Members of Mayday-Mob Arrested in Connection with Washington Arson Fires

March 31, 2008

Two promising young skateboarders from Yakima County, Washington have been arrested and charged in connection with a string of arson fires. Investigators are now trying to determine if another arson fire, set just days after the two suspects were arrested, is connected to the young men’s skating group, identified in court documents as the "Mayday-Mob."

"It’s kind of coincidental that early this morning we have a fire and they made two arrests earlier during the week. So I think there's still more to come," West Valley Fire Chief Dave Leitch said in a March 30 interview with KNDO.com.

According to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, the previous arson cases, dating back to April 2006, caused nearly $100,000 in damages. Investigators said they began investigating the two teens, identified in court documents as Nicholas Heilman, 18, and Eric Protsman, 19, after an informant came forward and identified them as the arsonists.

Last week Heilman was arraigned on five counts of second-degree arson for fires set between April 2006 and October 2007. Days later, Protsman was charged with one count of second-degree arson...

To read the complete article, click here.

Ten-Year-Old Jayci Yaeger Succumbs to Cancer After Seeing Imprisoned Father

March 28, 2008

It is with deep sorrow and regret that I must announce the passing of 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger. According to family members, Jayci died late last night, just one day after a visit from her father.

"She was hanging on for daddy, and she got her daddy, and then she let go," Jayci's uncle, Ed Yaeger, said on The Early Show Friday.

Jayci's father, Jason Yaeger, is housed at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, where he is serving out the final year of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction. Prison officials, who claimed the case did not meet the criteria of the prison's extraordinary circumstances policy, recently denied Jason's request for an early release to a halfway house. As a result, Jason asked President George W. Bush for clemency, however the White House never issued an official response to the request. The entire ordeal has left a bad taste in the mouth of Jayci's family, however they are grateful she is no longer suffering.

"We're happy that it was peaceful and that she is now no longer in pain, and her suffering is over," Ed told Kolnkgin.com. "We really wish Jason could have been there by her side to be with her in her last moments, but we're going to continue to fight and have Jason there for the funeral."

Federal prison officials have yet to comment on whether Jason will be allowed to attend his daughter's funeral. It remains unclear if a recent statement released by the prison was issued before or after Jayci's death. The statement read in part:

"The institution has taken unusual steps to be accommodating during this difficult time...After careful review of the security needs of the community and the offender, the warden determined that a furlough was not a viable option."

The visit Jason had with Jayci earlier this week came after federal authorities received a deluge of emails, letters, and phone calls from around the globe.

The campaign for Jason's early release is over, however you can still help by contacting the prison and asking them to allow Jason to attend his daughter's funeral. Please contact Linda Asher, Yankton FPC public relations officer, at 605-665-3262.

You can also help the Yaeger family with medical expenses, by sending a donation to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Federal Prison Inmate Jason Yaeger Allowed Visit With Dying Daughter, Ten-Year-Old Jayci Yaeger

Pressured by growing media coverage and a deluge of emails, letters, and phone calls from around the globe, federal authorities allowed Jason Yaeger to visit with his dying daughter, 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger yesterday afternoon.

According to family members, the only people allowed in the room with Jayci during the visit were Jason and his federal prison escorts.  Nonetheless, they report that despite the fact that Jayci is unresponsive she was aware of her father's presence, something they say was evident by a noticeable increase in her breathing and a spike in her heartbeat during the visit.

Ketv.com reports that the visit lasted several hours.  However, other media outlets, including FoxNews.com are reporting the visit only lasted for 30 minutes.  At the completion of the visit, Jason was transported back to the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, where he is serving out the final year of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction.  Prison officials have yet to release an official comment on the visit.

I think it is important that those of you who took time to place a call or send a letter to federal authorities should be commended for your actions. Without each and every one of you this visit may have never taken place...

To get more information, click here.

