Paradise News

Tag: Americas

  • Md. man accused of killing judge who presided over his divorce is found dead in woods

    WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (TCD) — The 49-year-old man accused of killing a circuit court judge who presided over the suspect’s divorce was found deceased in a wooded area following a week-long manhunt.

    The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced Pedro Argote’s body was found in a dense wooded area during an “expanded evidentiary search” in Williamsport on Thursday, Oct. 26, at approximately 11 a.m. Argote had been on the run since Thursday, Oct. 19, when he allegedly gunned down Judge Andrew Wilkinson in his driveway. Officials said Argote was likely traveling in a silver Mercedes GL450.

    Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said in a press conference Oct. 21 that a local resident in Williamsport discovered the Mercedes in a “pretty remote area.” Law enforcement investigators searched vacant buildings in the surrounding area for Argote but did not find him.

    Albert said the Argote was located about a mile northwest of where the resident found Argote’s car.

    His body was transported to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

    According to Albert, officials initially “hastily” looked over the area, but adopted a “more systematic approach” to find Argote.

    Albert said in an initial press conference that Wilkinson was presiding over Argote’s divorce case and had granted Argote’s estranged wife custody of their four children the same day he was killed. Argote did not show up to court that day.

    The Associated Press reports Wilkinson finalized the divorce Oct. 19, in which he ordered Argote to pay his ex-wife $1,120 in child support monthly and not to have any contact with his children, who range in age from 3 to 12 years old.

    Court records show Argote filed for divorce June 6, 2022, but six days later, his wife obtained an order of protection against him that said he could not abuse or contact his family, nor could he enter the home. He was also required to vacate the residence and surrender his firearms.

    According to The Associated Press, Argote’s ex-wife accused her husband of “cruel treatment” and said she could not “get out of the house without his knowledge” and that he constantly carried a weapon. The order was dismissed June 24, 2022.

    WDMV-TV reports Argote allegedly beat his daughter with a belt and installed surveillance cameras around the house.

    Albert said the community can “breathe easier” knowing Argote is no longer alive but reiterated Wilkinson’s death is “still a tragedy.”

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  • Man convicted of fatally strangling mother of his kids, fleeing to Mexico with their 3-year-old son

    ROSWELL, N.M. (TCD) — A father faces 18 years in prison after being convicted of fatally strangling the mother of his children, abandoning their 8-year-old daughter, and fleeing to Mexico with their 3-year-old son.

    New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced Oct. 25 that Jorge Rico-Ruvira was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse in connection with Isela Mauricio-Sanchez’s death.

    In January 2020, Mauricio-Sanchez’s family couldn’t reach her for several days, and her father went to her home and found her dead. Mauricio-Sanchez had lived in the home with her and Rico-Ruvira’s two young children.

    According to the Attorney General’s Office, Mauricio-Sanchez and Rico-Ruvira’s 8-year-old daughter was “alive and had been abandoned in the home.” Their 3-year-old son was reportedly missing, “presumed to have been taken by Rico-Ruvira.”

    New Mexico State Police and the Roswell Police Department issued an Amber Alert for the 3-year-old boy, saying he was last seen on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at 602 E. Forest. Police suspected he was with Rico-Ruvira, who they believe was driving a 2003 maroon GMC Yukon SUV to Mexico.

    Police obtained an arrest warrant for Rico-Ruvira, and authorities found him and the boy nearly nine months later, on Oct. 6, 2021, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The boy was safely returned to extended family members.

    On March 8, 2020, Torrez said Rico-Ruvira was extradited back to the United States to stand trial.

    Prior to the victim’s strangling death, the attorney general said Rico-Ruvira was charged with aggravated battery stemming from a domestic dispute with Mauricio-Sanchez in October 2019.

    In a statement, Torrez said, “The vicious murder of Ms. Mauricio-Sanchez and the horrific events her children were forced to endure at the hands of Rico-Ruvira further highlights the grave issue we have with domestic violence in this state.”

    Rico-Ruvira’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1.

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  • Omaha man accused of attacking people with hammer while wearing Michael Myers 'Halloween' mask

    OMAHA, Neb. (TCD) — A 20-year-old male and 17-year-old female were taken into custody for allegedly attacking multiple people with a hammer and robbing them while disguised as the character Michael Myers from the famous horror movie franchise “Halloween.”

    According to Omaha Police, on Oct. 23, officers received several calls about robberies and suspicious activity in the area that occurred between 6:11 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Each victim reportedly told police the suspect drove a gray or silver sedan and attacked them with a hammer before robbing them. The man reportedly wore a “Michael Myers mask” during the incidents.

