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An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a Texas girl last week. Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez is expected to be charged with capital murder in the death of 11-year-old Maria González, the Pasadena County Police Department announced on Saturday. Mr Garcia-Rodriguez was taken into custody by the Shreveport Police Department in Louisiana and will be extradited to Texas in the following days. He is accused of sexually assaulting Maria and strangling her to death before placing her body in a laundry basket under her bed. Maria’s father Carmelo González, who had received text messages from her daughter saying someone was knocking on the door, found the body when he returned home from work on 12 August. Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said during a press conference on Friday that detectives had talked to and taken DNA samples from Mr Garcia-Rodriguez on the day that Maria was found. He clarified that Mr Garcia-Rodriguez lived in the González’s apartment complex. Maria’s family issued a statement to KHOU 11 thanking detectives for their commitment to finding justice for the family. “We want to say thank you to the Pasadena Police Department and to Louisiana police and any officials that participated in bringing this cold-blooded murderer into custody. “This arrest has brought the family and community some peace. We are extremely thankful that he cannot cause this type of pain to anybody again.” The statement continued: “I ask for those who are in charge to give us justice. May he be burdened with the full weight of the law, for what he has done to my daughter.” Police said that Maria was in communication with her father on the morning of her murder. Mr González told her not to open the door amd asked a family member who lives near the complex to check on Maria, but he wasn’t able to find her. “I left her alone in the apartment and she was sending voice notes saying that someone was on the door. I told her not to open the door and that I was leaving work,” an emotional Mr Gonzalez told Univision in Spanish. Mr González eventually found Maria’s remains wrapped inside two plastic bags and stuffed inside a basket. The medical examiner determined that Maria was sexually assaulted and that her cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation and blunt force head and neck trauma. Maria had immigrated to the US with her father four years ago and they had moved into their apartment just three months ago. Pasadena police said that Mr Garcia-Rodriguez also immigrated from Guatemala and surrendered to border officers in El Paso, NewsNation. reported. Read More Texas girl sexually assaulted and strangled to death after texting father ‘someone was knocking on the door’ An 11-year-old warned about a mysterious stranger before her rape and murder. Now her father needs justice Relative of Idaho killings victim wears T-shirt with pro-firing squad message at suspect’s hearing

Defence attorneys for Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger have argued that they don’t have all the DNA evidence from prosecutors at a pivotal motions hearing that could delay the highly anticipated trial. Mr Kohberger gave an awkward smile to the court as he returned to the Latah County Courthouse on Friday where six motions from the defence and the prosecution were being argued, including the process of how he was identified as a suspect and his alibi for the night of the murders. The hearing comes just six weeks before Mr Kohberger is set to stand trial for the 13 November 2022 slayings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at their home in Moscow. The proceedings began on Friday with Mr Kohberger’s defence team’s motion to compel prosecutors to share additional DNA evidence – specifically the lab results of three unidentified male DNA samples reportedly found at the crime scene. Prosecutors argued that they have provided everything and that they “can’t provide something that doesn’t exist”. “There has to be some level of trust in discovery,” Judge John Judge said. “You are all sworn attorneys.” He ordered the prosecution to reach back out to the lab to ensure there are no other results that the defence does not have. Mr Kohberger, 28, was a graduate student in criminal justice at Washington State University when he was arrested on 30 December at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. He was then brought back to Idaho where a grand jury indicted him for the murders in May. A DNA sample from trash collected at Mr Kohberger’s family home was used to link him to a knife sheath found at the scene of the murders. Investigators said, “At least 99.9998% of the male population would be expected to be excluded from the possibility of being the suspect’s biological father.” But his defence team, who claim Mr Kohberger was “out driving” at the time of the killings, has argued against the use of forensic genealogy used to identify him and has asked for all the records from the forensic genealogy work. They are also seeking a stay in the trial proceedings arguing that the grand jury should have reached its conclusion “beyond a reasonable doubt” rather than based on probable cause. Prosecutors strongly oppose these motions. Judge John C Judge could grant, deny, or partially approve any parts of these motions. But depending on how he rules, there could be a delay in the 2 October trial date. Read More Bryan Kohberger’s defence seeks to undercut DNA evidence against him in Idaho murders case Bryan Kohberger finally reveals vague alibi for night of Idaho murders Bryan Kohberger asks judge to throw out Idaho murders indictment as prosecutors demand alibi