Ten-year-old Jayci Yaeger Losing Battle with Brain Cancer while Awaiting Father’s Release from Prison

March 27, 2008

Earlier this week, I brought you the story of Jason Yaeger, an inmate at the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, who has been seeking an early release to a halfway house so that he can be with his daughter, Jayci Yaeger, a 10-year-old girl who is dying of brain cancer at a hospital located less than four hours from the prison.  Yesterday, Jayci's Uncle, Ed Yaeger, told Action3news.com that Jayci's health is continuing to decline. 

"She's having respiratory problems and continues to have them," Ed Yaeger said.  "Last night, they think she had a stroke.  One side is colder than the other, and her blood pressure has been low.  Her body is trying to shut down."

Despite the fact that Jason has served the bulk of a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction, Warden J. D. Whitehead refuses to grant Jason's request for an early release.  According to a statement the prison released last week, the case does not meet the criteria of the prison's extraordinary circumstances policy.

In addition to the warden's denial, President George W. Bush has yet to respond to Jason's recent request for clemency.  The case is currently in the office of Judge Karen Schreier in Rapid City, South Dakota.  According to Jason's family members, Whitehead has until April 7 to issue a response.

To read the complete article, click here.

What You Can Do

Sign the Petition: Help Jayci be with her Dad as she dies, sponsored by Gifted Hands Mended Hearts, Nurses for Compassion.

You can find numbers for Whitehead and other government officials listed at the petition Web site.  In addition, you can contact the White House with your concerns.

To help the Yaeger family with medical expenses, send donations to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

The Missing -- A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls -- Issue #6

March 26, 2008

In this week's edition of "The Missing," we revisit the mysterious disappearance of Michael "Austin" Davis, a 26-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, who went missing in June 2007.

"I received an email that Investigation Discovery is covering Missing Person cases," Austin's mother, Christy Davis, said in a recent email. She added, "Please let this serve as a request to include my son."

According to Christy, Austin disappeared on June 26, 2007, after getting into a cab at his sister's westside Jacksonville home. Earlier that day Austin had called into work and told his boss he would not be in. Austin's car had recently been impounded due to unpaid parking tickets he had received in Tallahassee. He said he wanted to settle the debt to get his car back. What happened next is not entirely clear; however, it was later discovered that the taxi took Austin to Jax Jewelry and Pawn Shop, at the intersection of 103rd Street and Blanding Boulevard, where he purchased a shotgun. Where he went from there remains a mystery.

"He has been suffering from depression and chronic pain and we believe this escalated after the arrest," Christy said. "Disappearing is not characteristic of Austin, but we don't know what the depression and pain may have led him to do."

Of further concern to Austin's family members was the fact that he left home without any personal belongings...

To read the complete article, click here.

Anyone with information in this case should call Detective Tony Cummings of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-2627.

If you are a family member of a missing loved one and have a case you would like covered here, contact me via e-mail. If you are a reader who would like to help, please spread the word about this blog so others can find us. The more people who see these stories the better chances someone might come forward with information.

Photo of Michael "Austin" Davis courtesy of Christy Davis

Texas Police Looking for Leads in College Student's Murder

March 25, 2008

Police in Texas are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in the murder of a South Plains College student who was found stabbed to death in his home last week.

On the evening of March 17, the Lubbock Police Department received an emergency 911 call notifying them of an unresponsive male inside an apartment in the 700 block of Indiana Avenue. "I need EMS over at Indiana Village right now," the caller told the 911 operator.

When police and EMS arrived on the scene, they found the lifeless body of 19-year-old Bradford McIver sprawled out on the floor. Investigators observed multiple stab wounds to Bradford's torso, indicating the teen's death was a homicide. There were obvious signs of a struggle inside the apartment, and a possible blood trail found outside suggested the killer might have been injured during the scuffle.

"The violence at the scene, the nature of what we saw there, and some of the evidence that we've collected that we can't comment any further on just yet lead us to believe that this person was injured," Lieutenant Jon Caspell said during a news conference last week...

