Tag: Americas

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) — A 22-year-old mother has been charged with multiple crimes for allegedly failing to intervene when her son’s father abused him “by torturous means,” then disposed of his body after he died.

The 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office announced Monday, Dec. 30, that Wendy Bailey was arrested and taken into custody on charges of aggravated child abuse, first-degree domestic violence, abuse of a corpse, and criminally negligent homicide. The first three charges relate to the suspected death of her son, Kahleb Collins, whereas the criminally negligent homicide refers to a car crash that killed her husband, 40-year-old Steven Collins, and her unrestrained 2-year-old daughter, Ryleigh Collins.

The investigation began Dec. 8 when Fayette County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted Alabama State Patrol troopers at an accident scene on County Road 73. Officials learned Kahleb Collins was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash, which soon prompted an Amber Alert. Photos of the crash shared by WAFB-TV show Steven Collins’ black truck completely totaled and wrapped around a tree. The truck seems to have separated from the back wheels.

Kahleb Collins has reportedly not been seen since Sept. 4.

Court records published by WIAT-TV allege Steven Collins texted Bailey “that he was going to kill Kahleb” and shared a photo of the child hanging by a rope. Another picture reportedly showed the 1-year-old on the ground with bruising all over his body. Steven Collins reportedly said in a message after the photo of Kahleb Collins on the ground, “He want [sic] move” and “I’m so sorry.”

Steven Collins reportedly later messaged that the boy was moving again, to which Bailey allegedly replied, “He just looks wore out and tired and hurt and hopefully that’s all.”

Prosecutors wrote in court documents that Bailey “failed to intervene or notify law enforcement after she was made aware of the extreme circumstances and assault that had occurred to Kahleb Collins.” Her child abuse affidavit alleges Kahleb Collins was “physically abused by tortuous means.”

Officials believe Bailey put her son’s body in a bag and left it outside of a storage facility “for a brief period prior to final disposal at an unknown location.”

She is in custody at the Fayette County Jail and is awaiting a bond hearing.

MORE:

• Press Release – 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office
• Press Release – Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Amber Alert – Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• Prosecutors allege graphic details of abuse leading to presumed death of missing 1-year-old Kahleb Collins in Fayette County – WIAT
• Missing 1-year-old Fayette Co. baby believed to be dead; Mother charged after his disappearance – WBRC

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This Week on True Crime News The Podcast: A bail recovery agent charged with murder after an exchange of gunfire with a fugitive. While prosecutors initially called it a homicide, security footage showed the agent acted in self-defense.

Charles and Jessica Price join Luis Bolaños and host Ana Garcia.

YouTube: Fugitive opens fire on recovery agent in fatal shooting to avoid returning to jail

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HALTOM CITY, Texas (TCN) — A 35-year-old man stands accused of abducting a 22-year-old woman from her home at gunpoint on Christmas Eve.

On the morning of Dec. 24, Grapevine Police notified the Haltom City Police Department of a possible kidnapping and robbery at the Acacia Apartments. A suspect, later identified as Eduardo Godoy, allegedly kidnapped a female resident of the complex while she was walking to her car at approximately 4:45 a.m. The victim was on her way to work at the time, KDFW-TV reports.

Godoy allegedly approached the woman while wearing a mask and forced her into the back seat of her vehicle. Police allege the suspect “made several threats and compelled her to withdraw money from a nearby bank.”

Per arrest affidavits reviewed by KDFW, Godoy drove the victim for around an hour and threatened to “sell her organs” or “prostitute her.” According to police, Godoy took the victim to the Camden Apartments in Grapevine, where she was restrained. Godoy allegedly tied the victim’s hands around a tree with her shoelace, but she escaped and sought help. She was unharmed.

Godoy reportedly fled in the victim’s vehicle, and officials entered it into law enforcement databases “with a note of the violent nature of the offense.”

An Oklahoma City Police Department patrol officer located the car the following day in a parking lot within their jurisdiction. Godoy was inside and taken into custody. During an interview with Haltom Police detectives, Godoy reportedly confessed to kidnapping and robbing the victim.

The suspect allegedly claimed he just needed the money. However, according to KDFW, Haltom City Police Sgt. Rick Alexander said the suspect “smirked a lot, he giggled, and, you know, was almost proud of what he did.”

Godoy faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery out of Haltom City and unauthorized use of a vehicle, use of a firearm while committing a felony, receiving, possessing, or concealing stolen property, and carrying or possessing a firearm by an illegal alien out of Oklahoma City. Godoy was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center. According to Haltom City Police, Godoy also has an active ICE detainer hold.

MORE:

• News Release – Haltom City Police Department
• Haltom City kidnapping suspect ‘was almost proud of what he did,’ police say – KDFW

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Former Marine Ben Sebena stalked, ambushed, and fatally shot his wife, Jennifer Sebena, while she was on duty as a police officer on Christmas Eve. He claimed his PTSD from two tours in Iraq caused his actions, but investigators argued Sebena’s murder was a targeted, premeditated attack.

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Leslie Bacinelli experienced hell when her abusive ex, Timothy McGoff, followed her and her boyfriend in a stolen car and slammed into them. McGoff slashed Bacinelli’s throat, causing severe injuries. Despite the horrific attack, Leslie survived thanks to her scarf.

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Discount furniture king Jose Lantigua claimed he used to be a secret agent with the CIA and was running away from assassins. He thought he could get away with faking his own death by pretending he had Mad Cow disease, but it would all come crashing down when attempted to create a new identity.

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HIGH RIDGE, Mo. (TCN) — Deputies arrested a 61-year-old man they allege fatally shot his son during an argument on Christmas Eve over the belief that the victim’s mother was cheating on the suspect.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Harold Luster “retrieved a firearm from the residence and threatened another person before allegedly shooting his son” in the middle of a disagreement. Luster was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of his 26-year-old son, Kevin Ward. He is in custody without bond.