    WOWT-TV reports one victim had their cellphone stolen, while another got his wallet taken. The masked suspect also allegedly chased another victim. When the victim got back to his car, he reportedly saw his window had been smashed in.

    According to the arrest affidavit cited by the Omaha World-Herald, the victim whose wallet was stolen is 79 years old and had “bleeding facial injuries” after the attack. The pair allegedly tried to rob four people and took items from two of the victims.

    Omaha Police announced officers found the car Oct. 25 and arrested Jorden Payne on two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. A 17-year-old was also taken into custody for two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and one count of criminal mischief.

    The Omaha World-Herald reports the teen, who is Payne’s girlfriend, allegedly acted as the getaway driver following the robberies.

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  • Ohio woman allegedly met men for sex in hotels, drugged, robbed, and killed them

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (TCD) — A 33-year-old woman stands accused of meeting men for sex and causing the deaths of at least four individuals through drugs.

    According to a news release from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, on Oct. 25, a grand jury returned an indictment against Rebecca Auborn, charging her with four counts of murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, five counts of aggravated robbery, five counts of felonious assault, five counts of corrupting another with drugs, one count of tampering with evidence, and four counts of trafficking in drugs.

    The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force received a tip that Auborn was allegedly “meeting men for sex in northeast Columbus, then dosing the ‘johns’ with drugs in order to steal their possessions.”

    According to the Columbus Division of Police, on Jan. 15, officers responded to the 2900 block of Azelda Avenue to a report of an overdose. At the scene, police found the victim, Joseph Crumpler, and he was transported to the Riverside Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

    Police interviewed Auborn, and she confessed to administering drugs that caused the victim’s death. She also admitted to taking his belongings while he was unconscious.

    In September, Auborn was charged with murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and corrupting another with drugs in connection with Crumpler’s overdose death. She was booked into the Franklin County Jail and has remained there since.

    According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators determined there were additional victims, including one who suffered an attempted overdose in December 2022, two men who died of overdoses in April, and another fatal overdose victim in June.

    The Columbus Dispatch reports that Auborn allegedly met her victims for sex at hotels on the northeast side of Columbus in the areas of Interstate 71, State Route 161, Cleveland Avenue, and East 17th Avenue.

    Court records obtained by the Columbus Dispatch said Auborn confessed that with one victim, she mixed fentanyl in a crack pipe. Auborn allegedly knew the man was overdosing and stole his car and debit card.

    The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking additional victims.

    Auborn is set to appear in court on Friday, Oct. 27, for her arraignment.

    In a statement, Attorney General Dave Yost said, “Don’t buy sex in Ohio — it ruins lives and could cost you yours.”

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  • At least 18 people killed in mass shooting at Lewiston, Maine, bowling alley and bar

    LEWISTON, Maine (TCD) — Multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for the suspect in a mass shooting that killed at least 18 people Wednesday evening.

    According to Maine State Police Col. William Ross, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Auburn Communications Center received a call at 6:56 p.m. regarding an active shooter at Just-In-Time Recreation, which is a bowling alley, restaurant, and bar in Lewiston. About 10 minutes later, the communications center fielded multiple calls about a shooter at Schemengees Bar & Grille.

    Eighteen people have died so far. Six males and one female were killed at the bowling alley. Seven males were fatally shot outside the Schemengees and one was killed inside. Ross said all were killed from apparent gunshot wounds. Medics transported several people to area hospitals, where three other victims died from their injuries. According to Ross, eight people have been positively identified thus far.

    Officials identified the suspect as 40-year-old Robert Card and said investigators located his car at a boat landing in Lisbon, Maine. He now has an arrest warrant out for eight counts of murder. Ross said the number will likely increase as more victims are identified.

    Card is deemed armed and dangerous and “should not be approached.”

    Lewiston Police shared photos of a man wearing a brown sweatshirt and dark pants walking into a building holding a semiautomatic rifle.

    Maine State Police activated shelter in place orders and school cancellations for several of the surrounding cities.

    According to The Associated Press, Card worked as a firearms instructor and is enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. He reportedly spent two weeks in a mental health facility and had been “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” the military base where he worked in Saco, Maine.

    In a statement, Just-In-Time Recreation wrote, “None of this seems real, but unfortunately it is. We are devastated for our community and our staff. We lost some amazing and whole hearted people from our bowling family and community last night. There are no words to fix this or make it better. We are praying for everyone who has been affected by this horrific tragedy. We love you all and hold you close in our hearts.”

