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

36-year-old man stabs his friend to death on Valentine’s Day because they fought over a woman

ROCK FALLS, IL – A man from Illinois is set to serve 20 years in prison after admitting to killing his friend during a dispute fueled by jealousy. Kyle M. Cooper, 36, entered a plea agreement earlier this month concerning the Valentine’s Day incident in which Daniel J. Gordon, 27, was fatally stabbed. Initially charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery, Cooper pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Appearing before Judge James Heuerman …

Murder suspect leads high speed chase from Georgia to Alabama but underestimates trucker he tries to carjack

BALDWIN COUNTY, AL – In a dramatic interstate chase, authorities captured a murder suspect wanted in Georgia after he allegedly attempted to hijack a tractor trailer in Alabama to elude capture. Mike Thomas, 28, was pursued since authorities linked him to a violent incident in Fulton County, Georgia, where he is accused of shooting his girlfriend. Details of her condition remain unclear, leaving questions about whether the shooting led to murder charges. Thomas made his …

Elderly Florida woman in wheelchair is attacked and strangled by her 64-year-old sister

JUPITER, FL – A Florida woman faces multiple charges after allegedly assaulting her older sister, who uses a wheelchair, in a domestic dispute that may leave a lasting impact on their family dynamics and the local community. Vikki Beth Cappola, 64, was charged with abuse of an elderly adult, domestic battery by strangulation, and simple battery, according to Palm Beach County court records. The incident unfolded last Wednesday evening at the elder sister’s home, prompting …

Louisiana custody exchange ends with 43-year-old woman shooting the father of her kids

LAKE CHARLES, LA – A tragic incident unfolded during a routine child custody exchange in Louisiana, leaving a father dead after a mother allegedly opened fire, authorities confirmed. The fatal encounter occurred Saturday afternoon when deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home on South Perkins Ferry Road following reports of gunshots. There, they found Brett Daigle, 48, of Canyon City, Colorado, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities have charged Randolyn …

Georgia man kills his wife and runs off with the nanny and his three kids

DOUGLAS, GA – Nearly two decades after a chilling murder, authorities have made a significant arrest in a case involving a complex web of deception, betrayal, and a long-running quest for justice. Jon Worrell, 58, faces serious charges, including malice murder and conspiracy, related to the 2006 death of his wife, Doris Worrell. The victim, 39, was shot at the couple’s sports park, a crime that at first glance seemed to be a robbery gone …

25-year-old Washington man shot his dad and brother in the head execution style then set their house on fire

GIG HARBOR, WA – A Washington man is facing charges for allegedly murdering his father and brother, whose bodies were discovered following a suspicious house fire in Gig Harbor. Luis Miguel Huitron-Campos, 25, was arrested Tuesday after a detailed investigation into the deaths at his family’s residence, located about 13 miles from Tacoma. On April 8, local authorities responded to a call about a fire at the home, where they discovered the bodies of a …

39-year-old Michigan woman arrested after her 4-year-old tragically starves to death weighing only 10lbs

BAY CITY, MI – A Michigan mother is facing potentially life-long imprisonment following charges related to the tragic starvation death of her 4-year-old son. Jessica Marie Burke, 39, was charged with felony first-degree child abuse after her son, Noah Burke, was found dead last October, allegedly weighing only 10 pounds. Authorities were alerted when Burke made a desperate 911 call from her Bay City home on McKinley Avenue, reporting that her son was unresponsive. Emergency …

17-year-old Florida girl guns down her older brother in the street with help from a friend

MIAMI, FL – Months after the tragic shooting of a young man in Miami-Dade County, law enforcement now suspects his younger sister might have played a role in the crime. Authorities have charged Deashia Smith, 17, and Elton Hightower, 19, with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of 20-year-old Rae’quan Smith. The charges were announced in a statement from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The fatal shooting occurred on February 7 …

Florida man sets fire to his home while his five roommates are asleep inside

LAKELAND, FL – A Florida man is facing serious charges following claims that he set fire to his own residence, endangering the lives of five roommates who were asleep inside. Eddie Thomas, 69, allegedly lit the fire in the early hours of May 15, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The incident commenced when Thomas approached a roommate at around 3:15 a.m., asking for a ride. His request was denied, and he left carrying …

Tennessee lawyer poisons wife’s toothpaste and tries to hire hitman to take her out

NASHVILLE, TN – A Tennessee attorney, Fred Auston Wortman III, remains incarcerated following his multiple attempts to kill his wife, as a judge recently upheld his sentence in the contentious case. Wortman, 49, was convicted in 2015, pleading guilty to trying three times to murder his wife, which included attempts both directly and by seeking outside help. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, eligible for parole after serving 30% of his sentence. Although …