To read the complete article, click here.

Federal Prison Warden Denies Inmate Early Release to be with Dying 10-year-old Daughter

March 24, 2008

The prison system in the United States is as flawed as the prison systems in most third world countries.  We are frustrated and saddened by reports of severe overcrowding and staff misconduct.  However, as rampant as those abuses have become, they pale in comparison to the lack of compassion shown by the warden of the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota.

Jason Yaeger is one of 837 convicts currently serving time at the Yankton prison.  Jason has nearly a year left to serve on a 5½-year sentence for a methamphetamine conviction, and prison officials plan to release him to a halfway house in August.  Jason's case differs little from the cases of other inmates serving time at the minimum-security facility.  However, unlike most other inmates, Jason's daughter, 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger, is dying of brain cancer and is not expected to live long enough to see her father be released from prison.  Jayci's health is rapidly declining and her doctors say that nothing can be done to save her. 

It is truly heartbreaking when a child falls ill with a terminal illness, but it is even more distressing when that child is denied her dying wish.  In Jayci's case, her wish is to have her father by her side, holding her as she passes from this life to the next.  Although this request seems simple enough, Warden J. D. Whitehead does not see fit to grant her final wish, and has denied repeated requests by her father for an early release to a halfway house.

In a statement to the press released on Thursday, a Yankton prison spokesperson said: "Bureau of Prisons officials have reviewed Inmate Yaeger’s request for a compassionate release and have determined his situation does not meet the criteria...Our agency's mission is to protect society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community based facilities which are safe, humane, and appropriately secure."

"I am sorry for what I have done,'' Jason said in a interview with ABCnews.com.  "I'm not asking to get out of my sentence — just to go from one place of imprisonment to another so I can be with my family.  Jayci is sitting in a hospice fighting for her life and [her mother] thinks she is holding on for me to get there.  She wants me and needs me and I want to be there with her on her last day."

To read the complete article, click here.

I urge everyone to take a moment to contact Whitehead and let him know your own thoughts on this case. His telephone number is (605) 665-3262, his fax number is (605) 668-1113 and his e-mail address is yan/execassistant@bop.gov.  Snail mail letters should be addressed to:  Warden Whitehead FPC, Yankton Federal Prison Camp, P.O. Box 680, Yankton, SD 57078.

In addition to contacting the Warden, you can also help the Yaeger family with medical expenses by sending donations to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

Change of Venue Granted in Jeremy Steinke Trial

March 21, 2008

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Bryan Mahoney has granted a change of venue to Jeremy Steinke, a 24-year-old man from Alberta, Canada, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend's family.

During Wednesday's court proceeding, Mahoney contended that it would be impossible to find an impartial jury in Medicine Hat, citing widespread publicity and the November 2007 conviction of Steinke's girlfriend, 14-year-old Jasmine Richardson.

"It's just better to get it out of here where it's more insular," Steinke's lawyer, Alain Hepner, told CBC.ca following the hearing. "There's a bigger jury pool to draw from, and they're less affected by the horrific crime that was perpetrated."

Although she had anticipated that Mahoney would grant the ruling, Crown prosecutor Stephanie Cleary opposed the change of venue.

"There's been an extraordinary amount of media coverage, and the justice was obviously very concerned with that, so I honestly can't say I'm surprised at all by this ruling," Cleary said in an interview with CBC.ca....

To read the complete article, click here.

Australian Millionaire, Francis Pete Tovey, Killed by Homemade Suicide Robot

March 20, 2008

I usually don't cover suicides, as they are not crimes, per se, but the case you are about to read is so bizarre that I felt it was worth mentioning.

According to police in Australia, they were recently called to the million-dollar estate of Francis Peter Tovey, an 81-year-old Gold Coast man who allegedly committed suicide with the help of a robot. Details remain sketchy, but Australian media outlets have reported that neighbors heard three gunshots early Tuesday morning. When they went to investigate, they found Francis lying dead in his driveway. Not far from Francis's body was a robotic machine, armed with a semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol.

