[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Follow Pat's daily coverage of the Stephanie Lazarus Trial. Read her Bio >> ]
Former LAPD detective turned accused killer, Stephanie Lazarus, never looks up from the counsel table in the Los Angeles courtroom where she is being tried for the murder of Sherri Rasmussen 26 years ago. The defendant keeps head down and pen in hand— making constant notations, reviewing documents and evaluating the photographic evidence that is shown on a laptop computer on the table—almost as if this once respected cop was investigating her own murder case. I’ve never seen her make eye contact with the jury…not even when her defense attorney Mark Overland is addressing the court.
The only real glimpse one gets of Stephanie Lazarus comes when she is being brought into the courtroom from the lockup where she is held until proceedings begin each day. When she entered on Wednesday morning, Lazarus smiled warmly at her husband, LAPD detective Scott Young who is seated in the right front row of the courtroom, clutching a bible. Young seems loyal to a fault
Equally loyal is the victim’s family, parents Nels and Loretta Rasmussen, and sister Teresa Lane. They’re seated in the middle of the courtroom. As a matter of courtesy today, they were forewarned by prosecutors that upcoming autopsy photos could be quite devastating. The Rasmussen family had the option to leave the courtroom. They stayed.
Then came the compelling testimony of Dr. Susan Selser of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. “This individual suffered many injuries”, said Deputy District Attorney Paul Nunez.
That would be an understatement.
Through graphic pictures and the testimony of Dr. Selser, who performed the autopsy on Rasmussen’s body, the prosecution laid out the details of a horrific murder. They insist the murder was motivated by Lazarus’ jealousy and revenge---NOT by a burglary gone wrong as the LAPD had concluded more than two and half decades ago.
A large screen depicted a graphic, close up shot of Rasmussen’s chest with three bullet holes. Each one of them fatal, according to Dr. Selser. The bullets penetrated the heart, lungs and spinal cord. All of them were fired at close range. One of the gunshot wounds was particularly disturbing. Dr. Selser testified that black soot and abrasions around the outside of the wound were consistent with a “contact gunshot “. That means the muzzle of the weapon was placed right up against the body—then fired. In this case, right in the middle of the chest.
According to testimony, Sherri Rasmussen had at least 50 other wounds on her body, including contusions, abrasions and lacerations. Her hands, face and skull were riddled with wounds. Dr. Selser testified that Rasmussen suffered blunt force trauma. One wonders if the athletic Rasmussen, who stood 6’ tall and weighed 150 pounds, tried desperately to fight off her attacker.
Dr. Selser testified that wounds on Rasmussen’s wrists were consistent with those caused by a rope or cord. Prosecutors contend Rasmussen may have been tied up by her assailant.
But the prosecution’s most damning evidence may be that of a particular injury pattern found on Rasmussen’s left arm. Dr. Selser identified the wound as being consistent with a bite mark. It was a brutal one--- characterized by bruising and abrasion caused by hemorrhaging of tissue. Dr. Selser testified that the bite mark occurred at the time of death.
Prosecutors are resting a big part of their case on that bite mark, which didn’t undergo DNA testing until nearly two decades after the murder, when the case was reopened. Prosecutors believe without a doubt, the bite mark belongs to Lazarus. The defense will try to prove that the integrity of the physical evidence was compromised while in the chain of custody.
Photo Credit - Former Los Angeles Police Officer Stephanie Lazarus with her attorney Mark Overland at Los Angeles Superior hearing Wednesday, July 29, (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Follow Pat's daily coverage of the Stephanie Lazarus Trial. Read her Bio >> ]
Watching bloody crime scene photos never gets any easier. Images of 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen’s beaten body, gunned down in the living room of her Los Angeles townhome flashed across a giant courtroom screen…three bullet holes in her chest…her statuesque frame lying lifeless on the ground. Her arms were positioned upward as if she were desperately trying to ward off a spray of bullets. I can see the anguish on Nels and Loretta Rasmussen’s faces. They are seated just inches away in the row behind me. Losing their daughter back in 1986, at the hands of a vicious murderer, seems to hurt as much today as ever.
On Tuesday, the prosecution in the murder trial of former LAPD detective Stehpanie Lazarus used crime scene photographs to try and paint a murderous portrait of jealousy, rage and revenge. The key motivation behind Lazarus’ ruthless vendetta, they say.
Prosecutors contend that while Lazarus was a young patrol officer 26 years ago, she murdered Rasmussen, the new bride of Lazarus’ ex-boyfriend, John Ruetten. Back then homicide investigators concluded the murder was the result of a botched burglary attempt. They based their decision on among other things, stereo equipment left at the bottom of a staircase and the drawer of a living room table that had been flung open. Other robberies in the same neighborhood solidified the burglary theory. Cops believed the suspects were two males.
Prosecutors on Tuesday, through a series of photographs tried to paint an entirely different picture. One of personal revenge. A photograph depicted speaker wires and a white blood stained rope that prosecutors believe Lazarus used to tie up Rasmussen. Another shows broken fingernails lying on the ground near the front door. Shelves on an entertainment center were collapsed. A lamp was knocked over. A ceramic vase crashed on the floor. It was a violent struggle. Prosecutors believe Sherri Rasmussen, who stood 5’10” tried desperately to defend herself from Lazarus whom she knew. Family members contend that Lazarus had harassed Rasmussen on many occasions while she was still alive.
The next photograph showed evidence that was essentially ignored by the lead detective in the case back in 1986. It was a distinct bite mark on Sherri’s left inner forearm. A swab of saliva was taken and the evidence was stored away in the Coroner’s office.
Back then a second detective on the case opined that a bite mark is more symbolic of the work of a female accomplice. The lead detective dismissed the theory, insisting it was a burglary. (The jury hasn’t yet heard this part.) Twenty years after the fact new DNA analysis revealed the bite bark was in fact that of a woman. Prosecutors told the jury there is a 1 in 1.7 sextillion chance that the DNA belongs to someone besides Lazarus. “That’s 17 followed by 20 zeros”, says Prosecutor Shannon Presby.
Lazarus defense attorney Mark Overland is trying to prove that faulty memories on the part of witnesses, shoddy police work and compromised physical evidence will create all the reasonable doubt a jury needs.
Photo Credit: Former Los Angeles Police Officer Stephanie Lazarus with her attorney Mark Overland at Los Angeles Superior hearing Wednesday, July 29, (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Here's his take on the recent horrific crime making headline news this week. Read his Bio >> ]
A little past noon on Sunday, February 5, 2012, Joshua Powellmurdered his children, Braden, 5, and Charlie, 7,and took his own life in a deliberately set gas explosion. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the explosion that destroyed Powell’s Puyallup, Washington home was the result of a murder-suicide. Moments before the explosion took the lives of Powell and his children he sent emails to his attorney, family and friends saying, “I’m sorry, goodbye.” In voicemails left to relatives Powell said, I am not able to live without my sons.”
Autopsy results of the children later revealed that they perished of smoke inhalation; however, both boys had been attacked with a hatchet. Charles suffered a hatchet wound to the neck and younger brother Braden had been struck in the neck and head by Powell. According to autopsies, hatchet wounds were not the cause of death of either child. It is speculated by authorities that after failing to kill the children with his hatchet, Powell ignited a five gallon can of gasoline at their feet and the explosion that followed caused their deaths.
Powelllost custody of his children following the disappearance of his wife Susan in December 2009 when the investigation led to the discovery of child pornography in the family home. Powell’s father Steven was charged in the crime and was in custody at the time of the blast.
A custody battle raged between Powell and his missing wife’s parents Charles and Judith Cox who were given custody of the children following the grandfather’s arrest. A petition to regain custody filed in a Washington State Superior Court was dismissed and Powell was ordered to be examined for psycho-sexual disorders.
Early Sunday afternoon a contract worker for the state delivered the two little boys to the Powell home for a scheduled, supervised visit. Apparently the children ran ahead of the case worker and Powell, who had been waiting outside, brought the boys into the house and locked the door behind them. The case worker knocked on the door and smelled gas, but Powell never answered. Apparently Powell attacked the children with his hatchet as soon as they entered the residence. As the case worker was notifying her supervisor that Powell was alone with the children, the house exploded in a fireball, killing everyone inside. The bodies of the children were found in a central room with their father.
According to CBS News, the children recently had begun to relate additional details regarding the disappearance of their mother Susan, 28. Powell always maintained that his wife had walked away from the marriage when he and the children went on an impromptu camping excursion on a snowy, frozen Utah night in late 2009. However, in published reports the boys told investigators that on the night of their mother’s disappearance, she had accompanied them “in the trunk” and later she walked into the desert with Powell. When he returned alone, he is alleged to have told the children that “mommy got lost.”
With these revelations and presuming their veracity, it is easy to speculate that the single-most important witnesses in the disappearance of Susan Powell have been silenced. The murders of these children are inexplicable, except that perhaps their father did not want them to testify against him in a criminal court. Consider that Powell has been described as a narcissist and recently had been ordered to undergo a court-ordered psycho-sexual evaluation. Given the recent revelations of the children, Powell surely was threatened with being charged as a murder suspect. He may have seen no other way out than to murder the children and himself. The witnesses against him are now forever silenced and he will never be tried for killing his wife as the children’s statements clearly infer.
West Valley, Utah police have issued a statement that they are not yet sure how these developments will impact the investigation into the disappearance of Susan Powell. Josh Powell had always been a point of interest in the disappearance of his wife and all roads lead directly to him, according to investigators. And now, but to find Susan Powell, there is little left to do but bury the children.
Powell explosion credit: Pierce County Sheriff's deputies and Graham Firefighters work around the smoldering remains of a house near Fredrickson, Wash., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, where, according to a sheriff's spokesman, three bodies were were found. The bodies are believed to be Josh Powell and his two sons. The explosion occurred moments after a Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to the home for a supervised visit. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Susan Powell credit: A flier seeking information on the whereabouts of Susan Powell, who was reported missing Dec. 7, 2009, in Utah, is shown, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at a press conference in Puyallup, Wash. Powell's family said Thursday they are saddened but not surprised that her husband Josh Powell has been named a person of interest in the investigation. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Josh Powell credit: In this Aug. 23, 2011 file photo, Josh Powell, husband of missing Utah woman Susan Cox Powell, walks to a court hearing in Tacoma, Wash. An explosion at a Washington state home has killed Josh Powell and the couple's two young sons, officials said Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Follow Pat's daily coverage of the Stephanie Lazarus Trial. Read her Bio >> ]
>>Day 1 of The Stephanie Lazarus Murder Trial<<
“A bite, a bullet, a gun barrel and a broken heart.” That is the essence of the prosecution’s case against once revered LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus, now on trial for the brutal murder of a beautiful nursing supervisor 26 years ago. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Shannon Presby passionately delivered his opening statement Monday morning to a jury of 8 women and 4 men. “This killing was personal”, he told the panel.
Presby portrayed Lazarus as a ruthless killer, obsessed over a case of unrequited love. In 1986, Lazarus was a patrol officer who prosecutors say was devastated over a breakup with her boyfriend, John Ruetten. When Ruetten married another woman, 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen, Presby says Lazarus showed up at Rasmussen’s townhome, brutally beat the newlywed, bit her on the arm and shot her three times at close range. Prosecutors say Lazarus, trained in lock picking, snuck into the home. They also contend that Lazarus used a gun she had purchased from the LAPD and utilized her police knowledge of fingerprints to destroy evidence at the crime scene. Presby also contends that Lazarus used a robe to muffle the sound of gunshots.
At the time, LAPD detectives concluded the crime was a burglary gone wrong. Lazarus continued as a police officer and worked her way up the ranks—ultimately becoming a detective in the LAPD elite Commercial Crimes division. She married a fellow cop and they adopted a little girl.
The case remained unsolved for nearly two decades, until cold case detectives took a second look. Now, using DNA analysis, they determined the bite mark belonged to a woman. Upon further analysis, Presby told the jury the DNA “matched to the exclusion of every other single person on this planet”.
As Presby laid out his case, photographs of a smiling Sherri Rasmussen flashed on a giant screen. They quickly dissolved into images of her battered body. Her father Nels, sitting behind me, broke into tears.
Lazarus didn’t look up from the counsel table where she is seated with her attorney Mark Overland. Her hair was neatly pulled back. She wore a black suit and glasses as she pored over documents and took notes. It was easy to imagine her as a diligent detective. She has the look. Except now, she is a murder defendant.
Overland used the morning in his opening statement to dispute the reliability of the evidence against Lazarus. He told the jury that over the years, the bite mark DNA has been compromised by a questionable chain of custody. “It violated every procedure”, Overland said. He showed the jury pictures of a torn evidence bag and an unsealed tube. In Overland’s words, “the prosecution utterly failed to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt. Not even close.”
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Here's his take on the recent sex crimes against children making headline news today. Read his Bio >> ]
Recent headlines have been filled with news regarding the arrests of teachers for the alleged sexual abuse of children. For example, football coach Jerry Sandusky of Penn State dominated these sensational stories late last year beginning with reports of a co-worker who saw Sandusky rape a 10 year-old boy. Since the original allegations were made, others have come forward with similar accusations. Sandusky is currently awaiting trial on fifty-two counts relating to the sexual abuse of twelve children.
Here in California, two teachers from Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles recently were arrested in separate cases. Police allege that Mark Berndt, 61, had sexually abused as many as twenty-three children during his thirty-two year career. According to published reports, complaints about inappropriate sexual contact between Berndt and elementary school children date back as far as 1990. It was unclear what actions the school district may have taken during that period, but Berndt was not arrested based on student allegations until recently.
Martin Springer of Miramonte Elementary was arrested on Friday, February 3, 2012, for allegedly fondling a 7 year-old girl. The police statement announcing the arrest suggested there were two victims, but more specifics were not given. Springer and Berndt worked together and were involved in school functions and recently it was alleged that at least one of the victims was shared in 2008. The shared victim, a young girl, reported separate incidents to her parents who notified police; however, the parents never heard back from authorities and the parents took no further action.
