right from wrong but chose to harm the animals anyway.

The charges filed against the teens have also sparked controversy as many social media users argue that the charges seem fairly lenient despite the boys’ age. Since the beheading is considered a gruesome murder, some readers believe animal cruelty should have been the least of the charges they faced. But, their age is most likely a strong factor where the charges are concerned.

In addition to grieving the loss of La Tida, the ranch will reportedly lose approximately $20,000 in revenue because the llama will no longer be able to reproduce. La Tida was also a show-quality AQHA halter champion llama. So, she will be deeply missed by the ranch owners.

[Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images]

Texas Teens Confess To Shooting, Beheading Llamas is an article from: The Inquisitr News

It’s been two months since Krislyn Gibson and her long time friend, Sidney Taylor, mysteriously vanished after attending a concert in Austin, Texas. As authorities continue to search for leads in the case, it was announced Friday that new details may offer some information about what happened to the Houston pair.

Krislyn and Sidney, both 35 years of age, disappeared sometime between Saturday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 5, KPRC 2 News reports. According to authorities, the pair had left Houston on Friday, April 1, and arrived in Austin in order to attend the Urban Music Festival, which took place the entire weekend.

In the early morning hours that Saturday, Krislyn and Sidney reportedly went to a local nightclub and subsequently were not seen again, ABC 13 News reports.

Texas Equusearch was asked to take part in the investigation after a ping from Sidney’s cell phone indicated it had come from west Harris County, Fox 26 News reports. The ping was determined to have come from near Bear Creek Park in Houston.

According to ABC 13 News, the initial investigation was commenced by Austin law enforcement, but Houston authorities joined the search effort after Sidney’s car, a Dodge Charger, was found in midtown Houston.

On Friday, June 3, Austin police offered new details in the case, announcing that Krislyn and Sidney were last seen with acquaintance Harvey “Hootie” Cyphers, 49, at a club called The Landing Strip, the Houston Chronicle reports.

The club’s Facebook page describes the hot spot as the following.

“The world famous Landing Strip Gentlemen’s Club is Austin’s place to party. With beautiful women and great drink specials, we’ll have you in the upright position all night.”

According to the Chronicle, surveillance video shows Krislyn, Sidney, and Cyphers entering the club and then leaving together when the establishment closed at about 2 a.m. on April 2. The Chronicle further notes the “friend the couple was staying with” spoke to Sidney by phone at around 3 a.m. that morning and Sidney stated he was with Cyphers, who lives in the Austin area. This was reportedly the last contact anyone had with either of the pair.

The friend later reported Krislyn and Sidney missing on April 3.

Friday’s announcement revealed more information about Sidney’s vehicle, indicating it contained some of the pair’s “personal effects” the likes of which “people don’t normally leave behind,” the Chronicle reports. Also, there was possibly biological evidence in the car, which potentially included blood.

The Chronicle reports Austin police initially interviewed Cyphers in April, and later found he had not been completely honest about where he had been when Krislyn and Sidney vanished, Friday’s announcement said. In addition, the release noted Cyphers is a felon and admitted to police he had firearms, which is a violation under federal law.

Austin police then enlisted the help of federal authorities and obtained a search warrant for Cyphers’ property located in Caldwell County. The search resulted in the recovery of six firearms, as well as ammunition, thus, Cyphers was detained by federal authorities on firearms charges and is now being held without bail as he awaits trial, the Chronicle reports.

Also during the search of Cyphers’ home, investigators concluded “an act of violence” had taken place at the location and “the crime scene had been cleaned up,” according to the release, the Chronicle writes.

According to the Chronicle, additional search warrants determined that Krislyn’s, Sidney’s, and Cyphers’ cell phones were all at the residence early on April 2, and later in the day, the following happened.

“…all three cell phone[s] traveled together to Houston, where a call from Cyphers’ phone was made to Megabus… Other calls were made within walking distance from where Taylor’s [Sidney’s] Charger was found. Cyphers’ phone alone then travels along the route Megabus takes for its Houston to Austin leg.”

Shortly after the pair vanished, a friend, Calvin Davis, told Fox 26 News that Krislyn and Sidney have a platonic relationship and were not romantically involved. Davis noted he and Sidney had roomed together for two years during college and that Krislyn was part of their group of friends. Davis added that Krislyn is a single mother of one, while Sidney is a loving husband and father of four children who usually keeps in constant contact with his family.

Authorities are asking anyone who might have seen Cyphers or Sidney’s Dodge Charger in the Houston area on April 2, who may have been on the Megabus from Houston to Austin with Cyphers, or who has any information related to the case to call the Austin Police Department at 512-974-5250 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.

[Photo by Prath/Shutterstock Image]

Missing Friends: New Details Emerge In Case Of Man and Woman Who Mysteriously Vanished Two Months Ago After Attending Austin Concert is an article from: The Inquisitr News

O.J. Simpson, the former NFL athlete who was acquitted of the 1995 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, may confess to their murders. At least that is what former police officer Ron Shipp says. Shipp was a friend of Simpson’s before the murders, but since then, their friendship faded away. Two years after he was found not guilty of the murders, a civil suit was brought against Simpson by the Brown and Goldman families and was found to be responsible for the murders. Simpson was ordered to pay both families a total of $33.5 million for “punitive and compensatory damages,” as reported by the New York Times in 1997.

The acquittal of O.J. led people to believe that O.J. had gotten away with murder, and that his money and celebrity status had a lot to do with the acquittal as well. When the civil trial showed him responsible, it made even more people believe that Simpson was guilty. Simpson is currently serving a 33-year sentence in a Nevada prison for an armed robbery at the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas. In 2007, Simpson and a group of men broke into the room of Bruce Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer and drug dealer, and stole memorabilia that Simpson felt was rightfully his. Simpson was later arrested for the robbery and was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to prison. Simpson’s sentence gave him parole eligibility after nine years so he will be up for parole in October of next year.

If Simpson is paroled next year, Shipp believes that O.J. will “finally” confess to the 1995 slayings of Brown and Goldman. The NY Daily News reported that Shipp made the statement about Simpson three days ago. Shipp testified at O.J. Simpson’s trial that he and O.J. had been friends for about 26 years. The former police officer thinks that O.J., “the juice,” can “only exorcise his demons by coming clean.”

“The guy is in total torment today. Someone told me he is 300 pounds and he looks horrible. O.J. has always felt his appearance meant everything and now, deep down inside, he is starting to live with himself.”

Shipp believes that when Simpson is released from jail he will finally be able to reveal the truth.

“I hope that one day he actually will rid us of all the doubt and all the conspiracy theories and say ‘sorry I cannot go to prison (because of double jeopardy laws), but I am sorry I did it,” Shipp says and believes that is what Simpson will do.

“I do,” Shipp said. “I got a call about a conspiracy theory about Jason (Simpson’s son) being the killer and I thought, man, come on Juice, just say ‘my son didn’t do it.’ ”

Shipp might have had mixed feelings about Simpson’s guilt back then, but he says he doesn’t now. He said that he “should have known,” but because of the love Shipp had for Simpson, he didn’t want to believe that Simpson could have committed the murders and that he “didn’t want to believe the things I saw.” As to allegations from Simpson’s attorneys back then that Shipp was only testifying to “get notoriety,” he told them that he was doing it “for his conscience and peace of mind.”

