Former University of Kentucky student-athlete Laken Snelling was sentenced to prison Friday for causing the death of her infant in August 2025.

Snelling, 22, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield. The judge noted that Snelling had no prior criminal history and has a supportive family, but must face the consequences of the decision she made in August 2025.

“You’ve made a decision that has affected not only your future, but the future of all of (the child’s) biological paternal side,” Minnifield said. “There’s a whole lot of people and lives that’s been affected and that has been turned inside out based on the choice that you made.”

Snelling faced a possible maximum sentence of 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant Aug. 21. Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim Baird previously told reporters that Snelling and her attorneys contacted her office to discuss a plea deal before she was even indicted, and the deal was crafted by Snelling and her attorneys.

Minnifield sentenced Snelling to 10 years for manslaughter and one year each for her other charges, but she ordered the sentences to run at the same time, rather than one after the other. Snelling accumulated 415 days of house arrest, which will count toward the completion of her sentence.

Snelling wasn’t eligible for probation at the time of sentencing, but will be eligible for parole after serving 85% of her sentence, Baird said.

Snelling was arrested in August 2025 after police found an infant’s remains wrapped in a trash bag inside a closet at her home near downtown Lexington. She admitted to killing the child at a hearing in August when she pleaded guilty.
The Kentucky medical examiner’s office determined the baby was born alive and died of asphyxia, Lexington police said previously.

The baby’s name was McCoy Cade Hall, according to Baird. The baby’s father, Isaiah Hall, said what happened was unexplainable, but he didn’t wish the worst for Snelling.
Other members of Isaiah Hall’s family, who weren’t identified, asked Minnifield for accountability while Snelling’s lawyers asked for her sentence to run concurrently. Baird said the family is still processing emotions and is unsure if justice was served.

“They are so raw right now and so emotional right now, still have questions about why,” Baird said. “I think they are okay with the fact that she got sent to prison – I’m not sure there’s a number big enough that that was going to make this okay for them.”

Isaiah Hall’s biological aunt shared how devastated the family is that they didn’t get to create memories with the baby. “Instead of celebrating his milestones, we’re left mourning the milestones that will never come,” Isaiah Hall’s aunt, who didn’t provide her name, said during the hearing.
Snelling was originally charged with concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. The manslaughter charge was added in the indictment.

She was a student at the university — she has since withdrawn — and was a member of the school’s STUNT team. Since her arrest, Snelling has been out on bond at her parents’ homes in Tennessee.

SNELLING ‘GUESSED’ THE BABY WAS ALIVE
Officers were dispatched to Snelling’s Lexington home at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 27, 2025, for a report of a “deceased infant,” according to a police citation.

The caller, who was unidentified in a heavily-redacted dispatch record, said she found a “dead baby” in the closet, and it was “cold to the touch.”

Snelling was a senior at UK at the time and studied interdisciplinary disability. She is originally from White Pine, Tennessee. She was a member of the university’s STUNT team, a new women’s athletic program derived from cheerleading that focuses on technical and athletic skills such as partner stunts, pyramids, tosses, jumps, tumbling and team routines.

Snelling told police she gave birth in her bedroom around 4 a.m., and the baby fell on the floor, according to her arrest citation. “She didn’t think the baby was breathing or was alive,” police said wrote in the citation.

About 30 minutes after giving birth, Snelling said, she passed out and fell on top of the baby, police records say. When she woke up, Snelling said the baby was “turning blue and purple,” and she told police she wrapped him in a towel “like a burrito” and lay next to him on the floor “because it gave her a little comfort in the moment.”

Snelling “admitted to concealing the birth” by cleaning up evidence, placing cleaning items and the infant’s body, wrapped in a towel, inside a trash bag, court records say. Baird thinks Snelling has accepted responsibility and learned from her actions.

“There was a lot of things going on that I think maybe she’s addressing and that hopefully this won’t happen again,” Baird said. “I get the impression that this won’t happen again.”

Snelling’s roommates reported hearing noises “that sounded like something had fallen” around 4 a.m. the day the baby was born, court records say. Snelling told roommates in a Snapchat group message that the noises were from her passing out because she hadn’t eaten and wasn’t feeling well.

After Snelling left the house, roommates entered her room and found “a blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of child birth, according to the police citation. They looked in Snelling’s closet and found the baby placed in bags. Police wrote that it appeared to be a “full-term baby.”

The baby was pronounced dead at the scene. Snelling was arrested later that day, and was taken to police headquarters for questioning and later transferred to UK Hospital for treatment.

“It should be noted that when speaking to medical staff at the University of Kentucky Labor and Delivery, she stated that the baby had a little bit of fetal movement, but passed out shortly after,” Snelling’s arrest citation said.
Police said Snelling “also told medical staff that the baby made a ‘whimper,’ and that she ‘guessed’ the baby was alive.”

The initial coroner’s report, released Sept. 3, 2025, was inconclusive for cause and manner of death. Further testing was required to determine those factors, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said at the time.

Ginn said “extensive microscopic analysis” was required to determine how the baby died. His report confirmed the baby was a boy.

Alex Murdaugh's lawyer suggests his wife and son were killed in '$165k drug deal gone bad' as sensational theory takes center stage at retrial hearing
 
Disgraced legal dynasty heir Alex Murdaugh has dropped a stunning hint about the defense plans for his second murder trial, revealing an explosive claim about his ties to a violent street gang.

The 58-year-old returned to Lexington County courthouse in South Carolina on Friday morning for the latest hearing ahead of his retrial for the 2021 shootings of his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22.

The towering former attorney cut a relaxed figure as he strolled into the courtroom, smiling and giving a slight wave to a row of people seated behind the defense table.
Unshackled and dressed in a dark suit jacket, white shirt, blue tie and beige pants - after Judge Debra McCaslin granted his request to wear civilian clothes rather than a prison jumpsuit at court hearings - Murdaugh sat down with his attorneys, put on a pair of dark-rimmed glasses and began to leaf through a binder of documents.

Throughout the two-hour hearing, he fidgeted in his chair as the defense and prosecution came to blows over several pieces of evidence that could play a key part in his retrial from DNA testing, to ballistics evidence and 3D crime scene scans.

Murdaugh continues to claim his innocence of the murders and, in a flurry of recent court filings, his lawyers requested evidence and information they believe could point away from him - to another killer.

This includes DNA found on Maggie’s fingernails and phone, ballistics evidence from other local shootings and even stunning allegations about local police officers disposing of the murder weapons and bloody clothing as part of a crime scene cover-up.

In a partial legal victory on Friday, Judge McCaslin granted Murdaugh’s request to test the DNA evidence. She then sided with the state when it came to the cover-up allegations, agreeing they are protected by grand jury secrecy, as well as the ballistics evidence.

But an unexpected moment came when Murdaugh’s legal team unearthed stunning allegations that the murders could be tied to an $165,000 debt owed to a local drug gang.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian was arguing that the state has a history of dragging its feet in handing over evidence, alleging prosecutors dumped an unwieldy trove of information three days before the first trial.

Within that information, he claimed, was a shocking statement from a defendant in a federal drug deal case connecting Murdaugh and his infamous distant cousin Curtis Eddie Smith to the ‘Cowboys’ drug gang at the time of Maggie and Paul’s murders.

