Karen Swift, a mother of four vanished the day before Halloween. Dyer County Sheriff Box said Karen picked up her daughter from a Halloween party around 1:30 a.m. and took her home. Sometime between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Karen vanished from her house without a trace. Her vehicle was found not far away from where she went missing, and her front tire was flat. Sheriff Box says his team is still investigating how the tire on the SUV went flat, meaning if it was an accident or intentional.
Sheriff Box says a tip led them to an outside area, not far from Karen’s house where they made a body discovery. On December 12, investigators confirm that the body they found is Karen’s and that they are now shifting this case to a homicide investigation. Her cause of death has not been released and she was identified through dental records.
Karen Swift, a mother of four vanished the day before Halloween. Dyer County Sheriff Box said Karen picked up her daughter from a Halloween party around 1:30 a.m. and took her home. Sometime between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Karen vanished from her house without a trace. Her vehicle was found not far away from where she went missing, and her front tire was flat. Sheriff Box says his team is still investigating how the tire on the SUV went flat, meaning if it was an accident or intentional.
Last weekend, Sheriff Box says a tip led them to an outside area, not far from Karen’s house where they made a body discovery. On December 12, investigators confirm that the body they found is Karen’s and that they are now shifting this case to a homicide investigation. Her cause of death has not been released and she was identified through dental records.
Jorelys Rivera, 7, was outside playing with her friends on Friday, Dec. 2 when she vanished. Police say Jorelys was on the playground at the River Ridge at Canton Apartment complex when someone abducted, beat, sexually assaulted and murdered the child. An intense search took place throughout the weekend, but there were no clues that led to Jorelys.
On Monday, Dec. 5, authorities removed a trash dumpster on the property and hauled it to a nearby open field. They sifted through the garbage until they reached the bottom of the container. It was there that Jorelys body was discovered.
A press conference later today will determine her official cause of death. Authorities continue to set up road blocks in the area, stopping every car that enters and exits the complex. They’ve also been going from door-to-door interviewing residents. The River Ridge At Canton has 356 apartments on site and it’s possible someone saw something last Friday. Jorelys was last seen around 5 p.m. Grief counselors remain on site at her elementary school to help classmates deal with this tragic loss.
Investigators say 24-year-old Frederick Scott is out on bail, but he shouldn’t be. Scott was mistakenly released after he was arrested and charged with first degree murder. On March 4, Prince George’s County Police say Scott is responsible for the shooting death of Phillip Watson of Southeast.
On May 5, Scott was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada and was extradited to Maryland to stand trial. He was supposed to stay behind bars until his trial with no bail, but due to a “clerical error” made in the county courts, Scott was released. Police say he posted a $75,000 bail and hasn’t been seen since.
If you have any information, please contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit: (301) 772.4925
A shooting in Pensacola, Fla. over the summer left a 19-month-old child dead and a suspect on the run. Pensacola Police say Dwayne Pinestraw is responsible for firing shots into the Pensacola Village complex on July 15. One other person was struck and injured during the incident.
Police say Pinestraw is charged with homicide, aggravated battery and a weapon offense. He’s short, only 5’5” and weighs about 130 pounds.
You can text your information to GCCS to 274637 (CRIMES) or call the Pensacola Police: (850) 435-1900
Remembering Fire Chief Keith Bryan, Nichols Fire Department
Nichols Hills Fire Chief Keith Bryan was shot and killed in his home Tuesday when police say an intruder entered through an open garage door. Investigators in Mustang, OK aren’t ruling out that Bryan may have been the wrong target and that the gunman may have been looking for Oklahoma City Fire Chief who lives nearby and shares the same name. The suspect shot Bryan one time, in the head and his wife heard the killer say, “I’m sorry. You should have given me the (expletive) job.” Bryan was rushed to the hospital where he died early the next morning with his wife by his side. Nichols Hills officials spoke out and said they have not gone through the hiring process at their department since 2007, and that’s why investigators believe the Oklahoma City Fire Chief may have been the intended target.
The killer is described as a white man, between 20 to 30 years old with blonde hair. At the time of the murder, the suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, dark in color and fled the area in a small to medium sized pickup truck.
Investigators say Michelle Le vanished from the Kaiser Hayward Medical Center in California on May 27. She walked outside to her car, and never came back. Based on evidence found, police fear she is a victim of homicide. This week, authorities closed in on a possible suspect and made an arrest. Lt. Keener, with the Hayward Police department, said Giselle Esteban, former high school and college roommate is charged with Michelle’s murder. Michelle’s body has not been found. Keener indicated various pieces of evidence like cell phone records, surveillance video and DNA led them to Esteban’s doorstep. The suspect was arrested early Wednesday morning and has not spoke about the case to police. Kenner said Michelle and Esteban may have had some sort of fallen out, but police do not have a concrete motive for the killing. Police say they served a search warrant on Esteban’s property on May 29 then again on September 7.
Esteban was scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, but police confirm, due to her pregnancy and a doctor’s appointment, the arraignment will be postponed.
Breeann Rodriguez (family released personal photo)
Investigators say Shawn Morgan, 43, was arrested over the weekend and charged with first degree murder. Authorities believe Morgan suffocated Breeann and disposed of her body. According to the probable cause affidavit, Morgan admits that he discovered Breeann standing on his pool ladder, he carried her inside and suffocated her with a white bag. “Morgan states he felt like it took an hour for the girl to die,” according to the court documents. Once Breeann stopped breathing, Morgan admits he then threw her body into the floodway ditch.
At this point, the search to find Breeann is a recovery effort. Investigators zoned in on Morgan’s home on Friday night and took him into custody Saturday. Along with first degree murder, Dunklin County Prosecutor has also charged Morgan with armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence. Morgan is held without bond and will appear in Circuit Court 9 a.m. Tuesday. The hearing Tuesday will indicate whether he will employ his own council .
The U.S. Marshals closed in on one murder suspect allegedly involved in killing a “Trax Food” employee last month. Now, Philadelphia Police say they are in search of a second suspect. Investigators say Marvelle Hargrove, 17, is also allegedly involved in the murder.
Authorities say on May 26, 2011, two suspects entered the ”Trax Food” store at 2:50 a.m. demanding money from a cashier. The video shows one of the suspects beating the victim with a shotgun while the other suspect opened the cash register. Authorities say the victim was able to get away and as he was running, the first suspect shot and killed the cashier.
On June 9, 2011, Marshals closed in on Quasheam Richburg around 8 a.m.
If you have any information on this case, please contact Homicide: 215-686-3334
Morgan Harrington was only 20-years-old when she vanished from a concert outside the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville, VA. It was October 17, 2009 when she was separated from friends around 8:30 p.m. They say she walked out of the front entrance of the Metallica concert. Authorities say Morgan called her friends inside and told them she was finding a ride home, and that they shouldn’t wait for her.
State police officials report Morgan was last seen by the ticket office on the University Hall side of the building and witnesses report seeing her hitchhicking close to the arena exit road. An intese search of the area yielded no new clues until three months later.
In January 2010, tMorgan’s body was found on a farm in Albemarle County, Virginia. Investigators said her body could have been on the land as many as 100 days. Last summer, investigators released shocking information. They said the man who may have killed Morgan could be the same suspect that committed a sexual assault against another female in 2005. Virginia State Police officials confirm there is a forensic link between the 2005 assault and the murder.
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
