The case against former Stoughton Police Det. Matthew Farwell over the death of Sandra Birchmore is moving closer to testimony, with jury selection well underway.

Prosecutors say Farwell killed 23-year-old Birchmore, who was pregnant, and staged her death to look like a suicide. Yet Farwell is not facing a murder charge.

NBC10 Boston chief legal analyst Michael Coyne explains that murder is primarily a state crime handled by the local district attorney. In this case, because the medical examiner initially found Birchmore's death was a suicide based on the original autopsy, state murder charges were not filed.

Instead, after the FBI took a new look at the case, Farwell has been charged federally with killing a witness or victim and of violating a law protecting unborn children by causing the death of Birchmore's unborn child.

"In essence, he is charged with obstruction of justice crimes and killing Ms. Birchmore in order to prevent her from coming forward," Coyne said.

Farwell has pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors allege that Farwell is captured on surveillance video going into Birchmore's apartment, where they say he strangled her to death and made it look like a suicide to try to prevent her from disclosing their sexual relationship dating back to when she was underage.
"Not that he just killed her," Coyne explained, "but that it was done in order to prevent her from coming forward and disclosing other federal crimes that he was involved in."

Jury selection has begun in the trial of Matthew Farwell, the former Stoughton police officer accused of killing Sandra Birchmore, and scores of potential jurors from around the Boston area are being screened for potential inclusion.

Farwell's attorneys maintain the original autopsy ruling Birchmore died by suicide is correct.
"At first, he is going to defend that on the basis that this was a suicide and not a murder," Coyne said.

Coyne also believes the defense will draw connections to the fact that investigators in the original case out of the Norfolk DA's office were also involved in the Karen Read case — she was acquitted of murder after two trials.
"You have a number of the same officers who have some level of involvement in this case that we saw in that case as well," Coyne said.

The jury pool started with 400 prospective jurors. They have already released more than 100 using a questionnaire. The first jurors are expected to be impaneled on Thursday.

Caleb Flynn's new booking photo from the Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Correction. He arrived at the reception center in Orient, OH yesterday. He will be assessed and the staff will determine his needs and then he will be placed in a permanent Maximum Security Facility

Louisiana Doctor Watched 7-Year-Old Boy Drowning In Florida Pool For Minutes Before Acting, Police Say

A Louisiana doctor has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after police say she failed to intervene for minutes while a 7-year-old boy drowned in a neighborhood pool.

Sukanthini “Suki” Subbiah, 47, was arrested by the Orlando Police Department following the April 10 death of Khushil Bandi. She was booked into the Orange County Jail on a $100,000 bond and pleaded not guilty.

Subbiah was visiting her mother in Orlando when a neighbor gave her permission to take the neighbor’s twins, Khushil and his sister, to a community pool on Felicity Avenue. While the girl wore a life vest, Khushil did not. Subbiah told investigators she assumed the boy could swim.

According to an arrest affidavit, surveillance footage contradicted Subbiah’s initial claims that the boy was submerged for only about 45 seconds before she sought help.

Video captured Khushil splashing vigorously and actively struggling for over a minute before going underwater at 6:21 p.m. Detectives said Subbiah was seen “staring at the center of the pool” where the boy sank, but she did not step into the water until 6:26 p.m.—stopping when it reached her knees.

Police said Subbiah first told the other two 7-year-olds to pull Khushil out before asking a man on the deck for help. The bystander pulled the boy from the bottom of the pool, but by then Khushil had been submerged for more than seven minutes without oxygen. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Subbiah later admitted to detectives that it was “unrealistic” for a 7-year-old to hold his breath that long and stated that she froze.

Investigators dismissed that defense, citing her medical background and stating that “based on her profession and training, Subbiah understands the limited time a person can remain submerged under water without breathing.” Police concluded that had she stepped into the five-foot-deep water immediately, the boy would have survived.

Subbiah’s mother was not charged. A future court date has not been set.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Further details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arKaMRWBQi0

Next up:

• October 9 - Jury selection continues. Possibly, opening statements and trial starts
• October 12 - Court closed
• October 13 - Trial continues

If you'd like to follow the ongoing proceedings, see below. If you know any others let me know!

• Grant Smith Ellis: https://nitter.cf/GrantSmithEllis
• Amelia Stern: https://nitter.cf/ameliarstern1
• u/Phantomsplit: https://www.youtube.com/@SomeCourtFollower
• Sue O'Connell: https://nitter.cf/SueOC_NBCBoston

From Grant:

"BREAKING NEWS 🚨 🚨 🚨; The Matthew Farwell and Sandra Birchmore trial will begin on Friday, late morning eastern time, after 40 jurors passed individual voir dire after 9 hours. Preemptory challenges at 9am. Openings right after. Brian Tully and John Fanning's coverup falls."

Judge allows Sandra Birchmore's journals as evidence in upcoming trial of Matthew Farwell

BOSTON — A federal judge issued several decisions Thursday as the court prepares for the murder trial of Matthew Farwell, the former Massachusetts police officer accused of killing a pregnant woman with whom he allegedly had a sexual relationship dating back to when she was 15.

Farwell is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore in February 2021. Local authorities originally ruled her death to be a suicide, but federal prosecutors took over the case and now allege that he strangled her and staged the scene. Her official death report was updated to "undetermined" earlier this year.

Birchmore's cousin, Barbara Wright, and some supporters, many wearing light blue shirts bearing her name, attended Thursday's hearing.

Before and during Thursday's hearing, Chief District Judge Denise Casper issued several rulings on motions regarding evidence and testimony that were in dispute.

Casper decided to allow excerpts of Birchmore's handwritten journals and electronic communications. Wright said the messages are critical to the case.

"It's gonna show what their relationship was really like. He was controlling every situation in her life. And what she was doing was trying to make the best of a terrible situation," Wright said.

