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Showing posts from February, 2009

America's Most Wanted 2/28/09

America's Most Wanted, which airs on Fox at 9pm on Saturday nights, will be airing the following cases this weekend: Devon Russell: Smuggling drugs, weapons and illegal aliens is big business along U.S. shores. In South Florida, federal, state and local law enforcement are taking on smugglers; since 2005, more than 30 innocent men and women have died at sea near Florida's coastline as a result of smuggling. Cops are now searching for a key player in the ring, Devon Russell. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=55506 Henry Pierre: Just days after an AMW tipster led the Royal Bahamian Police to suspected smuggler Henry Pierre, reports from the Bahamas say that the accused killer and alien smuggler was set free, but rearrested a short time later. The fugitive's initial release came as a complete surprise to cops in Florida, as U.S. officials were working vigorously to extradite Pierre to face charges on American soil. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=5

America's Most Wanted

This Saturday the America's Most Wanted will be airing the following cases, which you can catch at 9pm on your local Fox Station: Glen Holmes Jr.: Conroe, Texas Police say Glen Holmes Jr. carjacked Barry Thomas, before fatally shooting him in the back. Holmes then proceeded to hold up the drive-through, demanding tacos to go, before leading cops on a high-speed chase. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=60000 Michael Bresnahan: He's accused of breaking into a house in a quaint New England town and raping a 61-year-old retiree. But after a year on the run and a manhunt that included six states, Michael Bresnahan's run from justice has ended. AMW spoke to his alleged victim, police and the tipsters who turned him in on the opposite side of the country, in Oregon. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=54333 Unknown Tammy Vincent Killers: Almost 30 years have passed since police were called to an isolated beach 20 miles north of San Francisco to invest

LIVE TO TELL “River’s Edge"

TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS FAKE DEATH TO CHEAT DEATH IN THE SECOND EPISODE OF “LIVE TO TELL,” A LIMITED-RUN SERIES FROM THE PRODUCERS OF “48 HOURS” SATURDAY, FEB. 21 In January of 2000, two young college students were on a peaceful date until the evening took a horrific turn. Stalked, kidnapped, brutalized and both shot in the face at a river’s edge, these teens outsmarted their would-be killer, playing dead to try to stay alive. Now Danielle Keener tells their story in LIVE TO TELL “River’s Edge,” on Saturday, Feb. 21 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. In the second episode of the limited-run, three-episode series, LIVE TO TELL, Keener describes walking by a river near York, Pa. with Dan Zapp, when they were suddenly ambushed by a gunman and forced into his red pickup truck. The young couple begged for their lives, but to no avail. Keener was sexually assaulted and Dan could do nothing to save her. Holding hands, they were forced at gunpoint down to the riverbank. Keener

Murder of Andrew Burd

Omission, knowingly, intentionally... to read people's comments about the capital murder charge brought against Hannah Overton over the death of Andrew Burd one would assume that the jury was handed a cryptic riddle that left them in such complete confusion they were forced to find Hannah Overton guilty. I'm not sure what is more annoying, that these people claim the instructions to the jury were faulty and confusing, or that so many of those making these claims haven't even read the actual charge to begin with. So, here it is . In full, unedited and amazingly lacking the overzealous, confusing language that so many Free Hannah minions claims it has. Intentionally or knowingly cause the death by causing him to ingest acute toxic levels of sodium, AND OR intentionally or knowingly cause the death of him by omission, failing to provide or seek medical attention. That's not word for word. That is however, the abridged version. It's pointed out time and time again that

America's Most Wanted

America's Most Wanted airs at 9pm on your local Fox station, Saturday night... tune in this weekend to see the following case: Sarah Pender: Less than two hours after AMW viewers saw Sarah Pender on the Top Ten Fugitives of 2008 show on Dec. 20, 2008, a quick-witted tipster went straight to authorities after recognizing her. Chicago Police wasted no time on following up on the tip, just in time to catch Pender as she was packing her bags to take off. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=58000 Jose Perez: In December 2004, Ingrid Perez was living with her father and three brothers in Miami Beach, Florida, until the night cops say Ingrid's father - Jose Antonio Perez - sexually assaulted her. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=41311 Jesus Duran: He was a Mexican-educated Texas schoolteacher, but cops say Jesus Duran crossed the line when he began inappropriately touching students. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=63104 Pedro Farjado:

Not Yet Forgotten, The Murder of Joy Hayward

In the early morning of Feb 12, 2004, Joy Hayward checked into a motel after getting into an argument with her boyfriend whom she was visiting in Chester Pa. While Joy had checked in around 1:30 am, for unknown reasons she left the hotel and waited nearly 90 minutes before she headed to her room for the first time. During those 90 minutes, Joy's whereabouts and actions are unknown. There are no witness sightings of her during that time, no phone calls- nothing to leave a clue as to what went on. What we do know is that the desk clerk at Days Inn has given statements that after arriving back at the hotel around 3 am, Joy spoke to the desk clerk for a moment, before getting into an elevator to head to her room. The desk clerk has also stated that an unknown black man appeared to follow Joy into the elevator. Soon after, Joy called the front desk insisting she needed help. The phone line went dead, and the desk clerk simply ignored the plea for help. . The next day it was discovere