“I will not have the blood of Nicole on Ron Shipp. I can sleep at night, unlike a lot of others.”

A new series that is once again exploring the details of one of the country’s most sensational trials, O.J.: Made in America, will be premiering on ABC on Saturday, June 11 at 9 p.m. If you are not familiar with the case, this is your chance to hear about it.

Do you think O.J. is guilty, and will he ever confess to killing his ex-wife and Ron Goldman? Please share your thoughts below.

[Photo by Julie Jacobson-Pool/Getty Images]

O.J. Simpson May Finally Confess To Murder Says Former Friend [Video] is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Alexandria Vera, an 8th-grade English teacher at Stovall Middle School in Houston, Texas, was arraigned on Wednesday after voluntarily turning herself in for a felony charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to a report from The National Post.

Trigger warning: this story discusses child sexual abuse.

Vera was released on a $100,000 bail and is expected to return to court to stand trial as of July 12. Two days after her arrest, she appeared, accompanied by her lawyer, before Harris County Judge Michael McSpadden, who, hearing a summary of the case from Harris County assistant district attorney Tiffany Dupree, including that Vera had had sex with the boy on “an almost daily basis,” ordered her to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and to have no contact with anyone under 17 as a condition of her release. She will also be subject to a house curfew between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., must stay away from schools, have no contact with the victim and stay off the internet entirely.

If convicted of a felony charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, Vera faces a minimum 25-year sentence without parole. If any of the bail conditions are broken, she will be sent directly to jail.

Two months after an investigation was opened and eight months after they allegedly began having sex, a Harris County District Court judge issued a warrant for Vera’s arrest. The 24-year-old teacher allegedly told police investigators in April that the relationship with her 13-year-old student had started through messages on Instagram and had gradually turned into love; according to Vera’s account, their relationship was both approved and actively celebrated by the boy’s parents – and Child Protective Services are now actively investigating the parents for allegedly approving of Vera’s pregnancy.

She reportedly ended up having an abortion after CPS showed up at the school to question her.

As per The Independent, the police department didn’t begin investigating until Stovall principal Elsa Wright received a tip about Vera and got the police involved. Vera allegedly admitted to both Wright and investigators that she had an ongoing relationship with the boy for months, insisting that it was consensual on both sides. She told the police that she first met the boy during summer school in 2015 and described his behavior as rude: demanding her Instagram account name, then tracking her down and sending a request to follow after she refused to provide it or accept his request to connect.

According to court documents, the boy replied by asking for her phone number and asking if they could hang out together. Vera said yes.

She told police that she drove him around in a car and that they kissed; the next day, when his parents were out of the house, she returned and they had sex.

After that, she said, the sex had been almost daily. “She stated that she and the Complainant had sex on almost a daily basis at her home and that they love each other,” the court documents said.

The parents had reportedly known about the relationship since October when they came to the school for an open house – she returned to the house with the family, where she was introduced as the boy’s girlfriend. According to her, they were “accepting of the relationship,” and subsequently welcomed her at family functions.

In January, she learned that she was pregnant and claimed that the boy’s family were enthused by the news. In February, CPS showed up at the school, and when the investigation became public in April, she was immediately placed on administrative leave.

Police say that their investigation found many messages between Vera and the boy which essentially confirm her story.

The maximum sentence for continuous sexual abuse of a child in Texas is life in prison without parole.

[Image via Mongomery County Sheriff’s Office handout]

Alexandria Vera: Teacher Allegedly Impregnated By ‘Daily’ Sex With 13-Year-Old Student Ordered To Wear GPS Tracker And Stay Away From Minors is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Alleged teenage killer Johnathan Cruz faces three murder charges for his 4-day Hollywood-style crime spree that was inspired by the movie The Purge.

The Indiana teen is accused of taking three lives on the city’s east side last month. According to police reports, Billy Boyd was Cruz’s first victim. Cruz shot and killed Boyd during a robbery in Indianapolis on May 12th. A few hours later, he committed another robbery and another murder when he shot and killed Jay Higginbotham, Fox6Now.com reports.

Jose Ruiz became murder victim #3 when he was shot and killed a few days later. Unbelievably, Johnathan’s friends and family members turned a blind eye to his killing spree, which he documented in text messages, referring to his rampage as “purging” in conversations and in videos on his cell phone.

Johnathan Cruz, accused of killing 3 men, apparently inspired by movie ‘The Purge,’ prosecutors say https://t.co/1aNoHB1Kc3 #Indiana

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 2, 2016

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Troy Riggs said tips from the community helped them bust Cruz. “It’s rare — but we have seen it before. Certainly I think there’s a tendency to get emboldened after you commit that first act and get away with it and continue with it,” Denise Robinson, deputy prosecutor said.

“They’re making him out to be some kind of violent, crazy person and he’s not. He has a three-month-old daughter and yes, he had issues, but he wasn’t that violent — like, he’s not evil like they’re making him out to be. He’s fun, but not violent,” Angela Barger, Cruz’s girlfriend said.

“I highly doubt that he done it — cuz it’s not him. I’ve known him for two years and have a kid with him. Everybody can have a temper, but it doesn’t mean you have to shoot someone. He doesn’t have to be a serial killer like you all are saying. His daughter has to miss out on his life now because people want to be immature. People who are testifying against him, saying that he has done this stuff are trying to get themselves out of trouble. But they’re supposedly friends,” said Ricki Coine, Cruz’s baby momma.

“I purged every night” said Johnathan Cruz according to prosecutors who is now charged w/3 murders and armed robbery pic.twitter.com/Tm8JkUVt4n

— Steve Jefferson (@scoopjefferson) June 1, 2016

Cruz “talked about leaving town after he’d started his “purge,” according to court documents. The 19-year-old told one of his girlfriends that he needed to leave Indianapolis “asap,” and when his mother texted him asking why he saved a screenshot about the victims, he advised her to delete the article. The Washington Times reports that Johnathan’s victims were completely random. After Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry announced charges against Cruz, Mayor Joe Hogsett released a statement.

“Senseless acts of violence such as those alleged in this case are incomprehensible, but thanks to the swift actions of IMPD detectives, Prosecutor Terry Curry and witnesses willing to come forward, we are one step closer to providing answers for these victims’ families.”

The “Purge killer” now faces three murder charges in connection with the shooting deaths of Billy Boyd and Jay Higginbotham on May 12, and Jose Ruiz on May 15. According to the Indianapolis Star, Cruz also faces “a slew of other felony charges connected to the alleged crimes, including robbery, intimidation and more. Prosecutors are also pursuing a criminal gang enhancement,” and they may seek the death penalty. Cruz is charged with 17 counts and he is being held without bond.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Johnathan Cruz: Triple Murder Suspect Inspired By ‘The Purge’ Faces Death Penalty is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Brock Turner was sentenced to only six months in a county jail for the rape of a drunk, unconscious woman. The former Stanford swimmer could have faced up to 14 years in prison for the multiple felony counts levied against him.

As many are aghast at the lenient rape sentence handed down by the judge, Brock Turner’s dad’s comments about the penalty his three-time All-American son will face have gone viral and sparked heated debate on social media. Dan Turner said the former Stanford swimmer paid “a steep price for 20 minutes of action,” according to the Guardian.

