Albert Cronkite, Author at DR News - News, Retirement, Finance

Ohio man hacks woman on the back of motorcycle to death with machete thinking she’s someone else

CAMDEN, OH – An evening motorcycle ride turned deadly in a small Ohio town after a man allegedly hurled a machete at a passing motorcycle, killing a woman in what authorities say was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Kenneth Wayne Brabant, 59, faces charges of murder, assault, and tampering with evidence after authorities say he attacked a motorcyclist and his passenger on Sunday night in Camden, located about 40 miles north of Cincinnati. According …

Mother starves 17-year-old Indiana boy with cerebral palsy and he dies

MARION, IN – Authorities in central Indiana have charged a local woman with felony neglect after her teenage son, who lived with cerebral palsy, was found severely malnourished and later died. Tanya Boyd was formally charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a level three felony, according to Grant County Superior Court records. The accusation follows a lengthy investigation into the conditions endured by her son, 17-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Sheppard. Concerns …

7-year-old Florida girl beaten to death by mom desipte warnings about abuse

RIVIERA BEACH, FL – A Palm Beach County mother is facing a first-degree murder charge after a grand jury indicted her in the beating death of her 7-year-old daughter, authorities said. Naikishia Williams, who turned 32 over the weekend, was arrested Friday on charges related to the April 28 death of her daughter, Nia Williams. According to the indictment, Nia died from blunt force trauma to her abdomen at their Riviera Beach home. Williams is …

Ex-boyfriend shoots Illinois woman in the back as she tries to run away

PEORIA, IL – A Peoria man has been sentenced to two decades in prison after admitting to shooting his ex-girlfriend in the back and leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Deandre Ward, 24, received a 20-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a guilty plea to aggravated battery. The verdict was handed down Wednesday, closing a tragic chapter for the victim and her family. Authorities said the incident unfolded in July 2023 …

3-week-old baby lies dying in mother’s arms after father shoots them both with crossbow and won’t let mother call 911

BINGHAMTON, NY – A Broome County man was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his three-week-old daughter and the attempted murder of his wife during a violent attack involving a crossbow last June. Patrick Proefriedt, 27, received the maximum allowable sentence under New York law after he admitted to the deadly early morning assault that claimed the life of his newborn, Eleanor Proefriedt, and gravely wounded his wife, …

Florida man savagely attacks landlord who wants to evict him and rams his SUV into her house

JENSEN BEACH, FL – Authorities in Martin County have arrested a 69-year-old man accused of orchestrating a violent assault against his landlord before ramming his vehicle into the home they shared. Deputies allege that Brian Thomas Leach invited his landlord to dinner at their residence on Northeast Ocean View Circle on Tuesday evening. When the landlord, who lives in the upstairs unit, came downstairs, the interaction turned violent, according to investigators. Leach is alleged to …

Video shows 23-year-old Ohio man shot in bar in fight with another man over a woman

DAYTON, OH – A 27-year-old man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he shot a fellow bar patron during a confrontation believed to have been fueled by a romantic rivalry, then boasted about the incident while in jail. Jacob Brady was arraigned on charges including felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and two probation violations after a shooting was reported at Pat’s Bar in Dayton during the early hours of June 22, according to …

5-year-old Texas boy beaten to death by dad’s girlfriend who has roommate help hide his body in storage tote

HOUSTON, TX – A Houston man pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in concealing the body of a 5-year-old boy fatally beaten by his roommate, bringing a years-long investigation to a close ahead of sentencing next year. Benjamin Rivera, 31, admitted in court to felony tampering with evidence after assisting Theresa Balboa in hiding the body of Samuel Olson, a child she was accused and convicted of killing during the spring of 2021. Rivera now …

25-year-old mother taking her 6-year-old little boy to school is gunned down in front of him by her ex-boyfriend

BLUFFTON, SC – A South Carolina man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his former girlfriend, who was shot and killed in front of her 6-year-old son as they prepared for school last March. John Patrick Shea, 29, stood before a judge in Beaufort County on Wednesday, expressing remorse for the killing of 25-year-old Jillian Angner. The sentencing followed a dramatic court appearance during which …

Wisconsin uncle beaten to death by his 17-year-old nephew when he says the boy can’t have a sleepover

WAUKESHA, WI – Authorities in Waukesha have charged a 17-year-old boy with murder after his uncle died from severe injuries allegedly inflicted during a violent confrontation over a sleepover request, according to police. The incident occurred on February 1 when Ronnie Fuentez, who lived with his uncle for the past four years, became angry after being told he could not have a friend stay the night, investigators said. Police say Fuentez’s frustration quickly escalated, resulting …