CRIME NEWS
Showing 12 articles
AP
Actor James Handy Murdered; Police Arrest 44‑Year‑Old Suspect","description":"Los Angeles Police arrested the 44‑year‑old suspect after the 81‑year‑old character actor was found stabbed, with prosecutors citing a 911 call from a relative alleging the killer did “it.”","summary":"James Handy, a veteran character actor known for roles in \"Jumanji\" and \"Top Gun: Maverick,\" was fatally stabbed outside his home in Los Angeles. Police arrested Michael Gledhill, 44, who confessed to being the person authorities were seeking. Gledhill faces a murder charge and a $2 million bail.","image":"","text":"<h1 style=\"font-size:1.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;\">Actor James Handy Murdered; Police Arrest 44‑Year‑Old Suspect</h1>\n<p style=\"margin:0.5em 0;\">An 81‑year‑old actor, James Handy, famed for his roles in \"Jumanji\" and \"Top Gun: Maverick,\" was found stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside his Los Angeles home on Wednesday morning. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0.5em 0;\">The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded after a 9‑1‑1 caller identified themselves as the employee’s son and said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” The department later arrested 44‑year‑old Michael Gledhill, who told officers he was the person they were looking for.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0.5em 0;\">Gledhill, who lives with his mother, was booked on suspicion of one count of murder. His bail was set at $2 million, according to jail records, and no attorney was listed for him. Messages left with the county public defender’s office were not immediately returned, leaving his legal representation unclear.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0.5em 0;\">Handy was born in New York and built a career appearing in films and television dramas such as \"NCIS: Los Angeles,\" \"The Closer\" and \"Cold Case.\" He was remembered by talent agent Pam Ellis‑Evenas, who highlighted his talent, humility and graciousness.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0.5em 0;\">The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing its investigation into the homicide. A press release and additional statements are pending from the department and the county attorney’s office.</p>
AP
Virginia Couple’s Murder Case: An Au Pair’s Admission and a Husband’s Sentencing","description":"Virginia man Brendan Banfield faces life in prison after prosecutors confirm he orchestrated his wife’s murder with his au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães. The case involves a staged sexual encounter that turned deadly.","summary":"Brendan Banfield and his 21‑year‑old au pair were found guilty of orchestrating the murder of wife Christine Banfield and intruder Joseph Ryan. After trial, Banfield will be sentenced Friday, while the au pair was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter.","image":"https://example.com/virginia-murder-case.jpg","text":"<p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">FAIRFAX, Va.—A Virginia man who was having an affair with his partner’s family’s Brazilian au pair is scheduled to be sentenced Friday for the murder of his wife and a man lured to the couple’s home as a fall guy.</p><p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law‑enforcement officer, claimed that he shot Joseph Ryan after the man was seen attacking his wife on the morning of Feb. 24, 2023. Prosecutors, however, said Banfield and au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães set up Ryan to get rid of pediatric intensive‑care nurse Christine Banfield.</p><p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Banfield faces the possibility of life in prison. He was also convicted in February of child endangerment because the couple’s 4‑year‑old daughter was home during the killings.</p><p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">During the trial, Magalhães testified that she and Banfield impersonated Christine Banfield on a fetish website, luring Ryan to the home for a staged sexual encounter involving a knife. The scene was later staged to look as though they had shot a violent intruder.</p><p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Magalhães told jurors that on the day of the killings she waited in a car outside the house with the Banfield child. When Ryan arrived, she called Banfield, who was waiting at a nearby McDonald’s. The pair took the child to the basement and then proceeded to the bedroom where they confronted Ryan. Banfield allegedly shot Ryan and then stabbed Christine Banfield with the knife that Ryan had brought; Magalhães fired a second shot that killed him.</p><p style=\"font-size:14px;font-family:Arial;margin:0 0 1em 0;\">Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter after agreeing to testify against Banfield. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison after Banfield’s trial.</p>
