Paradise News

Category: Metro

  • Ga. man allegedly set wife on fire by rubbing alcohol on her and lighting a cigarette

    ALBANY, Ga. (TCD) — Police arrested a man last week who allegedly set his wife on fire and neglected to seek help for her for days.

    According to a news release from the Albany Police Department, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, EMS responded to 67-year-old Amanda Jenkins’ home in the 400 block of Bobbitt Drive and found Jenkins unresponsive with 25% burns to her lower body. They transported her to the Phoebe Putney Hospital for treatment.

    Officers went to Jenkins’ home and brought her husband, 64-year-old Henry Hardwick, to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning. Police learned during the interview that on Oct. 22, Hardwick allegedly rubbed alcohol on his wife because she was “in a lot of pain from her condition of multiple sclerosis.” Then, he allegedly lit a cigarette near her, which caused her to catch fire.

    Hardwick told police he “panicked and was scared to call for help.”

    According to the statement, Hardwick didn’t seek help for his wife until two days later. Jenkins’ daughter reportedly responded to the home and found her mother in critical condition. Jenkins was transferred to Augusta Burn Unit for additional treatment.

    Hardwick faces a charge of aggravated assault and was booked into the Dougherty County Jail. The Albany Police Department said Hardwick could face additional charges.

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  • Salt Lake City man convicted of killing teen, holding people hostage over stolen alcohol

    SALT LAKE CITY (TCD) — A 40-year-old man was convicted last week of killing an 18-year-old and holding multiple people hostage after partygoers stole a bottle of alcohol from the man’s home.

    On Friday, Oct. 27, a jury found Levon Meguerditchian guilty of first-degree murder, several counts of aggravated kidnapping, obstructing justice, and felony discharge of a firearm.

    The fatal incident occurred Aug. 28, 2021, at a party Meguerditchian hosted at his home in Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood. In the early hours of the morning, some attendees grabbed a bottle of alcohol and ran out of his home. The victim, 18-year-old Abdourazak Mouhoumed, reportedly left the home at the same time and drove off.

    The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office said Meguerditchian shot at Mouhoumed and struck him in the head. As a result, Mouhoumed crashed his car.

    According to KUTV-TV, Mouhoumed’s car rammed into two homes, but the residents reportedly were not aware of the crash. Mouhoumed died at the scene.

    Meguerditchian reportedly forced everyone else at the party to move into the laundry room and threatened them with violence. Salt Lake City Police arrived at the scene to search for signs of the shooting but did not find any evidence. Some of the hostages were reportedly freed after that.

    At approximately 6:30 a.m., one of the hostage’s friends contacted the Salt Lake City Police Department and said their friend was still being held against her will at Meguerditchian’s home. Officers went to the residence and found a juvenile female with “multiple injuries to her face.”

    Meguerditchian reportedly surmised that girl was friends with the people who took the alcohol and invited them to the party.

    He will be sentenced Jan. 10, 2024.

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  • Ill. woman convicted of helping son kill missing man and leaving his body in a trash can

    NAPERVILLE, Ill. (TCD) — A jury found a 43-year-old woman guilty last week for playing a role in the shooting death of a missing 20-year-old man and dumping his body in a trash can near a vacant home.

    On Friday, Oct. 27, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Candice Jones was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the 2018 fatal shooting of Michael Armendariz. The jury reportedly came back with the verdict after 90 minutes of deliberation. Her son, Ernest Collins, was convicted of murder and armed robbery with a firearm in September for his role in Armdenariz’s killing.

    According to the state’s attorney’s office, on Jan. 18, 2018, Naperville Police went to a home on Whispering Hills Drive to take a missing person report on behalf of Armdendariz, who was last seen four days prior at around 9:30 p.m.

    Jones, Collins, and his girlfriend, Cassandra Green, reportedly “hatched a scheme to rob Armendariz with a gun.”

    On the evening of Jan. 14, 2018, Green sent Armendariz a Snapchat message. Minutes later, he got into an SUV that Green was driving. Then, Collins, who was hiding in the back seat, shot Armendariz in the head twice execution-style. Green and Collins drove Armendariz’s body to Jones’ home in Chicago and left his body in a trash can. They reportedly left the garbage bin in Jones’ garage, then moved it to a vacant residence next door.

    On Jan. 15, 2018, Green and Collins stole Armendariz’s keys and burglarized his apartment.

    According to WGN-TV, Armendariz’s body was discovered in June 2018.

    Collins and Green were arrested Feb. 4, 2019, in Rockford, while Jones was taken into custody two days later in Chicago.

    The state’s attorney’s office said Green pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to armed robbery with a firearm.

    Jones faces 75 years in prison, while her son could be sentenced to up to life in prison.

    DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said about the verdict, “The diabolical plot devised by Candice Jones, Ernest Collins, and Cassandra Green, and the execution of that plot, left a void in the lives of Michael’s surviving family and friends that will never be filled. I wish them strength as they continue their lives, having replaced Michael’s presence with just his memory.”

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  • The Clintons, Qatar, and the Israel Massacre

    Shortly after the world began learning the details of the massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, Hillary Clinton published a note of support on X for “everyone affected by the horrific attacks by Hamas” and expressing “strong support of our ally,” Israel. The former secretary of state had nothing to say about one of Hamas’s key allies, the energy-rich kingdom of Qatar, and not surprisingly: Qatar is not only an important friend of the U.S. in the region but also for many years was a generous patron of Bill and Hillary Clinton. As JW President Tom Fitton noted on X, Qatar funneled money to the Clintons when Mrs. Clinton was secretary of state and she “hid this until disclosures from Wikileaks and pressure from Judicial Watch forced her to admit to tens of millions of previously hidden foreign cash payments to ‘Clinton Inc.’”

    Slipping money into the hands of slippery politicians—a time-honored tradition in the Middle East and elsewhere—of course is not the same as providing significant ongoing state support for a murderous terrorist organization. But the Clinton experience does provide a snapshot of the Qatari influence operation and a warning about what Qatar may be up to elsewhere, including in the United States.

    The Qatar-Clinton money trail begins around 2008, when the Clinton Foundation—under pressure due to Mrs. Clinton’s imminent ascent to State Department leadership—published a list of donors. Among them: Qatar, listed as contributing between $1 million and $5 million. A Clinton Foundation spokesman later acknowledged that Qatar had been sending the Clintons money “since 2002.”

    Pressure mounted on the Clintons in 2014 with the publication of a Judicial Watch investigative report disclosing that Bill Clinton had earned upward of $48 million in speaking fees around the globe, including from Arab countries, while Mrs. Clinton served as secretary of state. “Former President Clinton trotted the globe collecting huge speaking fees while his wife presided over U.S. foreign policy,” Tom Fitton noted at the time.

    In 2016, a leaked Wikileaks email revealed that five years earlier, in 2011, the Clintons had received a $1 million gift from Qatar. That gift was never reported by the Clintons, a clear violation of the disclosure agreement the Clintons had signed with the State Department when Mrs. Clinton took the helm. Soon after the 2011 gift, a high-ranking Qatari official pressed the Clinton circle for “five minutes” with the former president.

    Judicial Watch Freedom of Information lawsuits also turned up more evidence of Clinton conflict of interests, including the courting of Qatar. A JW FOIA disclosure in late 2016 revealed a list sent by a Clinton Foundation senior adviser to a high-ranking aide to Secretary of State Clinton; the list noted more than 200 foreign leaders to be invited to the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting, including the emir of Qatar, the Qatari prime minster, and the minister of foreign affairs.

    Qatar’s pursuit of influence in the United States is not limited to the Clintons and their allies. According to investigative reports, Qatar has given $1 billion to American universities since 2011. Qatar also is a major purveyor of anti-Semitism. It’s media is filled with anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda. And at the UN—not exactly a bastion of pro-Israel sentiment—a high-ranking Qatari official was recently denied a senior post on the grounds of anti-Semitism. That’s useful context when considering Qatar’s role supporting Hamas.

    Here at Judicial Watch, we’re watching Qatar closely. At home, with concern rising about anti-Semitism on U.S. campuses, we won a recent lawsuit forcing disclosure of information about Qatar’s funding of American universities. Abroad, with lessons learned from our Clinton investigations, we’re following the flow of Qatari money. We’ll keep you updated.

    ***

    Micah Morrison is chief investigative reporter for Judicial Watch. Tips: mmorrison@judicialwatch.org

    Investigative Bulletin is published by Judicial Watch. Reprints and media inquiries: jfarrell@judicialwatch.org

     

     



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  • Minimum pupillage award rises to £23,078 in London and £21,060 elsewhere

    Increases take effect 1 January 2024


    The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has confirmed pupillage awards will increase by 11% from January next year.

    Rates for 12 month pupillages will move to £23,078 in London and £21,060 for those completing their on-the-job training elsewhere. Currently, awards sit at £20,703 and £18,884.

    Where possible, the BSB said, chambers should consider increasing the pupillage award early to assist pupils in the most financial need.

    The annual uplifts were first introduced in 2019 and are pegged against the hourly rates endorsed by the Living Wage Foundation, an independent organisation that promotes fair pay across the UK. Prior to the roll-out, the minimum chambers could pay their pupils was £12,000.

