Tag: murder

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Recent Murder Crimes

Recent Murder Crimes

Murder of a 14 Year Old Girl Being Investigated

 

When a child is taken or runs away from home, you can’t help but imagine the worse. For one set of parents, they might be closer to having some answers about what happened to their little girl. Even if they are horribly sad, answers.

Police are investigating the murder of a fourteen year old girl. They think that maybe the case might be linked to a case where a twelve year old girl might have ran away from home.

On Wednesday morning, the San Diego Police Lt. Mike Hastings, stated that the body of a Anna Hernandez was found in a canyon, just off the 2900 block of Market Street on November 18th. Even though they found her on the 18th, they weren’t able to positively identify the girl until November 23rd.

According to the report, the young girl’s body was badly decomposed. The San Diego Medical Examiner’s autopsy proved that she sadly suffered from at least one gunshot wound to her upper body. Who in the world would want to shoot a fourteen  year old little girl?!

Lt. Hasting’s Statement About the Murder:

Regarding Anna’s homicide, the investigation continues including the processing of many items of evidence. The homicide team has served search warrants and conducted many interviews in the last seven days.

 

Nelly Espinoza who was twelve years old, was a friend of Hernandez. She lives in an apartment complex close to where Hernandez’s body was found. Nelly was last seen on November 13th. According to the police, the young girl isn’t considered a missing person, but a juvenile runaway.

The San Diego police recieved information that Nelly was with a family member in Northern Mexico She reportedly talked to her family, who live in San Diego, by phone. She told them that if they tried to look for her, then she would go deeper into Mexico.

Lt. Hastings said that Nelly could be with the sixteen year old runaway Janeth Mendoza. Janeth was last seen in October of this year. Both Tijuana and the San Diego police have put out missing persons fliers and are doing what they can to get to the bottom of this.

Lt. Hastings did not confirm if the investigating officers think that there is a link between Hernandez’s murder and Nelly Espinoza.

Hernandez recently transferred to the San Diego High School from High Tech High. Police have not released a possible motive in her killing. There has also been no arrests at this time.  The police are actually keeping quite about the possible suspects as well. Them being minors, I’m sure this case will be hard to handle publicity wise. I’m sure they’ll keep the public and the families updated as new information come in.

Phoenix Manslaughter Lawyer

At the Phoenix based Offices of Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC, we have defended many clients charged with a violent crime, including murder charges and other high-level violent crimes. We can provide the strong defense you need if you have been charged with voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.

If you discovered your spouse in bed with a lover and as a result killed your spouse in a sudden rage, you may have been charged with first-degree murder. However, you may only be guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 11 years, as opposed to a life sentence.

Manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. The term malice is used in a highly technical sense and does not simply imply a feeling of anger.

 

Types of Manslaughter Defenses

If you have been charged with murder and the evidence is stacked against you to show that you did unlawfully kill another person, seeking a conviction to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter may make a significant difference in your case.

To effectively raise such a defense, you must be able to establish that you were provoked, that a reasonable person in such a situation might be similarly provoked to kill, and that you did not have sufficient time to cool off and further contemplate your actions. If retained as your counsel, we will thoroughly investigate the facts of your case to determine which defense strategy gives you the best opportunity to protect your freedom.

 

Types of Manslaughter Cases in Phoenix

In the state of Arizona, you may be charged with involuntary manslaughter under two separate circumstances:

  • If you committed a crime (other than a felony) and unintentionally caused the

death of another person.

  • If you were engaged in a lawful act that might cause death and acted without

“due caution and circumspection.”

 

Manslaughter Conviction and Sentencing

A conviction for involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment. If you caused the unintentional death of another person and you were not committing a crime, it is not sufficient for the prosecution to allege that you made a mistake. The phrase “without due cause and circumspection” implies something more than a simple mistake. Our Phoenix Attorneys can raise a number of issues and defenses on your behalf to raise the strong defense you need. A plea to a lesser offense or a plea that allows you to avoid a criminal conviction may be possible depending on the facts of your case. If you choose to fight your charges at trial, we have the skilled trial lawyers to aggressively defend your rights in the courtroom.

 

Schedule a Free Consultation – Phoenix Manslaughter Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been accused of a Violent Crime such as Manslaughter, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to a solid defense. Call us today for a free initial consultation at 480-351-6445.

 

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
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Two Different Types of Shooting Cases

Multiple Suspects in Phoenix Homicide Case

Shooting Case Causes Police To Question Teenagers Involved

As if a shooting isn’t bad enough, it’s absolutely tragic when multiple children or teens are involved. This case is a little different than the usual shooting stories that hit the news though.