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  • Illegal Immigration Shatters Records, Most CBP One App Users Released in U.S. Including from “Hostile Nations”

    The situation along the Mexican border is worse than ever with yet another record-breaking year for illegal immigration that ended fiscal 2023 with an appalling 2.48 million migrants, surpassing what was previously a historical high of 2.38 million in 2022. In September, the last month of the fiscal year, federal agents encountered a whopping 269,735 illegal aliens constituting an all-time high for a single month and a substantial increase over August when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered 232,963 migrants. In an apparent effort to bury the magnitude of the border crisis, the Biden administration released the year-end statistics during the weekend and the ghastly figures have predictably received anemic media coverage. So has a troublesome congressional report, issued two days later, outlining how the Biden administration frees the overwhelming majority of illegal aliens who use its CBP One App inside the country, including those from “hostile nations.”

    The new year-end CBP data shows that the Tucson sector in Arizona saw an unprecedented 109% spike in illegal immigrants during the last month of the fiscal year compared to August and a total 48% increase for 2023, from 251,984 last year to 373,625. The El Paso crossing in Texas had a 39% boost in illegal immigration compared to last year with 427,471 crossings compared to 307,844 in 2022. Texas sectors located south of El Paso also experienced large numbers of illegal immigrants, with Del Rio recording 393,226 and Rio Grande Valley 338,337. California got bombarded as well with a 31% hike in illegal aliens in San Diego and a 30% rise in El Centro. In what may seem like a bad joke, CBP, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) 60,000-emloyee “unified border entity,” writes this in the announcement accompanying the 2023 figures: “DHS continues to enforce United States immigration laws while strengthening the consequences for those who cross our border unlawfully.”

    The 2023 stats include a section on the CBP One mobile application that is also laughable because it describes it as a key component of DHS’s efforts to incentivize lawful, safe and orderly pathways into the U.S. since it was introduced by the Biden administration in January. The app lets over 1,400 foreigners make appointments daily to access ports of entry where federal agents determine admissibility. Through the end of September nearly 278,000 individuals have successfully scheduled appointments to present at a U.S. port of entry, according to the newly released records. “CBP is continually monitoring and evaluating the application to ensure its functionality and guard against bad actors,” the agency writes in the document accompanying the fresh batch of stats.

    The reality is that DHS’s expanded use of the CBP One app has led to the release of hundreds of thousands of otherwise inadmissible illegal immigrants into the United States, records obtained by a congressional panel show. Of the inadmissible aliens who scheduled appointments through the controversial app 95.8% (278,431) were issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) and released into the country on parole, according to the information made public this week by the House Committee on Homeland Security. This includes individuals from “countries of concern” that made appointments through the app and were overwhelmingly released into the U.S. Among them are Russians, Chinese, Yemenis, Afghans, Lebanese, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Iranians and Uzbeks. Nearly all the Russian, Afghan, Chinese and Iranian nationals who made CBP One appointments were released in the U.S., according to the records. Most of the Latin Americans were also freed into the country, including illegal immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Venezuela that used the app. “At a time when global tensions are rising, and our enemies are growing bolder, releasing tens of thousands of these people into our communities—especially when they have not received adequate, if any, vetting—is irresponsible,” said House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, an emergency room physician from Tennessee.

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  • 2 women arrested for allegedly attacking teen with rusty bayonet

    CHARLESTON, S.C. (TCD) — Two women are facing felony charges after they allegedly got into an altercation with a 17-year-old and attacked her with a bayonet.

    According to WCSC-TV, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Charleston Police Department officers were called to a residence on Justin Avenue regarding a woman with a knife. When officers arrived, they reportedly found 24-year-old Terrene McGee on the ground with blood on her face and an old bayonet next to her.

    The arrest report cited by WCIV-TV alleges McGee and 24-year-old Mikalah Scott went to the residence on Justin Drive because they wanted to speak with a 27-year-old man who has three kids with McGee and one with Scott. The children were with them when they went to the house.

    The women reportedly learned two female teens, ages 17 and 19, and a 21-year-old man were also at the home.

    McGee and Scott allegedly went into the man’s house via a side window and started fighting with the people inside. During the altercation, McGee allegedly began hitting the 17-year-old. Scott reportedly picked up the bayonet and used that to strike the teen. The 19-year-old contacted police when she saw what was happening.

    WCIV reports Scott and McGee drove off when the 19-year-old called 911, but they returned.

    According to WCSC, McGee and the 17-year-old, who sustained blunt force trauma-related injuries, were taken to the hospital.

    WCSC reports Scott and McGee are being charged with first-degree assault and battery and first-degree burglary.

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  • Blood-covered California woman accused of fatally stabbing her mother after child’s birthday

    EL MONTE, Calif. (TCD) — Officials have arrested and charged a 25-year-old woman accused of stabbing her mother to death over the weekend.

    Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Tuesday, Oct. 24, that his office charged Kimberly Gonzalez with one count of murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the stabbing death of her mother, Jacqueline Perez, at her home.