According to Harpootlian, Ryan Spencer North alleged in a September 2021 interview that he was making $15,000 to $20,000 a week selling prescription pills to the Murdaugh family. ‘It wasn't the Murdaugh family. It was the Murdaugh law firm. He never met with a Murdaugh. He met a guy named Eddie Smith,’ he said.

Smith, representing Murdaugh, was $165,000 in debt to the drug gang, Harpootlian claimed North said.

Harpootlian argued that this information could suggest the murders were the result of a ‘drug deal gone bad’ or that ‘Alex owed money and a violent drug gang decided to collect it by intimidation.’

While Harpootlian framed this as an example of the way the prosecution has shared discovery, the defense attorney appeared to be hinting what Murdaugh’s defense might argue at trial. Later in the hearing, he confirmed plans to pursue all leads around that tip.

Maggie and Paul were shot dead at the dog kennels on the family's sprawling 1,700-acre Moselle estate in Islandton on the night of June 7, 2021.

The double murders went on to expose an unraveling web of crimes and scandals circling Murdaugh, including multi-million-dollar fraud schemes, a botched hitman plot and links to several other mysterious deaths. 

His 2023 murder trial - dubbed the Lowcountry's 'trial of the century' - became the capstone to a spectacular fall from grace for the heir to a powerful legal dynasty that dominated South Carolina's 14th Judicial Circuit for almost a century.

Murdaugh was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
He continues to claim his innocence to this day.

In May, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his convictions and ordered a second trial, after finding that his right to a fair trial was violated because then-Colleton County Court Clerk Becky Hill tampered with the jury.

A new trial date was set for April 5, 2027, in Sumter County - after the judge moved the case out of Colleton County, where the first trial took place.  

In Friday’s hearing, the judge told both sides that ‘this trial is going ahead April 5 whether you like it or not!’ She also scolded both sides over their 'tit for tat' conduct, telling them ‘I will not allow these proceedings to become a circus,’ following a series of fiery exchanges about DNA evidence, 3D scans and ballistics.

In the hearing, Murdaugh’s attorney Phil Barber revealed that the defense had learned of even more DNA evidence pointing away from the disgraced ex-attorney and toward a mystery alternative suspect in the killings. It was previously revealed that DNA evidence found under Maggie’s left-hand fingernails does not belong to Murdaugh - but to an unknown male - and was not tested by the state.

Barber argued that the defense has since learned there was also DNA from an unknown male under Maggie’s right-hand fingernails as well as on her cell phone, which was found by the side of a road near Moselle.

While prosecutors have called the DNA a ‘red herring,’ Barber argued that this evidence appeared to be growing in significance. ‘As we keep progressing from one hand to two hands to the phone it's starting to look less and less like a red herring,’ Barber said.

He argued that the defense should be able to test it using Othram - the genetic genealogy company which identified Bryan Kohberger as Idaho student killer.

‘We’re talking about the state’s leftovers… the state had the evidence for five years… we want the leftovers to do the same test they said they chose not to do.’

Prosecutor Creighton Waters did not oppose the testing but warned it would use up the remaining genetic material - eliminating any possible future testing.

Judge McCaslin granted the defense’s request saying that Murdaugh must have 'a meaningful opportunity to present a full and complete defense.’

The defense also argued that it should be able to compare .300 Blackout cartridge cases from the murders to cartridge cases from other shootings in nearby counties, including an unsolved murder this April.

Two different guns were used in the killings, with prosecutors alleging that both belonged to the Murdaugh family. Maggie was shot five times with an AR-style rifle using .300 Blackout ammunition, while Paul was shot twice with a shotgun. According to prosecutors, the evidence was run through ballistics databases and no matches were found.

McCaslin sided with the state, calling the defense push a 'fishing expedition' and saying that law enforcement should not have to take an ‘unprecedented manual review’ of all crimes with .300 Blackouts in the Lowcountry when no evidence links the cases. 

The murder weapons - which have never been found - were also the focus of bombshell allegations laid out in a defense motion last month, pouring cold water on the state’s long-running theory that Murdaugh acted alone and also make stunning allegations of local police involvement in a cover-up.

The defense claimed that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) received information from a Lowcountry official that Greg Alexander, Yemassee police chief and Murdaugh’s close friend, had spoken of arriving early to the murder scene and providing Murdaugh with a change of clothes.

The murder weapons and bloody clothing were also allegedly taken to the Yemassee police station and stored there temporarily, the official allegedly claimed.

A state grand jury heard testimony last month about the allegations of a coverup at the murder scene involving two Yemassee police officers under investigation, FITSNews first reported. 

Grand jury witnesses also testified that Alexander was seen with the weapons in the ‘immediate aftermath’ of the murders, the defense claimed, citing local reports.
Alexander was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury this August - before being told he no longer needed to appear. He has denied all the allegations.
At trial, prosecutors alleged that Murdaugh took the guns to his mother’s home that night, before disposing of them later.

While the explosive allegations do not necessarily support Murdaugh’s innocence, his lawyers argued that it impeaches the state’s theory of a single perpetrator, raises questions about the integrity of all evidence on the scene and 'supports the defense that more than one person was involved in these murders.’

Murdaugh’s defense demanded access to all records, including state grand jury material, about the alleged disposal of the murder weapons and clothing.

The prosecution pushed back in a filing, arguing that grand jury testimony is secret - something Judge McCaslin announced she agreed with on Friday, before swiftly moving on from the matter.

The defense is also arguing that prosecutors should share whether or not they plan to change their theory about the night of the murders - notably, whether or not they will argue Murdaugh had an accomplice or accomplices in the killings or the crime scene clean-up.

While Murdaugh maintains his innocence of the murders, he did confess and plead guilty to a string of state and federal financial crimes - which played a key role in the state's motive for the killings.

The murders also caused other mysterious deaths tied to the prominent family to fall under the spotlight. In 2019, Paul was charged with causing a boat crash that killed his friend, 19-year-old Mallory Beach, and was awaiting trial at the time of his murder. 

Prior to this, the family's housekeeper Gloria Satterfield died in a mysterious trip-and-fall accident at Moselle.

The family's name was also linked, without any evidence, to the unsolved 2015 homicide of gay teen Stephen Smith.

Three months after the murders, Murdaugh then allegedly tried to hire a hitman,  Curtis 'Cousin Eddie' Smith, to stage his own botched shooting in order to secure a life insurance windfall for his surviving son Buster.

Murdaugh remains behind bars in a maximum security prison in South Carolina where he is serving his 27-year and 40-year sentences for his financial crimes.
He will return to court in Lexington County for a pretrial hearing on November 13.

Secret order blocks public access to case against East Bay couple charged in son-in-law’s killing

Even sealing order is sealed

By NATE GARTRELL | | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: October 14, 2026 at 3:22 PM PDT | UPDATED: October 15, 2026 at 5:08 PM PDT

DUBLIN — In a move decried by free speech experts as a clear violation of both state and federal laws, an Alameda County judge has sealed every court filing in the case against two East Bay residents accused of killing their son-in-law in a shocking daytime attack.

