Paradise News

Tag: Americas

  • 200-foot tower stolen from local Alabama radio station

    JASPER, Ala. (TCD) — There’s no getting signals crossed on this oddity: A 200-foot tower and other materials were reportedly stolen from a local radio station seemingly in the middle of the night.

    On Friday, WJLX-M’s station manager Brett Elmore posted on Facebook about the major theft. He said a Bush Hog crew was doing cleanup work at a tower site near a poultry farm when he received a call from one of the crew members who informed Elmore that the building was vandalized and the 200-foot tower was gone.

    Elmore wrote, “They stole every piece of equipment out of the building, cut the guy wires to the tower and SOMEHOW managed to down a 200′ tower and take it from the property.”

    Elmore told WDZK-TV, “When he arrived, he called me on Friday and said, ‘The tower’s gone.’ I said, ‘What do you mean the tower’s gone? Are you sure you’re in the right place?’ He said, ‘The tower’s gone. There’s wires everywhere, and it’s gone.’”

    Elmore said the thievery “really hurts a small business like this,” but he is confident police will locate the culprit.

    Elmore spoke with Inside Radio and said, “I don’t see some guy off the street doing this. This looks like a professional hit.”

    In his Facebook post, Elmore shared that Jasper Police are investigating and that it is a “FEDERAL crime to tamper with a federally licensed facility.”

    Elmore told Inside Radio, “Honestly, I can say that I’ve seen it all.”

    MORE:

    • WJLX Facebook
    • 200ft radio tower stolen in Jasper, AL – WDZK
    • An Entire 200-Foot Tower Stolen From WJLX-AM Jasper. – Inside Radio

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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  • 17-year-old allegedly shot his parents after dispute, killing his father

    CONROE, Texas (TCD) — A 17-year-old male turned himself in after allegedly shooting his parents this week while his other siblings were home.

    On Feb. 7, at approximately 9:20 p.m., deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an assault with a firearm in the 9000 block of Waller Street. Deputies found a man, later identified as 41-year-old Leroy Constantine Jr., with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving measures, officials pronounced him dead at the scene.

    Deputies also found an adult female victim. She was transported to a local hospital, and the sheriff’s office said she will likely survive.

    Further investigation revealed 17-year-old Tra Vontay Constantine allegedly shot his mother and father after a verbal dispute. The sheriff’s office did not say what the argument was about.

    According to KTRK-TV, a sibling called 911 following the shooting, and the suspect left the scene.

    The news source reports investigators do not believe the parents own a firearm, and it is unknown where the weapon came from.

    Constantine eventually turned himself in at the sheriff’s office and was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and murder. He remains held on $250,000 bond.

    MORE:

    • MCTXSheriff Investigates Homicide in Deer Pines Subdivision – Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
    • Montgomery County Jail Records
    • 17-year-old accused of shooting his parents, killing his dad, at Conroe home – KTRK

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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  • Iowa man accused of killing missing victim and trying to burn his remains

    KEOKUK COUNTY, Iowa (TCD) — Officials have charged a 44-year-old man on suspicion of killing a missing 40-year-old victim and trying to burn his remains.

    According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 20, Craig Smith’s roommate reported him missing to the Ottumwa Police Department after they hadn’t seen him in over a week.

    In an interview, Smith’s sister reportedly told detectives she last saw her brother on Jan. 7 at her residence. She said that at around 12:30 p.m. that day, Smith’s friend Desiree Potter allegedly called him and asked him to work on a car. Smith reportedly told Potter he had to drop off a white 2012 Chevy Traverse with Jeffrey Gautreaux and would meet with her later.

    According to the complaint, Gautreaux lives with his stepfather, Steven Grant, and the Traverse was registered to Grant.

    Potter also spoke with police, and according to the complaint, she said she spoke with Smith shortly after 12 p.m. on Jan. 7. Smith reportedly told Potter to send pictures of the vehicle Gautreaux was going to repair for her.

    Potter allegedly received a call from Smith at around 12:32 p.m. but didn’t answer, and that was the last time anyone heard from him.

    According to the complaint, investigators obtained cellular data analysis, which tracked Smith’s cellphone leaving his sister’s home and traveling to Gautreaux’s residence.

    Investigators learned Smith’s phone had been used for several hours around Gautreaux’s home, but the data usage stopped on Jan. 7 at approximately 6:24 p.m. However, the phone was reportedly turned back on at Gautreaux’s on Jan. 17.