AP
Karen Read Sues Massachusetts State Police Over Investigation of Police Officer’s Death","description":"Karen Read files lawsuit alleging misconduct and negligence in investigation that led to her prosecution after the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe.","summary":"Karen Read has filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton claiming misconduct, negligence, and a culture of bigotry in the investigation that led to her prosecution in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. The suit cites alleged bias by lead investigator Michael Proctor and former Canton police Sgt. Sean Goode, and calls for accountability in hiring, training and supervision of local law enforcement.","image":"","text":"<p>BOSTON (AP) — Karen Read has filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton, alleging misconduct and negligence in the investigation that led to her prosecution in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend.</p> <p>The suit filed Thursday in Bristol County Superior Court argues that Read’s <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/karen-read-not-guilty-verdict-takeaways-f70203e2639b738bab8a75ef7cc69323\">acquittal last June</a> revealed “an embedded culture of bigotry, misogyny, systemic failures, and institutional rot at the very core of both organizations.” It alleges that the town and the police department were negligent in the hiring, training, and supervision of officers.</p> <p>The town of Canton and the Canton Police Department did not immediately respond to email requests for comment.</p> <p>Read <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/karen-read-murder-trial-police-massachusetts-e636f03f40f3c03f24338d5ba7d40bd1\">walked out of court a free woman</a> about a year ago after more than three years and two trials over the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found on the suburban lawn of a fellow officer’s home after a night of heavy drinking during a snowstorm.</p> <p>Read faced charges of second‑degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene. The jury convicted her of a lesser charge, drunken driving.</p> <p>Prosecutors said Read hit O’Keefe with her SUV on January 2022 night of the party, leaving him to die in a blizzard.</p> <p>Her lawyers <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/karen-read-murder-trial-boston-police-d2b3cfe12e4634edbea209fbaca3dca9\">successfully defended her</a>, painting a sinister picture of police misconduct and theorizing that O’Keefe was in fact killed by colleagues who then covered it up.</p> <p>The trial centered in part on <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/karen-read-officer-death-boston-murder-dd539babdc2f5509a81be9dbed0967ad\">lead investigator</a> Michael Proctor, whom defense attorneys described as biased against Read from the beginning. The Massachusetts State Police trial board found Proctor guilty of sending crude and defamatory text messages about Read while leading the investigation into her. He was fired and drew the ire of Read supporters who believe he played a key role in an alleged cover‑up to frame her.</p> <p>The complaint filed Thursday devotes dozens of pages to Proctor and former Canton police Sgt. Sean Goode, citing texts, recordings and other communications that it says demonstrate racist, sexist and other derogatory remarks. Read argues that those materials show both men were unfit to participate in the investigation and that their conduct reflected broader failures in oversight by state and local law enforcement officials.</p> <p>Goode was placed on leave in November 2025 when the town was notified about allegations of misconduct. He resigned earlier this week, according to news outlets.</p>
AP
Chicago Prosecutor Admits Personal Pitch to Grand Jury in Immigration Protest Case","description":"U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros publicly acknowledges he personally spoke to jurors, a rare admission amid allegations of grand jury misconduct linked to the Trump-era immigration sweep prosecutions.","summary":"In a rare admission, Chicago’s top federal prosecutor Andrew Boutros disclosed that he addressed a grand jury about the immigration protest case. He claimed his remarks were meant to remind jurors of impartiality, yet critics view the action as an overstep. The indictment was later dismissed due to alleged procedural errors, highlighting broader DOJ struggles with grand jury handling.","image":"https://assets.apnews.com/7b/af/5e2193159b829937a1a22ebfa897/2434212dec644fda8854c2025f5ec4d6","text":"<p>In a surprising turn, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew Boutros, released a five‑page statement Tuesday admitting he personally spoke to a grand jury in the case that eventually led to the indictment and dismissal of protesters who opposed the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps. The admission marks the first time a federal prosecutor has been candid about such direct contact with a grand jury, a process that is normally shrouded in secrecy.