Police believe that multiple teenagers had to of been in the same room as a shooting that took place. The shooting that left a sixteen year old boy dead on Wednesday night. Let’s just hope that this isn’t some kind of bullying thing. Let’s hope that if there was multiple people that know what happened that they come forward and tell the police what they know. The family of this boy needs justice and peace of knowing what really happened when they sadly last their son.

Sgt. Jonathan Howard from the Phoenix Police Department, was unable to identify the victim on Thursday. However, the police are hoping to identify or narrow down the teens that were in that room when this happened.

The Police believe that these teenagers just ran away after the shooting. Which how sad is that? Did those other teens also fear for their lives? Was this just a prank that went wrong? Why would these kids be scared if they didn’t have something majorly involved in this? Maybe they’re just scared of what will happen?

Police Search for Teenage Shooting Victim’s Murderer

No one has been arrested for this shooting at this time. However, the police are investigating and will continue to do so. They are trying to figure out what caused such a tragic event? The shooting happened at a home near 23rd Street and Cactus Road. Even though authorities tried to save the young man, he was still taken to the hospital, where he sadly died.

If anyone has any information about the shooting or the victim, please contact the Phoenix Police at 602-262-6241 or even the Silent Witness program at 480-Witness.

 

Police Arrest Suspect for Allegedly Shooting Two Men in Glendale

Usually Thursday’s are quiet days. Everyone is wore out from a long week of work, you’re just ready for a relaxing weekend and a good nights sleep or a night out on the town, whatever floats your boat.

Every family has issues with who someone is dating. Most the time it’s the girls that choose horrible boyfriends, don’t get me wrong there are some nice guys out there that choose the absolutely craziest women. When you’re young and you date out of your comfort zone, you never think of them doing something to actually harm someone. However, you real never know these days.

According to the local police, they now have in custody a man that they suspect shot two men outside of a Glendale home on Thursday. The incident happened around three o’clock in the afternoon. According to the Glendale Police, the suspect was twenty-eight year old, Efrain Hartley. He was arrested not long after the shooting happened.

Police Arrest Shooting Suspect

The Glendale police say that twenty-four year old, Shaquille Johnson was outside of a home with his twenty year old brother near 91st and Glendale Avenues. As they were standing outside, Hartley came up to them and started shooting them.

Both of the young men were taken to the local hospital. Police say that Shaquille Johnson later died from his injuries from the shooting. His younger brother is still in critical condition.

According to some witnesses, the victims and the suspect knew each other. Apparently they had a “verbal altercation” that happened just before the shooting.

Apparently Mr. Hartley was dating one of the victims’ sister. Hartley is booked on charges that relate to homicide of Shaquille Johnson and the shooting of a second victim.

 

 

 

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Multiple Types of Murder Cases

Phoenix Domestic Abuse

Murder Crimes Near Phoenix

 

There are of course several types of murder. The most disturbing and unfathomable, in my opinion anyways, is Familicide. What is Familcide? It’s a term used when there is a multiple victim homicide where the killer’s spouse and children are killed.

 

Definition from Wikipedia

A familicide is a type of murder or murder-suicide in which at least one spouse and one or more children are killed,[1] or in which a parent or parents and possibly other relatives such as siblings and grandparents are killed.[2] In some cases all of the family members’ lives are taken. If only the parents are killed, the case may also be referred to as a parricide. Where all members of a family are killed, including when the killing takes the form of a murder-suicide, the crime may be referred to as family annihilation.

 

The cases I’ll be writing about today are similar but different. This first case is a lot like a familicide case.  The police have been able to identify the man who had been accused of decapitating a woman and two dogs. The man identified was identified as, Kenneth Wakefield.

 

The Phoenix Police Department are always helpful to the media. They have said that Wakefield was actually released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. However, she was booked for a one count of 1st degree murder as well as two counts of animal cruelty. She was being held on a TWO million dollar bond money.

The believe that the suspect is known to have some physics and mental issues.  The two doggies were sadly found dead in the home.

 

On July 25th, the police had found the horrible crime scene. Which was located near 13th Place and Colter Street. They were able to easily locate the scene after a neighbor had went to check on the suspect and the victim. The neighbor knew that the suspect had mental issues.

 

The neighbor was quite shocked when, according to them, when the suspect, Wakefield had answered the door and the neighbor said that he was naked and also had a portion of his arm was cut off. Wakefield was a scary sight with his missing arm,and  missing right eye that was gouged out.

 

Wakefield didn’t try to deny what had happened. He admitted to the police officers that he had killed three of his own family members which were inside of the house.

 

Sadly, when Heisch was found she was decapitated as well as the dogs and in a closet. I feel so sorry for the victims and the police that found them I can’t imagine what a horrific scene that would have been.