    According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS), on Feb. 1, investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Ottumwa Police Department, and Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at Gautreaux’s residence, where they found human remains. Based on their investigation, officials believe they belong to Smith, but the state anthropologist, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the DCI Crime Lab will positively identify the remains.

    According to the complaint, Gautreaux told a DCI agent in an interview that he, Grant, and Smith were at his place on Jan. 7. Gautreaux reportedly admitted he “aimed a shotgun at Smith and pulled the trigger,” fatally shooting him in the face.

    Gautreaux allegedly “concealed Smith’s body and attempted to burn Smith’s remains.” He reportedly told police that on Jan. 17, he turned Smith’s phone back on but later “destroyed it.”

    Gautreaux’s stepfather told investigators Smith and Gautreaux were at the home on Jan. 7 and he heard the gunshot from his bedroom, the complaint alleges. Grant reportedly left his room and saw his stepson in the living room with Smith, who had died.

    DCI agents charged Gautreaux with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, according to the DPS. Gautreaux and Grant were originally charged with drug offenses, but Grant has been released from custody.

    MORE:

    • Suspect Charged After Discovery of Human Remains – Iowa Department of Public Safety
    • Criminal Complaint – The State of Iowa vs. Jeffrey Gautreaux

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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  • Law enforcement fatally shoots Georgia sex offender accused of kidnapping 11-year-old girl

    HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (TCD) — Authorities recently shot and killed a 38-year-old Georgia sex offender in Tennessee who had allegedly kidnapped a young child.

    The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced Feb. 1 that 11-year-old Aubriauna Mays was last seen on Jan. 30 in the Halls area of Knox County, and they issued an endangered child alert regarding her disappearance.

    According to the TBI, officials suspected Edward Ahrens, a registered violent sex offender, had abducted the girl and traveled south on Interstate 75 toward Georgia. On Feb. 2 at approximately 1 a.m., Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives, members of the Technology Crimes Division and Narcotics Unit, and the Catoosa County Georgia and other local Tennessee law enforcement agencies found the suspect and missing child. They reportedly pursued the suspect’s vehicle as it drove off the interstate at Exit 1 in East Ride.

    According to the Knox County sheriff’s office, Ahrens didn’t comply with authorities’ commands and allegedly intentionally struck at least three detectives. Four officers reportedly fired their guns toward Ahrens and hit him.

    The suspect was transported to a local hospital and died from his injuries shortly after.

    The three detectives who were hit suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene.

    According to the TBI, the child was unharmed.

    Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk told WTVC-TV it was a case of a “young child being lured by a sexual predator through social media that could have ended a young girl’s life.”

    Prior to his death, Ahrens was sentenced to 10 years of probation after reportedly pleading guilty in 2003 to sexual exploitation of children, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of obstruction of justice.

    According to WTVC, Ahrens was charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of children just five years later. He was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison but served half his sentence and was released in 2018.

    MORE:

    • TBI Agents Investigating Overnight Officer-Involved Shooting Near GA State Line – Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
    • Update – Knox County Sheriff’s Office
    • Edward Ahrens – Tennessee Sex Offender Registry 
    • Endangered Child Alert – Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
    • Convicted Georgia sex offender killed, Tennessee girl saved after kidnapping confrontation – WTVC

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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  • Govt. Pays “U.S. Subject Matter Experts” to Help Pakistani Journalists Combat Misinformation

    The Biden administration’s scandal-plagued initiative to combat misinformation has grown into a dynamic global effort run by handpicked “U.S. subject matter experts” and embedded with a mandate of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). In the latest ploy to counter disinformation the administration is investing $50,000 to train journalists in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. “The project will implement a program to build the capacity of 30 mid-to senior level Pakistani journalists/reporters from relatively new print, broadcast, and digital media outlets, to counter misinformation and disinformation in media reporting,” according to a grant announcement posted this week.

    The special training will last six months and consist of three-day quarterly workshops conducted by the so-called U.S. subject matter experts selected by the administration. “The program aims to empower journalists with the skills and knowledge to effectively counter misinformation and disinformation, ensuring accurate and responsible reporting,” the government writes in the grant document. “The series of workshops will be designed to cover the following topics: Understanding misinformation/Disinformation; Digital Verification Tools; Ethical Reporting in the Age of Misinformation/Disinformation; Refutation Methods, Cross-Media Collaboration, Balancing Freedom of Press with Content Regulation, and Building Audience Trust.” The trainings will be in person, which means Uncle Sam will transport—and cover the expenses of—the specially chosen experts to the South Asian country thousands of miles away.