Brock Turner, 20, was convicted of raping a non-student who was on the Stanford campus to attend a fraternity party. The unidentified woman was reportedly passed out near a dumpster when the sexual assault occurred. Two graduate students happened upon the attack and restrained the swimmer after he tried to flee.

This is the full statement read out in court by the woman Brock Turner assaulted https://t.co/PjLzTpnygm

— Steph Klupacs (@esskay512) June 6, 2016

Santa Clara County Superior Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Brock Turner to three years probation after he completes the six-month sentence at the California county jail. The former Stanford swimmer must also complete a management program for sexual offenders and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Fox News reports.

During the rape trial, the victim read an impact statement, which reportedly moved some folks in the courtroom to tears.

“My independence, natural joy, gentleness, and steady lifestyle I had been enjoying became distorted beyond recognition. I became closed off, angry, self-deprecating, tired, irritable, empty. I stood there examining my body beneath the stream of water and decided, I don’t want my body anymore. I was terrified of it. I wanted to take off my body like a jacket and leave it at the hospital with everything else.”

Dan Turner’s comments about the rape sentence went viral after Stanford law professor Michele Dauber tweeted what was said in the pre-sentencing report. The elder Turner said the swimmer’s life had been “deeply altered forever.”

“He will never be his happy go lucky self with that easy going personality and welcoming smile,” Dan Turner reportedly said about the impact the rape conviction and sentence would have on his son. “His every waking minute is consumed with worry, anxiety, fear, and depression. You can see this in his face, the way he walks, his weakened voice, his lack of appetite.”

The father of the former Stanford swimmer went on to say that his son had always “enjoyed certain types of food” and is a very good cook.

“I was always excited to get him a big rib eye steak or get his favorite snack for him,” Dan Turner continued. “These verdicts have broken and shattered him and our family in many ways. His life will never be the one he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve. This is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of actions out of his 20 years of life.”

The former Stanford swimmer’s father also lamented the impact the sex offender status will have on where his son can live, work, and visit. He staunchly maintains his son has never been violent with anyone, including the night he was arrested for rape.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen had asked the judge to sentence Brock Turner to six years in prison. Judge Persky said the Stanford swimmer’s “lack of a criminal history” was taken into account during the sentencing phase of the trail. Both Turner and the victim were reportedly highly intoxicated when the sexual assault occurred.

“The punishment does not fit the crime. The sentence does not factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim’s ongoing trauma. Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape,” the Santa Clara prosecutor told the media. “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him… I think he will not be a danger to others.”

What do you think about the Brock Turner rape sentence?

[Image via Shutterstock.com]

Brock Turner: Stanford Swimmer’s Rape Sentence Is ‘Steep Price To Pay For 20 Minutes Of Action,’ His Dad Said is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Octavia Rogers, a Phoenix woman who allegedly stabbed her three children to death before turning the knife on herself, has been booked into jail and given a $1 million, cash-only bond, KNXV-TV (Phoenix) is reporting.

Rogers, 29, is accused of killing her three sons — 8-year-old Jaikare Rahaman, 5-year-old Jeremiah Adams, and 2-month-old Avery Robinson — at her Phoenix home on June 2. The bodies of the two older boys were found in a closet, dead of multiple stab wounds. Avery’s body was also found in the same closet, in a suitcase. He, too, had been stabbed multiple times. Rogers herself was found in a bathtub — she had stabbed herself multiple times in the abdomen and neck, and had attempted to drown herself.

First look: Octavia Rogers booked on 3 counts of 1st degree murder, accused of stabbing sons https://t.co/IjuHdqQZNs pic.twitter.com/8UhI2cwcAg

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) June 6, 2016

Octavia Rogers: Three boys found dead https://t.co/5lQKyTsVa9 pic.twitter.com/wacnZDjOBs

— UmbrellaOfSuspicion (@Umbrella91168) June 3, 2016

An unnamed source, speaking to KNXV-TV, alleged that Rogers was on “Spice” — a synthetic marijuana — when she allegedly killed her sons. Synthetic drugs such as “Spice” and so-called “bath salts” have been known to induce psychotic effects in some users.

San Diego to consider ban on synthetic drug ‘spice’ https://t.co/LjIgzivSpV #sandiego pic.twitter.com/NRkI5PTisp

— San Diego News (@sandiegonewz) May 20, 2016

Rogers had moved to Phoenix to live with her brother before giving birth to Avery. According to Radar Online, Rogers’ brother told police that Octavia had been “erratic” in the weeks leading up to the alleged murders. On the night the boys’ bodies were discovered, the brother had come home only to be confronted by a psychotic Octavia, who was rambling about God and religion before locking the brother out of the house. After he broke into the house, he found Rogers in the bathtub, covered in stab wounds. The brother tried to grab towels to stop the bleeding. Octavia then tried to drown herself, according to the brother’s statements to police.

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) had investigated Rogers on several occasions, although neither the agency nor its third-party private contractors appear to have properly followed through on those investigations, according to KTVK (Phoenix).

In 2011, DCS investigated Rogers for alleged child neglect after reports of an odor of marijuana coming from the home. DCS referred the matter to a third-party family support provider, but Rogers allegedly refused to cooperate. DCS Director Gregory McKay said that there was no need to pursue the matter further.

“There was no reason or legal grounds to take the children into emergency state care and the case was closed as unsubstantiated.”

Again this year, DCS was notified about Rogers, this time after receiving a report of a newborn baby exposed to marijuana. Once again, the case was referred to a third-party provider, and once again, Rogers allegedly refused to cooperate. However, according to McKay, there was no legal grounds to remove the children from their mother’s care.

Speaking to KTVK, Rogers’ sister, Voniticia Nickerson, said she was not aware of her sister being in distress or having any problems with her kids.

“She didn’t have no concerns no worries, like mom, they’re bad, or I need help or you know. She loved her kids, like, with her sou. I just wish I could, you know, be able to answer the reason why it happened.”

Now Nickerson is asking for prayers for her sister and her family.

“It’s just crazy because it’s my little sister and my nephews. Pray for the family so we can be able to get through this. We still have to bury them and that’s going to be hard I know.”

As of this writing, it is not clear when Octavia Rogers will be arraigned on her murder charges.

[Image via Shutterstock/mangostock]

Octavia Rogers: Phoenix Mom Accused Of Stabbing Her Three Kids To Death Gets $1 Million Bond is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Lonnie Franklin Jr., who is commonly referred to as the “Grim Sleeper,” was sentenced to death by a Los Angeles County Jury on Monday. Authorities believe the 63-year-old man is responsible for the deaths of at least 10 people, including nine women and one teenage girl. According to reports, the victims were killed in and around Los Angeles between August 1985 and July 2007.

Although it is unclear when the Grim Sleeper’s killing spree began, authorities believe he killed his first victim, 29-year-old Debra Jackson, on August 9, 1985. As reported by Tiki-Toki.com, Jackson was a waitress, whose body was found in an alley between West Gage and South Vermont Avenues. Authorities later confirmed she died as the result of two gunshot wounds to the chest.

It remained unclear whether Debra was sexually assaulted. However, officials noted she was found fully clothed and her body was wrapped in a carpet remnant.

