Female Sex Killers: The Devious Predators

April 30, 2009

As an expert criminal profiler who has studied and investigated serial killers for over 20 years, Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin has had contact with some of the world's most elusive hunters. Dr. Schurman-Kauflin is also the only profiler who has ever interviewed and profiled a large group of female serial killers. As a result of her first-hand experience, Dr. Schurman-Kauflin has come away with a vast knowledge of female predators - a knowledge that gives her unique insight into the Sandra Cantu murder case.

"Though rare, such predators are more common than the general public knows," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin told Investigation Discovery. "Why? In most instances, when a female rapes and kills a victim, the act is done in conjunction with a male partner. As such, when caught, the females play innocent and blame the male. This strategy has proven highly effective over the years because people are hesitant to believe that a woman could rape and murder. But it does happen, and sometimes, the female will act alone."

Of the many interviews that she has conducted, Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said that the only offender who ever made her feel uncomfortable was a female sex killer who bragged about the pleasure she felt whenever she drew blood with a knife. That same offender also told Dr. Schurman-Kauflin that given the opportunity, she would kill again.

"These offenders are a unique breed in that they have a real taste for hurting helpless victims," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said. "They enjoy the feeling they get when using objects to rape. In fact, female rape killers will often use jagged instruments when they attack. These women are especially brutal with female victims, and will almost always mutilate the genitalia. Such women have told me that they chose to hurt their victims so viciously because it turned them on. Like their male counterparts, it was sexually exciting."

According to Dr. Schurman-Kauflin, it is the gender of these "super predators" that allows them access to almost any type of victim.

"To capture their prey, these women use a rouse to trick their victims who are always smaller in size," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said. "They use their gender as a cover for their evil intentions because most people find it hard to believe that the fairer sex could rape and kill a child. However, children are not their only victims. Such offenders have been known to target adults since everyone is less wary of a woman."

Through her studies, Dr. Schurman-Kauflin has learned that female killers are drawn to traditionally feminine jobs, such as nursing, care giving, teaching and the sex trade.

"These fields give them natural cover to get close to victims," she said. "Like their male counterparts, female sex killers fantasize about rape and murder. However, unlike men, women tend to be less selective about the type of victims they choose. For instance, male sex killers typically prefer certain types of victim such as twenty-year-old blondes. But for the women, victim age and gender are less important than opportunity. Female predators search for that which is easy to get. If she works in a nursing home, she may go after the elderly and rape them in their beds. If the woman works as a prostitute, she will target customers. If she teaches, she often sets her sights on students. These women crave what is familiar to them, and they watch their prey over time to assess how easy it would be to attack. The killers tend to have spotty work histories as well as a string of failed relationships. They dabble in sexual relationships and will try everything from lesbianism to child molestation.  Emotionally they find it hard to be centered, and family will cover for the women when they engage in strange behavior."

Dallas DNA

Dallas DNA chronicles a pioneering unit within the Dallas County District Attorney's office where post-conviction DNA testing is being used to clear the innocent, as well as confirm the guilty.

When Craig Watkins ran for district attorney in Dallas County, he promised to fight for justice and through an innovative and unconventional new division he founded; he's been true to his word. In July 2007, Watkins created the nation's first Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) run by a DA's office and tasked it with re-examining hundreds of petitions submitted by inmates seeking post-conviction DNA testing and reinvestigating the cases that could be possible examples of injustice.

Dallas County has more exonerations than any other jurisdiction in the nation since state law began allowing post-conviction testing in 2001. In that time, more than 40 cases have received post-conviction DNA evidence analysis and the results have stunned the nation - to date, 19 cases were found to have wrongful convictions, and under DA Watkins' leadership ten innocent men have walked free.

The legal drama and the astounding ramifications including exonerations after men wrongfully spent decades behind bars is captured in Investigation Discovery's new six-part series DALLAS DNA, which is now on Investigation Discovery Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Click here to learn more about the show

Where is Brittanee Marie Drexel?

April 29, 2009

Police in South Carolina are trying to determine what happened to Brittanee Marie Drexel, a 17-year-old junior at Gates Chili High School in Rochester, New York. Brittanee disappeared after a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach last week.

