Hey, it's Wednesday! And again it is time for the Carnival of the True Crime Blogs. Excellent roundup of true crime blogs posts again this week, including a blogger new to the blogroll. Hosted at Lost in Lima Ohio this week, I am sure you will enjoy. And while you are there, say Hi to LILO for me.
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
June 14, 2006 at 4:21 am (Domestic Violence)
Darren Mack, 45, asked a friend to pick up his 7 year old daughter Monday morning, and take her to her grandmother's.
The friend arrived with a pet dog around 9 am. The friend met the wife, Charla Mack and the little girl. Darren Mack was there and asked the friend to watch the little girl for a minute while he talked with Charla downstairs.
The friend states that a few minutes later, the dog began to bark. So the friend went downstairs to see what the problem was.
The friend saw Darren Mack, come into the home from the garage. He had a towel wrapped around his hand and brushed past his friend and went upstairs. The dog followed Mack into the home, and was covered in blood from his muzzle to his chest. The friend checked the dog for injuries and found none.
The friend got the little girl and left the home. After taking the little girl to her grandmother's, and returned to the home. The friend says that Charla's car had been in the driveway, but upon the return trip the car was gone and there was bloodstains in the driveway.
Police say that Charla was found in the garage, it looked as though she had been dragged from one part of the garage to another, and her car was put into the garage with the keys in the front seat. Police say that Charla had been stabbed multiple times.
Police say that Darren Mack is also a suspect in the shooting of a Family Court judge Chuck Weller, at the courthouse at 11:10 am the same morning. Police believe that a shot was fired through his third story courthouse window, from across the river. Weller is said to be in good condition at the hospital. Weller's administrative assistant was treated and released after suffering superficial injuries from running into the judges office.
A warrant has been sworn out for Mack on the charge of one count of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon. However, he is not in custody yet. Police are asking that if anyone knows where Mack might be, to please contact them. Mack is described as 5'11" and 190-220 pounds.
Police are saying the couple's three children are not missing, but have declined to say if they are safe or in county custody.
Darren and Charla Mack had a hearing in a contested divorce case scheduled in front of Judge Wellner. Court records show the couple have been having hearings for more than a year in the judge's court. In May of 2005, Mack was ordered to pay $849 per month in child support and $10,000 a month in spousal support.
Police have searched downtown buildings and the airport and have posted fliers for Mac, which delayed some flights.
There was one quote from a family law attorney which I especially want to include:
"Dealing with divorce, child custody, child support, guardianship, these are things that all of which are highly emotionally charged," she said. "We can all imagine based on the subject matter of the family court what might have prompted this."
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5025488&nav=8faO
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060613/NEWS18/606130373&oaso=news.rgj.com/breakingnews (picture of the suspect at both links)
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060613/NEWS10/606130349/1002 http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5021566&nav=9qrx
Don't believe that domestic violence is anything other than couples problem?
The courthouse was shut down following the shooting of the judge. Downtown buildings where shutdown. They haven't specified, but I would say that traffic was probably halted in the area. At least 4 flights were delayed at the airport. It sounds as though quite a few people had their activities halted for quite a while on Monday. Yet it was necessary, not only to try to capture him, but because when they lose control at the home, they can often become a danger to everyone around them, and everyone connected to them.
Three children out there have probably been told by now what happened to their mother. And no matter how carefully you word it, this has to be hard. Especially since at least one child was in the home at the time, and would have heard bits and pieces of it or seen the dog with blood on it, even if she did not see anything else. At least the 7 year old is also old enough to know that their father is gone, and be aware of all the tension that surrounds them. And most likely there are other family members grieving for her also.
And I have to say that his family would be trying to cope with the events that have happened, and worried about what their son is doing, and why this happened.
Judges, staff, and attorneys are pretty shook up at the courthouse. The manhunt so far has taken up quite a few police officers and kept them tied up for hours.
