Missouri Mother of Three is Missing

CNN.COM

Jacque Waller a 39-year-old mother of triplets has been missing since June 1, 2011. Her car was found on I-55 and authorities found her business cards about eight miles away from the location of her car. CNN’s Nancy Grace, speaks with Jacque’s sister Cherl Brennke. Cherl tells Nancy that the three children are with her at this time. Nancy goes on to ask, “Why are they not with their father?” Cherl states that he has murdered their mother and has threatened them and the children are just not safe with him. However, these are only allegations because Clay Waller isn’t officially a suspect at this time. Cherl goes on to report that Clay only wants the boy that he doesn’t care about the girls. She says that at the time her sister became missing that Jacque and Clay were separated. Clay Waller, tells the media that he and Jacque were not separated. However, Jacque’s last words to her family was that she just arrived at Clay’s home to pick up their son. Lt. Rodney Barnes told reporters that he himself listened to the message on Cherl Brennke’s phone and it was the voice of Jacque Waller. Therefore, Clay was the last person to see Jacque and he is not cooperating with the authorities at this time. He however, Spoke to CNN’s Brook Baldwin. He tells her that he doesn’t know where she is. They had an argument and she left. He stated that he left soon after. The only thing is…he can not account for where he was after that. Brook Baldwin goes on to report that Clay Waller was once a police officer and is familiar with how an investigation is conducted. But James Humphrey, Jackson Police Department’s Chief  says that Clay is an interesting person but is not a suspect at this time. Jacque’s mother reports that her daughter was supposed to start divorce proceeding that same day. In my opinion, this disappearance has a lot of missing areas or maybe the authorities are withholding information because of possible leads. Whatever the case, it is strange that if the couple were not separated, then why do the pair have different addresses? Things are just not adding up here.

Strokes in Young People

CNN Health News

Ninette Sosa reports that strokes can happen to anyone at any age. She talks to Aqualyn Laury, a lady that is on a mission to educate people about strokes and how to lessen your chance of becoming a stroke victim.  Aqualyn Laury speaks from a life lesson in this area. She was just nineteen when her world changed. Aqualyn was in college and like every other teenager was out to conquer the world. However, there was something else about to take control of her life and send her down another path for her future. She was walking on campus with a friend when she noticed that everything seemed more animated. The colors surrounding her were bolder. She turned to say something to her friend and all that came out of her mouth was gibberish.  Yes at nineteen years old Aqualyn Laury had suffered a stroke. This was twenty years ago, and now she is on a quest to educate everyone no matter their race or age of stroke awareness and prevention. Ninette Sosa takes us in to speak with cardiologist Winston Gandy. Dr. Gandy explains what happens to the brain during a stroke. A stroke occurs when one or more blood vessels get blocked by a blood clot or one of them ruptures. The brain needs oxygen and when the vessels are blocked it can not get enough. Therefore, the results are damage to that area of the brain or sometimes that area dies. Society does not look at young people when strokes are mentioned. They automatically assume it is related to the older generation, but this is far from the truth. Strokes do not discriminate against gender, race, religion, or how much money you have obtained. Dr. Gandy acknowledges that the advancement in technology has helped to be able to diagnose warning signs in the younger generation. He states that we have a good detection rate between the ages of fifteen and forty. Strokes have been linked to heredity, so Aqualyn Laury encourages everyone to know their family’s medical history and take precautions. Her mission is to help others make better life choices.

Catherine Kieu Becker

CNN.COM

Catherine Kieu Becker, age 48 , born in Vietnam, has been accused of slicing off her husband’s penis and then mutilating it, by throwing it into a garbage disposal. Catherine and her husband owned a condo at the Flower Tree II complex in Garden Grove, California. The couple was married in 2009 and seemed like a happily married pair according to neighbors. However, in May of the following year, her 60-year-old  husband filed for a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.  Catherine cooked dinner for the both of them on the night in question. It is alleged that she put drugs in her husband’s food to make him drowsy. The husband, whose name is not given because he is also alleged to be a victim of domestic violence, thought the meal tasted strange and soon after became sleepy and went to bed. He then awoke with his arms and legs tied to the bed and his wife on top of him. Catherine grabbed his penis and severed it. She then went into the kitchen and tossed it into the garbage disposal. Catherine herself made the call to 911 and when they arrived her only words were, “he deserved it” says Lt. Jeff Nightingale. Catherine’s husband was transported to UCI Medical Center for treatment and now has returned home. However, his condition has not been reported due to the devastating ordeal. In the mean time, Catherine is lodged in the Orange County jail were she faces charges of great bodily injury, use of a deadly weapon, torture, and aggravated mayhem. According to Lt. Jeff Nightingale a poisoning charge is pending on the results of a toxicology report that has been filed. In the mean time, Catherine Kieu Becker’s bail was set for $1 million dollars by Orange County Judge Debra Carrillo. Authorities are still baffled about the motive in this horrid crime. There has to have been more going on in this relationship than others knew. However, at this time the only apparent motive is the divorce.