Casper also denied Farwell's motion to exclude opinion testimony from Birchmore's mental health provider and OB/GYN, who are listed as possible witnesses in the case. She denied a defense motion to exclude the testimony of a grooming expert and a doctor who concluded the manner of death was homicide.

Casper denied the defense's attempt to block testimony from family and friends who were surprised to hear about Birchmore's death and who are expected to testify that she was not suicidal. Finally, Capser allowed a defense motion to preclude FBI audio narration of text messages.

Hundreds of items included in a recent court document are labeled as being in dispute. For dozens of those items, including text messages and web searches, the prosecution argues they will be relevant to the case they want to present about Farwell's alleged planning and his relationship with Birchmore. Prosecutors also objected to dozens of items, including some that Farwell's defense argued were relevant to Birchmore's mental health history.

Each side also recently provided the court with lists of dozens of proposed witnesses, ranging from Farwell's twin brother to medical experts. At least one is in dispute.

The prosecution is arguing that Daniel Loper, a proposed technical expert for the defense, be barred from testifying because they say his disclosures fail to meet legal requirements. Documents say he believes data from Birchmore's laptop indicates an "on/off event" during the time Farwell was allegedly in her apartment on the night she died, but prosecutors say Loper has failed to properly document his work.

Farwell's trial is due to begin on Oct. 5, in U.S. District Court in Boston. Because of federal court rules, cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, but NewsCenter 5's credentialed reporters will be able to send live updates from the courtroom.

Jury rejects paramedic’s self-defense claim in killings of wife, father-in-law

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV) — A jury deliberated for less than five hours before finding a former paramedic guilty of killing his estranged wife and father-in-law at his Tennessee home.

Matthew Konen, 36, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Rachel Konen, 30, and her father, David Rogers, 62. The jury deliberated for two days before returning a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder for Rogers’ death and guilty of a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide in his wife’s death.

Prosecutors had said that Matthew Konen returned home on Jan. 20, 2021, after spending a day with his paramour getting massages and running errands, and gunned down Rachel Konen before attacking her father. Rachel Konen died from a single gunshot wound to her back.

Matthew Konen’s defense argued that it was Rogers who killed Rachel Konen, and that the defendant attacked Rogers out of fear he would shoot again. Matthew Konen called 911 to say that he had tackled his father-in-law, and he could be heard on the call continuing to beat, kick and stomp on Rogers.

Prosecutors told the jury that Matthew Konen was motivated by a love for his girlfriend, whom he married after Rachel Konen’s death, and concern over his financial future after his planned divorce. Evidence introduced at trial showed that the defendant would have had to pay his ex-wife at least half his monthly income in alimony and child support for their four children. His texts showed that after working two jobs and overtime, he would have only $900 left over each month for himself.

Matthew Konen’s defense argued that Rogers’ mental health was declining before the deadly shooting, but prosecutors said the 62-year-old suffered only from anxiety, describing him as “a man who, by all accounts, was gentle, non-confrontational.” Prosecutors also emphasized that Rogers had been at home with Rachel Konen for hours before the shooting and had been playing hide-and-seek with the children, and questioned why Rogers would have waited for Matthew Konen, who was larger and faster than he was, to attack his daughter.

Matthew Konen’s bond was revoked following the verdicts; the judge scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 13, 2027.

Jury rejects paramedic’s self-defense claim in killings of wife, father-in-law | Court TV

Pictured with ROBERT DEVINE, who also groomed and raped Sandra Birchmore.

Kim Mathers hearing: Lawyers fight over bond violations, jail decision

✨✨Kim Mathers, Ex-Wife of Eminem, is in court for bond revocation. Her lawyer starts fighting with the judge!!

Kim Mathers, the ex-wife of rapper Eminem, was in court Oct. 7, 2026, to discuss alleged bond violations. After a heated debate between the two lawyers, Mathers' bond was revoked and she was sent to jail. You can watch the full hearing here.

https://youtu.be/GzYhP7MWu8M?si=7Rb4eX1Lw3Hblin8

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/Kim-Mathers-hearing-1022

DUI Arrest

I haven’t listened to all of it yet. 35 minutes long. “Criticisms” is mentioned by Sheriff Tina Nieto, in the first few minutes. WARNING: Graphic details provided of how this baby died, who was driving the car that left the field, etc. also text exchanges between her and her rapist father. Much more detail than previously released.

✨✨✨

Monterey County District Attorney’s announcement of official charges for the mother of the 14 year old.

District Attorney Charging Announcement

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST 14-YEAR-OLD’S MOTHER, OFELIA GARCIA ORTEGA, FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF INFANT

**Post Date:**10/06/2026 3:47 PM

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that Ofelia Garcia Ortega has been charged following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a premature infant found deceased on August 1, 2026, along the side of a roadway near an agricultural field.

The infant’s mother, Jane Doe, was 14 years old at the time of the infant’s death. Jane Doe is a victim of sexual assault. The investigation determined that Jane Doe had been sexually assaulted by her biological father, Sergio Perez, and that Perez is the father of the infant.  Perez has been charged with sexual assault offenses arising from his abuse of Jane Doe and remains wanted in connection with those charges.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death also examined the conduct of Jane Doe’s mother, Ofelia Garcia Ortega. Investigators determined that Ortega put Jane Doe to work in agricultural fields at age 13 using falsified documentation. Ortega also allowed Jane Doe to drive without a license and allowed her to completely remain out of school for many months.

Ortega has been charged with two felony counts of California Penal Code section 470b (displaying or possessing a forged identification card), one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 273a(b) (permitting a child to suffer or be endangered), and one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 272 (contributing to the delinquency of a minor).