Brittanee's friends last saw her at about 8:00 p.m. Saturday, when she left the Bar Harbor Hotel to walk about a half-mile to the Bluewater Resort to visit a group of male friends from Rochester. The men, identified as Peter Brozowitz, Phillip Watson, Matthew Abrams and Keith Cummings, had first met up with Brittanee earlier that day at Club Kryptonite.

When the Myrtle Beach police questioned the men, they said that Brittanee had come to their hotel and visited with Brozowitz, but she supposedly left roughly ten minutes later to return an item of clothing to a friend back at the Bar Harbor Hotel.

At about 8:45 p.m., Brittanee sent a text message to one of her travel companions, informing the companion that she was on her way back. What happened to Brittanee after that remains a mystery.

When Brittanee failed to return phone calls from her friends, they became concerned, and notified others that Brittanee was missing.

According to Brittanee's mother, Dawn Drexel, she was unaware that her daughter had gone to South Carolina last Wednesday and thought that she was staying at a friend's house. Dawn said that she kept in regular contact with her daughter and had spoken with her on Saturday afternoon.

"I asked her what she was doing and she says, 'Oh, mom, I'm at the beach.' And it was an 80-degree day in Rochester so, of course, I thought maybe she was at the beach in Rochester with one of her girlfriends," Dawn said during an appearance on HLN's Nancy Grace last night. "I said, 'I love you, Brittanee,' and she says, 'I love you, Mom.' And then we hung up the phone."

Dawn did not learn of the deception until Sunday morning, when friends called to tell her that Brittanee was missing.

Cesar Laurean Makes First Court Appearance in Maria Lauterbach Case

April 28, 2009

One of the cases I covered before coming to Investigation Discovery was that of Cesar Armando Laurean, 21, a corporal in the Marine Corps who is the prime suspect in the 2007 murder of Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, 20, in North Carolina. Laurean initially fled to Mexico, but was later captured in the small town of Tacambaro. Since that time, there have been several new developments in the case, including Laurean's extradition back to the United States and also his first formal court appearance.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Curtis Hill, the public affairs officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, the events surrounding this case began in May 2007, when Maria told one of her superiors that Laurean had sexually assaulted her on March 26, 2007.

"Lance Cpl. Lauterbach alleged she had been raped by Cpl. Laurean," Lt. Col. Hill said at a press conference following her murder. "Due to the length of time that elapsed between the alleged assault and the complaint, a forensic examination, or rape kit, was not performed; however, a "Well Woman" exam was performed. The pregnancy test result was negative."

Due to a lack of evidence, charges were not immediately filed against Laurean. The following day, a company commander told him that he was not to have any contact with Maria and that he had to maintain a minimum distance of 1000 feet from her at all times. In addition to the verbal warning, Laurean was reassigned to an office on the opposite side of the base.

"On May 18, 2007, NCIS interviewed Cpl. Laurean and he denied any sexual contact with Lance Cpl. Lauterbach," Lt. Col. Hill said. "On May 24, 2007, the company commander followed up the verbal order with a written Military Protective Order (MPO) effective through June 24. The MPO was established to preserve the integrity of the investigation and developing case, it was not based on any perceived threat towards Lance Cpl. Lauterbach … On June 25, 2007, the company commander re-issued a written Military Protective Order effective through September 24."

Two days after the MPO was re-issued, Maria fell ill and went to the hospital for a medical examination. While there, a pregnancy test was administered, the results of which were found to be positive. According to military officials, she conceived the child in May 2007. 

"On Sept. 17, 2007, Lance Cpl. Lauterbach requested permission from her command to move into off-base housing in order to prepare a home for her and her expected child," Lt. Col. Hill said. "On Sept. 20, 2007, the regimental commander issued a written Military Protective Order effective through December 23. The regimental commander issued this MPO because the company commander is on annual leave and unavailable. Again, the MPO is renewed to preserve the integrity of the investigation."

The following month, military investigators recommended that no charges be brought against Laurean until DNA could be obtained from the child. As the investigation dragged on, Maria moved into an off-base house and began making preparations for her expected child.

On Dec. 14, 2007, Maria went to work as scheduled and then returned home. Later that day her roommate, identified as Sgt. Durham, discovered a note, which read:

"I could not take this Marine Corps life anymore. So I am going away. Sorry for the inconvenience. Maria."