Kidnapped Teen, Burned, Mouth Glued Shut

CNN Justice

WMUR 9 New Hampshire

A Manchester, New Hampshire apartment complex was faced with the realization of torcher from one of their own neighbors. In the early evening Iamael Bangs, age nineteen and Yven Luclaise, age twenty-five, invited a fifteen year old boy into Bang’s apartment for what was supposed to be to talk to the boy. When the boy entered the apartment on Kemble street, Bangs began to torcher him. First, Bangs lit a latex glove and dropped the melted rubber all over the boy’s body. He then shoved burning paper up his nose and burned his shoulder with a heated knife blade. All of this was done at knife point. While Bangs was torchering the youth, Luclaise was recording the scene on his iPod. Noticing that the boy had not come out of the apartment family and friends went to check on him. Bangs and Luclaise refused to answer the door, therefore they looked in the window and seen Bangs holding the teen at knife point. The teens mother called the local authorities just after mid-night. She informed them that her son was being held against his will and one man had a knife. According to Lt. Scott Legasse, when they arrived  they found the boy, naked, in the apartment and his lips has been glued shut. He also had multiple wound marks about him. At the same time, two suspects were trying to escape out the back door. The police still hasn’t offered a motive however, they did say that the three knew each other. The youth told Lt. Lagasse that Bangs had called him a snitch when he glued his mouth shut. this would later be entered into evidence against the defendants. Iamael Bangs and Yven Luclaise are being held under a $100,000 cash or security bail. Christielle Macelin a resident of the apartment complex on Kemble street says she knows them all and feels bad for the teen and his mother.

Killing Sparks Parental Concerns

CNN.COM

It is natural for any parent to hold on to their children a little bit tighter, when they hear of any news about a child being killed. This is what happened in a tight-knit community in Brooklyn. An eight year old boy was walking home from summer camp when he was abducted and murdered. The community’s parents were horrified that this had happened in their neighborhood. Even though, being over protective is a natural action under this circumstance, too much protection can be unhealthy. CNN’s T.J. Holms talks to behavioral expert Wendy Walsh about making sure your children are safe, but also giving them room to grow. Walsh started into the interview by saying that she had an eight year old and a thirteen year old of her own. However, her next statement was somewhat shocking. Walsh stated that she lived in a neighborhood with forty-six known sex offenders and that her children did not go anywhere without adult supervision. She went on to say that, you can be safe and at the same time give children room to grow. Parents need to take in consideration, where they live and how mature their children are at the time. Start them out walking with a buddy first, before you let them walk alone. Also, talk to them about people. There is an old statement that says “Stranger Danger” however, most strangers are not dangerous. Walsh uses the term “Tricky People” because that’s what they are and the child may know them. Teach your children if they get lost to find a mother with children or go to a store clerk for help. She warns parents to not get comfortable in their neighborhoods because it can happen anywhere. Some people with mental illness is drawn to close-knit communities that practice the same belief.  Walsh gives a Web site for parents to find tips on safety for their children, which is,  safetyeverafter.com. Again, it is natural to want to protect your children however, give them room to become their own individuals.

“Burning Rage”

