One week after a western Kentucky woman was found dead in a house fire, police have arrested her husband of 36 years and charged him with her death.

Keith Griffith is charged with killing his wife, Julie Griffith.

Their McCracken County home burned to the ground last week, and Julie’s body was found inside. Investigators say it was a week of hard work that lead them to arrest Keith on murder and arson charges.

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Police haven’t said what exactly they found that linked Keith to his wife’s murder, or even a specific cause of death for Julie. But, they have said they are very confident in their arrest.

Griffith is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing sometime in the next two weeks.

A Mendocino County couple has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing at least two of their five children over a 13-year period.

Sheriff’s officials say 61-year-old Donald Dunakin and 47-year-old Ina Medina of Talmadge were taken into custody Thursday night and each booked in county jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

The suspects face multiple felony charges, including sodomy, continuous sexual abuse of a child, lewd act with a child, oral copulation of a child, penetration with a foreign object and torture.

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Officials say sheriff’s detectives began investigating the case on Wednesday when they were contacted by county Child Protective Services.

Officials allege the children were ages 3 to 16 when they were abused by the suspects, who have lived together in the Ukiah area for about 30 years.

The mother of missing 19-year-old Sarah Brook Gonzales McLinn now says there may have been more than one person involved in the homicide of a 52-year-old man whose body was discovered inside the Southwest Lawrence home he and McLinn shared.

More than a week after Lawrence police discovered the body of Harold M. Sasko while looking for McLinn, Michelle Gonzales, McLinn’s mother, said in a statement Sunday that the family is convinced McLinn is “a victim.” Gonzales urged anyone with information to come forward.

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“We understand that the police can’t say much, because the investigation is still occurring,” Gonzales wrote. “However, that doesn’t ease our worries. The police did say that even if Sarah was involved, she could not have acted alone based on the traumatic injuries Mr. Sasko suffered.”

Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman, said on Saturday that police still don’t know how many people were present at the time of Sasko’s death, and a suspect has not yet been identified. On Friday, McKinley said police do not know what role, if any, McLinn played in the homicide.

Calls to police for comment on Gonzales’ statement were not returned Sunday.

The following is Gonzales’ complete statement:

“I am the mother of Sarah Brook Gonzales McLinn. The police haven’t told us what information they have. All we know is that for more than a week, Sarah has made no contact with family or friends, including her sister Ashley. Ashley and Sarah are very close and talk several times a week. We understand that the police can’t say much, because the investigation is still occurring. However, that doesn’t ease our worries. The police did say that even if Sarah was involved, she could not have acted alone based on the traumatic injuries Mr. Sasko suffered. This makes us even more convinced that Sarah is a victim. We do not know what happened, but we want Sarah to know that we love her and we are here for her and we have help for her if she needs it. We want the person or persons who have Sarah to let her call home and come home. We want anyone who thinks they may have seen Sarah to report it to their local police department.

“We also ask that anyone with information on Mr. Sasko contact the Lawrence Police Department. Mr. Sasko and Sarah were roommates. Sarah helped him in his CiCi’s Pizza franchises. We know of no conflict between Mr. Sasko and Sarah. However, someone had a dispute with him or dealings with him of a nature that led to his homicide. If anyone knows a person or persons who could have had a motive for killing Mr. Sasko, please contact the Lawrence Police Department. If anyone knows of a person or persons who could have had dealings with Mr. Sasko of the kind that could lead to violence, please contact the Lawrence Police Department. We believe that any leads we can get on Mr. Sasko and the reasons behind the incident can help us find Sarah and bring her home.“

Alex Johnson’s body was found in 4 feet of water inside a 55-gallon blue barrel in the Kentucky River, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said at a press conference Saturday.

Johnson, 32, disappeared Dec. 20 after his girlfriend said he ended a phone call with her by saying he needed to answer the door at his home on North Hanover Avenue in Lexington.

Family members and friends publicized his disappearance for weeks in hopes of finding him alive. But police concluded that Johnson had been killed, and their leads resulted in two arrests last week and the discovery of a body Friday. Authorities announced the identity Saturday.

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Ginn said Johnson died from blunt-force trauma injuries to the head, adding that Johnson was identified from dental records, which were already at the coroner’s office, as well as thumbprints and DNA.

The coroner’s office was called to the riverbank off Old Richmond Road at 10:06 Friday morning. Ginn said he was able to confirm that there were human remains inside the barrel, which the coroner described as a steel drum, from looking through a hole at 2:40 p.m.