</p> <p>Boutros’s statement includes transcript excerpts in which he says he was “there only to remind jurors of their obligation to be fair and to apply the law impartially.” However, he also told jurors to “please raise your hand” if they “cannot set aside their personal feelings about immigration or any other case.” Defense attorneys have called the remarks a chilling reminder that the prosecutor was stepping beyond the traditional bounds of a grand‑jury proceeding.</p> <p>The indictment, handed up on the third try, was eventually dismissed on May 21 after a U.S. District Court judge determined that a former assistant U.S. attorney’s misconduct had tainted the grand‑jury process. Boutros later told the judge that “no one acted with the intent to mislead.” Yet the controversy underscores the broader challenges the Justice Department has faced during the second Trump administration.</p> <p>Other cases have revealed similar irregularities. In Wyoming, a U.S. attorney’s remarks that the accused were “bad guys” and “murderers” led to the dismissal of charges against nine people. In Nebraska, a federal magistrate judge scolded a Trump loyalist who had helped secure the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, citing “profound investigative missteps.” Don Lemon’s case against an independent journalist has also drawn attention due to lawsuits seeking grand‑jury transcripts.</p> <p>Since his appointment in 2025, Boutros has been criticized by Democratic senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who accuse him of “deep internal dysfunction” in his office and have called for his resignation.</p>
AP
Judge Seals New York State Murder Hearing for Luigi Mangione","description":"A sealed virtual hearing in the Luigi Mangione case raises concerns over transparency and access to evidence.","summary":"On Wednesday, New York Judge Gregory Carro closed a virtual hearing on Luigi Mangione’s murder case, a decision requested by defense counsel and denied by reporters. The judge offered no explanation for the seal and scheduled an open in‑person hearing for June 16. The move comes amid prior incidents of the judge excluding media and limits access to key evidence, including a 3D‑printed pistol and a notebook allegedly linking Mangione to the 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.","image":"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/460263f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/2200x1467+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F56%2F3b%2Fac9ef0b0c587e2e19beee88fddcc%2F6c4ffa0ba3e44b4aadca0c028b8bfa5e","text":"<p>In a move that has drawn criticism for limiting public access, Judge Gregory Carro sealed a virtual hearing on New York state murder case involving Luigi Mangione, who faces charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson.</p><p>Carro, who presided over the proceeding in his chambers and ruled on video‑conferencing, did not provide a reason for sealing the session and gave no indication that Mangione’s defense counsel had requested it.</p><p>Press and reporters were barred from attending; a lawyer representing news organizations sent a letter demanding the judge’s rationale, but the request was ignored. One judge’s clerk relayed a message to reporters that the court “doesn’t read emails or letters at night” before hanging up.</p><p>Carro scheduled the sealed hearing for the end of Mangione’s last court appearance on May 18; he announced that a public hearing would take place on June 16, and that the June 16 session would be livestreamed as usual.</p><p>The judge’s decision comes amid a series of actions that have excluded journalists from hearings in the case, including an ejection of a reporter in December and a 27‑minute off‑the‑record bench conference in February. New York City courts journalist Laura Italiano said this is the third time in six months that the judge and court staff have silenced reporters seeking access to proceedings in Mangione’s case.</p><p>Prosecutors say a gun and notebook that link Mangione to Thompson’s killing can be used as evidence. The pistol is the same 3D‑printed model used in the shooting, and the notebook contains remarks that suggest a vendetta against the health‑insurance industry.</p><p>Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to the state and federal charges. His federal trial—concerning stalking charges—begins October 13, and conviction on either side could mean life imprisonment.</p>
AP