Durham also noticed that some of Maria's personal belongings, including her car, were missing.

"Sgt. Durham called Lance Cpl. Lauterbach's sister concerning the note," Lt. Col. Hill said. "Shortly after this conversation, Lance Cpl. Lauterbach's Mother called Sgt. Durham. Sgt. Durham text messaged a junior member of Lance Cpl. Lauterbach's work section, indicating his belief she was going into an Unauthorized Absence status. There was an ATM withdrawal of $700 from Lance Cpl. Lauterbach's account. The transaction occurred in Jacksonville."

The following day a one-way ticket to El Paso, Texas was purchased in Maria's name at a nearby Greyhound bus station; however, the ticket was never used. 

"On Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, Lance Cpl. Lauterbach failed to report to work. Her leadership began to inquire as to her whereabouts by calling her cell phone. Sgt. Durham physically arrived at her (Maria's) work section and provided the note to her leadership. The command took the extraordinary step of sending [a] representative to her residence, to check to see if she was there. They knocked on the door of Sgt. Durham's residence with no response. There was an elevated concern for her welfare because of the advanced stage of pregnancy. The command requested permission to list Lance Cpl. Lauterbach as a deserter in order to release a DD553 to apprehend her. This was an extraordinary step taken in hope of having her returned so the command could ensure she was receiving the proper medical care. Basically, with a DD553, federal resources could be used to assist in locating her."

Volunteers Use Helicopter in Search for Corrie Anderson

April 27, 2009

The search for Corrie Anderson, a 36-year-old mother of three who disappeared in October 2008, took to the skies in Chautauqua County, N. Y. yesterday, when a group of searchers (click photo to enlarge) boarded a Robinson R44 helicopter and shot photos of the area from above.

The group consisted of Bill Jones, a pilot from H&L Enterprises; Corrie's cousin, Chris Keefe; local photographer Amy Hudson; Post-Journal reporter/photographer Robert Rizzuto; 3 View Search Services team member Walter Perkowski; and Investigation Discovery's David Lohr.

Using high-resolution digital cameras, the group hovered at 500 to 3,000 feet over several areas of interest in the case, and they took some 1,000 photos of the landscape. Those images will be uploaded to a computer at the Aerial Image Corporation in the Purdue Research Park. There, experts will digitally enhance and filter the photos in an attempt to identify anything that looks out of place, such as shapes that might be a body or a new dig site.

The same technology has been successful in other missing person cases, including the search for 36-year-old Charles Rickey - a man who went missing in Carmel, Ind., two years ago. In that case, the search team knew that Rickey was wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans, so they used a computerized photo imaging system to make the color blue in the pictures show up as red. As a result, they were able to locate Rickey's remains in a quarry near 96th St. and the Hazel Dell Pkwy.

Corrie's family is now hoping that the same technology can be used to help them determine what happened to their missing loved one.

"We're crossing our fingers," Corrie's cousin Laurie Keefe told Investigation Discovery. "Hopefully these images can put some pieces of the puzzle together for us."

Meanwhile, Sean Henady, founder of 3 View Search Services, is expected to return to the area within the next two weeks to conduct a sonar search of local waterways. In addition to that search, Corrie's family is planning a second community search, to be announced in the near future. Anyone interested in helping can visit the family's Web site, www.findcorrie.com, or join an Internet group devoted to the case located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/findcorrie.

Corrie Anderson was last seen about 1:10 p.m., on Oct.28, 2008, when she visited her boyfriend at the Lake County Dodge dealership on Washington Street in Jamestown.

Family members reported Corrie missing at about 3:45 p.m. that day, when she failed to show up at her son's school for a meeting. Corrie's blue Dodge Caravan, New York license number CX404, was also missing; however items found at Corrie's house suggest she had made it home some time prior to her disappearance.

On Oct. 30, 2008, a hunter discovered Corrie's car abandoned at a gas well off Kortwright Road in the town of Busti. The location is approximately two miles from Corrie's house. State police recovered the vehicle from the field, and sent it to Batavia for forensic testing.

That night, the New York State Police searched the Celoron, N.Y. home of Corrie's estranged husband, Kenneth Anderson. Investigators reportedly questioned Anderson for several hours; however, what – if anything – they learned is unknown, as the state police has denied a FOIA request for copies of the search warrant.