 

The suspect was taken to the local hospital and had to undergo surgeries for his injuries. He was later released to the police after he was all fixed up.

 

Spouse Abuse or Murder?

 

Everyone has fights once and a while. If you’re married and have been for a while, chances are you might feel like killing one another on those stressful days. Only some people actually attempt to act on those wishes.

 

A woman had to be submitted to the hospital after the police claimed that her husband had shot her inside of their Mesa Home.

 

The Mesa Police Department said that they responded to a call that came out, just after six o’clock in the evening. The call came from an upscale gated community of “Las Sendas”. Las Sendas is located near the McDowell and Power Roads.

 

 

Police are keeping quiet about this scene. They are releasing very little information about what happened. However, they have said that the couple’s two children were inside of the house at the time of the shooting. Those poor kids must have been scared to death! The police say that the couple’s children are a young girl and an adult son. Hopefully the adult son can shed some light on the situation.

 

The police also say that the woman who was shot, is now in the hospital. Hopefully she will make a full recovery. The husband of the victim has been taken in for questioning. However, he has not been formally charged at this time.

 

The Mesa Police Department are now on the case and are investigating the incident.

 

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Past Murder Case Being Re-Evaluated

Past Murder Case Being Re-Evaluated

2007 Bus Driver Murder Case

 

Crime scenes are often left as a mystery. Sadly there are some sick people in this world and they are very good at covering their tracks. Some cases go unsolved simply for the lack of evidence. There’s actually a ton of reasons that murder cases go “unsolved” or unresolved.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) have confirmed that a man who was/is suspected of killing an off-duty bus driver at a San Diego doughnut shop, eight years ago will now face charges in the cold case.

The SDPD investigators have said that forty year old, Santiago Covarrubias will be facing murder charges for the 2007 killing of thirty-eight year old, Damon Green. Covarrubias has already been serving time in the state prison for other, unrelated homicide. The police found the information linking Covarrubias to the cold case while Covarrubias was still in prison. According to the SDPD, Covarrubias is now in custody in the San Diego Central Jail and will appear in court on a Monday.

According to the reports, Covarrubias is actually the second person to be linked to this murder case this year. The case was strangely enough cold for more than eight years. I guess when the information comes, it comes all at once.

On July 28th of this year, San Diego resident, Martin Villapando was arrested by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The thirty-six year old was arrested as he was legally entering into the United States. He was then jailed on first degree murder for the connection of Green’s killing.

The court reports show that Villapando pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The judge set his bail at $2 million. Villapando has been in custody and at the South Bay Detention Facility for around four months. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 17.

 

Bus Driver Shoot and Killed

 

The investigators say that Green was found critically injured and was found behind the Donuts Plus shop. The shop is located at 4090 El Cajon Blvd. Green was found around 2:30 in the early morning on March 20, 2007. The reports say that the man had suffered from several gunshot wounds to his torso. Green was quickly taken to a local hospital where he sadly passed away an hour later.

The investigating detectives think that Green was with a friend and eating at the taco shop which is next door to the doughnut shop, when Green got into the argument with Villapando and Covarrubias. Villapando and Covarrubias were the first ones to leave the taco shop.

 

Crime in San Diego

 

However, the two sneaksters came back as Mr. Green and his friend were leaving the shop. They didn’t come alone though, they came armed with a gun. The suspects confronted, unarmed Green outside of the doughnut shop. They started shooting at Green. Green ran into the doughnut shop to try to seek cover, however according to the detectives, shots were fired and went through the plate glass window. The shot fired that time would be the one to fatally wound Mr.Green.

The suspects were of course, quick to leave the scene. They made their getaway before the officers could respond to the call. The suspects were last seen on the northbound 41st Street. After Villapando was arrested over the summer Deputy District Attorney Supervisor of the Cold Case Homicide Unit, Tom Manning said that the cold case detectives had been actively working on this case for years. They had even talked to Villapando before about Green’s murder.

 

Manning’s Statement about the Murder

 

The police have had continuous contact with witnesses, including Mr. Villapando over the years. He knew San Diego Police detectives were continuing on the case and were also looking at him over the last few years.

 

If Mr. Villapando is convicted of Green’s murder he will face up to fifty years to life in prison.

Sybil Green, mother of deceased victim, said that the news of a arrest for her son’s killers over the summer brought her a wave of emotions. Which I’m sure is understandable. She probably feels the pain of losing her son all over, but some relief that something is being done about his death. But then probably guilty over someone else losing their life. I can’t imagine what she’s going through.

Sybil said that the day her son was tragically killed, was the “day her heard died”. And even though it’s been a few years, her family will always mourn for the loss of her son.