“We believe he’s been in the barrel at least a month,” Ginn said. “He was fully clothed and had some money on him.” He would not specify the amount of money. Ginn said the body had minor decomposition.

Ginn said that the barrel was submerged near the shore.

An autopsy conducted at the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort was finished about noon Saturday, and the family identified Johnson a few hours later, Ginn said.

Police have not commented about a motive in the slaying, and they would not give specifics about how they knew where to find the body.

Johnson’s disappearance became a missing-persons case after relatives became concerned when Johnson didn’t return calls, follow through with plans he had made with friends, or attend a meeting at work Dec. 21.

Police converted the case into a homicide investigation Tuesday, obtaining a murder arrest warrant for Robert Markham Taylor, 28, of Lexington. Taylor was apprehended Wednesday night in Pharr, Texas, about 8 miles from the Mexican border.

Taylor is charged with murder, and Pharr police also charged him with marijuana possession after several pounds of it were found in his vehicle. The extradition process to return him to Lexington is expected to begin soon. Taylor was being held in Hidalgo County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

In addition to Taylor, police have charged Timothy Ballard, 42, with complicity to kidnapping and tampering with evidence. A preliminary court hearing for Ballard, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for Wednesday.

Johnson, Ballard and Taylor were all acquaintances, police have said.

Johnson’s disappearance created a stir in the community. Friends and family joined for fundraisers and gatherings. On Jan, 16, some met at Blue Stallion Brewing Company to celebrate what would have been Johnson’s 33rd birthday.

“It’s just a sad loss. All I can think about is his dad, mom and sister. I can’t imagine what they are feeling,” said Kore Donnelly, co-owner of the brewing company. “My prayers go out to them. I’m surely going to miss him.”

Johnson, a chef at the Hilary J. Boone Center at the University of Kentucky, was a native of Bowling Green and moved to Lexington to attend Transylvania University after graduating from Greenwood High School in 1999. He wanted to move to Lexington because he wanted to be in a larger city, his father, Lee Johnson, said. He graduated in 2005 with a degree in Spanish and a minor in mathematics.

The only things missing from Johnson’s apartment were his keys, wallet and cellphone, his father said. His green Ford Ranger pickup, covered with snow, remains outside the building. Lee Johnson said the family had gathered some items from his son’s apartment, including his cat Mahgee, who is named after the rock band My Morning Jacket’s song Mahgeetah.

Alex Johnson was an extrovert who loved to travel and ride bikes, his father said. He entered two 100-mile bike races.

Johnson’s friend Melissa Branham said she had known him since high school. She said she last saw Johnson in July when he came to visit her sick mother. Branham said he had “a magnetic personality.”

“I never would think his goodbye to my mom would be my goodbye to him,” she said. “Whatever the circumstances that led to this I will never understand it. I know he’s looking down on us, and I feel it.”

Johnson’s funeral arrangements are pending with J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green.

Across the nation, identity thieves are using legitimate information to scam honest taxpayers, and frequently posing as the IRS to do so. The IRS has created the IRS Identity Theft Protection Unit to address the growing problem.

Being aware of some of the most common scams can help protect residents from having personal information used to commit fraud or other crimes.

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· Phony IRS emails: In a “phishing” scam, an official-looking email shows an IRS logo that lures the consumer to a website that requests personal and financial information, such as a Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers. The IRS does not send out unsolicited emails and does not use email to ask for detailed personal or financial information. The only genuine IRS website is IRS.gov.

· Refund scam: A bogus email tells the recipient that he or she is eligible to receive a federal tax refund for a given amount (often $63.80) and sends the recipient to a website to complete a form to submit the tax refund request. The form asks for personal and financial information. The IRS does not notify taxpayers of refunds via email, and taxpayers do not have to complete a form or provide detailed financial information to obtain a refund. Refunds are based on information reported on the tax return.

· Antifraud Commission scam: The scammer sends an email stating the IRS “Antifraud Commission” has found that someone tried to pay their taxes through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS, using the email recipient’s credit card and some of the recipient’s money was lost and the remaining funds were blocked. The email includes a link that sends the recipient to a website where he or she is directed to enter personal and financial information to unblock their funds. The IRS does not have an Antifraud Commission and does not have the authority to freeze a taxpayer’s credit card or bank account because of potential theft or fraud perpetrated against the taxpayer.

Other email scams from fraudsters posing as IRS personnel include notifications of lottery winnings, a notice that more than one return was filed by the taxpayer and notification of W-2s received from an unknown employer.

Scams also can take the form of “assisting” taxpayers in filing returns to collect fraudulent refunds, promotion of tax evasion techniques or reporting false income for purposes of increasing refundable credits.