The body of Henrietta Wright, 35, was discovered one year and three days later on August 10, 1995, on West Vernon Avenue. Like Debra Jackson, Wright was also shot twice in the chest. She was also found fully clothed and wrapped in a large blanket.

The following day, police found the body of Thomas Steel, 36, on 71st street in Los Angeles with a gunshot wound to the head. Although he is not a confirmed victim of Lonnie Franklin Jr., authorities believe he may be the Grim Sleeper’s only male victim.

Over the next two years, the same perpetrator was suspected in the deaths of 32-year-old Barbara Ware, 25-year-old Bernita Sparks, 26-year-old Mary Lowe, 22-year-old Lachrica Jefferson, and 18-year-old Alicia Alexander.

TheGrimSleeer.com reports all five women were shot in the chest and dumped on the street or in an alley. In many cases, the women were found fully clothed and their bodies were either wrapped in or covered with large blankets, carpets, and other refuse.

In November 1988, 29-year-old Enietra Margette survived a brutal attack which was thought to have been carried out by Lonnie Franklin Jr. Like the other seven women, Margette was shot in the chest with a.25 caliber handgun. However, she managed to survive and provide authorities with a description of her attacker.

According to Margette, she was attacked and sexually assaulted by a black man who appeared to be in his 30s. The perpetrator, who drove a “rust, red, or orange Ford Pinto,” was described as being “smart” and “preppy.”

“Grim Sleeper” handed death sentence in slaying of 10 over more than two decades. https://t.co/rDW3FELrtj pic.twitter.com/cDsVHQEolM

— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) June 6, 2016

It is unclear why, however, authorities believe the Grim Sleeper went on a hiatus between November 1988 and March 2002. This hiatus led authorities to give the killer his infamous nickname.

On March 19, 2002, 14-year-old Princess Berthomieux was found dead in an alley between South Van Ness Boulevard and Inglewood. Unlike Lonnie Franklin Jr.’s previous alleged victims, Princess was killed by strangulation. However, she was a suspected victim of the serial killer because her body was dumped in an alley.

Authorities later confirmed DNA evidence linked her to the same man who killed the other women.

The Grim Sleeper’s other potential victims include 35-year-old Valerie McCorvey, who was killed on July 11, 2003, and 25-year-old Janecia Peters, who was killed on January 1, 2007. According to reports, Valerie was strangled to death and Janecia was shot. The bodies of both women were dumped in alleys.

On July 7, 2010, DNA evidence led authorities to arrest Lonnie Franklin Jr. in the unsolved murders. Los Angeles detectives later recovered thousands of photographs and videos from the suspect’s home, which suggest he was fascinated with violent sex and death.

#BREAKING L.A. jury recommends death for the Grim Sleeper serial killer. pic.twitter.com/iQxr2OYCtW

— NANCY AGUILAR-MEJIA (@naguilarnews) June 6, 2016

Authorities also discovered what prosecutors later referred to as the Grim Sleeper’s “trophy case.” Amid the morbid collection, authorities found items belonging to several women, including photo IDs and drivers licenses.

Lonnie Franklin Jr. was subsequently charged in the deaths of Debra Jackson, Henrietta Wright, Barbara Ware, Bernita Sparks, Mary Lowe, Lachrica Jefferson, Alicia Alexander, Princess Berthomieux, Valerie McCorvey, and Janecia Peters.

Los Angeles Times reports the Grim Sleeper is also suspected in the deaths of Georgia Mae Thomas, 43, Inez Warren, 28, Rolena Morris, 31, Sharon Dismuke 21, and Ayellah Marshall, 18.

Although Lonnie Franklin Jr. was not formally charged in the deaths of those five women, who were killed between 2000 and 2006, his suspected involvement was presented to jurors during the sentencing phase of the suspected serial killer’s trial.

The Grim Sleeper was convicted in the deaths of the nine women and one teen listed in the criminal complaint. On Monday, the Los Angeles County jury recommended the death penalty for Lonnie Franklin Jr.

[Photo via AP Pool/Nick Ut, File]

Grim Sleeper: Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Serial Killer Lonnie Franklin Jr. is an article from: The Inquisitr News

A former Christian school teacher has been sentenced to 22 life sentences by a court in Britain after he used his position teaching English in impoverished areas in the country of Malaysia to sexually abuse over 200 children, including ones as young as 6-months-old.

Thirty-year-old Richard Huckle is being called the worst pedophile in the history of Britain and reports are that the twisted man was so proud of molesting the underprivileged children that he bragged of his deeds and even published videos online and claimed that he had also authored a how-to guide, advising others of the best ways to follow in his footsteps and avoid being detected.

During the sentencing of the pedophile, the judge who oversaw the case had the opportunity to review the 60-page manual Huckle had written, and after describing it as a “truly evil document,” he commanded that the man must spend no less than 25 years in jail of his 22 life sentences. Richard Huckle had, according to the National Post, been sentenced and charged with 71 offenses, including rape, sexual abuse, and sexual activity with a child, against children who ranged in age from six months to 12 years of age between the years 2006 to 2014.

Investigators have stated that they would be hard pressed to identify another individual who had so thoroughly planned out his exploitation of vulnerable children. In the posts that he had made online, Huckle had often bragged that the best targets for his sickening pedophile activities are those from poorer regions, saying that “Impoverished kids are definitely much easier to seduce than middle-class Western kids.”

The judge quoted the chilling line from the manual during the trial and added his own views on the man who had posed as a Christian teacher in order to gain access to young children.

“It is a truly evil document that speaks volumes about the scale of your delusion. You were and are sexually obsessed with children. You have spent years abusing them. In one of your postings you stated that you had become consumed by your pedophilia.”

One of Huckle’s comments about one of his young victims was a claim of victory over one of his victims, he boasted, “I’d hit the jackpot, a 3-year-old girl as loyal to me as my dog and nobody seemed to care.”

A woman in the public gallery viewing the proceedings shouted a phrase which is sure to reflect the thoughts of many who hear the abuses the 30-year-old inflicted upon children.

“1,000 deaths is too good for you.”

Richard Huckle first visited Malaysia during a gap year when he was about 19 years of age and ever since has been grooming the children he does voluntary work with, molesting them on a continuous basis. He was arrested back in 2014 during a Christmas visit to his parents back in London.

After his arrest in 2014, the National Crime Agency found approximately 20,000 indecent images on his computer of which 1,117 showed him raping and abusing different children who had been in his care. It was also found that the pedophile had kept a scorecard which tallied the number of children he had abused.

The Mirror mentioned a disgusting letter, read out in court, that the man had penned where he claimed that “no one cared” about his deviant and predatory sexual abuse in Kuala Lumpur because sex crimes were an “endemic” there. The pedophile also went on to state that he had “no regrets” about the time he had spent in Malaysia because it improved his “confidence and charisma.” Though he had little experience with adults as he still lacked confidence with women.

He claimed no responsibility for his actions, blaming “external factors” for the horrific campaign of abuse he had been on, angrily lashing out at “the pathetic, perverted lust of those who lured me onto the dark net” and the “poor attitude to child welfare” that allowed him to molest so many children unchecked.