What I cannot understand is why Mack didn't send the little girl away with the friend, before he shot his wife. Why have the friend stay with the little girl in the house instead of leaving for the grandmothers home? The only thing I can think of is that the mother may have refused to let the child go, thus setting off this chain of events or at least keeping them there during the shooting.
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Huff Crime Blog has a great post on the murder of Charla Mack and the shooting of Judge Weller here as well as an update here.
Police are investigating internet dating sites that Mack may have been using to meet and communicate with women. They also say they believe that Mack has access to any type of weapon. But he may have a Bushmaster 223 semi-automatic rifle in his possession. They have not been able to locate his Silver colored Ford Explorer with license plate number 5POR272.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060614/NEWS18/606140359/1002
Mack has family in Northern California and may have called a cousin shortly after the shootings. The cousin was unaware of the shootings at the time. The cousin has been in contact with the authorities.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/14/MNGQGJE1VM6.DTL
More information about the Judge and some allegations. At least one person who says that Mack's dispute was over child support, and that he had had to file 'Chapter 7' due to the child support.
http://www.topix.net/content/ap/1908821215076080283528882409490856035918
A business credit card issued to Darren Roy Mack's Reno pawn shop was used at a California airport on Monday.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0606/1401_nevada_sniper.html
Secret Witness is offering a reward of $2,500 for leading to Mack's arrest.
The three children involved are safe according to investigating officers, and they are the child Mack had with Charla and two children from Mack's previous marriage.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060613/NEWS18/606130383/1016/NEWS
A chronicle of the events of the families life. Details of the court cases and allegations against Mack. Mack allegedly had only paid $9,000 of the $40,000 alimony he owed. Allegedly during the marriage, Mack sold Charla's wedding ring right off her finger. Allegedly he had to be court ordered to pay Charla $2,000 at one point so that she could have the utilities turned back on in the home she shared with his daughter. Allegedly Charla was unemployed and had no other income. She was reportedly totally dependent on Mack for living expenses and financial support. Allegedly Mack was not making the payments on the home as he was ordered, and the home was being foreclosed on.
Reportedly Mack had at one time threatened Charla that if she didn't go along with the financial plan that he proposed, he would declare bankruptcy and destroy her. He subsequently did declare bankruptcy and it had not been heard in court as yet. After filing bankruptcy, Mack was still allegedly living a lavish lifestyle and taking expensive trips and vacations.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060614/NEWS10/606140341
Mack had been to the media making complaints against the judge.
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5022487
Between Charla's murder and the shooting of the judge, Mack is alleged to have met Daniel Osborne and Mack's daughter for coffee. Osborne is allegedly the friend who picked the daughter up at her mother's home. There may have been a long time lag between the time when Osborne had suspicions of Charla's death and when he reported to police. Mack had a student pilot's license. More mention of Mack's access to firearms. A description of Mack's financial status.
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Judge Weller was told weeks ago that Mack had set out on a compaign to ruin him. Claims internet and blogs attacks to ruin his reputation.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199666,00.html
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Family and friends of Charla Mack say that she was often afraid for her life and she begged them, that if she was killed to get the story out about her.
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5038539&nav=8faO
The message left for Mack's cousin shortly after allegedly shooting the judge:
"'If anything happens to me, please make sure that the true story about the injustices that are going on in that courtroom get out to the media and the public.'"
More details about the marriage and the financial details.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3974315.html
My comment: I think the message is getting out very well. Though since the murder of Charla Mack and the shooting of Judge Weller, the news is becoming more about the murder and attempted murder and the escape of the fugitive and nationwide search for him. Though there has been quite a bit of attention to the "millionaire swinger" lifestyle of the fugitive as one article describes him. When I Googled his name this morning, I found more than 345 hits on his name, and that was just in the news section.
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Timeline of murders:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/jun/16/061610379.html
Audio of 911 call on the judges shooting:
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_166232827.html
It appears that Osborne, the witness to Charla's murder, was Mack's roommate.
http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_167100212.html
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On the credit card used at the Sacremento airport- "We think it is a high probability he was there but it was not a 100 percent confirmed sighting," They are checking video surveillance footage.
