Lost In Lima Ohio - A true crime blog

Christopher Tindall was sent to a group home in August of 2005, after being released for a 2003 rape of a girl who attended his school. Just a few months later, police would find Joan Green, 72 of Bellefontaine beaten to death in her home. Mrs. Green's home was just a few doors down from the group home where Tindall was living. Footprints lead officers back to the group home from Mrs. Green's residence, which lead to the arrest of Tindall. Now, the state of Ohio has begun investigating the group home Tindall was at, and has found several problems within the facility. The Logan County group home for juveniles couldn't provide inspectors with behavioral intervention plans for three residents and failed to show that it completed criminal background checks on six employees, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Job and Family Services. SRC The couple that ran the facilty when Tindall sneaked out on Dec 23rd and committed the heinous murder of Joan ...

In April of 2003 Edward Ziesmer moved from Wisconsin to Florida. Upon moving to Florida, the 61 year old who was of rape convicted in November 1988 in Sauk County failed to register as a sex offender. Ziesmer is now in custody after Lee County Sheriff’s deputies say he abducted and raped a girl in Bonita Springs Saturday afternoon. Sheriff’s officials say Ziesmer grabbed a Hispanic girl under the age of 12 and placed a shirt over her head on Iowa Street, off Bonita Beach Road just west of Old 41 Road. He then took the girl into a wooded area and sexually assaulted her. Authorities are not releasing the girl’s name because she’s a minor. The sheriff’s office received the call at about 4:22 p.m. [...] Witnesses to the crime flagged down Sgt. Adam Sedwick who was on routine patrol in the neighborhood and alerted him that they had seen Ziesmer take the girl into the woods. Sedwick then found Ziesmer and the victim about 25 feet into the wooded area. Ziesmer was apprehended without incident...

Twenty three minutes. Thirty two profiles, complete with photos. Fourteen email address. Twenty two schools. Six places of employment. The name of an after school club, that had a website which listed the calender of events that she most likely will attend. Six 14 year olds. Nine 15 year olds. Twelve 16 year olds. Five seventeen year olds. Three cell phone numbers. Eight AIM Ids. Ten Yahoo Messenger Ids, followed by six complete profiles. Ten full names, first and last, seven have listed phone numbers in my local phone book, complete with addresses. Two posted addresses, so there was no need to look them up. Yes, I know I did a MySpace post last night. But then I started thinking, just how easy is it? How much more does it take a predator to navigate and find a possible victim? So I used the account I normally have just to look at cases in the news and spent a few minutes "playing the predator". It was simple. Once I found one local teenager- I used their list of friends to f...

I was over at MSNBC today, reading of the misadventures of teens on the famous, must have web trend known as MySpace. The name of the report was " Predator's Playground " and it started with this: Jan. 27, 2006 - In League City, Texas, it would be unusual to make one arrest of a suspected online sexual predator in a month. But in the last two weeks, detectives there have tracked down two men whom they've charged with sexual assault of a minor. Both of the accused men found or conversed with their victims via the social-networking Web site MySpace.com, according to League City police. Faithful readers, and even the occasional browser might recall previous warnings I've given on the dangers of youth on the internet. I know, even now- parents out there are shaking their heads and saying that it's not something that they have to worry about. You are wrong. Membership in MySpace has jumped from zero to more than 50 million in just two years. Are we really that will...

Years ago I used to drive down John Young Parkway in Orlando to get to work. I've not given the area much thought over the years since I've come back home to Ohio, so tonight when I glanced up and seen the map of it on the screen, it took me back for a second or two. When I glanced over and saw the story that went along with the map, I decided to make time tonight for one more post. Jennifer Kesse is a 24 year old Florida woman, she went missing four days ago. The 5-feet, 8-inch, 135-pound blonde with green eyes didn't show up for work in Ocoee on Tuesday, and her car was later found abandoned a mile from her home. Her family has launched a search, and are seeking leads to help bring her safe return home. An anonymous donor has offered an $100,000 reward for tips leading to her return, and volunteers have begun searching the areas where she lived and about a mile away, where her car was found. Orlando police have three detectives working on the case through the weekend, and...