Footage of the arrest of Mario Fernandez, the man accused of orchestrating the murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan, has been released by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Mr Fernandez, a landlord, is accused of hiring one of his tenants, Henry Tenon, to ambush and kill Mr Bridegan near Jacksonville, Florida in February 2022. Mr Tenon reportedly admitted to police that he pulled the trigger the night Mr Bridegan was killed. The release of the arrest footage comes in the wake of a third arrest in the murder case. Mr Bridegan's ex-wife, Shanna Gardner-Fernandez — who is married to Mr Fernandez — was also arrested and charged with first degree murder. Mr Bridegan and Ms Gardner-Fernandez were embroiled in a contentious divorce proceeding prior to his death. In the recently released bodycamera footage obtained by News4Jax, Mr Fernandez can be seen sitting in handcuffs in the back of a pickup truck speaking with police investigators. He is then placed in the back of a patrol car. Mr Fernandez was arrested in March. In the footage, he can be heard reminiscing about using beepers and remembering phone numbers, laughing about being short, and asking about how deputies deal with tall people who are placed in the back of cramped patrol cars. He is facing first degree murder, conspiracy, and child abuse charges. He faces a potential death penalty if convicted. On the night of the shooting, Mr Bridegan was returning from his ex-wife's house near Jacksonville after dropping off two of his children. On his way home, he found a tire in the road blocking his path. When Mr Bridegan stepped out of his vehicle, he was shot — allegedly by Mr Tenon — and killed. Bullets hit the interior of Mr Bridegan's car, narrowly missing his toddler from another marriage. After the shooting Mr Bridegan's ex-wife said she was "devastated" by the murder and insisted she had nothing to do with his violent death. A grand jury indicted her on Thursday, after which he was taken into custody in Washington state. She moved out of Florida after Mr Bridegan was murdered. Ms Gardner-Fernandez's family issued a statement in the wake of her arrest. “Words cannot accurately express the depth of our sadness. Family is our top priority. We love our daughter and are focused on supporting her and our entire family as we help our grandchildren navigate this difficult and very confusing time," her parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, said. "For their sake and all involved, we caution against further speculation and request privacy as the legal process runs its course. In the meantime, we are thankful for the continued support, thoughtfulness and prayers being so generously shared by friends and loved ones.” Read More Jared Bridegan’s widow ‘not surprised’ by ex-wife’s arrest over Microsoft executive’s murder plot Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan was shot dead in a chilling ambush. Did his ex wife arrange it? Husband of Microsoft executive’s ex-wife could face death penalty for roadside murder

Two Nigerian hackers accused of targeting American children in an elaborate sexual extortion plot that led to 17-year-old Jordan DeMay’s death have pleaded not guilty to several charges, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced. Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, of Lagos, Nigeria, were extradited to the US this week and were arraigned the next day on four counts, including charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Ogoshi brothers were formally advised of the charges against them and entered not guilty pleas on 17 August. The charges stem from DeMay’s in March 2022, after being gripped by fear that his nude photos would be shared with the world. The exchange that led to the tragedy was initiated by three men far across the Atlantic posing as a woman on Instagram. The trio, who American prosecutors have since identified as Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, allegedly convinced the minor to send the explicit photos and then blackmailed him for $1,000. US Attorney Mark Totten said: ‘Today’s hearing is another step forward in the judicial process following the successful extradition of the Ogoshi brothers from Nigeria to the United States last Sunday.’ ‘My office is fully prepared to present the facts of the case during a fair trial.’ Read More A teen dead and two Nigerians extradited for sextortion. How a horror night on Instagram killed Jordan DeMay Two Nigerian brothers charged in sextortion that led to American teen’s suicide plead not guilty

Rachel Morin’s boyfriend has spoken out after Maryland Police revealed footage of the man believed to have murdered the mother-of-five. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that DNA found at the scene of Morin’s murder had been matched to the DNA left at a home were an unknown man broke into a home in Los Angeles and violently attacked a young girl back in March. The suspect, a Hispanic male aged 20-30, was caught on a home security camera leaving the LA home. “We believe this was a person that Rachel didn’t know, potentially a random act of violence,” Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Colonel William Davis said on Thursday. Police are now asking for the public’s help in identifying him. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been positively identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel William Davis said at a press conference. Morin’s boyfriend Richard Tobin took to social media following the briefing to say: “I hope they found this scum of the earth, justice for Rachel.” The break in the investigation comes nearly two weeks after Morin, 37, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air at around 6pm on 5 August. Her body was found near the trail the next day. Read More Maryland police have DNA matching Rachel Morin murder suspect and video images but no identity Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing Maryland sheriff calls out ‘heinous coward’ who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin Rachel Morin’s boyfriend speaks out after police name man wanted over sex assault as suspect in murder

After navigating the daunting challenges to access the treatment she needed, Tescha Hawley started the Day Eagle Hope Project to help other Native American cancer patients. Today, her organization is addressing gaps in health care and nutrition for thousands on her reservation.

