2025-08-23 12:00:32.103

Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, were denied parole by a California board. Two-day hearings delved into their claims of childhood abuse, their state of mind during and after the murders, and various prison infractions. The brothers' use of illicit cellphones was highlighted, with commissioners emphasizing the severity of this seemingly minor infraction in prison. Erik Menendez used his phone for personal entertainment, while Lyle cited marital stress and media intrusion as reasons. The hearings also revealed that the brothers were not model prisoners, with Erik having more serious infractions, including associating with a prison gang. Commissioners expressed concern over the killing of Kitty Menendez, questioning the brothers' lack of remorse and failure to seek help before resorting to violence. Despite being deemed a 'moderate risk' for parole violation, their denials align with California's strict parole system. The brothers' family members voiced strong support for their release, offering unconditional love and promising stable homes.

2025-08-03 00:00:38.976

Authorities in western Montana are conducting a widespread search for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran, who is suspected of fatally shooting four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda. Brown, who fled the scene in a white pickup truck later abandoned, is considered armed and extremely dangerous. A photo released by authorities shows him shirtless and barefoot. The victims' identities have not yet been released, pending notification of their families. The small town of Anaconda, known for its mining history, is cooperating with the investigation, with businesses initially locking down but later reopening with caution. Brown's niece revealed that he had a history of mental illness. The search, involving ground and air units, is focused on a mountainous area west of Anaconda. The suspect served in the U.S. Army and Montana National Guard.

2025-08-02 12:00:29.535

Authorities are searching for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran, who allegedly shot and killed four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana. Brown, who served in the U.S. Army and Montana National Guard, fled the scene in a white pickup truck, later abandoning the vehicle. Law enforcement officials have urged residents to stay home and remain vigilant, describing Brown as armed and extremely dangerous. The victims' identities have not yet been released. Brown's niece revealed he struggled with mental illness for years. The manhunt is focused on the mountainous Stumptown Road area west of Anaconda, with authorities employing ground and air searches. The incident has shocked the close-knit community of Anaconda, prompting businesses to lock down.

2025-07-24 12:00:40.931

Even with Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison for the murders of four University of Idaho students, many documents remain sealed. His plea deal avoided a trial that might have revealed his motive and other key details. While some documents were released, including descriptions from friends and details of the crime scene, Judge Steven Hippler stated that unsealing the remaining documents will take time, potentially months, due to the appeals process. Although Kohberger waived his right to appeal, he still has the right to request an appeal, which could delay the release of information. The judge must balance the public's interest in accessing these documents with Kohberger's right to due process. The released documents offered new insights into Kohberger's interactions with students, the horrific crime scene, and his behavior in jail. The possibility of a post-conviction appeal further complicates the timeline for releasing the remaining sealed documents.

2025-07-24 00:00:29.88

Bryan Kohberger, the man who murdered four University of Idaho students in November 2022, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and did not speak in court. The victims' families delivered emotional statements, expressing a range of emotions from sadness and anger to forgiveness. While Kohberger's guilt is established, the motive for the crime remains a mystery. The investigation relied on DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and Kohberger's own actions, including attempts to cover his tracks. The case was highly publicized, leading to a gag order that was later lifted, revealing hundreds of court documents. Foundations have been established in the victims' names to honor their legacies.

2025-07-23 18:00:12.136

Bryan Kohberger received four consecutive life sentences without parole for the brutal murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. He also received an additional 10 years for burglary. Kohberger declined to explain his motive, leading to emotional statements from the victims' families who expressed their grief and rage. The judge condemned Kohberger's "unspeakable evil," noting the families' desire for answers, but also stating that "By continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr Kohberger relevance, we give him agency. We give him power." The hearing included powerful statements from the victims' parents, siblings, and surviving roommates, expressing their pain and anger. Kohberger remained emotionless throughout the proceedings. His guilty plea, reached just weeks before his trial, removed the possibility of the death penalty.