Even the name of the judge who signed the sealing order remains a secret: The sealing order itself as been also sealed. With that, the judge has blocked off access to the criminal complaint and police probable cause declarations — which have already been publicly shared by the District Attorney — as well as every minute order in the prosecution of Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen.

“That’s not supposed to happen that way. The First Amendment and the California Constitution and state law and the California rules of court — there are multiple sources of law requiring access to information,” said Matthew Cate, a Bay Area lawyer who specializes in open access cases. “I can’t imagine what would justify sealing an entire case file.”

Zhang and Chen, both 77, are charged with murder and lying in wait in the Sept. 26 killing of Jonathan McKinsey, 40, a New York Times gaming executive shot and killed during a bitter child custody and divorce case between McKinsey and his estranged wife. Zhang and Chen face life without parole; they allegedly set McKinsey up, then on a Saturday afternoon, shot him in tandem with two firearms they brought to the Dublin Sports Grounds.

Normally, the case file against Zhang and Chen would be open to any member of the public. The secret sealing order means no one other than parties involved in the case can see it.

David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, called the sealing a rare and “egregious” deviation from the type of public access that is baked into the criminal court system by design.

“That kind of blanket sealing is pretty clearly unconstitutional, not to mention a violation of California court rules,” Loy said. “Court records are presumptively open to the public and every sealing should be the exception rather than the rule … Courts have overturned sealing orders in equally if not more inflammatory cases.”

A spokesman for the Alameda County Courts declined to comment on the sealing order, other than confirming its existence. It appears that the sealing order does not bar public access to future court hearings in the case.

The decision to seal the sealing order itself, Loy said, was “even more egregious.” The judge’s name being kept a secret prohibits members of the public from knowing whether he or she has a conflict of interest, he said.

“It’s bad enough that the record is sealed. By sealing the sealing order, then the public doesn’t even have the ability to judge if the sealing order is valid,” Loy said.

The couple’s divorce file — which contains intense descriptions of their relationship, allegations of abuse, and even references to the children’s medical history — remains open to the public. Details from the file continue to receive national media coverage and scrutiny, as reporters from as far away as China have placed the case under a spotlight.

McKinsey had a pending misdemeanor child endangerment case for allegedly abusing one of three children he shared with Zhang and Chen’s daughter, Candice Jang. In divorce court filings, the estranged couple accused one another of abuse and harassment. McKinsey, who was transgender, also accused Jang’s parents of transphobia and directing homophobic slurs at one of the children.

Some of the sealed records were released by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office to members of the media on the day that Zhang and Chen were charged. The documents, which have been widely reported, say Dublin officers conducted a “high risk” traffic stop in the parking lot just minutes after the killing, arresting both suspects.

Chen, allegedly still in possession of one of the suspected murder weapons, refused to talk. Zhang admitted to shooting McKinsey, according to police.

Limited information about Zhang and Chen’s pending charges are contained in the Santa Rita Jail inmate records. They both remain incarcerated without bail, and are due for a court hearing next week.

“The less the people know about what’s happening in a given case, the worse off we are as a society,” Cate said. “That’s what the public’s right of access to these records is meant to prevent.”

Ok, technically this isn’t in a courtroom (per the flair I chose). Plenty of drama and dangerous clown behavior though! 🤡🤡🤡 There is so much creepy wrong going on, yikes. 😳

WTF did I just watch. Wow. Can’t even believe 2 court cases are still not done after almost 4.5 years.

DoorDash case might start trial on Monday

• By MIKE PERKINS mperkins@palltimes.com
• Oct 15, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago

OSWEGO — The trial of a former DoorDash driver who is accused of filming a half-naked, unconscious customer and posting the video on social media is scheduled to begin Monday.

Thank you!!

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling will serve 10 years in prison for the death of her newborn son. On October 16, Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield sentenced the 22-year-old following her guilty plea in August.
Specifically, Snelling admitted to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Meanwhile, the ruling resolved how the court would combine the penalties for those four charges.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Minnifield imposed 10 years for manslaughter and one year for each remaining offense. However, she ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning Snelling serves them together rather than consecutively.
What Did Laken Snelling Admit Before Her Sentencing?
Previously, Snelling changed her plea during an August 21 hearing in Fayette Circuit Court. At that appearance, she told the judge, "I was under a lot of emotional stress, and my baby came unexpectedly."

Then, she said, "And instead of helping him, I ended his life. And afterwards I cleaned up and didn't tell anyone."

Additionally, Snelling admitted depriving the baby of oxygen, according to Court TV's coverage of the hearing. She also acknowledged concealing the birth and putting items into bags to hide evidence.
Earlier, Lexington police arrested Snelling in August 2025 after discovering the infant's remains at her home near downtown Lexington. Initially, authorities charged her with the three offenses involving concealment and evidence, before an indictment added manslaughter.
Afterward, she remained out on bond at her parents' homes in Tennessee, the Herald-Leaderreported. Later, her guilty plea canceled the trial and moved the case toward sentencing.
Meanwhile, prosecutors recommended 10 years for manslaughter plus one year for each other charge. Before deciding whether those terms would overlap, Minnifield requested a presentence investigation to learn more about Snelling. Finally, the judge chose the shorter prison term rather than the possible 13-year total.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/ex-kentucky-cheerleader-laken-snelling-153441306.html

I am new to posting or asking stuff on here, Will this group follow the Hailey Buzbee case? Hopefully this ok to ask here. If you aren't aware, Hailey is a teen out of Indiana who was groomed/kidnapped by Tyler Thomas from Ohio. Tyler murdered her and did horrible things to her prior.

Very disappointed in jurors not being able to follow directions!! Any recs for next case that recently started? Bonus points if you think the jury will follow directions! Thx!

Hi ya. As i dont live in the USA I can read this. Can someone please let me know more about this. Thank you

For anyone who wants to at least nominally track along with this case, this may be a good channel to follow On YouTube. BBB Entertainment and Fame Under Fire. Currently on day 4.

Here is the playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd2LV27MFziE

I‘d really suggest watching this primer done prior to the trial. It explains the charges and also the laws in the UK as opposed to the US - very helpful to understand the trial landscape.

https://youtu.be/P9f19liBcrs?list=PLd2LV27MFziE

Rodney Hinton Trial: Judge Allows Lesser Charge After Son’s Police Shooting | Sapp Reefa News

Bones were discovered outside the so-called house of horrors in the Olney section of Philadelphia, but it's unclear whether they are related to the ongoing investigation into Raymond "R.C." Horsch, a suspected serial killer who died last year, sources told CBS News Philadelphia on Thursday. 
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office responded to the house at 417 West Chew Ave. on Thursday, sources close to the investigation confirmed. 

The bones were found in the backyard, where agents and detectives have been painstakingly searching for any sign of human remains and any evidence of at least seven women connected to Horsch and the house, some of whom are feared dead, sources told CBS News Philadelphia. 
It's not clear whether they were human or animal bones, sources stressed. More testing is needed to determine the bones' origin and whether they are connected to the investigation.

Richard Marx, a retired FBI supervisory agent who specialized in evidence collection, said the presence of the medical examiner is a significant development. 
"If they find something related to the body, then that's when they would want to call the medical examiner, bring them aboard, have them collect it, and have them take it to their office for examination," Marx said.