The lawyers who worked on the case stated that they had never seen such lack of remorse or wide-scale abuse. The pedophile seemed to believe that because his abuse was of children from Malaysia that he really would not face any repercussions. Several photos that were found showed the victims after Huckle had forced them to pose with disgusting slogans that advertised his foul images for sale on the dark-net – the encrypted version of the internet – using Bitcoins as the standard currency.

The charges filed against Richard Huckle relate to the horrific sexual abuse of 23 girls and boys with about 22 of the victims being from Malaysia while at least one is Cambodian. In total, the British man pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13; 13 counts of rape of a child under 13; 12 counts of taking indecent photos of children; six counts of assault by penetration; three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity as well as arranging or facilitating the commission of child sex offences based on the fact that he wrote that child sex abuse manual; making 20,253 indecent images and finally for advertising child pornography.

[Image Via National Crime Agency]

Richard Huckle: Pedophile Who Abused Over 200 Children In Malaysia Gets 22 Life Sentences But Could Be Out In 25 Years is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Lonnie David Franklin Jr., a notorious serial killer who was dubbed the “Grim Sleeper,” was sentenced Monday to death by a Los Angeles jury. A jury in May found the serial killer guilty of taking the lives of 10 women between 1985 and 2007. According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities believe he is responsible for many more murders. While the court ruled in favor of the death sentence, Franklin’s lawyers argued that he should spend the rest of his life in prison rather than face execution. However, jurors rejected the defense team’s arguments.

Franklin Jr., 63, was convicted on May 5 of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, with a unanimous verdict after three months of trial in a court in Los Angeles. The convicted killer was waiting to know if he would be put on death row or receive life imprisonment. The same jury that convicted him determined the sentence after deliberating five hours over two days, according to local news portal ABC 7.

This is the fourth death sentence issued in California so far this year, according to information from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, after rulings against Michael Brown (March), Ka Pasasouk (February), and Joseph Mercado (January).

Authorities say Franklin Jr. committed the first murders between 1985 and 1988, as was demonstrated by the prosecution during the trial, then suddenly took a hiatus from killing for 13 years, a pause that earned him the nickname “Grim Sleeper.” Between 2002 and 2007, he is said to have been responsible for at least three more murders.

Although he was convicted for the murders of 10 women, investigators suspect his total body count is much higher. Franklin Jr., a former sanitation worker, is believed to be responsible for at least 25 murders, including 11 that occurred during the time frame that police initially believed was a “dormant” period for him.

International Business Times wrote that the additional murders were connected to Franklin Jr. after he was charged with the other homicides, but prosecutors were worried that adding on to the charges would only delay his conviction and would not increase the potential penalty against him. The other victims’ families backed the decision not to prosecute the other cases.

The nude bodies of the women were often dumped naked on roadsides or among trash in humiliating fashion. The victims were all initially listed as Jane Does, leaving the killings unconnected for decades, the report states. The “Grim Sleeper” sought out his victims (black women) in South Los Angeles, Inglewood, and several areas within the LA County.

Franklin Jr. was arrested in July 2010 after a police operation that succeeded in linking his DNA with that of genetic material that was found in multiple crime scenes. The former prosecutor of Los Angeles, Steve Cooley, said that the technique used to compare the DNA samples was used for the first time in this case successfully and set a precedent in criminal investigations. He was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder in connection with an attack on another woman, Enietra Washington. Washington was apparently the only woman to survive.

It was an emotional scene outside the courtroom as relatives of Franklin’s victims learned the man responsible for killing their loved ones will be put to death. Family members of victims hugged prosecutors and wiped away tears moments after the verdict was announced. Speaking with reporters, Porter Alexander Jr, the father of one of the victims, shared the following words.

“We got what we came to get,” he said. “I’m just glad it’s over and that he’ll never get out to hurt anyone else. Justice was served.”

[Photo by Pool/Getty Images]

‘Grim Sleeper’ Verdict: Serial Killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr. Will Be Put To Death For The Murders Of 10 Women is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner has been convicted of sexual assault on three counts Thursday for his assault on an unconscious woman behind a dumpster last year. The 20-year-old Ohio native faced a maximum of nine years imprisonment during the trial but received a lenient sentence of six months and three months probation. According to judge Aaron Perksy, the lighter sentence was on account of Brock’s age and lack of criminal history. In addition, the judge explained that a severe sentence would have a “severe impact” on Turner.

The judge’s light sentence raised outrage in social media, with many netizens saying that Block Turner was let off easy because of “white privilege” and the “rape culture” mentality that pervades society.

The “rape culture” card was given more credence as Brock’s dad, Dan Turner, wrote a letter to the judge saying that Brock has paid heavily for “20 minutes of action.” The letter penned by Turner received a barrage of condemnation and criticism in social media because of how it downplays the Brock Turner’s sexual assault as something of no consequence, oblivious of the emotional trauma the victim will have to face for the rest of her life.

To add insult to injury, a childhood friend of Brock Turner, Leslie Rasmussen, also wrote a letter to the judge blaming the Stanford athlete’s rape conviction on “political correctness,” as reported by Jezebel. Leslie claimed that she is the most reliable person to talk to in terms of judging Brock Turner’s character.

“Brock is not a monster. He is the furthest thing from anything like that, and I have known him much longer than the people involved in this case,” she wrote. “I don’t think it’s fair to base the fate of the next ten + years of his life on the decision of a girl who doesn’t remember anything but the amount she drank to press charges against him.

“I am not blaming her directly for this, because that isn’t right. But where do we draw the line and stop worrying about being politically correct every second of the day and see that rape on campuses isn’t always because people are rapists.”

Leslie also blamed universities for encouraging “partying” and “drinking,” which she says throws “barely 20-somethings” into an environment where “things get out of hand.” Brock was reportedly drunk when he committed the crime.

“It is because universities market themselves as the biggest party schools in the country. They encourage drinking.

“I think it is disgusting and I am so sick of hearing that these young men are monsters when really, you are throwing barely 20-somethings into these camp-like university environments, supporting partying, and then your mind is blown when things get out of hand.”

She also explained the difference between rapists who kidnap their victims and “idiot boys and girls” who have had too much to drink, suggesting that Brock Turner is one of the latter.

“This is completely different from a woman getting kidnapped and raped as she is walking to her car in a parking lot. That is a rapist. These are not rapists.

“These are idiot boys and girls having too much to drink and not being aware of their surroundings and having clouded judgement.”

While she maintained that there are “young men that take advantage of young women,” Leslie explained why she thinks Brock Turner is not one of those people.

“I’m not saying that is every case because I know there are young men that take advantage of young women and vice versa, but I know for a fact that Brock Turner is not one of those people.

“He [Brock Turner] is respectful and caring, talented, and smart enough to know better.”

As previously reported in The Inquisitr, two male graduates were passing by a college fraternity party on January 18, 2015, when they caught Brock Turner on top of an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. They reportedly tackled Turner and called the police after he made an attempt to escape.

[Image via Santa Clara County Sheriff/AP]

Brock Turner: Childhood Friend Puts Blame Of His Rape Conviction On Political Correctness is an article from: The Inquisitr News

A Maui yoga instructor drove off a 200-foot cliff and intentionally killed her twin sister, police in Hawaii claim. Alexandria Duval, who is also known as Alison Dadow, was driving wildly down Hana Highway when she drove her Ford Explorer off a cliff and killed Anastasia Duval, also known as Ann Dadow, according to law enforcement investigators.