The vehicle hasn't been located- a silver 2006 Ford Explorer, licence plate number 5POR272. Police say he could have changed vehicles.
He had a student pilot's license, but would not be able to rent an aircraft by himself. Never the less, police are checking both public and private airports and rental agencies. There is a concern that he might leave the country.
http://cbs13.com/local/local_story_167184136.html
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Case profiled on AMW, additional evidence which was missing from the Charla Mack murder scene may have been found but police are not releasing the nature of the evidence, police are asking for Mack to turn himself in, or to at least make contact to give his side of the story. They say he doesn't even have to say where he is.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/3101976.html
Funeral services have been made for Charla Mack. Family has asked for privacy. Weller has been at an undisclosed secure location since his dismissal from the hospital. No time frame has been set for his return to the bench. Custody of the minor child has gone to the paternal grandparents, with an open visitation to the maternal grandparents.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/jun/17/061710576.html
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Charla Mack's funeral is today, 06/20/06.
More details about the investigation. Mack's cell phone records have been checked and the records show that he was in the downtown area at the time of the Judge's shooting. Boxes of ammunition were found in Mack's home along with materials that could be used to make a bomb. Also found was an empty rifle case.
And a witness has reported to police that Mack "discussed hiring him to follow Judge Weller in the hope of proving that he was corrupt."
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060620/NEWS10/606200370/1016/NEWS
Mack has not only been put on the FBI's most wanted list, police say as a result of tips recieved, the search has now gone global. They are saying what the tips are or what country or countries are being looked at.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/3191616.html
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Mack has been sighted in Mexico. He had contacted authorities earlier this week and they discussed surrender. However, Mack did not show up at the consulate as discussed and authorities fear he is on the run again.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200610,00.html
http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5066396&nav=168Y
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The District Attorney has announced that Darren Mack has been arrested. They have not released any details or where the arrest took place, but has said that more information will be released later.
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5070134&nav=9qrx
Mack surrendered at a hotel in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
on Thursday night. He is now in the custody of Mexican immigration authorities
and FBI. Reno police say the arrest came as a result of cooperation between Mexican authorities
and the FBI. Mack's attorney's say they are eager to begin his defense, and they say that
he voluntarily surrendered to be with his children and his family and to defend himself.
Charla Mack's family are planning a press conference for this afternoon.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/14886563.htm
He waited
June 13, 2006 at 1:38 pm (Domestic Violence)
Connie Smith, 50, had broken up with her boyfriend Lyle Quentin Brown. Family did not say why. They expressed surprise as to what happened. They say that Brown was employed as a truck driver and mechanic. They say the couple had their share of problems, but that Brown was not the violent type and they weren't aware of any criminal history though they did know that he drank.
Police say that Brown broke into McNeil's home on Sunday. She wasn't there so he waited until she returned. Police say he then shot her several times.
He then went to the sheriff's office and turned himself in and told authorities where to find the body.
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5021194
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5016554
I don't understand. First he broke into the home and waited there for her to come home. Time to consider the actions he was about to undertake. Then he shoots her, multiple times. Then he just goes to the sheriff's dept and turns himself in?
What possesses a person to murder another human being, knowing they will then be facing prison? Did he not have any good memories with her? Or did he think that by killing her, he would erase her from his life?
It doesn't work that way. Those memories, both the good and the bad will stay with him. During the trial, and during prison. Is it something to do with pride, that he didn't want people to know that she had broken it off with him? Everyone will know now. Is it a fear that she would pick up with someone else? Well, she won't be now, but neither will he.
So what did he accomplish with the murder, except to put himself in prison? Evidently he must have felt somewhat the same way, as he turned himself in.
Missing child, murdered Mother
June 13, 2006 at 3:19 am (Child, Domestic Violence)
An Amber Alert went out on Monday for 19 month old Alejandra Gomez.
Alejandra and her mother, who has not been identified, were from Mexico. They were renting a room in another person's home. Sunday the person who was renting the room to her, checked in her room and found the 23 year old woman dead from a stabbing. The baby was missing.