2025-07-22 12:00:39.667

Pedro Hernandez, who has served 25 years to life in prison for the 1979 murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz, was awarded a new trial on Monday. A federal appeals court overturned his 2017 conviction, citing a flawed jury instruction as "clearly wrong" and "manifestly prejudicial." Hernandez's first trial in 2015 ended in a hung jury. The appeals court ordered his release unless a new trial begins within a reasonable time frame. The Manhattan District Attorney's office is reviewing the decision. The case, one of the nation's most notorious missing child cases, involved a decades-long search for answers. Etan's disappearance on the first day he walked alone to his school bus stop in 1979 sparked a national outcry and led to increased awareness of missing children. His image appeared on milk cartons, and his case helped establish a national missing-children hotline. Hernandez, a teenager working near Etan at the time, confessed to luring Etan into a basement and choking him. His lawyers argued his confession was false due to mental illness and a low IQ. The appeals court focused on the judge's response to a jury note about the admissibility of Hernandez's confession, stating the jury should have received a more thorough explanation of their options regarding the confession's validity. The case involved a lengthy police interrogation before Hernandez was read his Miranda rights.

2025-07-19 12:00:44.569

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allege that Manhattan prosecutors wrongfully obtained Mangione’s medical records from his insurance carrier, Aetna. A court filing reveals the District Attorney’s office obtained over 120 pages of Mangione’s medical information, including diagnoses and complaints, without court approval or informing the defense. The defense claims the prosecution used a false court date and a fraudulent subpoena to compel Aetna to send the records directly to their office, bypassing the court system. The DA’s office claims the extra information was an error, and they deleted it after discovering it, notifying the defense and the court. The defense disputes the relevance of the obtained records to the case and has requested an evidentiary hearing and access to all communications between Aetna and the DA’s office. Mangione faces the death penalty in federal court for the murder. Diary entries reveal Mangione’s detailed planning and his targeting of the insurance industry. While Mangione was not insured by UnitedHealthcare at the time of the shooting, he allegedly expressed hostility toward the health insurance industry in his writings. A friend and online postings corroborate Mangione’s past back problems and spinal surgery. The relevance of the obtained medical records to the back injury is unclear.

2025-07-02 06:00:43.953

Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four University of Idaho students murdered in 2022, expressed shock and anger over a plea deal reached between prosecutors and Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of the crime. Just days before the deal was announced, Goncalves and other victims' families had explicitly stated their opposition to a plea deal and their desire for the death penalty. The deal would see Kohberger plead guilty to all four counts of murder in exchange for the death penalty being dropped. While some families, like those of Madison Mogen and Ethan Chapin, support the deal, Goncalves and Jeff Kernodle, father of Xana Kernodle, have voiced strong criticism, calling it "hurried" and "secretive." They argue the deal should have included provisions requiring Kohberger to confess details of the crime. Legal experts explain that plea deals are often shrouded in privacy and that the costs and time commitment of a death penalty case may have influenced the decision. The judge must still approve the deal and will question Kohberger to ensure he understands the implications of waiving his right to a trial. The possibility of an Alford plea, where Kohberger maintains innocence while accepting the deal, is also discussed, although considered unlikely. The article highlights the conflicting emotions and opinions of the victims' families and explores the legal intricacies of the plea agreement.

2025-07-01 06:00:35.037

Bryan Kohberger has accepted a plea deal in the murders of four University of Idaho students, agreeing to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. This deal was confirmed by Shanon Gray, an attorney representing the family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the victims. The Goncalves family, along with others, expressed outrage at the decision, stating they feel betrayed by the State of Idaho. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, but the families have requested a delay to allow for travel arrangements. Kohberger, a former criminal justice graduate student, was arrested in Pennsylvania after his DNA was linked to evidence found at the crime scene. The murders occurred on November 13, 2022, and shocked the community. While no motive has been established, investigators have revealed Kohberger's presence in the neighborhood prior to the killings. Prosecutors stated that Kohberger's lawyers initiated the plea deal negotiations, and that the decision to offer the deal was made after consulting with the victims' families. The prosecutors emphasized the certainty of a life sentence and the avoidance of lengthy appeals as reasons for their decision.