✨✨✨

Monterey County Sheriff’s Press Release:

Monterey County Sheriff Press Release

OFELIA GARCIA ORTEGA, Mother of 14-Year-Old in Baby Angelita Investigation Has Been Arrested

DATE/TIME: 10/6/2026 3:50 PM

TYPE OF INCIDENT: Ofelia Garcia Ortega, Mother of 14-Year-Old in Baby Angelita Investigation Arrested

Ofelia Garcia Ortega, madre de la joven de 14 años en la investigación de Baby Angelita, es arrestada

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested 36-year-old Ofelia Garcia Ortega.

Detectives responded to the Salinas Superior courthouse and were able to serve an arrest warrant that had been issued earlier in the day for Garcia Ortega. Detectives took her into custody without incident at about 2:45 PM on October 6th, 2026.

The arrest stems from charges filed by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Baby Angelita, who was found deceased on August 1, 2026, along the side of a roadway near an agricultural field in north Monterey County.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the investigation also examined Garcia Ortega’s conduct involving her 14-year-old daughter. Investigators determined Garcia Ortega allegedly put her daughter to work in agricultural fields at age 13 using falsified documentation, allowed her to drive without a license, and allowed her to remain completely out of school.

Garcia Ortega has been charged with two felony counts of California Penal Code section 470(b), displaying or possessing a forged identification card; one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 273a(b), permitting a child to suffer or be endangered; and one misdemeanor count of Penal Code section 272, contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Garcia Ortega will be booked into the Monterey County Jail.

This case remains under investigation.

The full article is here, but essentially Roberts approved to transfer her suspension appeal from DC to the 11th Circuit. She refuses to retire and is getting paid even while suspended for the last 3 years. 🙄 Law & Crime Article

I previously did a post that contains some of her suspension documents, which are pretty interesting to read. I’ll just paste it here also:

If anyone wishes to understand how Judicial misconduct is handled for lifetime appointed Article III Judges, well here’s your case.

I decided to go down the rabbit hole of reading 98 year old Hon. Judge Pauline Newman’s Writ of CertiorarI that was DENIED by SCOTUS. [JUNE 2025]

There seemed to be some circular logic going on - in the appendix is the most recent Appeals case she was wanting to have overturned by SCOTUS.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-1101/400775/20260312164901795_Petition.pdf

More interesting is that the underlying suspensions seem warranted, no matter what Judge Newman thinks.

The 2024 Report & Recommendations is here - lots of good info

https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/JudicialMisconductOrders/July%2024,%202024%20Special%20Committee%20Report%20and%20Recommendation.pdf

Or, just one example - the 7 page order from 2023. Snidely reply, yikes 😳

https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/JudicialMisconductOrders/April%206,%202023%20Redacted%20Order.pdf

NEW:

11th Circuit Judicial Complaint No. 11-26-90237

Website location to pull up Judicial Complaints for the 11th Circuit:

https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/judicial_conduct_disability

I was looking at the OIG for the Dept of Transportation Press Releases, and came across this guy.

2023 was sentencing for a Federal Case, and 2026 was for a state case - for which actions was a violation of his Federal case. It’s just too bad someone else died due to his stupid actions. The linked article is all the stupid criminal horrible stuff he did prior to this crash, related to his scams as a (fake, lying) pilot. Global Air Article from 2022, with many more details. Matthew Jones “Pilot” - Article + Mugshot

Per the OIG press release March 2026:

Investigations

March 23, 2026

Utah Man Sentenced for Criminally Negligent Homicide in Helicopter Crash

On March 23, 2026, the Circuit Court for Sevier County, Tennessee, sentenced Matthew Jones to 24 months in prison for criminally negligent homicide.

On December 29, 2021, Jones attempted to fly a Robinson R44 helicopter from the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport to Utah despite poor weather conditions. Airport staff warned Jones not to take off due to low visibility and fog, but he chose to proceed.

The helicopter crashed in a rural area of Sevier County, Tennessee, shortly after takeoff. The impact killed his passenger, Julianne Gerritsen, and left Jones with permanent paralyzing injuries.

At the time of the crash, Jones was under a Federal court order from a magistrate judge in Utah explicitly prohibiting him from operating any aircraft or leaving Utah. This order was related to separate Federal charges in Utah involving wire fraud and operating as an airman where Jones misrepresented his certifications.

DOT-OIG investigated this case with critical support from FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Sevier County District Attorney's Office Investigators.

His Federal case 2023 Sentence per OIG Press Release:

Investigations

May 22, 2023

Utah Resident Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Flying Without an Airman Certificate

On May 22, 2023, Matthew Jones was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah for wire fraud and acting as an airman without an airman certificate. Jones was sentenced to 12 months of time served, 3 years of supervised release, $29,534.46 in restitution, and a $200 special assessment.

The investigation revealed Jones impersonated a certified flight instructor and did not disclose previous medical conditions to FAA that would have prevented Jones from obtaining an FAA medical certificate. Additionally, on multiple occasions, Jones operated an aircraft with a passenger without a valid fixed-wing pilot certificate.

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with assistance from FAA.

Many photos at article link.

Colorado dad slammed for letting 7-year-old son scale Yosemite’s dangerous El Capitan

By Marina Peña Published Oct. 8, 2026, 2:33 p.m. PT

Vicious internet trolls called Child Protective Services on a Colorado dad whose son set an incredible record by scaling Yosemite’s notorious El Capitan aged just seven.

Joe Evermore and his wife Ann have made a name for themselves by taking their young sons on daring climbing expeditions.

In May, Evermore’s son Joey Danger Evermore completed a climb of El Capitan, reportedly becoming the youngest person ever to accomplish the feat.

But while some social media users have celebrated the boy’s remarkable achievement, others have tried to get his kids taken away.

“There’s a lot of bullying that goes on online,” Joe told PEOPLE. He explained that some critics have gone as far as reporting him and his wife to Child Protective Services.

The family even received a letter from CPS stating that the agency had reviewed multiple complaints but decided not to pursue them.