Neng Yang recently pled “not guilty” to forty-five counts of child molestation and recording the abuse while he served as a teacher at an elementary school in Clovis, California. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office charges that Yang sexually assaulted a seven year-old girl and photographed the acts on his cell phone. Yang has also been charged in Federal Court for producing child pornography.
Recently I was asked by a NBC News affiliate if child molestation by teachers was on the rise, and I responded with a sound-bite: probably not, but reporting the crimes was substantially up. Whereas this is true, the real answer is much more complicated than that. To begin with, no one really has any idea how much child sexual abuse is going on.
The FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report is limited by what the states’ Attorneys General reports to them. The states’ Attorneys General data is limited by what the local and state police tell them is reported on the official record. You can see the actual number of crimes dwindling already. There are also cases that never make it to the courts for “insufficient evidence” but for the victims’ statements and those crimes never reported to the police by the parents or school. Remember that we as a society have “hushed-up” past crimes such as these to avoid scandal. In handling past offenders, a sex predator teacher might be dismissed quietly and, thereafter, teach at another school to molest children again. With none paying attention to the crimes, they go unnoticed, unreported, and ignored; thus, the child molester will strike again. And that truly is a tragedy.
To make matters worse, the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (US Department of Justice), is a massive undertaking to determine anonymously how much crime really occurs in the United States, reported and not. However, the NCVS does not collect information from anyone who is a crime victim under the age of twelve. Therefore, incredibly, child sexual abuse is largely unaccounted for in US crime statistics and the offense is ignored by those responsible for crime accounting in America.
The problem as I see it is this: no one is really listening to the children. Even if they do what they should and tell their parents about abuse, do the parents report it to the police? Are the police and the courts handling the matter responsibly? Not always, is the unsettling answer to both questions. And what of the school districts? It may be telling that the complaints against one of the Miramonte defendants go back at least two decades and nothing effective was done by the school district to stop the abuse. At this writing, at least one law suit has been filed charging as much. As for the federal government, the NCVS is not interested in child sexual abuse victims and it hasn’t been interested since its inception. Thus, the crimes committed by child molesters do not exist in the eyes of our own government.
In the end, if one truly wants to ferret out child sexual abuse by teachers, perhaps it’s best to begin by starting at home and having a chat with those under your own roof.
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on a Tinsel Town case where truth is definitely stranger then fiction. Read her Bio >> ]
This is a true crime story involving three countries, Nazi conspiracies, Jim Morrison’s former home, fraud, Tantric massage, and an arsonist on the loose near the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This of course, is Los Angeles where truth is stranger than fiction.
53 year old German national Dorothee Burkhart was arrested last December 28 in Hollywood, California. She’s wanted back in Germany on 16 counts of fraud and three counts of embezzlement involving shoddy real estate scams and skipping out on a $10,000 bill for breast augmentation.
Upon her arrest, Dorothee’s devoted 24 year old son Harry appeared traumatized. At his mother’s hearing in Federal court in downtown Los Angeles, Harry railed on the judge—threw F-bombs and insults at the United States—and professed his undying hatred for each and every American.
Dorothee’s arrest was a long time coming. In 2007 she was in police custody in Germany. After suffering chest pains, authorities brought Dorothee to a hospital for examination. She escaped through a window and ran to a train station.
Since then, mother and son have carved out a vagabond lifestyle that spanned three countries…Germany, Canada (where the pair was cared for by members of the Mennonite community) and by 2010, the United States. Dorothee and Harry had most recently been living in a modest Hollywood apartment building. No one is certain what either does for a living, but Dorothee is linked to a service that provides “professional” body massages. “Doctor sexologist and tantra goddess” reads the website advertisement.
By all accounts, the two were inseparable. Harry appeared childlike and suffered from myriad mental disorders. Dorothee’s sole mission was to fiercely protect her son from anyone who sought to do him harm.
Just after Dorothee’s December arrest, Los Angeles went up in flames. A good chunk of it anyway. 51 arson fires were set over a four day period—between December 30th and January 2nd. Most of the fires started in parking garages, but many spread to nearby buildings including the former home of legendary Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison. No one was seriously injured but the fires caused more than three million dollars in damage. Firefighters were hard pressed to keep up. Cops were on high alert. The city was terrorized. The elusive arsonist was even torching the famed Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex near the iconic Walk of Fame. L.A. residents and throngs of tourists here for the New Year’s holiday were terrorized. Angelinos had not seen a rash of fires like this since the infamous Los Angeles riots of 1992.
Police released surveillance tape from one of the fire scenes. It showed the face of the man they suspected was starting the blazes. Not long after, a keen eyed deputy U.S. Marshall recognized that face when the surveillance video was shown on television. He was certain it was the same young man he had witnessed in federal court a few days earlier displaying the-anti America tirade. Federal agents and L.A. arson investigators joined forces and soon identified the suspect.Harry Burkhart.
In the early morning hours of January 2nd, reserve Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Shervin Lalezary spotted Harry Burkhart on Sunset Boulevard driving a blue minivan with Canadian plates. Fire-starting materials were found in the van. Burkhart was taken into custody. Later, investigators found newspaper clippings about the fires in Burkhart’s apartment. Police believe Burkhart, distraught over his mother’s arrest and potential deportation, set the fires in retaliation.
On Tuesday, Harry Burkhart pleaded not guilty to 100 arson-related counts in connection with 49 fires that erupted in Hollywood, West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. If convicted of all charges he faces 80 years in prison. In defense of her son, Dorothee displayed her own dramatic outbursts, blaming German Nazi’s for the fires. She insists that she and her son have been the target of a Nazi conspiracy that has spanned ten years.
For mother and son the separation is torment. It’s been three weeks since they have spoken. Harry is being held in county jail on $7.5 million dollars bail. He is also suspected of arson in Germany and being investigated for similar crimes in Canada. His next hearing is March 1 in Los Angeles.
Dorothee is in the custody of federal authorities and is due back in court February 7th. A lawyer is trying to arrange a meeting between them.
A German lawyer, who once represented Dorothee, described this mother-son relationship as mutually dependent. He told the Los Angeles Times, “They were somehow like one, that one could not exist without the other, all they had was the other one.” At least for now, Dorothee Burkhart’s dreams of protecting her troubled son have been reduced to ashes.
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In this image taken from video released on Jan. 2, 2012 by OnScene.tv, arson suspect Harry Burkhart, 24, a German national, is arrested in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Burkhart was pulled over by a reserve sheriff's deputy and later booked for investigation of arson of an inhabited dwelling. Since the arrest, firefighters have not responded to any other suspicious fires. Police declined to reveal any motive for more than 50 fires that have occurred since Friday in Hollywood, neighboring West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, causing about $3 million in damage. (AP Photo/OnScene.tv)
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Read his Bio >> ]
Justice was swift indeed. It was just before Christmas, on December 2, 2011, that Ryan Brunn lured 7 year-old Jorelys Rivera into a vacant apartment in Canton, Georgia where he raped, tortured and murdered her. Thereafter, Brunn placed Rivera’s body in a garbage bag and then discarded her remains in a nearby trash compactor. When police responded to the report of a missing child they were told how little Jorelys left for home a few hours earlier to get sodas for her friends. She never returned.
According to published reports, Canton Police and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office have come under fire for mishandling the case. In retrospect, at the time, why would the police take the disappearance of a 7 year-old girl seriously? Jorelys’ mother Joselinne routinely let the children go unsupervised and the girl was probably just hiding at a friend’s house. Besides, other little girls have gone missing from this apartment complex and they reappeared. It was just another day at the office and surely nothing happened to Jorelys. It’s just a waiting game in which the child surely will reappear and life will go on.
Police Chief Jeff Lance took a morning off during the search, which in my experience isn’t necessarily a bad thing during a murder investigation. Chiefs who “take over” murder investigations are more often in the way, than not; however, Chief Lance was considered too laid back in his handling of the incident and ultimately lost his job. Still, murder investigations should be handled by murder investigators, not executive policymakers; even in towns with as few as 50 police employees and a handful of detectives. Common sense dictates as much in any case. Whether the chief was there or not, little Jorelys lie dead in a dumpster of the apartment complex where she had lived and where her murderer worked as a laborer. Nothing Lance might do could change that.
In time, little Jorelys was found. Days had passed since she was murdered. By then Brunn had surfaced as the prime suspect. He was arrested and soon thereafter confessed, to the surprise of friends and relatives who publicly had maintained his innocence. Brunn later testified before the judge who sentenced him that he lured the little girl into an apartment, raped her and then cut her. When she didn’t die fast enough, Brunn beat her to death. And then he discarded her small body in a trash compactor.
However, Brunn had failed to consider how long it would be before the trash would be collected. It was just another day at the office for the apartment complex laborer and he had not given a thought to trash pick-up schedules. For investigators, this would be a break. Little Jorelys lay in the apartment trash for 3 days as police searched all around her.
In the end, Brunn pled guilty to Murder and was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was transferred to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson where he was evaluated and found not to be a suicide risk. Brunn was then placed in a cell by himself and no precautions were taken to safeguard him from harm. After all, it was just another day at the office at the Georgia State Prison and no precautions should be necessary. Brunn’s body was found hanging in his cell, dead of a suicide less than 50 days after he murdered Jorelys Rivera.
And meanwhile an angry Georgia public, outraged over the death of a child, blames local police for inaction. According to the autopsy, little Jorelys was already dead by the time Canton Police were notified that she was missing. And nothing that the police might have done will change that, except one thing. There will never be just another day at the office in Canton, Georgia ever again.
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on the next biggest Tinsel Town case. Read her Bio >> ]
Hollywood script writers weave some fascinating tales here in Tinsel Town. But it’s the sensational real life stories that make the most compelling, and might I add, salacious dramas. One is about to unfold in a Los Angeles courtroom on January 30. It’s been years in the making but it’s one of the most highly anticipated trials in Los Angeles history.
Stephanie Lazaruswas indeed one of L.A.’s finest. She was a decorated detective with the LAPD, working cases in the department’s elite art theft unit. She had done her time as a respected patrol officer and ultimately worked her way up the ranks. By 2009, Detective Lazarus was a 25 year police veteran….AND to the shock of her colleagues at the LAPD, a suspect in the horrific murder of a young bride.
In 1986, 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen was on top of the world. The pretty hospital administrator was a dedicated health care worker and newlywed. John Ruetten, an engineer, was the love of her life. But it wasn’t long after their marriage, that Sherri, according to friends and family, complained that she was being harassed and threatened by John’s ex-girlfriend….a young patrol officer with the LAPD named Stephanie Lazarus. Reportedly, Lazarus showed up nearly everywhere Sherri went.
Friends say the situation became incredibly stressful –her family even concedes that Sherri harbored suspicions that her husband’s relationship with Lazarus wasn’t completely severed. There was a feeling that John Ruetten wasn’t doing enough to stop Lazarus from tormenting his wife.
In February, 1986 John Ruetten came home from work to find his young bride on the floor, beaten and shot to death. There were signs of a desperate struggle—blood was everywhere. It didn’t take long for detectives working the case to draw their conclusion. They believed Sherri was the victim of a botched robbery attempt. Detectives based their conclusion on the fact that electronic equipment had been moved around in the townhouse. Another unsuccessful robbery had occurred in the same neighborhood and that solidified their theory.
Stephanie Lazarus carried on her duties as an officer of the law. She married another cop and adopted a child. Lazarus was apparently NEVER considered a suspect. Sherri’s grief stricken dad claims he begged police to look at Lazarus. He insists his pleas fell on deaf ears. Neighbors and many of Sherri’s friends say they were never interviewed by investigators. (The lead detective on the case, who is now retired, denies that he was ever informed about Lazarus, and claims he did hundreds of interviews.) The case went cold.
More than two decades later, detectives took a new look at the Sherri Rasmussen case. They did new DNA testing on a saliva sample lifted from a bite mark on Sherri’s arm. They were shocked to learn that the saliva came from a WOMAN!
Detectives discreetly began trailing Detective Lazarus –lifting DNA from a cup and straw she used. Turns out, the DNA matched indisputably! It was a disturbing revelation for detectives who were forced now to consider that their friend and colleague may be a cold-blooded” killer with a badge”. And they would have to be the ones to arrest her. That would require some trickery.
In June of 2009, Detective Lazarus was working at her desk at LAPD headquarters, just down the hall from the homicide unit. Investigators working the Sherri Rasmussen murder case told Lazarus that a suspect in an art theft case was waiting to speak with her downstairs. The unsuspecting detective rushed down the elevator and through the metal detector where she had to remove her gun---at that very moment, Lazarus’ fellow police officers were forced to handcuff one of their own. Lazarus was stunned. The once respected and admired detective was now a murder suspect, locked behind bars with bail set at $10 million dollars. Two and half decades after the brutal murder of Sherri Rasmussen, jury selection will begin on January 30th,in downtown Los Angeles in the People vs. Stephanie Ilene Lazarus case.
Apart from the critical DNA evidence from the saliva, prosecutors have built a substantial circumstantial case...evidence that Lazarus was obsessed with John Ruetten and was unwilling to give him up. Also, around the time of the murder, Lazarus had reported that her department issued weapon was stolen. And reportedly, the only thing missing from the crime scene was Sherri’s car and her marriage certificate.
John Ruetten has been for the most part silent, since the murder of his wife 26 years ago. According to Sherri’s dad, Ruetten did admit to having sex with Lazarus while engaged to his daughter... but Ruetten has been ruled out as a suspect and friends and family don’t believe he had anything to do with Sherri’s murder.
Lazarus’s attorney, Mark Overland cautions anyone who considers this case a slam dunk. When I spoke to him today, following a pre-trial hearing he told me, “The saliva that was tested is of no evidentiary value. We will prove that in court. It was not kept as it should have been and was subject to contamination.”
As for the allegations that Lazarus stalked her alleged victim Overland says, “It never happened.” When I asked him if he had any thoughts about who killed Sherri he simply states, “I do.” Overland assured me my questions would be addressed in his opening statements.