    Grant recipients must submit proposals that show the program will advance the principles of DEIA related to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or disability. “Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and/or the status of underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants,” the grant announcement states, adding that “the support of underserved communities will be part of the review criteria for this opportunity.” Therefore, the document orders proposals to “clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in the program’s administration, design, and implementation phases.” Diversity is defined in the document as the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of a community. Equity is the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including those who belong to underserved communities such as ethnic minorities, and indigenous persons, members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Inclusion is the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of persons of all backgrounds.

    The Pakistani misinformation allocation with the DEI directive is part of a broader effort to divert public funds for a fictitious crisis created by the Biden administration to control information. The controversial movement started with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) panel known as the Disinformation Governance Board, which was technically dismantled after major backlash. Taxpayer dollars keep flowing to related causes, however. Millions in DHS terrorism prevention grants have gone to combat “misinformation and disinformation” and to create media disinformation networks worldwide. Large sums have also gone to related projects such as fighting science misinformation and misperceptions in black communities and, of course, COVID-19 misinformation, especially involving minorities and vaccines. The administration has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop a “precision tool providing journalists with guidance against misinformation” here in the U.S. The magical tool aims to focus on delivering an innovative, three-step method to identify, test, and correct real-world instances of online disinformation by using computational means such as language processing, machine learning, social network analysis and computer vision to identify posts and accounts susceptible to misinformation.

    Last summer a congressional probe exposed a shameful scheme to combat misinformation that had the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collude with a compromised Ukrainian intelligence agency to censor the speech of Americans. The federal agency responsible for protecting the nation against terrorists, violent street gangs and serial killers joined forces with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which is widely known to be infiltrated by Russian-aligned forces, to take down the authentic social media accounts of Americans. This includes a verified U.S. State Department profile and those belonging to American journalists.

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  • Michigan father found guilty of killing 16-month-old son, leaving body in ditch

    FLINT, Mich. (TCD) — A jury recently found a 41-year-old man guilty of killing his son in 2022 and placing his body in a ditch on the side of the road.

    Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced Wednesday, Feb. 7, that Michael Butler was convicted of felony murder, first-degree child abuse, concealing the death of an individual, and aggravated domestic violence in the death of his son, 16-month-old Chaos Butler. Butler faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    On Aug. 25, 2022, at around 1:30 p.m., Montrose Township Police Department officers responded to the 9400 block of North Morrish Road in reference to a body in a ditch. A woman had reportedly observed Butler exit his vehicle on Dodge Road and set down something in the ditch across from her home. The woman walked over, found a “blue blanket with a skull sticking out,” and subsequently called 911.

    Authorities located the body of the victim in the blanket and suspected Chaos Butler had been deceased for several weeks before the discovery.

    An autopsy determined the victim sustained skull fractures around the time of his death, as well as other fractures to his skull and ribs that had healed. Additionally, investigators learned Chaos had methamphetamine and cannabis in his system.

    According to WNEM-TV, the victim’s mother was reportedly homeless, and Child Protective Services placed the toddler into Butler’s custody even though the Department of Health and Human Services filed a petition with the court against it.

    Leyton said the petition argued it “was contrary to the welfare of the child to be placed with the father.”

    WNEM reports Butler’s sentencing is scheduled for March 18.

    Leyton said back when Butler was arraigned, “You have a toddler who never had any chance whatsoever to live, and he ends up in a field abandoned by his own biological father. I can’t think of anything that’s sadder.”

    MORE:

    • Jury Finds Mount Morris Father Guilty On All Counts in Death of 16-Month-Old Son – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton 
    • Father found guilty of murdering 16-month-old son – WNEM
    • News Release, 8/28/2022 – Montrose Township Police Department
    • Mich. man charged with murder after 16-month-old son is found dead in ditch on the side of the road, 8/30/2022 – TCD
    • Father arraigned in death of 16-month-old boy found in ditch, 8/30/2022 – WNEM

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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  • Secret Service orders ‘no response’ to RFK Jr.’s protection plea

    From Washington Examiner:

    The new emails obtained by the legal watchdog Judicial Watch indicate that the decision to provide or deny protection is in the hands of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and congressional leaders, not the Secret Service.

