firstdegree Archives

Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Killing of Renton Business Owner

Renton, Washington – Murder charges have been officially filed against a man accused of killing business owner Reyna Hernandez, 54, in February. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 61-year-old Lous Hernandez with first-degree murder in connection to her death. Reyna Hernandez was found dead in a cemetery in Mexico in March after being reported missing from Renton in late February. Lous Hernandez was arrested in Mexico for possession of drugs and ammunition shortly …

Florida Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Death of Girlfriend, Police Say

St. Petersburg, Florida – A Florida man, Gregory Shinn, 48, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of his girlfriend, 59-year-old Katrin Simpson, at their home in February. The tragic incident took place on Whiting Drive in St. Petersburg, where authorities responded to a call about Simpson hanging in the garage by a black wire from a wooden beam. Despite efforts to save her, Simpson was pronounced dead at the scene. Initial reports …

Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Death of 13-Year-Old Florida Girl, Faces 60 Child Sex Crime Charges

TAMPA, Fla. – A heinous crime has shocked the community of Osceola County, Florida, as Stephan Sterns faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death and disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto. Sterns, who lived with and was in a relationship with Madeline’s mother, had previously faced 60 child sex crime charges for the alleged sexual abuse of Madeline dating back to 2019. Court documents indicate that Sterns is accused of killing Madeline sometime between …

Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Death of Madeline Soto: Trial Date Set for Stephan Sterns

Osceola County, Florida – Stephan Sterns faces charges in the murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, whose body was discovered nearly two months after her disappearance in Osceola County. Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline’s mother Jennifer Soto, was indicted for first-degree murder. According to court records and officials, the indictment alleges that Sterns killed Soto between February 25 and February 27, 2024. Her body was found on March 1, days after she was reported missing. Madeline …

College Student Charged with First-Degree Murder in Brutal Stabbing of Mother in Florida Home

A tragic incident unfolded in Frostproof, Florida, as a 21-year-old college student stands accused of first-degree murder for the stabbing of his mother. Emmanuel Espinoza allegedly drove over 160 miles from the University of Florida to his mother’s home, where he carried out the heinous act on Saturday. The motive behind the attack was cited as his mother’s behavior that “got on [his] nerves,” according to authorities. During the assault, the victim, Elvia Espinoza, 46, …

Man Charged with Four Counts of First-Degree Murder in Stabbing Rampage

Rockford, Illinois – A tragic incident unfolded in Rockford, Illinois, as a 22-year-old man faces charges of first-degree murder for a vicious stabbing spree that claimed the lives of four individuals. The suspect, Christian Soto, will appear in court to face the charges and await a judge’s decision on his pre-trial detention. The attacks, which occurred on Wednesday, also left seven others injured, with three still hospitalized as of Thursday. The victims of the rampage …

Suspect Charged with First-Degree Murder in Shooting Death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller

New York, NY – An alleged shooter has been charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Police Officer Jonathan Diller in Queens. District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the charges on Thursday, stating that the suspect, Guy Rivera, faces life imprisonment without parole if convicted. Rivera, 34, was arrested three days after the shooting incident on Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway. Diller, a 31-year-old NYPD officer, succumbed to his injuries at Jamaica Hospital after being …

Bixby Father Pleads Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder Charge in Daughter’s Fatal Crash

Bixby, Oklahoma – A father from Bixby, Oklahoma, faced with charges of first-degree murder following a fatal crash that took his daughter’s life, pleads not guilty. Elliott Binney, the accused, stands accused of multiple charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene of a deadly collision, and child neglect, as per the prosecutors’ allegations that he fled the accident site where his daughter, Shelby, tragically lost her life in January. Authorities from the Bixby Police Department detailed …

Camas-Washougal Fire Department Battalion Chief Arrested on Suspicion of First-Degree Murder in Wife’s Death

Camas, Washington – A Camas-Washougal Fire Department battalion chief has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife in January, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Kevin West, 49, allegedly strangled his wife, Marcelle “Marcy” West, 48, on January 8 as reported by the sheriff’s office. West was taken into custody on Friday and is set to appear in Clark County Superior Court to face the allegations …

Man Charged with First-Degree Murder of Indian Doctoral Student in St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri – A drug dealer in St. Louis has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the tragic death of a doctoral student from India who was attending Washington University. The suspect, Glenn Bailey, 46, is currently in custody without bond in connection with the incident that took place on February 27 in the Academy neighborhood of the city. The victim, identified as Amarnath Ghosh by his friend, Bollywood actress …