firstdegree Archives

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 …

Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Killing of Cathedral Catholic High School Teacher

San Diego, California – A man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of a Cathedral Catholic High School teacher, Mario Fierro, who was shot multiple times outside his North Park home in February 2021. The convicted killer, Jesse Milton Alvarez, faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole after a jury deliberated over the case. Prosecutors argued that Alvarez meticulously planned Fierro’s murder after learning about his …

55-Year-Old Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Beating Death Case at Compass Point Village

Asheville, North Carolina – Authorities are investigating the first confirmed homicide of 2024 in Asheville. The Asheville Police Department responded to Compass Point Village on Tunnel Road, where a deceased man, identified as 72-year-old Robert Earl Griggs, was found on March 8th. The suspect, 55-year-old Garland William Kuykendall, Jr., has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly beating the victim to death, as reported by the Asheville police. Kuykendall, Jr. has been arrested and booked …

North Carolina Mother Charged with First-Degree Murder of Twin Sons in Tragic Custody Exchange

Murphy, North Carolina – A mother in North Carolina has been charged with the first-degree murder of her four-year-old twin sons. Genevieve Ellen Springer, 44, was arrested after her estranged husband discovered their sons’ lifeless bodies at her home in Murphy during a custody exchange. Authorities are investigating the tragic incident to determine the cause and date of the boys’ death. Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith shared that it appears the children drowned in a …

Fayetteville Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in Valentine’s Day Shooting Incident

Fayetteville, North Carolina – A tragic incident unfolded on Valentine’s Day when Tayshon Amonte Covington, 23, allegedly shot and killed Donte Jemal Lucas, 36, outside a convenience store. According to an arrest warrant, surveillance footage showed the suspect wearing a mask during the shooting, but he had revealed his face just half an hour earlier inside the store. The warrant detailed how Lucas approached two men outside the business before being fatally shot by the …

Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder for Torturing and Killing Alaska Native Woman

Anchorage, Alaska – A man from South Africa has been convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of two Native women in Alaska. Brian Steven Smith, 52, was found guilty on 14 counts, including sexual assault, misconduct with a corpse, and two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk. Smith was arrested after a woman stole his cellphone and discovered disturbing videos and images on the device. The jury …