    According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, on Sunday, Oct. 22, shortly before 5 p.m., El Monte Police officers responded to the 11000 block of Ranchito Street to a report of a stabbing. The District Attorney’s Office said officers found Gonzalez outside the home “covered in blood,” and they apprehended her at the scene.

    Police entered the residence and found Perez suffering from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

    The District Attorney’s Office alleges Gonzalez used a knife to kill her mother.

    The victim’s brother told KABC-TV he did not know what led up to the stabbing. He reportedly heard a scream and observed his 11-year-old nephew come out yelling for help with his shirt covered in blood.

    KABC reports that neighbors said the family was celebrating a small child’s birthday that weekend, and a “Happy Birthday” banner was still outside the home with bloody footprints on the driveway.

    In a statement, Gascón said, “This was an extraordinarily violent act which has had a profound impact on our community. We are fully committed to seeking justice on behalf of the victim and our dedicated team will work tirelessly to bring clarity and closure to this heartbreaking case.”

    Gonzalez’s bail was set at $2 million, and she faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted.

    According to KABC, Gonzalez allegedly struggled with drugs, and her mother was raising her two grandchildren.

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  • Pa. man accused of shooting woman allegedly had book of 'exorcism spells' and prayers

    MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (TCD) — A 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and other charges for allegedly shooting someone in his home and giving conflicting stories about what happened.

    According to WPMT-TV, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Mechanicsburg Police officers responded to the 300 block of West Allen Street after receiving a call about a shooting victim. The victim, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

    Police at the scene looked through the residence and located Timothy Zidik, who reportedly claimed he did not shoot the victim. WPMT reports Zidik told officers he did not keep guns in the house and that he had headphones on when the gunshot went off. Officers reportedly discovered blood at the scene, some of which had already been cleaned up, and a Smith & Wesson handgun.

    As officers continued to make their way through the home, they allegedly discovered notebooks in Zidik’s room with “exorcism spells, prayers and writing in an unknown language.”

    WPMT, which cites the affidavit, reports one of the entries says, “Forgive us, criminals of purpose, for the sins that we are force to commit. Mother the merciful, Bless our firearms with your hand, our knives with your foot, and guide our bullets and stabs with the finger that is closest to your heart. May we earn your need and be your wrath amen.”

    According to WPMT, the victim sustained the gunshot wound at around 1 a.m. She reportedly asked Zidik for help, so he allegedly rendered aid and cleaned the scene. Three and a half hours later, he drove her to the hospital. Police learned about the shooting once she was already admitted to the hospital.

    Police reportedly do not believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. The victim reportedly told investigators she does not own a gun, nor did she know of any in the home.

    On Oct. 12, one day after the shooting, Zidik was hospitalized with a self-inflicted stab wound. Three days after that, he allegedly contacted the victim and confessed to shooting her but said it was an accident because he put the gun under her mattress.

    Zidik allegedly provided conflicting accounts of what happened, including that he was loading the gun and it fired. He also allegedly said the gun went off while cleaning it.

    Court records show Zidik ia being charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of attempted homicide. He’s currently in custody at the Cumberland County Prison with bail set at $100,000.

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  • Chicago man arrested for allegedly lighting Halloween display on fire, decapitating other decorations

    CHICAGO (TCD) — Police arrested a 34-year-old man this week for allegedly lighting local Halloween displays on fire and decapitating other ones.

    A slew of Halloween decoration-related arsons had been occurring in the area since Oct. 4, according to Chicago Police. Of the eight incidents, half were reported within a few blocks of each other on Lincoln Avenue. Police said the suspect “ignited several sidewalk autumn/Halloween displays and street corner garbage cans.”

    All the instances reportedly occurred between 1:50 a.m. and 4:13 a.m.

    Three of the fires reportedly involved decorations that had been placed on front porches. One fire broke out Oct. 11 at 3:10 a.m. on the 2100 block of West Agatite Avenue, while a second occurred the same day at 3:43 a.m. on the 2200 block of West Roscoe Street. On Oct. 16, at 3:27 a.m., there was a fire at a home on the 3600 block of North Hoyne Avenue, which sustained damage from the flames, but no one was injured.

    On Tuesday, Oct. 24, Chicago Police officers took Mario Munoz into custody on the 3900 block of West Fullerton Avenue for his alleged involvements in the fires on West Roscoe Street and an Oct. 12 incident on the 4100 block of Maplewood Avenue.

    Munoz was arrested on one felony count of arson and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.

    According to CBS Chicago, Ring doorbell video allegedly showed Munoz beheading a large decoration outside the Maplewood Avenue residence. Additionally, two scarecrows in a “Scarecrow Showdown” competition were incinerated.

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