The now famous 911 call thought to be made by the 2 year old son of Steven and Michelle Andrews, has been released to the public. For those interested in it, it can be found by clicking here . The call was received by the Lee County Sheriff's Office on Dec. 27th, and lead to the discovering of the murdered couple. A Lee County grand jury is expected to hear the Gateway murder case when it convenes Wednesday in Fort Myers. By Florida law, any potential premeditated murder case must go before a grand jury. If the jurors decide (Fred) Cooper should be indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, State Attorney Steve Russell would decide whether to seek the death penalty. The grand jury will receive evidence the public doesn’t have, such as how the couple was killed, what physical evidence has been collected and potential witnesses in the case. State attorney spokeswoman Chere Avery would only confirm that the grand jury will meet Wednesday. “I can’t tell you what cases will be befor...

Adam Saleh, was has been in custody on unrelated rape charges against a 39 year old Zanesville woman has been indicted in the murder of 20 year old Julie Popovich. As faithful readers may recall, Julie was last seen alive back in August of 2005, when she went missing from a Columbus Ohio bar. Her body was later found in a soy field a few miles from the Hoover Reservoir in Blendon Township. The indictment was not supposed to be delivered to Saleh until after a verdict in the rape case. Prosecutors were concerned that publicity of the murder charge could potentially influence the jury. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien would not confirm nor deny an indictment against Saleh. SRC Categories: murders

There are some things that are so heinous, that there is no fitting punishment. In the case of Paul Kraft, I can not even begin to imagine something that would be enough punishment to ever fit his crime. Kraft and his wife where arrested after chatting with a undercover officier in a Yahoo Chat room by the name of "baby and pre-teen sex". While chatting with the UCO, Kraft offered to rape his 3 year old child on webcam, if someone else was willing to do the same. The UCO informed Hamilton County sheriff's deputies, who went to Kraft's home and arrested him. Investigators found evidence that Kraft along with his wife, repeatedly had sexually abused their children, ranging in age from 1 to 6 years old. Robin Kraft, 25, was indicted Aug. 26 on 17 charges, including rape, attempted rape, felonious assault and child endangering. The felonious assault charges do not relate to physical violence, but allege Robin Kraft mentally harmed her daughter and four sons, Deters said. ...

Van Wert is just a stones throw from my home town, so I was even more sickened than usual when I read this from the Journal Gazette today. An 18-year-old Van Wert man pleaded guilty Thursday in Van Wert Common Pleas Court to rape for having sexual contact with a boy younger than 10, according to a written release. Joshua Brewington entered the plea under an agreement that reduced his potential punishment from life in prison to five to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors will recommend he receive a five-year prison term to be served at Oakwood Forensic Center in Lima, a prison that serves the needs of those with mental health issues, according to the release. The victim’s family discussed the agreement with prosecutors and approved it. An investigation by Van Wert police led to the indictment of Brewington, alleging he had sexual contact July 26 with a boy younger than 10 years old. He is being held at the Van Wert County Jail and will return to court March 15 for sentencing. In the meantim...

I know it's a day late, but I have a good excuse. I'm just not sharing it with you. Regardless, here is my Thursday Stop the ACLU required reading post. I managed to find something that deals with the ACLU, Sex Offenders and a place I once lived. I should start by telling you that today- it's 65 in Orlando- with the next few days registering in the 70's. Raymond Houston, 45, of Cocoa, who is disabled and living on a fixed income, meets all of the requirements for the Weatherization Program, a federally funded energy-conservation effort. But Brevard officials added a prerequisite that prohibits Houston and other felons from participating. Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the suit in Orlando, say that policy violates federal law. Brevard leaders, however, refused to back down. "We only have so much money to go around, maybe $10,000 or $20,000," Brevard County Commission Chairman Ron Pritchard said. "The list of applicants far ex...