Police have a person they would like to speak with. He is Gildardo Rosas Rodriguez, 31, who is also known by the names of Gildardo or Fernando. Police believe he may have been present at the time of the murder and that he may have the baby.
Until today the relationship between the two wasn't clear. All police have said is that Rodriguez was not the child's father. One media station has now announced that Rodriguez and the victim have three children together and they all came from Mexico. But he is not Alejandra's father.
Police theorize that he may have returned to Mexico, but they have been unable to determine where he may have crossed the border. He may be driving a gray 1985 Honda Accord with license plate 1MGA355.
He is Hispanic, 5 feet 8 inches and 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt.
http://www.10news.com/news/9354832/detail.html (picture of person of interest at link)
http://www.kfmb.com/stories/story.53237.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060612-9999-1m12lvdead.html (Picture of Alejandra Gomez and the person of interest at link)
It is always scary when a child is missing. But especially now when police believe that the man who has the baby may have been present at the time of the murder.
The mother was stabbed and there is no information being made public that the baby has been harmed, so that is a good thing. But what happens if he tires of the infant or if he becomes desperate?
The fact that two different countries are involved also complicates things. But the two countries are now cooperating more when it comes to criminals of violent crimes fleeing across the border or searches for children. So there is hope that the infant can be found and returned to what is left of her family.
But she must be found first.
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The Missing and Murdered Children also has a post on this and can be found here.
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Alejandra Gomez has been found unharmed in a home in Southern Mexico. She is now in the custody of Mexican authorities. The Mexican consulate is working with Children's Protective Services and the police regarding the return of the child to the US, as she is a US citizen. Her grandparents, who live in Mexico have been notified of her recovery. FBI is in Mexico in that area and are working to locate Rodriguez, as he has not been captured.
Police say they don't know anything about the home where the child was found, who owned it or how long the baby was there.
Evidently there was a witness to Rodriguez leaving the Gomez home with the child on Saturday night, but the roommate did not find the mother's body until Sunday.
The article mentioned that Gomez and Rodriguez had previously lived together, but that he had returned to Mexico while she had moved to the address where she was killed. There is no mention of the three children she was alleged to have with Rodriguez.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060616-9999-7m16baby.html
Naked ‘Threat to Society’
June 12, 2006 at 11:44 am (Domestic Violence)
Police say that 21 year old Rashon Delee had been stalking his ex-girlfriend Nicole Ingram for some time. She even had a restraining order on him. Allegedly Delee broke into her home about 2:30 am Sunday and attempted to choke her.
Police say that in self defense she stabbed him. At that point Delee took off and went to the hospital. Police picked him up at the hospital and took him for an arraignment. After the arraignment he was returned to the hospital and left in the custody of the sheriff's dept.
At the hospital Delee allegedly pushed a deputy over and took off. He was naked except for bandages and handcuffs. That was about 5:13 pm. Police at some point had deemed Delee to be a 'threat to society'. The manhunt lasted for three hours.
Around 8 pm Delee was picked up by police at the home of an aquaintance or relative. He was said to be dressed when he was returned to the jail.
He is now being held in the justice center, and police say he is facing felony charges of burglary and criminal contempt, plus a misdemeanor harassment count. He was also charged with on other warrants of additional counts of criminal contempt as well as criminal trespass, petit larceny and resisting arrest. Police say he will also be charged with escape.
http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2A404EDA-0F82-4E5D-B66F-757E3EF0AD8E
http://news10now.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/?ArID=69235&SecID=86
http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1150102710105450.xml&coll=1
I cannot stress enough the importance of a safety plan if a person needs to file for a restraining order on an abusive spouse or partner.
They say that while he was out running the streets trying to escape law enforcement officers, the temperatures were a chilly 58 degrees. I hope he really enjoyed his brief taste of freedom.
