Tag: Americas

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (TCN) — A 46-year-old woman is facing multiple charges for allegedly setting her home on fire while her three children were still inside, leading to the death of one of her daughters.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, at 7:22 a.m., the Grand Rapids Fire Department responded to a call on Eastern Avenue Southeast and found a home fully engulfed in flames. Fire Chief Brad Brown said in a press conference that the blaze “progressed very rapidly” both downstairs and upstairs. Forty-two fire personnel arrived at the scene and rescued three juveniles from the residence while their mother, Roconda Singleton, told officials her daughter was still upstairs in a bedroom. Brown said the firefighters “placed themselves directly in harm’s way” to save a 12-year-old girl’s life.

Firefighters rescued the girl and performed CPR before transporting her to a hospital. She sustained critical injuries, while the other two victims sustained smoke inhalation but non-life-threatening injuries.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom explained that Singleton allegedly “meticulously” removed all smoke detectors from the home, placed them in a bag, and left the bag in the backyard. She reportedly doused the upstairs and downstairs floors and a couch in lighter fluid before lighting it ablaze.

“That’s a pretty effective way to start a fire,” Winstrom said.

The 12-year-old girl was reportedly sleeping when the house went up in flames.

According to Winstrom, the smoke was “so thick you could barely see an inch in front of your face.”

He alleges Singleton “deliberately” set the home on fire “to murder her three beautiful daughters.”

The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office initially charged Singleton with three counts of second-degree child abuse and one count of first-degree arson. She could face up to life in prison.

WOOD-TV reports the 12-year-old girl, Shamiya Stewart, died Monday, Jan. 27, which led to prosecutors charging Singleton with murder.

Singleton allegedly told police that she planned to “die with her three daughters to they could be free.” She also allegedly said she “did it,” adding, “I am not going to sit here and play like I am the victim.”

According to WOOD, Singleton spent time at a mental health facility in August for a “brief psychotic disorder,” during which she took off her clothes in public because she believed she was “being monitored by the government to catch her selling drugs.” During an interview with investigators following the fire, Singleton reportedly said she was dealing with “mental health problems and was unable to find any help.”

Winstrom shared at the press conference, “This is an unimaginably horrific case.”

MORE:

• Woman arrested for house fire that injured 3 kids – WOOD
• ‘I did it’: Mom admitted to setting deadly fire, court documents show – WOOD

Source: True Crime Daily

EVERETT, Wash. (TCN) — Police recently arrested a man on suspicion of killing a 33-year-old disabled woman nearly 36 years ago.

According to the Everett Police Department, on Feb. 1, 1989, Mary Ann Daniels, who had been placed into transitional living, was found deceased in her home. Investigators ruled her death a homicide, but the case eventually went cold.

Due to advancements in DNA technology, authorities recently identified Joseph Jacquez as the primary suspect through biological material left on the victim’s body. Police said officials also found Jacquez’s DNA on the “actual instrument of her death.”

On Jan. 28, police announced that Jacquez was booked into the Clark County Jail in Nevada but will be extradited to Snohomish County.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin said, “I want to commend our police department and our partner agencies for their dedication to getting justice for victims like Mary Ann. My heart goes out to Mary Ann’s loved ones as they continue to grieve her loss.”

Everett Police Chief John DeRousse added, “We are thankful for Detective Logothetti’s perseverance in this investigation. Due to her hard work, this suspect will be held accountable nearly 36 years later.”

In a statement obtained by KOMO-TV, Daniels’ sister said the victim “faced unfortunate circumstances while living in a transitional rental house, which her social worker placed her in. She should have protected her from this happening, but instead, put her in danger, and in the end, Mary Ann lost her life. She had a hard life and is now at peace.”

MORE:

• Suspect arrested in 36-year-old cold murder case – Everett Police Department
• DNA tech leads to arrest in decades-old cold case murder of Washington woman – KOMO

Source: True Crime Daily

Sixteen-year-old Bryan Herrera was shot and killed while biking to his friend’s house to do homework. His family searched for answers for years, but no one came forward — until recently. Prosecutors arrested and charged Adrian Grimes, who also goes by “Peanut” and “Nut,” with murder. They will be seeking the death penalty against him.

Source: True Crime Daily

Eleven-year-old Bethany Markowski was stuck in the middle of her parents’ breakup. She was supposed to be dropped off at her aunt’s house after spending several days with her father, but she never arrived. More than 20 years have gone by, and her case remains unsolved.