Judge Edward Cashman has just increased Mark Hulett's sentence from the outrageous 60 days he first gave him to now be prison time of three to 10 years. At the original sentencing, Cashman said the best way to ensure public safety was to get Hulett out of prison so he could receive sex offender treatment. Because the Corrections Department concluded that Hulett wasn't likely to reoffend, he wouldn't be eligible to receive sex-offender treatment until he reached the end of his jail term. After Cashman announced the initial sentence, Gov. James Douglas called for the judge to resign and several lawmakers suggested he be impeached. Douglas said Thursday he considered the new sentence to be too lenient. "It's 18 times 60 days, so it's certainly an improvement," said the governor. "Personally I think it's inadequate for a crime of that magnitude, but it is certainly better than the first decision." In his order Thursday, the judge remained firm in...

Due to short timing, I am coping the entire piece, with limited commentary. Editting later in the day. Men who abused girl were family friends By Sam Hemingway Free Press Staff Writer January 26, 2006 The young couple didn't think twice back in 1998 when they were lining up music for their wedding reception. They chose "Thunder & Lightning," a deejay enterprise two of their friends, Derek Kimball and Mark Hulett, were trying to get off the ground at the time. Kimball was the bride's former boyfriend. Hulett was her trusted pal, the person who drove her to the hospital in 1995 when, single, she was about to give birth to a baby girl. Today, Kimball and Hulett stand accused of separately molesting and sexually assaulting the little girl in 2003 and, in Hulett's case, in the two years that followed. They are being housed in separate cells at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, awaiting final resolutions to their cases. According to ...

For those looking to catch up on recent crimes in the news, or that simply have a passion for true crime stories, I'm happy to present the Eighth Edition of the Carnival for True Crime Blogs. So in no apparent order, here you go: Randomized Drivel presents us with a plea from the Arizona authorities. Robert Vigil, 46 is a registered sex offender, and slipped out of the watchful eyes of authorities while attending attend vocational training Monday morning. For more information see the whole entry from Tina here . Trench from over at the Trenchcoat Chronicles poses an interesting question, while reviewing the death of Christopher Penley. Penley killed in a police shooting while holding a toy gun, at a school. Christopher Penley brandished an authentic looking gun. Before the standoff with police he had held another student hostage. Then when confronted by police he held the gun to his own head then raised it at police like he was going to fire. Continue reading Trench's " ...

Cashman- In court papers, Attorney Mark Kaplan wrote that the short jail term and long probation imposed on Mark Hulett by Judge Edward Cashman was similar to other sentences meted out by Vermont courts. SRC . I have yet to find any cases where a child was abused for 4 years, and the man walked out with a sixty day sentence. However, recent cases have caused me to wonder just what on earth is wrong with Vermont, such as one where another sexual predator was given a light sentence. In this last case, it seems the difference was the age of the victim, but even then should it matter? Should the fact that the victim was 16 make it more exceptable that her attacker was given only a 60-day prison term? I don't believe so. Marc Cartner, 38, of Jamaica, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a minor and two counts of violating his conditions of release. Perhaps, he'll just go back to Jamaica, but seeing as Vermont is so Sex Offender Friendly, I'd imagine he's quite comfortable the...

Okay, after a few days of being absent, I have more information that I know what to do it. We have Columbus Ohio, and Charles S. Davis. Police said the teenager was walking to a basketball game at East High School on Saturday night. According to police, Davis, 32, approached the girl and started a conversation. Then he allegedly pulled out a knife and forced her into a vacant apartment. Police said that the victim walked with Davis about four miles to Woodland Meadows apartments, where he allegedly took her inside and physically and sexually assaulted her. "She feared for her life. She believed he had a weapon. So, in those circumstances, you do what you feel you have to do to survive the attack," said Betty Schwab, of Columbus police. Here's the part that should have everyone in disgust, Officials said Davis had been released from jail less than 24 hours before the attack, NBC 4's Holly Hollingsworth reported. In 1997, Davis was in prison for raping a woman in Frankl...