Police have not called Kenneth Anderson a suspect or person of interest in Corrie's disappearance.

Corrie Anderson is 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, with green eyes and blond hair. She was last seen wearing black corduroy pants, a black leather jacket, and small wire-rimmed glasses. In addition, her keys and purse are also missing. Her purse is described as black, 8” x 8” square, with a G.H. Bass & Company logo.

A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Corrie's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call the New York State Police at (716) 665-3113.

Related Link:
Investigation Discovery: Full Coverage: Corrie Anderson

Photo Credit: Group photo, Group in helicopter and Helicopter: Carla Lohr; Corrie Anderson: Contributed

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Haleigh Who? The forgotten Missing Florida Tot

April 23, 2009

I have received multiple emails in the last few days from readers who are anxious to receive updates on Haleigh Ann Marie Cummings, a 5-year-old girl from Putnam County, Florida, who disappeared in February 2009. It was not my intention to allow this case to fall by the wayside; this has been the case due to the many other missing person cases I have been working on in recent weeks. Nonetheless, it is my intention today to update you on the latest happenings - as slim and far between as they may be.

Before we get into the newest details, I feel that a brief recap is in order for those of you who are not completely familiar with the case.

Haleigh Cummings was last seen in the early-morning hours of Feb. 10, allegedly sleeping in her father's mobile home.

According to John Merchant, a detective with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, police were first notified of the case at about 3:45 a.m., when they received a call from 17-year-old Misty Croslin, the then girlfriend (now wife) of Haleigh's father, 24-year-old Ronald Cummings.

In the call, Croslin said that when she woke up, she discovered that Haleigh was missing and that the back door to the mobile home had been propped open.

"Like, there was a brick on the floor," Croslin said. "Like, when I went to sleep, the door was not like that."

When police arrived at the mobile home in the Hermit's Cove area of Satsuma, they were greeted by a frantic Ronald Cummings. When deputies were finally able to calm him down, he explained that he had last seen his daughter at about 10:00 p.m. that night before he left for work. When he returned home, at about 3:45 a.m., his girlfriend had told him that his daughter was missing.

According to Misty, she had been alone in the house with Haleigh and the child's 3-year-old brother. She said that Haleigh was next to her in the bed when she had fallen asleep; however, when she later woke up to go to the bathroom - minutes before Cummings arrived home from work - she discovered that Haleigh was missing. Her original story has since varied.

Upon receiving the report, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded by activating its Child Abduction Regional Team and, within an hour, over 130 officers from at least 10 county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies were searching for Haleigh.

Drunk Off-Duty Cops Lenient Punishment Angers Erie Clergy

April 22, 2009

Yesterday, Investigation Discovery brought you the story of James Cousins II, a police officer in Erie, PA, who was videotaped at a bar joking about a homicide victim. Since that time, the slap on the wrist punishment that Cousins received has caused many citizens and civil rights groups to demand an independent investigation of the Erie City Police Department and Mayor Joe Sinnott.

"The message they gave us today was a slap in the face," Rev. Curtis Henderson said at a press conference last night. "Especially as we're all trying to move forward."

Henderson's comments were echoed by Rev. Michael T. Williams, who made it clear that the issue was far from being resolved.

"We will not sit idly by without fighting this ruling," Williams said. "We do not plan to be appeased or pacified in any way, shape, form or fashion."

At another press conference held yesterday, National NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said that he had contacted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and asked the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the case.

"We need an independent investigative process, one that has teeth," Jealous said.

The U.S. Attorney General's office has not yet commented on the case. At this time it remains unclear if an actual investigation will take place.

Meanwhile, Cousins is hoping that a letter of apology - addressed to the victim's mother, Yvette Jennings, fellow police officers, the Mayor, and the community - will help put out some of the fires that his actions have started.

Blog Changes

Regular readers will notice that some images and other things appear to be out of whack right now. These issues have occurred as a result of a template switch. Please bear with us while we sort them out. Thanks!

Drunk Erie Cop Receives Slap on Wrist for Dissing Murder Victim

April 21, 2009

A cop in Erie, Pennsylvania, recently left egg on the face of his department after a video was released that shows him drunk and jubilantly joking about a homicide victim. Nonetheless, his actions - as disrespectful and disturbing as they are - were not enough to get him kicked off the force, and he will be welcomed back in less than two weeks.