Rachel Morin's boyfriend spoke up after the Maryland police found DNA evidence of a man they believe killed the mother-of-five. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that the DNA found at the scene of Morin's death matched with DNA found at the scene of a March home invasion in Los Angeles where a young girl was attacked. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel Davis said. “Based on the DNA evidence, we consider the individual in the video we obtained from the Los Angeles Police Department to be the person that murdered Rachel Morin.” Police released a video of the individual, a shirtless man thought to be Hispanic and in his 20s, leaving the Los Angeles crime scene on a home security camera. Following the announcement, Morin's 27-year-old boyfriend, Richard Tobin wrote on Facebook: "I hope they found this s*** of the earth, justice for Rachel. Rip. love you rach." In a follow-up post he urged people to “please help identify this s*** bag”. According to The Baltimore Banner, Mr Tobin had given investigators a DNA sample and handed over his cell phone. While he was never officially named as a suspect in Morin's death or accused of any wrongdoing. people on social media pointed fingers at him due to his arrest records. Mr Tobin has two arrests for second-degree assault, and separate arrests for violating restraining orders, malicious destruction of property and drug possession dating back to 2014, court records show. Mr Tobin has also faced charges of being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, according to Maryland judiciary case search records. He previously lashed out saying, he would "never do anything to her". "Yes I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please," he wrote on social media. Morin was last seen around 6pm on 5 August when she allegedly went out for a run on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. The 37-year-old failed to return home that night and her boyfriend reported her missing. Just days before her murder, Morin and Mr Tobin had gone official on Facebook with their new relationship. Read More Rachel Morin update: Maryland police show video of potential suspect in Bel Air mother’s killing Rachel Morin – latest: Bel Air mother-of-five’s killer remains at large as Maryland police step up patrols Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing

An Ohio teenager was convicted for a deliberate 100mph “hell on wheels” crash that killed her boyfriend and friend. Mackenzie Shirilla, 19, was found guilty on multiple counts of murder for the incident that killed Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19, last year. Shirilla, who was 17 at the time of the crash, faces an automatic life sentence and will have to spend 15 years behind bars before she can apply for parole. She will be formally sentenced next week, reported Cleveland.com. “She had a mission, and she executed it with precision. The decision was death,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo, who held the trial without a jury. “Her actions were controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful. This was not reckless driving. This was murder.” The court was told that the crash took place at around 5.30am on 31 July 2022 at a building in a business park. Investigators say that Shirilla drove her 2018 Toyota Camry down a three-quarter mile road until it hit a speed of 100mph. Data from the car’s computer and surveillance video showed that the steering wheel jerked to the right and then left before the vehicle left the road and crashed into the business. The wreck was found by a passerby around 45 minutes later. When police arrived they found Russo and Flanagan dead, and Shrilla trapped in the driver’s seat with a fuzzy Prada slipper stuck to the accelerator. The judge told the court that the final seconds of the incident proved that Shirilla acted with purpose. “She morphs from responsible driver to literal hell on wheels,” she said. Prosecutors showed a video taken weeks before the crash which showed Shrilla arguing with Russo and in which she threatened to key his car. Following the crash, doctors stated that Shiilla expressed “grief, guilt and shame” about the crash, with prosecutors saying that she had demonstrated “consciousness of guilt”. Her lawyers argued that feeling bad after a fatal crash did not make the driver a murderer and said that prosecutors had not proved she had not just lost control while driving recklessly. Read More Jared Bridegan update: Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec charged with first degree murder US Army soldier accused of killing his wife in Alaska faces court hearing Ex-wife charged with murder of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office believes it has a DNA match to the person who killed Maryland woman Rachel Morin earlier this month. DNA found at the crime scene matches genetic material found at a home were an unknown man violently attacked a young girl in Los Angeles in March of this year, then was filmed leaving on a security camera, police said during a press conference on Thursday. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been positively identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel William Davis said. The break in the investigation comes nearly two weeks after Morin, a mother of five, was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air at around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing that night after she failed to return home. Read More Maryland police have DNA matching Rachel Morin murder suspect and video images but no identity Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing Maryland sheriff calls out ‘heinous coward’ who killed mother-of-five Rachel Morin