Alexandria Duval and Anastasia Duval, both 37, owned and operated Twin Power Yoga. The twin sisters operated a yoga studio in an upscale area of Palm Beach, Florida, before relocating to Hawaii, the Daily Mail reports.

Alexandria Duval Drives Car Off 200-foot Cliff Killing Anastasia Dadow, Her Twin Sister https://t.co/4Tnv3JxVUa pic.twitter.com/IQORLaSVMF

— UJReview (@UJReview) June 7, 2016

Anastasia Duval (Ann Dadow) was pronounced dead at the scene. Alexandria Duval (Alison Dadow) was transported to a local hospital in critical condition after the vehicle she was driving went over the 200-foot cliff and crashed into a rock wall.

The surviving twin sister did not try to hit the brakes before she accelerated and made a sharp left turn to go over the cliff, according to air bag control module readings cited in court documents. For a reason which has not yet been made public, the Twin Power Yoga twin sisters changed their names after moving to Hawaii.

One witness to the Twin Power Yoga sisters’ crash told Maui police the two women were screaming at each other inside the stopped vehicle before Alexandria hit the gas and sped down Hana Highway. The witness also said it appeared Anastasia Duval was pulling Alexandria’s hair during the argument in the Ford Explorer.

“My first thought when she was coming past us was, ‘Don’t hit me, don’t hit me,’ because she was slightly out of control,” witness Lawrence Lau said during an interview with KHON2. “She was doing 40 miles an hour from a dead stop at that point.”

Alexandria Duval has been charged with murder, according to Maui Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Emlyn Higa said.

“We had information after she was discharged from the hospital she attempted to fly out of the jurisdiction Wednesday night,” Higa said, noting Duval tried to catch another flight to the mainland on Friday but was arrested before she could board. “All we know is she was trying to leave the state. We were afraid she would try to leave the country as well.”

https://t.co/zA33WQ7xIx Alexandria Duval charged with sister’s murder after car crash:… https://t.co/51aF2hskUt https://t.co/HoAYKE9GbX

— milenio 2052 (@Milenio2052) June 7, 2016

Alexandria Duval’s defense attorney, Todd Eddins, staunchly maintains the Twin Power Yoga co-owner was not trying to harm or kill her twin sister. Eddins also said she was not trying to flee the jurisdiction when she bought a plane ticket, but was merely attempting to get home for her sister’s funeral.

“Alison did not try to harm herself or the person she most loved and was closest to in the world,” Todd Eddins told the media after Duval appeared in court earlier this week.

Duval is now being held without bail in a Maui jail.

The Twin Power Yoga sisters are Florida natives, but were living in Utah until December. Alexandria Duval and Anastasia Duval moved to Hawaii to open up new yoga studios and were reportedly in the process of developing a business plan.

Before closing their Florida Twin Power Yoga studios, the twin sisters were fixtures in Palm Beach. They were reportedly frequently spotted cruising around town in matching Porsches and shopping in high-end stores on Worth Avenue. The Duval twins opened their first yoga studio in Palm Beach Gardens in 2008, and then opened a second location in West Palm Beach three years later.

When they suddenly closed the Florida yoga studios, employees reportedly went unpaid for their final training sessions and customers were not reportedly reimbursed for classes already booked.

The short time they spend in Park City, Utah, was reportedly tainted with both fiscal and legal issues. Alexandria Duval and Anastasia Duval reportedly filed for bankruptcy at their new studio. While in the state, both were arrested five times for alcohol-related incidents, GossipExtra reports.

Some of the arrests on the twin sisters’ criminal records in Florida and Utah include driving under the influence, fleeing the scene of an accident and driving without insurance, disorderly conduct and public intoxication, assault on a police officer, interference with an arrest, battery, and resisting arrest.

[Image by Shutterstock.com]

Alexandria Duval: Yoga Instructor Intentionally Drove Off Cliff And Killed Her Twin Sister, Hawaii Police Say is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Connecticut teen Christopher Plaskon was sentenced on Monday for the murder of his classmate in what became known as the Prom Day Slaying.

Plaskon, 19, was sentenced to 25 years for his heinous crime that took place in the hallways of his school just hours before the 2014 junior prom. Plaskon pleaded no contest in March to the charges that he killed 16-year-old Maren Sanchez, a female classmate, the junior class president, and a National Honor Society student at Milford’s Jonathan Law High School in April of 2014.

According to police, Plaskon brutally attacked Sanchez in the hallway on the Friday morning of their junior prom. He fatally stabbed her in the neck and torso. Police believe Plaskon’s murder of Sanchez was motivated by Sanchez declining his invitation to the annual formal dance being held at their school.

According to the police report, a bloody knife was found near the crime scene. One witness tried to pull Plaskon off of Maren Sanchez, and another witness saw Plaskon discard a bloody knife onto a hallway floor in the school. Plaskon was taken into custody while still covered in blood, and, according to court documents, chillingly admitted his guilt to an officer.

“I did it. Just arrest me.”

Connecticut Superior Court Judge John Ronan sentenced him in a Monday morning hearing, a court official confirmed.

“I stared in disbelief and shook my head and repeated over and over and over again, ‘No, this only happens in the movies.’ As the doctors and nurses continued to shake their heads telling me she did not make it, I could not understand what they were saying to me. When I was brought to finally see her, she laid like a lifeless angel, my baby lying there with a drip of dried blood on her mouth.”

Maren’s mother made her first public comments about her daughter’s tragic murder at Jonathan Law High School just before Plaskon was sentenced to 25 years in prison as part of a plea deal. She spoke movingly of seeing her 16-year-old daughter try on her prom dress.

“Just five days before she died, Maren tried on her prom gown for our family and friends. In my wildest nightmares, I could not envision that the next time she would wear her beautiful dress would be at her wake.”

Sanchez’s parents filed a lawsuit, accusing the school system of negligence, saying Sanchez told a guidance counselor that Plaskon was troubled and capable of hurting others. Furthermore, a friend of Plaskon’s told police that Plaskon thought about hurting Sanchez because he wanted to be “more than friends” with Sanchez. The friend said Plaskon said he wouldn’t mind if Sanchez “was dead or hit by a bus.”

Court documents, released by Plaskon’s lawyer, Richard Meehan, show that it was believed Plaskon had a “mental disease or defect and/or extreme emotional disturbance.” Not much more beyond that was elaborated in the court documents, but Meehan said in court that Plaskon was taking anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medications.

The lawsuit, filed by Donna Cimarelli as the administrator of her daughter’s estate, states that Maren Sanchez told officials in the high school guidance department that Plaskon was “emotionally disturbed” before Plaskon stabbed her to death in the school hallway. It alleges that the school did not do enough to keep Sanchez safe, and accuses Plaskon’s parents of failing to get their son adequate health.

“In the days leading up to the morning of April 25 2014, Christopher Plaskon articulated express intent to harm” Sanchez, says the lawsuit.

Named in the lawsuit, which seeks damages in excess of $15,000, are the city of Milford, the board of education, as well as Plaskon himself and his parents, David and Kathleen Plaskon.

School officials have declined to comment on any potential pending lawsuit.