The video in question was made on the night of April 6 at the Treehouse Tavern in Girard, PA. In it, off-duty patrolman James Cousins II goes off on a profanity-laced rant about 31-year-old Rondale Jennings Sr., a man who was shot and murdered outside an Erie bar on March 28.

"It looked like (expletive) out of a movie. Right in the middle of the (expletive) forehead, right between the (expletive) eyes," James Cousins II says on the video that was posted online. "The mom's right on the scene. They (expletive) lift the (expletive) bag off his face, and (it is) like 'that's him.' We're looking at it like, 'One less drug dealer to deal with. Cool'"

The seven minute video was posted on YouTube by an individual from Australia who was visiting family in the area.

On April 14, Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin was informed about the existence of the video.  As a result, he instructed Erie police Internal-affairs Inspector James DeDionisio to determine whether Cousins' behavior had violated the agency's conduct standards.

Hours later, the brother of the man who posted the video was visited by Cousins and DeDionisio. During the meeting, the man was asked to have his brother remove the video from the Internet and was also allegedly told that the video could result in charges stemming from a federal wiretap violation.

"They were just kind of threatening that they had talked to the DA and that it is a federal wiretap charge, and I must get it off," the brother said in an interview with Erie Times-News.

The Ongoing Search for Missing NY Mom, Corrie Anderson

April 20, 2009

The search for Corrie Anderson, a 36-year-old missing mother of three who disappeared in October 2008, took place in Ashville, NY, this past weekend.

Roughly 400 volunteers showed up to help search for Corrie. According to Corrie's family, the turnout was great, especially given the fact that the entire search was up in the air at this time last week, when another search group pulled out of the search effort. Despite those problems, another group - Indiana-based 3 View Search Services - was able to quickly mobilize and dispatch a team into the area to help manage the search effort.

"We are so grateful for all the support we have received from both the community and this wonderful group of people that came here to assist us on such short notice," Corrie's mother, Vicki Acquisto, told Investigation Discovery. "Without them, I don’t know what we would have done."

On Saturday, the first day of the search, some 250 volunteers showed up at the command center. Those individuals were then broken up into smaller groups of 5-10 people and assigned to pre-qualified team leaders.

Search coordinators began to dispatch teams at 7:30 a.m., and within an hour, each team was on the ground in one of the 31 search zones that had been identified previously as possible areas of interest. By 6:00 p.m., nearly all of the zones had been covered.

Sunday's turnout was somewhat smaller, with approximately 150 volunteers turning out; however, those teams were able to successfully clear several of the remaining zones.

During both days, several teams flagged various items that team leaders considered of interest; however, at this time there is no indication that any of them are related to the case.

In addition to community volunteers, several members of Websleuths.com, an Internet based "Crime Sleuthing Community," showed up to join in the search. Members of that same group were also present during both searches for missing Florida tot Caylee Anthony.

"We searched our hearts out again today, and it was NO picnic," Websleuther "Torsade" wrote on the group's message board. "I think it's safe to tell you that we did NOT find Corrie. I'm so sad about that. Thinking positively, we found areas that Corrie is NOT in. And there were lots of findings that may be forensically important in the future."

Teacher-Student Love Triangle Ends in Murder

April 16, 2009

A bizarre love triangle involving a teacher and two former students in Chandler, AZ, came to a murderous end last week.

The police say they received a 911 call on April 10 from a caller who reported a stabbing in the 2500 block of W. Ironwood in Chandler. When investigators arrived on the scene, they found 18-year-old Samuel Valdivia suffering from an abdominal knife wound. Valdivia was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was admitted into the intensive care unit.

While doctors rushed to save Valdivia's life, investigators tried to piece together the events that led to the stabbing by interviewing two individuals who were present at the scene when they arrived – 20-year-old Sixto Balbuena and 48-year-old Tamara Hofmann (photo here).

During their questioning, investigators discovered that the incident was precipitated by a bizarre love triangle that dated back several years.

After receiving a teaching degree from Arizona State University, Hofmann secured a teaching job at Kyrene Elementary School District, where she remained for a time before transferring to Marcos de Niza High School in 2004, where she taught high school math.