Trial has to be postponed
June 12, 2006 at 7:00 am (Domestic Violence)
The trial for Israel Evaro was to be held on Monday. He was facing charges for allegedly punching his girlfriend Jacqueline Ortiz in March. According to court records from the preliminary hearing, the two were allegedly in a car and were arguing. Reportedly Evaro then punched Ortiz injuring her eye and forehead. He then allegedly pulled her out of the car. However, that trial will have to be postponed as the main witness cannot be there to testify.
Evaro was out on bail on those charges. Police have stated that on Tuesday the two were driving out in the country. They allege that Evaro doused Ortiz with gasoline and lit it. He then drove her to a medical center for treatment and she was transferred to a hospital.
Family has stated that she received burns over 55% of her body including her face and she is in critical condition.
Evaro has been arrested for arson, attempted murder, spousal abuse, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Police have stated that Evaro also incurred burns on his arm and hands.
Besides facing the current charges, and the charge of battery in March, Evaro has other criminal history including other charges of spousal abuse and drug possession, though some of those charges were dismissed.
http://www.bakersfieldonline.us/news/read/2/80544
http://www.bakersfieldonline.us/news/read/2/80286
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=FFF68924-B005-409E-A1BB-4295CBD309D8
http://www.turnto23.com/news/9344700/detail.html
Ortiz is the mother of two children. She also has other family who appear to be hurting over this. She is in critical condition, and may not survive. So Ortiz is not the only one suffering here. If she manages to survive, then there will be months of recuperation. And years of pain and scars both physical and emotional. She has two children who are undoubtedly scared- both for her and for themselves. And other family members who don't want to lose her.
Yes, she was with him. At least one article says they were dating again. As we know it isn't unusual for an abused person to go back with the abuser. Whether it is for love, for something they see or hope they see in the abuser, whether it is because they believe the apoligies they hear or because of financial reasons, sometimes they do go back.
Yet she is not to blame for what happened. Only the abuser is to blame for that. He would have had to face up to the past charges of abuse, but could still have made changes in his life, gotten help, and gone on with his life, made things better.
Instead, he tried to wipe out a witness against him. This doesn't change things for the better, it only makes it worse. Instead of facing charges of battery, now he is facing attempted murder. Charges that will undoubtedly be upgraded if she doesn't survive. Whatever "control" he was seeking in the relationship, is now gone. The control is now in the hands of the justice system then the prison system if he is convicted.
I hope that Jacqueline Ortiz does survive. Not so that system won't be as hard on Evaro. But because she didn't deserve pain for trying to love.
Child caught up in parent’s argument
June 11, 2006 at 11:16 am (Child, Domestic Violence)
Little Micah Belcher Jr. is 10 months old. He was put into the hospital Thursday. Doctors say he is in good condition.
He is the 8 th child of his mother. Authorities say his 7 siblings were permently removed from his mother in 2003 which was prior to his birth. Allegedly it was due to abuse and neglect. Authorities also say they were not aware of little Michah being born.
His mother Tonya M. Edwards, 35, was in jail Fri. for suspicion of endangering children, domestic violence and felonious assault.
Allegedly Michah Belcher, Sr. 45, told police on Thursday that he had refused to give Edwards money. And that she then threw hot oil on him and and the boy, then took little Michah into the kitchen where he was hurt. Edwards has allegedly told police that her husband punched her and that the baby was hurt accidently. She denys cutting the baby's ear. "I bit [his] ear by accident" according to a police report. Doctors have told police that the injury was caused by a sharp object, not teeth.
It has been said that little Michah had hit an important milestone in his development on Thursday prior to the violence. He had taken his first 10 steps.
A person who answered the phone at the home told the media that he was Edwards' landlord and had known her since she was 14. He said that she was a good mother and grandmother. Her 19 year old daughter just had a baby boy two weeks ago.
Edwards has a prior criminal history. She has previous charges on her record of soliciting, abusing drugs and endangering children.
Authorities have said the chances of Edwards ever getting the child back are very slim.
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1149928342191950.xml&coll=2
He said/she said and the child cannot talk to say what really happened to him. But there may be evidence at the scene and there are doctor's statements to help clarify what happened.