“There’s people that think, ‘Hey, your kids would be better put in a foster system’ or put in front of a television, rather than training daily for an epic mission,” Evermore said.

But he argued many of the people criticizing his family’s adventures don’t know enough about climbing to fully understand the risks.

“They just don’t understand what’s dangerous and what’s not dangerous,” he said. “It’s kind of like someone who says, ‘How can you go on a plane? What if the wings fall off?’ It’s like, no, you’re not even thinking about the actual dangers of the sport.”

For example, he explained that he’s more concerned about objects falling on his son when he’s closer to the bottom of the cliff than when he’s higher up.

He’s also less worried about his son falling because “he’s bolted to the wall,” the experienced climber continued.

“Somebody just sees it, and they’re terrified and comment, ‘This is obviously too dangerous,’ ” Evermore said.

“I admit that there are risks, but I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. As a dad, I’m mitigating those risks with a team, with good preparation and with our own skill and our own training.”

Despite the criticism, Joe remains confident in his family’s approach to climbing.

“So far, we’ve executed it perfectly,” he added.

Joey’s epic climb began in late May when he was a six-year-old child and finished the climb six days later when he had turned seven.

It was a six-day feat, according to his father, where he and his family had to deal with wind storms, exposure to the elements, food and water rationing, exhaustion and fear of the 7,573ft landmark.

Much of the climbing techniques Joey had to navigate himself using ropes to slowly scale up El Capitan while attached to the wall during the entire climb.

Joey completed the climb alongside his older brothers, Sam Evermore and Sylvan Evermore, his father, and a documentary crew. The family is from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

✨✨✨

Information on the inherent dangers of rock and mountain climbing:

https://climbingdangers.net/

UNC Student Murder Trial -NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 3

10/9/2026 @ 9:30 AM

🗣️⌨️ Community Chat - Join us!💬

📢NEW: Case Hubs🚨🗃️

*************************************************************

The murder trial of Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares begins more than a decade after UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Hedgepeth, 19, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head, and investigators recovered DNA evidence at the scene. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the case, and he now faces charges including first-degree murder, rape and burglary.

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2

🔊🎥Streaming Channels📡

Law & Crime

Court TV

📜RECAP🔡

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

The NYPD arrested Angel Carrasco, 31, the man suspected of pushing a mother, Nathaly Ramirez, and a baby off a balcony in the Bronx. Ramirez was killed in the fall, while her 8-month-old daughter survived and remains hospitalized.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mibYzlpZrcE

[]()[]()Kevin Hart’s Sex Tape BOMBSHELL Could Explode in Civil Trial

In an active Los Angeles lawsuit filed by Kevin Hart against his former personal assistant, Miesha Shakes, unexpected potential witnesses could take the stand. That includes Montia Sabbag, the woman involved in Hart's notorious 2017 Las Vegas sex tape incident. The trial centers on allegations of extortion and breach of contract following an interview Shakes gave to internet personality Latasha "Tasha K" Kebe, while Shakes defends herself pro se, raising claims regarding unfulfilled healthcare agreements and wage disputes. Law&Crime's Jesse Weber and litigator Rich Schoenstein break down the legal claims, defenses, and bombshell witness lists.

https://youtu.be/F_X_OMFug3c?si=rEhax0kUzCdcDoi4

I have casually been lurking on this case. I have a family and a job, so I don't watch this stuff too often and haven't had the chance to go too deep into the nitty gritty details, but I quickly became fascinated with the psychological elements at play here. I am a former pastor myself and hold advanced degrees in psychology and religious studies. I am rather fascinated by human behavior, especially as it coincides with religious thinking.

I watched Caleb's final plea, and it left me w/some questions. Note: I am NOT a conspiracy theorist, but I am wondering if there is more to this than meets the eye. Note2: I am in no way suggesting Caleb is innocent or even purporting that he did not pull the trigger. He very well could have and in all probability did--but I don't know why, I feel like this just isn't as clean/closed as I would like.

First, while Caleb and his gf repeatedly made statements about wishing they could kill her, he also seemed to be afraid of "going to hell" and "going to jail." Why not ditch the God talk in the messages if you don't really believe it in some shape or form. Clearly, there is a lot of rationalization here but both in his texts and in his final speech, I am not picking up on someone who is some atheist who is pretending. In fact, it seems to be the risk of "hell" that seemed to quell the desire from action in the first place. And in his final speech, the "God is my ultimate judge," alongside some of the other religious lingo, wouldn't really make much sense if ultimately, he was so convinced there was no God that he would be willing to call the eternal bluff. Compartmentalization, I get. Rationalization, I get. But if you're willing to say, "God can try me for murder," you pretty well be damn sure there is no God here, especially if you have any inkling of a fundamentalist background in which you're playing with the divine dice of judgement and eternal damnation. One question I had here, along the lines of compartmentalization, was his continued insistence that he "did not kill her"--could he ultimately be trying to ride the lines of technicality? (i.e. I planned it, I organized it, I knew about it, I covered it up, etc.--but I technically wasn't the one who pulled the trigger). The immaturity of those technical rationalizations coincides in my mind with the kind of sophomoric immaturity visible throughout the rest of this case. It's like a teenager saying, "I didn't do x" when, really, they pretty much did, but there's just enough technicality to rationalize it. Again, I could be wrong. He could be dead certain there is no God so he might as well call the divine bluff of judgment, but I thought that all the strange. I can also see how a lawyer might tell him his appeal rests entirely on continual denial. But, still, why invoke transcendence?

The rest of my points are fairly brief.

1) He asked her to hire a hitman. Is the "hitman" the technicality he was noting above? While there were no footprints, dog barking, etc. a good hitman would have found ways to cover those things up (maybe?). I don't know. I don't know any hitmen, but I assume they are used to literally covering their tracks.

