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.
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.
Bookhouse Boy from The Crime Spree has posted a crimeblogging roundtable that took place between Bookhouse Boy, myself, the telegenic Steve Huff, and the lovely and talented Laura James.
Of course, all my answers are oversimplified and make me sound like an idiot compared to the others, but it’s a good read nonetheless. I’m hoping one day soon we can all get together on some kind of voice chat and record it for a podcast.
Video Game Player Guilty in Ala. Slaying:
I originally told you about this story back in February about Devin Moore. He’s the 18-year-old kid who shot and killed three police officers, and when he was arrested, he said: “Life is a video game; everybody has to die sometime.” Of course, the games in question were GTA games. Which in turn prompted a lawsuit against Rockstar Games by Moore’s family, prompted by everyone’s favorite assclown Jack Thompson.
Anyway, Devin Moore was convicted of capital murder. That means he’s eligible for the death penalty. In Alabama, that’s a very likely possibility.
Tip to CB.
The other day I told you about the case of Jonathan Zarate who killed and dismembered 16-year-old Jennifer Parks, then hid her body in the back of his dad’s jeep for a day. Well, now the defense attorney says that he might be going for an insanity defense. That seems to be all the rage lately.
“From what I’ve heard, he was in an uncontrolled rage,” Fusco told The New York Times. “There was nothing going on that you can point to and say they were fighting or something happened between the two of them.”
That’s just more reason to lock him up. Better yet, stuff his ass into a steamer trunk then dump him into the Hudson in February.
He’s not insane. He carried out a very precise and well-thought-out crime. Sadistic psychopath? Yes. Insane? Hardly.
Teens Protest ‘Columbine-Like’ Video Game:
Thank you very much, Jack Thompson. Now everyone who is not a gamer is referring to Bully as “The Columbine Game”. Apparently, a group of teenage busybodies known as the Peaceaholics protested at Rockstar Games’ New York office…
“A lot of youth are playing these games and there’s a lot of violence that people are copying,” said Cordero Sellers, 16. “I’m trying to do my best to stop this release.”
“It’s important that we’re here today because violent images seen on games are copied by kids,” said Anthony Ford, 17.
“We’re trying to stop people getting hurt before it’s too late.”
Oh, and guess who accompanied them…
Florida lawyer and anti-violence activist John Thompson accompanied the kids.
“Columbine changed the face of America but you [Rockstar] are about to come out with a game that celebrates, glamorizes and trains kids to do what [Columbine killers] Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris did,” said Thompson.
“Bullying is not a subject for a video game. We are not asking Rockstar to stop making this game, we are demanding they stop.”
Again with the Columbine comparison.
Do these people do any research at all? I have yet to see any gameplay details from the game outside of Rockstar’s official description…
Rockstar is keeping details of the plot a closely guarded secret but describes it as “humorous” and “tongue in cheek.”
The company states on its Web site: “As a troublesome schoolboy, you’ll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks on malicious kids, win or lose the girl and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the fictitious reform school Bullworth Academy.”
So, as far as I know, there has been no mention of shooting and killing your other classmates. So these people are just assuming. And we know what happens when you assume. Jack Thompson makes an even bigger assclown out of himself.
New Jersey
Invited her to watch TV, then stuffed cut-up body in trunk:
Reason to Blow Up The World: The fact that this scumbag, Jonathan A. Zarate, invited the victim over to his house then stabbed her, dismembered her body, stashed in a steamer trunk, then left the trunk in his dad’s jeep for a day while a freaking birthday party was being held at the house. Too bad New Jersey is unlikely to execute. This guy was made for the death sentence.
My condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jennifer Parks.
Pregnant Philadelphia woman missing for 9 days:
Please take the time to read the accompanying article and look at the picture…
Police in Philadelphia are searching for a 24-year-old pregnant woman who has been missing for more than a week. Latoyia Figueroa was last seen on the afternoon of July 18 in the area of 59th and Walton.
Figueroa, a 5-foot-2 African American, is five months pregnant and has a 7-year-old child. She has long, dark brown hair and brown eyes and two tattoos — an angel on her right wrist and her daughter’s name on her left arm.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Southwest detective division at 215-686-3183.
The Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission has established a reward fund for information about the whereabouts of Figueroa. Santo Montecalvo, vice president of the crime commission, said that as of Wednesday morning the fund was up to $10,000.
I know you would probably never see me type those words, but it’s true. Alejandro Avila, who was convicted of abducting and killing 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. Avila was sentenced to death today. I’ll be doubly thankful when it’s finally carried out.
TEA report on former Donna coach telling:
This another follow-up to the hazing scandal that has been going on in Donna, Texas and the subsequent cover-up.
The Texas Education Agency released a report slamming the Donna athletic programs and upholding the Donna School Board’s decision to fire athletic director and head football coach David Evans. It turns out that the incident that resulted in Evans’ firing wasn’t the first…
… female coaches were intimidated, certain athletes were given preferential treatment, and numerous occasions of “sexual exhibitionist behavior” and “assaultive behavior” were never reported to school authorities or law enforcement.
“The practice of hazing/sexual assault went on for several years,” the report says. “(One of the victims) knows this because he fell victim to the practice in the years past.”
And one of the perpetrators in the latest assault, star quarterback Derick Castillo, had previously been addressed by Coach Evans about his “sexual behavior”.
So another sexual predator is allowed to roam the halls free all in the name of athletics.