For prosecutors also preparing for one L.A.’s most high profile murder trials, Stephanie Lazarus once wore the elite badge of the LAPD, but in her case, that badge covered the heart of a killer.
[ Aphrodite Jones gives her perspective on the latest Casey Anthony news. Check in for her regular reports. Read her Bio >> ]
The biggest thing that struck me about Casey's revelation to psychiatrists was her statement: "I'll be damned if I'm going to take responsibility for this!" Insistent that George was the culprit, Casey concocted a few variations about how it was George who either found Cayleein the pool -- or perhaps drowned her in the pool -- and was adamant that she was not going to take the blame for her Father's misdeeds. Still, wasn't it her responsibility to call the police -- to get help for her daughter and report the crime or "accident?"
In her typical style, Casey had a number of answers for not calling 911.
>>She FEARED her Dad because of years of alleged sexual abuse, and was told by George that "Daddy will take care of it."
>>She was numb and in shock when George handed her daughter over to her -- wet and motionless.
>>She wanted to believe Caylee would still be "okay" somehow -- and hoped that after Daddy would "take Care" of Caylee, she might still be alive.
To this I say: huh?
All of this insanity leads me to ask the obvious question: is Casey Anthony crazy? Is she a sociopath? The immediate answer that comes to mind is YES. But the psychiatrists who evaluated her in jail said she was no such thing. One shrink called her a "puzzlement." Neither of the doctors could understand why Casey was appearing "upbeat" and "cheerful" throughout her evaluations. In my view, she's a sick and twisted woman who, while crazy, is also smart enough to have outwitted her parents, her friends, the justice system, AND the trained medical experts around her. No wonder she smiled so much.
Only time will tell when that smile will get pulled off her wicked face...
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Read his Bio >> ]
Nervously fidgeting in a hot Lima courtroom, Joran Van der Slootlistened to his sentence at the end of a 2-hour hearing. The 3-judge panel sentenced Van der Sloot to spend 28 years in prison and pay $74,000 in reparations to the heirs of his victim Stephany Flores. The 2-hour hearing listed the charges and overviewed facts of the case. In the end, Van der Sloot was found guilty of the most serious crime of Qualified Murder, which is “murder for profit or pleasure.” Additionally, he was also found guilty of Simple Robbery for stealing the victim’s money, credit cards and vehicle after the murder. Van der Sloot was given credit for time already served, and will be released 28 years from the date of his arrest, on June 10, 2038. Once he's released from prison, he will be deported.
On January 11, 2012, Van der Sloot pled guilty and offered a “sincere confession” to the judges. Perhaps it was his smirking, his overt condescension of the proceedings, or perhaps it was his yawning throughout the hearing a few days before. The judges must not have believed the defendant’s sincerity in his brief statement of remorse (“I feel bad”). Or perhaps it was the way he beamed at the judges after pleading guilty to the brutal beating and strangulation of Stephany Flores. Perhaps the judges saw the happy, jubilant Van der Sloot as being prideful of his acts. And perhaps the judges were very correct in doing so. Van der Sloot offered the world a master’s class in how not to behave in a courtroom if one actually expects leniency. It rivals the American trial of Bob Ward, whose daughters pled for leniency in statements laced with profanities.
The judge chairing the panel sat behind a large crucifix on the bench, which is more than a little ironic. Jesus appeared as a criminal defendant only once in his short life and it did not work out well for him. Most scholars agree that the sentence he received was unjust, the charges trumped up, the witnesses false. Prominently displaying the image of an unjustly treated defendant in a modern courtroom probably is not the best message a panel of judges can convey. Nevertheless, by all appearances, on this day a criminal defendant was rightfully sentenced and justice was done
Consider that it was possible the judges in the Flores murder trial could have reduced Van der Sloot’s sentence to as little as 7 years. Instead, the sentenced was mitigated only 2 years from the maximum. Therefore, the sentence was reduced for what the sincere confession was worth. In America, we learn of this news with some satisfaction, knowing that the suspected murderer of Natalee Holloway has come to justice somewhere; however, at the cost of the life of another victim. There may be justice for Stephanie Flores today but it is likely there will never be justice for Natalee Holloway
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Read his Bio >> ]
Unable to refrain from smirking at the all-woman three judge panel, Joran Van der Sloot pled guilty to Murder today in Lima, Peru. He was charged in the June 2010 murder of Stephany Flores, a 21 year-old student and daughter of a prominent Peruvian family. Van der Sloot, responding to questions from the bench said, “I want to give a sincere confession. I am truly regretful for what I have done. I feel very bad." Van der Sloot did not make a narrative confession; however, attorney Luis Jimenez said on behalf of his client that, because it was the 5th anniversary of the disappearance of 17 year-old Natalie Hollowayon the island of Aruba, van der Sloot was very sensitive.
When Flores was caught going through Van der Sloot’s computer, allegedly to look for connections between Van der Sloot and Holloway’s disappearance, Van der Sloot was so sensitive that he snapped and killed Flores. After van der Sloot answered questions from the judge, he sat down and beamed at them.
With his “sincere confession” Van der Sloot enabled the judges to reduce his sentence. The prosecutors cannot rebut a confession in this case; nor would they, since it is the end-product of negotiations between the state and the defense. The defense blamed the murdered victim for inciting Van der Sloot to violence and with the full knowledge and acquiescence of the prosecutors. Although the bench warned that facts of another case (meaning the Holloway case) cannot be considered in sentencing, the genie was out of the bottle and the judges heard Jimenez’ statement nonetheless.
It is not a given that Van der Sloot’s sentence will be reduced to the minimum, but it is now virtually impossible for him to receive the 30 year maximum sentence. Jimenez’ argument was also ill-placed before the panel of judges; it presumes they are unable to reason.
Here’s why. Jimenez told the judges that Joran Van der Sloot is such a sensitive young man that, when confronted with the possibility that he had killed a young American girl, he brutally strangled and beat a Peruvian girl to death, robbed her and then fled the country. Frankly, that doesn’t sound like the kind of response one might expect from a sensitive guy falsely accused of a crime. Anticipate the judges will be able to see through this display of smoke and mirrors. On the other hand, one might also anticipate that Jimenez was trying to be as transparently contemptuous of his own client as his ethics would allow, offering a tissue thin excuse for murder. However, Van der Sloot’s sentence will be reduced because he sincerely confessed, even to nonsense; and so, as his client’s lawyer, he provided adequate representation.
On a final note, it is entirely possible that Van der Sloot may serve more time in the United States for Extortion than he will in Peru for Murder. If Van der Sloot serves only a few years for Murder, recall that he will be extradited to America thereafter to stand trial for extorting $25,000 from Natalie Holloway’s family. And a conviction in that matter could lead to a 10 year sentence in a federal penitentiary. After that, one can hope he will return to Aruba and live out his life without murdering anyone else. Well, one can hope.
Van der Sloot will be sentenced in Lima on Friday the 13th.
[ Aphrodite Jones gives her perspective on the latest sighting of Casey Anthony. Check in for her regular reports. Read her Bio >> ]
The mystery around the "illegal" release of Casey Anthony's video blog offers more food for thought about Casey Anthony's plan to come back out into the spotlight and her hopes to get paid for TV or internet appearances. Sure, her lawyers say it was hacked via Skype -- but let's recall the photos of Casey that appeared last fall -- those were orchestrated -- with careful placement of an Ohio ball cap on Casey's head and studious glasses that allowed people to recognize her eyes. Someone paid big money for those photos (that's my educated guess) because they were taken with Casey openly shopping in a store window on an empty sidewalk. If real paparazzi had been after her -- we would have seen photos of her fighting off the cameras, wearing dark shades, and covering her face. Right?? Now, on January 5, 2012, we see an October 14th video clip released to a Facebook site. Take a careful look at this "private video blog" and you will notice that this clip was edited in such a way that oddly, tells us nothing of significance, AND it's in black and white, which signals that it was doctored. Allegedly, someone leaked Casey's blog to a "Casey" Facebook site and wanted $3 per view.
IMO, Casey needs money, but moreover, she misses being a "star" and wants to test the waters to see how much attention she can garner. After all Casey is, first and foremost, a narcissist. In the short four minute video clip she uses the word "me" or "mine" over 40 times. Casey's world is still all about HER. It's sick that she mentions her newly adopted dog, not her dead baby, not her wounded parents. She also mentions she wants to use the blog as a way to get used to the camera. Huh?
This woman has a PhD in mugging for the camera. Someone doctored and edited this "video blog" and I have a good hunch about who's behind it... More to come...
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on Casey Anthony's lastest stunt. Read her Bio >> ]
Casey Anthony is picking up right where she left off…as an insufferable self-serving manipulator with an insatiable urge to draw attention to her sociopathic self. In her first “video diary” posted on YouTube, the once accused baby killer sports a new chic, short blond hairstyle and offers up nearly four and half minutes of vacuous mutterings.
Naturally, as the posting is introduced into the public consciousness, we the media, with our own “can’t look away from the train wreck” sensibility, must ponder and analyze Anthony’s senseless, empty utterances which offer no socially redeeming message.
Let’s begin with her feigned fear of making the video in the first place. “I don’t know whether to look directly at myself or look up or…this is a little scary because I hate being on camera,”she utters timidly into the lens. Let’s get this straight. Casey Anthony’s world class love affair with herself is the driving force behind this “production”. She’s addicted to attention—got plenty of it throughout her life and was soaked in it during her sensational trial. Now she’s suffering from withdrawals.
Anthony makes absolutely no mention of her daughter, her parents or her trial. “The good thing is that things are starting to look up and things are starting to change in a good way,” she offers. What things? What’s good? What’s changing? Is there any self-reflection? Remorse? Anger? Sorrow?
Anthony is thrilled that technology will help plaster her conscienceless self-promotion all over the globe. “I’m excited that I’ll be able to Skype and obviously keep a video log, take some pictures…”
How fabulously convenient for you Ms. Anthony. A worldwide forum all for yourself—and you don’t even have to respond to a single question about your beautiful, dead baby girl. AND you can use this technological tool to raise money. AND in your inimitable fashion, perhaps you can market yourself to the hordes of clueless men who somehow find you “hot”.
“Now I in some ways have someone to talk to even when I am by myself so I am not bothering the poor dog who I have adopted and I love,” she says. Love? Did you say love, Ms. Anthony? Imagine the sweet conversations you could have been having with a certain adoring little girl.
Boredom sets in quickly watching this abomination. It didn’t take long for my eyes to wander off Anthony’s giant black framed glasses onto the picture frames that serve as a background for the video. There is not a single photograph of her deceased child.
Anthony doesn’t tell us where she is—she only mentions that she will remain in the undisclosed Florida location until February, while she completes the terms of her probation for check fraud. She does promise more videos in the future. “This is the first of many, and I’m looking forward to this”.
One of Anthony’s lawyers insists she did not post the video diary—that it was hacked. I’ll let you be the judge on that.
Finally, I’m particularly troubled by one thought offered by this classic narcissistic. “I have something to call mine”, says the sympathy-seeking Anthony. Well Ms. Anthony, the thing you once had that really mattered was a wonderful child named Caylee-- found dead in a swamp. But I guess that’s all in the past.
What do you think about Casey's video to the world?
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on the Penn State sex scandal. Read her Bio >> ]
Jerry Sandusky is back in handcuffs today, rearrested and charged with additional counts of sexual assault. Two new alleged victims told the Grand Jury they too met Sandusky through hischarity, The Second Mile. One of the accusers said the assault took place as recently as 2004.The other in 1997.
The slew of new charges, added to the 40 he already faces, include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
Get ready to be dizzy with disgust regarding details of the alleged assault on one of the two new victims. It’s graphic. According to the report, “Sandusky also attempted to engage in anal penetration of Victim 9 on at least sixteen occasions and at times did penetrate him”. The victim said that on at least one occasion, while in Sandusky’s basement, he screamed for help, knowing that Sandusky’s wife was upstairs, but no one ever came to help him
Given the ever expanding laundry list of charges, I say any judge would be well within their right to find this man to be a clear and present danger to society and simply deny bail! Or at the very least, set the bail so high, it would be the functional equivalent of no bail. (Assuming Jerry’s financially solvent buddy network doesn’t come to his rescue.) Prosecutors sought a $1million bond, but the judge set it at $250,000. As of this posting, Sandusky was not able to make bail and sits in jail.
And while Sandusky may think his well-placed interviews with various news media are helping his case, all his jabbering about being innocent doesn’t appear to be intimidating his accusers---it’s only serving to incense them.
The floodgates have opened, and accusers are finding strength in numbers. As of now, there are a total of ten.
Meanwhile, if you read my post yesterday, I made the comment that if I saw anyone sexually assaulting a child “I would tackle the creep, scream like a crazy woman and call the cops.”
That statement prompted some of my friends and colleagues to ask themselves the question… ”What would I do?”
So now I pose the question to you. This requires some really honest self-analysis.
Are you the type who simply cannot get involved?
Would you do nothing?
Would you not intervene, but tell someone in a position of authority, such as a teacher, boss or coach?
Would you call the police?
Would you actually intervene?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. There are true consequences to getting involved or becoming a witness. It takes courage and willingness to be raked over the coals by the accused and his or her defenders. One’s reputation can be shredded. There can be a backlash. Think about it.
Back to Sandusky…he’ll be in court next Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. I ask you…should he be resting in the comfort of his own home until then, or should he be denied his freedom given the seriousness of the charges against him?
Photo Caption/Credit: This Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General shows former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under PennsylvaniaÌs child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (credit: AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on the Penn State sex scandal. Read her Bio >> ]
As more alleged victims come forward, former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky finds himself swimming in an ever widening cesspool of heinous allegations. His attorney Joseph Amendola is denying reports that he will discuss the option of a plea bargain with his client. Amendola is continuing his media attack against the credibility of the accusers.
One of the new alleged victims (not originally part of the criminal investigation) has filed a civil suit claiming Sandusky abused him more than 100 times over a four year period starting when he was ten years old. Equally sickening, the accuser claims Sandusky threatened to harm his family if he ever told. That’s standard operating procedure for child sex predators according to famed Los Angeles attorney, Robin Sax. As a former sex crimes prosecutor, she knows the perpetrators method of operation. “There are two main ways to gain entrance and access to kids.