The first 48 Hours

It all happened in Birmingham, Alabama. A call came in at 5:00 am to the fire department.  A resident of an apartment complex, near the airport, was needing emergency assistance. The lady stated that an apartment downstairs was on fire and there where people inside.  The fire department, along with the paramedics arrived on the scene to find three people inside the ground floor apartment. The residents were Bernese Kelley age 59, Quortez Kelley age 34 son of Bernice, and a twelve-year-old girl, whose name is not mentioned, was a niece to Bernice Kelly. Quortez and the young girl were DOA (Dead on Arrival). But Bernice Kelly was rushed to the hospital were she did not survive.   Homicide Detective Warren Cotton lead others in the investigation.  Cotton reported Quortez Kelly had been stabbed twenty-three times, but there was no evidence that he had put up a struggle. However, the young girl had been stabbed thirty-three time and there was evidence that she fought her attacker. This case was recorded as a triple homicide. Detective Cynthia Morrow talked to bystanders in hopes of gaining information on the family and possibly getting a lead. All the people she spoke to said that the family was a nice family and gave no one any trouble. When time had lapsed to three hours after the detectives arrival, they finally got their first break. A family friend informed them that a nephew of Bernice Kelly’s use to live there but Bernice had kicked him out. While Det. Cotton was talking to the family at the hospital the nephew showed up. Dontae Callen was being taken in to be interviewed because he was the last known person to see the victims alive.  As Detectives Cotton and Allison questioned him, he was oddly calm. Callen admitted to being at the apartment that day. It was noticed that Callen had cuts on his hands but he could not remember how they got there. Detectives started walking the route that Callen could have taken from the Kelly’s residence. They found a bloody sock about a quarter of a mile from the scene. In a vacant lot they discovered a tee-shirt and a bed sheet covered in blood. It had been twelve hours after the fact when authorities received a warrant for an alternate light source (finds blood on a person that the naked eye can not see). They found blood droplets in Callens hair and on his face. Callen started crying saying he wanted to talk. He stated that he and Quortez was drinking and he didn’t know why but he cut him and then he went into his aunt’s room and cut her. The girl woke up and he cut her.  Callen said he don’t know why he done it, that he needs help and don’t want to go to prison or die. Detective Cynthia Morrow commented that his three family members did not want to die either. Callen’s attempt to gain Sympathy did not work. He was charged with capital murder and is now waiting trial. The investigation on this case took fifteen hours to wrap up but there are many cases out there that are still unsolved.

Disparity in America

CNN.com CNN Politics / American Sauce

Lisa Desjardin discusses the gap between the rich and the poor in America. According to Lisa, the debate about the taxes for the rich is still an ongoing issue in Washington.  Lisa takes us to New York, where the mega rich and the poverty-stricken poor, just ignore each other. It is described, as two groups of people in different worlds. The question was asked, Why should we care?. We should care because the gap between the two effects the United States’ budget. Lisa states “President Obama wants higher taxes for the rich and the Republicans want to cut the spending, which would cut programs for the poor.” Dan, a CNN producer, goes on to say that according to the census bureau, more than 14 percent of Americans live in poverty. This means that a family of four makes less than $22,000 annually and an individual about $11,000.  On the opposite end of the gap, are the rich. Over the last two years millionaires in America have climbed 22 percent and is expected to double by 2020. What does all this mean? Well, the rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. The rich holds more than half of this countries wealth, according to the census bureau and the poor only holds 3 percent. Where is the remaining percentages being held? It is by the middle class. This group is also called the working class. Everyone talks about this group but no one will acknowledge that it is shrinking. Lisa spoke with two experts on this matter. Dennis Gilbert a sociology professor, never directly answered her question. However, he did state that the middle class give 50 percent of this countries income. Professor Kevin Light spoke out in saying that he believes the middle class is shrinking because of the housing and job market. Then Lisa takes us to the highrise penthouse suite of self-made multi millionaire Jay Lewis. Lewis states that he sees the great separation and how his friends ignore it. However, he has been there. Therefore, he works with the low-income groups because he doesn’t want great minds to be lost to poverty. Lisa then takes a walk on the lower end of the gap. Ramon Quervez guilds her through the Wise Tower Apartment complex. The units are occupied by the working class and poverty stricken.  Lisa describes the people as being  friendly and welcoming. But the obvious can not be ignored. As Quervez so wisely stated, Americans are dividing, with the attitudes , it is us against them. America is about one nation, not two. We need to try to mend this gap before we lose ourselves in it.

The Ashley Laney Story

Police Interrogation: A New Wife, an Old Girl Friend, and a Mysterious Murder / Dangerous Liaisons–CBS News / 48 Hours Mystery

Ashley Laney, age nineteen, had completed high school, and like most girls her age was searching for that special someone to share her life with. She came from a broken home and was eager to absorb any kind of affection that was directed toward her. Being as she was, made her an easy target for the Tama Bay, Florida gym trainer, Tracy Humphrey.  Laney and best friend Charli Williams worked at a frozen yogurt shop across from the gym where Humphrey worked in 2002. The yogurt shop is where the two met for the first time.  In just a short time frame Tracy had won Ashley over and the two moved in together. However, life was not what Ashley had expected. Tracy began to show his aggressive side. He didn’t want her going anywhere without him and tried to keep her from her fiends, according to Charli Williams. Ashley soon quit her job and went to work with Tracy at the gym. The couple would argue repeatedly but the outcome was always the same, Ashley begging Tracy to stay with her. Just when he knew that she was totally devoted to him, he told her about his ex-girl friend. Tracy’s ex-girl friend Sandee Rozzo had placed charges against him for rape. Tracy told Ashley that he was possibly looking a time, even though it was false allegations. Over the next few weeks they continued to argue. Then just as Tracy had planned, Ashley agreed to kill Rozzo for him. They quickly got married, because in Florida a spouse can not be made testify against the other. Ashley borrowed a hand gun from David Abernathy( her mother’s boy friend) and went to the home of Sandee Rozzo. Ashley Laney, then, shot Sandee Rozzo  8 times.  She then called Tracy and stated “it’s done”.  According to Detective Scott Golozewski, Tracy was the prime suspect but had an aliby,but Ashley seemed suspicious. After gathering the evidence, authorities arrested Ashley Laney. However, after spending a few week in jail, Ashley agreed to tell the detectives what they already knew, Tracy was behind it all. On the contrary, when asked if it was all Tracy’s fault?, Ashley told them he came up with the plan but she did indeed commit the act. Ashley Laney plea bargained with officials in exchange for her testimony. She received twenty-five years and will be forty-six years old when she is released. But Tracy Humphrey recieved the maximum. He got life with no chance of parole. Justice served.