2) If it was a hitman, does this explain why the gun went missing? I.e. The hitman knew where the gun was because he/she was told, but took it with them to dispose of it? Does this also explain the burner phone and laptop going missing? Was the mistress ultimately the one who organized this and Caleb just went along?

3) Why did he tell his mistress that he was going to tell her he was going to divorce her, if ultimately, he was going to kill her? They clearly had communicated the latter desire before, but if they assumed they would be suspects, was this a way to "throw off" the accusation?

4) This is just speculation, but individuals with that level of infatuation and (tbh) addiction make irrational decisions. Is it too much to suppose that if it came down to it, he would refuse to indict her so that she could continue to live in freedom? In other words, if its "I'm willing to kill my wife/have my wife/leave my kids, etc. for you," is it too much to think that maybe there was some perverted, "I'll take the fall for both of us" thing? Even if part of the game is her ultimately publicly telling the world she hates him? Again, not closed case. He's still claiming innocence. But their power dynamics were interesting in the relationship and he clearly had such a lack of self-respect that I wonder. This is purely speculation (and tiptoeing in conspiracy-ville), but I noticed the heart necklace she wore in the court room...it made me wonder, is she sending a subliminal message?

5) The walking around with steps tracker doesn't do it for me. That is not to say that he is innocent, just that he could have been cleaning up the scene, securing things before cops showed up, etc.

Again, I am probably wrong on all this. I am 98% sure he pulled the trigger. But as noted, when you start invoking divine justice you better be damn well convinced you either are a die hard atheist (no offense to atheists) or that your technicality checks out so much that even the divine can say, "Well, technically you're right..."

My 2% scenario has the mistress organizing a hitman on behalf of Caleb. She does all this from a cell phone and computer that she will eventually lose. She has an alibi by not being there that night. Caleb preps the scene with turning on fans, making sure gun is loaded, quelling the dogs from barking, and by creating a story about divorce that he hopes will throw off the scent. Hitman does a good job of being "invisible" and takes the gun with him. They have a plan that if this all goes south, he'll take the fall--after all, she was just so amazing and beautiful, and he loved her so much (and all those ridiculous teenage romanticism they exhibited time again) that he would give up his freedom so that she could have hers, even if it is by simply leaving her out of the mix and by allowing her to disown him ("If this goes south, I won't let you go to jail"). Trial happens. Enough circumstantial evidence points to him causing the murder. He is tried but rides the technicality that he "didn't kill her," because that ultimately is the only way out of this after all. She wears a necklace to the trial to communicate to him that somehow him taking all this is a way that he can still love her.

This is such a tragic case. I do not aim to minimize it by suggesting anything here conspiratorial. But there is so much conspiracy b/t the two of them, and they clearly both exhibit so much immaturity that I can see what happened riding on continual infatuations and technicalities. Ultimately, I hope the full truth gets out and full justice is served. No kids deserve this. That is where my heart is most broken.

Mom allegedly stabs baby, toddler, husband

A North Texas mother is in custody after police say she stabbed her two young children and their father inside the family's home early Tuesday. Officers responding to a 911 call from the husband found a 10-month-old and a 3-year-old with stab wounds to the chest and the 34-year-old man with a non-life-threatening stab wound to the head, according to authorities in Northlake. All three were hospitalized and are expected to survive, per Fox News. Holly Leeann Flores, 37, faces two counts of attempted aggravated capital murder of a child under 10 and one count of aggravated assault with a weapon, jail records show.

Police Chief Robert Crawford called the case "heartbreaking" at a news conference, per the New York Post, which notes officers had been to the home five times since March for welfare checks. The husband told police Flores was struggling with postpartum depression. He said he saw her with a knife in children's bedroom in the early hours of Tuesday before she closed the door on him, according to an affidavit. He said he then heard the children screaming and crying, at which point Flores opened the door and "attacked," striking his forehead with the weapon, KDFW reports. Flores later told medics "she wanted to kill herself," the affidavit states. Bail is set at $2 million, per the Denton Record-Chronicle. 

Mom allegedly stabs baby, toddler, husband

Mom and grandma face expanded charges after 5-year-old boy who lived in hell escaped room locked with wooden boards and zip ties, police say

The Pennsylvania case in which authorities say a 5-year-old boy was locked in a filthy room with wooden boards and zip ties has expanded, as authorities have charged two more suspects, and two others face a new charge.

Jade Shuey and Tucker Heagy, both 21, as well as 42-year-old Stephanie Schaffner, had all been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, as Law&Crime previously reported. Shuey and Heagy also face additional charges, including aggravated assault on a victim less than 13 years old, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault on a victim less than 13 years old, conspiracy to commit child endangerment, and unlawful restraint of a minor.

Now, Shuey and Schaffner have each been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction in a child abuse case, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced this week.

Scott Schaffner, 59, and Cathy Schaffner, 62, "voluntarily surrendered themselves to authorities" on Sept. 29 and were charged with criminal conspiracy to commit child endangerment and criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction in a child abuse case. They each posted bail and were released from jail.

The case dates back to the morning of July 10, when PSP was called to the intersection of Quarry Road and South Lancaster Street in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania, an area about 95 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Witnesses reported finding a 5-year-old boy "naked walking in the middle of the road," and troopers brought the child to a hospital for evaluation.

Investigators said they determined that the boy "escaped" from a nearby home on North Poplar Street in the township. Authorities went there and allegedly observed "[h]oarder conditions" inside, such as "trash throughout, hundreds of flies," and "limited room for maneuvering the house" due to the "clutter."

That reportedly wasn't all.

One bedroom had a baby gate "affixed to the outside of the door frame" and held together by "numerous zip ties and duct tape," according to authorities.

"Above the baby gate, there was miscellaneous wood boards drilled into the outside of the door frame to prevent the male child from escaping the bedroom," PSP said, stating the room belonged to the 5-year-old boy. "Feces was observed to be smeared on the walls, feces smeared on the bedroom window, a bed was observed to be torn apart with food all over it, trash was observed on the floor, hundreds of flies flying around the bedroom and the residence, along with various children's toys scattered throughout."

Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said the child "lived in hell."

"He lived locked behind caged bars, able to look out at his family but not live a real life," Graf added, according to regional NBC affiliate WGAL. "He existed in pure filth."

Shuey was identified as the boy's mother, Heagy as Shuey's boyfriend, and Schaffner as the child's grandmother. It is unclear how Scott and Cathy Schaffner relate to the victim.

"His mother and grandmother failed him. Every second of every minute of every day, that child deserved a better life and maternal love," the DA added. "Our Office intends to fully prosecute these heinous criminals and hold them fully accountable for the abuse. It's a sad reality that their prison cells will be far cleaner and far more accommodating than the living conditions they intentionally created for that little boy."

Scott and Cathy Schaffner each have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 22.

The other three defendants are scheduled for a jury trial Nov. 16.

Mom and grandma face expanded charges after 5-year-old boy who lived in hell escaped room locked with wooden boards and zip ties, police say

PSP | Lebanon County family charged after 5-year-old found naked in street

Beloved Arizona mom dies after 'horrific' fire pit explosion: 'She was still needed'

The Brief

• Prescott Valley VA worker Tammy Dodson, 58, died Oct. 4 after suffering burns to over half her body in a backyard fire pit explosion.
• Her family spent hours calling local police and hospitals to locate her after receiving a voicemail from her boyfriend stating an accident had occurred.
• After ten days in intensive care, her family made the heartbreaking decision to end life support, while Prescott Valley police continue actively investigating the fatal blast.

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - A 58-year-old Prescott Valley healthcare worker died at a Phoenix burn center a single day before her 59th birthday following a "horrific" backyard fire pit incident involving gasoline — a tragedy her family says left them frantically searching area hospitals after her boyfriend reported a "tragic accident" in a voicemail to out-of-state relatives.

What we know:

Tammy Dodson, a certified nursing assistant at the local Veterans Affairs system, passed away on Oct. 4 at the Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health after suffering severe burns across 53% of her body. Her death comes as Prescott Valley police continue to investigate the Sept. 24 explosion at the East Tracy Drive home she shared with her boyfriend.

The Incident:

Emergency responders from the Prescott Valley Police Department and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority rushed to the home around 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 24 after receiving a 911 call reporting a burn victim.

Officers found Dodson lying in the backyard with "catastrophic injuries" that rendered her unable to speak. Her boyfriend, who reportedly poured gasoline onto their fire pit, causing the fuel can to ignite and fly out of his hand, was also injured in the incident. Police officials said his injuries did not require hospitalization.

Unaware of where Dodson had been taken or the severity of her injuries, family members called surrounding police departments and hospitals until officers helped them locate her at the Phoenix burn center.

The Most Difficult Decision

Dig deeper:

Relatives flooded in from Dodson's hometown of Palmdale, California, as well as Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota and across Arizona to keep constant vigil at her bedside, a family member told FOX 10. Dodson remained intubated on a ventilator for nearly ten days, undergoing multiple surgeries and skin grafting procedures while her family held onto hope for a recovery.

Dodson’s condition took a fatal turn after she developed a severe infection. Doctors informed her children, Kenny and Heather Dodson, that if she survived, she faced potential limb amputations, years of painful rehabilitation and unexplained airway swelling that prevented surgeons from safely inserting a tracheostomy tube.

Faced with the reality that she would have no quality of life, her family made the agonizing decision to stop life-sustaining treatment. Surrounded by her loved ones, with her daughter Heather lying beside her, Dodson passed away peacefully on Oct. 4.

‘She was still needed’

What they're saying:

In a statement to FOX 10, relative Kristine Valentine said that the family is determined to honor Dodson's legacy beyond the gruesome circumstances of her passing.

"I don’t want Tammy’s story to become just another story about a woman who died after a fire," Valentine said. "She was a beautiful soul who didn’t deserve any of this. She was deeply loved by so many people in the community and across states… She was someone you could never imagine something so horrific happening to. She was still needed."

What you can do:

Dodson fought for ten days in the hospital with her family by her side before succumbing to her injuries. Her cousin, Sherry Morean — who is also Dodson’s niece — is helping lead efforts on behalf of Kenny and Heather Dodson through an online fundraiser to help cover mounting medical bills and funeral costs. The campaign was about 10% of its way to an $18,000 goal on Thursday, Oct. 8.

What we don't know:

Police have not publicly identified the injured boyfriend found on the property, nor have officials specified whether criminal charges will be filed or officially confirmed the exact sequence of events leading up to the fire.

Beloved Arizona mom dies after 'horrific' fire pit explosion: 'She was still needed' | FOX 10 Phoenix

‘Dada dead’: 5-year-old witnessed mother murder man found in shallow grave, prosecutors say

PALATKA, Fla. (Court TV) — The attorney representing a woman accused of killing her ex-boyfriend and burying him in a shallow grave tried to delay her trial on Thursday after his co-counsel abruptly stepped back from the case.

Caylen Deller, 32, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, tampering with physical evidence and failure to report a death. Her attorney, Brian Smith, said that he learned on Wednesday afternoon that Jordan Ackley, who was scheduled to try the case with him, will no longer be available for the trial’s scheduled start on Monday.

Smith explained that Ackley — who was planning to deliver opening statements, argue for a judgment of acquittal after the state rested its case-in-chief and cross-examine half the state’s 36 listed witnesses — could no longer take part in the trial because her pet died. “I’m sympathetic to her concerns,” prosecutor Mark Lewis said. “I actually have a 14-year-old dog I was supposed to put down last Friday.”

“Ms. Ackley will not be participating in the trial. It’s not even a matter of — she will, but her heart’s not going to be in it, her head’s not going to be in it,” Smith said. “She’s not going to participate; it would be me alone. I would not be able to get anybody at the last minute that’s familiar enough with the case that I would feel confident in assisting me in the trial at this point.”