The first is to groom the victim through kindness, love, gifts and empty promises. The other is through fear, threats and blackmail. The predator uses them both and keeps the child conflicted”, says Sax.”
Sax is concerned about the timing of the newest accuser’s civil suit against Sandusky. “He’s certainly entitled to pursuit a civil lawsuit, but seeking monetary damage now has the potential to send the wrong message in a case that is an example of prolific, long term sexual abuse. Sax believes the criminal case against Sandusky is solid and worries a civil suit at this point might muddy the waters.
Leonard Levine, one of L.A.’s most successful sex crimes defense attorneys says a civil suit filed now can work against the alleged victim. “Every victim of alleged sexual molestation has a right to seek civil damages, but when it’s done prior to the conclusion of a criminal prosecution, it provides the defense with a claim that the accuser was motivated by financial gain and may be fabricating some or all of the allegations. The motives are less questionable if he agrees to become part of the criminal case and allows his allegations to be investigated and prosecuted.”
No doubt the alleged victims must prepare themselves for psychological warfare. Last week it was revealed that Jerry Sandusky’s first accuser was apparently bullied so badly for coming forward, he had to leave his high school. When it comes to fallout over the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal my biggest fear has been realized. The alleged victims will be victimized.
Fear, intimidation, smear campaigns, threats, taunting—it’s all part of the tactic and weaponry used in such scandals to crush those who dare to emerge from the secret painful darkness in order to shine the light of truth on their perpetrators.
I don’t know if Sandusky is guilty of any of the allegations against him. But I’ve covered enough of these cases to know what’s coming down the pike.
When I heard the former coach’s measured, seemingly emotionless response to Bob Costas’ brilliant questioning, I could feel a wave of dread pass over me. Why in the world would he speak to the media? Well, consider it the start of a well-crafted public relations campaign. Get into people’s living rooms. Call the vile allegations a matter of just “horsing around” with the kids. Discredit the whistleblower.
Today, Amendola is using terms like “jumping on the bandwagon” to describe those who are just now coming forward. Sure, that makes a lot of sense. Fabricate some lies and false accusations, subject yourself to public humiliation and private ruination, get bullied, harassed and flogged…all for the sake of “jumping on the bandwagon”. But renowned attorney Thomas Mesereau, who successfully defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges challenges my cynicism. He says these kinds of cases, when leaked to the public “whip up a frenzy” and open up a “Pandora’s Box of false accusations.”
I suppose Sandusky could argue that public access to the grand jury report is damaging to him—and that he has the right to defend himself in the same public arena. But Sandusky is part of what one might consider a bullet-proof machine and my fear is that the truth seekers will be blocked by the impenetrable two headed monster of denial and cover-up.
A MODERN DAY DAVID VS GOLIATH:
One might consider the case against Sandusky and the two Penn State top officials who are accused of lying, a modern day David and Goliath. The machine (Penn State) is flush with money, power, influence and prestige—a powerful defensive line—capable of rolling over an intimidated offense.
I read an article recently about Joe Paterno’s extraordinary rule at Penn State. The former vice-president for student affairs, Vicky Triponey says she did battle with the coach over disciplinary issues involving his players. She claims he interfered in her probes and demanded and got favorable treatment for the team. It was a battle of wills and she was ultimately forced to resign. Football reigns supreme. Everything for the sake of the “program.”
I know this world. I grew up in football crazed Columbus, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University. We all knew the players lived in their own sovereign universe—with their own set of rules. Oh well, we shrugged… it was beloved BUCKEYE FOOTBALL after all. Scarlet and Gray all the way!
I can tell you this…if I had witnessed anyone in the pigskin hierarchy (or anyone else for that matter) violating a child, I would have tackled the creep, screamed like a crazy woman and called the cops. I know that’s easy for me to say—the proverbial armchair quarterback statement—but I’m pretty sure my outrage would supersede my love of the Buckeyes.
I am heartened by the fact that Penn State president Rodney Erickson promised yesterday that the university would raise the standard of ethics “to a new level”. The school is also pledging $1.5 million dollars to sex crimes advocacy organizations.
Jerry Sandusky and the alleged co-conspirators deserve media fairness and their day in court. But today I implore Penn State to allow transparency to prevail. That’s the only way to recover from the media beating your school has taken. Plus…it’s the right thing to do.
And most importantly, I implore the alleged victims to not buckle under any circumstances.
It’s going to be painful, emotionally searing, devastating, soul crunching and life-altering. But imagine what is to be gained by speaking up not just for yourselves, but for the millions who suffer in silence and need to hear your voices.
Barbara Dorris, who is a victim of child sexual assault, now runs the victim’s outreach program for SNAP. (The Survivors Network of those abused by Priests.) She tells me the phones have been ringing off the hook in support of Sandusky’s alleged victims. “It’s important for survivors to protect others. They want to do something”, says Dorris. But Dorris is convinced there are countless silent witnesses who were “in the know” at Penn State and need to speak up. “We can’t put it all on the victim’s. We need witnesses and whistleblowers to come forward. Without their cooperation nothing changes and these kids who need help are trapped into being silent.”
ABUSE STATISTICS:
If you haven’t already heard the horrifying government statistics, ponder this: between one in four girls will be sexually abused by the age of 18. For boys, it’s one in six. Those statistics are more than likely low because they don’t take into consideration the countless victims who will never find the courage to report.
When I was a correspondent with “America’s Most Wanted” I interviewed a young convict who had molested over 100 boys by the time he was 21. He told me he preyed on “sad kids with slumped shoulders”, kids who needed a friend or mentor. He told me how easy it was to get past unsuspecting parents who had no idea what clues to look for when their children were being abused.
I also interviewed a former county sheriff who molested all five of his children…in the presence of his wife. Fifty percent of child sex abusers are married! There are all kinds of reasons why spouses don’t rat out the abusers. Some are legitimately fooled. But in many cases says San Francisco clinical psychologist Dr. Carol Walser, “they are putting themselves above their child. They don’t want to threaten the stability and togetherness of the family, so they sacrifice their abused child to protect their own security. It is self-serving.” In my mind, that’s being an accessory to a crime. There’s just no excuse for looking the other way. The deniers are just as guilty as the perpetrators if you ask me.
So today, we’ve got a plethora of investigations into the Penn State scandal. Former FBI director Louis Freeh is heading up the schools internal investigation. There’s the NCAA, the State Attorney General and the federal Department of Education probes. Not good enough. I want more. I want the FBI on this. A big machine with as much firepower as Penn State.
Accuser number one may have been bullied at school and that breaks my heart and fills me with anger, but according to his mom, he has no intention of backing down from his story. Remember, the truth is your slingshot. If you are telling the truth, the giant will be slayed!
[ Pat LaLama's stellar career in broadcast journalism is a chronicle of some of the most iconic events in modern history. Here's her take on the just reopened Natalie Wood case. Read her Bio >> ]
We Los Angeles based journalists love a great Tinsel Town mystery. News that the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is reopening the case involving Hollywood darling Natalie Wood—after 30 years—has shaken this “industry” town like a good old fashioned West Coast earthquake.
Having covered nearly every big celebrity case of the last 25 years, I too am salivating like Pavlov’s dog at the prospect of a compelling new chapter in the great enigma surrounding the great film star’s drowning.
One might believe there’s something substantial for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department to investigate. It’s the largest, busiest Sheriff’s department in the world—not known for wasting time, energy or resources on frivolous bits of salacious innuendo, rumor or conjecture. Lt. John Corina said the new credible information is coming from “several sources”, not just flip-flopping yacht captain Dennis Davern. He’s got a credibility problem. Was he lying then or is he lying now?
Even though the very capable Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca is sometimes accused by the media of being star struck, I’m certain he isn’t the slightest bit motivated by the fact that it’s the thirty year anniversary of the tragedy off Catalina Island. Nor is he interested in playing off the CBS/Vanity Fair collaboration airing this weekend which examines the mystery. I don’t think he cares much about helping Davern sell a few books, either. If the Sheriff has credible info, then it’s a duty to look at the case with fresh eyes. And that’s exactly what they’re doing.
However, let’s cut through the fog of excitement and look at what we have. What’s really changed? We’ve got a boat skipper who claims now that he lied three decades ago. But he hasn’t really told us what exactly he’s lied about. Nor has he told us what the truth is (or his version of it.) When asked specific questions, his answers are coy and vague...as if he’s toying with us. Have we the media and the police taken the bait? Are we unwitting accomplices in his efforts to make waves? And more to the point is this a desperate attempt on Davern’s part to reinvigorate sales of his book?
The talk is that state of the art DNA technology could help solve the mystery. I doubt it. Investigators say they plan to examine the yacht, “Splendour” which is now in Hawaii. While it’s true such technology has advanced light years since Wood’s death, how would DNA be relevant in this particular case? There’s no issue as to who was on the boat and who died. We know there was arguing among all the parties. There doesn’t seem to be any disputed facts that DNA testing would solve. Does anyone really believe there’s a blood-stained fishing knife lying around on the deck thirty years later?
It’s one thing to look for new evidence and hear possible new witness accounts of the circumstances on that horrible night, but we’re a long way away from seeing concrete evidence that would lead to a winnable case. So I wouldn’t hold my breath for another “trial of the century”-- this time starring Robert Wagner or Christopher Walken.
At this point all we have is yet another alcohol fueled, celebrity party gone wrong. Unfortunately in this case, the party ended with the loss of a true Hollywood legend.
Photo Credits: Wireimage/Getty Images - Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood during AFI Salute to Fred Astaire at Beverly Hilton Hotel, 1981
[ Aphrodite Jones gives her perspective on the trial of Conrad Murray. Check in for her regular reports. Read her Bio >> ]
Twelve jurors made history today by holding Dr. Conrad Murray criminally responsible for Michael Jackson's death. As the verdict was read, Conrad Murray seemed stunned, shocked, and even as he tied to mask his emotions. When the jurors filed out of the courtroom, Murray stood and watched and suddenly it seemed that the Guilty verdict was starting to sink in.
Conrad Murray will no doubt, be stripped of his medical license everywhere in America and he will be formally sentenced on November 29th. It's up to the court to determine whether Murray will be slapped on the wrist with probation or will be sentenced to serve up to 4 years in prison.
The ADA in this case asked Judge Pastor to remand Murray into custody immediately, not allowing Conrad Murray to walk free any longer. Now a convicted felon, guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter, Conrad Murray will await judgment of the court's sentence -- from behind LA County bars.
"This was a not a crime of a mistake of judgment," Judge Pastor said, adding that this "serious offense" by Murray, resulting in the death and killing of Michael Jackson, cannot be taken lightly. Judge Pastor deemed Murray as a risk to public safety and a flight risk as well.
Watching Murray go from the status of "highly paid medical doctor" to a man shackled in handcuffs, reduced to a common criminal, is cause for celebration among Jackson fans worldwide. Surely, Michael's family is feeling a sense of catharsis now that justice has been served, having been dragged through court system for two long years.
But we must wonder what will happen to the future of doctor/patient relationships now that a precedent has been set for a medical doctor to be held criminally responsible for their patient's death. It's a solemn thought, really, to know that doctors will perhaps turn away a patient in the future, based on this landmark court decision. Still, I would rather have doctors err on the side of being cautious, than have them use their medical licenses to be "legal drug pushers."
As I watch the jubilation in the streets of LA, I also wonder if this is a time for cheering, or a time for tears? How sad to know that Conrad Murray was the man who neglected and enabled Michael as he "went to the edge" each night for over two months. How tragic that one of the world's greatest talents was lead to his early grave by a string of enabling doctors, whose greed and inability to say "no" -- left Michael in such an alarming state. Much like the doctors who enabled Elvis Presley with prescriptions of thousands of legal meds, a host of unnamed doctors should also be sharing a sense of true guilt for MJ's demise. I agree that Murray deserves a guilty verdict, and the jury got it right -- but I also think of him as a scapegoat for all the other "quack doctors" who came before him.
In the end though -- we have seen justice. Of course, nothing will bring Michael back...But this guilty verdictwill begin to hold doctors accountable in a way that has never been seen before. LA DA Steve Cooley made a statement after the verdict that said it best: "we are gratified the jury saw that the overwhelming evidence in this case lead to just one conclusion -- that Dr. Murray is guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson."
Murray had his day in court. He had a fair trial. Now, while he sits behind bars, will he realize his part in this homicide, or will he continue to live in a world of denial? Only his appellate lawyers will tell him to pay his debt to society.
The Betrayal: Corey Brown seemed to be a doting husband; he’d leave love notes for his wife and make her breakfast in bed. But when Brown’s wife left in the evenings to work a nightshift, he turned his affection towards two of his daughters, who he abused, sexually, mentally and physically.
The Break: Corey Brown’s wife received a call from school officials to come in to pick-up her 9-year-old daughter. When she arrived, she knew something was wrong; that her daughter had been hurt. But it was a bigger nightmare to learn that the man hurting her daughter was not someone from the outside, but a devil she knew very well: her own husband.
Brown claimed he let his relationship with his daughters get out of control; it changed from playful tickling and teasing to nights spent in his room. His wife knew he had an interest in pornography, but his background check had cleared before their marriage, and she never suspected anything sinister.
At sentencing, Judge Nancy Schneider charged Brown with 14 felony counts, which total two life sentences plus 30 years.
"Never in their lives will they ever have to deal directly with you again, but they will be dealing with the effects of what you've done to them all their lives," [Schneider] told Brown.
The Betrayal: Back in 2007, when a stripper released racy photos of a man she claimed was Oscar De La Hoya, clad in fishnets and high heels, the athlete's camp denied that the photos were of him. De La Hoya's team jabbed at the stripper’s story, insisting she was after De La Hoya’s money.
The Break: But in a recent interview with Univision, Oscar De La Hoya delivered quite a blow to his own credibility, admitting the scandalous photos were of him and that he had cheated on his wife.
