Crime Spider

31 Indictments in Cold Cases - Chief says "Wow!"

2007-07-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'd say the "wow" is an understatement. This week the Aurora, Illinois police, the FBI and the Kane County state's attorney office and sheriff announced 31 indictments for "cold cases" - they have arrested 19, have 10 in custody, and two are still at large. Many are gang-related cases.

“This is the result of a lot of hard work — hundreds and thousands of hours of
work,” said Aurora Police Chief Bill Powell. “The impact I think this is going
to have is, ‘Wow.’ ... The results are astounding, as you can see.”

It Must Have Been Hot, They Were Tired and Thirsty...Hey, Let's Kill Someone!

2007-06-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

This sounds like something that would happen in a third-world country where there is no court system (so they take care of things themselves).

Texas crowd kills passenger in vehicle that struck child
A crowd attacked and killed a passenger in a vehicle that had struck and injured a
child, police said Wednesday.

Associated Press
June 20, 2007 – 11:03 AM
AUSTIN, Texas - A crowd attacked and killed a passenger in a vehicle that had struck and injured a child, police said Wednesday. Police believe 2,000 to 3,000 people were in the area for a Juneteenth celebration when the attack occurred Tuesday night. The man who was killed had been trying to stop the group from attacking the vehicle's driver when the crowd turned on him, authorities said.
The Austin Police Department identified the victim as David Rivas Morales, 40.
The child was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Murder Map of Los Angeles

2007-06-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

A reader of the Los Angeles Times Homicide blog used Map Builder to show on a map murders in Los Angeles. Makes me glad I live in the zone without any markings!

Henry Lee - Forensic Science Celebrity Now Defending Himself

2007-06-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Anyone who follows homicide investigations or watches murder trials surely knows the famous (or infamous to some) Henry C. Lee. As soon as a celebrity is accused of murder, both defense and prosecutors hope to nab him first for their side. O.J. Simpson murder trial - William Kennedy Smith rape trial, Kobe Bryant case and other high-profile cases have depended on the expertise of Lee.

Now he is involved in the Phil Spector trial. This is murder case against him in the death of Lana Clarkson, a 40-year-old actress, who was found shot to death Feb. 3, 2003, in the music producer's home. Attorney Robert Shapiro hired Lee immediately so he could begin the scientific hunt for evidence to prove Spector innocent - or at least produce doubt of his guilt in jurors' minds.

Now Lee's career is in jeopardy. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler has questioned Lee's credibility. There have always been ethical questions around hiring specialists - some believe that many might focus on anything that supports their side rather than being truly neutral and "scientific" about the evidence. So "reasonable doubt" about a specialist's "truth" is nothing new.

This is something new, however. Fidler ruled last month that prosecutors could present testimony that Lee took evidence from the crime scene and kept it from prosecutors. It remains to be seen if this can be "proven" - but the light it casts on Lee could cloud how many view his testimony in the future.

Gives New Meaning to Question, "Have you been smoking crack?"

2007-06-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Washington "incident" - speaks for itself. Sheesh.
"The woman charged with plowing her car through a crowded street festival last weekend while apparently high on cocaine was denied bond Monday. Tonya N. Bell, 30, is charged with aggravated assault, but prosecutors are considering additional charges against her.

Bell is accused of driving through a police barricade into the crowd Saturday evening and striking at least three dozen people with her station wagon. Police said at least 40 people were injured. At least one person was knocked onto the hood and wndshield of the car.

According to charging documents, Bell told police she had been "smoking crack
all day" before driving into the crowd, sending people and strollers flying.
Witnesses said they were disturbed by her reaction as she ran into people. They
said she was laughing."

Australian Investigators Re-open 100 Murder and Missing Person Cases

2007-06-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

MORE than 100 unsolved murders will be re-opened in New South Wales, Australia, oaccording to a unsolved homicide review team that was established in 2004. Investigators believe new technology, particularly DNA testing, will give them a good chance of solving some of these cases.

Investigators will review unsolved murders and a number of missing persons cases between 1970 and 2001.

Suspect Arrested for 1983 Murder - Another Cold Case Success

2006-09-22T23:17:00.000-07:00

Jose "Joe" Reyes was arrested and charged with capital murder for the murder of Esther Gervara Broberg. In 1983, Broberg's body was found near Givens Park in East Austin. She had been stabbed multiple times.

Detectives believe other people also played a part in the murder. They're asking anyone with information to call the APD homicide tip line at (512) 477-3588 or Crimestoppers at (512) 472-8477.

Police Looking for Suspect in Murder of Two Sisters in North Fort Myers, Florida

2006-09-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the September 10th double murder of two sisters in North Fort Myers. An arrest warrant has been issued for 37-year-old David Richard Patton of North Vernon, Indiana. Patton is described as a white male with blonde hair and hazel eyes. He weighs 300 pounds and is six feet three inches tall.

Anyone who knows where he is should not approach him but call 9-1-1 instead. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or www.swflcrimestoppers.org. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

Reward Offered in Berkeley Murder

2006-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Berkeley officials are offering a $15,000 reward in the case of a man who was shot and then sought help at a University of California, Berkeley sorority house before he collapsed and died, a police spokesman announced today.

The reward is the maximum amount allowed by a city resolution that approves up to $15,000 per homicide victim, according to Officer Ed Galvan, who also said investigators have interviewed numerous possible witnesses but have yet to receive credible tips.

