Prosecutors Archives

Paterson Man Charged with Murder in Death of Cousin: Prosecutors

Paterson, New Jersey – A tragic incident unfolded in Paterson as a 22-year-old man was charged with the murder of his own cousin. The Passaic County prosecutors brought forth charges against Darwin Estrada-Cruz in connection with the killing of 31-year-old Jorge Estrada-Cruz. Authorities stated that the arrest of Darwin Estrada-Cruz took place just hours after Jorge Estrada-Cruz was discovered unresponsive in a house located on Straight Street and 16th Avenue. Upon responding to reports of …

Man Accused of Strangling Wife Claims Self-Defense, Prosecutors Disagree

St. Charles, Missouri – The trial of Albert “AJ” Cassella, 40, has brought to light a tragic incident where he stands accused of murdering his wife, Amanda Pearson, at their home in rural Lincoln County. Cassella claims that her death was accidental, stating that he acted in self-defense after his wife allegedly pointed a gun at him. However, prosecutors argue that Cassella used his physical advantage to strangle Pearson intentionally. During opening statements, prosecutor Tamma …

Nebraska Prosecutors to Pursue Death Penalty in Grisly Small-Town Killings

Omaha, Nebraska – Nebraska prosecutors have made the decision to forgo seeking the death penalty in the case of a Catholic priest’s murder in December. However, they are actively pursuing the death penalty in a separate case involving the brutal killing of a retiree during a break-in that occurred in the same small town four months earlier. This decision has stirred conversations surrounding the justice system in the state. Charges have been filed against Kierre …

Bodies of Four Women in Oregon Linked and Person of Interest Identified, Prosecutors Say

SALEM, Ore. — The bodies of four women found in wooded areas in northwest Oregon in February are now being linked by prosecutors, who say “at least one person of interest” has been identified. Initially, police did not believe the cases were connected. However, an about-face by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in Portland revealed that investigators have concluded that four of the deaths are linked. The state medical examiner has not determined the …

Johnson County Prosecutors File Charges Against 17-Year-Old in Shooting Death of Lawrence Teen

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a Lawrence teen, according to Johnson County prosecutors. The defendant, whose identity has not been released, has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm, among other charges. The shooting took place on Tuesday evening in Lawrence, Kansas. Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and found the victim, a 16-year-old, with a fatal gunshot wound. The …

New York Prosecutors Return Two More Artworks to Heirs of Holocaust Victim

NEW YORK, USA – New York prosecutors have successfully returned two pieces of art to the heirs of a Jewish Holocaust victim, adding to the ongoing battle to recover valuable pieces stolen by Nazis. The artworks, created by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele, were seized by the Nazis from the estate of Fritz Grünbaum, a Jewish performer and collector who was murdered in the Holocaust. Prosecutors have been working to reclaim the stolen art, which includes …

Lowell Man Indicted for Brutal Beating Death of Mother, Prosecutors Say

LOWELL, Massachusetts – A 24-year-old man from Lowell, Massachusetts, has been indicted for the murder of his mother, who was fatally beaten in July. Elena Vainer, 51, from Reading, was visiting her son’s condo on Middlesex Street when she was believed to have been severely beaten. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Lowell police reported that Michael Belous was arrested after his mother was found on July 17, 2023. According to prosecutors, Vainer suffered severe …

San Diego Prosecutors Add New Charges in Arabella McCormack Child-Abuse Case

SAN DIEGO, California – New charges have been brought against the adoptive family members connected to the tragic death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack. The young girl, who suffered from severe malnutrition, was unable to survive despite being rushed to the hospital. The allegations against Arabella’s adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, adoptive grandmother Adella Tom, and adoptive grandfather Stanley Tom include physical abuse, deprivation of food and water, isolation, and forced exercises. All three individuals were initially …

Seeking Maximum Sentence: Prosecutors Pursue 28 Years for Heather Mack, Accused of Killing Mom on Bali vacation and Hiding Body in Suitcase

CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. prosecutors in Chicago are seeking 28 years in prison and maximum fines for a woman who brutally killed her mother at a luxury resort in Bali a decade ago and served time there before pleading guilty to federal charges in Illinois. Heather Mack, 28, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to kill a United States national in June for her mother’s slaying in 2014. An Indonesian court found her …

Justice Department to Seek Death Penalty Against Accused Buffalo Shooter Declared Racist Terrorist by Federal Prosecutors

Buffalo, N.Y. – After a moratorium that halted federal executions and a prior pledge to end the death penalty, the U.S. Justice Department has changed its course, deciding to seek capital punishment for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket. This marks Attorney General Merrick Garland’s first approval of a new capital prosecution since taking office. The decision does not impact the current halt on federal executions but does signify …