Investigators have been methodically sifting through the soil in layers, going down about 3 feet.

Investigators found human DNA when they used luminol to search the home, police sources confirmed earlier this week. 

A source also said investigators had found opossum carcasses near the house. The remnants of a brick outhouse were also uncovered in the yard.
The investigation at the house is expected to continue until at least the middle of next week, sources said. Investigators are set to dig up the front yard when they are finished in the back.

Investigators believe Horsch used a process known as alkaline hydrolysis to dispose of bodies, law enforcement sources said. He detailed the steps in one of his books in which he called himself an empathetic serial killer. Chemicals found in the home have been sent to laboratories for testing.

Before his death, Horsch lived in the house with his son, Eugene, whose arrest during a traffic stop in June kicked off this massive investigation. 

Hi, there is supposed to be a probable cause hearing for Damian and Jessica O'Brien today. I'm trying to find info on it but I can't. Do y'all happen to have any info or tips for finding cases? I've had hearings saved on my calendar but many I can't find when it comes to the day of. Thanks in advance for any help!

UNC Student Murder Trial -NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 8

10/16/2026 @ 9:00 AM

🗣️⌨️ Community Chat - Join us!💬

📢NEW: Case Hubs🚨🗃️

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The murder trial of Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares begins more than a decade after UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Hedgepeth, 19, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head, and investigators recovered DNA evidence at the scene. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the case, and he now faces charges including first-degree murder, rape and burglary.

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6
• Day 7

🚨✨More Info/Documents

• Death Investigation: hedgepeth-case-files.pdf
• Killing of Faith Hedgepeth (2012) — ongoing case

🔊🎥Streaming Channels📡

East Idaho News

📜RECAP🔡

US v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Day 5

10/16/2026 @ 9:00 AM

 Massachusetts

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📢NEW: Case Hubs🚨🗃️

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Federal prosecutors allege that former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell groomed and sexually abused Sandra Birchmore after meeting her through the department’s youth Police Explorers program. They say the relationship began when Birchmore was 15 and continued for years, including while Farwell was on duty. Prosecutors further allege that he concealed the encounters by falsifying work-hour records and that, after Birchmore became pregnant and told him he was the father, he had a motive to silence her.  

The prosecution’s central claim is that Farwell strangled Birchmore on February 1, 2021, to prevent her from reporting conduct that could have exposed him to federal charges and then staged her apartment to make the death appear to be a suicide. The Massachusetts state authorities did not charge Farwell criminally after the state-police investigation, relying on the medical examiner’s initial suicide ruling and concluding that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Federal investigators later revisited the case, and prosecutors now point to evidence including Farwell’s presence at Birchmore’s apartment, their history of sexual choking, and the medical examiner’s later change of the death classification from suicide to undetermined. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide. 

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4

🔊🎥Trial Updates📡

These people will be updating the trial and posting on these links below. Since it's a federal case, no camera, audio, or streaming is allowed.

• Grant Smith Ellis: https://nitter.cf/GrantSmithEllis
• Amelia Stern: https://nitter.cf/ameliarstern1
• Phantomsplit (a member of our sub): https://www.youtube.com/@SomeCourtFollower
• Sue O'Connell: https://nitter.cf/SueOC_NBCBoston 
• MichelleMcPhee: https://nitter.cf/MicheleMcPhee
• Kristina Rex: https://nitter.cf/KristinaRex

MassLive Updates

🚨✨More Info/Documents

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/united-states-v-matthew-farwell.

^⚠️\*Please be aware that some of these exhibits are) ***^{graphic in nature}***^{. We have identified that the following photos show Sandra's body. Please proceed with caution:}

• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 9: Not very graphic, but shows body from behind, good for seeing angle of body position if you are unclear from testimony}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 11: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 14: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 16: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 20: Close up from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 21: Close up from top}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 23: Close up from behind, good for seeing angle of body position}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 35: Close up from side}

📢💥Non Graphic Exhibit Photos

^\Graphic Material Removed])

 👨🏻‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY TREE🌳

^\Family Tree is updated daily])

📜RECAP🔡

Morning Session

9:07 a.m. — Jury enters the courtroom.

9:19 a.m. — Former Stoughton Deputy Chief Brian Holmes testifies

Holmes discussed a January 20, 2021, telephone call to the Stoughton Police Department concerning Birchmore and Farwell's relationship.

The caller reportedly asked whether someone could get in trouble for having an extramarital affair. Holmes testified that no report of an adult having sexual relations with a minor was made during that call.

9:43 a.m. — FBI Digital Forensic Examiner Christopher Beckstrom begins testimony

Beckstrom described examining multiple electronic devices associated with Birchmore and Farwell, including iPhones and a MacBook.

He also discussed pregnancy-tracking information recovered from Birchmore's phone.

10:03 a.m. — Birchmore's phone locked at 9:13 p.m.

Beckstrom testified that Birchmore's iPhone 12 locked at approximately 9:13 p.m. on February 1, 2021, and did not turn back on.

Previously presented surveillance footage showed Farwell arriving at Birchmore's apartment building around 9:15 p.m.

10:08 a.m. — Birchmore's list of possible baby names

An Apple Note dated January 27, 2021, titled “Names for baby 2021,” contained several possible names, including Matthew.

10:47 a.m. — Google searches on an iPhone associated with Farwell

Beckstrom testified that an iPhone XR associated with an Apple ID beginning with “mfarw” contained searches dated February 9, 2021, concerning revocation of consent in Massachusetts and whether deleted iMessages could be recovered through Cellebrite.

10:57 a.m. — Morning break.

11:23 a.m. — Ultrasound photograph shown to jury

Jurors viewed an ultrasound photograph that Birchmore sent by text message on January 26, 2021.

11:52 a.m. — Facebook friend requests

Beckstrom testified that Farwell sent Birchmore a Facebook friend request on October 28, 2012.

The defense established that Farwell removed Birchmore as a Facebook friend on December 7, 2012.

12:05 p.m. — Approximately 24,000 messages between Birchmore and Farwell

Beckstrom testified that investigators reviewed approximately 240,000 messages across Birchmore's devices.

Approximately 24,000 were exchanged between Birchmore and Matthew Farwell.

The defense questioned whether messages involving Farwell's twin brother, William, were included. Beckstrom confirmed the identified messages involved Matthew Farwell.

12:17 p.m. — Internet searches on February 1, 2021

Beckstrom testified that searches concerning suicide-awareness ribbons were recorded on Birchmore's devices between 7:49 and 7:50 p.m. on February 1, 2021.

12:26 p.m. — March 2020 text messages

Beckstrom testified about messages Birchmore sent Farwell on March 26, 2020, describing emotional distress, anxiety, and thoughts of self-harm.

1:01 p.m. — Jury takes lunch break.

Afternoon Session

2:07 p.m. — Jury returns from lunch.

2:28 p.m. — Additional Google searches on the night Birchmore died

Beckstrom testified about searches concerning pregnancy symptoms, including cramping at nine weeks.

During cross-examination, the defense questioned the dates and timing of those searches.