 

Missouri Town Considers Ban On Saggy Pants

Imagine if you will, sitting in your own front yard with your family, when down the sidewalk strolls a group of young adults. There is not anything out of the ordinary about this scene, now is it? But as one of them passes, you notice that his buttocks is exposed because his pants is being worn in a rather low position. You may feel like, oh well that is him, or you my feel shock and embarrassment. Anchor Courtney Gousman with KSDK reports for NBC News on this exact incident.  As Gousman speaks with city council member Liz Dalton of Collinsville, Missouri, Dalton weaves the story of the saggy pants youth. She states that she was approached by this family wanting to know if she (Dalton) could do something about it. Liz Dalton informs Courtney Gousman that she has been approach by others with the same concern and that it is time something is done about it. Dalton has talked to other council members, school officials, and citizens. Some of the school officials that she has talk to responded to her concerns. They state that the schools have strict dress codes and do not see a problem with extending a dress code out into the public. Dalton herself  has proposed a new ordinance on the saggy pants issue. In the ordinance it states that there will be a penalty for saggy pants. The person will be told once and if they do not comply with the request, then they will be charged $100.00 dollars.  If the person continues to be in non compliance, that person could receive up to $300.00 in fines and also forty hours of community service. However, not everyone agrees with Liz Dalton’s approach to this issue. Mayor John Miller tells Anchor Courtney Gousman that he is defiantly against the proposal. Mayor Miller brings a different view to the table by saying, he knows some people does not like the trend, but he doesn’t see a problem with it.  Miller goes on to say that instead of dealing with it, some just want to blow the issue out of proportion. He rationalizes his view by emphasizing on law enforcement officers part in the situation if the ordinance should get passed. He says it would be a waste of time giving out saggy pants tickets, when they could be more productive in other areas. Mayor Miller states “law enforcement should be fighting crime”.  As of the time this blog was posted, there was still a standing debate on whether Collinsville, Missouri would have a Saggy Pants ordinance or not. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/43685187#43685187

Journalist Hacks into Dead Teen’s Phone

In the UK there is an ongoing investigation concerning phone hacking.  It has been reported to the CNN media, from their sources, that politicians and celebrity’s phones have been hacked in the past by journalists from the Rupert Murdoch Empire, with the intent on getting a story. However, the British police states that it has never interfered with an active investigation. The first hacking was believed to have been done in 2005 toward Prince William. But since this time new evidence has surfaced to unravel this belief. In 2002, Milly Dowler was reported missing by her parents. Milly at that time was thirteen years old. The phone systems in the UK are set up with codes. These codes allow a person to check, read, and delete their messages from other devises apart from their actual phone. A journalist from the News of the World was accused of hacking into the phone of Milly Dowler. The accused supposedly read and deleted messages, giving the Dowler family hope that she was still alive. But then a few months later Milly’s body was found and according to the time of death, the family knew that she could not have been the person getting the messages. Mark Lewis the family’s lawyer commented that it was absolutely a Breach of Ethics. The police took immediate action and started an in depth British tabloid investigation. However, still did not confirm that the teen’s phone had been hacked. The results revealed that the News of the World had been accused of phone hacking numerous times.  However, each time they would settle out of court by paying tens of thousands of pounds to the victims. According to Rebeka Brook, the editor at the time stated that she would cooperate with the authorities to get to the bottom of the matter. During this time the Rupert Murdoch Empire lost world known companies advertisements from their papers, one of which was the Ford Company. The Rupert Murdoch Empire includes popular news media such as, Fox News, The New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal, just to mention a few. In conclusion, the media I found on this topic has not been updated. Therefore, I cannot post the outcome. However, in my personal opinion, I know there is a law that protects our privacy in the U.S. but the laws of UK are not a part of my knowledge. My comment would be however, no one is above the law, not even the press.