Source: True Crime Daily

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (TCN) — Police believe a 24-year-old man shot and killed a 1-year-old and injured the child’s mother during a domestic violence incident.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2:34 p.m., Murfreesboro Police Department officers responded to a shots fired call at the Chelsea Place Apartments. When they arrived, they found the 1-year-old who had been “shot multiple times.” Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services pronounced the infant deceased at the scene. Medics transported the child’s mother to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the hand.

Authorities later located the suspected shooter, Marquavious Hampton, deceased in Williamson County from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In an update, police said an “apparent dispute over loud music may be the motive behind the fatal shooting.” Hampton allegedly “became angry due to loud music being played by the mother,” which resulted in an argument and physical altercation. Hampton reportedly shot at the child, who was in a stroller. The victim’s mother jumped in front of the stroller “trying to shield her baby,” and was struck in the hand as a result.

Murfreesboro Police issued a Be On the Lookout alert for Hampton, and a license plate reader traced him to Williamson County. Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a traffic stop, but Hampton got out of the car and fled on foot. According to the sheriff’s office, Hampton ran into a field as deputies chased after him. They reportedly “observed what appeared to be a firearm in the subject’s hand,” and right after that, he was found critically injured from a gunshot wound.

Hampton was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

MORE:

• Domestic Violence incident may be cause of fatal shooting of baby and injury of mother – Murfreesboro Police Department
• Williamson County Deputies Pursue Homicide Suspect – Williamson County Sheriff’s Office

Source: True Crime Daily

HANFORD, Calif. (TCN) — Authorities issued an Amber Alert this week for two young children after finding their mother deceased.

On Jan. 28, at approximately 4 p.m., the Kings County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Fourth Place to perform a welfare check, where they discovered a woman dead with a gunshot wound. The sheriff’s office did not disclose her name.

Upon further investigation, detectives identified 23-year-old Jonathan Maldonado-Cruz as the primary suspect. He allegedly left the home with his and the victim’s two children, 3-year-old Arya Maldonado and 2-year-old Alana Maldonado.

Maldonado-Cruz reportedly drove off in a 2020 Hyundai Elantra with California license plate number 8LZD084. Investigators believe Maldonado-Cruz is possibly on his way to Mexico and should be considered armed and dangerous.

MORE:

• News Release – Kings County Sheriff’s Office

Source: True Crime Daily

Twenty-three-year-old Angie Barlow disappeared after accepting a job offer to dance at a private party for a stranger. She got ready, walked out the door, and that was the last time anyone had seen or heard from her. Nearly a year later, police received an anonymous tip and discovered Angie’s decomposed behind a home. Her killer or killers have yet to be brought to justice.

Source: True Crime Daily

COMAL COUNTY, Texas (TCN) — A 27-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for fatally shooting his father while the victim was eating on the couch.

The Comal County District Attorney’s Office announced that on Jan. 24, a jury sentenced Yacob Hickman to life in prison for the murder of his father, identified by the sheriff’s office as 51-year-old Paul Stautzenberger.

According to deputies, on Jan. 29, 2022, shortly after midnight, authorities responded to a home on Campbell Drive to a report of a possible shooting. Hickman reportedly called 911 and told the dispatcher he had “emptied six rounds into his father” and added, “I can’t say that I’m sorry.”

Prosecutors said Hickman stayed on the call with the dispatcher for over 20 minutes, “acknowledging that he should control his anger and that he was fully aware of the consequences of his actions.” Hickman allegedly told the dispatcher, “To be honest with you, I feel so [expletive] great.”

Officers found Stautzenberger deceased with six gunshot wounds to his neck and head. According to the district attorney’s office, Hickman shot his father while he was sitting on the couch eating a salad.

The jury listened to Hickman’s 911 call and heard testimony from deputies and a crime scene technician during the trial.

A week before the shooting, Hickman had reportedly moved from Louisiana to Canyon Lake, Texas, “at his father’s encouragement, in hopes of finding better employment opportunities.”

Prosecutors said Hickman made jailhouse phone calls at the Comal County Jail while awaiting trial that were recorded and presented. Hickman reportedly said during calls that he and his father “were having a simple conversation,” but Stautzenberger “kept on wanting to run his [expletive] mouth.”

Hickman allegedly told his mother during a call that “the most important thing is that if I ever did get out of here is what guarantees me from ever getting stuck in positions that would cause me to come back?”

Family members spoke at the sentencing hearing and expressed that Hickman “killed the one person who truly wanted him to succeed.”

MORE:

• Life Sentence for Murder – Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
• Comal County Jail
• Homicide, 6/29/2022 – Comal County Sheriff’s Office

Source: True Crime Daily