    “These documents confirm the bureaucratic and political runaround the Biden administration went through to ultimately deny Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the requested Secret Service protection,” Fitton said in releasing the emails. “The Biden administration’s refusal to provide Secret Service protection to Mr. Kennedy is dangerous and vindictive. Congress would do well to follow up on these disturbing documents uncovered by Judicial Watch’s FOIA investigation and lawsuit.”

    Read more here…

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  • Homeless woman accused of fatally shooting music producer as he sat in his car

    SANTA MONICA, Calif. (TCD) — A 27-year-old homeless woman was arrested on murder and other charges after she allegedly shot and killed a man who was sitting in his parked car.

    According to the Santa Monica Police Department, on Jan. 25 at around 10:25 a.m., officers responded to a shots fired call on the 2600 block of 29th Street and found the victim, 26-year-old William Edwards III, injured in his vehicle. Paramedics transported Edwards to the hospital in “grave condition,” but he later died from his injuries.

    Witnesses at the scene described the suspect, who fled the area following the shooting. Police located Kayla Mackie in West Los Angeles and arrested her Jan. 26 on suspicion of murder.

    Santa Monica Police said Mackie is also believed to be involved in other crimes in the area, including armed robbery and attempted murder. Mackie was reportedly “experiencing homelessness” at the time of the shooting.

    Mackie was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail and is being held on $2.05 million bail.

    According to his LinkedIn, Edwards was a music producer who worked with artists including Travis Scott and Lil Cobaine. A GoFundMe page in his honor says he leaves behind two sons and he was “dedicated to his AA and NA community.”

    Lil Cobaine posted a tribute to Edwards on Instagram, writing, “i’ve seen u at your highs and lows and you’ve seen me at mine. to say we were friends would put a damper on the brotherhood we’ve built and the moments and memories we’ve accumulated over the 9 years that we’ve been FAMILY. you meant the world to me.”

    He continued, “you didn’t just change my life, you fixed it.”

    Lil Cobaine credited Edwards for showing him “the other side of addiction and sobriety,” and said, “you worked tirelessly for your family and put everybody ahead of you before yourself.”

    MORE:

    • Homicide Suspect in Custody, 1/26/2024 – Santa Monica Police Department
    • Homicide Arrest Update, 1/30/2024 – Santa Monica Police Department
    • Sunset Park murder suspect enters a plea of ‘not guilty,’ 1/30/2024 – Santa Monica Daily Press
    • Los Angeles County Jail inmate information



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  • Judicial Watch: Records Show Secret Service Ordered Staff to Not Respond to Head of RFK’s Private Security

    (Washington, D.C.) Judicial Watch announced today that it received 63 pages of records from the United States Secret Service in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit that show Assistant Director Michael Plati ordering his staff not to respond to a request for information from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s head of security. The documents also confirm that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alexander Mayorkas and President Biden both have the discretion to provide Secret Service protection to Kennedy at any time.  

    Judicial Watch received the records through a September 26, 2023, lawsuit filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after it failed to respond to a July 31 request for records regarding the decision to not provide Secret Service protection for Kennedy (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:23-cv-02846)).

    The newly obtained records include a completely redacted June 2, 2023,  report titled “Protective Intelligence Assessment – 2024 Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.”

     On May 17, 2023, an individual, whose name is redacted, from the protection company Gavin de Becker Associates, which Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. disclosed is providing him with protection, sends an email to officials in the Office of Protective Services with the subject “From [redacted] quick question and heads up…” The body of the message is redacted except for the greeting and closing.

    The message is forwarded to Deputy Assistant Director William Glady and other Secret Service officials whose names are redacted. Glady forwards the de Becker message to Assistant Director Michael Plati as a “FYSA [For Your Situational Awareness].” Plati replies, “No response is required to be given to this individual IMO [in my opinion].” Glady replies, “Agree.” Plati then follows up with, “Nor should it.” Glady responds, “All parties are aware.” Plati replies, “Thank you.”

    The records also include a document titled “Campaign 2024 – Candidate Protection: Who receives protection?” that describes how the Secretary of Homeland Security has “broad discretion” when authorizing Secret Service protection to presidential or vice-presidential candidates:

    Who receives protection?

    The Secret Service does not determine who qualifies for protection, nor is the Secret Service empowered to independently initiate candidate protection.

    Under 18 U.S.C.’ 3056(a)(7), “[m]ajor Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates,” as identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, are eligible for Secret Service protection.