[Photo by Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, File]

Christopher Plaskon: Prom Day Slayer Sentenced, Mother Of Victim Recounts Tragedy is an article from: The Inquisitr News

A Los Angeles County jury recommended Monday that the California serial killer, dubbed the “Grim Sleeper,” should be put to death for the grizzly murders of at least nine women and one teenage girl from 1985 to 2007.

Last month, Lonnie Franklin Jr, 63, a former mechanic and sanitation worker, was found guilty of the murders after an 11-week trial. In 2010, Franklin was connected to his victims through ballistics and DNA evidence that wasn’t available when the initial murders took place in the 1980’s — Franklin’s saliva was found on most of the victims, which helped build the case against him. During the penalty phase, the investigators were able to connect him to an additional five murders, but chose not to stall the trial any further since he was already facing the death penalty.

Jury: California serial killer known as the “Grim Sleeper” should be put to death https://t.co/8ZX2Vf5wxG

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 7, 2016

Along with the 10 counts of first-degree murder, the “Grim Sleeper” was also charged with one count of attempted murder in the case of a woman who survived a 1988 attack — the victim’s testimony helped to convict Franklin of the murders. Investigators believe the “Grim Sleeper” could be responsible for as many as 25 deaths in all.

According to CNN, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said the jury, comprised of seven women and five men, deliberated for nearly eight hours before handing over their decision. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy will have the final say in Franklin’s sentence, and will meet with him on August 10.

Jurors vote to give the death sentence to “Grim Sleeper” serial killer https://t.co/wjhePLWwB3pic.twitter.com/ar4p3orK5j

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) June 7, 2016

The public dubbed Franklin the “Grim Sleeper” due to a 13-year gap between the murders, USA Today reports. During her closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told the courtroom about the heinous killings, and described the demeaning way they were carried out. Most of the women were drug addicts and prostitutes, and were found with cocaine in their systems. After strangling, or shooting, his victims, Franklin would then dump their bodies along abandoned roadsides or in the trash.

“They were so vicious, they were so calculated, and they were so demeaning,” Silverman said. “The way these women ended up, half of them naked… all of them in filthy alleys.”

“I asked God to answer my prayer- he answered my prayer” -family member of #GrimSleeper victim pic.twitter.com/zPlcoViaxK

— Zohreen (@Zohreen) June 6, 2016

The victims are listed in the order in which they died: Debra Jackson, 29; Henrietta Wright, 35; Barbara Ware, 23; Bernita Sparks, 25; Mary Lowe, 26; Lachrica Jefferson, 22; Alicia Alexander; Princess Berthomieux; Valerie McCorvey, 35; and Janecia Peters, 25. According to the Los Angeles Times, Berthomieux was strangled, while the rest of the victims died from gunshot wounds.

The additional victims were identified as Georgia Mae Thomas, 43; Inez Warren, 28; Rolena Morris, 31; Sharon Dismuke, 21; and Ayellah Marshall, 18. Morris disappeared in 2005 and Marshall vanished in 2006 — their bodies were never recovered. Inside the “Grim Sleeper’s” garage refrigerator, or his “trophy case,” was Marshall’s Hawthorne High School ID card and a photograph of Morris. Morris’ driver’s license was also found in his home.

#LonnieFranklinJr Did the #GrimSleeper kill 180 victims?stash of photographs showing women asleep, drugged and dead https://t.co/zNbC6gvEP5

— worldjusticenews (@WrldJusticeNews) June 7, 2016

In addition, the investigators found more than “1,000 photos and hundreds of hours of video in Franklin’s house, showing women, many of them nude and in sexually graphic poses, some seemingly unconscious.”

Do you agree with the jury’s decision to sentence the “Grim Sleeper” to the death penalty? Leave your comments below.

[Photo via AP Photo/Nick Ut, File]

Grim Sleeper: California Serial Killer Lonnie Franklin Jr. Sentenced To Death is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Duane Buck, who was sentenced to death after an expert testified blacks are more likely to commit future crime, has taken his appeal to the Supreme Court. On Monday, the high court agreed to hear testimony in the highly-controversial case.

On July 30, 1995, Debra Gardner was at home with her two children and three friends when her former boyfriend Duane Buck stormed her Houston, Texas, residence armed with a rifle and shotgun. He immediately opened fire, fatally shooting Gardner’s friend, Kenneth Butler, and wounding another guest, who happened to be Buck’s step-sister.

Debra Gardner fled her residence amid the chaos. However, Buck followed her out of the house and shot her in the street. Unfortunately, her children witnessed her grisly death.

The Intercept reports Duane Buck was arrested at the scene. While he was being taken away in handcuffs, he reportedly laughed and said, “the b**ch deserved what she got.”

Buck was convicted of murdering Debra Gardner and Kenneth Butler in 1995. However, before he was sentenced, the jury needed to determine whether Buck was likely to commit future violent crimes.

Texas’ death penalty law requires jurors to determine whether a defendant poses a risk of “future dangerousness.” Essentially, prosecutors must prove the defendant is likely to commit acts of violence against corrections officers or other inmates while serving life in prison.

During the sentencing phase, Psychologist Walter Quijano testified that race “increases the future dangerousness” of an inmate. Therefore, because Duane Buck is black, he is more likely to commit future crime.

As reported by Huffington Post, the expert discussed numerous factors that may increase “future dangerousness,” including a history of criminal activity, a history of substance abuse, and a person’s race.

When he was asked to elaborate, Quijano said, “it’s a sad commentary that minorities, Hispanics, and black people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.” Prosecutors then asked the expert to confirm whether “the racial factor of being black, increased the future dangerousness for various complicated reasons.”

The expert replied. “Yes.”

After hearing psychologist Walter Quijano’s testimony, the jury sentenced Duane Buck to death.

After more than 50 yrs on #deathrow, SCOTUS grants #DuaneBuck & #BobbyMoore hearings https://t.co/PpcVOqqIxG pic.twitter.com/NpMv56qbqx

— TCADP (@TCADPdotORG) June 7, 2016

Although his testimony has become a point of heated controversy, Buck’s hearing was not the first time psychologist Walter Quijano testified that minorities are more likely to commit future crime.

Texas Attorney General John Cornyn said the psychologist testified on six other occasions about race influencing a person’s criminal behavior. In Cornyn’s opinion, it is inappropriate to consider race as a factor in the criminal justice system.

In the cases where Quijano testified, all were sentenced to death, and three were eventually executed.

Buck’s attorney, Kate Black, said, “Mr. Buck received a death sentence that is the product of explicit and blatant racial discrimination. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to reaffirm the fundamental constitutional principle that racial discrimination has no place in our modern system of justice.”

Duane Buck was for scheduled for execution and had just eaten his final meal when he received the news that his execution was postponed. He said “God is worthy to be praised. God’s mercy triumphs over judgment, and I feel good.”

However, two months later, the Supreme Court still had not yet agreed to hear Buck’s case, a move that drew a strong reaction from Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Supreme Court Justice challenged the court for failing to review a death sentence marred by misleading remarks and racial overtones. She was supported only by Justice Elena Kagan.