Little Michah wasn't arguing with his mother or his father. He was just doing what kids do naturally. Growing and learning. Yet some how he got caught up in his parents argument, through no fault of his own. What a reward for learning to walk.
What has happened, though bad may be a blessing. Little Michah may now have a chance for a loving home where he can be safe.
How the heck do you "accidently" bite a child's ear anyway?
Foster Father
June 11, 2006 at 4:18 am (Child)
Children get removed from their homes for a number of reasons……none of them good. It may have been neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, parents may become unable to care for them through drugs, imprisonment, or death. In every case they need to be placed in a safe supportive environment in order to help them overcome the challenges of their childhood.
I don't know why Ruth Tamas, 18, and her older sister Estera Tamas were placed in foster care. That is not why they are in the news today. Normally their names would not even be used. But they gave permission and Ruth has even talked with the media.
They were placed in a foster home in 2002, though one of the girls may have been there as early as 1998. That was the home of Enrique Fabregas, now 52. Normally a person with a drug and weapons related criminal history would not be permitted to foster children or adopt. But in 1998, Fabregas had completed enough rehabilitation treatment that Court Commissioner Jim Doerty ruled that he be given a "certificate of rehabilitation." He was active in his church, sang in his choir, and had letters form other members and teachers praising him. He was involved with the local Big Brothers program. He was allegedly also romantically involved with the girl's mother. And there was a younger girl already in the home, a girl is is now 12. Fabregas had adopted her when she was a baby. He had met her mother in drug treatment.
Child welfare authorities have admitted that they received 8 complaints of sexual abuse between 2002 and 2004. Complaints from the sisters, and from others. But they say the girls always recanted, and the complaints were unsubstantiated. Records submitted to the court say there were a total of 26 complaints to DHS, eight of which were sexual in nature. In 2004, DHS asked Fabregas to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation. When he refused, they removed the sisters from the home.
The younger girl was adopted however. And there were no substantiated complaints of abuse. So there weren't grounds for removing her and she was left in the home until Ruth's complaints in Feb of this year.
Though she had been removed from the home, Ruth Tamas didn't give up. In Feb. she told authorities about seeing a video of her older sister being abused. Reportedly when Estera was 12, Fabregas has begun dressing her in lingerie and photographing her in sexually suggestive poses. Allegedly within a few years that progressed fondling to having intercourse with her. Allegedly one of the girls did complain to the foster mother, but there is no indication what happened when that occurred.
Wed. police acted on a tip from Ruth Tamas and arrested Enrique Fabregas. A search of his home turned up child pornography, photos, computer records, lingerie, dress up props and videotapes most of which depicted the children in his care. They took three computers from the home and they found a file containing multiple identification cards and a checkbook, and credit cards, some of which have been identified as stolen. The youngest child who is now 12, has admitted to 2 incidents of sex assault. Allegedly the evidence shows the abuse began about 1999 and continued until 2005. Tamas has also alleged that she was sometimes forced to take alcohol and drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.
Fabregas has been charged with suspicion of child rape, child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, indecent liberties with a minor, and possession of child pornography and stolen property. His attorney says that he denies the allegations.
Ruth Tamas says that she is relieved about the arrest. But says she is disgusted with the state because they ignored her complaints for so long. She explained the fact that they recanted as because they feared feared retaliation. She says they time they spent in the home was riddled with sex abuse. And she says she fears there may be other victims out there.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/273475_foster10.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003049726_foster09e.html
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060610/NEWS/606100329
Dealing with teens can be difficult. Especially teens that came from a background of abuse or neglect. They don't always tell all they know, they may even lie. They are often distrustful of any adult but especially of adults in authority. Kids have also been known to make complaints in retaliation for some perceived wrongdoing of the person, without foundation.
But 29 complaints? Complaints ranging from neglect to physical abuse to sexual abuse? Complaints made by other persons not the children? You would think that after receiving multiple complaints that more of an investigation would be undertaken, even if the girls did "recant". You would think that if they could not fully substantiate the claims of sexual abuse that they would then refer to the police for criminal investigation, if they were unable to do so themselves. The police sure didn't seem to have much of a problem substantiating.