Francis, who lived alone, allegedly left behind detailed notes and plans that show he had spent considerable time researching robotics and had various plans, which he used in the creation of his "deathbot." According to Goldcoast.com.au, other notes found at the scene allegedly suggest Francis was upset because his family wanted him to move out of his house and into a nursing home.

Police have yet to release any images of the robotic machine. However, witnesses at the scene have described it as a "complex" machine, with the ability to remotely fire a gun. Prior to his death, Francis allegedly placed the machine in the driveway, layed down in front of it, and activated a robotic mechanism that fired three consecutive shots, each striking Francis in the head and killing him instantly.

"We would see him watering his garden and say hello, and he was always bright and cheerful," neighbor Daniel Skewes told Goldcoast.com.au. "We didn't know him well, of course, but he seemed like a really nice old man."

Related Article:
Son of Australian Millionaire, Francis Peter Tovey, Speaks Out About Father's Death

The Missing -- A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls -- Issue #5

March 19, 2008

In this week's edition of "The Missing," we revisit the mysterious disappearance of Brian W. Sullivan, a 19-year-old resident of Churchville, New York, who went missing in July 2007.

"I was given your name in hopes that maybe you could possibly help us," Brian's mother, Barbara Sullivan, said in a recent e-mail. "We have had no leads or anything from the police or the private investigator we have hired and we are desperate for information."

According to Barbara, an officer from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office contacted her on July 8, 2007, and told her that Brian's car, a 1995 red Pontiac Sunfire, had been found abandoned at the end of a dead-end street in Gates, New York. Barbara had not seen her son since the previous evening and calls to his cell phone went straight to voicemail. Concerned, Barbara and her husband decided to drive to the dead-end street to look over Brian's car and see if anything was out of place.

"We did not have a key, so we were unable to get inside," Barbara said. "When we looked inside we saw Brian's wallet and various other personal effects laying on the front seat. Hoping Brian would be coming back, we decided to leave the car where it was."

Unfortunately, Brian never returned for his vehicle and his parents had to have it towed. Not wanting to let their imaginations run wild, Brian's parents initially suspected he might have run off without telling anyone. "He was undecided about returning to college and we had been discussing that he should either go back to school or get a job."

During the course of the investigation into Brian's disappearance, a Burger King receipt was found inside his car. The receipt showed that Brian had purchased food on July 8, 2007, at 5:38 am, from the chain's restaurant on Chili Avenue in Gates, New York. It was also revealed that on that same day, at 6:10 am, Brian had left a voicemail message for a friend. Unfortunately, neither clue led to Brian's whereabouts...

To learn more about Brian's disappearance, click here.

Please take a moment to visit the MySpace page Brian's family has set up, and if you have any information, contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 585-753-4177.

If you are a family member of a missing loved one and have a case you would like covered here, contact me via e-mail. If you are a reader who would like to help, please spread the word about this blog so others can find us. The more people who see these stories the better chances someone might come forward with information.

Photo of Brian W. Sullivan courtesy of Barbara Sullivan

Siblings Who Have Four Children Together Lose Incest Appeal

March 18, 2008

Germany's constitutional court has rejected an appeal by a man who fathered four children with his sister to overturn the country's ban on incest. The case, which dates back seven years, has been making headlines around the world since the siblings held interviews with the media last spring.

In 2001, Susan Karolewski, then 16, gave birth to a boy whom she named Eric. Unfortunately for Karolewski, her bliss at the birth of her child was short-lived. It was soon revealed that the father of the child was none other then Karolewski's 26-year-old brother, Patrick Stuebing.