    Title 18 U.S.C’ 3056(a)(7) authorizes the U.S. Secret Service to provide protection for major presidential and vice presidential candidates:

    • Protection is authorized by the OHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee

    • The Congressional Advisory Committee includes: Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member selected by the others

    • Protection under these guidelines should only be granted within one year prior to the general election. Protection more than one year prior to the general election should only be granted in extraordinary, case by case circumstances in consultation with the committee, based on threat assessment and other factors.

    Criteria have been established to assist the OHS Secretary and the advisory committee in their decision making (as of 2017). Candidates must:

    When determining whether a candidate for the Office of President or Vice President of the United States qualifies as a major candidate, the Secretary has broad discretion and may consider a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:

    1. Whether the candidate has publicly announced his or her candidacy and has filed the appropriate documentation with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and is in compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and related laws;

    2. Whether the candidate is actively campaigning on a national basis for the office for which his or her candidacy has been announced, as demonstrated by operating a national campaign apparatus, regularly appearing at public events in multiple states, producing and publishing campaign advertisements, and other similar indicia of a campaign;

    3. A threat assessment conducted by the Secret Service of general or specific threats directed towards the candidate. (for these purposes, “threats” should be defined as explicit threats of bodily harm to the candidate or indications of inappropriate behavior towards the candidate suggesting potential bodily harm);

    4. Whether, during and within an active and competitive major party primary, the most recent average of established national polls, as reflected by the Real Clear Politics National Average or similar mechanism, the candidate is polling at 15% or more for 30 consecutive days;

    5. Whether the candidate is the formal or de facto nominee of a major party for President or Vice President;

    6. Whether the candidate is an independent or third party candidate for President polling at 20% or more of the Real Clear Politics National Average for 30 consecutive days;

    7. Whether the candidate is the Vice Presidential running mate of the above independent or third party candidate

    What is the history of candidate/nominee protection?

    Candidate and nominee protection was expanded to include major candidates for president and vice president in 1968:

    • Major candidates and their spouses began receiving protection after the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968. PL-90-331 was passed June 6, 1968. (Language since adopted into 3056).

    • Prior to this event, candidates and their families did not receive Secret Service

    protection

    • Protection of a candidate/nominee is designed to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and continuity of government

    A June 13, 2023, email includes a “KENNEDY CPAC [Candidate Protection Advisory Committee] Criteria Analysis.” The document lists the various criteria for providing Secret Service Protection to a candidate but redacts the analysis of each point. For example, the agency redacts the analysis related to:

    A threat assessment conducted by the Secret Service of general of [sic] specific threats directed towards the candidate (for these purposes, “threats” should be defined as explicit threats of bodily harm to the candidate or indications of inappropriate behavior towards the candidate suggesting potentials [sic] bodily harm);

    In a June 5, 2023, email thread under the subject line “Request for Protection received at DHS” a program manager from the Executive Secretariat of Secret Service, whose name is redacted, writes:

    [Redacted] DHS has received the attached letter from the RFK Jr. campaign requesting protection. The letter references an assessment the campaign has conducted on its own… DHS is seeking input on the appropriate process for response so that they can task/track in their systems appropriately. Once you’ve had a chance to review, please let me know what the preference is so we can stay synced.

    Glady forwards the message to Plati, noting, “We received the hard copy today. The word document is what goes over to the Hill indicating our recording Secretary recommendation.”

    On June 15, 2023, the chief operating officer of the Secret Service emails officials in the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell with the subject “Candidate Protection Advisory Committee Material:”

    As the Recording Secretary for the Candidate Protection Advisory Committee, I write to provide you with the materials compiled by the United States Secret Service (Secret Service) to assist in your review of the request submitted on behalf of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As set out in the Department of Homeland Security ‘Guidelines for Authorizing Secret Service Protection to U.S. Presidential Candidates’, the Secret Service has prepared an analysis of the factors listed in Section II. The analysis and relevant supporting documents as well as the request for protection are attached.

    The records indicate that the Candidate Protection Advisory Committee, which consists of congressional leaders and the Senate Sergeant at Arms received briefing information on the Kennedy protection issue.

    “These documents confirm the bureaucratic and political runaround the Biden administration went through to ultimately deny Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the requested Secret Service protection,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The Biden administration’s refusal to provide Secret Service protection to Mr. Kennedy is dangerous and vindictive. Congress would do well to follow up on these disturbing documents uncovered by Judicial Watch’s FOIA investigation and lawsuit.”

