TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Category: Crime

  • Esmie Tseng In Court

    Esmie Tseng In Court

    Friends pack courtroom for teenager accused of killing mother: (log in info)

    Esmie Tseng, the 16-year-old girl who is accused of stabbing her mother to death, appeared in court today. I’m amazed and confused at the amount of support she is receiving. Is there something more to this story that the media isn’t reporting? I’d like to hear from someone who is closer to this than I am. Your anonymity is guaranteed.

    Anyway, Ms. Tseng stated that she was not getting along with her court-appointed attorney, Robb Edmonds, and may want a new lawyer. Her father disagreed…

    Her father, Tao Tseng, who sat directly behind her during the hearing, told the judge that he communicated very well with Edmonds.

    I trust him, Tao Tseng said.

    He said he also was concerned about advice his daughter may be getting from others. He did not elaborate and did not speak to reporters when he left the courthouse.

    The judge advised her to rethink her position on her lawyer because she doesn’t know anyone better she could assign.

    Getting back to what her father said, I wonder what advice his daughter could be getting and from whom. I have an idea, but it’s pure speculation on my part.

    Teenagers think they know everything. I should know. I was like that when I was a teen too. She could be getting advice from friends that fancy themselves better lawyers than those who actually went to law school.

    I’ve seen this happen in court before, where teenagers thought they knew more about the law than the judge. That didn’t help them any.

    The father is an enigma to me. I’m getting two impressions from him. Either he’s got a really good head on his shoulders and wants to do what’s right for his daughter, or that he could be a controlling type.

    Esmie’s attorney gave notice that he may be filing a mental health defense, which is almost becoming standard in teen trials.

    The next court appearance for Esmie is scheduled for Oct 12th.

  • Indictments in Donna High Hazing

    Indictments in Donna High Hazing

    Ex-Donna athletes indicted:

    Indictments have been handed down in the Donna High School hazing scandal out of Donna, Texas.

    If you remember, several members of the Donna High School football team were arrested for pulling off a freshman player’s pants, slapping around his package and trying to stick their latex-gloved fingers up his ass.

    Well, Derick Anthony Castillo, 18; Jacob Leal, 17, Manuel Josue Rivera, 19, and Raynardo Jaime Magallanes, 19, have all been indicted on charges of felony sexual assault and indecency with a child. They’re looking at various sentences ranging from 2 years to 20.

    Link via Bad Jocks.

  • Jennifer Parks Remembered

    Jennifer Parks Remembered

    Randolph students to honor slain classmate:

    Classmates of Jennifer Parks from Randolph High School in New Jersey are honoring her by creating two scholarships in her name. If you haven’t been following, 16-year-old Jennifer Parks was “allegedly” bludgeoned, stabbed and dismembered by her next-door neighbor Jonathan Zarate.

    Students hope to raise enough money to provide two $500 scholarships in Ms. Parks’ name, but the idea of buying books for the school library would be a special tribute to their classmate.

    I’ve been keeping in contact with Jen’s mom. She really liked the idea of buying new books because Jen liked to read a lot. We would put her name in the front of each book as a memorial.

    Does this sound like someone who some people think deserved what she got?

    If you’re in or near the Randolph, NJ area, why not throw a couple of bucks their way.

  • Esmie Tseng Update

    Esmie Tseng Update

    Murder charge doesn’t fit the friend they know: (Log in info)

    This is an article about site “favorite” Esmie Tseng. I say “favorite” because a lot of people come to this site looking for information about her.

    For those of you who are late to the party, Esmie Tseng is a 16-year-old girl accused of stabbing her mother to death. At the time of her arrest there was no obvious motive and there still isn’t, but the article tries to portray the fact that Esmie’s mother was very hard on her, pressuring her to get perfect grades and being very strict on her socializing.

    Overbearing parents can be the biggest of asshats, but that’s still no reason to stab them.

  • Jonathan Zarate Update

    Jonathan Zarate Update

    DNA taken from teens in girl’s death:

    This is an update on the case of Jonathan Zarate. He’s the scumbag who allegedly bludgeoned, stabbed, killed, and dismembered 16-year-old Jennifer Parks.

    The last time we heard, his lawyer was planning an insanity defense. At that time, a few people left comments stating that Zarate’s younger brother did it and that Zarate was covering for him.

    Well, Zarate’s brother, only identified as “J.Z.”, and the other teenage accomplice, identified as “V.B.”, have claimed that they had nothing to do with the killing.

    Meanwhile, Morris County investigators have obtained DNA samples from the two. If their DNA is found on Jennifer Parks’ body, then the charges could be upgraded. Right now, they’re only charged with illegally disposing of human remains.

  • Esmie Tseng’s website

    Esmie Tseng’s website

    I originally told you about Esmie Tseng here. She was the 16-year-old girl from Kansas who allegedly stabbed her mother, Shu Yi Zhang, to death.

    At that time, I asked if anybody knew what her website was. I got an e-mail giving me a link to her Livejournal which according to the e-mail was shut down by a friend of hers who knew the password.

    I did a little more digging and I found a Google cached version of her Xanga site. Nothing of any great note. Nothing that would lead you to believe the crime she’s been accused of committing.

  • Esmie Tseng

    Esmie Tseng

    Kansas

    Teen is charged in mother’s death: (Log in info)

    Reason to Blow Up the World: The article isn’t too forthcoming with motive details, but since prosecutors intend to try her as an adult, we can possibly rule out self-defense.

    Anyway, for the fact that this 16-year-old girl, Esmie Tseng, would stab her own mother, Shu Yi Zhang, repeatedly. If tried as an adult, she could be sentenced to life. The article says that she had a website (probably myspace or something like that).

    Tip to VonMexican.

  • Marilyn Niqui McCown

    Marilyn Niqui McCown

    One of my readers on the Latoyia Figueroa thread came forward and said that she too had a missing relative. A commenter by the name of Michelle said that she is the sister of Marilyn Niqui McCown. She has been missing since July 22, 2001, when she disappeared from a laundromat in Richmond, Indiana.

    The link provides all the details you need. Take a minute and click on the link to see if you can help.

  • LaToyia Figueroa Found

    LaToyia Figueroa Found

    Remains Found:

    It seems that more than likely the body of LaToyia Figueroa has been found As far as suspects go…

    Police say the Figueora’s ex-boyfriend was found blocks away from the scene wearing a bulletproof vest. He and a suspected accomplice have been charged in connection with her death.

    For a better and more detailed report, check Steve Huff’s report.

    My prayers and condolences go out to the friends and family of LaToyia Figueroa.

  • Death Recommended for Devin Moore

    Death Recommended for Devin Moore

    Jury recommends death for Alabama man convicted in cop killings:

    The death sentence has been recommended by an Alabama jury for Devin Moore, the so-called “GTA Killer” who killed two officers and a radio dispatcher at the Fayette police station in June 2003. For those of you who may not remember, defense attorneys tried blaming Moore’s obsessive playing of the video game Grand Theft Auto on the killings. Luckily, he was convicted of the killings. The final decision on sentencing is up to the judge and is scheduled for September 30th.

    Hopefully, Alabama will live up to its reputation and execute this piece of human filth. And what do you know, Alabama still has the electric chair.