Oh yeah, and he has denied the charges. His attorney says that things are not always what they seem. It's going to be hard for him to defend himself against the pictures and videotapes. As they say, 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.
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There may be some problems with pressing criminal charges for sexual abuse, though the child pornography are being pressed. With the older girls, there may be conflicts with the statute of limitations.
The younger girl said during her interview that her father did not abuse her. Then later she called them and said that he had abused her, but that she didn't want to get him in 'bad trouble'. Investigators plan to have a child-interview expert to interview her.
According to police, during Fabregas' interview, he told several stories to explain the pornograhy. Allegedly one of the stories was that he was doing 'undercover' work for the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Real Satisfying.
June 10, 2006 at 1:29 pm (Domestic Violence)
Valencia Jones went for a drive Thursday when she ran into her ex-boyfriend. Literally.
Police say that she saw her ex-boyfriend Roy Anderson, with another woman in the car with him and that drove her into a jealous rage. Anderson has said that when she saw him, she looked mad. And then she sideswiped his car. He swerved and hit a pickup truck. That truck turned out to be a vehicle owned by the police dept. and was being driven by a police officer.
But she wasn't done yet. She allegedly made a U-turn and came back aimed for Anderson's car and hit it. Then she jumped out and began physically assaulting Anderson. Before officers could restrain her, she then assaulted the female passenger with a shoe. (a shoe???)
There were no physical injuries, but Jones has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle.
The woman in the car? Allegedly she was a co-worker who had needed a ride because her son had her car.
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=5010948&nav=0s3d
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa060608_jfh_roadrage.688db3d8.html
I wonder what she would have done if she had seen him with a date? I also wonder if she feels any better now?
Let's see……likely she ruined any slight possibility of ever reuniting with the ex-boyfriend. She severely damaged her car. Since it was intentional, insurance probably won't cover the damages to her car, and maybe not to his car and the police department truck. That means she will be paying for it out of her pocket.
And, now everybody in that area knows that she assaulted the couple. And everyone will know she is a "woman scorned" as one article put it. And if that humiliation isn't enough, she will also be going to court on felony charges. And a police officer who was involved in the accident will likely be testifying against her. She could be facing jail or prison, and she could lose her driver's license. (Hint: if you are planning an "accident", always try not to involve a police vehicle, they tend to get get a bit testy about things like that).
Yep, I bet that was real satisfying. (I'm just being sarcastic again).
The Green Eyed Monster
June 10, 2006 at 4:41 am (Domestic Violence)
Amanda Kates was in a triangle. She was living with Brandon S. Dennison, 20. Yet reportedly when her ex-boyfriend and father of her two children Enrique Santana was released from jail, she apparently began seeing him also.
Santana had served a 6 months jail term and was just released on Wed. He had been incarcerated on charges of terroristic threats and assault. Within the last 15 months, Ms. Kates had filed for two protection from abuse orders against him according to court records.
Early on Thurs. Kates and Santana were leaving a party together. According to witnesses, Dennison shot Santana in the leg. Santana ran to Kate's car and they started to drive away. Dennison then fired about 6 shots at the vehicle. Kates was driving.
Kates was shot in the head, and subsequently crashed the vehicle into some shubbery and another car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dennison fled after the shooting, but was later apprehended. He is currently hospitalized. Police have declined to comment on how he recieved his injury and have decliined to comment on whether Santana had a weapon and shot also.
Prior to the shooting, Dennison's criminal record consisted of a drug related crime in 2005 and trying to pass a counterfeit $50 bill in 2004. He is now charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16763311&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6
Guess he showed her didn't he? She will never go out with anyone else again. Of course she will never go out wtih him either, she will never smile at him again. And he may never have another "date" outside of prison.
Not to mention there are two kids without a mother. She won't be there to dry their tears or smile at them either.
Murder doesn't cure the jealousy problem. It just creates more problems!
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