*Parents* caged and shock at least one of their children in Ohio

Now here is a couple that defies logic and reason, besides being sociopathic and just plain downright despicable. These “parents”, Jessica Botzko, 28, and John Westover, 37, are charged with child endangerment and also with making and/or selling drugs in front of the children. On Tuesday, their 10 year old son took his 5 year old brother and ran away and told police that he was tired of being locked in cages. This 10 year old boy had also been forced to wear a remote controlled shock collar that was designed to help train animals. Wow! What wonderful parents. Treating their children as if they were animals. It is unknown yet if the younger boy was caged or shocked, but I am sure he was not treated kindly either.  Especially since some neighbors did not even know he existed, thinking there was only one child in the home.

Another thing has come to light during this investigation:

Westover has an extensive record and was wanted on a child endangering charge in suburban Toledo, authorities said. The couple had a daughter who died of sudden infant death syndrome a few years ago, Carroll said. Police plan to take another look at her death.

Drugging dad locked boy in cage, police say
Police: Ohio Couple Shocked, Caged Son
Police: Ohio couple shocked, caged son
Police: Couple put boy in cage, collar
Cops: Parents of caged boy had prior cases
Toledo parents charged for caging their kids
Parents in jail for child endangering

Update: Lt. Fred House murder *update on Addam Swapp*

Lt. Fred House

TribTalk
1988 LDS Stake Center Bomber Expresses Remorse
Swapp is sorry for crimes
Parole Hearing Today for Polygamist Behind Church Bombing
Adam Swapp Begs For Forgiveness And Release
Parole Denied for Addam Swapp
No parole for Addam Swapp

Addam Swapp

Update: Christopher Barrios Jr. murder

          David Edenfield                          Peggy Edenfield                      George Edenfield

Not Guilty Plea in Ga. Boy’s Slaying
Convicted child molester and parents plead in boy’s murder
Murder defendants tell state - Prove it
Suspects Arraigned in Christopher Barrios Murder
Murder defendants plead not guilty

‘Onion Field’ killer dies in prison

‘Onion Field’ killer dies in prison

Story Highlights• Jimmy Lee Smith dies in California prison at age 76
• Smith was a career criminal who helped kidnap and kill a police officer in 1963
• The crime inspired Joseph Wambaugh’s book “The Onion Field”

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Jimmy Lee Smith, the lifelong criminal whose role in the 1963 kidnapping and killing of a police officer inspired Joseph Wambaugh’s crime book “The Onion Field,” has died behind bars at age 76, a state prisons official said.

Smith died Friday at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, where he was being held for failing to report to a parole officer, Bill Sessa, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman, said Saturday.

Foul play was not suspected, but the cause of death was under investigation, according to the county coroner’s office.

Smith was once sentenced to death for the killing of Officer Ian Campbell, and his parole after 19 years in prison drew public outrage when he was released in 1982.

His crimes were documented in 1973’s “The Onion Field” and the 1979 film of the same name, both written by Wambaugh, a former Los Angeles police officer.

Smith, who was on parole when he killed Campbell, spent the last 25 years of his life in and out of prison. He was arrested again and again on various charges, usually drug crimes.

“Great. Wonderful,” former Los Angeles police Chief Daryl Gates told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday. “He should have gone to his death in the gas chamber.”

Smith and Gregory Powell were convicted of abducting Campbell and his partner, Officer Karl Hettinger, from a Hollywood street on March 6, 1963, after the officers stopped their car for an illegal U-turn.

After Powell disarmed the pair by pulling a gun on Campbell and threatening to kill him, he and Smith drove them to an onion field near Bakersfield.

There, Powell shot Campbell in the face. Hettinger bolted, running four miles to the safety of a farmhouse.

Powell was arrested that night and Smith the next day.

The two were originally sentenced to death but the sentences were reduced to life in prison with 1970s court decisions that temporarily barred the death penalty.

Powell, who remains in prison, has been denied parole several times.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

‘Onion Field’ killer dies in prison

Update: Christopher Barrios Jr. murder *Capital Murder charges filed - death penalty being sought*

First off, I just want to tell Christopher’s friends and family how sorry I am for the loss of such a beautiful little boy. I cannot imagine how you are feeling during this time. But, my thoughts are with you everyday. This tragedy has truly saddened me and I can’t shake it. This story is so horrific, so heinous, that I can barely hold my disgust and anger for what these “people” did to this child. This child who did nothing to them. But they did everything to him.