Murder by Omission

In the course of researching Andrew Burd 's death, and the trial of Hannah Overton that followed- it seems the biggest feat to overcoming common misunderstandings on the case is to deal with the actual charges against Hannah Overton. Most people seem to accept the fact that while in the care of the Overton's, Andrew did indeed suffer abuse. But in disagreeing with the conviction they point only to the idea that Hannah didn't abuse Andrew that day with the intention of killing him, and because they believe that- there is a leap they can not make to justify the murder charges. To best explain why the conviction is just, we really have to look closely at the capital murder charge against Hannah Overton . Capital Murder, according to the Texas penal code : Sec. 19.03. CAPITAL MURDER. (a) A person commits an offense if he commits murder as defined under Section 19.02(b)(1) and: (1) the person murders a peace officer or fireman who is acting in the lawful discharge of an offic

48 HOURS MYSTERY

DRAMATIC NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE OF A YOUNG MARINE WHO DIED SUDDENLY – WAS IT NATURAL CAUSES OR POISON? "48 HOURS MYSTERY" ON SATURDAY, FEB. 7 Marine Sgt. Todd Sommer, 23, seemed to be in peak physical condition before he suddenly collapsed and died in February of 2002. The official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia, but to one NCIS agent, something about the case seemed a little too familiar. Prior to that fatal day, Todd had complained of severe stomach pains and nausea, information that led NCIS to order a rarely performed test on some of Todd’s tissue samples. The results, prosecutors said, proved that Todd Sommer was the victim of a lethal dose of arsenic. And only one person had both motive and opportunity – his wife, Cynthia. Although authorities never uncovered direct proof that Cynthia purchased the deadly powder or poisoned her husband, prosecutors believed Cynthia’s questionable behavior in the aftermath of Todd’s d

America's Most Wanted

I was a little late to my inbox, so I sadly missed the special announcement that America's Most Wanted was airing on Fox tonight, rather than tomorrow night as usual. In case you missed it, or if you were lucky enough to catch it and were looking for more information- the following cases aired: Jesus Canales: Family members tell America's Most Wanted that Lucy Preciado was tired of her lazy husband fighting and mistreating their children, and that she was moving out of their home. But he refused to let her go, and cops say he killed her right in front of their kids. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/ brief.cfm?id=62974 Suspected Mamadou Barry Killers: America's Most Wanted has worked to solve some of the coldest cases in America, but one murder investigation would lead cops to seven other unsolved slayings. Right now, watch this week's five-part online series going behind the scenes with an exclusive look at the captures produced by AMW's Evan Marshall. Toni

It's all in the editting...

When I was much younger, I found myself in a position where I wanted something from someone who wasn't very eager to cave to my request. In a moment of 18 year old brilliance, I realised all I really had to do was get them to agree to my wishes, with actually knowing they were agreeing. Armed with a list of questions I knew were likely to get me lengthy answers, and a video camera- I took it upon myself to "produce" the desired answer. Using their answers, and my editing skills- it was only a matter of minutes before they were "obliging" my requests. I suppose, looking back now- my actions were quite dishonest. But- sadly, I'm not the only one in the world who has used such antics in order to produce the results they most desire. The news media, ever interested in rating, often uses the power of editing to accomplish this same sort of trickery. We've all seen it.. an interview cut at just the right moment, a question posed at just the right time- with a

In the name of justice, or despite it?

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and make a small confession. I have family members deeply involved in the justice system. And, even friends who have been known to juggle a case or to in court. I myself have sat in a court room a time or two. But, sadly never as a member of a jury. Not that I haven't tried- I've called and volunteered to be a juror, I've questioned a million court employees on why I've never been called. I've even winked at a judge or two in passing, just hoping that they'd see the "willing potential juror" look plastered all over my face. It's been to no avail. My summons has never arrived. I jest about jury duty, but in truth it is no joke. It's an obligation each of us has to victims, to society and even to the accused. Jury duty is a fundamental principal that is tightly bond to our justice system. The legal system is based on a belief that every defendant is entitled to a jury of their peers- an impartial selection

Andrew Overton... and the excuses

Andrew Burd , was a rambunctious happy child. He'd lived with his biological mother until chil services removed him from the home due to neglect. His mother, who is reported to have had drug problems couldn't care for Andrew, so he was placed with a foster mother- Sharon Hamil. During the capital murder trial of Hannah Overton , Mrs. Hamil was asked: How would you describe his disposition? She answered: Happy. He was always happy. He was always happy. I didn't find him to have a bad disposition. If he were corrected, he was like any other child. He didn't like it. Then she was asked about his health. Was Andrew healthy? Yes, yes, he was. And as part of your duties as a foster parent, ddo you have to take him for healthy child wellness examinations ? Yes. And also he was on WIC, where he got a check every six months, I think. So he was always healthy. Did he appear to you to have any type of mental retardation? No, no, not at all. Did he appear to you to be intellige