As a result of their alleged moral misdeeds, Stuebing and Karolewski were both arrested and tried in Leipzig District Court under paragraph 173 of Germany's criminal penal code, which states that it is illegal for close relatives to engage in sexual intercourse. During the hearing, the prosecution said that between January 2001 and August 2001, Stuebing "had sexual intercourse with his sister 16 times." Stuebing was found guilty and received a one-year suspended prison sentence. Because she was a juvenile, the court ordered Karolewski placed in the care of youth services. The couple's infant son, who suffers from severe physical and mental disabilities, was placed in a foster home.

The case might have ended there; however, Stuebing and Karolewski continued their forbidden love affair, and the couple had two more children together before 2004. Their second child, a girl, was born with physical and mental disabilities, much like their first child. The couple's third child, also a girl, had no obvious mental disabilities, but was born with a heart condition.

Police rearrested Stuebing, and he had another trial in 2004. This time, Stuebing was sentenced to 10 months in prison, and Karolewski was placed in the care of a social worker. As with their first-born child, the couple's two baby girls were placed in foster care...

To read the complete article, click here.

Charles Ray Hicks Charged with Killing and Dismembering Deanna Null

March 14, 2008

Pennsylvania State Police have arrested Charles Ray Hicks, 33, in the murder of 36-year-old Deanna Maria Null, a woman whose dismembered remains were recently found scattered along interstates in Monroe and Lackawanna counties.

According to court documents, Hicks’ arrest came after a neighbor of his contacted the police last week and told them that Hicks’ car was a match to the publicized description of the vehicle Deanna was last seen getting into prior to her disappearance. Police also learned that Hicks matched the description of the man who was seen driving the vehicle.

When police looked into Hicks’ record, they discovered he had moved from Texas to Pennsylvania in January. A criminal background check revealed Hicks had been arrested multiple times since 2002 for charges that included sexual assault, aggravated robbery and possession of controlled substances.

As a result of the tip and the information they uncovered, state police investigators obtained a warrant to search Hicks' car, at which time they recovered a boot with suspicious red stains. Investigators were able to determine the stains were blood and on March 7, they obtained a warrant to search Hicks' rented ranch house, which is located by Interstate 380, just 200 yards from where Deanna's severed head was found.

Investigators were not far along in their search of Hicks' home, when they made a startling discovery hidden inside a wall of the residence. There, wrapped in socks and bundled in newspaper, they found a pair of decomposing human hands. The socks had been soaked in laundry detergent, in an apparent attempt to stifle the pungent odor of rotting human flesh...

To read the complete article, click here.

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Resigns amid Sex Scandal

March 13, 2008

Earlier this week, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was accused of being "Client 9," an individual named in a federal indictment filed last week involving the Emperors Club, an alleged prostitution ring that caters to upscale clients. In response to the allegations, Spitzer held a press conference, during which he apologized to both his family and the public. Spitzer stated, "I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my sense of right and wrong." Now, just days after the story originally surfaced, Spitzer has announced his formal resignation.

"In the past few days, I have begun to atone for my private failings with my wife, Silda, my children, and my entire family," Spitzer said in a Wednesday press release. "The remorse I feel will always be with me … I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me. To every New Yorker, and to all those who believed in what I tried to stand for, I sincerely apologize … Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the Office of Governor. At Lt. Gov. Paterson’s request, the resignation will be effective Monday, March 17, a date that he believes will permit an orderly transition."

To read the complete article, click here.

The Missing -- A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls -- Issue #4

March 12, 2008

In this week's edition of "The Missing," we will revisit the mysterious disappearance of Troy Spencer Marks, Sr., a 39-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who went missing in June 2006.

Troy Marks' family is desperate for any information on their loved one's whereabouts. Since his disappearance, his father has passed on and his mother has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Amidst this tragedy, Troy's wife, Ashley Marks, has had to try and comfort their two young children, Troy Jr. and Jacob, ages 4 and 6. Yesterday, I had a chance to speak with Ashley about the circumstances surrounding her husband's sudden and unexpected disappearance.