Referring to another professional athlete’s extramarital affairs, De La Hoya said:
'We are obviously not talking a Tiger Woods here, but I was unfaithful.’
The former boxer also came clean about his bouts with drugs and alcohol. Talk about a knockdown.
[This article is by contributing writer Ivy Bigbee. She is a Washington, D.C.-based writer.]
FAIRFAX, VA. - Fairfax County Police have issued an arrest warrant for Johnny D. Guillen Pimentel, 40, who previously has been dubbed the “Serial Slasher” and who stabbed nine known young women in Fairfax County, Va., retail settings from February to June 2011.
Pimentel’s alleged offenses involved a ruse. According to victims’ recounts, the suspect reportedly created a noisy diversion with hangers and store merchandise, then stabbed young women in the buttocks, using a box cutter or razor. The nine reported victims — all teens or women in their early twenties — sustained non-life-threatening wounds.
Experts categorize the Pimentel's behavior as piquerism or, deviant behavior where sexual gratification is derived from using sharp instruments to inflict pain.
Suspect May Have Left Area
Pimentel, who authorities believe may have left the area, may be driving a blue 2003 Honda Civic with the Virginia license plate KLX2689.
The attacks took place this year at various chain stores in Tyson’s Corner, Fair Oaks Mall and a Marshall’s store located in a smaller shopping complex on Route 50 in Fairfax.
The suspect currently is being sought for one attack, although police said they think the same person has stabbed all nine alleged victims.
No additional known attacks have occurred since June 25.
Photo: Pictured, Johnny D. Guillen Pimentel, the suspect wanted for attacks on women in the Fairfax, Va., region. Credit: Fairfax County Police Department
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Read his Bio >> ]
London recently has been torn by riots along with other metropolitan areas of England, this much is certain. But the reasons why the riots occurred are a bit murky. Speaking on BBC, British historian David Starkey pointed out that the riots began in predominately minority neighborhoods and suggested that rioting whites have adopted black culture; therefore, whites have adopted black tactics to vent frustration with the status quo. Particularly, he cited immigration and, of all things, Jamaican culture. You’ll be pleased to know that these remarks did not go unchallenged as being patently racist. Responding to charges of racism, Starkey said that the causes of the riots were cultural, not race-related. Incredibly, Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he too believes the riots were of cultural origin. Both Starkey and Cameron are quite far from the truth; however, there is calculated method in their madness.
Tottenham, where the riots originated, is among the most impoverished neighborhoods in North London and is minority dominated but remains diverse. When riots began, it was not merely among the majority black population or any single culture. Instead, the characteristic that rioters shared was poverty. The world learned decades ago that poverty generates frustration and that frustration generates violence (it’s called strain theory among those of us in the criminology business). With the global downward-spiraling economy, negative effects felt in the UK are much the same as in the United States, such as high rates of unemployment, particularly among minorities. Surely this must have been understood by the British government -- factoids such as this aren’t kept secret. Additionally, in a 1974 report to the Home Office on the heels of violent riots in Manchester, British Lord Leslie Scarman warned of the dire consequences stemming from a police force separated from its public. To suggest that local police were separated from the residents of Tottenham would be a massive understatement, to be sure, and charges of racism among the police toward residents of Tottenham are being leveled even as the smoke clears. But it isn’t racism, it’s discrimination based on economic status, no matter the race. And in Tottenham, the poor are minorities.
One cannot help but speculate how or if recent changes at the top of the Metropolitan Police Department may have affected how the Met approached the riots. The recent loss of Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and the brilliant Assistant Commissioner John Yates in the phone-hacking scandal may have left the Met without seasoned leadership at a critical time. Both resigned after accepting subordinates’ reports that phone-hacking of royalty was isolated, which was later shown to be untrue. Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin has blamed the riots on street gangs, suggesting that he is no closer to the truth than the prime minister.
But why are the English so reluctant to admit the causes of the riots may be economic rather than cultural? The answer is simple: if the causes are cultural, there is nothing the British government can do about it. On the other hand, if the causes of the riots were the economy, unemployment and the relationship between the police and the poor, the government would be required to act. PM Cameron has stated his position and to his great detriment. Threats of arrest and punishment are the only solutions heard from the top. It’s a solution that offers no positive change for either side.
Photo Caption: A local resident tries to argue his passage with anti-riot police in Hackney, North London, Britain, Aug. 8, 2011, during the third day of violence in which police have clashed with rioters in Hackney. More than 200 people have been arrested and 35 police officers injured. Violence erupted in reaction to a fatal shooting in Tottenham on Aug. 4, where 29-year-old Mark Duggan was killed by armed officers. (Credit: EPA/KERIM OKTEN)
The Betrayal: Married man Ricaury Peña got a lot of mileage out of his job as a bouncer at a bar in NYC. He was getting more than just a few free drinks from waitress Juana Flores.
The Break: When Ricaury was involved in an early morning car accident, his concerned wife, Rosa Estevez, arrived at the hospital immediately.
But her worry quickly turned to wrath when she learned the cause of the accident. In the heat of an argument with his girlfriend Juana, a very drunk Ricaury attempted to flee the scene. His getaway was less than clean, as he managed to hit his mistress with his car before he drove away.
Rosa hit the brakes on her marriage and left Ricaury in her rear view.
[This article is by contributing writer Ivy Bigbee. She is a Washington, D.C.-based writer.]
Fairfax, Va. – A serial buttocks slasher operating in Fairfax County retail stores is the subject of a new complaint filed with police on Aug. 1. A woman contacted local authorities on Aug. 1 to report an attack she sustained while shopping in a popular T.J. Maxx store at Fairfax Towne Center on June 8.
A Man Dropping Clothing or Parcels
According to an Aug. 2 Fairfax County Police bulletin received by InvestigationDiscovery.com, a man who allegedly assaulted the woman looks similar to a suspect associated with five previous slashings that have occurred in area retail stores. The victim, 21, whose identity has not been released, says she “felt a pinch on her buttocks,” and when she turned around, she “saw a man picking up pieces of clothing and thought she may have been cut by one of the hangers.”
The woman said her attacker was wearing long pants and a short-sleeved shirt.
When the woman returned home, she discovered cuts in her clothing, but police say she did not require medical treatment.
Ruse Masks Attacks
In every case, the suspected slasher creates a distraction by dropping clothing or packages behind his intended victim. Somehow during the ruses, the heavy-set, male Hispanic, who appears to be in his twenties or thirties, cuts female teens or twenty-something women, wounding them in the buttocks and then slipping away unnoticed after the commotion.
The suspect described by victims also has been recorded by store security cameras.
Officials are linking the June 8 incident to five previous attacks and predict that more women will come forward. Police are asking that anyone with information contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-Tips/8477, online or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Watch Video
Police released this video of the suspect, captured by a surveillance camera at a retail location.
[ By Dr. Kenneth J. Ryan, a criminologist at California State University. Read his Bio >> ]
The convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito are under scrutiny once again amidst charges that Italian police botched the collection and processing of DNA evidence. Whereas, allegations that the police botched evidence collection are nothing new in criminal trials on either side of the Atlantic, it is important that the charges have been made in Italy. It’s a distinction that boils down to this: the Italian court system is vastly different from ours; therefore, how the court reacts to new evidence is not as predictable there as it is here.
Simply put, in the United States we have an adversarial court system in which prosecution and defense are expected to face off and play by the rules of court and the law. In Italy, an inquisitorial court system is in place (as is true throughout most of Europe). In an inquisitorial system, where the judicial mission is to seek truth, the judge (or judges) jointly occupies the positions of magistrate and chief investigator. But, in seeking the truth, the defendant is expected to cooperate with the investigative trial process. And that puts Amanda Knox in a rather awkward position as she faces charges of slander against the Italian police, after earlier falsely accusing an acquaintance of murdering roommate Meredith Kercher. Although lying to police might have made the defendant appear very clever to a Florida jury, it makes Knox look uncooperative in the eyes of the Italians. In Italy, being uncooperative is viewed as a sign of deception and, therefore, guilt.
Local thief Rudy Guede already has pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of Kercher, with plenty of evidence to support a conviction. Therefore, one must wonder aloud how it happens that Knox and Sollecito are even implicated. DNA evidence, is the Italian police response, although one might logically expect Knox’s DNA and that of boyfriend Sollecito to be found in Knox’s own residence. The Italian police would point out that Knox confessed to participating in Kercher’s murder. This is true, but she later retracted the confession saying that the Italian police abused and beat her into confessing. And that is what the slander trial is all about; nonsense, say the police. Once again, alleging police abuse puts the prosecution on the defensive in America and it may be perceived as a clever ploy in an Orlando courtroom; however, it forces the defense to prove the allegations in Italy. Once again, this is not a good position for someone already found culpable in falsely accusing an innocent man.
Several possibilities loom for Amanda Knox and not many are positive. Indeed, the court may find that the botched DNA evidence has tainted the criminal trial; therefore, the convictions of Knox and Sollecito are vacated. Or because the court is an investigative body as much as it is a trial court, it may decide that there is sufficient evidence without DNA evidence to uphold the convictions. Worse, now that the case is reopened, the sentences may be reviewed and prolonged by the Italian court to life imprisonment for either defendant. And finally, it is equally possible that Knox will be acquitted of murder but convicted for slander. And in Italy, slander is a criminal offense for which one can be imprisoned; back to square one, in other words.
Amanda Knox became ensnared in an Italian murder investigation whilst visions of the American criminal justice system danced in her head. Being clever in American law may have been her undoing in Italy.
Photo Caption: Amanda Knox chats with her lawyer Luciano Ghirga as she attends a session of her appeal against her murder conviction in Perugia's Court of Appeal on July 30, 2011 in Perugia, Italy. American Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted of the murder of Knox's former British flatmate Meredith Kercher in 2007. Their trial took place in December 2009 with Knox and Sollecito receiving sentences of 26 and 25 years respectively. Rudy Guede, an unemployed man from Ivory Coast, was also convicted of the Meredith Kercher's murder. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
The Betrayal: Jerry was loaded with rage. His ex-girlfriend, Seemona Sumasar, refused to drop charges against him for rape. When threats from his friends didn’t intimidate her, Jerry decided to pull out the big guns of revenge. In his mind, the only way to silence her was to frame her for committing a crime, too.
The scorned lover recruited and trained several “victims” who reported they’d been robbed by an armed woman who looked like Seemona and drove a getaway vehicle that matched the description of her Jeep.
Jerry’s trail of false evidence seemed convincing enough to authorities, who arrested Seemona, a woman with no prior criminal history. She was locked up in jail, and bail was set at $1 million.
The Break: The truths from others eventually set Seemona free, shortly before her trial was set to begin. One of the so-called victims admitted his part in Jerry’s ruthless plot. Now facing charges that include conspiracy, rape and perjury, Jerry is currently smoldering behind bars at Rikers.
[This article is by contributing writer Ivy Bigbee. She is a Washington, D.C.-based writer.]
Fairfax, Va. – After a fifth woman was cut on July 25 in a Fairfax County shopping mall, police advise that a serial slasher may be operating in the northern Virginia city, located 18 miles from the nation’s capital.
Suspect Creates Distraction, then Stabs Victims
Fairfax County police say the latest incident happened in a Forever 21 women’s clothing store at Fair Oaks Mall, when a female shopper heard someone behind her drop clothing or a package. The attack occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. After hearing the commotion, the victim, 18, reported feeling a sharp pain and initially thought a falling hanger had struck her. Shortly, however, she discovered not only had her denim shorts been slashed, but also, her buttocks had sustained a one and one half-inch cut and were bleeding.
Store employees immediately advised security, which summoned Fairfax County police.
Five Slashings Since February
Detectives believe this attack could be related to four others that have occurred in Fairfax County since February. The most recent of four prior incidents took place on June 20 in a Marshalls store at Greenbriar Shopping Center. The other crimes occurred on Feb. 14 at Fair Oaks Mall in a corridor near Champps Americana restaurant, on May 16 at the same mall inside an Ann Taylor Loft and on June 18 at Tyson’s Corner Center in the H&M clothing store.
In each case, the suspect distracted the victim before cutting her; all victims have been female teens or women in their early twenties.
The suspect that police are seeking is a Hispanic male in his late twenties or thirties, approximately five feet, six inches tall and heavy-set. In the July 25 incident, the attacker was wearing white shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. (See photo.)
TIP LINES
Anyone with information should contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, or text “TIP 187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637, or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org.
The Betrayal: Youth pastor Daniel Leslie Mooneyham was seeking more than confessions from his church. Under the guise of a fake Facebook profile, Mooneyham transformed into teenage girl “Terri Smith,” baiting young boys with naked pictures of a topless female in the hopes they’d send naked pictures in return.
Mooneyham even targeted some of the boys in his own congregation.
The Break: Determined to beat her husband at his own game, his wife Jami created a fake Facebook account of her own, posing as a teenage boy to send messages to her husband. She shuttered his operation by reporting him to the FBI, and then filed for divorce in a flash.
The Betrayal: Harold stowed away a stash of $100 bills to support his addiction to internet porn and prostitutes. Harold attended “business meetings” turned cheap hotel meet-ups, and sent thank you notes for ladies’ “services".
When first confronted by his wife, Kathryn, about his addiction, Harold pointed the finger at their two sons, claiming they were to blame for the naughty websites that appeared on his computer.
The Break: Determined to expose the man for his kinky crusades, his family collected a binder full of evidence, and traced Harold’s X-rated online adventures. When Harold claimed he wasn’t interested in counseling, Kathryn kicked the perv to the curb with a divorce notice.
A controversy is arising after a video was posted online earlier this week showing a New York woman being taken into police custody for videotaping a police traffic stop from her front yard.
The video, which is expected to go viral, was shot in Rochester on the night of May 9 by Emily Good. In it, officers with the Rochester Police Department are seen conducting a search of a man's vehicle on Aldine Street. Roughly 40 seconds into the four -and-a-half-minute video, one of the officers directs his attention at Good and asks her if she needs something.
"This is my front yard. I'm just recording what you're doing. It's my right," Good replies.