Bakersfield Hostage Crisis: Negotiations at Chase Bank Building","description":"Police in Bakersfield hold a hostage situation at a building that houses a Chase bank branch and a school district office, with a man holding several people captive. Negotiations release two hostages and bring the situation to a safe resolution.","summary":"A suspect barricaded himself inside a downtown Bakersfield building with hostages on Tuesday. Police and negotiators worked through the night, releasing two hostages and ensuring the rest were unharmed. City officials kept the public away from the area while local and federal agencies managed the crisis.","image":"https://example.com/images/bakersfield-chase-bank.jpg","text":"<p>Police entered a downtown Bakersfield building on Tuesday evening after a bomb threat alarm. The structure houses a Chase bank branch and a school district office, and a man had barricaded himself inside with several community members.</p>\n<p>Responding officers arrived at the Chase Bank location around 1 p.m. and found the suspect barred the doors. He was separated from ten hostages inside the building. Negotiators began contact by telephone as soon as the officers secured the perimeter.</p>\n<p>Over the course of the night, two of the ten hostages were released safely. The remaining eight people were told they were in “good health,” according to Police Sergeant Eric Celedon, who is coordinating the operation.</p>\n<p>City officials evacuated neighboring sites, including City Hall and police headquarters. Several streets surrounding the complex were closed to protect public safety and allow responders to work without interference.</p>\n<p>The Chase bank branch, located on the ground floor, remains empty while the bank’s corporate office coordinates emergency response and law‑enforcement assistance. The bank’s officials have pledged full cooperation during the negotiations.</p>\n<p>The Bakersfield Police Department’s crisis‑negotiation team maintained constant contact with the suspect. About a dozen police vehicles, a tactical response unit, and multiple emergency responders were on scene. FBI agents also joined the effort.</p>\n<p>Local livestreamer Jacob Davidson, known as Dad’s Gone Live, was nearby when the threat was first announced. He captured footage from a window at the bank, showing a woman rocking back and forth before she relaxed deeper. Davidson also described the thick police presence and the placement of trauma tents in the parking garage.</p>\n<p>Mayor Karen Goh expressed her close monitoring of the situation. She urged residents to avoid the area to allow negotiators and emergency personnel to work unimpeded.</p>\n<p>In the aftermath of the crisis, the city council is reviewing emergency protocols for downtown buildings and considering improvements to security and communication during potential hostage events.</p>\n<p>The incident is under investigation to determine the suspect’s motives and any potential planning involved. The community remains on alert as authorities aim to prevent future incidents.</p>\n<p>Associated Press reporter Rebecca Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho.</p>
AP
Iowa Tragedy: Six Dead in Fatal Shootings, Suspect Takes Own Life","description":"An investigation unfolds as authorities in Muscatine discover six victims in multiple homes, with the suspect, Ryan Willis McFarland, found dead by suicide.","summary":"Muscatine police are probing a series of fatal shootings that left six people deceased in the Iowa town. Police reported that the 52‑year‑old suspect, Ryan McFarland, shot the victims before turning the gun on himself when confronted by officers. Two victims were found in their residences and one inside a local business. The identities of the victims and details about the suspect’s history remain undisclosed.","image":"https://example.com/muscatine.png","text":"<p>Muscatine, Iowa – Police are investigating a shocking series of shootings that have killed six people, according to Chief Anthony Kies. Three victims were found dead at home, one in a business, and the suspect, 52‑year‑old Ryan Willis McFarland, was discovered dead by suicide after police intervened.</p><p>Chief Kies stated: “While talking to Ryan Willis McFarland, he took his own life.” He added that additional victims were believed to be relatives of McFarland, and their bodies were located parts of the city.</p><p>The police are processing the crime scenes and conducting interviews. They are asking anyone with information to contact the major crimes unit. McFarland’s criminal record was confirmed, but details were withheld by the station.</p><p>McFarland’s death has left the community shaken. “Today I simply do not have the words,” said Chief Kies. “This act of evil and what it has done to our community.”</p>
AP