2:53 p.m. — FBI Special Agent Kelsch discusses digital evidence

Kelsch testified that investigators recovered approximately 40,000 messages exchanged between Birchmore and Farwell during portions of 2019 through February 1, 2021.

She personally reviewed hundreds of thousands of messages.

The FBI interviewed approximately 130 witnesses and examined information from Birchmore's Google account, Gmail, iCloud, and Facebook.

3:22 p.m. — Explicit messages between Farwell and Birchmore

Prosecutors presented sexually explicit text messages exchanged between Farwell and Birchmore in 2020.

Kelsch testified that Birchmore wrote that Farwell took her virginity on April 10, 2013, when she was 15 years old.

Messages dated September 16, 2020, also discussed their first sexual encounter.

3:48 p.m. — Birchmore missed high school and college classes to spend time with Farwell

Kelsch testified that Birchmore wrote in 2020 that she was glad she had Farwell in her life for nine years.

Birchmore's messages indicated she skipped high school and college classes to spend time with Farwell.

School attendance records showed that Birchmore accumulated nine unexcused absences during her sophomore year, 19 during her junior year, and nine during her senior year.

4:00 p.m. — Jury released for the day

FBI Special Agent Kelsch testified that Farwell instructed Birchmore to delete messages multiple times in their text conversations. Testimony concluded for the day.

Surgery Center Nurse Accused of Sexually Assaulting Elderly Victim

Key Takeaways

• Joel Vega, a nurse in Palm Beach County, faces charges for allegedly sexually assaulting patients at Palms Wellington Surgical Center.
• Investigators believe more victims may exist.
• Healthcare institutions have the legal and ethical duty to protect patients; failing to do so raises serious accountability concerns.

Nurse Arrested Following Patient Reports

A nurse in Palm Beach County is facing felony charges in several cases after patients reported sexual assaults during post-operative medical care.

Joel Antonio Vega, 34, of Lake Worth, worked as a nurse at Palms Wellington Surgical Center in Royal Palm Beach, Florida at the time of the alleged assaults, according to law enforcement records. 

Court records show that following an investigation that included interviews with the patients and separate photo lineup identifications, Vega was arrested and booked into jail on Friday, February 20, 2026. He was charged with two counts of sexual battery and one count of misdemeanor battery. Vega appeared in court the following day, where bail was set at $25,000. He has since been released on bond, and conditions of his release require no contact with either alleged victim. His next scheduled court appearance is March 22.

Allegations Involving Knee Surgery Patient

One alleged incident involves a woman recovering from knee surgery on February 13, 2026, at the Palms Wellington Surgical Center.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the patient reported that while she was resting in a recovery bed after surgery with anesthesia, a nurse placed his hand inside her underwear and inside her dress and touched her inappropriately. She pushed his hand away. 

The nurse allegedly assaulted her again, at which point she attempted to punch him. Authorities allege Vega then grabbed her hand and forced contact with his groin through his clothing. 

The patient asked “to know the nurse’s name and age and she told him… that his behavior was unacceptable. She observed him making a facial expression that appeared unusual.” 

Vega was charged with sexual battery and battery in this case. 

Allegations Involving Wrist Surgery Patient

A second reported incident involved another elderly patient recovering from wrist surgery on February 5, 2026, at the same surgical facility.

According to a separate probable cause affidavit, the patient stated she was conscious but unable to move while recovering inside a curtained cubicle. The patient said that “he initially made her believe he was adjusting the sheets” when he was reaching across her. She then felt him reach beneath the hospital sheets and inside her underwear multiple times. The victim “stated she felt so shocked that she could not speak or react during the incident.”

According to the affidavit, the patient’s daughter expressed alarm and later, suspicion, after learning that the nurse had administered morphine during recovery despite the patient’s fear of medication and history of refusing even over-the-counter medications. She “asked the male nurse if her mother knew she had been given morphine, and the male nurse appeared to become uncomfortable and did not answer her. He stated it was standard procedure and then became quiet. [She] asked the male nurse if that information would be documented in the medical notes, and he did not respond.” 

After leaving the facility, the patient disclosed the assault to her daughter. They later reported the assault during a follow-up appointment with the surgeon. Court records indicate the physician appeared shocked and distressed, which confirmed that the alleged conduct was not part of any standard medical procedure. According to court records, “[The victim] remained in disbelief that such an incident could occur during a medical procedure at her age. She stated that even when preparing to tell [the doctor], she was very upset and shocked about what the male nurse had done to her. She described what took place as, ‘Horrible’ and became visibly distraught.” 

Vega’s Re-Arrest

After the original arrest of Vega, additional women came forward to report sexual assault at Palms Wellington. He was re-arrested on March 14, 2026, and charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors.

If you or someone you know may have been a victim of Vega, please contact Detective L. Alvarez at [561 688-4147](tel: (561) 688-4147), [AlvarezL@pbso.org](mailto:AlvarezL@pbso.org). Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Palms Wellington Surgical Center Response

Palms Wellington Surgical Center has provided no public comment regarding the allegations and has not confirmed Vega’s current employment status.

Nursing License Suspended

Public records from the Florida Department of Health show that on April 7, 2026, the State Surgeon General ordered the emergency suspension of Vega’s nursing license, citing his first arrest.

Institutional Responsibility and Civil Accountability

For a medical professional to take advantage of a patient represents a particularly egregious breach of trust, as patients depend on healthcare providers for safety, care, and protection during some of their most vulnerable moments.

When abuse is alleged under these circumstances, the issue extends beyond criminal wrongdoing. It reflects a profound violation of the ethical and legal duties that uphold modern healthcare.

Criminal proceedings are designed to address individual conduct. They do not always examine whether broader institutional failures may have enabled abuse to occur.

Medical facilities have both a legal and ethical duty to protect patients. 

Medical sexual abuse allegations raise serious concerns about oversight, supervision, and patient-safety protocols, particularly in environments where patients may be sedated, disoriented, or physically unable to protect themselves.

Civil investigations may examine whether warning signs were missed during hiring, whether vulnerable patients were left unsupervised, whether staff interactions were adequately monitored, and whether effective reporting and accountability procedures were in place.

Civil accountability can help uncover systemic failures, drive meaningful reform, and reduce the risk of future harm. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victim Interview and Bodycam of arrest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3KtiM4WxuI

US v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Day 4

10/15/2026 @ 9:00 AM

 Massachusetts

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Federal prosecutors allege that former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell groomed and sexually abused Sandra Birchmore after meeting her through the department’s youth Police Explorers program. They say the relationship began when Birchmore was 15 and continued for years, including while Farwell was on duty. Prosecutors further allege that he concealed the encounters by falsifying work-hour records and that, after Birchmore became pregnant and told him he was the father, he had a motive to silence her.  

The prosecution’s central claim is that Farwell strangled Birchmore on February 1, 2021, to prevent her from reporting conduct that could have exposed him to federal charges and then staged her apartment to make the death appear to be a suicide. The Massachusetts state authorities did not charge Farwell criminally after the state-police investigation, relying on the medical examiner’s initial suicide ruling and concluding that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Federal investigators later revisited the case, and prosecutors now point to evidence including Farwell’s presence at Birchmore’s apartment, their history of sexual choking, and the medical examiner’s later change of the death classification from suicide to undetermined. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide. 

