Janina Jefferson was working her dream job and fell in love with the man of her dreams, Eric Jones. Janina and Eric’s marriage became rocky, and not long after their divorce was finalized, Janina ended up dead. Eric has been on the run ever since, and law enforcement is turning to the public to help find the man they allege killed his estranged wife.
Source: True Crime Daily
SAN DIEGO (TCN) — A 35-year-old former award-winning teacher entered a plea last week to sex crimes involving juvenile students at the school where she worked.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Jacqueline Ma pleaded guilty Wednesday, Feb. 5, to two counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 with duress and lewd acts with a child under 14. She faces 30 years to life in prison and will be sentenced in May.
Her victims were reportedly 12 and 11 years old.
On March 6, 2023, a parent contacted the National City Police Department and said they believed their 13-year-old child was “possibly having an inappropriate relationship with a former teacher.” Detectives and School Resource Officers began investigating and arrested Ma the next day.
Ma worked as an elementary school teacher in the National City area and was one of five people awarded “Teacher of the Year” just months prior to the investigation. She bailed out of jail following her arrest, but National City Police took her into custody a second time after finding enough evidence to present more felony charges.
According to KUSI-TV, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart said at a court hearing following Ma’s second arrest that she “had a photograph of the victim in her wallet, she had jewelry with his initials, love letters were discovered in her classroom.” Ma reportedly “expressed frustration at the child for not responding to the situation quicker” and even “expressed jealousy when the victim was talking to other girls.”
Hart described Ma as “obsessive, possessive, controlling, and dangerous.”
Ma faced 15 felony charges, including possession of child sexual abuse material and child sex abuse.
KUSI reports Ma could have been sentenced to 180 years in prison if she went to trial and was convicted on all counts.
Hart said following the plea hearing, “From our office’s perspective, it was very important that these be charged as not just sex offenses, but sex offenses done under duress and that’s what she pled to.”
He went on, “This was very significant to us, not just because she won an award, but because of who she was in the community. We think this plea deal sends a message to the community, not just about sex offenses on children, but when you leverage a position of trust, when you leverage good faith with parents in the community and you do this to their children, there will be significant penalties to pay.”
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Source: True Crime Daily
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (TCN) — A 26-year-old woman faces charges after she allegedly held her daughter down in a filled bathtub last week while “baptizing” her.
According to WNBC-TV, on Friday, Feb. 7, at 1:30 p.m., NYPD officers responded to a call near Elton Street and Ridgewood Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn regarding an unconscious juvenile. Police went to the home and transported the 6-year-old victim to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
WPIX-TV reports investigators arrested the girl’s mom, Karla Espinal, the next day for assault, endangering a child, and reckless endangerment. Espinal reportedly told police she was “baptizing” her daughter in the tub, though the victim’s cause of death has not been released yet.
Espinal appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She could face other counts following the medical examiner’s autopsy report.
The girl reportedly had blood clots in her eyes when police got there, which could indicate a struggle, according to the New York Times. The victim’s father reportedly texted his work manager and said he would not be able to come in because his daughter was killed.
He said in a message to the manager, “I’m going crazy. I’m here until God gives a miracle. I don’t know what to do.”
Court records show a judge denied Espinal bail.
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Source: True Crime Daily
“True Crime News The Sidebar Podcast” host Joshua Ritter sits down with Ana Garcia to discuss the ongoing case involving Oren Alexander, Alon Alexander, and Tal Alexander, three brothers who face state and federal charges for allegedly sexually assaulting several women over the course of more than a decade.
Source: True Crime Daily
A night out should be about fun, laughter, and making memories, not worrying about the safety of your drink. This week’s True Crime News Safety Deals product, NightCap, allows you to enjoy your drink with an extra layer of protection.
Whether you’re at a party, a concert, or your favorite bar, NightCap gives you peace of mind with a simple yet powerful solution: a reusable, stylish drink cover designed to help deter drink tampering.
Focus on the fun, not the worry.
NightCap Drink Covers create a barrier between your beverage and any potential tampering. Lightweight, convenient, and easy to use, NightCap Drink Covers fit seamlessly into your everyday routine. With a variety of styles, including a discreet scrunchie design and a keychain option, NightCap ensures you stay protected without compromising style.