Wayne Drummond, 23, died shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 4 at the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority house at 2311 Prospect St.

Police have repeatedly met with family members, who reside in Southern California, about how the investigation into Drummond's mysterious death will be handled.

Police say they think Drummond was shot at an unknown location and then walked or was driven to the sorority house, which is located near Memorial Stadium.

He said Drummond was seen on Telegraph Avenue about 1:30 a.m. or 2 a.m. Monday. One witness told police he saw Drummond arguing with another man on Telegraph Avenue, but the argument "was not very animated" and the witness didn't think Drummond was in danger at the time.

Police are asking anyone who saw Drummond or has information about his death to call Berkeley police homicide investigators at (510) 981-5900.

Story

40 Year Old Cold Case May Have a Suspect

2006-09-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

First the Knox County Sheriff claimed to have a DNA match in the Linda Kohlmeier murder that occurred in October 1966.

"In April, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said the office was in the process of submitting DNA evidence, in the form of semen recovered from Kohlmeier’s clothing, to the state’s Bureau of Crime Scene Investigation and Identification. On Tuesday, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office announced a major development in the 40-year-old homicide investigation, a cold case reopened in 1998. Barber recently confirmed the DNA match with a suspect, but would not elaborate further."

Justice 40 years later would have been sweet, but then they released the following:

The mystery killer of go-go dancer Linda Kohlmeier in 1966 was a sexual predator from Michigan who died from natural causes in 1997, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said during a press conference on Thursday. Though he did not reveal the individual’s name, Barber said the man had a history of stalking and assaulting women and had spent time in a state hospital.

“As a result of the unrefuted evidence of DNA on the victim, this office is confident that the individual from Michigan is responsible for Linda Kohlmeier’s death on Oct. 30, 1966,” Barber said. “There is no doubt in my mind ... that if this suspect were alive today, he would be presented to a Knox County grand jury

DNA Solves 1994 Cold Case - Murderer Gets 40 Years

2006-09-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Stories like this show that funding of DNA databases should be a state and federal priority - but they are sadly so underfunded that they have years of backlogged samples.

Bullet-Detecting Cameras WOW!

2006-09-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Saw this special on TV the other day about an amazing new camera that can detect gunshots, then swing around to photograph an incident. The camera has been designed to differentiate between cars backfiring and other loud sounds - and it can detect all types of caliber weapons. The plan is to put these in areas with significant gun violence - some will be placed in areas in South Central L.A. that have had three or more shootings a week (a week? yikes).

I like this idea - it doesn't really get into privacy issues because the camera shoots public areas and ONLY if it detects gunfire - I don't think people have a reasonable expectation of privacy when shooting others in the street ;-)

The only issue I see is that people will simply find other places to shoot each other - away from the cameras - and I doubt most cities have the budget to deploy them everywhere in high-crime areas.

Doctor Finances Lavish Lifestyle Using "Weed Killer" Cancer Therapy

2005-12-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

This Georgia doctor not only decided to inject his cancer patients with weed killer - he charged as much as 50K per session.

San Diego Double Homicide Solved After 1 Year with DNA Database

2005-12-20T23:04:00.000-08:00

The first double homicide to be solved in California using the state's DNA database.

The DNA database was authorized by voters in 2004 under Proposition 69, which requires those convicted of a felony to give a DNA sample to law enforcement officials.

"In 1997, one case was solved through this kind of DNA hit, and then it was two in 1998, and then it was four, eight, 10, and I think this year we're hitting over 50," Orange County District Attorney Rackauckas said.

Hate Crimes at 15 Year Low in Los Angeles

2005-12-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Although conflicts between Latinos and African Americans have increased. Read the LA Times article.

Last Chance for Clemency Gone

2005-12-12T19:54:00.000-08:00

Gov. Schwarzenegger has rejected clemency for death-row inmate Tookie Wililams. One of the weird things were these "three witnesses" who suddenly appeared who could possible "prove" his innocence. Sheesh. Stick to the original story. The problem with these types of campaigns is that when desperation kicks in they start diluting the argument with side arguments - hedging their bets.

Life Imitating Art - in a Weird Sort of Way

2005-12-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

Another Soprano's actor gets into trouble with the law - this time much more serious trouble.

Violent Crime Down in California First Half of 2005

2005-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Attorney General Bill Lockyer today released the “Crime in 2005, January Through June" preliminary report showing that, in California’s largest jurisdictions, violent crime decreased by 1.8 percent compared to the same period in 2004, while property crime increased by 2.9 percent.

Countdown for Tookie Williams

2005-12-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

While the victim's family wants the death penalty carried out, celebrities and anti-death penalty advocates are asking Schwarzegger for a last-chance reprieve.

Frankly, if you are going to have the death penalty (which has questionable value to society), it seems a bit hypocritical to celebritize murderers to fight individual cases. Arnie might stay up late tonight analyzing the case, but really, doesn't that mean we are making this decision arbitrary and subjective vs. based on the law?

Making a celebrity out of someone who murdered four people really turns most peoples' stomachs. Instead, the argument should simply be the death penalty itself has not served society in any meaningful way, there is evidence it cannot be dispensed fairly and accurately, and we do we want to be the only civilized society that advocates it?

Crime Spider crime blog

2005-12-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

It may take a while for me to have time to really update regularly, but I hope to post unsolved murders, cold cases, and news items useful to the crime-fighting and crime-solving community.