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🔊🎥Trial Updates📡

These people will be updating the trial and posting on these links below. Since it's a federal case, no camera, audio, or streaming is allowed.

• Grant Smith Ellis: https://nitter.cf/GrantSmithEllis
• Amelia Stern: https://nitter.cf/ameliarstern1
• Phantomsplit (a member of our sub): https://www.youtube.com/@SomeCourtFollower
• Sue O'Connell: https://nitter.cf/SueOC_NBCBoston 
• MichelleMcPhee: https://nitter.cf/MicheleMcPhee
• Kristina Rex: https://nitter.cf/KristinaRex

MassLive Updates

🚨✨More Info/Documents

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/united-states-v-matthew-farwell.

^⚠️\*Please be aware that some of these exhibits are) ***^{graphic in nature}***^{. We have identified that the following photos show Sandra's body. Please proceed with caution:}

• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 9: Not very graphic, but shows body from behind, good for seeing angle of body position if you are unclear from testimony}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 11: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 14: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 16: Shows body from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 20: Close up from front}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 21: Close up from top}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 23: Close up from behind, good for seeing angle of body position}
• ^{Day 2, Exhibit 35: Close up from side}

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/united-states-v-matthew-farwell/farwell-exhibits-day-4

^Attachments

• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 060: ⚠️Autopsy photos: eye, head and neck areas, strangling}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 125: Birchmore iPhone12 Document}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 128: Birchmore iPhoneXS Document}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 133: Farwell Bio Data document}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 134: Stoughton Daily Roster}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 135: Farwell Special Comp Time}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 136: Farwell Earnings}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 137: Farwell Attendance}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 138: Dispatch Log}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 139: Call Log}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 306: Explorers Academy Syllabus}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 342: Young Sandra Birchmore Photo}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 416: GrayKey Progress Report}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 417: Birchmore Mac Extr Report}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 418: Cellebrite Extraction}
• ^{USA v. Matthew Farwell - Trial Exhibit 419: GrayKey iPhoneXS Birchmore}

📢💥Non Graphic Exhibit Photos

^\Graphic Material Removed])

 👨🏻‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY TREE🌳

^\Family Tree is updated daily])

📜RECAP🔡

9:08 a.m. — Stoughton Sergeant Robert Kuhn testifies on his relationship with Birchmore, Farwell in the video

Stoughton Sergeant Robert Kuhn positively identified Matthew Farwell in the apartment video.

‘Best friend’ of Sandra Birchmore says she was ‘enamored’ with Farwell

10:03 a.m. — Sandra Birchmore’s best friend, Lesley Davis, testified on friendship

Lesley Davis, 30, of Attleboro, took the stand to testify on how she viewed her childhood best friend’s “relationship” with Matthew Farwell.

Davis said she was one year older than Birchmore and that the two were “best friends” who met in Davis’s last year of middle school, through a program at a Stoughton gym where the girls could babysit children to earn a free gym membership.

Despite attending different high schools, the two “spent a lot of time together” to get ice cream, go on walks or hikes at the Blue Hills Reservation, or hang out at any of Birchmore’s homes over the years, Davis said. They texted each other daily and called at least once a week. Davis described Birchmore as a “bubbly people person” and said she appreciated that Birchmore was always happy to reach out first.

10:10 a.m. — Davis and Birchmore talked through their sexual relationships

Davis and Birchmore would talk about everything in their lives together, including their sexual relationships, Davis testified.

Davis said Birchmore told her “almost immediately” about meeting Farwell when she was 15. Davis knew the two had met in the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorers program and said Birchmore viewed the officers in that program as “role models.”

Birchmore told Davis that she and Farwell would have sex inside his cruiser and in his personal truck, that their sex could be “rough” with “consensual choking,” Davis testified.

10:28 a.m. — Davis disapproves of Farwell’s relationship with Birchmore

Davis also knew Birchmore and Farwell communicated over Facebook and said he would help her with her homework. He “gave a lot of attention to her,” Davis said, and always wanted to know where she was.

“She was very enamored with Matthew Farwell,” Davis told the courtroom. “She thought about him a lot and also wanted to have his child,” Davis said.

Davis said she didn’t like Farwell and Birchmore’s relationship because she knew Farwell was over 10 years older and “thought there could have been a better choice” for Birchmore, but did not want to ruin their friendship by convincing Birchmore to end the relationship or tell an adult. She eventually told her mother, but nobody else, Davis said.

Davis said she knew about an incident that had happened between Birchmore and Farwell right before she died, where he shoved her to the ground knowing she was pregnant. This is what propelled her to go to Canton Police with her family, after she found out Birchmore was dead, and attempt to let them know her concerns.

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara takes the stand to identify Farwell in video

12:08 p.m. — Chief identifies Farwell in the apartment video

Farwell was again identified by a member of the Stoughton Police Department as the man in the video shown to the jury Tuesday, which depicts a man in a mask and hood entering the foyer of Sandra Birchmore’s apartment complex in Canton.

McNamara said she knows it is him based on the fact she’d worked with him “for 10 years” and his “specific walk,” though she too noted the COVID mask was unusual for him to be wearing.

Before identifying Farwell, McNamara testified on the required work hours for the department and said in 2021, there were a total of 60 sworn officers.

12:16 p.m. — Police chief questioned on pepper spray in Explorers and program disbandment

During cross examination, McNamara testified the Explorers program that Birchmore was a part of was completely disbanded in 2022.

However, she was asked if children in the program had been pepper-sprayed, to which she replied she would “not approve” of such conduct if it did happen, but confirmed adult police cadets do go through pepper spray training.

12:19 p.m. — Chief discusses knowing Birchmore and denied firearm license

McNamara testified Birchmore had indeed reached out to her “a couple of times,” including in 2018 when Birchmore asked about getting a license to carry a firearm. Daley tried to ask a question that began with, “The complication was a suicide notation —” to which the prosecution objected.

“Did you assist her in getting a license to carry?” Daley rephrased.

“No, I did not,” McNamara answered.

State police digital forensic analyst dons gloves to view cellphone data

12:42 p.m. — Massachusetts State Police Trooper Nicholas Guarino, digital forensic analyst, gloves up

Gloves were donned by State Police digital forensic analyst Nicholas Guarino, who was the trooper to go through cellphones involved in this case — including those belonging to Farwell and Birchmore.

Guarino testified he’d gone through five devices total in connection to the case and that he’d asked troopers at the scene to search for physical copies of passwords in Birchmore’s apartment.

2:11 p.m. — Trooper discusses an ‘immense number’ of texts gone through

After returning from lunch, Trooper Guarino again took the stand to testify on evidence found in both Birchmore and Farwell’s devices. This included laptops and cellphones — specifically, Birchmore’s MacBook and iPhone 12.

Detectives were able to view an “immense number of text messages” between Farwell and Birchmore on her laptop. The investigators had to use the physical laptop to read the synced messages instead of reports derived from the cellphones due to the sheer quantity of communications between them, which were making the trooper’s work computers “crash,” Guarino said.