    The Legal Cheek 2024 Chambers Most List shows that there is a clear divide at the bar when it comes to pupillage awards. Whilst many criminal sets provide pupil awards close to the regulator-set minimums, major commercial and tax specialists can provide sums of up to £100,000.

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  • Slaughter and May launches business services grad scheme 

    New academy focuses on people, tech and clients


    Slaughter and May has launched a new graduate scheme for students seeking careers in law, but not as lawyers.

    The two year programme, dubbed the ‘Business Services Academy’, sees graduates complete four seat rotations of six months each, across several of the Magic Circle player’s key business services teams.

    Seats will be grouped together into three broad areas — people and operations; technology, legal ops and project management; and clients and business development — so as to enable grads to experience a variety of different specialisms within the firm.

    The first 18 months sees academy-goers complete a seat from each track before undertaking a further six-month seat on a track of their choosing. Each track also includes the option to complete a responsible business or environment seat.

    It’s worth noting that this scheme does not lead to qualification as a solicitor.

    Speaking to Legal Cheek, Slaughter and May’s chief operating officer, Jill Hoseason, said:

    “I am delighted to announce the launch of our Business Services graduate scheme. We have been running Business Development and Legal Operations Grad schemes since 2021 to great success. This programme will give individuals the chance to explore career options across our Business Services departments. Our specialisms of Clients, People and Technology will give our graduates a fantastically broad experience and help them understand how our teams work together, and develop their career path.”

    The 2024 Legal Cheek Firms Most List

    She continued: “This is a great way for us to bring new talent into different areas of the firm. It also builds on the work that we do to foster talent across all areas of the business, including supporting individuals to acquire a range of professional accreditations and build their career.”

    Those considering applying will have achieved BBB or higher at A Level and be a final year university student or a graduate. You will also need to have obtained a 2:1 degree or be on track to do so. Applications open today (30 October).

    Slaughters isn’t the first big legal player to create a pathway into the profession for those who don’t wish to practice law.

    Earlier this year, Legal Cheek reported that Addleshaw Goddard had created a new training programme within it business services team which is open to both graduates and school leavers. Meanwhile, in 2021, DWF launched a similar scheme across its finance, HR and marketing functions.

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  • U.S. Marshals capture homicide suspect who escaped from hospital last month

    WASHINGTON (TCD) — Law enforcement officials captured a homicide suspect in Maryland who reportedly assaulted an officer and escaped from a hospital in Washington, D.C., following a search that lasted seven weeks.

    According to a news release from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, on Sept. 6, the U.S. Marshals Service Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Christopher Haynes in Manassas, Virginia, on suspicion of killing Brent Hayward in August. Police said Haynes waived his right to an extradition hearing and was booked into the Washington Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch.

    He reportedly told police he was experiencing ankle pain from a pre-existing injury during processing and was transported to the George Washington University Hospital for treatment. Shortly after 3:30 p.m., an officer switched out Haynes’ handcuffs, and as he went to cuff one hand to a hospital bed in the hallway, Haynes allegedly assaulted the officer. Police said he fled the scene with one handcuff attached to his right wrist.

    Officers tried to capture Haynes on foot, but their attempts were unsuccessful. According to the Washington Post, Haynes escaped to closed roads in Foggy Bottom and Georgetown. George Washington University reportedly issued a shelter in place alert to students.

    Police released photos of Haynes and offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest. They said he was last seen wearing a white suit with one red shoe. An updated photo showed Haynes with a black shirt, gray shorts, and white shoes. The handcuff was still attached.

    The U.S. Marshals Service Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, with the help of a police helicopter, located Haynes on Oct. 26 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Officials took him into custody and transported him to the Homicide Branch. Haynes will be charged with the escape, as well as the existing murder charge.

    In a statement, police said, “Finding Christopher Haynes remained a top priority for the Metropolitan Police Department. MPD worked closely with our local and federal partners to ensure that Haynes was brought to justice.”

    According to the Washington Post, detectives were investigating Haynes’ escape to see if police followed necessary protocols. One officer allegedly drove Haynes to the hospital even though there should have been two officers transporting him because he was considered a “security-risk prisoner.”

    MORE:

    • Wanted Escapee Christopher Haynes Found – Washington Metropolitan Police Department
    • U.S. Marshals Recapture Metropolitan Police Department Escapee Charged With Homicide – U.S. Marshals Service
    • Update, 9/7/2023 – Washington Metropolitan Police Department
    • Murder suspect who escaped GWU Hospital last month is captured – Washington Post

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page for podcasts, exclusive videos, and more, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



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  • N.C. biological mother accused of kidnapping two children from foster parents

    KINSTON, N.C. (TCD) — Police have arrested a woman who allegedly kidnapped her own biological children from their foster parents last weekend, violating a court order.