Virginia Bus Driver Indicted on Additional Charges After Fatal Crash","description":"Bus driver charged with involvement in chain‑reaction crash that killed five people now faces more charges.","summary":"Jing Sheng Dong, a Staten Island bus driver, was indicted on Monday on additional counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving following a fatal chain‑reaction crash on Interstate 95 during a work‑zone slowdown. The crash killed five people and injured dozens more. Dong has a history of speeding and previously faced charges. He remains hospitalized, with prosecutors indicating he will be jailed upon release.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1519790119754-5c7b1a04753f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=800&q=80","text":"<p>Bus driver <strong>Jing Sheng Dong</strong>, 48, of Staten Island, New York, was indicted on Monday on additional charges stemming from the fatal chain‑reaction crash on Interstate 95 that killed five people and injured dozens more.</p><p>Dong was originally charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the crash early Friday morning on Interstate 95. A grand jury indicted him further on three additional counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving, according to the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.</p><p>Authorities said Dong was driving a motorcoach from New York to North Carolina when he struck a line of vehicles that had slowed down in a work zone. A family of four from Greenfield, Massachusetts, on their way to a wedding were killed, as was a 25‑year‑old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts.</p><p>Dong remained hospitalized Monday. He previously faced speeding accusations in Colonial Heights, Virginia, in November 2024, and in Annapolis, Maryland, in March, where he was accused of driving a motorcoach at 72 mph (116 kph) in a 50 mph (80 kph) zone. He was also charged in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, for alleged trespassing in July.</p><p>The bus involved in Friday’s crash was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.</p><p>Court documents related to the bus crash do not list an attorney for Dong. Neither the attorney representing him in the trespassing case nor the lawyer representing him in Maryland responded to emails seeking comment Monday.</p><p>Prosecutor Eric Olsen said Dong will be transported to jail upon his release from the hospital.</p>
AP
Ghanaian Mother and Child Detained at U.S. Airport Then Extradited to Ghana","description":"A pregnant Ghanaian woman and her son were held for days in a windowless detention room at Washington Dulles before being ordered deported by a federal judge.","summary":"Annabella Gyasi, 38, and her seven‑year‑old son were arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport after claiming they feared returning to Ghana. The pair suffered two hospitalizations for pregnancy complications and lived in a windowless detention cell. A U.S. District Judge ruled that it was in the best interests of justice for them to return to Ghana, and the attorneys said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s treatment was inhumane.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/7fad3ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5615x3743+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fe6%2Fa4%2F3e5557ce07217991b82efa1b1aea%2F3eba7085f0e64648bfa4a8cbc5d49bfb","text":"<p>Annabella Gyasi, 38, arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 19 to seek a medical appointment for her son, who was born with severely malformed hands. While she and her son were in possession of valid tourist visas, immigration officials detoured them after Gyasi reported that she and her child had faced persecution in Ghana and feared returning. <b>Gyasi’s interview with the officers highlighted her concerns and led to a detention in a windowless cell at the airport.</b></p>\n\n<p>During the detention, the mother was hospitalized twice for pregnancy complications, including vaginal bleeding and high blood pressure. In the run‑up to a court hearing, lawyer Marah K. Amankwah said the pair had no viable alternatives and ultimately agreed to leave the country. <b>U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema issued an order in early Friday saying, “the welfare of the petitioners and the interests of justice are best served by allowing petitioners to return home immediately.”</b></p>\n\n<p>The Department of Homeland Security asserted that every detainee receives “appropriate care, including medical evaluation by a doctor, medication, and food.” Civil liberties advocates, however, countered that the couple was repeatedly denied additional food even after stating hunger. ACLU‑Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer remarked that while the pair’s release was welcome, “no one should be subjected to the inhumane conditions they endured.”</p>\n\n<p>Gyasi and her son departed for Ghana that evening, and a return flight was scheduled for Friday night, per the order by Judge Brinkema. The case underscores the plight of travel‑bound migrants who, despite legitimate visas, may still face harsh detainment under the U.S. asylum framework.</p>
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