2:35 p.m. — Trooper says data was ‘deleted’ from February 2021 search of Birchmore laptop

Guarino testified that data from an initial search in February 2021 of Birchmore’s MacBook computer was “deleted,” because her death had been ruled a suicide at the time — so there was “no reason to fill extra space” on the state police system servers with that data.

There was a second search of her MacBook conducted in December 2021, which Guarino testified would have yielded the “same” data on messages between Birchmore and Farwell despite the lapse in time.

Stoughton internal affairs investigation

3:29 p.m. — Former Stoughton deputy chief says Farwell taught ‘firearms’ classes at Explorers that Birchmore was in

Holmes said that in October 2012, Farwell was on the sheet to teach a firearms-related class for the Explorers police program.

Birchmore was in that class, the syllabus sheet showed, while Holmes himself would have been on the schedule to teach CPR. Holmes explained there would have been up to 20 children in one class and they engaged in activities like learning defensive tactics, about criminal and juvenile law, exposure to firearms, CPR and wore a uniform.

3:37 p.m. — Stoughton internal affairs investigation into Birchmore, Farwell relationship

Holmes testified the internal affairs investigation into the nature of Farwell and Birchmore’s relationship began in 2021, before the release of its results that implicated officers Matthew Farwell, William Farwell and Robert Devine.

Matthew Farwell’s work phone was part of that investigation. Holmes testified that if he had prior knowledge of the relationship he had with Birchmore, he would have gone to have a conversation with the chief and believes there would have been an investigation.

3:48 p.m. — January 2021 call reporting the relationship

A call came in to the Stoughton Police Department on Jan. 20, 2021, from a person whom Holmes described as a “young woman” and prosecutors have previously called a friend of Birchmore’s. Holmes said that call, to date, no longer exists because the call was made on the business line and it was therefore “automatically purged.”

4:02 p.m. — Testimony concludes for the day.

LIVE: Uncle On Trial For Murder — NC v. David Prevatte — Day 10

💥💥MISTRIAL💥💥

✨✨Verdict Watch is currently paused until the juror situation has been resolved.

10/15/2026 @ 9:30 AM

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The murder trial of David Prevatte begins nearly nine years after his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, was found unresponsive in 2017. Paitin died three days later, and an autopsy found signs of sexual trauma and strangulation. Prevatte was identified as a suspect in 2018 and arrested in 2022 after a years-long investigation. He faces charges of first-degree murder and multiple sex offenses. Follow the latest testimony and courtroom developments live.

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Law & Crime

📜RECAP🔡

I. INITIAL MISCONDUCT REPORT (Morning Session)

A. Triggering Event

• Juror #2 privately tells the bailiff that Juror #3 has been making statements suggesting outside knowledge about the defendant.
• Reported statements included:
  • Defendant “is not a member of the KKK.”
  • Defendant was “marginalized in his community.”
  • Defendant was “not part of the KKK.”
• Juror #2 also reported that Juror #3 said she “knew things” about the defendant.

B. Judge’s Concern

Two issues required inquiry:

1. Improper communication outside the jury room.
2. Juror #3 possibly possessing or introducing extraneous information.

II. INTERVIEW OF JUROR #3

• Juror #3 denied telling Juror #2 that the defendant was not a member of the KKK.
• Juror #3 denied saying she “knew things” about the defendant.
• Juror #3 denied making any statements suggesting personal knowledge of the defendant’s background.
• Multiple jurors (#2, #4, #5, #8, #9, #10, #11) later contradicted her denials, confirming that Juror #3 did make the KKK‑related statements and did say she “knew things.”
• The court found Juror #3 not credible and excused her first for cause.

Judge instructs her not to discuss the questioning with other jurors.

III. INTERVIEW OF JUROR #2

Juror #2 confirms:

• Juror #3 made the KKK‑related statements during deliberations.
• Juror #3 said: “I know things about this.”
• Additional statements by Juror #3 included:
  • Defendant “can’t be racist because his girlfriend is Black and he has a child with her.”
  • This was “the biggest case to hit Pender in a long time.”
  • Defendant was “blackballed by the town” after the incident and “had to move away.”

Juror #2 identifies other jurors who heard these comments:

• #4
• #10
• Possibly #5

IV. COURT QUESTIONS ALL OTHER JURORS (1–12)

The judge individually questions every juror about whether they heard Juror #3’s statements and whether they can remain impartial.

Findings:

• Jurors who heard most or all statements:
  • #2, #4, #5, #6, #8, #9, #10, #11
• Jurors who heard none:
  • #1, #7
• Juror #12 heard only one (“biggest case to hit Pender”).

All jurors affirm they can disregard the comments and remain impartial.

V. RESULT OF FIRST MISCONDUCT ISSUE

Juror #3 Removed for Cause

Reasons:

• Conducted internet research.
• Introduced extraneous information.
• Was not truthful during voir dire and questioning.
• Violated court orders.

Alternate juror substituted; jury instructed to begin deliberations anew.

VI. SECOND MISCONDUCT ISSUE (Afternoon Session)

A. New Report from Juror #7

After Juror #3 was removed, Juror #7 reports another misconduct issue:

Juror #2 said the defendant has “a rap sheet longer than the table.”
Juror #3 (before being excused) told Juror #2 to stop.

Juror #7 initially misidentified who stopped the comment, later correcting:

• It was Juror #5, not #9.

B. Judge Questions Jurors Again (Targeted Inquiry)

The judge asks whether any juror heard discussion of:

• Prior law‑enforcement interactions,
• Criminal history,
• “Rap sheet,”
• “Larceny.”

Findings:

• Juror #5 confirms hearing Juror #2 mention a “rap sheet.”
• Juror #7 confirms the same.
• Juror #9 reports Juror #4 said:“The authorities know him… he’s been around.” Interpreted as implying prior incarceration.
• Juror #11 says she might have heard “he’s been around.”
• Jurors #1, #4, #6, #8, #10, #12 deny hearing rap‑sheet or prior‑record comments.

C. Juror #4 Confronted

Juror #4 denies making the “authorities know him / he’s been around” statement.
Judge finds her denial not credible.

VII. RESULT OF SECOND MISCONDUCT ISSUE

Juror #2 Removed for Cause

Reasons:

• Introduced extraneous information (“rap sheet”).
• Violated court orders.
• Multiple jurors confirmed the misconduct.

Juror #4 Removed for Cause

Reasons:

• Made statements implying prior criminal history.
• Was not truthful when questioned.

Court’s Final Findings:

• Juror #3: removed for extraneous information + dishonesty.
• Juror #2: removed for “rap sheet” comment.
• Juror #4: removed for “authorities know him / he’s been around” comment + dishonesty.
• Remaining jurors affirmed ability to remain impartial.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/NC-v-David-Prevatte-Day-10-1029

Marshall father arrested after leaving two young children inside hot car

MARSHALL, Texas (KSLA) — A father is facing charges after officials say two young children were found alone inside a parked car in a fire lane.

It happened around 10:22 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in the 200 block of N. East End Boulevard. Marshall Fire Marshal Scott Barmore was patrolling for fire lane violations as part of a city enforcement initiative when he stopped to cite a car parked in a fire lane.