"Actually, not from the sidewalk," the officer responds.
The officer tells her on the video that he does not "feel safe" with her standing behind him. He then asks her to go inside her home.
The verbal exchange continues until the office finally says, "You know what? You're gonna go to jail. That's just not right."
Good was taken into custody and charged with obstructing governmental administration.
The arrest has sparked a lot of debate online, and the police department announced that an internal investigation is underway to determine whether the arrest was justified. The case, however, may not be so cut and dried, according to one expert.
"While our protagonist-antagonist had a right to videotape in a public place where there is no expectation of privacy and where generally police officers don’t have an expectation of privacy in any event, she could have been a little more – shall we say – reasonable," famed Seattle attorney and legal analyst Anne Bremner told Investigation Discovery.
"Here's the law: her videotaping was legal. Standing in her yard was legal. She was within her rights to do what she did and stand where she stood," Bremner said.
According to the veteran attorney, Good could argue that the police officer's demand that she go in her house was an unlawful order, as she had a right to stand her ground in her yard, which could put her in a good legal position.
On the other hand, police officers do not like to allow any interference in their arrests or turn their backs on anyone.
"Their arrests command their total attention," Bremner said. "That is why we see officers telling people, 'Get back in your house' ; 'Step back' ; 'Please, don't cross this line' ; etc. Officers can give out orders for their own safety, the safety of the arrestee(s) and bystanders, … and [they] have latitude in making attendant orders and arrests."
Good is scheduled to appear in court on June 27. According to local media reports, her public defender is hoping to get the case dismissed. In the event it is not, Bremner said it could prove to be a good "legal balancing test."
"Does anyone really want to test this out in court?" Bremner asked. "Could everyone have acted a little more reasonably? Could she have cooperated? Could they have not arrested her?"
I've been following the Charlie Sheen media blitz for several weeks now and have, at times, thrown my hat into the ring with the occasional article or comment – including this most recent story I did for Investigation Discovery on Most Famous "Bleeps": Charlie Sheen.
When I heard about the Violent Torpedo of Truth tour, it was a no-brainer for me. The reporter in me wanted to go cover the event, while the cynic in me wanted to go watch what I assumed would be a major train wreck.
So, when tickets went on sale for the Cleveland show, I grabbed up a seat in the main dress level and patiently awaited the April 5th show date. I was not surprised when Sheen reportedly bombed in Detroit, Mich. and was booed off the stage, and I nary raised an eyebrow when I read he got a better reception in Chicago – a fluke, I figured.
The Cleveland show took place yesterday at the 3,200-seat State Theatre. Surprisingly, the event sold out just prior to the show, although there was more than one scalper on the street offering tickets and second-rate T-shirts to desperate fans.
The show got off to somewhat of a rough start – beginning about 20 minutes late. I assumed it was just an indication of the disappointment that was yet to come. The mood in the theater did take a positive turn, however, when the 45-year-old actor made his entrance to a thundering guitar rendition of "Wild Thing." The crowd cheered as Sheen, decked out in a No. 99 Ricky Vaughn jersey and glasses, took to the stage.
The actor barely got out a sentence before the rambunctious crowd began chanting "F--- Detroit" and "Winning."
Once the crowd settled down, Sheen took questions from a moderator in a talk show format and discussed everything from a bout with childhood stuttering – "[It] taught me how to listen, which we all have forgotten about" – to his three failed marriages: "It's got to be how you people feel about LeBron James," he joked.
The former "Two and a Half Men" star also explained the "Sheenism," "Duh, winning," saying he was tired of "being told that I was losing."
Sheen's "goddesses" – Rachel Oberlin and Natalie Kenly – made a brief 30-second appearance during the show. At one point, overzealous fans began chanting "Seven-gram rock! Seven-gram rock!" to which Sheen replied: "Sorry, goddesses, but that's the greatest f-----g moment of my life."
A seven-minute satirical clip of Sheen's interview, in which he coined some of his most quoted catchphrases such as: "I'm on a drug, it's called Charlie Sheen," was played during the show, much to the crowd's approval.
Surprisingly, there wasn't any nudity during the act, even after Sheen pointed out several women in the audience that he thought were attractive. There was, however, one humorous moment when a buxom blond took off her shirt and threw it on stage, prompting Sheen to exchange tops with her. The woman never removed her bra, and it should be noted – as the Cleveland Plain Dealer pointed out last night – she looked as though she could have been one of the goddesses' moms.
All in all, I found the show pleasantly surprising. For someone who makes his living as an actor rather than as a comedian or talk show host, Sheen killed in Cleveland and walked out to a standing ovation. Unlike the ticket holders at the Detroit show – many of whom angrily demanded a refund – the guests at the Cleveland show, myself included, felt they got what they paid for.
"It's a rocking night in Cleveland," Sheen himself noted prior to exiting the stage.
One of the first projects I was involved with at Investigation Discovery was a large project on America's most famous penitentiary, Alcatraz. At the time I worked on the project, I had spent a lot of time researching the island, but had never actually been there.
That all changed this past weekend and I was finally able to make it to "The Rock," courtesy of a company I often work with that is located there, Papercheck.com. Well, I suppose I should point out they are located in the San Francisco area and not actually on Alcatraz Island itself. Although, given the chance, I bet they would consider moving, given the accommodations there would make for some killer office space -- no pun intended.
At any rate, I spent the majority of a day on the island and participated in the audio tour and those given by the park rangers. I also met Jolene Babyak, a historian and author who has written four books about Alcatraz. Babyak's father was Arthur Dollison, an administrator and acting warden. She was 15 years old in 1962 and was living on the island during one of the most infamous escapes.
Many of you have probably seen the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood and Patrick McGoohan. Much of the movie is filmed on the actual island. The movie is a dramatization of the 1962 escape involving Frank Morris, Allan West, and the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence. (I watched it again last night. It was actually pretty neat watching the film directly after a visit to the island.)
The men had put together an elaborate plan to disguise their escape so that they could make it all the way to San Francisco before anyone was the wiser. Did they make it? No one knows for certain. If you want to know more about that and other attempted escapes, click here.
In my opinion, the most interesting building on the island was, of course, the cell house. Walking the halls and having the opportunity to enter some of the cells was quite a unique experience -- one I am glad I did not have when the prison was operational. I also saw the cells that housed Morris, West and the Anglin brothers, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the modern industries building, the guardhouse, the power plant and much of the barracks and apartments are off limits to visitors, but there are plenty of sights to keep the mind occupied. The guard tower, lighthouse and water tower are all awesome landmarks. And who knows, perhaps in the future more of the buildings will be open to the public.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the morgue. Visitors could not step inside, but there was glass over the entry, making it possible to see the interior. It was somewhat eerie, but very cool.
All in all, I very much enjoyed my excursion to Alcatraz and highly recommend a visit to anyone who has been considering it! (If you like the pictures here, you can check out more Alcatraz photos on my Facebook page).
I have entered my haunted house in a decorating contest. I would be very grateful if the readers here could stop in and cast a vote for it. You can vote once a day until Thursday. Just visit this link:
Vancouver Police are searching for the person or persons responsible for a brazen bank robbery that occurred at the Chase Bank in Cascade Park at about 11:52 today.
According to Vancouver Police public information officer Kim Kapp, the suspect entered the bank carrying a pink bag and presented a demand note, indicating he was heavily armed, had a bomb and wanted cash.
"The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of cash and he fled the bank," Knapp said. "As he exited the bank, he left the pink bag in the entryway, then fled on foot in a south west direction."
Witnesses told police the suspect ran west from 131st Ave and SE 5th Street. A police dog was brought in to track the suspect, but he was unable to pick up on a usable scent, Knapp said.
Due to the suspicious nature of the device left behind, the bank and nearby parking lot was evacuated and sealed off. The Metro Explosives Disposal Unit responded to the scene and rendered the device safe.
Agents with the FBI are now conducting a follow-up investigation.
Witnesses initially described the suspect as an Hispanic-looking male in his 20s, average height and weight, but additional witness interviews, along with bank surveillance photos, have described the suspect as being light skinned black male or more likely Filipino. He was further described as having dark hair, although one witness suggested the suspect may have been wearing a wig.
Surveillance photos also show the suspect wearing loose fitting blue jeans and a dark colored windbreaker-type jacket with 3 white stripes down the sleeves.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact The FBI at 206-622-0460 or The Vancouver Police Tip Line at 360-487-7399.
A Montana teenager accused of killing a pregnant woman and her teenage son during a failed suicide attempt has filed a civil suit against the victim's family.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Justine Winter, seeks restitution from the victim's estate and the construction company that built the overpass where the accident occurred. Winter wants to be compensated for mental pain and suffering, as well as loss of income and medical expenses, according to media reports.
Winter, 17, is currently awaiting trial on charges of deliberate homicide for the deaths of Columbia Falls resident Erin Julie Thompson, 35, and her son, Caden Vincent Odell, 13. Thompson was four months pregnant at the time of her death.
According to court records, the fatal accident occurred on the night of March 17, 2009. Winter was driving her Pontiac Grand Am southbound on U.S. 93, between Kalispell and Whitefish, when she crossed the centerline and struck Thompson's northbound Subaru Forester head-on, the Daily Inter Lake reported.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Winter survived the accident and was later released from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
In the wake of the accident, prosecutors obtained evidence suggesting the crash may have been a suicide attempt. That evidence includes several text messages that Winter allegedly sent to her boyfriend just minutes before the crash occurred.
"If I won, I would have you," one text message, obtained by ABC News, read. "And I wouldn't crash my car."
Another read: "That's why I'm going to wreck my car. Because all I can do is f*** up. Because I am a terrible person and I know it."
As a result of the evidence in the case, Winter was charged in September 2009 with two counts of deliberate homicide.
On August 5, Flathead County District Court Judge Katherine Curtis ruled that Winter would be tried as an adult.
In her civil lawsuit, Winter alleges that Thompson negligently operated her vehicle and caused the accident. She further alleges that the construction company named in the suit failed to construct traffic-control devices on the highway where the accident occurred, the Whitefish Pilot reported.
None of the parties named in the suit have responded to the allegations.
Winter is currently on house arrest pending her Sept. 27 trial. If convicted, she faces anywhere from 10 years to life in prison.
The statistics are alarming: One in Seven kids is solicited for sex online; One in 33 kids receives aggressive online solicitations to meet in person; One in three kids receives unsolicited sexual content online; and 34% of kids online indicate they communicate with people they don't know.
"Today children have more access to the Internet that ever before in history. The majority of all households today have at least one computer and we know that most teens access the Internet from multiple locations," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
As a part of Internet Safety Month, Sprint and NCMEC have partnered up and expanded the child-focused Internet safety website www.NSTeens.org, to include a new animated video and educational game created for the “in-between” or "tween" audience of eight to 12 year olds.
The new video "Mike-tosis," demonstrates how quickly information spreads through the Internet, on mobile phones, and other technology that is widely used today. In addition, a new online game “Cyberbully Zombies Attack,” has been released. It allows players to use Internet safety tips, trusted adults, and technology as tools to stop cyberbullying zombies from reaching their school.
"Kids already know that the Internet is a wonderful resource, Allen said. "They also need to understand the potential risks and the simple things that they can do that will help them stay safe. That is why NSTeens was created. It is designed for tweens but also can serve as an educational resource for parents and teachers.”
NCMEC created the NSTeens.org website in 2007, in partnership with Sprint. The objective was to provide a resource for "tweens" who are ages eight to 12. NSTeens is an expansion of NCMEC’s NetSmartz Workshop which is a web-based safety program designed specifically for children.
Both NetSmartz Workshop and 4NetSafety offer free resources to teens, parents, and teachers. Issues like online gaming, cyberbullying, and social networking are addressed through animated videos, games and other content.
Since NSTeens.org was launched, the site has grown and expanded with new content added each year. NSTeens.org materials are also used in presentations by NCMEC’s NetSmartz Workshop and have now been distributed to more than 550 schools and more than 250,000 students in grades six through eight.
"There is perhaps nothing more important than protecting our nation's children," said Debby Ballard, Director of Community Affairs for Sprint. "The Internet provides many opportunities for fun and learning, but can also be the source of many potential dangers. As such, it’s crucial for businesses, non-profit organizations, communities and schools to partner together to make sure our young people are safe online. We are pleased to work with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to expand the online-safety tools available for children, parents and educators in the effort to keep children safe."
A 45-year-old Blaine, Minnesota man has been indicted in federal court in the District of Minnesota for hacking into his neighbor’s wireless Internet system and allegedly posing as the neighbor to make threats to kill the vice president of the United States and e-mail child pornography.
The indictment charges Barry Vincent Ardolf with two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of making threats to the president and successors to the presidency, one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of distribution of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that in February 2009, Ardolf hacked into his neighbor's wireless Internet connection and created multiple Yahoo.com e-mail accounts in that person’s name. Then, on May 6, 2009, he allegedly used one of those accounts to e-mail the office of the vice president of the United States. In that e-mail, he stated:
"This is a terrorist threat! Take this seriously. I hate the way you people are spending money you don't have. ... I'm assigning myself to be judge jury and executioner. Since you folks have spent what you don't have it's time to pay the ultimate price. Time for new officials after you all are put to death by us."
The e-mail, which also was sent to the governor and a U.S. senator from Minnesota, went on to threaten to kill the officials one at a time, with the first being dead by June 1. Ardolf allegedly signed the e-mail with the name of the neighbor from whom he stole Internet access as well as the name of that person's wife. The indictment alleges that Ardolf sent the e-mail using the wireless router belonging to the neighbor, intending for the e-mail to be traced back to that person.
In addition to sending the threatening e-mail described above, the indictment alleges that in February 2009, Ardolf posed as the identity-theft victim and used the e-mail accounts he created in the victim’s name to send sexually themed e-mails to three of the victim’s co-workers. Again, the defendant sent the e-mails through the victim's wireless Internet connection, intending for them to be traced to the victim’s Internet account. In one of the e-mails, Ardolf attached an image containing child pornography. Ardolf also allegedly created a MySpace page in the victim's name, on which he posted the same image of child pornography.