A taxpayer who believes there is a risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should contact the IRS immediately so the agency can take action to secure the account. The taxpayer should contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.

A taxpayer who believes they may have received a fraudulent or otherwise questionable communication related to taxes should contact a licensed tax professional. Enrolled agents are the only federally licensed tax practitioners who specialize in taxation and also have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

That means that if you get a letter from the IRS, are audited or are the target of a collection action, your EA can speak directly to the IRS on your behalf. Find an EA in your area on the directory at naea.org.

Police in Philadelphia are reaching out to the public for help finding a missing girl.

Twelve-year-old mina Ladson was last seen at her residence in the 800 block of N 42nd Street on Tuesday, Jan. 21st.

Mina is prescribed medication that, if not taken, could affect her well being.

Police say it’s possible Ladson is staying with family friends or relatives, but the amount of time she’s been missing without her medication puts her at risk.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

Mina is described as 5’2” and 129 lbs with a dark complexion and eyes and black straight hair in braids. She was last seen wearing khaki pants, a navy shirt, a pink jacket with a gray stripe, a black and gray scarf and black boots.

Anyone with information should call police immediately

According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Lula Hazzard Skanes, 66, was last seen by her daughter on Friday January, 24, 2014.

Skanes is believed to have left home on foot and is an Alzheimer’s patient and she has Dementia.

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Skanes was last seen in Pinson, Ala.  Mrs. Skanes is 5’3 and 120 lbs. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 325-1450.

A suburban New York police chief who taught sex-abuse awareness classes to children has been accused of downloading and sharing more than 120 images of child pornography.
Pedophile Tracking Suburban NY Police Chief Faces Child Porn Charges
Mount Pleasant Chief Brian Fanelli, 54, who has been in office about two months, was arrested Thursday.

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In a complaint filed with the court, an agent says Fanelli told investigators that he first viewed child pornography as sex-abuse research for the classes he was teaching at a grade school and a middle school. But he added that he then began viewing the images “for personal interest,” the complaint said.

Fanelli was arrested at his home in Mahopac, and appeared before a federal magistrate judge in White Plains. He was released on a $50,000 bond that his wife agreed to co-sign. Judge Lisa Margaret Smith ordered home detention with electronic monitoring and barred him from Internet access and any association with children.

Fanelli did not enter a plea to the charge of possessing child pornography. His attorney, Susanne Brody, would not comment after the court session.

If convicted, Fanelli could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 19.

Mount Pleasant, about 25 miles north of New York City, has a population of about 44,000. Fanelli first joined its police department in 1981. Town Supervisor Joan Maybury, who called the arrest “disturbing,” said Fanelli was suspended with pay in accordance with his contract. His annual salary is about $136,000.

Mount Pleasant police officers were involved in the events surrounding the 2010 police killing of Danroy Henry Jr., a Pace University football player, and a lawyer for the Henry family has accused Fanelli of falsifying some details. No one was charged, but a lawsuit is pending.

The complaint says agents using investigative software tracked pornography downloads to Fanelli’s computer. It said 125 files suspected of being child pornography were downloaded between October and December — as Fanelli was being promoted.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara issued a statement saying it was disturbing and sad that a police chief is accused of breaking a law “designed to protect the youngest and most vulnerable of our population from vile exploitation.”

A 25-year-old Lafayette man went missing Tuesday and, now, friends, family and police are seeking the public’s help to find him.

Nathaniel Tallman was last seen in Lafayette at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday, driving his new black 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Rally near Highway 42 and Empire Road, said Zalyn Lee, a friend of Tallman. The 25-year-old was heading for Longmont and hasn’t been heard from since.

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Tallman’s father contacted the Lafayette Police Department Thursday to report his son was missing, Sgt. Mark Battersby told the Daily Camera. Lafayette police entered Tallman into their system as a missing person and asked other Colorado law enforcement to keep a watch out for Tallman and his vehicle, which has license temporary plates.

Tallman was described as a white male with brown hair and hazel eyes and about 5-foot-10. He was last seen dressed in black sweat pants with a white stripe down the side and a white North Face jacket.

“We have zero reason to believe he would have intentionally run away or tried to commit suicide,” said Lee.

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Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Lafayette police at 303-665-5571 or the Boulder County emergency dispatch at 303-441-4444.

A Tulsan who pleaded guilty to sex-abuse and pornography crimes has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Aaron Leon Howk, 26, pleaded guilty this week to seven felonies — five counts of distributing child pornography and single counts of sexual abuse of a child and manufacturing child pornography.

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