In July 2014 the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention released “Recognizing When a Child’s Injury or Illness Is Caused by Abuse: Portable Guide to Investigating Child Abuse.” It is important to note that an injury by itself does not indicate abuse. A comprehensive assessment by a team of knowledgeable professionals is the best approach to reaching an accurate determination.

http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php

Every year law enforcement agencies in the United States investigate more than 3.3 million cases of child maltreatment. Yearly an estimated 2,000 children die from abuse and mistreatment. Law enforcement personnel have the responsibility of protecting children and often are tasked with determining if a child’s injury is accidental or deliberate. This guide, first developed in 1996, provides information about the numerous indicators of child maltreatment and abuse to help first responders and investigators differentiate between physical abuse and accidental injury.

When a suspicious injury is reported, it is vital that law enforcement conduct an immediate assessment, ensure that the child receives medical care, identify witnesses, and collect evidence from the scene. In documenting evidence, investigators should obtain high-quality photos to document all injuries and their changes over time, solicit second opinions from other professionals, and supplement case reviews.

This guide can be retrieved from http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/243908.pdf, July 2014, NCJ 243908.

Additional articles can be found at https://leb.fbi.gov/2015/august?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fbi-law-enforcement-bulletin&utm_content=457106

A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to two felony counts related to staging car crashes, according to the Nevada attorney general’s office.

Martin Curiel-Guerra, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of multiple transactions involving fraud or deceit, a category “B” felony, and one count of insurance fraud, a category “D” felony. Curiel-Guerra defrauded insurance companies out of more than $10,000 between May and June of 2012.

“Staged car crashes are on the rise in Nevada, and this office will continue to pursue and prosecute these crimes,” Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt said in a news release. “These staged crashes are extremely dangerous to all involved. I encourage drivers to practice defensive driving and to be aware of the known types of staged collisions.”

http://liarcatchers.com/insurance_fraud.html

The charge of multiple transactions involving fraud or deceit carries a potential 20-year prison term and a fine of up to $10,000. Insurance fraud is punishable by up to four years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.

Curiel-Guerra is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 1 in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

Curiel-Guerra, with the help of a co-defendant, was involved in a scheme to defraud auto insurance companies by staging car crashes. As the driver, he intentionally caused three separate car crashes and enabled other co-conspirators to make fraudulent insurance claims.

As a result of the scheme, the City of Henderson, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nationwide Insurance Company and Sentry Insurance Company suffered losses of more than $10,000.

Authorities in Buncombe County have issued a missing person’s report for a 15-year-old girl.

Haley Sierra Destiny Jordan was last seen leaving her residence at 1 Owen Hollow Road in Asheville on July 30.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

The teen stands 5’6’’ tall, weighs 120 pounds, has brown hair, and hazel eyes.

If you have any information about Haley’s location please contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office at 828-250-6670.

The Kentucky trucker involved in a fatal crash on I-75 tested positive for crystal meth, a Chattanooga affiliate reports.

A warrant was issued for Kentucky native Benjamin Brewer. The wreck happened in June. Brewer, was driving north on I-75 on June 26, when he failed to slow down and stop for congested traffic in a construction zone. His tractor-trailer slammed into eight cars, killing six people.

http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html

The Chattanooga Police Department has released the list of 13 charges Benjamin Brewer will face. Those charges are as follow:

• 6 counts vehicular homicide by impairment
• 4 counts reckless aggravated assault
• 1 count DUI 1st offense by impairment of narcotics
• 1 count speeding
• 1 count false reports of duty status

Brewer lives in Laurel County and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department will serve the warrant. The NTSB report of the crash says that Brewer had been awake for 50 straight hours.

Florida authorities canceled an Amber Alert for a missing 21-month-old boy on Monday and say they are now investigating the disappearance of Lonzie Barton as a homicide.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Chief Tom Hackney released surveillance video during a news conference that shows the car of the mother’s boyfriend, William Ruben Ebron Jr., heading toward where the vehicle was eventually found abandoned and then Ebron running back toward his apartment.

http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html

“We’re working this as a murder case,” Hackney said.

Ebron, who lived with Lonzie’s mother, was caring for the boy and his 5-year-old sister when Lonzie disappeared July 24. Ebron initially told police he had left Lonzie in the car with its engine running while Ebron went into the apartment, and the car was gone when he returned, authorities said. The car was quickly recovered, but Lonzie hasn’t been located since.

“His whole explanation is nothing but a load of lies,” Hackney said.

Investigators have said Ebron isn’t cooperating with them. He’s in jail without bond on two counts of felony child neglect in relation to the case. Ebron has a lengthy arrest history, records show, including convictions for misdemeanor battery charges, robbery and grand theft. His ex-girlfriend also filed several domestic violence injunctions against him. Jail records didn’t list an attorney.

Hackney said he can no longer question Ebron, because Ebron has invoked his Constitutional right not to speak with police. Hackney said he hopes Ebron learns of the surveillance video’s existence.

“I can’t reach out to him, but what I can do is pass this information on to those who have contact with him,” Hackney said. “I want them to pass this on. I want them to let him know what we got.”

Hackney said he’s not sure what happened to Lonzie, but added he’s confident that Ebron has details about the child’s fate.

“I want the child’s body,” Hackney said. “I want the child’s body to be taken back to his family, to be put to rest properly. That’s the right thing to do.”

The sheriff’s office has led a massive search of the Jacksonville area since Lonzie’s disappearance, leading to the recovery of two unrelated sets of human remains.

Authorities are asking for help finding a 13-year-old who has been missing since at least Friday morning and who police say has medical issues.

Amanda Speddan is described as 5’6” and 130 pounds with gray eyes. She has black, shoulder-length hair that she wears straight and in a pony tail, according to a report from the Baltimore County Police Department.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

When last seen, Speddan was wearing a pink tank top and blue jeans with holes, the report said.

Police said Speddan was reported missing after her grandmother found she was gone from her home in the 400 block of Shirley Manor Road the evening of Friday, July 31.

The teen has various medical issues, according to police.

“Police have reason to believe that Amanda has not left the Baltimore area,” officials said in a statement.

Anyone with information about Amanda Speddan may contact the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-407-2020.