Kure Garba
Stories (266)
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The Crime That Shook Danvers, Massachusetts
The killing of Colleen Ritzer a 24-year-old math teacher at Danvers High School in Danvers Massachusetts remains one of the most tragic and disturbing crimes to affect a school community in the United States in recent years.Colleen Ritzer was widely remembered by colleagues and students as a dedicated and compassionate educator. Early in her teaching career she was known for bringing enthusiasm and patience into the classroom and for taking a genuine interest in the academic and personal wellbeing of her students. Friends and coworkers often described her as someone who believed every student deserved attention, encouragement, and the opportunity to succeed.
By Kure Garbaabout 8 hours ago in Criminal
When an Online Affair Turned Deadly
The tragic case involving Sharee Miller her husband Bruce Miller and former investigator Jerry Cassaday is a disturbing story of manipulation obsession and a murder-for-hire plot that ultimately destroyed several lives.Sharee Miller met Bruce Miller while working at his auto salvage yard in Flint, Michigan.Their relationship moved quickly, and the two soon married. On the surface, their life appeared stable, but behind closed doors the marriage was marked by constant conflict and emotional turmoil. Friends and investigators later described the relationship as deeply troubled, with repeated arguments and growing resentment on both sides.
By Kure Garbaa day ago in Criminal
A Survivor’s Final Stand: How One Woman Helped Convict Her Killer
The story of judy Malinowski is one of devastating violence personal resilience and an extraordinary fight to ensure accountability after unimaginable suffering.Judy was a young woman from Columbus, Ohio whose life, like many others was shaped by circumstances that slowly placed her in harm’s way. She had survived cancer and, during her treatment and recovery, was prescribed powerful painkillers. Over time, she became dependent on them. When her medical insurance later expired, her access to proper care and legal medication disappeared. Without the support she needed to manage both her pain and her growing addiction, she eventually turned to heroin.
By Kure Garba2 days ago in Criminal
The Brutal Killing of Hollywood Model Iana Kasian
In May 2016 a shocking and deeply disturbing crime unfolded in Los Angeles, leaving the local community and the wider public grappling with the brutal death of 30-year-old model Iana Kasian Kasian lived in a Hollywood-area home with her fiancé, graphic novelist Blake Leibel who would later be identified as her killer.Kasian’s body was discovered inside the couple’s residence in Los Angeles after her mother, who had been unable to reach her, contacted authorities and requested a welfare check. When officers arrived at the property, they encountered a scene that prosecutors would later describe as exceptionally violent. Leibel was present at the home and was taken into custody at the scene.
By Kure Garba4 days ago in Criminal
The Wrongful Conviction of Lynn DeJac
Start The case of Lynn DeJac stands as one of the most disturbing examples of wrongful conviction in modern American criminal justice—and also one of the most powerful demonstrations of how DNA profiling can uncover the truth years after a verdict has been sealed.Lynn DeJac was an American woman living in **Buffalo**, where she was raising her teenage daughter, **Crystallynn Girard**. By 1993, Lynn was in a troubled relationship with her boyfriend, **Dennis Donohue**. Their relationship would become central to a case that would eventually expose serious failures in police investigation and courtroom standards.
By Kure Garba5 days ago in Criminal
From Abuse to Acquittal: The Case of Marcia Thompson and Terry Thompson
For nearly two decades Marcia Thompson lived in a marriage that, from the outside appeared stable and long-standing. In reality, her relationship with Terry Thompson was marked by fear, isolation, and repeated violence. What began as a long and complicated marriage gradually became a cycle of control, intimidation, and physical abuse—one that Marcia struggled to escape for years.According to court testimony, Terry was intensely controlling. He monitored Marcia’s movements, watched her closely, and limited her personal freedom. Friends and neighbors would later describe a pattern in which Marcia appeared increasingly withdrawn, anxious, and trapped within her own home. The abuse was not limited to emotional manipulation. Terry would sometimes beat her, leaving Marcia afraid not only for her safety but also for her ability to live independently and free from constant surveillance.