If convicted, Ardolf faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the distribution of child pornography charge, 10 years on the pornography possession charge, five years on both the unauthorized access to a computer and the threats to the vice president, and a mandatory two-year minimum prison sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.
SCUBA diving businesses along the Gulf Coast region are beginning to feel the pinch as the oil spill disaster encroaches on dive sites and visitors cancel plans to dive in the Gulf of Mexico.
As a result the problem, the Beasley Allen Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against British Petroleum ("BP") and several other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The firm represents a SCUBA diving business, which has allegedly incurred damages related to the oil spill, including loss of profits, business income, and earning capacity.
Current estimates indicate between 40.7 million and 114.5 million gallons of oil have already spilled into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, and oil continues to spew from the undersea well every day.
Beaches up and down the Gulf Coast have been closed to swimmers, and visitors who are ordinarily drawn to the area's emerald waters are canceling their plans. But even in areas where waters are open and diving is safe, travelers are staying away out of fear about oil contamination. According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, dive industry sales total more than $800 million annually.
"The SCUBA diving business is taking a double hit, impacted by actual oil spill damages, and the fear that surrounds reports of the leak's effect on the Gulf of Mexico," Rhon Jones, head of Beasley Allen's Environmental Law section, said. "Even when the water is clean and safe and dive sites are open, many travelers are still avoiding the Gulf Coast because of misconceptions about where the oil is now, and fears about where it might spread in the coming weeks and months."
The suit is filed in Middle District of Alabama on behalf of Adventure Sports II, a SCUBA diving business located in Montgomery, Ala., that does significant business in the Gulf of Mexico. The suit seeks damages for earning capacity, business income, and other damages related to the disaster. The suit alleges negligence and wanton misconduct. Defendants named in the suit are BP, Haliburton, and Cameron International.
This most recent lawsuit is not the first time Beasley lawyers have gone head-to-head with an oil company. In a previous lawsuit, they won an $11.8 billion verdict against ExxonMobil Corp., for breach of contract and fraud.
In addition, the firm has filed a number of lawsuits on behalf of businesses and individuals allegedly harmed by the oil spill. The first suits were filed on behalf of Plaintiffs in the commercial fishing and restaurant industries. Recently, they filed a case on behalf of Gulf Coast real estate management companies, a commercial charter-fishing guide, and commercial fishing deckhand. These businesses and individuals are claiming major economic losses as vacationers cancel bookings at what would be the start of the industry's most lucrative season.
The National President and 26 other members and associates of the American Outlaw Association (Outlaws) motorcycle gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The 12-count indictment charges that the men participated in a criminal enterprise that engaged in a wide range of crimes, including attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, robbery, extortion, witness intimidation, narcotics distribution, illegal gambling, and weapons violations.
"[The] arrests of the national president and leadership of the American Outlaws Association mark another aggressive attempt by the Department of Justice to dismantle what the indictment alleges to be a gang whose entire environment revolves around violence," said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride.
The indictment alleges that the Outlaws motorcycle gang is a highly organized criminal enterprise with a defined, multi-level chain of command, which is overseen by Jack Rosga, aka Milwaukee Jack, 53, Milwaukee, Wis., who served as the Outlaws National President.
Leaders and members in multiple states are charged in the indictment, including Wisconsin, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia. Under Rosga's leadership, the enterprise is alleged to have engaged in violent racketeering activities with the intent to expand its influence and control various parts of the country against rival motorcycle gangs, particularly the Hells Angels.
According to the indictment, the Outlaws planned multiple acts of violence against rival motorcycle gangs, including shows of force at the Cycle Expo in 2006, Dinwiddie Racetrack in 2008, Cockades Bar in 2009, Daytona Bike Week in 2009, and the Easyrider Bike Expo in 2010. The indictment alleges that in the Cockades Bar show of force, members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club joined the Outlaws in the assault against rival gangs.
The indictment states that in October 2009, Rosga allegedly directed members of the Outlaws to retaliate against the Hells Angels for their attack on two Outlaws members, which resulted in the alleged attempted murder of a Hells Angels member in Canaan, Maine. The victim was seriously injured from gunshot wounds. Following Outlaw tradition, the two Outlaw members who carried out the attack allegedly received new patches indicating they had performed a violent act on behalf of the Outlaws.
In November 2008, Outlaws members are charged in the indictment of assaulting a black male at the Hard Times Café in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for no other reason but his race, and then intimidating witnesses and instructing fellow Outlaws members to lie to obstruct law enforcement’s investigation of the assault.
The indictment also includes allegations of the Outlaws regularly distributing and using narcotics, engaging in illegal gambling activities, and the regular use of firearms and other dangers weapons.
Those charged in the indictment include:Jack Rosga, aka “Milwaukee Jack,” 53, serves as the National Boss of the Outlaws organization and is also a member of the Gold Region, Milwaukee Wisconsin Chapter.
Joseph Allman, 46, is an Outlaws member in the Red region and holds a position in the Maine Chapter, previously serving as President and Enforcer.
John Banthem, aka "Bull," 46, is an Outlaws member in Montana and is the president of a new prospect chapter in Montana.
Thomas Benvie, aka "Taz," 41, is an Outlaws member in the Red region and currently serves as President of the Maine Chapter.
William Davey, aka "Rebel," 46, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and was formerly the Chapter Enforcer in the Ashville, North Carolina.
Mark Jason Fiel, aka "Jason," 37, is a former Outlaws member in the Copper Region and a former leader in the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
Mark Steven Fiel, aka "Snuff," 59, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as President of the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
Chris Gagner, 37, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as the President and Treasurer of the Asheville, North Carolina Chapter
Harold Herndon, aka "Lil' Dave," 48, is an Outlaws member and is currently the Copper Region Vice President and member of the Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
Mark Lester, aka "Ivan," 55, is an Outlaws member in the Knoxville, Tennessee Chapter and is served as the Boss of the Grey Region until early 2010.
Brett Longendyke, 32, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter Enforcer.
David Lowry, aka "Little David," 49, is an Outlaws member and currently the Copper Region Boss and member of the Charlotte Chapter.
Michael Mariaca, aka "M & M," 50, is an Outlaws member and serves as the President of the Rock Hill, South Carolina Chapter and Copper Region Enforcer.
Thomas Mayne, aka "Tomcat," 59, is an Outlaws member in the Red Region and serves as the regional treasurer. Mayne formerly served as the Red Region Enforcer.
Harry Rhyne McCall, 53, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region, Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
Michael Pedini, aka "Madman," 39, is an Outlaws member in the Red Region and a former Enforcer in the Northern Maine Chapter.
Thomas Petrini, aka "Jo Jo," 48, is a former Outlaws member in the Copper Region, Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter.
Michael Smith, 51, is an Outlaws member in the Copper Region and serves as the President of the Hickory, North Carolina Chapter.
Mark Spradling, aka "Lytnin," 52, is an Outlaws member and serves as Treasurer of the Copper Region.
Christopher Timbers, aka "Alibi," 37, is an Outlaws member in the Manassas/Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Copper Region.
James Townsend, aka "Vern," 44, is an Outlaws member and President of the Lexington, North Carolina Chapter.
Leslie Werth, aka "Les," 47, is an Outlaws member and currently is the Vice President of the Rock Hill, South Carolina Chapter. Werth served as the Copper Region Boss until October 17, 2009.
Brian McDermott, 50, is an Outlaws member of the Copper Region’s Hickory, North Carolina chapter.
Charles Love, aka "Chuck" and "Rebar," 49, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Amelia, Virginia.
William Powell, aka "Torch," 49, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Lynchburg, Virginia.
Charles Barlow, aka “Chuck,” 43, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Chesterfield, Virginia.
Dennis Haldermann, aka "Chew Chew," 45, is a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club from Chesterfield, Virginia.
If convicted, the defendants face multiple years in prison.
The FBI this week released the results of "Project Deliverance," a nearly two-year-long, multi-agency investigation targeting Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the U.S. In addition to the arrest of more than 2,000 individuals on narcotics-related charges, there were significant seizures, including millions of dollars in U.S. currency.
"Today we have all taken a major step forward to disrupt and dismantle transnational drug trafficking that originates along our southwest border," Kevin Perkins, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division said during a press conference in Washington on Thursday.
"Our success demonstrates what we can accomplish when law enforcement agencies in the United States and other nations work together," Perkins continued.
Drug trafficking across the southwest border between the U.S. and Mexico has led to a surge of drugs in neighborhoods across the U.S., as well as increased border violence, kidnapping, extortion, human smuggling, and public corruption.
"To help combat this threat, the FBI focuses on areas where we bring something special to the table in terms of technology, manpower, or federal statutes," Perkins said. "And we try to maximize our resources by working closely with our state, local and international counterparts, as demonstrated by this takedown."
Project Deliverance resulted in the arrest of more than 2,200 individuals and the seizure of $154 million in U.S. currency, 1,262 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.5 tons of cocaine, 1,410 pounds of heroin, 69 tons of marijuana, 501 weapons, and 527 vehicles, the FBI reported.
On Wednesday alone, some 429 individuals in 16 states were arrested as more than 3,000 agents and officers fanned out across the country in a coordinated effort.
According to the FBI, the 2,266 individuals arrested during Project Deliverance were charged with a variety of crimes involving conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, along with other violations of federal law. Many of the defendants face forfeiture allegations as well.
The investigation included the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Mexican law enforcement, in addition to many other local, state, and federal partners.
The coordinated takedown was part of the Department of Justice's Southwest Border Strategy, which uses prosecutor-led taskforces that bring together federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Mexican drug cartels through investigation, prosecution, and extradition of their key leaders and facilitators, as well as seizure and forfeiture of their assets.
"This successful operation, however, is just one battle in an ongoing war," U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder noted during today's press conference. "So long as cartels and smugglers attempt to wreak havoc on our borders, we will continue to target them with every resource available to the federal government."
Ohio resident Frank Svoboda has been sentenced to a 10-month prison term for fraudulently passing himself off as a special agent during a police traffic stop.
"This conviction and sentence sends a strong message that people cannot fraudulently pass themselves off as federal agents," said U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steven Dettelbach.
In February, a jury found Svoboda guilty of "counterfeiting or forging" a seal of an agency of the United States. During Svoboda's two-day trial, Assistant U. S. Attorney Duncan Brown presented evidence showing Svoboda produced a fraudulent Department of Homeland Security identification card after being pulled over for a traffic violation in June 2009.
During the traffic stop, Svoboda claimed he was employed as a "secret agent," although he later claimed that he was acting as a "sovereign citizen" and that the U. S. government did not have authority over individuals, Dettelbach said.
At the time of his arrest, Svoboda was also in possession of four additional fraudulent identifications.
The investigation into the case was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Akron, Ohio.
A Jordanian teenager pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony offense related to the attempted bombing of a downtown Dallas, Texas skyscraper in September 2009.
"Today's guilty plea underscores the continuing threat we face from lone actors who, although not members of any international terrorist organization, are willing to carry out acts of violence in this country to further the terrorist cause," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
Appearing before U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn, Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
According to documents filed, on September 24, Smadi "knowingly took possession of a truck that contained a weapon of mass destruction," specifically a destructive device or bomb. He then drove the truck to Fountain Place, a 60-story public office building located on Ross Avenue in Dallas, and parked it in the public parking garage under the building.
Smadi activated a timer connected to the device before walking across the street to meet with his partner. The two then drove a safe distance away; where Smadi used a cell phone to remotely activate the device. Nothing happened.
When the bomb failed to go off, Smadi was informed that his partner, who he had thought was an Al-Qaeda member, was actually an Arabic-speaking undercover agent.
"The facts disclosed today and Smadi’s plea make it clear his intention was to kill American citizens," said Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field. "I want to commend the work of the FBI's North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigators and the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, who worked countless hours to bring this investigation closer to its conclusion and to protect the community in their execution of the FBI's Counterterrorism strategy to detect, penetrate, and disrupt acts of terrorism in the United States.”
Smadi faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement, however, Smadi faces a sentence of 30 years in prison, if the Court accepts the plea.
Judge Lynn set a sentencing date of August 20, 2010.
On May 11, the FBI held a memorial service to honor 53 FBI special agents who have been killed in the line of duty. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III and Deputy Director John S. Pistole participated in the ceremony, which is held each year as part of National Police Week to honor the sacrifices of the fallen special agents and their families.
"Every special agent swears an oath to well and faithfully discharge the duties of their office. Each fallen agent we honor today upheld that oath, at great cost. They discharged their duties well and faithfully, day in and day out—knowing that at any moment, even in the midst of a routine task, they might be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice," said Director Mueller.
During the service, the name of each fallen agent was read aloud, while their photo was displayed on a projector screen.
The formalized tradition to honor the fallen agents was started in 1979, after three special agents were shot and killed in two separate incidents, thousands of miles apart. In response, then FBI Director William Webster held a memorial service at FBI Headquarters. One week later, a public memorial service was held in Washington, D.C., evoking a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and support. The following August, Director Webster decided to make the memorial service a yearly tradition.
In addition to the memorial service, the FBI recently released preliminary statistics for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year.
According to the statistics, 48 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty during 2009. Geographically, 21 of the victim officers were killed in the South, 13 in the West, seven in the Northeast, and five in the Midwest. Two officers were slain in Puerto Rico. The total number of officers killed is seven higher than in 2008.
By circumstance, 15 deaths occurred as a result of ambush situations, nine officers died during arrest situations, eight were killed while handling traffic pursuits/stops, five died responding to disturbance calls, four while investigating suspicious persons/circumstances, four during tactical situations, two while handling and transporting prisoners, and one while handling a person with a mental illness.
A breakdown of weapons revealed that firearms were used in the majority of slayings. Of the 45 officers killed with firearms, 28 were killed with handguns, 15 with rifles, and two with shotguns. Three officers were killed with vehicles.
