More Than 3,100 Illegal Immigrants Arrested: The Associated Press reports federal officials said Monday more than 3,100 illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes or considered fugitives or threats to national security were arrested in a six-day nationwide sweep that was described as the largest of its kind. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said every state was included in the sweep, which involved more than 1,900 of the agency's officers and agents. More than 1,000 of those arrested have multiple criminal convictions, including murder, manslaughter, drug trafficking, and sexual crimes against minors in some cases. An estimated 50 gang members and 149 convicted sex offenders were arrested in the sweep.
Two More Victims of Speed Freak Killers Identified: Justin Berton of the San Francisco Chronicle reports police said Friday they had identified the remains of two teenage victims of the Speed Freak Killers, whose skeletal remains had been excavated from a compacted well where 1,000 bone fragments have been collected by investigators in recent weeks. The victims identified were Kimberly Billy, who was 19 when she went missing in 1984, and Joann Hobson, who was 16 when she disappeared in 1985. "They finally get the closure they need," said Rob Dick, a private investigator who has worked with victims' families during the three-decade investigation. "These families have been dying for answers." Sheriff Steve Moore said Friday the bones of a third victim were also found, but could not be identified.
Execution Date Set for Georgia Inmate: Bill Rankin of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Daniel Greene has been scheduled for execution April 19 in Georgia for the 1991 murder of 19-year-old Bernard Walker. Walker was trying to help a store clerk after Greene forced her to give him money from the cash register before taking her to the back room and stabbing her. The store clerk survived, but Greene stabbed Walker in the heart, and he died in the parking lot. After killing Walker, Greene drove to home of a couple who he had previously worked for and stabbed them multiple times. The couple survived. Green then drove to another convenience store where he pulled a knife on the store attendant. After she gave Green money from the cash register, he stabbed her in the back of the shoulder before fleeing. Greene later confessed to the crimes in a videotaped interview, saying he needed the money for crack cocaine.
CA Bill Proposed to Prohibit Medically Unnecessary Procedures for Inmates: Turnto23.com reports from Bakersfield that California Senator Michael J. Rubio (D - Shafter) announced his proposed legislation, SB 1079, which would establish state law prohibiting medically unnecessary procedures and services for inmates, was passed out of the Senate Health Committee Wednesday afternoon. The bill would prevent taxpayer money from being used to pay for treatments including sex changes, infertility treatments, breast enlargements, and weight reduction surgery for inmates. The most recent version of the bill, which now goes to the Senate Committee on Public Safety, is here.
Trayvon Martin Case Puts Worst Media Tendencies on Display: Dylan Stableford of The Cutline/Yahoo! News reports how the Trayvon Martin case out of Florida has exposed the worst media tendencies, which include selective editing, fake photos, rushed judgments, and invoking anger for ratings and page views. Stableford points to three recent examples from the Daily Caller, the "Today" show, and CBS News.
Charges Dropped Against Man Who Shot Intruder: Lauren Fitzpatrick of the Chicago Sun-Times reports prosecutors on Monday dropped weapons charges against Homer Wright, 81, who had shot in the ankle a man who had broken into his bar to steal alcohol. Anthony Robinson, 19, was charged with burglary and is being held on bail. Court records show Robinson has been arrested at least 13 times since 2009, primarily for theft, burglary, and minor drug offenses, and that he skipped multiple hearings. See previous post here.
Two More Victims of Speed Freak Killers Identified: Justin Berton of the San Francisco Chronicle reports police said Friday they had identified the remains of two teenage victims of the Speed Freak Killers, whose skeletal remains had been excavated from a compacted well where 1,000 bone fragments have been collected by investigators in recent weeks. The victims identified were Kimberly Billy, who was 19 when she went missing in 1984, and Joann Hobson, who was 16 when she disappeared in 1985. "They finally get the closure they need," said Rob Dick, a private investigator who has worked with victims' families during the three-decade investigation. "These families have been dying for answers." Sheriff Steve Moore said Friday the bones of a third victim were also found, but could not be identified.
Execution Date Set for Georgia Inmate: Bill Rankin of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Daniel Greene has been scheduled for execution April 19 in Georgia for the 1991 murder of 19-year-old Bernard Walker. Walker was trying to help a store clerk after Greene forced her to give him money from the cash register before taking her to the back room and stabbing her. The store clerk survived, but Greene stabbed Walker in the heart, and he died in the parking lot. After killing Walker, Greene drove to home of a couple who he had previously worked for and stabbed them multiple times. The couple survived. Green then drove to another convenience store where he pulled a knife on the store attendant. After she gave Green money from the cash register, he stabbed her in the back of the shoulder before fleeing. Greene later confessed to the crimes in a videotaped interview, saying he needed the money for crack cocaine.
CA Bill Proposed to Prohibit Medically Unnecessary Procedures for Inmates: Turnto23.com reports from Bakersfield that California Senator Michael J. Rubio (D - Shafter) announced his proposed legislation, SB 1079, which would establish state law prohibiting medically unnecessary procedures and services for inmates, was passed out of the Senate Health Committee Wednesday afternoon. The bill would prevent taxpayer money from being used to pay for treatments including sex changes, infertility treatments, breast enlargements, and weight reduction surgery for inmates. The most recent version of the bill, which now goes to the Senate Committee on Public Safety, is here.
Trayvon Martin Case Puts Worst Media Tendencies on Display: Dylan Stableford of The Cutline/Yahoo! News reports how the Trayvon Martin case out of Florida has exposed the worst media tendencies, which include selective editing, fake photos, rushed judgments, and invoking anger for ratings and page views. Stableford points to three recent examples from the Daily Caller, the "Today" show, and CBS News.
Charges Dropped Against Man Who Shot Intruder: Lauren Fitzpatrick of the Chicago Sun-Times reports prosecutors on Monday dropped weapons charges against Homer Wright, 81, who had shot in the ankle a man who had broken into his bar to steal alcohol. Anthony Robinson, 19, was charged with burglary and is being held on bail. Court records show Robinson has been arrested at least 13 times since 2009, primarily for theft, burglary, and minor drug offenses, and that he skipped multiple hearings. See previous post here.
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