NightCap is a must-have for several reasons. It fits a wide array of drinkware thanks to its nylon and Spandex material. Plus, it’s machine washable, making it eco-friendly and built to last. NightCap is also easy to carry and designed for on-the-go protection.
The NightCap Scrunchie Drink Cover doubles as a fashionable hair accessory. Wear it on your wrist or in your hair, and when needed, pull out the hidden drink cover to safeguard your beverage. Check out some of their products below!
Make NightCap your go-to companion for every night out. Stay safe, stay stylish, and stay in control.
And remember, always buy your own drinks, and do not leave any beverage unattended.
Shop True Crime News Safety Deals here!
Each product has been selected by our team. We may receive commissions from purchases made via links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms of use.
Source: True Crime Daily
Lelia Faulkner met and fell in love with Blane Gralheer, though their relationship turned volatile. Lelia went to watch fireworks on the 4th of July but never returned home. Detectives have yet to arrest anyone involved in her disappearance despite the fact that Blane failed a polygraph. Lelia’s parents uncovered mysterious messages between the couple, but Blane insists he played no role whatsoever in Lelia’s vanishing act. Her family continues to fight for answers.
Source: True Crime Daily
Hollywood producer David Pearce met two women, Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, at a warehouse party. Christy and Hilda returned to David’s apartment, where they were drugged with fentanyl and GHB. Masked men dropped the women off at local hospitals, where Christy was pronounced deceased and Hilda stayed on life support for several days. Pearce was convicted of murder and could spend life in prison in connection with their deaths.
Source: True Crime Daily
Richard Schoeck planned a romantic Valentine’s Day with his wife Stacey at a park. When Stacey arrived, instead of exchanging gifts, she found her husband gunned down outside his car in a killing that police described as “overkill.” The investigation into his shooting death revealed many secrets that would shock Richard and Stacey’s families.
Source: True Crime Daily
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (TCN) — Two people, including the victim’s husband, have been indicted in connection with the stabbing death of a 23-year-old soldier who was found deceased inside a home in May 2024.
The Clarksville Police Department announced Saturday, Feb. 8, that a Montgomery County grand jury returned an indictment charging 35-year-old Sofia Rodas with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, and 40-year-old Reynaldo Salinas Cruz with tampering with evidence for allegedly killing Army Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar. The Clarksville Police Department worked alongside the Army Criminal Investigation Division to present the charges.
Cruz and Rodas were already in federal custody on unrelated charges, but they were transferred to the Montgomery County Jail on Feb. 7.
The investigation into Duenas-Aguilar’s death began May 18, 2024, when the Clarksville Police Department responded to an ambulance call on Tiny Town Road and found her dead. The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle reports Duenas-Aguilar sustained 68 stab wounds, mainly on her neck. The autopsy also reportedly determined she had a blood alcohol level of 0.161 and traces of the date rape drug GHB in her system.
Duenas-Aguilar completed combat training at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia, then reported to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 2019. She was a member of the 101st Airborne Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade and was awarded several medals, including two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
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Source: True Crime Daily
In this episode of True Crime News Presents: American Hustlers: Kim and Julie set out to uncover the origin of Kaushal Niroula – a story that does start in Nepal, but not in any royal palace. Instead, they discover a poor young man with his eye on America and the drive to get there on his charm alone. Befriending an administrator from New College of California scores Kaushal the student visa he needs to make it to San Francisco and on campus. He presents himself as a man of wealth. But an interview with his former roommate reveals that Kaushal is actually sleeping on a thin mattress, passing JC penny rugs off as wall art, and barely making rent – something his natural showmanship helps him keep secret.
But New College has secrets of its own – the school is enmeshed in scandal and teetering on financial ruin. And Kaushal sees opportunity. Soon, he’s befriended the College President and used the promise of a hefty donation from his royal family to allegedly get his transcripts altered and extend his visa. It’s his first con on American soil – and when rumors of it get out, it helps put the final nail in New College’s coffin. Still, there’s one thing that doesn’t add up; at some point Kaushal did start throwing money around like a prince. The question was, where did it come from?
YouTube: Episode 3: The Dark Prince
Source: True Crime Daily