At the time they were killed, 35 law enforcement officers were wearing body armor. Twelve officers fired their weapons, and nine of the slain law enforcement officers attempted to fire their weapons. Seven officers had their weapons stolen, and two officers were slain with their own weapons.
The 48 law enforcement officers were killed in 37 separate incidents in 2009. All of the incidents have been cleared by arrest or exceptional means.
In addition to the officers who were feloniously killed, 47 law enforcement officers were accidentally killed in 2009. This number is 21 lower than the previous year's number.
The FBI will release final statistics in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program's annual report, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, which will be published on the Internet in the fall of this year.
For more details on the special agents who were killed in the performance of duty or as the result of an adversarial action, visit the FBI's Hall of Honor, which pays tribute to these heroic men and women.
According to Susan Murphy-Milano, Susan Cox Powell and Stacy Peterson are great examples of women who could have benefited from her newly released book "Time's Up!"
"With the proliferation of deaths due to domestic violence, something has to be done, something different, and something effective," said Murphy-Milano, a domestic violence expert.
Susan Powell, 28, went missing under suspicious circumstances from West Valley City, Utah in December 2009. Police have named Susan's husband, Joshua Powell, a "person of interest" in the case and have said they believe he has information that could help locate her.
Stacy Peterson was 23 years old when she went missing in October 2007. When questioned by police, Stacy's husband, Drew Peterson, 56, claimed his wife had left him. Police found no evidence suggesting she left of her own accord, and Peterson was labeled a suspect. In May 2009, Peterson was arrested for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He is currently in jail awaiting trial in that case. Stacy Peterson remains missing, and charges in her case have not yet been filed.
Neither Powell or Peterson have been charged in connection with their missing wives' cases
Susan Murphy-Milano's new book, "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," is due to be released on April 12, 2010.
"'Time's Up' guides the victim towards safety by showing them the unseen pitfalls of leaving a violent relationship and how to navigate around them," Murphy-Milano said.
The book also has explicit details and instructions on how to fill out an "Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit," a form Murphy-Milano created and has used throughout the years in high risk cases.
Murphy-Milano is a specialist in family violence who works nationally with domestic violence programs, law enforcement officials and prosecutors, providing technical and consulting services in domestic violence and stalking cases. She says her principal objective is to intervene "before a victim is seriously injured or killed."
In addition to her latest book, Murphy-Milano is also the author of "Defending Our Lives" and "Moving Out, Moving On."
"Moving Out, Moving On" is a comprehensive, step-by-step, practical guide about ending relationships.
"Defending Our Lives" covers options that are available to battered women, as well as to their families and friends.
When she's not busy penning new books, Murphy-Milano hosts "The Susan Murphy Milano Show" and also contributes to "Time's Up!" and "Women In Crime Ink" online. She is also preparing to participate in the new television show, "Crime Wire," with hosts Dennis Griffin and Vito Colucci. The show will examine cases in which the investigations have left questions unanswered and possible criminal activity unexposed.
For more information on Murphy-Milano or to order one of her books, visit susanmurphymilano.com.
On March 22, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida responded to a domestic dispute call at a home in Shalimar. Upon arrival at the scene, 28-year-old Johnny Lowe answered the door and told police his girlfriend, 31-year-old Kizzy Campbell, had locked herself in the bathroom and would not come out. He then related to officers the incidents that had led up to the phone call.
"Lowe stated that on 03/21/10 he came home to find multiple internet chat messages from 'other dudes' to his girlfriend … Lowe stated he checked the messages and they were very provocative, so he checked the outgoing messages and found that [she] had taken a photo of her vagina and sent it out," reads a Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office report obtained by thesmokinggun.com.
Lowe told police an argument ensued and Campbell began "tripping" and suddenly attacked him, biting him in the shoulder and scratching him. Campbell then allegedly grabbed a large kitchen knife and cut his arm. Lowe admitted to striking Campbell in the mouth during the argument, but claimed it was an accident.
"He exhibited a large bloody bite mark on his left shoulder and multiple scratches," reads the police report. "Lowe also had a small laceration that appeared to come from a knife cut on his left arm … Campbell exhibited a swollen bloody lip."
Lowe reportedly told police, "Just take me to jail," whereas Campbell said she did not wish to press charges. Nonetheless, both were charged with battery and taken to jail.
Last month, the two-year disappearance of Christine Marie Sheddy was solved when a tip led investigators to her remains. Since that time, Christine has been laid to rest and police have made an arrest in the case.
"It makes it easier for me because I know where she is now," Sheddy's mother, Lynn Dodenhoff, said. "Now I don't have to lay awake at night thinking of all the horrific things that might have happened."
Sheddy, a 26-year-old mother of three, went missing in November 2007 after she traveled from her home in Bowers Beach, Del., to visit friends in Pocomoke City, Md. She made plans to return home on Nov. 13, but she mysteriously disappeared sometime prior to her departure date.
Several searches were conducted; however, no sign of Sheddy was found. The case continued until late last month, when authorities received a tip that led them to a location in Snow Hill, Md. It was there that investigators found human female skeletal remains next to the River House Inn. The location is roughly 10 miles from where Sheddy disappeared.
As Sheddy's family agonized over the discovery, authorities in mid-February arrested Justin Hadel, a 19-year-old man from College Station, Texas. Hadel was a guest at the same residence where Sheddy was staying when she went missing.
The Worcester County State Attorney's office said in a press release that Hadel has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and other charges. The release also states that Hadel's arrest came as a result of information received from witnesses.
"Witnesses stated Justin Hadel was responsible for the murder of Sheddy and provided investigators with the potential location of her remains," the release states.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hadel killed Sheddy on or about Nov. 13, 2007, at a home on Byrd Road in Pocomoke.
Authorities have not yet commented on a cause of death, but Sheddy's death certificate lists multiple injuries and lists her death a result of "blunt force trauma."
Meanwhile, Sheddy's family is still coming to grips with all the recent developments.
On Saturday, roughly 250 people showed up at Milford First Baptist Church in Frederica, Del., to say their goodbyes.
"It has been a long and difficult journey, but I have finally been able to put my baby to rest," Dodenhoff said, adding that Sheddy's children are having a difficult time dealing with the loss of their mother.
"We went to the funeral home Friday evening so they wouldn't be scared," she said. "When I got up there and did my eulogy they cried and today they'll still run up just out of nowhere, grab you and hug you, and say, 'I miss my mom.' It really tears me up inside."
Sheddy's family is having a difficult time covering the funeral expenses. As a result, a Christine Sheddy Memorial Fund has been set up by 3 View Search Services, a missing person search and recovery group that assisted in the case. Donations can be sent to The First National Bank of Wyoming, 7 Commerce Street, Harrington, DE 19952.
"If we receive enough to cover all the costs, we will put any additional moneys we receive into a trust fund for Christine's children," Dodenhoff said.
Since his arrest, Justin Hadel has waived extradition and has been transported from Texas to the Worcester County Jail in Maryland, where he is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on April 9.
Crystal Gail Mangum, the former stripper who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape four years ago, was arrested last month on multiple charges, including attempted murder and arson, the police said.
On the night of February 17, a dispatcher in Durham, North Carolina, received an emergency 911 call from Mangum's nine-year-old daughter.
"My mom's gonna die if you don't hurry," Mangum's daughter told the dispatcher.
When police arrived at the 2220 Lincoln Street address, they allegedly found Mangum, 31, "scratching, punching, and throwing objects" at her boyfriend, Milton Walker.
Mangum reportedly said, "I'm gonna stab you mother f----r," court records show.
Prior to the officer's arrival on the scene, Mangum had allegedly set fire to Walker's clothing inside a bathtub in the apartment. When police arrived, she allegedly tried to start another fire.
Mangum, Walker and three children, ages 10, 9 and 3, were evacuated from the single-story duplex while firefighters put out the bathtub fire. According to the Durham fire department, no one was injured, but the apartment did suffer heavy smoke damage.
When police attempted to take Mangum into custody, she "unlawfully and willfully" resisted arrest, court records show. She also allegedly provided them with a fake name, Marella, and age.
As a result of the alleged incidents, Mangum was charged with first-degree attempted murder, arson, simple assault, identity theft, communicating threats, damage to property, resisting arrest and child endangerment. No charges were filed against Walker.
Mangum remains incarcerated on a $250,000 bond. A court date has not yet been set.
In March 2006, Crystal Gail Mangum made national headlines when she told police that she was raped by three Duke lacrosse team members at a party for which she had been hired to perform as a stripper.
All three were later exonerated when an investigation by the state attorney general's office found no DNA or other evidence to substantiate Mangum's claims. The investigation also resulted in the disbarment of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, for "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation" in his handling of the case. Nifong was sentenced to one night in jail for criminal contempt.
A Pennsylvania high school student and his parents have filed a lawsuit against a Philadelphia school district for allegedly using school-issued laptops to spy on students.
The Feb. 11 lawsuit, filed on behalf of a Grade 10 student, alleges "indiscriminate remote activation of a webcam" and "intentional interception of ... private webcam images" by officials at Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, Pa.
The lawsuit alleges that on Nov. 11, 2009, the student was approached by Lindy Matsko, an Assistant Principal at Harrington High School, and informed that he had engaged in "improper behavior" in his home. As evidence, Matsko allegedly produced a photograph that had been taken by a webcam in the student's personal laptop that was issued by the school district.
The suit further alleges that the school district never "disclosed" to students or parents that they had the ability to remotely capture images from the school laptops.
According to district officials, the built-in webcams are used as a "security feature" to track lost, stolen and missing laptops.
"Upon a report of a suspected lost, stolen or missing laptop, the feature was activated by the District's security and technology departments," Superintendent Dr. Christopher McGinley said in a written statement. "The tracking-security feature was limited to taking a still image of the operator and the operator's screen … The District has not used the tracking feature or web cam for any other purpose or in any other manner whatsoever
McGinley did not offer any explanation regarding the specific incident involving Matsko. Instead, he stated that the feature had been deactivated, as of yesterday, and will not be used again, "without express written notification to all students and families."
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status on behalf of all 2,300 high school students in the district, claims that state and federal wiretap laws were violated.
U.S. Department of Justice officials have yet to comment on the suit. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, told philly.com that her department did not learn of the case until this week.
"We're going to be looking into the situation to see if a criminal investigation is warranted," Ferman said.
Meanwhile, district officials say they plan on fighting the accusations and winning.
On Oct. 28, 1999, Susan Fassett, a 48-year-old woman from a small town in the suburbs of New York City, was mercilessly gunned down outside the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.
An unlikely target, friends and family members were stunned by the killing.
According to crime writer M. William Phelps, Susan was the "perfect mother of two wonderful boys, the pretty wife of a local, well-respected, police officer, a very active member of her church and well-known at her job as the Town of Poughkeepsie personnel assistant."
Why?
During the course of the investigation, authorities discovered that Susan had been having marital problems, including infidelity issues. As a result, suspicion naturally fell on both her husband and her lover. However, as the investigation continued, a female suspect named Dawn Silvernail entered the picture. The more police looked into Silvernail the more details they uncovered - exposing a world of dominance, lesbian sex and betrayal.
This Sunday, at 10:00 p.m., ET, Paula Zahn will examine the case and interview Silvernail, who speaks for the first time after being convicted for the murder of Susan Fassett.
In each episode of ON THE CASE, Zahn tracks the real-life drama of each story by featuring the personal points of view of the people closest to the case, including exploring the motivation and thought processes of the men and women responsible for these crimes. The series includes perspective from law enforcement investigators, families of the victims and the incarcerated, and lawyers representing both sides of legal proceedings. Zahn's interviews reveal fascinating details that uncover the truth while presenting the spectrum of viewpoints directly touched by these cases.
Two researchers from the Penn State University recently presented a report at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which detailed work they have been conducting in an attempt to establish the chemical fingerprint from the smell of death.
According to Dan Sykes, a lecturer in the Dept. of Chemistry, and Sara Jones, a grad student in the Dept. of Forensic Chemistry, their research could lead to an electronic device that could be used to detect human bodies buried in disasters and at crime scenes. The device would also be able to determine how much time had elapsed since death.
"Decomposing bodies release more than 30 compounds. Some, like the aptly-named "putrescine" and "cadaverine," develop early in the decomposition process," reads a press release issued by ACS.
Past studies on the smell of decomposition were conducted using donated human bodies; however, most had been dead for several days, making it impossible to detect putrescine, cadaverine, and other compounds that appear very early in the decomposition process. Jones and Sykes solved this problem by using pigs that had been euthanized under humane conditions. As a result, they were able to study decomposition immediately after death. Pigs were also chosen because of their similarities to humans.
"They go through the same phases of decomposition as humans, as well as the same number of stages," Jones said, adding, "And those stages last about as long in pigs as they do in humans before complete decomposition occurs and only the bones remain."
During testing, the deceased pigs were placed inside odor-collecting units, equipped with special sensors designed to capture gases that are emitted during decomposition. Data from the sensors was collected every six to 12 hours over the course of a week. Upon studying the data, Sykes and Jones identified a clear chemical profile.
Kansas Attorney General Steve Six, along with the Riley County and Lawrence police departments, are asking college students to be vigilant during collegiate fall breaks because of a serial rapist who is suspected of committing multiple rapes in Lawrence and Manhattan.
According to police, more than a dozen attacks that have occurred in the two areas since 2000 share significant similarities. The victims' characteristics as well as the manner of the attacks and the times when they occurred all suggest that a single serial rapist is responsible.
The rapist is believed to stalk his victims prior to the attack. He targets female students who live off-campus in homes or apartments and breaks in at night while they are asleep. In some instances, no sign of forced entry was found, suggesting the rapist had gained entry through an unlocked door or window.
Descriptions of the rapist's height and weight have varied in the victims' reports; however, police believe he is a slender, white male of medium height in his mid-20s. Police say the suspect is usually armed and wears something over his face to disguise his identity.
Students are asked to limit their travel during fall break and to pay close attention to activities in their neighborhoods.
"Take extra safety precautions and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement immediately," Six said.
Six said that law enforcement agencies are working diligently not only to identify the rapist but also to educate the public about how they can avoid being victimized.
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