On Wednesday, George Edenfield, a convicted sex offender, along with his parents, Peggy and David Edenfield, were indicted for the murder and sexual molestation of Christopher. There are several charges filed against each defendant. And, not surprisingly, they are seeking the death penalty for all three. This is Georgia, where they DO sentence people to death, and they DO use the death penalty. So this is a good thing. If this crime does not call for the death penalty, what does? I cannot think of a crime that has been more horrifying as what happened to this child.The indictment contains grim details about the case that police and prosecutors had not previously revealed. It says Christopher died from asphyxiation March 8 — the day he was reported missing — after the suspects choked him while “ignoring his complaints that they were hurting him.” The indictment does not say which of the three caused the boy’s death.It also claims George Edenfield and his 58-year-old father sodomized the boy and forced him to perform oral sex while Peggy Edenfield watched and masturbated.

I am sickened and disgusted by what these “people” did to Christopher. It is unfathomable to me to believe that anyone could actually do these things to a child. They all knew what they were doing, knew it was wrong and that they should not do it. But they did anyway.

George Edenfield        Peggy Edenfield      David Edenfield           Donald Dale

Also charged in the crime is a family friend (of the Edenfield’s), Donald Dale.

A friend of the Edenfield family, Donald Dale, was indicted on charges of concealing a death and tampering with evidence. Kelley said Dale did not become involved until after Christopher had been killed.

And what makes all of this so bad, is that this is not the first time that George or David Edenfield have committed sex crimes. George is a convicted sex offender with crimes against children.

Ironically, the Edenfields moved into the trailer park where Christopher lived last year because of a Georgia law intended to keep child molesters away from children. Sheriffs’ deputies told George Edenfield in September that he had to leave his home near downtown Brunswick because it was too close to a playground. Georgia law prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools and other places that draw children.His family went to live in the trailer park in October after George Edenfield was arrested for failing to move as ordered. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to probation March 5, three days before Christopher disappeared.George Edenfield was required to register as a sex offender after he pleaded guilty in 1997 to molesting two boys, ages 7 and 9. Prosecutors said he rubbed his clothed body “in a sexual manner” against the boys, who also were fully dressed. He was sentenced then to 10 years on probation.His father, David Edenfield, pleaded guilty to incest in 1994. He was accused of having sex with an adult relative who was not his son.

They should not have even been there. None of the families around there even knew that George was there. This sex offender was just put on probation earlier this month, before Christopher was murdered. Maybe if the Judge had put George in prison, this would not have happened.

Hundreds pack funeral of 6-year-old victim of sex-abuse slaying
Child Molester Got Probation Days Before Slain Boy Vanished
Molester, His Parents Charged In Christopher’s ‘Horrific’ Slaying
As Slain Boy’s Viewing Begins, 3 Charged With Murder
Hundreds Mourn, Attend Christopher Barrios’ Viewings
Prosecutor: Slain Ga. boy was first molested
Indictment: Molester, dad abused boy while mom watched
Hundreds pack funeral of 6-year-old victim of sex-abuse slaying
Young sex-abuse victim’s funeral is crowded

Judge Daniel L. Howsare

Can you imagine a Judge who refuses to sentence a convicted sex offender? The convicted sex offender is Richard Crawford, who was convicted of 390 counts of sexual abuse, for 5 years of abuse to a young girl who finally got the courage to speak up. Now the Judge says he is not sure that this sex offender is a sexually violent predator. Never mind that the jury convicted him, the state offender association board said he was, or that a little girl had the courage to tell her story of what he did to her. This predator is also not in jail, even though he was convicted 3 months ago. Read about it here: Please!

Judge Daniel L. Howsare

The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac murders in California from the late 1960’s/early 1970’s are some of the most famous unsolved murders of the 20th Century. Many people have played amateur detective with this case, hoping to be the one to break it open. It has alot of intrigue, including a killer who loved to talk to the media (in letters) and the police (some phone calls). He also left some cryptograms, which many still believe are not completely solved. I am not an expert on Zodiac at all. In fact, all you would ever want to know about him can be found at this site: The Zodiac Killer. Tom Voight is the expert on Zodiac. Please go to his site and check it all out. I have been to his site so many times and have found something new each time.