#DuaneBuck was sentenced to death at least in part because of his race. That’s unacceptable https://t.co/yViLCYRK0z pic.twitter.com/IuTflwWb8A

— L.A. Times Opinion (@latimesopinion) April 7, 2016

Although Justice Samuel Alito agreed the racially charged testimony in Duane Buck’s case was “bizarre and objectionable,” he argued that it was not enough to prompt a review because it was the defense attorney, and not the prosecutor, who called the expert witness to the stand.

Alito said “this is the only case in which it can be said that the responsibility for eliciting the offensive testimony lay squarely with the defense.” Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Antonin Scalia, now deceased, shared Alito’s opinion.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing oral arguments in Duane Buck’s case this fall.

[Image via Paul Matthew Photography/Shutterstock]

Duane Buck: Supreme Court To Hear Case Of Texas Man Sentenced To Death Because He Is Black is an article from: The Inquisitr News

Jessica Hardin, the stepmother of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin, who was forced to run to death by her grandmother, pleaded guilty on Friday to aggravated child abuse for failing to intervene.

According to AL, a spokesperson from the Etowah County Courthouse said Jessica Mae Hardin, 31, had previously been charged with felony murder before pleading guilty to the lesser charges. Prosecutors said the plea deal was agreed upon after they consulted with Savannah’s parents.

Per the plea deal, Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby sentenced Jessica to 20 years in the state penitentiary. According to the spokesperson, Hardin will receive credit for her time served at the Etowah County Detention Center, and will not have to spend any additional time in prison as long as she abides by certain rules. She will, however, continue to be identified as a state inmate, and will serve five years on supervised probation and will have to pay various fees associated with the case.

Savannah was taken to a Birmingham children’s hospital, where doctors say she suffered from seizures that were triggered by low sodium, brought on by “prolonged physical exertion,” according to The Daily Beast. When Savannah’s mother, Heather Walker, arrived, Garrard told her she had been practicing for a race at school because she kept coming in second place. Joyce’s story as to how Savannah received the injuries continued to change throughout the day, leading to suspicion.

HEADLINES: Stepmother pleads guilty in girl’s running death https://t.co/9riB6iRlaa

— Talk 1370 (@TALK1370) June 6, 2016

During a 2015 interview, her first since her daughter’s death, Heather spoke about Joyce’s demeanor while at the hospital. After Savannah was taken off of life support, Heather said “she pinned Jessica up against the side of the hospital wall. She was staring into her eyes and telling her in a low stern voice, ‘Listen here, you need to pull it together. Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you? There’s a lot on the line here.’ And I knew something wasn’t right.” The next day, Joyce and Jessica were arrested.

Nearly three years later, in March 2015, an Etowah County jury convicted Joyce Hardin Garrard of capital murder in Savannah’s death. She was later sentenced to life in prison without parole by Judge Billy Ogletree, the same judge who sentenced Jessica Hardin. Savannah’s grandmother started serving her sentence at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama, but later died from a heart attack.

Cry me a river…Lawyer; Vitriol for Joyce Garrard, Who Died After Conviction for Running Granddaughter to Death, https://t.co/tm8Dmv59dS

— BobMacAZ (@BobMacAZ) February 19, 2016

During the trial, the 49-year-old grandmother said she would “die” before she would ever hurt any of her grandchildren, including Savannah. She said she never forced her to run, that she was practicing for a school race, and that the two of them just happened to be out in the yard picking up sticks together while taking about the importance of not lying.

“She asked me to coach her. Instead of coming in second in her running class at school she wanted to come in first,” Garrard said at the time.

It was a conversation between Joyce and Savannah’s bus driver that ultimately shed light on the truth. In a surveillance video, provided by the bus, Garrard can be heard saying, “She’s going to run till I tell her to stop… I don’t play with her.”

[Photo via Shuttertstock]

Jessica Hardin, Stepmother Who Allowed 9-Year-Old Savannah Hardin To Be Run To Death, Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse is an article from:

A bizarre series of events in Miami involving a missing mother and child led to police mistakenly penetrating the eye of the mother’s ex-boyfriend with a Taser, damaging it beyond repair. Though the injury could lead to a lawsuit, Miami police are still hoping to question the man about his missing ex-girlfriend and her daughter.

According to the Huffington Post, 43-year-old Liliana Moreno and her 9-year-old daughter Daniela Moreno disappeared late last month, raising a lot of mysteries and media attention. Police tracked down Gustavo Castaño, the ex-boyfriend of Liliana and reportedly the last person to see the mother and daughter alive. But once they located Gustavo inside a truck parked at a shopping center, the questioning didn’t go quite as planned.

Almost immediately after confronting Castaño, the suspect produced a box cutter and threatened to kill himself with it. It didn’t take long for police to realize Gustavo wasn’t bluffing because he quickly began slicing into his own neck. Officers resorted to the use of a Taser to subdue Castaño to keep him from harming himself further.

Gustavo Castano was found behind HomeDepot off Okeechobee hurting himself. His daughter&her mom last heard from Mon. pic.twitter.com/tTxdppSPUz

— Liane Morejon (@LianeMorejonTV) June 3, 2016

“Once the detectives observed Mr. Castaño begin to cut his neck, they immediately broke the passenger window and utilized an electronic control device to take control of him and cease his attempts to commit suicide,” said a police spokesperson.

But the attempts to subdue the suspect didn’t go as planned either. The Taser shot Gustavo Castaño in the face and one of the ejected prongs pierced his right eye. According to police, the accident was partially a result of Castaño trying to block the Taser with the blade in his hand.

“As a result, one of the prongs struck Mr. Castaño in the eye,” said a police statement.

He was rushed to the hospital and informed that he would permanently lose vision in the damaged eye. Gustavo is expected to continue hospital treatment for another week.

In the meantime, the ex-boyfriend of the missing mother has hired a lawyer, Michael Grieco, and he appears to be interested in pressing charges against the Miami Police Department, according to WTSP News.

“I’ve got to tell you, as someone who has been involved with law enforcement for 16 years, I can’t believe the circumstances where tasing someone in the eyeball is appropriate,” said Grieco. “It is excessive and something we will deal with at a later point.”

In terms of Gustavo Castaño’s involvement in the disappearance of Liliana and Daniela Moreno, his attorney also claims that he had nothing to do with it. Grieco has not only accused the Miami police of using excessive force but also brutalizing an innocent man.

“I do fear that a rush to judgment by police and focusing on an innocent man has hindered their efforts. Mr. Castaño wants nothing more than to hear that Liliana and Daniela are safe and unharmed… The beating of my client and the excessive use of a Taser that led him losing his eye will be addressed in due time.”

As of this week, the disappearance of Liliana and Daniela Moreno still remains a mystery. Gustavo Castaño maintains that he dropped off the mother and daughter at the shopping center where the Taser incident happened on May 30. Nobody has seen them since. According to local news WFOR-TV, authorities have not ruled out foul play as a possible cause of their disappearance, nor have they given up plans to question Castaño further, despite causing him to lose an eye.

“At this time, investigators have reached out to family members and friends,” said Police Captain Carlos Arango. “None of them have been able to give us an exact count of where she may be and that raises our concern significantly.”

Do you think the police should face consequences for accidentally taking the eye of Gustavo Castaño with a Taser?

[Photo provided by Michael Grieco]

Miami Police Accidentally Taser Suspect In The Face, He Loses His Right Eye is an article from: