List of All Articles with Tag 'us crime news'

Footage of the arrest of Mario Fernandez, the man accused of orchestrating the murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, has been released by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Mr Fernandez, a landlord, is accused of hiring one of his tenants, Henry Tenon, to ambush and kill Mr Bridegan near Jacksonville, Florida in February 2022. Mr Tenon reportedly admitted to police that he pulled the trigger the night Mr Bridegan was killed. The release of the arrest footage comes in the wake of a third arrest in the murder case. Mr Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez — who is married to Mr Fernandez — was also arrested and charged with first degree murder. Mr Bridegan and Ms Gardner-Fernandez were embroiled in a contentious divorce proceeding prior to his death. In the recently released bodycamera footage obtained by News4Jax, Mr Fernandez can be seen sitting in handcuffs in the back of a pickup truck speaking with police investigators. He is then placed in the back of a patrol car. Mr Fernandez was arrested in March. In the footage, he can be heard reminiscing about using beepers and remembering phone numbers, laughing about being short, and asking about how deputies deal with tall people who are placed in the back of cramped patrol cars. He is facing first degree murder, conspiracy, and child abuse charges. He faces a potential death penalty if convicted. On the night of the shooting, Mr Bridegan was returning from his ex-wife's house near Jacksonville after dropping off two of his children. On his way home, he found a tire in the road blocking his path. When Mr Bridegan stepped out of his vehicle, he was shot — allegedly by Mr Tenon — and killed. Bullets hit the interior of Mr Bridegan's car, narrowly missing his toddler from another marriage. After the shooting Mr Bridegan's ex-wife said she was "devastated" by the murder and insisted she had nothing to do with his violent death. A grand jury indicted her on Thursday, after which he was taken into custody in Washington state. She moved out of Florida after Mr Bridegan was murdered. Ms Gardner-Fernandez's family issued a statement in the wake of her arrest. “Words cannot accurately express the depth of our sadness. Family is our top priority. We love our daughter and are focused on supporting her and our entire family as we help our grandchildren navigate this difficult and very confusing time," her parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, said. "For their sake and all involved, we caution against further speculation and request privacy as the legal process runs its course. In the meantime, we are thankful for the continued support, thoughtfulness and prayers being so generously shared by friends and loved ones.” Read More Jared Bridegan’s widow ‘not surprised’ by ex-wife’s arrest over Microsoft executive’s murder plot Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan was shot dead in a chilling ambush. Did his ex wife arrange it? Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife could face death penalty for roadside murder

Two Nigerian hackers accused of targeting American children in an elaborate sexual extortion plot that led to 17-year-old Jordan DeMay’s death have pleaded not guilty to several charges, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced. Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, of Lagos, Nigeria, were extradited to the US this week and were arraigned the next day on four counts, including charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Ogoshi brothers were formally advised of the charges against them and entered not guilty pleas on 17 August. The charges stem from DeMay’s in March 2022, after being gripped by fear that his nude photos would be shared with the world. The exchange that led to the tragedy was initiated by three men far across the Atlantic posing as a woman on Instagram. The trio, who American prosecutors have since identified as Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, allegedly convinced the minor to send the explicit photos and then blackmailed him for $1,000. US Attorney Mark Totten said: ‘Today’s hearing is another step forward in the judicial process following the successful extradition of the Ogoshi brothers from Nigeria to the United States last Sunday.’ ‘My office is fully prepared to present the facts of the case during a fair trial.’ Read More A teen dead and two Nigerians extradited for sextortion. How a horror night on Instagram killed Jordan DeMay Two Nigerian brothers charged in sextortion that led to American teen’s suicide plead not guilty

Rachel Morin’s boyfriend has spoken out after Maryland Police revealed footage of the man believed to have murdered the mother-of-five. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that DNA found at the scene of Morin’s murder had been matched to the DNA left at a home were an unknown man broke into a home in Los Angeles and violently attacked a young girl back in March. The suspect, a Hispanic male aged 20-30, was caught on a home security camera leaving the LA home. “We believe this was a person that Rachel didn’t know, potentially a random act of violence,” Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Colonel William Davis said on Thursday. Police are now asking for the public’s help in identifying him. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been positively identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel William Davis said at a press conference. Morin’s boyfriend Richard Tobin took to social media following the briefing to say: “I hope they found this scum of the earth, justice for Rachel.” The break in the investigation comes nearly two weeks after Morin, 37, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air at around 6pm on 5 August. Her body was found near the trail the next day. Read More Maryland police have DNA matching Rachel Morin murder suspect and video images but no identity Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing Maryland sheriff calls out ‘heinous coward’ who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin Rachel Morin’s boyfriend speaks out after police name man wanted over sex assault as suspect in murder

Rachel Morin's boyfriend spoke up after the Maryland police found DNA evidence of a man they believe killed the mother-of-five. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that the DNA found at the scene of Morin's death matched with DNA found at the scene of a March home invasion in Los Angeles where a young girl was attacked. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel Davis said. “Based on the DNA evidence, we consider the individual in the video we obtained from the Los Angeles Police Department to be the person that murdered Rachel Morin.” Police released a video of the individual, a shirtless man thought to be Hispanic and in his 20s, leaving the Los Angeles crime scene on a home security camera. Following the announcement, Morin's 27-year-old boyfriend, Richard Tobin wrote on Facebook: "I hope they found this s*** of the earth, justice for Rachel. Rip. love you rach." In a follow-up post he urged people to “please help identify this s*** bag”. According to The Baltimore Banner, Mr Tobin had given investigators a DNA sample and handed over his cell phone. While he was never officially named as a suspect in Morin's death or accused of any wrongdoing. people on social media pointed fingers at him due to his arrest records. Mr Tobin has two arrests for second-degree assault, and separate arrests for violating restraining orders, malicious destruction of property and drug possession dating back to 2014, court records show. Mr Tobin has also faced charges of being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, according to Maryland judiciary case search records. He previously lashed out saying, he would "never do anything to her". "Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please," he wrote on social media. Morin was last seen around 6pm on 5 August when she allegedly went out for a run on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. The 37-year-old failed to return home that night and her boyfriend reported her missing. Just days before her murder, Morin and Mr Tobin had gone official on Facebook with their new relationship. Read More Rachel Morin update: Maryland police show video of potential suspect in Bel Air mother’s killing Rachel Morin – latest: Bel Air mother-of-five’s killer remains at large as Maryland police step up patrols Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing

An Ohio teenager was convicted for a deliberate 100mph “hell on wheels” crash that killed her boyfriend and friend. Mackenzie Shirilla, 19, was found guilty on multiple counts of murder for the incident that killed Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19, last year. Shirilla, who was 17 at the time of the crash, faces an automatic life sentence and will have to spend 15 years behind bars before she can apply for parole. She will be formally sentenced next week, reported Cleveland.com. “She had a mission, and she executed it with precision. The decision was death,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, who held the trial without a jury. “Her actions were controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful. This was not reckless driving. This was murder.” The court was told that the crash took place at around 5.30am on 31 July 2022 at a building in a business park. Investigators say that Shirilla drove her 2018 Toyota Camry down a three-quarter mile road until it hit a speed of 100mph. Data from the car’s computer and surveillance video showed that the steering wheel jerked to the right and then left before the vehicle left the road and crashed into the business. The wreck was found by a passerby around 45 minutes later. When police arrived they found Russo and Flanagan dead, and Shrilla trapped in the driver’s seat with a fuzzy Prada slipper stuck to the accelerator. The judge told the court that the final seconds of the incident proved that Shirilla acted with purpose. “She morphs from responsible driver to literal hell on wheels,” she said. Prosecutors showed a video taken weeks before the crash which showed Shrilla arguing with Russo and in which she threatened to key his car. Following the crash, doctors stated that Shiilla expressed “grief, guilt and shame” about the crash, with prosecutors saying that she had demonstrated “consciousness of guilt”. Her lawyers argued that feeling bad after a fatal crash did not make the driver a murderer and said that prosecutors had not proved she had not just lost control while driving recklessly. Read More Jared Bridegan update: Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec charged with first degree murder US Army soldier accused of killing his wife in Alaska faces court hearing Ex-wife charged with murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office believes it has a DNA match to the person who killed Maryland woman Rachel Morin earlier this month. DNA found at the crime scene matches genetic material found at a home were an unknown man violently attacked a young girl in Los Angeles in March of this year, then was filmed leaving on a security camera, police said during a press conference on Thursday The break in the investigation comes nearly two weeks after Morin, a mother of five, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air at around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing that night after she failed to return home. Her body was found the following day and her death was ruled a homicide. Read More Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing Maryland sheriff calls out ‘heinous coward’ who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday they have used DNA evidence to identify a potential suspect in the murder of Maryland woman Rachel Morin earlier this month. Colonel William Davis said DNA found at the scene of Morin’s death was analysed by state police, turning up a match with DNA found at the scene of a March home invasion in Los Angeles where a young girl was attacked. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been positively identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel Davis said. “Based on the DNA evidence, we consider the individual in the video we received from the Los Angeles Police Department to be the person that murdered Rachel Morin on August 5.” The individual, a shirtless man thought to be in his 20s, was recorded leaving the LA crime scene on a home security camera. The deputy added that despite the match, police still “don’t have a clue where he could be.” “In March he was in California, and here in August he was in Maryland,” the officer said. This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.

A songwriter and model who co-wrote one of Katy Perry’s hit songs has mysteriously vanished and her loved ones fear someone is holding her captive. Swedish-born Camela Leierth-Segura, 48, was last seen in the Beverly Hills area back on 29 June, according to the California Department of Justice’s missing persons page. Her longtime friend Cecilia Foss told The Independent that it’s not like her to just vanish without a trace and the fact that her beloved 19-year-old cat Morris is also missing has made it even more of a mystery. “My worst fear is that someone has her, and is hurting her,” Ms Foss said, adding that Ms Leierth-Segura is not someone who would just disappear for seven weeks without responding to anyone. “If she was going for a drive to clear her head, I get it,” Ms Foss said. “But it’s been seven weeks. And no one has heard from her. Nobody goes for a seven-week drive.” Ms Leierth-Segura had already been missing for several weeks before her friends and family put the pieces together. “She was always so busy with projects but when 10, 20, 50 of us discovered none of us had heard from her, we got really worried,” Foss said. She said their friend Liz Montgomery called for a welfare check and Beverly Hills police responded to her apartment where the landlord informed them she had been evicted. Neighbours have told local news they hadn’t seen her in weeks, pointing out that the usually well-tended plants on her balcony are now dead. Ms Montgomery filed a missing person report and has been in contact with her family. Beverly Hills Police have alerts out for Camela, her black cat Morris and her car. It’s not known if the cat is with Camela. Ms Foss and their friend Liz Montgomery are in close contact with Camela’s family in Sweden. “They are devastated and overwhelmed,” Ms Foss said. “With them there and Camela here, I think it’s just very hard for her family to even comprehend that she is missing.” Ms Leierth-Segura’s last text message was sent on 29 June, and her Ford Fusion car was last seen on police cameras leaving Beverly Hills the following afternoon, 30 June. But it’s not clear who was driving the vehicle. “She had mentioned it to all of us that she was having trouble; Covid definitely was not helpful for her because she’s a musician, model, actress, all that stuff,” Ms Montgomery told The Los Angeles Times. “And there was no money coming in.” It is not clear when exactly she was evicted or where she was staying afterwards. In an Instagram post, Ms Montgomery also urged for help in tracking down the missing woman. “This is a personal friend of mine. A best friend. People are asking so, YES! PLEASE SHARE - HELP NEEDED! My dear friend of over 25 years is missing. LAST SEEN IN BEVERLY HILLS ON JUNE 29,2023,” she wrote. “We are extremely worried about her safety, and despite our best efforts, the local authorities have not been able to locate her. If you have any information, even the smallest detail can help, please reach out immediately.” She added: “She means the world to us and time is of the essence. Her family in Sweden is pleading for your assistance. PLEASE spread the word, SHARE this post, and help us bring Camela home safely. Thank you for your support and assistance in this critical matter.” “I’d like to think that nothing bad happened, but do I think something bad happened? Yeah,” she said. A GoFundMe has been created by her sister Lisa and loved ones are hoping money will help bring in information to find her. Read More Maryland police to announce ‘potential suspect’ in Rachel Morin murder investigation Camela Leierth-Segura – update: Search for missing Katy Perry songwriter after mysterious disappearance Musician who wrote Katy Perry hit song mysteriously vanishes from Beverly Hills

The ex-wife of slain Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, who was fatally shot by a gunman as he drove home with his two-year-old daughter, has been arrested and charged with his murder. Shanna Gardner-Fernandez was arrested in Washington state on Thursday and will be extradited back to Duval County, Florida, where she has been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder and child abuse. “We promised at the outset of this investigation we would not relent until we uncovered the truth of Jared’s murder, the whole and entire truth,” State Attorney Melissa Nelson told reporters. Prosecutors say they will push for the death penalty for both Ms Gardner-Fernandez and her husband, Mario Fernandez. He and his former tenant, Henry Tenon, have both already been charged for their alleged roles in the February 2022 murder in a wealthy suburb of Jacksonville Beach. Bridegan, a father of four, was murdered after he had dropped off the twins he shares with his ex-wife and was headed back to the house he lived at with his second wife, Kristen Bridegan. Investigators say that he stopped his vehicle when he was a tire in the middle of the road, and when he got out to move it he was shot multiple times in front of his daughter Bexley. Court documents say that several bullets came within inches of hitting the youngster, who was strapped into her car seat. Bridegan and his ex-wife divorced in 2015 but had been involved in court battles over custody of their twins and finances. Ms Gardner-Fernandez hired a prominent criminal defence lawyer following the murder and then moved back to the Pacific Northwest and prevented the twin from having any contact with their half-sisters, reported Fox News. Mr Tenon, 62, was charged on 25 January with conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder with a weapon, accessory after the fact to a capital felony and child abuse. Authorities say that he was a former tenant of Mr Fernandez. He has a long criminal history and was already behind bars awaiting trial on unrelated charges. Police announced on 16 March that Mr Fernandez had been arrested in Orlando and he was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse. On the same day, it was announced that Mr Tenon had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against him and anyone else potentially involved in the killing. The state attorney said that Mr Tenon had admitted that he was the gunman and he faces up to 15 years in prison under the plea agreement. Mr Fernandez pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in July and prosecutors say that he will not be offered a plea deal. According to the indictment, he wrote Tenon three checks and phone records show the men made more than 70 phone calls to each other before and after the killing. Read More An ambush on a quiet road, a fatal shooting and a year-long mystery: A breakthrough in Jared Bridegan’s murder case Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife could face death penalty for roadside murder Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife is charged with his murder on Florida roadside Arrest made in mysterious murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, police say more suspects likely Widow of Microsoft executive gunned down in front of 2-year-old daughter prays ‘evil and cowardly’ killers are brought to justice

A search is underway for a Tennessee couple who vanished while traveling in Alaska last week. Alaska State Troopers have joined Fairbanks Police in the effort to find Jonas Bare, 50, and Cynthia Hovesepian, 37, who were reported missing on 12 August after they failed to check out of their vacation rental the day before. The couple had not made their return flight home and their luggage was found at their Airbnb in the downtown area of Fairbanks, police said. They have not been in touch with their families. Later on Saturday evening, Fairbanks Police located the couple’s rental vehicle at Chena Hot Springs Resort, a popular destination about 60 miles outside of Fairbanks. The dark metallic blue Jeep Compass Limited was rented through Turo and set to be returned on 11 August, police said. There are no plates on the vehicle, just a temporary tag with the number T119055. Troopers have been canvassing Alaska’s interior for days with helicopters, small unmanned aircraft systems, ATVs, professional search and rescue teams, and K9 units. Mr Bare’s recent Facebook posts show his excitement leading up to the couple’s Alaska trip that appeared to be for his 50th birthday. At one point he wrote that he was visiting his 50th state for his 50th birthday. In an eerie post shared on 8 August, just a few days before the couple disappeared, Mr Bare wrote about preparing to leave for base camp the following morning. “If a Kodiak gets me, I’ll consider that an honorable death,” he wrote. The post also states that he was “not going to get lost like I did 10 years ago in Australia and Katoomba Range..” Bare’s last post was a picture of Denali National Park in Alaska that was captioned: “View from room” along with heart-eyed emoji. Messages of concern from family and friends have flooded the comment sections on the couple’s social media pages. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Jonas Bare and Cynthia Hovsepian is asked to contact either the Fairbanks Police Department at 907-450-6500 and reference incident 23 003095, or the Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks at 907-451-5100 and reference incident AK23085703 - or email crupe@fairbanks.us. Read More Katy Perry songwriter missing – live: Fears grow for Camela Leierth-Segura after Beverly Hills disappearance Musician who wrote Katy Perry hit song mysteriously vanishes from Beverly Hills Boy with autism, 9, found dead after losing parents at Brooklyn Ikea

Armored trucks descended on a Philadelphia neighbourhood on Friday, releasing a flood of FBI agents who stormed and raided a house in search of a suspected aspiring terrorist. There were no adults home when agents arrived; they found three minors in the home. But one of them was their suspect, a 17-year-old with alleged ties to a Syrian extremist group. Reporters outside captured the scene as agents marched a cuffed teenager, wearing only his undergarments, out into the street and into federal custody. Days later, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office made clear what had happened; they had arrested someone they claim was engaged in "the most serious alleged terrorist activity prosecuted in Philadelphia County court in recent history”. The suspect The suspect is a minor, and his name has not been released to the public. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called the teenager an "aspiring terrorist" during a press conference after his arrest. "The young man who is under arrest is – was, an aspiring terrorist who was not merely thinking, but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone," he said. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire also spoke at the conference, and revealed the suspect allegedly took steps to build a weapon of mass destruction. "Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals and devices often used as remote detonators," she said. "He had not only taken steps in acquiring those items and materials that are commonly used in improvised explosive devices, but that he had also taken steps to start putting potential devices together," She also noted that the suspect allegedly had access to a "significant number of firearms." "He is currently charged with the following offenses: weapons of mass destruction, criminal conspiracy, arson, causing or risking catastrophe, attempt to commit criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and reckless endangerment of another person," she said. He is being tried as a juvenile, according to Mr Krasner. The investigation The 17-year-old landed on the FBI's radar after the agency learned of his alleged communication with members of Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, a Syria- based extremist group that the US classifies as a global terror organisation. The group has ties to al-Qaeda, the organisation formerly led by Osama Bin Laden that carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. The FBI believes the organisation was responsible for the bombing of metro station in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2017, which killed 15 people. The agency also believes the group carried out a suicide car bombing in 2016 that injured three members of the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Federal officials believe the teenager was communicating with the terror organisation between March and April of this year. The FBI also discovered a WhatsApp account allegedly linked to his phone number that used a banner of the Riyad-us-Saliheen Brigade of Martyrs, a terror group based in Chechnya. On 6 August, the banner was reportedly changed to that of Isis. The agency eventually began surveilling the teenager, and allegedly witnessed him purchasing bomb-making materials on 7 August. The following day the US Customs and Border Protection agency said the suspect had 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear delivered to their home. Mr Krasner said that the FBI "potentially thwarted a catastrophic terrorist attack in the name of a perverted ideology that in no way, shape, or form represents the beliefs of the overwhelming majority of peace-seeking people of faith, including Muslims.” The suspect's family While the suspect's name has not been released as he is a minor, his father has commented on the shocking raid that ended with his child in FBI custody. Qawi Abdul-Rahman, a prominent criminal defence attorney in Philadelphia, told The Daily Beast that he was "shocked and devastated" to learn on Monday that his 17-year-old child was facing terror allegations. He recalled receiving a phone call at work from his children as the raid was ongoing. They told him the FBI had swarmed the home. At the time, only his three children — the 17-year-old included — were home, as both Mr Abdul-Rahman and his wife were at work. The attorney rushed home to find his child in FBI custody. He said he was "shocked" and "devastated" to learn about his child's alleged involvement with terror organisations. In the aftermath of the arrest, Mr Abdul-Rahman said he was struggling to discuss the incident and its implications with his two younger children. He said he doesn't know "how to even address it," asking how one could even explain such a concept to a child. "Your job as a father is to protect," he told The Daily Beast. "But I couldn't do a thing." Read More Philadelphia defense attorney ‘devastated’ to learn his son is FBI terror suspect Teen accused of plotting potentially ‘catastrophic terrorist attack’ Man held on suspicion of having information likely to be useful to terrorists after police data breach

Students at a Florida university were warned to shelter-in-place after shots were fired at the nearby Gulf Coast Town Center shopping mall on Wednesday morning. Florida Gulf Coast University sent an alert to students after shots were reported at a construction site at the mall 15 miles (24kms) south of downtown Fort Myers at around 11.15am. Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the shooting, and later confirmed that no shoppers had been hurt. They are searching for the occupants of two cars who fled the scene. The Florida Gulf Coast University police department posted an update at around 1.30pm to say there was no active threat and there had been no danger to students on its main campus. The university said on social media that an alert about an active shooter on campus was sent out in error. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a social media post that the shooting appeared to have been an isolated altercation between two vehicles that had since fled. He said no businesses had been affected, but to expect an increased law enforcement presence in the area. Florida Gulf Coast University had an enrollment of 16,000 students in 2022. Read More Rising political threats take US into uncharted territory as 2024 election looms Attacks at US medical centers show why health care is one of the nation's most violent fields Maui police chief pleads for patience, recalls pain of victim IDs after deadly Vegas mass shooting