Known victims:

David Arthur Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16
Michael Renault Mageau, 19, and Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin, 22
Bryan Calvin Hartnell, 20, and Cecelia Ann Shepard, 22
Paul Lee Stine, 29

Possible victims:

Robert Domingos, 18, and Linda Edwards, 17,
Cheri Jo Bates, 18
Kathleen Johns, 22
Donna Lass, 25
(and several others)

The Zodiac Killer (the best site on these murders.)
Wikipedia
America’s Most Wanted
Crime Library
Still Searching for the Zodiac Killer
Zodiac Killer
Crimes and Victims of Zodiac
The Zodiac Killer
Seize the Night
This is the Zodiac Speaking…
Zodiac Vortex

Books

Zodiac
Zodiac Unmasked: The Identity of America’s Most Elusive Serial Killers Revealed
“This Is the Zodiac Speaking”: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer
Zodiac Killer
Suspect Zero

Movies/Documentaries

The Zodiac Killer(1971)
Zodiac (2007)
Hunting the Zodiac
The Zodiac (2005)
Case Reopened: The Zodiac with Lawrence Block
Dirty Harry (loosely based on)
The Mean Season (loosely based on)
The Limbic Region (loosely based on Robert Graysmith’s book)

Update: Morey family murder *suspects in court*

The Morey Family

Not much news here. Both suspects, Charles W. Gilleo Jr. and Mark S. Serrano, have been arraigned and pled not guilty. Neither men spoke much during the hearings, neither did friends and family that came to support them.

Gilleo and Serrano were indicted under a section of state law that lists various kinds of homicides as first-degree murder. Under that statute, any two murders committed during the same incident may be classified as first-degree murder. The two men are accused in the Jan. 19 slayings of Tony and Tina Morey, and their three children - Antonio, 13, Adam, 10, and Ryan, 6. Both parents were shot, while the children were stabbed and beaten to death.

Further court dates were not announced yet.

Mark Serrano

        
Charles W. Gilleo Jr.

Poughkeepsie Journal special section
Morey murder suspects plead not guilty

Update: Channon Christian and Chris Newsom murders *carjacking charges dismissed*

In all actuality, this is not a surprise, although many seem outraged. But, people need to stop and take a step back and not let emotion rule. Dropping the federal charges at this time is a good idea. The state charges are by far more important and serious. They carry the death penalty, and if they are found guilty, will probably get it. However, there is always the chance that the jury is squeamish or somehow actually acquits them. This gives the feds a “back up plan”. Of course, the defense tried to get the charges dismissed with prejudice, but the Judge said no and dismissed without prejudice. So, the feds can refile the charges if and when they want or need to.

Feds seek to drop carjacking charges in Newsom, Christian murders
Carjacking charges out in double slaying case
Feds Ask to Drop Carjacking Charges

Joshua Julius Anderson murder spree 11/06 - 2/07 Tulsa, OK (poss. serial killer)

19-year-old Joshua Julius Anderson, who was in jail for a rape charge, has been linked to 5 murders that have occured in Tulsa since Nov.

Joshua Julius Anderson was initially arrested on a rape allegation, but detectives added five complaints of first-degree murder Monday.All the victims were found within blocks of each other. Four of them _ a third of the city’s homicide victims this year _ were killed in the last two weeks.

Detectives believe Anderson is responsible for the double murder of Herbert and Rose Mary Hobbs, who they say were shot before their house was set on fire.Police have also linked him to the death of David Gilbert who was found dead in the 1500 block of east Independence on January 24.Witnesses say Anderson also robbed and killed Christopher Moderow early that same day.Authorities say the earliest murder Anderson is linked to dates back to November 5, 2006.Officials say Anderson confessed to shooting and killing Evaristo Tovias in the 700 block of north Madison

He is being held without bail. It does appear, however, that this is not his first time getting in trouble for a violent crime. Not even close. Read this for some of his criminal history summary of Joshua Anderson’s criminal record

Joshua’s brother, AC, apparently helped him set the Hobb’s home on fire. Joshua admitted to killing and robbing them, then he and his brother returned to their home and set it on fire.

Hobb’s home on fire

Victims

Christopher Moderow 1/23/07
David Gilbert 1/24/07
Rose Mary Hobbs 2/2/07
Herbert Hobbs 2/2/07
Evaristo Tovias 11/5/06

Multiple Murder Suspect Arrested
Oklahoma Teen Accused in 5 Killings
Tulsa police link rape suspect to five homicides
Oklahoma Teen Accused in 5 Killings
Police Say Man Suspected In At Least Five Tulsa Murder Cases
Man linked to five Tulsa homicides since Nov. 5
Tulsa Police Link Man To 5 Murders
Murder Suspect Had Several Run-Ins With The Law In The Past
January Homicides: Just like 2006: Killings swamp police (last half of article)
Murder Victims Family React To Arrest

                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                AC Anderson (brother)