Man who Massacred Family Will Face Death Penalty: A man charged with the execution-style shooting deaths of six members of a Texas family two years ago will face the death penalty at his trial next year. Brian Rodgers of the Houston Chronicle reports that Utah-native Ronald Haskell, 36, is accused of killing Steven and Katie Stay and four of their children, ranging in age from four to 13, and shooting their 15-year-old daughter, who survived. The murders occurred in early July 2014 when Haskell disguised himself as a FedEx worker and pushed his way into the Stay residence and bound the 15-year-old, who was home alone at the time. He bound the other members of the family as they arrived home. Haskell demanded to know the location of his estranged ex-wife, Kathy Stay's sister, who left him following numerous incidents of domestic violence, before shooting all members of the Stay family in the head. Haskell's defense attorney argues that he suffers from mental health issues. His trial is set to begin in the fall of 2017.
Murder Suspect's Tweet Could Elevate Charges Against Him: A Twitter posting made by an Arizona man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering his roommate over the weekend could make him eligible for the death penalty. The AP reports that Zachary Dale Penton, 21, is accused of fatally shooting Daniel Garofalo, 41, who owned the house Penton had lived in for two months. Penton alleges a struggle broke out on Sunday after Garofalo came into his bedroom to demand he move out, tackling him and taking his phone. Penton says he fired his weapon when Garofalo frightened him after "speaking irrationally." However, two days before the shooting, Penton posted a comment on Twitter saying he needed to move out of the home where he was living before he killed him roommates. Prosecutors can use the comment to argue that Garofalo's murder was premeditated, elevating the charges against Penton to first-degree murder which allows them to pursue the death penalty. Penton was booked on second-degree murder and has yet to be formally charged. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has not commented on whether first-degree murder charges will be sought.
TN Officer Killed, Suspect in Custody: A Tennessee police officer was shot and killed Thursday while answering a domestic violence call hours after sheriff's responded to a separate call at the same address. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Kenny Moats, 32, a nine-year veteran of the Maryville Police Department, died of a single gunshot wound to the neck after Brian Keith Stalans, 44, opened fire on officers responding to reports of a domestic incident between him and his father, which "involved a gun." After officer exchanged gunfire with Stalans, he was taken into custody. Charges are currently pending. Sheriff's deputies had responded to an earlier domestic disturbance at the home but lacked probable cause to arrest Stalans. Moats was the first Maryville police officer killed in the line of duty since 1981. Nationally, 75 officers have died on duty so far this year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation.
Murder Suspect's Tweet Could Elevate Charges Against Him: A Twitter posting made by an Arizona man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering his roommate over the weekend could make him eligible for the death penalty. The AP reports that Zachary Dale Penton, 21, is accused of fatally shooting Daniel Garofalo, 41, who owned the house Penton had lived in for two months. Penton alleges a struggle broke out on Sunday after Garofalo came into his bedroom to demand he move out, tackling him and taking his phone. Penton says he fired his weapon when Garofalo frightened him after "speaking irrationally." However, two days before the shooting, Penton posted a comment on Twitter saying he needed to move out of the home where he was living before he killed him roommates. Prosecutors can use the comment to argue that Garofalo's murder was premeditated, elevating the charges against Penton to first-degree murder which allows them to pursue the death penalty. Penton was booked on second-degree murder and has yet to be formally charged. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has not commented on whether first-degree murder charges will be sought.
TN Officer Killed, Suspect in Custody: A Tennessee police officer was shot and killed Thursday while answering a domestic violence call hours after sheriff's responded to a separate call at the same address. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Kenny Moats, 32, a nine-year veteran of the Maryville Police Department, died of a single gunshot wound to the neck after Brian Keith Stalans, 44, opened fire on officers responding to reports of a domestic incident between him and his father, which "involved a gun." After officer exchanged gunfire with Stalans, he was taken into custody. Charges are currently pending. Sheriff's deputies had responded to an earlier domestic disturbance at the home but lacked probable cause to arrest Stalans. Moats was the first Maryville police officer killed in the line of duty since 1981. Nationally, 75 officers have died on duty so far this year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation.
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