    In September 2023, Judicial Watch received Secret Service records detailing the denial of protection to presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite having received numerous threats from “known subjects.”

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  • Wis. man sentenced for fatally poisoning mother with carbon monoxide over family farm inheritance

    DODGEVILLE, Wis. (TCD) — A 52-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for fatally poisoning his mother with carbon monoxide in 2021 because he was upset she was selling the family farm to her friends.

    The Wisconsin Attorney General announced Feb. 6 that a judge sentenced Aric Way to life in prison without the possibility of release on supervision for his role in the death of his mother, identified by Kenosha News as 74-year-old Diana Way. Aric Way and his son and co-defendant, 28-year-old Philip Schmidt-Way, were convicted in December 2023 of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the case.

    Schmidt-Way is scheduled to be sentenced March 5.

    According to a criminal complaint posted by the Kenosha News, in the summer of 2021, the victim planned to sell her 72-acre farmstead on Hunter Hollow Road to a married couple she had been friends with for a long time. The closing date on the property was reportedly set for July 30, 2021.

    Way became upset over the intended sale and messaged his son on Facebook, the complaint alleges. In their messages, Way reportedly said he wanted to get “legal guardianship of his mother before she sells the family farm for a handful of beans.”

    On June 2, 2021, Way filed a petition for permanent guardianship due to incompetency, but it was dismissed at a hearing nearly two weeks later.

    According to the complaint, the victim met with her attorney to change her will after the guardianship proceedings and removed Way, making it so Schmidt-Way would inherit what was left of her estate following her death.

    On July 19, 2021, a man reportedly went to the victim’s home to buy a book collection and found her unresponsive in her bedroom.

    According to the complaint, emergency medical services personnel responded to the home, and a crew member’s carbon monoxide monitor went off. The house was evacuated, and the fire department arrived to assist.

    The fire department measured the carbon monoxide levels in the home and discovered they were over 60 parts per million inside the victim’s bedroom, 30 to 40 parts per million outside the bedroom, and 18 parts per million in the basement.

    During a search of the home, officials reportedly found no obvious explanation for the high levels of carbon monoxide.

    An EMS chief reportedly observed a stain on the carpet near the victim’s bed. A caretaker later told investigators the stain was “unusual” because she vacuumed the floor a few days prior.

    The victim was pronounced deceased shortly after 11:30 a.m.

    According to the complaint, an autopsy later determined she died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The victim had also sustained recent trauma, including a contusion to her left eye and swelling on her cheek. The victim had suffered a gash on her lower left eyelid, a cut to her chest, and hemorrhaging to her left shoulder, upper chest, and near her clavicle.

    According to the complaint, investigators obtained surveillance footage outside the home showing a truck with special rims, bed handrails, and decals on the window driving along the victim’s driveway on the day of her death. However, the footage did not capture the license plates.

    On July 20, 2021, Way reportedly spoke with law enforcement officials at the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office and was dropped off by someone driving a truck matching the one captured on surveillance footage.

    According to the complaint, Way lied to investigators about being with his son during the interview. Officials later learned the truck was registered to Way’s son, who lived in Colorado.

    The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office reportedly confiscated the truck and conducted a search warrant. Inside, the complaint said investigators found a “canister style” half-face respirator and receipts, including one for a carbon monoxide alarm from Home Depot.

    According to the complaint, Way Google searched various phrases, including “sulphuric acid home depot,” “sulfuric acid drain cleaner home depot,” and “does carbon monoxide make you hallucinate.”

    Way reportedly purchased formic acid strips from Capital Bee Supply, LLC on July 16, 2021, which can be used with sulfuric acid to cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

    According to the complaint, upon further search of Schmidt-Way’s truck, investigators found sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate. The substances were also found in the victim’s bedroom. Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is reportedly used to clean spills of sulfuric acid.

    Way and his son were initially charged more than a year after the victim’s death, in November 2022.

    In a statement, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said, “This sentence reflects the gravity of the horrible crime committed in this case.”

    MORE:

    • Man Receives Life Sentence for Murder of Dodgeville, Wis. Woman – Wisconsin Attorney General
    • Two Found Guilty of Homicide in Connection to Death of Dodgeville, Wis. Woman, 12/7/2023 – Wisconsin Attorney General
    • Iowa County man who killed mother will have no chance for release from prison, judge rules – Kenosha News
    • Criminal Complaint via Kenosha News

    TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.



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