According to Luster’s probable cause affidavit, on Dec. 24 at 8:55 p.m., Ward’s fiancée called 911 and said he had been shot in the forehead. Deputies arrived and found Ward deceased with a apparent gunshot wound to the head.

The fiancée told deputies that Luster thought Ward’s mother was cheating on him, and he believed the fiancée was covering it up. Luster, who, was inside his house, allegedly asked the fiancée, “Do you want to get shot?” Ward told his fiancée to give him a knife and call 911 if anything happened to him. The fiancée was sitting in her car and moved away from the house.

Luster reportedly walked out of his home as Ward “attempted to deescalate the incident.” Ward reportedly told his father not to shoot his fiancée, but Luster allegedly responded, “You wanna get shot instead?” The fiancée reportedly saw Luster raise his arm and fire at Ward, who fell to the ground. Surveillance footage from the home across the street allegedly showed the same sequence of events.

KTVI-TV reports Ward’s fiancée is pregnant, and Ward was “so happy to be a first-time father.” Ward’s mother told KTVI that her son “died a hero that night.”

She said, “I will be at every hearing to make sure justice is served. He’s going to be forever in our hearts.”

MORE:

• Christmas Eve Murder Update – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
• Probable Cause Statement
• ‘He died a hero that night’: Mom speaks out after son allegedly killed by his father Christmas Eve – KTVI

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (TCN) — A jury found a 39-year-old woman guilty on multiple counts for carjacking and killing her court-appointed supervisor the same day she was released on bail, then draining his bank account.

The Alaska Department of Law announced Sarah Dayan was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, burglary, felon in possession of a concealable firearm, four counts of theft or attempted theft, three counts of vehicle theft, and three counts of violating a condition of release for the death of Keith Huss.

Dayan’s trial lasted seven weeks.

According to the statement, a driver found Huss’ body in the parking lot of the Turnagain Pass rest area in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, 2020. Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene and saw Huss had been shot four times with a .45 caliber pistol and appeared as though he had been hit by a car. Investigators learned Huss picked up Dayan from jail on Sept. 28, 2020, as her appointed third-party custodian. Huss and Dayan got into Dayan’s car and drove toward Anchorage so Dayan could work at Huss’ food truck.

Officials located Dayan on Oct. 1, 2020, and reportedly noticed damage on her car “that was consistent with it having been used to strike Mr. Huss.” Additionally, investigators learned Dayan used Huss’ bank account to make several purchases, then transferred hundreds of dollars over to her account. She also reportedly got a hold of a .45 caliber pistol not long after she was released from jail.

After killing Huss and while running from police, Dayan stole several other vehicles and burglarized a cabin.

Dayan will be sentenced in May. Her three murder convictions will be merged into one for the sentencing guidelines, and she could face 15 to 99 years behind bars.

MORE:

• Sarah Dayan Convicted of Murder, Burglary, and Theft – Alaska Department of Law

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ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (TCN) — A 42-year-old man and 33-year-old woman were taken into custody for allegedly abandoning their newborn son on the median of a busy thoroughfare while he was wearing only a diaper.

According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 25 at approximately 9:20 a.m., a passerby called 911 to say they found the child on Pecos Street. Detectives arrived and canvassed the area for surveillance footage that could help lead them to the child’s parents. That night, just before 9 p.m., investigators arrested Jarvis Sims and Christina Thurman for felony child abuse.

The child was transported to a nearby hospital for observation as a precaution.

The sheriff’s office posted photos of the carrier the child had been left in, which included a sticker that said “Display only. Not intended for sale.”

KDVR-TV reports the 1-month-old child allegedly had cocaine in his system when he was found. Sims, his father, was reportedly taking care of him that day after Sims and Thurman got into an argument. Thurman’s family said they are “trying everything to get the baby back. He belongs with family.”

Court records cited by KMGH-TV allege Sims brought the child outside their house following the fight and told Thurman to “come get the baby, to which she refused.” Sims reportedly left the boy on the sidewalk, then “went home because he had to work in the morning.”

Thurman allegedly saw Sims abandon the boy on the median and “due to not wanting to create more problems, she turned around.”

The boy is in the care of Child Protective Services.

Thurman’s cousin told KMGH, “We were so excited to spend our first Christmas with him. We got robbed of that.”

MORE:

• Detectives are seeking the communities help to identify and locate the family of an approximately one month old baby – Adams County Sheriff’s Office
• Family of abandoned Adams County baby says cocaine was in baby’s system – KDVR
• Family of 1-month-old boy left in Adams County median says mother should not face charges – KMGH

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ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. (TCN) — Authorities arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of disrupting religious services at two local churches on Christmas Eve.

According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 24, Thomas Von Goetz first went into Holy Angels Catholic Church shortly after 5 p.m. during Mass. He allegedly walked toward the altar and dropped an onion in the aisle, “disturbing the peace of those attending.” An individual reportedly followed the suspect when he left to make sure he left the premises, and Von Goetz allegedly threw tangerines at them outside the church.

Later that evening, Von Goetz entered St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church during midnight Mass, where he allegedly poured whiskey into the holy water and threatened to hurt parishioners. According to the sheriff’s office, church attendees escorted Von Goetz out of the church, and he allegedly tried but failed to hit multiple people with a whiskey bottle.

Parishioners detained the suspect before deputies arrived and transported Von Goetz to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for medical evaluation. On Dec. 26, he was arrested on charges of second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, defacing religious property, religious crime against a group, obstructing a religious exercise, threat of mass violence, and disturbing the peace.

MORE:

• Man Arrested Following Disruptions at Local Churches – St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office

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