"Troy was working a concrete job in New Orleans, and on June 7, 2006, he had a friend drop him off in the vicinity of North Dourgenois Street," Ashley said during a telephone interview yesterday. "Troy never made it to work, and we have not seen or heard from him since."

In the wake of Troy's disappearance, his employer discovered that a vehicle Troy drove for the concrete company, a dark gray four-door Ford F150, was missing. Troy's boss notified police, who later recovered the vehicle in the parking lot of a Baton Rouge apartment building.

According to Ashley, Troy had a previous history of drug and alcohol abuse, something that she believes resulted in the local police department's reluctance to take his disappearance seriously. Ashley also claims local media outlets were not interested in covering the story because, as she was told by at least one newspaper, "many adults go missing by choice."

"Even when Troy was using, he never hesitated to call home," Ashley said. "He was always in communication. I am convinced something terrible happened to Troy. When his father died in November 2006, Troy was a no-show at the funeral. Troy had a very close relationship with both of his parents, and he never would have intentionally missed his father's funeral. Now, with his mother being diagnosed with cancer, we are even more desperate for answers. His mom doesn't want to go to the grave not knowing what happened to her son."

To read the complete article, click here.

Anyone with information in this case should contact the Baton Rouge Parish Police Department at 225-389-2000.

Photo of Troy Spencer Marks, Sr. courtesy of Ashley Marks

New York's Governor, Eliot Spitzer, Implicated in Prostitution Ring

March 11, 2008

Seven days. That's how many days had passed since New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer received three standing ovations during a speech in New Albany. Who then would have thought that Spitzer was about to be accused of soliciting sex from prostitutes? Nothing amazes me anymore, but I am sure the citizens of New York are less then pleased with Spitzer's alleged improprieties.

Yesterday, the New York Times identified Spitzer as "Client 9," an individual who was named in a federal indictment filed last week involving the Emperors Club, an alleged prostitution ring that caters to upscale clients. According to the indictment, FBI wiretap recordings captured conversations "Client 9" had with an employee of the Emperors Club, in which "Client 9" made arrangements to meet a prostitute at a Washington hotel last month.

On Feb. 14, the prostitute who allegedly met with "Client 9" called the Emperors Club to let them know how the appointment went.

"I don't think he's difficult. I mean it's just kind of like whatever," Kristen said, according to the indictment. "I'm here for a purpose. I know what my purpose is. I am not a moron. You know what I mean."

The indictment lists the Emperors Club Web site as Emperorsclubvip.com. That site has since been removed from the Internet, but the Google-cached welcome page, dated Feb. 12, reads in part:

"We specialize in marketing fashion models, pageant winners and exquisite students, graduates and women of successful careers (finance, art, media etc…) to leading gentlemen of the world. Catering to clients who will not compromise in any area of their life. We provide our customers and associates with complete discretion and privacy while we guarantee the most exclusively valuable dating and travel companionship. You can be certain that each Emperors Club model introduction experience, while it may be novel for you, will be one of complete enjoyment in every way."

The cached version of a separate page on the site lists "introduction" rates. The fees varied and were based on "individual education, sophistication, and ambiance." Hourly rates ranged from $1,000 to $3,100, and daily rates ranged from $10,000 to $31,000...

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Necrophilia Case

March 10, 2008

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in coming weeks that will determine whether necrophilia is a crime that falls under the state’s sexual assault statute. The debate stems from a Sept. 2006 criminal case, involving three young men who tried to dig up a woman's grave to have sex with her corpse.

On Aug. 27, 2006, 20-year-old Laura Tennessen was riding on the back of a 2001 Honda motorcycle driven by Thomas C. Sweet, also 20. The couple had allegedly been drinking and at about 3:00 a.m., Thomas lost control of the motorcycle, and they were both thrown onto the roadway. Thomas sustained minor injuries, but Laura was pronounced dead upon arrival at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster, Wisconsin.