Donald Trump has abruptly cancelled his proposed news conference at which he claimed he was going to unveil a report that would clear him of any wrongdoing and charges he tried to interfere with the presidential election in Georgia. The former president took to Truth Social on Thursday evening to say that he would not be going through with the Friday media event – scheduled for 11am est – at the advice of his lawyers. “Rather than releasing the Report on the Rigged & Stolen Georgia 2020 Presidential Election on Monday, my lawyers would prefer putting this, I believe, Irrefutable & Overwhelming evidence of Election Fraud & Irregularities in formal Legal Filings as we fight to dismiss this disgraceful Indictment by a publicity & campaign finance seeking D.A., who sadly presides over a record breaking Murder & Violent Crime area, Atlanta. Therefore, the News Conference is no longer necessary!” he wrote on Truth Social. Mr Trump had vowed to hold the press conference after being indicted this week on 13 felony counts in Georgia, where he and members of his campaign sought to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election and prove baseless claims of voter and election fraud. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, whose office is overseeing the prosecution of the former president in Georgia, has given Mr Trump a surrender date of no later than 25 August. That would likely see Mr Trump and the other defendants appear in court in Atlanta during the week of 5 September. The district attorney’s office has proposed a 4 March trial date for Mr Trump, which would be just one day is one day before Super Tuesday, in which voters in more than a dozen states cast their primary votes for the GOP presidential nomination. Mr Trump is now facing four different trials, two at the federal level, one in Georgia and one in Manhattan, with prosecutors jostling for windows to prosecute the Republican frontrunner. He has pleaded not guilty to every charge in court and insisted on his innocence on social media. Read More Trump abruptly cancels news conference on Georgia ‘proof’ as he tries to delay trial by years – live updates Trump proposes date for trial for subverting 2020 election – in three years Trump attacks on judges may be ‘crossing the line,’ but experts say he will avoid punishment

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday they have used DNA evidence to identify a potential suspect in the murder of Maryland woman Rachel Morin earlier this month. Colonel William Davis said DNA found at the scene of Morin’s death was analysed by state police, turning up a match with DNA found at the scene of a March home invasion in Los Angeles where a young girl was attacked. “Unfortunately that suspect has not been positively identified, but he did leave behind his DNA,” Colonel Davis said. “Based on the DNA evidence, we consider the individual in the video we received from the Los Angeles Police Department to be the person that murdered Rachel Morin on August 5.” The individual, a shirtless man thought to be in his 20s, was recorded leaving the LA crime scene on a home security camera. The deputy added that despite the match, police still “don’t have a clue where he could be.” “In March he was in California, and here in August he was in Maryland,” the officer said. This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.

Former President Donald Trump reposted a meme of the DC National Guard stationed outside of the Lincoln Memorial in an effort to slam President Joe Biden—but as it turns out, that photo was taken during his own administration. “If you need 10,000 armed soldiers to protect your inauguration from the people then you probably weren’t elected by the people,” the Truth Social meme says, suggesting that Mr Biden lost the election that brought him to power. Mr Trump “re-Truthed” a post by @Godloving, who wrote on Wednesday, “From the campaign to the election, vote certification, inauguration, and administration...it all screams FRAUDULENT ELECTION!! Everybody knows it, no one does anything about it! There is only one leader with the courage and plan to fix this and it’s President Trump!! In fact, there is no other leader, anywhere!!” Despite pairing the emphatic words with the haunting photo in an attempt to blast Mr Biden, the image was actually captured in 2020 amid protests after George Floyd was killed by police. The photo went viral at the time because of the striking contrast depicted in the scene. The Lincoln Memorial was built to honour a president who famously issued the Emancipation Proclamation; the site was also where Martin Luther King Jr delivered his “I have a Dream” speech. Having troops dressed in military gear perched resolutely on the landmark’s steps evokes a different feeling entirely. The re-post from Mr Trump comes shortly after he was indicted—both federally and in the state of Georgia—for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Even after numerous legal efforts failed to prove any evidence of election fraud, the 2024 GOP frontrunner still continues to maintain that the election was “rigged.” Following the Georgia indictment, which was brought on Monday evening, the former president wrote on Truth Social: “Can you believe it? This failed District Attorney from Atlanta, Fani Willis…is charging me with 2020 Presidential Election Interference. No, Fani, the only Election Interference was done by those that Rigged and Stole the Election. Those are the ones you should be going after, not the innocent people that are fighting for Election Integrity!” He faces 13 felony counts in Georgia, including racketeering, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of conspiracy to make false statements under oath, two counts of conspiracy to file false documents, two counts of solicitation of a public officer, filing false documents, conspiracy to solicit false statements, and making false statements. He is joined by 18 others who were indicted, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Kenneth Chesebro, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, and Sidney Powell. Read More Ramaswamy dismisses ‘professional politician’ DeSantis after ‘sledgehammer’ strategy for debate revealed Trump slammed for ‘racist’ Georgia indictment post using term ‘riggers’ as jail booking nears – live updates Will Donald Trump go to prison?