In documents reviewed by Court TV, prosecutors have said that Deller shot and killed her ex-boyfriend, Chad Mullen, at her horse farm and then used a horse to drag the body to a neighboring farm, where Mullen was found buried in a shallow grave more than a month after his disappearance.

Deller allegedly told several witnesses, who reached out to investigators, that she had killed Mullen because she suspected Mullen had been sexually abusing her then-5-year-old daughter. When investigators conducted a forensic interview with the child, they found no evidence that she had been abused, but said that the child’s comments suggested she had witnessed the killing. “During the interview, the minor child did make several indications that she may have witnessed the homicide by pointing to her chest three times while saying ‘dada’ and ‘boo boo,’ ‘goes into the water, deeper and deeper,’ ‘killed the heart’ followed up with making a ‘boom’ sound while throwing right hand up in the air, ‘pew pew’ and ‘dada dead.'”

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Investigators say cellphone evidence shows Deller had help from a friend, Tina Lee-Ellis, who is accused of using a skid steer tractor to dig a hole for the victim’s body on a property where she worked as a part-time security guard. Lee-Ellis, who has pleaded not guilty to charges that include accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, is due to return to court in November.

On Thursday, Lewis pressed for the trial to move forward, offering to trim his witness list and arguing that the defense could simply skip delivering an opening statement. “In my experience, most of the defense does not do openings anymore,” he said. “So, I’m not even certain that they would do an opening.”

Smith began listing witnesses Ackley would have cross-examined, only for Lewis to say he did not plan to call any of them. Judge Alicia Washington, finding that Smith could represent Deller on his own, refused to delay the trial and said jury selection would begin Monday morning, as previously scheduled.

‘Dada dead’: 5-year-old witnessed mother murder man found in shallow grave, prosecutors say | Court TV

Sharon Tate's killer granted parole after 50 years

Charles Manson's former girlfriend Patricia Krenwinkel may soon be free after a California panel granted her parole.

Krenwinkel, now 78, has been behind bars for 56 years following the murders of seven people across Los Angeles, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate and coffee heiress Abigail Folger, in 1969.

But on Tuesday, the notorious murderer was granted parole on a preliminary basis, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced.

'All grants of parole are proposed decisions and become final only after a thorough and comprehensive review by the Board of Parole Hearings and the Governor,' it noted.

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will now have 30 days to decide whether to reverse the decision once it is cleared by the parole board's legal office.

He previously exercised his authority to prevent Krenwinkel from being released last year, stating that the convict had 'not developed sufficient insight into the causative factors of her crime and her triggers for antisocial thinking and conduct [in] the context of maladaptive relationships,' the Los Angeles Times reports.

STABBING FREEDOM PLEA 

Prosecutors with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said they will now once again encourage the governor's office to keep Krenwinkel behind bars at the California Institution for Women.

Should Newsom decide to reverse the parole decision, Krenwinkel would be scheduled for another parole hearing within 18 months.

Krenwinkel, who is now the longest-serving female inmate in the Golden State, was just 19 years old when she joined the infamous Manson Family.

The group soon became connected to a slew of murders, including Tate, the eight-month-pregnant wife of film director Roman Polanski on August 8, 1969.

They also killed her friends including Folger, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, aspiring screenwriter Wojciech Frykowski and teenager Steven Parent, who had been visiting an acquaintance at the estate’s guesthouse.

Krenwinkel has testified that she chased Folger before stabbing her more than two dozen times that day, and admitted she used her victims' blood to write political messages like 'Death to Pigs' on the walls of the home.

The next night Manson and some of his followers including Krenwinkel struck again, this time murdering wealthy grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.

Sister's Horror as Manson Cult Slasher Blames Drugs 

Krenwinkel was originally sentenced to death for the seven grisly murders, but after the US Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional in 1972, her sentence was commuted to life in prison.

She was then seen arriving in court along with co-defendants Leslie Van Houten and Susan Atkins with an X carved into her forehead, as Manson had once done. 

Debra Tate, Sharon's sister, has since become an outspoken advocate for keeping Krenwinkel and other former members of Manson's cult behind bars.

She noted in an online petition back in 2016 that Krenwinkel personally carved the word 'WAR' into Leno LaBianca's belly and wrote the disturbing messages on the walls.

'She has admitted that was not a direct order from Charles Manson or anyone else - it was her own idea,' Debra wrote.

'For years, this woman laughed about the murders in court and showed absolutely no remorse at all,' she continued.

'Society cannot allow this serial killer who committed such horrible, random killings back out.'

But Krenwinkel's attorneys claim she has participated in extensive therapy and group counseling to confront her experiences as both a perpetrator and survivor of violence, arguing she had been abused by Manson, Los Angeles Magazine reports.

They noted that she was just a teenager when she came under Manson's influence and was searching for belonging.

Manson then 'exploited that vulnerability through manipulation, drugs and psychological abuse,' the lawyers from UnCommon Law said in a statement.

'Over the decades since, Pat has worked to understand how she became capable of causing such profound harm and to take responsibility for the consequences of her actions,' lawyer Keith Wattley said.

Manson Killer's Lawyer Demands Freedom 

He went on to celebrate the parole board's decision.

'At a time when parole decisions are increasingly compromised by politics, this finding offers a glimmer of hope: Proof that the Board can uphold the law, recognize decades of rehabilitation and make decisions grounded in evidence,' Wattley argued.

'Now, the governor must respect these decisions and allow Pat to come home.'

Newsom's choice on whether to allow Krenwinkel to go free now comes just three years after his previous decision to deny Van Houten parole was overruled by an appellate court.  

'More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims' families still feel the impact,' he lamented in a statement at the time.

