Nashville, Tennessee: After going missing from a bar in Nashville on March 8, missing student Riley Strain’s body was found this past Friday in the Cumberland River. Though exactly how he ended up in the river isn’t certain, it does seem as though this was a tragic accident and no foul play was involved. Either way, it was not the ending everyone had been hoping and praying for, and a terrible loss for his family and friends.
Salt Lake City, Utah: The evidence in the Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt case was released this week, and boy howdy was it a lot. There was a 20/20 special on it this past weekend, and there is even more to be found on You Tube and various other sources, if you feel like digging and have the stomach for it. As one person said, “We knew it was bad. We just didn’t know how bad.” After seeing the various pieces of evidence, we hope those two do more than four years (the minimum they can serve) for their crimes against those innocent children.
Hollywood, California: Speaking of shows that aired, who else watched the documentary Quiet on the Set this week? Drake Bell was very brave to tell his story publicly for the first time, and we were glad to see that his former costar, Josh Peck, made a public statement of support for him after the show aired. We’d love to hear more from Amanda Bynes, who did not appear in the documentary, as the details included in the show about her childhood relationship with Dan Schneider could give clues to the issues she struggled with later. We hope that all affected by the culture of abuse and dysfunction surrounding those child actors get the healing and wholeness they deserve.
Twin Falls, Idaho: Two prison escapees, and an accomplice, were caught after being on the run for 36 hours. During those 36 hours, they murdered a man out walking his dogs for his minivan, killed a second elderly man, and tried to evade police with a high-speed chase before ultimately being captured. Authorities are trying to figure out how the ringleader, Skylar Meade, was able to pull off his escape plan when he spent most of his time prior to the escape in solitary confinement. We are just glad they’re back in prison where they belong and our hearts go out to all of the victims of their recent escape.
Lake City, Florida: Speaking of prisoners, we’ve got two more stories of possible bad behavior from behind bars. First is Charlie Adelson, the former periodontist who was convicted of hiring people to have his ex-brother-in-law, Dan Markel, murdered. He made the news this week because he is now in “administrative confinement” within the prison. This means he is temporarily separated from the general population and can’t have visitors during this time, however long it is. It sounds like a punishment to us, but the official statement was that it was for safety and security reasons. His mother, Donna Adelson’s court date is currently set for September, which we will no doubt be covering here!
Oakland County, Michigan: The next story is that of recently convicted James Crumbley, father of the Oxford school shooter who is now serving time for involuntary manslaughter convictions for his part in the shootings, a landmark case, and a landmark verdict. During his weeklong trial there was news that he’d made some sort of threats from behind bars. This week we found out what those threats were: Prosecutor Karen McDonald explained that Crumbley was recorded making death threats against her.
Boise, Idaho: And speaking of jail, Chad Daybell, husband of Lori Daybell and self-appointed Doomsday prophet, was moved this week from Fremont County jail to Ada County jail in preparation for his trial in the murder of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and two of Lori’s children, which begins April 1. For those of us following the case for many years, Chad’s day in court is one we’ve been waiting for and we will keep you posted once it begins.
Stanford, Connecticut: One more from the prison annals, Michelle Troconis left the women’s correctional facility where she is being held in lieu of bond, to appear in court this week on a separate charge. The contempt of court charge dates back to her trial, when someone spotted a sealed custody document displayed on her laptop screen. Just how or why Troconis had that sealed document in her possession is unknown. Her family remains vigilant in their support of her.
Birmingham, Alabama: This week Carlee Russell, the 25-year-old who claimed she was abducted after trying to help a toddler on the side of a highway, was sentenced for two counts of falsely reporting. We still remember the utter fear and disgust that a predator would use a child as bait to abduct a woman, and the mounting concern over her safety. Then, a miracle! She was found safe. Very quickly her story unraveled and she went from victim to suspect. Apparently the whole thing was an attention grab, possibly to get her boyfriend back? We don’t know, but for those of us who fell for her hoax, her suspended sentence of only probation and no jail time seemed light. It was comforting to know that she has to make restitution of $17,000 towards the time and resources that were spent in the search for her. At least there’s that.
Coeur D’Alene, Idaho: (More from Idaho!) Daniel Howard was found guilty by a jury of the murder of his wife Kendy, which he tried to make look like a suicide. Last week we shared how he had been apprehended at the airport while wearing an ankle bracelet as he apparently attempted to flee prior to the trial’s end and the jury’s decision. We are glad he was caught before he could run, and we are glad justice was served for his wife, who— according to testimony— suffered abuse by him in the years before he allegedly murdered her. We will be back to report on his sentencing when it occurs in May.
Norfolk County, Massachusetts: Karen Read, facing a trial next month for murdering her boyfriend, Officer John O’Keefe, was in court this week for a pretrial hearing asking for cell phone records to be released, claiming that she is the victim of a police coverup and is being falsely accused, and that the phone calls she’s asking for prove it. If there’s nothing to hide, then what’s the harm in releasing the records? We think it’s a fair question. Another hearing is taking place today and we will let you know next week what comes of that.
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin: Little 3-year-old Elijah Vue has been missing for one month as of this past week. His red and white blanket was found last Monday, four miles away from where he went missing. Four miles is a long way for a small child to walk. So how’d it get there? Both his mother and her boyfriend are still in jail as they face multiple charges. His mother, Katrina Baur, pled not guilty to four charges this past Friday and her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, is due in court next week for a preliminary hearing. We hope one of them will tell the truth about what happened to this precious little boy that so many are still looking for.
That’s it for this week. Stories that are developing right now that we will be keeping our eye on for next week: two children, ages 12 and 7, were taken into custody near Houston, TX for stabbing a neighbor, who is at the time of this writing in critical condition. The incident was caught on camera and is quite disturbing. Also, Homeland Security agents raided Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mansion yesterday, apparently looking for sex trafficking evidence. And the search continues for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers, with the United Cajun Navy adding their aid in searching this week. We hope answers as to his whereabouts are revealed soon.
Thanks for being here, whether you’re subscribed and checking in weekly or you’re just here to see what this TWITCH thing is. We hope you’ll keep coming back, and that all of us will do what we can to honor these victims and their loved ones, to hold them in high regard and remember that, while we can read or watch this news and go on with our lives, they can’t. These cases, these tragedies, are part of their every day. So let’s hold them in our hearts, and say their names in our prayers. May justice prevail.