The first inkling of problems surfaced in 2006, when Chandler police found Hofmann in a parked car with Balbuena, who at that time was a 17-year-old student of Hofmann's. According to the report, officers questioned the pair and found Hofmann's bra inside Balbuena's pocket. Police suspected that the two were involved in a sexual relationship; however, they had no other proof and the investigation was closed.

A separate investigation, launched by the principal at Marcos de Niza, resulted in a formal reprimand, a 10-day suspension without pay, and reassignment to another department. According to Hofmann's personnel file, allegations had been made that she had hugged and kissed Balbuena

Hofmann was later removed from her position, at which time she applied to and was hired by Eldorado High School where she met Valdivia.

In the hours before the stabbing, Hofmann called Valdivia's house and spoke with his mother, telling her that she needed to speak to Valdivia regarding something to do with school. Shortly thereafter, Valdivia sneaked out of the house and went to meet Hofmann.

Corrie Anderson Search Set to Begin this Weekend

April 15, 2009

The search for Corrie Anderson, a missing mother of three from Ashville, N.Y., is scheduled to take place this weekend. However, despite previous plans, the search will no longer involve members of the search and recovery group, Texas EquuSearch.

The sudden change in plan remains unclear, but the family is adamant that they will continue forward, as is evident in a press release they sent out late last night.

"Although this news is disappointing to the family, they would like the public to know that all search plans and the schedule remain the same and they still need community support," the press release reads. "It will be a more local effort, not as grand-scale, but still the mission is the same, to search for Corrie. The hunters, farmers, firefighters and citizens that make up our community know this land and we need their help. We truly value and appreciate their support."

The command center for the search will be located at the Ashville Firemen's Training Grounds, in Ashville, NY. Search teams will start getting dispatched at 8:00 am and the search will continue each day until dusk.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the search is asked to show up at the command center or to sign up at www.findcorrie.com.

A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Corrie's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at (716) 665-3113.

Related Link:
Investigation Discovery: Full Coverage: Corrie Anderson

Photo Credit: Contributed

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Florida Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Caylee Anthony Case

April 14, 2009

"The State of Florida hereby notifies the Defendant and the Court that, based upon additional information that has become available since the waiver of intent to seek the penalty of death filed on December 5, 2008, sufficient aggravating circumstances exist to justify the imposition of the Death Penalty pursuant to Florida Statute 921.141, as to this Defendant in this case. Therefore, the state will be seeking the imposition of the Death Penalty, should the Defendant be convicted in the above referenced matter."

What you just read is taken from a "Notice of Intent" that was filed Monday by Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick, in regard to the case against alleged child murderer, Casey Anthony, accused of killing her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony.

Read the Notice of intent

Monday's development comes as a bit of a surprise, as it was just three months ago that prosecutors announced that they would – in the event of a guilty verdict – be seeking life behind bars for Anthony. The notice mentions "sufficient aggravating circumstances"; however, it does not detail what they are.

A full list of aggravating circumstances contained within Florida Statute 921.141 can be found at www.leg.state.fl.us. Chief among them are:

• The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.

• The capital felony was a homicide and committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner, without any pretense of moral or legal justification.

• The victim of the capital felony was a person less than 12 years of age.

Therefore, it is possible that a jury can consider any of the above circumstances, if Anthony is convicted in the first-degree murder of Caylee.

Self-Professed Female Anti-Christ Kills Son and Herself at Florida Shooting Range

April 09, 2009

Some pretty disturbing cases have occurred in Florida in the past year, but an incident that recently occurred in Casselberry, Fla., has got to be one of the most bizarre cases that local law enforcement has ever investigated.

On April 5, 44-year-old Marie Moore and her 20-year-old son Mitchell Moore went to the Shoot Straight Gun Range in Casselberry for an afternoon of target practice – or at least that is what Mitchel was led to believe. Unbeknownst to him, his mother had a much more sinister plan in mind.

After renting two handguns and purchasing ammunition, Moore and her son were led to a booth in the range where they proceeded to take turns shooting at targets. Most of the events that transpired were captured on surveillance video. Nothing on that video seems to suggest an impending tragedy; however, outside appearances can be deceiving, and we now know that Moore was actually biding her time, waiting for the opportune moment to put her plan into action.