 

Sybil’s Statment:

You murder one person, but you slaughter a family because our family has not been the same since.

The family of Green are currently living in Las Vegas. Sybil said that she has always refused to believe that the killer of her son would actually get away with it. She’s looking forward to finally getting some justice for her son. She always refers to Green as her “gentle giant”.

Green didn’t just leave his mother behind though, he is survived by two sons and a daughter.  All because of a little dispute in a taco shop. Hopefully his loving family can get some peace, knowing that Green’s death isn’t going to go unpunished.

We hope that the police are able to get the crime rates down in San Diego and Phoenix. If not, what is going to be left for the families in those cities?

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DNA Evidence Helps Put to Rest a 20 Year Old Murder Case

DNA Evidence Helps Put to Rest a 20 Year Old Murder Case

DNA Final Factor in 20 Year Old Multiple Murder Cases

 

Technology and Science is ever changing. It’s so amazing and a thing of awe what science can do today. Thanks to DNA evidence an arrest has been made against a man who is involved for the killings of two young women twenty years ago. The two women who vanished, ten months apart on bike rides. They were riding near Phoenix’s Canal System.

 

Police were able to arrest forty-two year old, Bryan Patrick Miller on late Tuesday. They got him for the stabbing deaths of two girls, twenty-two year old Angela Brosso and seventeen year old Melanie Bernas.

 

According to the report, Angela was killed in November of 1992. Melanie was killed almost a year later in September 1993. Both of the young women had disappeared while biking near the Arizona Canal. Angela’s body was found decapitated, near an apartment complex. Melanie’s body was found 1.5 miles away just floating in the water.

 

Police Use DNA Evidence to Solve 20 Year Old Case

 

Police said that they were able to use forensic evidence connecting the killings within years. However, the investigators weren’t able to identify a suspect back then. Luckily, some DNA evidence was recently collected by some undercover officers and were able to link Miller to the killings.

 

Sgt. Trent Crump’s Statement:

Within literally hours we had a hit from those two murders, scientifically linking him by DNA, linking him to those two murders over 20 years ago.

 

 

Officers were able to search Miller’s rental home overnight. They expected to be continuing the search for several days due to the home being full of unspecified material. It’s unclear of what though.

 

Miller was being held without bond for: two counts of first degree murder and kidnapping as well as one count of sexual assault. Miller did not have a lawyer when he appeared in court on Wednesday. However, during the police interview, he denied having any involvement in the killings.

 

Police Statement in Court Document:

The defendant could not explain how the DNA profile obtained from the defendant was a match to the DNA profiles obtained from the victims.

 

Even though Miller denied any involvement, he did admit to living in the area of the killings at the time. He even admitted to also riding his bike on the bike paths.

 

Police have stated in the past that these killings were like the killer specialized in military training and he also collected trophies from the victims. Either bike from the killings were never found. However during the search, police did find a bike in Miller’s shed. It’s unclear if it’s one of the victims bikes though.

 

Source:https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/south-phoenix/angela-brosso-melanie-bernas-update-bryan-patrick-miller-denies-involvement-in-death-of-girls

 

 

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Man Convicted for Phoenix Park Teenager Murder

Man Convicted for Phoenix Park Teenager Murder

Man Convicted For Murder of Teenager in Marivue Park

 

Parks are great places for families and children, most of the time anyways. Now days, you’re really not safe anywhere. You could be attacked in your own safe home. People are getting desperate and mean. A man has been convicted of killing a teenager in the West Phoenix Park, Marivue Park. The boy defended his younger sister from an armed robbery and he is now scheduled to be sentenced Friday for the murder conviction.

 

The man Vincent Quimayousie. He is to face life in prison for the first-degree murder conviction for the September 2012 death of  Andrew Murphy. Andrew was sixteen at the time. Andrew was defending his fourteen year old sister at the Marivue Park.

 

Vincent Quimayousie Convicted for Park Murder

 

Vincent will also be convicted of attempted armed robbery and misconduct involving a weapon. Police authorities say that young Andrew Murphy was killed after he had stepped in front of Vincent to confront him after he had tried to demand money from Andrew’s younger sister. Vincent was twenty years old.

 

Vincent Quimayousie did admit to being near the park on the day of the killing in an interview with the police investigators. However, he denied any involvement in the killing.

 

Hopefully the authorities will be able to find justice for Andrew. Andrew was very brave for protecting his little sister. I’m sure his sister has to live in fear of the once friendly park in her mind to that dark day of losing her heroic brother. I’m sure she will always mourn and remember her brother for his bravery and giving his life to keep her safe. Maybe one day she can get peace, knowing her brothers killer is behind bars.

 

Source: https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/sentencing-set-for-man-convicted-of-killing-teen

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
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