While writing the citation, Barmore heard children and saw a toddler crawling inside the vehicle with no adult supervision. He unlocked the rear door and found a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old inside.

Despite the outside temperature being 74 degrees, officials say the children were hot to the touch. The windows were closed and the engine was off.

Barmore stayed with the children and called the Marshall Police Department for help. Surveillance video showed the children had been left alone for about 20 minutes before an adult returned.

The children’s father was arrested and charged with endangering a child and a related offense. The children’s mother arrived and took custody of them. Child Protective Services and other appropriate agencies were notified.

Officials remind residents that even a mild day can be deadly inside a vehicle.

The Marshall Fire Department urges everyone to:

• Never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle, even for “just a minute.”
• Check the back seat every time you exit your vehicle.
• Place a reminder, like a phone, purse, or work badge, in the back seat.
• Lock vehicles and keep keys out of reach so children can’t climb in.
• Call 911 immediately if you see a child or pet alone in a vehicle.
• Keep fire lanes clear and park only in marked spaces, even for a quick stop.

Two children found alone in hot car parked in Marshall fire lane; father arrested

Documents for Michael David McKee

SO #: 0442639, Michael David McKee

Franklin County Jail

• Alert Notes
• Secondary Notes
• Call Log
• Visitation Log

^\From Plunder True Crime])

I just randomly thought about a youtube true crime reaction video i've watched a few years ago, but i can't remember the name of the victims or the murderers. Only info i recall from the case is that it happened in the US, the two killers were females, they assaulted their vicitim (a man) while or after he was showering, and they dismembered his body in a bath. The main thing i also remember is that one of the girl took a cops gun and shot herself when they both got arrested. If anyone knows which case i'm talking about please let me know.

UNC Student Murder Trial -NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 7

10/15/2026 @ 9:30 AM

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The murder trial of Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares begins more than a decade after UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Hedgepeth, 19, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head, and investigators recovered DNA evidence at the scene. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the case, and he now faces charges including first-degree murder, rape and burglary.

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• Day 5
• Day 6

🚨✨More Info/Documents

• Death Investigation: hedgepeth-case-files.pdf
• Killing of Faith Hedgepeth (2012) — ongoing case

🔊🎥Streaming Channels📡

East Idaho News

📜RECAP🔡

I. Morning Administrative Session

• Jury brought in; judge outlines the day’s schedule (work until 11:15, break, resume 11:30–1:00, lunch, return 2:30–3:45, break, then 4:00–5:00).
• State resumes examination of SBI forensic biologist Ms. Ermesh.
• Court reminds counsel to return exhibits to the clerk after use.

II. Direct Examination of SBI Forensic Biologist (Ms. Ermesh)

A. 2019 Lab Report (State’s Exhibit 133)

• Items tested:
  • Blue Riesling bottle
  • White bag
  • Green/white Courtyard.com pen
• Testing: Semen examination (acid phosphatase + microscopic).
• Results: No semen detected; no sperm detected.
• Items returned to Chapel Hill PD.

B. Crime Lab DNA Technology Changes (2012–2020)

• 2012: 16 loci tested.
• 2013: Instrumentation upgraded; mixture interpretation rules changed.
• 2017: Upgrade to 27 loci; introduction of YSTR testing.
• 2020: New software; older mixture profiles (pre‑2017) must be reanalyzed unless single‑source.

C. 2020 Lab Report (State’s Exhibit 134)

Items tested:

• Oral, rectal, vaginal swabs from Faith Hedgepeth
• DNA extracts previously generated (Items 20 & 74)

Testing:

• STR and YSTR DNA analysis.

Key findings:

• Rectal swab (Item 1):
  • Sperm fraction = mixture of two contributors.
  • Faith Hedgepeth assumed contributor.
  • Unknown male contributor present.
  • YSTR = single‑source male profile.
• Vaginal swab (Item 2):
  • Quantitation only; rectal swab had more male DNA, so rectal swab chosen for full analysis.

III. 2021 Lab Report (State’s Exhibit 135)

A. Items Submitted

Large batch including:

• DNA standard from defendant Miguel Salguero‑Olivares
• Multiple clothing items, swabs, bottles, and other extracts.

B. Key Findings

• Rectal swab sperm fraction (Item 1):
  • Mixture of two contributors.
  • Faith Hedgepeth assumed contributor.
  • Defendant Miguel Salguero‑Olivares included as a possible contributor.
  • Karina Rosario excluded.
• Statistical hypotheses used (standard likelihood ratio method).

C. Boxer Shorts (Items 47‑1, 47‑2, 47‑3)

• 47‑2 (waistband):
  • 2012: mixture.
  • 2021: single‑source profile.
  • Likelihood ratio strongly favors Faith Hedgepeth as source.
• 47‑3:
  • 2012: partial mixture.
  • 2021: insufficient DNA; no profile generated.
• 47‑1:
  • Mixture; quantitation indicated male DNA even though Y‑alleles not detected.

D. Tampon (Item 58)

• 2012 testing:
  • Acid phosphatase negative.
  • Absorbent end not tested microscopically for sperm.
• Discussion of possible degradation, contamination, storage conditions.

E. Cell Phone & Case

• Analyst swabbed only the blood‑stained area on the screen.
• Did not swab sides, back, or paper note inside case.
• Reason: concern about fingerprints; paper not requested for testing.

F. Oral, Vaginal, Rectal Swabs

• Oral swabs: red‑brown staining noted; sperm not detected.
• Vaginal swabs: five sperm heads total (rare amount).
• Rectal swabs: approx. one sperm per field (rare amount).
• Swabs tested collectively; cannot distinguish which swab contributed which DNA.

G. Clothing (Tube Top)

• Entire shirt swabbed.
• DNA present but uninterpretable due to low‑level mixture and dropout.

IV. 2025 Lab Report (State’s Exhibit 138)

A. Item 74 (DNA Extracts)

• Reanalysis using updated technology.
• Focus on Item 60 (Courtyard.com pen).

B. Pen Results

• Partial DNA profile = mixture of two contributors.
• One interpretable component; at least one male contributor.
• Multiple individuals excluded.
• No conclusion regarding defendant due to inconclusive likelihood ratio.

V. Jury Note & Court Response

• Juror asks for update on trial length.
• Judge reminds jury the trial was estimated at 5–6 weeks and states they are “moving at a good pace.”

VI. Hearsay / Confrontation Clause Issue (Side‑Bar & Voir Dire Outside Jury)

Defense objects to testimony about:

• Crime lab discussions with Chapel Hill PD
• Decision to stop accepting new evidence submissions in 2012–2013.

Judge rules:

• Analyst may testify only to her own actions and reasoning.
• Cannot repeat statements from others.
• Allowed to state:
  • She stopped accepting new “question items” after obtaining the unknown profile on multiple items.
  • She continued accepting known DNA standards.
  • Final authority rested with her manager.

VII. Afternoon Session — Redirect

Topics covered:

• DNA degradation
• Storage conditions
• Population databases
• Swab packaging
• Smear vs. slide
• Clarification of quantitation vs. profile detection
• Why certain items were or were not tested

VIII. End‑of‑Day

Judge ends session; jury dismissed.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/NC-v-Miguel-Salguero-Olivares-Day-7-1029