By Kure Garba6 days ago in Criminal
The Tragic Death of Melody Hoffman in Marion, Iowa
The tragic story of Melody Hoffman a 20-year-old woman from Marion Iowa is one marked by vulnerability, misplaced trust, and a brutal betrayal that ultimately ended her life.Melody was born with an intellectual disability that affected how she related to others and understood complex social and emotional situations. Friends and family described her as someone who longed for companionship and acceptance, and who deeply desired to experience love and connection like other young people her age. Because of her challenges, Melody was particularly trusting of those who showed her affection, often taking their words and intentions at face value.
By Kure Garba7 days ago in Criminal
A Breakup That Ended in Murder: The Dark Side of Emotional Dependency
In November 2016 a young relationship in Loxahatchee Florida ended in a tragedy that would leave an entire community searching for answers.At the center of the case were James Barry a 21-year-old college student, and his former girlfriend, Melanie Eam, who was 22 at the time.Their relationship, which began like many others between young adults navigating school and early adulthood, gradually took a troubling turn. According to accounts later presented in court, Melanie became increasingly fixated on James and on maintaining constant access to his life. What may have initially felt like devotion slowly transformed into something far more consuming.
By Kure Garba8 days ago in Criminal
Buried Alive: A Retired Couple’s Kindness Turned Into a Deadly Betrayal
In July 2005 a shocking and deeply disturbing crime unfolded in the quiet city of Jacksonville Florida. A retired couple who had recently relocated there in search of a peaceful new chapter in life were brutally betrayed by someone they had once welcomed into their lives.The victims, Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Sumner had previously lived in South Carolina before making the decision to move to Florida in March 2005. By all accounts, the couple were kind, trusting, and generous people. While still living in South Carolina, they had formed a friendly relationship with a young woman named Tiffany Ann Cole, who was the daughter of one of their neighbors.
By Kure Garba9 days ago in Criminal
A Carefully Timed Murder Behind Closed Doors
Robert Fratta a former police officer and firefighter believed he was clever enough to erase his tracks and escape responsibility for a carefully planned crime. What appeared, on the surface, to be an ordinary family outing to church would later become one of the most telling moments in a case that exposed how deeply calculated his actions were.On November 9, 1994, Robert Fratta attended a church service with his children in Missouri. To those around him, he seemed distracted and unsettled. During the service, he left the congregation twice to make phone calls. At the time, neither his children nor fellow worshippers had any reason to suspect that these calls had nothing to do with an emergency or family matter. What they did not know was that Fratta was attempting to construct an alibi for a crime that had already been set in motion.
By Kure Garba10 days ago in Criminal
The abduction of Jayme Closs
The abduction of Jayme Closs shocked the United States and drew national attention to the terrifying reality of targeted, premeditated crimes committed by strangers. In the early hours of October 15, 2018, Jayme’s life was violently and permanently altered when a young man she had never met arrived at her family home in Barron, Wisconsin** with the intention of taking her for himself.The offender, whose real name is Jake Patterson (sometimes incorrectly reported as Thomas Patterson), was a 21-year-old man who described himself as socially isolated and lonely. According to his own statements, he wanted a girl to keep him company and believed abducting one was the only way he could achieve this. Rather than attempting to form a relationship in a lawful or healthy way, Patterson made the deliberate and chilling decision to kidnap a child.
By Kure Garba11 days ago in Criminal
The Tragic Death of Holly Barlow-Austin in a Texas Jail Operated by LaSalle Corrections
In April 2019 Holly Barlow-Austin a 47-year-old woman living in Texas was arrested for violating the terms of her probation related to a misdemeanor offense. What began as a routine and relatively minor criminal justice matter would soon become a devastating example of how neglect inside privately operated jails can lead to irreversible harm and, ultimately, loss of life.Following her arrest, Holly was placed in a jail facility operated by LaSalle Corrections a private company responsible for managing correctional facilities in the state. According to court filings and accounts from her family, Holly entered the jail in stable condition. She was capable of walking on her own, communicating clearly, and managing her health with prescribed medication. There were no signs that her life was in immediate danger at the time she was booked into custody.
By Kure Garba12 days ago in Criminal