For weekend readers looking to see how the Cashman, Hulett case has been developing, I've linked them all below. For complete coverage: judges ,

He's just sixteen, and yet he's a predator. After serving time for a rape in 2003, Tindall was released in 2005. Not many months later he raped and killed a 72 year old woman. There were no warnings given to the neighbors that a sexual predator lived within walking distance of their homes, no way for the family of Joan Green to protect her from the person who would steal her life. Because he committed his first offense he was an adult, and because he is still was under 18, there was no information released that a sex offender lives just doors away from Green in a group home. The rights he was granted because he was a juvenile, ended up costing Joan Green her life. Lima News BELLEFONTAINE (AP) — A 16-year-old will be tried as an adult in the beating death of an elderly woman whose body was found Christmas Eve, a judge ruled. “There is probable cause to believe that a murder was committed and that this child probably committed it,” visiting Judge Mark Spees said at a hearing Wedn...

Justin Trevor Humber, a father living at Holly House, a Oregon home for recovering drug addicts has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a 6-month-old child who also lived at the home with her father. Humber lived with the infant and her father at the Holly House, a transitional home recovering drug addicts. The child’s father cooperated with detectives during the investigation, Medford police said in a news release. "We believe the infant’s injuries were caused when Humber was watching the baby," Medford police Det. Sgt. Tim Doney said. Humber was not related to the infant. The child remained in foster care locally Thursday, police said. A ward of the state, the infant girl was living with her father at Holly House after being referred there by OnTrack Inc., a drug treatment program. A child care provider at an OnTrack program for mothers in recovery reported the suspected abuse Jan. 11 to child welfare workers, who called the police, officials said. The 27-year-o...

Two children were murdered, while their mother was reported abducted by a tenant of the home they shared. WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. - An abduction at the Jersey shore ended with a woman safe, her children dead and a suspect in custody Friday following a two-county search. The woman was bound with rope and allegedly taken by a tenant from the Stafford Township home that she shared with her two children Thursday night, executive assistant Ocean County prosecutor Bob Gasser said. The woman's ex-husband called police around 8:45 p.m. to say he found his sons, ages 7 and 14, stabbed to death in the home. Meanwhile, Gasser said the suspect had driven the woman up the Garden State Parkway and pulled in for gas at the Monmouth Rest Stop, here. The woman managed to break free and ran to an attendant for help while the suspect fled on foot into the woods, Gasser said. Children slain, mother abducted at Jersey shore Categories: murders

The transcript of the Jan 4th hearing regarding the sentencing of Mark Hulett, the man convicted of raping a young girl in Vermont, left me with many questions. Reading the entire transcript numerous times, I couldn't help noticing Judge Edward Cashman's reference to "Ed Town". Thanks to Web-sleuths, it's been pointed out that the spelling of the name should have been "Ed Towne", and with that new information, and a lead onto that case- I found what I needed. Cashman mentions "Ed Town" and a 7 to ten year sentence everyone had been happy with, and that he wasn't going to go through that again. After reading about the case, I'm even more disturbed that Cashman went ahead with this sentencing for Mark Hulett. If anything, the Towne case should be a poster child for life sentencing. On the morning of September 10, 1986, the 15-year-old Crickmore left her Richmond home and was on her way to school walking east on the Jericho Road when she v...

The following is a letter from the One Strike Law Blog , out of Washington. Next week, they will be interviewed by WIMA Radio in my own city of Lima, Ohio. Although I certainly had nothing to do with it, I'm still overwhelmingly happy that they will be able to spread their message here. Dylan's Law has been filed & Your Help is Necessary! Dear One Strike Supporters, Citizens for a One Strike Law (CFAOSL) has filed Dylan's Law in honor of Dylan Groene who was sexually brutalized and violently murdered by Joseph Duncan III. Dylan's Law is a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for violent and predatory sexual crimes such as kidnapping, to the vicious rapes and molestations of our young and defenseless children. People like Joseph Duncan can not ever be let out of prison! Duncan served 17 years of a 20 year sentence and was let out of a Washington state prison were he allegedly left a trial of missing and murdered children from Oak Harbor, Washingt...

I've seen the many places out there in the Blogosphere, who reject the idea that these teachers running around sexually assaulting our children should be in jail. I've read the comments about how it doesn't effect the boys, and how lucky they should feel. I disagree. Sexual abuse is sexual abuse. It's against the law, and it is morally repugnant. For those that justify letting women sexually abuse students, I have to wonder how they feel when a man sexually assaults his students? Is it okay as long as the student is male, or does the offending teacher have to be female in order for it to be acceptable? I'd like to see their take on this: Evidently, as the UAW Guy pointed out, it's just not female teachers who can sexually abuse male students and get away with it, male teachers can too. For the second time in recent weeks, a male teacher has been given no prison time for sexually assaulting one of his male students. According to the Janesville Gazette, Rock Count...

In March of 1994, 18 year old Stephanie Hummer was walking to a friends house near the OSU Campus. Sadly, she never made it to her finial destination, instead her lifeless body was found 10 hours later in a field. She had been raped and murdered. This may sound familar, a young attractive girl goes missing in Columbus Ohio, only to have her found dead later. Upon first reading it, my mind went straight to the case of Julie Popovich , the 20 year old OSU student who went missing last year from Ledo's Bar, near the camus of OSU. She was found by workers in a soy field, a few miles from Ledo's. While no charges have been brought against anyone in the Popovich case, the family of Stephanie Hummer will soon be able to see justice done. I can only hope that soon Julie's family can get justice soon also. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police made an arrest Wednesday in the 1994 death of a Central Ohio college student. Officials said Jonathan J. Gravely, 35, was arrested in connection with the ...

WTW- As part of the White Trash Wednesday Assignment: Kurt Paul Miller walked in and told the devastating news to his fellow employees of Wal-Mart, his son had been killed while serving in Iraq. In a show of support, his colleges raised $1,240 in donations on his behalf, and the company gave him three days of bereavement leave. Only, Miller's son had not died in Iraq. Kurt Paul Miller, 50, of Butler, pleaded no contest to theft by deception. Mr. Miller was approved for participation in the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program for first-time offenders charged with nonviolent crimes. SOURCE Please stop by these other great sites to read more WHITE TRASH WEDNESDAY Bloggers: And Rightly So! Area417 basil's blog BOBO BLOGGER Cranky Neocon Dangerous Logic Feisty Republican Whore Fistful of Fortnights HECTOR VEX It Is What It Is Lost In Lima Ohio MacStansbury.org Mean Ol' Meany Merri Musings MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Pirate's Cove Riehl World Vi...

She said she filled the tub with warm water to bath the kids. That she had placed the two, her 14-month-old daughter and her 2-year-old son in the bathtub by themselves to take a bath. The she walked away for just 10 minutes or so to get somethings done around the apartment she shared with them. While Pickett was in the Kitchen, she claims her 2 year old walked up and screamed his sisters name, she headed to the bathroom only to find her daughter face down in the bathtub, covered in burn marks across her body. A neighbor, Jerry Burton, told police that Pickett had knocked on his door holding her baby in her arms, asking for help. Burton noticed that the girl was not breathing and "had been burned to the point her skin was peeling off," according the arrest affidavit. Burton tried to resuscitate the toddler but was unsuccessful. The toddler was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. SOURCE Pickett's two year old son has been taken into prote...