    According to a news release from the Kinston Police Department, on Saturday, Oct. 21, officers responded to a home to a report of the abduction of two children. Police did not specify their ages.

    The two juveniles were living with their foster parents and had been placed there by the Department of Social Services.

    According to police, the children’s biological mother, Kimberly Westbrooke, allegedly “violated orders and abducted the children from their foster home.”

    Officers later found the children with Westbrooke in Ayden, North Carolina. Authorities safely returned the children to their foster parents in Kinston.

    Police arrested Westbrooke, and she was charged with two counts of abduction of children.

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  • Missing 5-year-old Milwaukee boy found dead in dumpster

    MILWAUKEE (TCD) — Police arrested a 15-year-old male and 27-year-old male this week after a missing 5-year-old boy was found dead inside a dumpster.

    Milwaukee Police said in a statement Prince McRee was reported as “critical missing” after he was last seen Wednesday, Oct. 25, on the 2400 block of North 54th Street. The 5-year-old’s body was found the next day at 8:50 a.m. in a dumpster on the 5500 block of West Vilet Street.

    McRee’s cause of death remains pending.

    According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, McRee’s mother saw him the morning of Oct. 25 at approximately 9 a.m., then reported him missing around 1 p.m. The boy’s parents knocked on doors of houses in the neighborhood after finding out he was nowhere to be found.

    Wisconsin State Sen. LaTonya Johnson lives near McRee’s family and told the Journal Sentinel the child’s family was “distraught.”

    “It was a shock,” she said. “This neighborhood is relatively quiet. You don’t see a lot of police activity. We knew it was something serious.”

    Michael Murphy, an alderman for the area, said, “It’s a terrible tragedy for the whole community to see another child so senselessly lose their life and then to be discarded in the manner in which they found the child.”

    WISN-TV reports the two people who were arrested live in the same building as McRee’s family.

    McRee’s grandmother shared with the news station that the boy “loved to have fun, loved to play games. He’s willing to help anybody and he made friends at school. He loved to make friends at school.”

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  • Pittsburgh man allegedly tried to kill former neighbor twice before fatally shooting him

    PITTSBURGH (TCD) — A 21-year-old man reportedly confessed to fatally shooting his former neighbor after attempting but failing to kill him two other times.

    On Sunday, Oct. 22, shortly before 4:30 p.m., the Pittsburgh Police Department responded to Stedman and Fontella streets and found a man in the driver’s seat of a car suffering from a gunshot wound to his head and shoulder. Medics transported the victim to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

    The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review identified the victim as 29-year-old Joseph Sees Jr.

    Police reportedly saw the victim’s parked car with its engine running and music still playing. A complaint obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review alleges that the window was open, and there was blood on the front passenger seat. Additionally, police noticed apparent bullet damage on the passenger door.

    At the scene, investigators discovered a live 9 mm bullet and three 9 mm casings. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, police also found two jackets, one black and one black and gold, soaked in blood nearby.

    According to an Oct. 25 news release from Pittsburgh Police, officers arrested Joshua Short on charges of criminal homicide, burglary, aggravated assault, and violation of firearms act in connection with the victim’s death. Police said he was also charged with theft by unlawful taking for stealing a car on the morning of Oct. 25.

    The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Short was found in the back seat of a stolen black Mercedes-Benz. He initially seemed ready to flee but ended up cooperating with the police.

    Short reportedly admitted to killing the victim and told police he used the 9 mm gun recovered at the scene.

    According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Short had tried to kill Sees, his former neighbor, two other times.

    On Saturday, Oct. 21, Short reportedly tried to break into Sees’ home and shot at him when he opened the door but missed. Sees sustained a gunshot powder burn to his face, and his sweatshirt suffered damage.

    Also on Oct. 21, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Short tried to place a ladder against Sees’ home to break in but fled after Sees called 911.

    On Sunday, Oct. 22, Short allegedly found a 9 mm handgun in the abandoned house where he was living and drove a stolen Honda SUV to Sheffield Street. There, Short reportedly approached Sees’ parked car outside his home and shot him in the head.

    According to the complaint obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Short told investigators that he and Sees had “ongoing issues.”

    After shooting Sees, Short allegedly threw away his clothing between two nearby houses, drove around the North Side in his SUV, and parked at a Chateau brewery. Some of Short’s clothing, which included a black face mask, black Levi’s jeans, a black Carhartt knit hat, and rubber gloves, was later found.

    Short reportedly returned to the crime scene 10 minutes after police arrived there.

    Short was booked into the Allegheny County Jail without bail. He is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 3.

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