When Laura's obituary, along with a flattering photograph, was published in local papers, brothers Nicholas and Alexander Grunke, both 20, concocted a bizarre scheme to dig up her body so Nicholas could have sex with her corpse. The brothers somehow convinced their friend, Dustin Radke, also 20, to help them put their plan in motion.

On the night of Sept. 2, 2006, a concerned citizen called the Grant County Sheriff's Department and reported a suspicious vehicle that was parked by the St. Charles Cemetery. When Officer Brent McDonald arrived on the scene, he observed Alexander Grunke walking towards the vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, Grunke was sweating profusely and appeared to be nervous.

Alexander told McDonald why he and his companions had been digging up Laura's body. As Alexander finished his unbelievable explanation, a second patrol car arrived on the scene and together the two units drove over to Laura's plot. They did not find anyone present but they did observe that her grave had been partially dug up, leaving the top of her vault exposed.

Both Nicholas and Dustin had fled on foot when they saw the lights from the police car sweeping across the cemetery, but they were later picked up walking on a nearby highway.

To read the complete article, click here.

Arizona Teen Allegedly Kills Father Over Internet Ban

March 07, 2008

Police in Mesa, Arizona have released new details in the case of a teenager who confessed to killing his father last month.

On Feb. 6, 15-year-old Hughstan Schlicker called 911 and said he had murdered his father. He allegedly told the operator, "I hate my dad. [I] couldn't take it anymore."

According to a police report released Wednesday, Schlicker, 15, told police he was angry and depressed because his dad had banned him from accessing the Internet. Schlicker explained the reason for the ban was because his father had discovered suicide notes he had posted on MySpace.com. The lack of Internet access upset Schlicker, who claimed he often spent entire days online communicating with friends.

"It felt like I was stabbed with a knife and it went straight through and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't pull out the knife," Schlicker allegedly said during an interview with police.

Schlicker told police he had initially planned on punishing his father by shooting himself in front of him but then changed his mind and decided to shoot his father first, before turning the gun on himself.

Police say Schlicker told them two different versions of how the shooting occurred. In the first, he allegedly said he intentionally shot and killed his father. However, in the second version he said it was an accident...

To read the complete article, click here.

Man Beheads Baby Nephew in Crowded Saudi Supermarket

March 06, 2008

According to Arab news reports, Tameem Akram Hamadah, 29, was carrying his 1-year-old nephew on his shoulders in a crowded supermarket in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Sunday when he began arguing with his sister. The incident suddenly escalated when, without warning, Hamadah allegedly put his nephew on the ground, placed his foot on the child's chest and decapitated him in full view of the child's mother and numerous patrons of the store.

"I was shopping when I heard a scream and saw people running toward the shop's pastry corner," Ahmed Abdul-Rahman, a shopper at the Al-Marhaba supermarket, told the Saudi Gazette. "When I arrived there, I couldn't believe what I saw. A headless body of a child lay on the floor and the head was lying nearby, soaked in blood."

The child's traumatized mother and at least one shopper fainted as a result of witnessing the horrific incident. The mother was transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains at the time of this writing.

"The murderer was in a dispute with the boy’s mother and her husband," an unidentified police officer said in an interview with Arabnews.com. "He chopped off the boy’s head in front of the mother to get back at her."

According to Allheadlinenews.com, Hamadah killed his nephew because he was upset that his estranged brother-in-law had been threatening to take the boy away from his sister...

To read the complete article, click here.

James Wamsley Sent to Prison For Rape of Nine-Month-Old Infant

March 05, 2008

Those of you who followed my articles at Crime Library will no doubt remember the case of James Allen Wamsley, a 17-year-old resident of Benton County, Washington, who was arrested last year for first-degree rape of a child. Now, some nine months later, the case has finally come to an end…sort of.