There is a difference between the two, and there is a clear difference in how they should be seen by the law. Rehabilitation, in the criminal sense, happens after a crime is committed. It is not meant to be a source of punishment for the crime already committed, but as a treatment to prevent the same crime from being committed again in the future. In theory, it would be nice to be able to rehabilitate every criminal, but we must be willing to understand that it is not always possible. On the other hand, retribution by it's very definition is something demanded in repayment. In the criminal instance, it is the cost of the crime that has already been committed. It's the price we demand the guilty pay, it's not meant as a preventive measure against future crimes, although we can all hope that a lesson would be learned, and other crimes not follow. Retribution is something we can, and should expect from ever criminal. It is the very reason why we process them through the crimin...

Jason Strickland pleaded his case in court, repeatedly asking that his 11 year old stepdaughter be kept on life support. “Without intervention from this court, this child will die,” said John Egan, one of Strickland’s lawyers, in an attempt to get the state to intervene and save the life of Haleigh Poutre. A juvenile court judge had granted a request from the state Department of Social Services in September to disconnect Haleigh’s ventilator and feeding tube. Jason Strickland, a 31-year-old auto mechanic, is trying to fight that ruling by arguing he should be designated as the girl’s de facto parent because he lived with her for four years. But that argument didn’t fly with some of the justices. “That’s not going to do it,” Chief Justice Margaret Marshall said, saying the stepfather has no legal standing in the case. Stickland had a lot riding on the hopes that the court would decide in his favor, which they didn't. Jason Strickland, the very man fighting for this child's life-...

Being rather busy, I was a bad "True Crime Blogger" this week when I forgot to mention that this weeks Carnival of the True Crime Blogs is up at Trenchcoat Chronicles. It gives a taste of what the different crime bloggers are up to, and promises to provide a wealth of talented bloggers working hard to inform you. Categories: bloggers

It was all there. His photo, his address, even the offense he'd been convicted of. All the information they would have ever needed in order to know what he was, right there waiting to be loaded onto their monitors with a few clicks of the mouse and spelling out his name "M a s h" into the sex offender database. But, none of them ever thought to look, after all he was such a nice guy. Standing 6' 5 inches, and weighing in at 335 lbs and the father of two girls, Paul Mash was thought to be just a large friendly church going man. No one was concerned when he befriended a family and their very young son. It wasn't until the 3 year old told what Nash had done that those who knew them realised who had been sharing their church. Richard Cox/Suspect's Friend: "Me and Paul have had talks before. And it kind of just takes you back. You think you know somebody and then find out that you don't". 43 year old Paul Mash, a father of two girls accused of forcing...

Fred Cooper, the man accused in the horrid murders of Michelle and Steven Andrews, will facing Anthony Kunasek, assistant chief of the State Attorney's Office's felony division when he gets his day in court. Kunasek has been appointed to lead the case against Cooper, who was denied bail and currently is awaiting trial in the Lee County Jail. Cooper has not yet been formally charged with the crimes. Anthony Kusasek doesn't seem to be new to handling high profile crimes, he's been handling the shocking case of Justin Grodin , the Lee County man accused of the 2000 murder of his 11 month old daughter. Kusasek is also currently prosecuting Mario Alberto Lopez , the Cape Coral teenager accused of stabbing his friend to death over a video game in 2002. As for Cooper, reports are that he may have a bit of a wait ahead of him before charges are even filed. Cooper remains in the Lee County Jail without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 13. But, since the Stat...

I was able to track down a news article released today by the Burlington Free press that gives a bit more information on the case against Derek Kimball, the second man accused of sexually assaulting the young girl Mark Hulett was convicted of raping. Derek Kimball, 33, of Hinesburg was arrested in October and is charged with sexual assault on a victim less than 10 years of age, and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. He was briefly jailed, then released on $25,000 bond and a series of conditions, including that he not contact the victim or any girls under the age of 16. He could face up to life in prison if convicted. Court papers describe Kimball as a friend of Hulett's. How it is that both of these men where able to make bail when their crimes where of the most heinous sort, mystifies me. I'd deeply bothered by the fact that Mark Hulett had been investigated back in 2003 for sexually abusing this child, and was able to continue doing so for two more years. It is a gross...