At one point, Moore left the booth to purchase additional ammunition. While she was gone, Mitchell continued to shoot at a target down range. Upon Moore's return, mother and son chatted briefly with a man in the next booth. Afterwards, Mitchell refocused his attention on his paper target, unaware that his mother was drawing up her own gun and aiming it directly at his head. Seconds later, Moore fired off a single, execution-style shot into the back of her son's head.

Two Arizona High School Coaches Indicted for Unrelated Sex Crimes

April 08, 2009

There must be something in the water in Apache Junction, Ariz. For the second time in two months, an Apache Junction High School girls' basketball coach has been indicted on charges of sexual misconduct involving a student.

The most recent case, involving 25-year-old Raeanna Jewell, came to light on March 26 when the mother of a 16-year-old student noticed suspicious text messages on her daughter's cell phone. The messages were allegedly sent by Jewell. The exact context of those messages has not yet been released. However, some of the texts purportedly included inappropriate images, a practice commonly referred to as "sexting."

During the course of the investigation, Apache Junction police determined that Jewell had allegedly engaged in inappropriate contact with the teen inside a restroom at the high school gym. Police say that the incidents occurred between Jan. 1 and March 26. Upon completing their investigation, police arrested Jewell on March 29.

The allegations came as a shock to many local residents. Prior to becoming a girls' basketball and softball coach, Jewell was a star basketball player at Washington's Gonzaga University, where, in 2005, she completed her career, having scored over 1,000 points.

"Rae is a dominant force offensively and defensively," former teammate Katie Prichard said in a March 2005 interview with gonzagabulletin.com. "She can drive and pull-up and shoot the lights out at the three-point line. She also has really quick feet and is strong and tough. Rae is a solid contributor and consistent."

The article went on to describe Jewell as an aggressive player with tremendous rebounding skills.

Not Missing in Action

April 07, 2009

Hello Readers,

This is a quick post to let you know that I am not missing in action. I have been working on a few other projects for Investigation Discovery, which I expect to be wrapping up today. Regular postings should resume tomorrow.

Meanwhile, please visit Gary C. King's ID blog, Bizarre Crime of the Week. He has an interesting new article up about Johnson Aziga, a 52-year-old man who recently went to trial in Hamilton, Ontario, for carelessly spreading the virus that causes AIDS. It's a great read!

Regards,

David Lohr

Man Who Allegedly Killed Child with Meat Cleaver Pleads Insanity

April 02, 2009

Before coming to Investigation Discovery, I covered a bizarre case for Crime Library, in which a disturbed man from Ventura County, Calif., was arrested for murdering a child with a meat cleaver. That case has since made its way to court; however the fate of the suspect, 28-year-old Calvin Sharp, remains in limbo, pending a decision on his sanity.

The case in question dates back to Aug. 12, 2007, when Sharp got into a heated argument with a friend, 33-year-old Sandra Ruiz. The crux of the argument centered on Sandra's son, 6-year-old Sev'n Molina [photo here]. Sharp was reportedly angry because he felt the child spent too much time playing video games.

The argument quickly escalated and at one point Sharp allegedly grabbed a meat cleaver and began to wave it about in a threatening manner. Frightened, Sev'n ran out of the apartment to get away from Sharp. Incensed by the boy's actions, Sharp began yelling louder and chased Sev'n outside.

"The little boy was trying to get away. He kept yelling at the boy. He was saying things like die, die, die," neighbor Julia Doryn said in an Aug. 2007 interview with KABC-TV.

Unfortunately, Sev'n was unable to escape. Witnesses say Sharp went into a fit of rage, at which time he brought the meat cleaver down on the child's head. Once the child was incapacitated, Sharp allegedly continued to hack at him with the deadly weapon.

At one point, Sandra attempted to intervene and brazenly put herself between Sharp and her son. Her actions did manage to momentarily distract him; however Sharp quickly refocused his anger and Sandra was unable to escape the swinging cleaver. After slicing Sandra, Sharp again focused his anger on the child and continued to hack at his skull.