On May 28, 2007, Tabitha McBean, a friend of the Wamsley family, accepted an offer by Wamsley to baby-sit her two children, a 3-year-old and a nine-month-old baby boy. Tabitha was grateful to have a break from her parental responsibilities but her relief turned to horror some nine hours later, when she returned home to discover blood in her infant's diaper. Concerned, Tabitha, along with Wamsley's mother, Teresa Moen, immediately transported the infant to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, where it was discovered he had been the victim of a brutal sexual assault. The injuries proved to be so severe that the infant had to be transferred to a Spokane hospital for surgery.

"The child had been brought in, injuries to the child demonstrated that some sort of sexual assault had occurred," Richland Police Captain Mike Cobb said in a May 2007 interview with KNDU-TV. "This is probably one of the most disturbing type of events that ever occurs to a police officer or a family member. So it's nothing we ever want to hear, nothing we ever want to investigate, but unfortunately, all too often we have to."

As a result of the criminal investigation, police arrested Wamsley and charged him with first-degree child rape. The Washington Administration Code describes the crime as, "sexual intercourse with another who is less than twelve years old."

Wamsley was initially charged as a juvenile, however during a later appearance before Benton County Superior Court his case was moved to adult court and he was transferred to the Benton County Jail...

To read the complete article, click here.

The Missing -- A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls -- Issue #3

March 04, 2008

In this week's edition of "The Missing," we will be revisiting the mysterious disappearances of Roxanne Paltauf, an 18-year-old resident of Austin, Texas, who went missing in 2006 and 32-year-old Carlos Diaz of The Bronx, New York, who vanished in 1986.

Roxanne Paltauf

On July 7, 2006, Roxanne Paltauf, 18, disappeared from the Budget Inn hotel in Austin, Texas. According to Roxanne's mother, Elizabeth Harris, Roxanne had been staying at the hotel with her boyfriend. The couple had checked in together with plans of celebrating their two-year anniversary. Unfortunately, the celebration was to be short lived...

To learn more about the disappearance of Roxanne Paltauf, click here.

Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz went missing from his home in The Bronx, New York, on December 23, 1986. According to Carlos' sister, Nancy Freneire, the family dog had died and Carlos went to bury the animal. What happened next remains a mystery...

To learn more about the disappearance of Carlos Diaz, click here.

Photo of Roxanne Paltauf courtesy of Elizabeth Harris
Photo of Carlos Diaz courtesy of Nancy Freneire

Police Allege Teen Romance Led to Massacre of East Texas Family

March 03, 2008

"As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

The Old Testament quote that appears above appears in the final chapter in the book of Joshua, which refers to covenant-keeping families. Basically, the belief is that those who serve and trust in the successive promises of God will be eternally blessed. Ironically, that same verse can also be found on a small wooden sign that is tacked to a tree in front of the charred remains of the Caffey home in Emory, Texas.

According to police, Penny Caffey, 37, and her two sons, Mathew, 13, and Tyler, 8, were murdered inside their home at about 4:00 a.m. Saturday. Details remain sketchy but police believe multiple assailants stabbed and shot the victims to death. The killers then allegedly set fire to the home before fleeing the scene.

Unbeknownst to the killers, a fourth victim of the predawn attacks, Terry Caffey, the father, survived. He was able to drag himself out of the home before it became fully engulfed in flames. Shot four times, Terry somehow managed to summon the will power to continue dragging himself roughly 300 yards through the woods to a neighbor's house, where he summoned help.

When police and paramedics arrived at the scene, Terry reportedly provided them with information that led to the arrest of four teens, including the Caffey's 16-year-old daughter, whom police have yet to name. The other three suspects have been identified as Charlie James Wilkinson, 18, Charles Allen Waid (some reports suggest the spelling Wade), 20, and Bobbi Gale Johnson, 18.

"We feel confident that the motive was the fact that the juvenile daughter and one of the individuals in custody were dating and that the parents were attempting to break the relationship up, which led to the crime that was committed," Rains County Sheriff David Traylor told the Associated Press...

To read the complete article, click here.