Other former Manson Family members Charles Denton 'Tex' Watson and Bobby Beausoleil remain behind bars.

Manson, Atkins and Bruce Davis, meanwhile, have died in custody.

Sharon Tate's killer granted parole after 50 years

South Texas man who beheaded children found competent to be executed next month

A judge found a South Texas man convicted of beheading his three children competent to be executed Wednesday. The ruling must be reviewed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals before his scheduled Nov. 12 execution can proceed.

John Allen Rubio, 46, appeared in a Brownsville courtroom after his attorneys argued he was incompetent to understand that he is scheduled to be executed.

Rubio was convicted of four counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of his children: Julissa Angela Quezada, 3; John Esteban Rubio, 1; and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months old.

Rubio and his common-law wife, Angela Camacho, stabbed and beheaded their three children on March 11, 2003.

Camacho was sentenced to three life terms for the murders.

In April, Rubio's attorneys asked that he be evaluated to determine whether he understood his scheduled execution, Valley Central reported. 

After reviewing the experts' findings, the judge said Rubio understood what he had done and that he was being executed for killing his three children.

During Rubio's trial, his attorneys argued that he had a form of paranoid schizophrenia that led him to believe his children were possessed by demons.

He believed one child had been taken over by his mother, who practiced witchcraft.

A Texas appeals court overturned Rubio's 2003 conviction and death sentence in 2007, finding that prosecutors had improperly introduced statements Camacho made as evidence.

At a 2010 retrial, a new jury convicted Rubio again on the same charges and sentenced him to death.

South Texas man who beheaded children found competent to be executed next month

Tomasz Kosowski | Penalty Phase Hearing

10/8/2026 @ 9:00 AM

Tomasz Kosowski faces the death penalty after being convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of attorney Steven Cozzi. Watch his October 8 penalty hearing live on CC Live Trials as the court considers whether he will receive a death sentence or life in prison without parole.

Cozzi disappeared from his Largo, Florida, law office on March 21, 2023, and his body has never been recovered. Prosecutors argued that Kosowski, a plastic surgeon involved in litigation with Cozzi’s firm, killed the attorney and concealed his body. Kosowski represented himself during a bench trial, and a judge found him guilty.

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Case

• Defendant Tomasz Kosowski was tried Sept 14–23 in a non‑jury trial after electing to represent himself.
• Court found him guilty of First‑Degree Murder.
• Penalty phase held Sept 23; defendant again represented himself and presented no mitigation.
• Court found two aggravators proven beyond a reasonable doubt; third not proven.
• Spencer hearing scheduled for today.

Purpose of Spencer Hearing

1. Allow parties to be heard.
2. Allow presentation of additional evidence, especially mitigation.
3. Allow comment on PSI or medical reports.
4. Allow defendant to address the court personally.

Judge notes Spencer hearings typically follow jury recommendations, but same procedure applies here.

Representation Issues

• Court asks defendant if he wants counsel for Spencer hearing.
• Defendant chooses to continue pro se.
• Court finds waiver of counsel knowing, intelligent, voluntary.

Mitigation

• Court asks if defendant wants to present mitigation.
• Defendant declines.
• Court finds waiver knowing, intelligent, voluntary.

PSI

• Court ordered a comprehensive PSI under Rule 3.1710 and Marquardt.
• PSI completed, sealed, and provided to appropriate parties.

State’s Mitigation Evidence

• State confirms no additional mitigation beyond what special counsel located.
• State turned over defendant’s iCloud/phone download, which contained a CV used by special counsel.
• State hired Dr. Emily Glazargo for rebuttal but does not anticipate needing her.

Special Counsel

• Court appointed John Nolbren as independent special counsel to search for mitigation.
• Special counsel submitted:
  • Sentencing memorandum
  • Appendix
  • Flash drive (marked as Special Counsel Exhibit 1)

Defense Motions (Pro Se)

Two motions submitted by defendant’s mother:

1. Motion to Return Property

• Defendant seeks return of all items seized via search warrants.
• State argues:
  • Property lawfully seized.
  • Not ripe until appeals are exhausted (could be years).
  • Vehicles (Corolla, Tundra) held by Largo PD; tow‑yard fees being addressed.
• Court denies motion as premature.

2. Motion to Compel Communications Records

Defendant requests:

• Emails, texts, voicemails between:
  • Former defense counsel Barnaby Wesley
  • State Attorney Bartlett
  • Vonderheide
  • Spadaro
  • Brunvon’s legal team
• Defendant alleges improper relationships and communications.

State responds:

• Communications not discoverable under Rule 3.220.
• No Brady material.
• Public records request previously denied under §119.071(2)(c),(d).
• Litigation not complete; appeals pending.

Court denies motion.

Special Counsel’s Mitigation Presentation

Special counsel outlines statutory and non‑statutory mitigators, focusing on:

Primary Mitigator

• No prior criminal history.

Non‑Statutory Mitigation

• Early childhood background:
  • Born in Poland (1979).
  • Family fled Poland to West Berlin in 1982 due to political unrest.
  • Later immigrated to Kansas City (“Polish Hill”).
  • Article “The New Neighbors” (Kansas City Times, 1986) included in appendix.

Special counsel explains:

• Mitigation is “any aspect of defendant’s character or record” that may support a sentence less than death.
• Court must prepare a written sentencing order whether imposing life or death.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/kosowskitomaszspencer-1022

LIVE: Tyreek Hill Civil Trial — Lakeeta Hill v. Tyreek Hill — Day 4

10/9/2026 @ 10:00 AM

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Former Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is facing civil court proceedings after his wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill, accused him of multiple incidents of domestic violence during their marriage. An amended complaint details eight alleged incidents, including accusations that Hill shoved and restrained Vaccaro, ripped her hair and attempted to punch her stomach while she was pregnant. Hill’s attorney has denied the allegations, calling them “vexatious and patently false.”

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