Sandra's screams managed to alert her neighbor, Patrick Bowman, who also attempted to intervene, but was unable to get the child away from Sharp. Unsure what to do, Patrick ran into an apartment and called police. While Patrick was on the phone, another neighbor, 53-year-old Diane Cox, ran up and confronted Sharp. An argument ensued, during which Sharp attacked Diane with the cleaver - cutting her face. Undeterred, Cox knocked the cleaver from Sharp's hand, at which point another neighbor tackled him to the ground.

Human Remains Positively Identified as Jeffrey Scott Howard

According to venturacountystar.com, human remains found inside a car on March 29, have been positively identified as Jeffrey Scott Howard, a 42-year-old resident of Thousand Oaks, CA, who went missing in Dec. 2006.

Jeffrey's father, Stan Howard, said that investigators are uncertain as to a cause of death; however it is believed to be accidental.

A funeral service for Jeffrey is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday in Westlake Village.

Related Links:
The Mysterious Disappearance of Jeffrey Scott Howard
Startling New Development in Two-Year-Old Missing Person Case

Photo Credit: Thaya Howard

Family of Kelly Currin Morris Seeks Custody of Granddaughter

April 01, 2009

A hearing to determine custody of Kelly Currin Morris's 5-year-old daughter was dismissed by a Durham County, N.C., judge on Monday after Kelly's father, Pat Currin, showed up at the hearing with a team of high-profile attorneys.

Monday's hearing was instigated by an attorney representing Kelly's husband, William "Scott" Morris.

In January, a judge granted Morris temporary custody of his daughter. The following month, Morris's attorney placed a legal notice in a Durham County newspaper, which stated that Kelly had 40 days to respond to the custody complaint. That time limit expired, and Monday's hearing was scheduled to resolve the issue.

At Monday's hearing, the Currin family filed a motion to vacate the current order. They also asked for emergency custody of their grandchild. The Currins' attorney cited several factors, including the fact that Morris had filed the custody action in a county adjacent to the one where both he and his daughter lived. The Currins believe that Morris did so in an attempt to keep them from having knowledge of the hearing.

The motion also contained police documents regarding Kelly's disappearance, the arson fire that destroyed her home, and the relationship that she had had with Morris in the months leading up to her disappearance.

"The defendant, William Scott Morris, was named a 'person of interest' in the pending investigation according to Granville County Sheriff David Smith," read court papers filed by the Currin family. "…During the months prior to Kelly Currin Morris's disappearance, the Defendant engaged in a pattern of emotional abuse directed toward Kelly and both her children ... Based upon information and belief, William Scott Morris is the primary suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Kelly Currin Morris, and may be arrested on charges related to her disappearance at any time. It will not be in the best interest of the minor child for her to be present when this occurs. Based upon facts and circumstances set out in the search warrant application, there is at least some probability that Jimmy Morris, the father of the Defendant, with whom the Defendant is residing, was also involved in Kelly's disappearance."

Startling New Development in Two-Year-Old Missing Person Case

Last month, I brought you the case of Jeffrey Scott Howard, a 42-year-old resident of Thousand Oaks, CA, who went missing in Dec. 2006. That case is now making headlines again, with a revelation by police that two hikers have made a startling discovery in Zuma Canyon.

The mystery into Jeffrey's disappearance began on Dec. 21, 2006, when Jeffrey's wife, Thuc Howard, awoke sometime after midnight to tend to their infant child. When she went to bed at 2:30 am, she found Jeffrey sleeping on the couch. She awoke him and asked him to come to bed, at which time he complained of a severe headache. Thuc suggested he take some aspirin and a glass of milk. Jeffrey followed her instructions and returned to bed with her; however when she awoke again at 5:00 am, he was gone. His 2003 Hyundai Elantra sedan was also missing.

"Other than his car, all he had was the clothes on his back and his wallet, which contained about $80 in cash," Jeffrey's mother, Thaya Howard, said in a March 2009 interview with Investigation Discovery. "The police first thought he got into an accident, but they searched the entire area and found no sign of his car. Later, they began to speculate about suicide, but he wasn’t the type. He is a very responsible person. It is not something that he would logically believe in at all. He also has a deep sense of responsibility for his wife and daughter. He loves his little daughter, so it is inconceivable to me that he would pack up and leave. I believe that is what they now think, but why if that were the case why didn’t he plan ahead? I mean nothing has been used - not any of his bank cards, his identification or his social security card."