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Anjelica Hadsell's remains found: My thoughts

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The search for Anjelica Hadsell is over, and on note that has a lot of people horrified. Her remains were discovered yesterday in the backyard of a home in Franklin, Virginia. By this afternoon, those remains were confirmed as hers with a positive identification made by a coroner. However, a cause of death has yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, her adoptive father Wesley has been notified of the gruesome discovery, and he is now declining all options for interview with the media.

He also has not called me.

That hasn't surprised me much. His attorney said that he won't be speaking anymore on the case, so I didn't expect any further "on the record" conversations with him. Of course, I do still intend on talking to him again in some form or the other. Maybe in the future he'll be willing to continue our interview series. After all, he expressed a deep desire to share his back-story with me (and the public), and he expressed the need to clear his name.


Before I dive into this post, I want to remind my readers that this is part of an ongoing series about the Anjelica Hadsell case. Please read through the following posts before you read this one, to get caught up to speed:

My thoughts on the Anjelica Hadsell disappearance
My thoughts on the arrest of Wesley Hadsell
My thoughts on Wesley Hadsell (Pt II)
My thoughts on the Anjelica Hadsell disappearance (Pt II)

I also want to remind everybody that on Sunday night (April 12) at 6:00 p.m., PST, I will be hosting a live podcast about this case, covering the latest developments regarding the disappearance and presumed murder of Anjelica Hadsell. I will also be playing sound bytes from my last phone discussion with her adoptive father Wesley Hadsell. If you're interested in listening to the full, uncut raw interview, the audio can be purchased for $1.00 via the "jailhouse interviews" tab.

Who put AJ behind the house in Franklin, Virginia?

It's clear that she didn't put herself where her remains were found. The house where her remains were found appears to had been abandoned for a lengthy span of time -- long enough to be overgrown with grass and weeds. As you can see from the promo image (shown above) for Sunday's podcast, the top photo shows the same home, looking more well-kempt. Here is a larger photo (which was apparently taken in April 2009, according to Google Maps).

A search of property records reveals that this property may have last been owned by Aprille and Adam Russell, who are affiliated somehow with Tony Stokes, who had used the home as a base for a home business -- Stokes Construction. On the surface this is of immediate suspicion, since Wesley Hadsell's sister's last name is Stokes. However, a cursory search on Tony Stokes doesn't return any connection to the man's sister. Nonetheless, it's definitely something that raises concern.

Something of interest does come to mind with the discovery of AJ's remains, and that's the above image. Note that there is a white car in the carport in the image (again, taken in 2009). Wesley Hadsell said in his first interview with me that a white car was seen around the time that AJ was last seen. A deeper search for Tony Stokes shows his most recent address (which I will not post in case he is currently residing there). The Google street view of his most recent address shows a white four-door car parked in the driveway, as well as a black and silver SUV (that may or may not easily be mistaken for a van by someone not good at identifying vehicles).

How did Anjelica Hadsell die?

As I stated above, her cause of death has not yet been released by authorities. However, I must note that her cause of death may lend a hand in the investigation. That means we may not be told the cause until authorities are close to a solution in her case. For those of you who suspect her adoptive father Wesley Hadsell, he was indeed busted for unlawful possession of gun ammunition. The gun to which the ammo matches has not yet been found. He told police that they "will never find the gun." That in and of itself puts him in the light of suspicion, and makes it impossible not to speculate on the possibility that AJ met her demise at the barrel of a gun. I believe her cause of death will shed light on the circumstances surrounding why she died and who killed her. Of course, that's strictly saying that she was murdered. Police still -- as of now -- have not confirmed if her death was caused by foul play.

I want to remain unbiased in this case, but the more I see the harder it is to ignore certain elements. Nonetheless, I am going to remain quiet until I see what homicide detectives have gathered. All the circumstantial evidence in the world doesn't necessarily mean someone is guilty -- no matter how guilty you believe they are. I need to see the forensic evidence. I want to see DNA, fiber analysis, etc., etc., etc. I'm not saying these things to be facetious. I am taking the stance that I am taking because it is simply the most appropriate stance to take given my agenda.

I realize that this may disappoint people, but understand that I am a criminal profiler. Take that FWIW.





'Free range' parenting is negligent parenting

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Maryland parents Danielle and Sasha Meitiv are under public scrutiny right now because of their unorthodox views on parenting -- and I'm using the word "parenting" very loosely. They've been in the media before for allowing their children to wander freely without adult supervision, even in situations where it would seem completely inappropriate by normal standards. Back in January they were investigated for child neglect for allowing their very young children (ages 10 and 6) walk home, even using subways by their selves. Now they're being accused of the same thing all over again -- to no surprise -- for leaving  the two youngsters alone at a park. Just last month they were both found negligent by Child Protective Services -- yet these kids were not removed from the home. What will happen now?



These two "parents" are incredibly reckless, and have clear disregard for the law surrounding the care of their children, which indicates to me that they care very little about whether or not they remain in their children's lives. After all, Child Protective Services will take your kids away and this is very common knowledge. So to purposely continue the behavior that got them in trouble for neglect -- just a month later -- tells me that they just don't want to be parents.

They call their style of parenting "free range parenting," which is a clear play of words off of the popular "free range chicken" that produces better eggs, apparently. It hurt to even type that sentence, so I imagine that the Meitiv's didn't put very much thought into the concept itself. It's sort of an oppositional form of parenting from "helicopter parenting," but both are very extreme ways to raise children. On one hand, you have parents that never leave their children's sides, inhibiting their ability to full flourish and bloom as social beings among their peers -- and on the other hand you have parents like Danielle and Saha who show their kids that they have to fend for themselves because nobody will be there for them.

With what I do for a living, I can't help but feel horrified at the thought of "free range parenting." Sure, stranger abduction is the rarest form of child abduction, with the majority of crimes against children being committed by adults known to or related to the victims. Nonetheless, children who are unsupervised, are more likely to be targeted by those predators who do commit stranger abductions. Unfortunately, in the majority of those types of abductions, the victim is murdered within three hours. The last time the Meitiv's were in trouble for leaving their children alone at a park, the window of time was two to three hours before Danielle even knew that CPS had taken custody of them. If they had been kidnapped during that time, they would have already been dead and this story would have much more tragic details to highlight.

What do you guys think about all of this?




My thoughts on Anjelica Hadsell's chaotic family experience

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No updates yet in Anjelica Hadsell's case -- no cause of death, no arrests and no official suspects declared (yet) by authorities with the Norfolk Police Dept. However, the past several weeks have revealed a motley crew of characters that once surrounded this young woman -- in particular, three men who have all been in her life as father figures.

Mel Langer
This is AJ's biological father. He was essentially in her life the shortest amount of time out of the three men that have come out so far. He wasn't involved in her live much and has no involvement with her disappearance -- or rather, he has really no reason or motive to be involved.

Zach Hoffer
This is stepdad number one, and the man who spent the most time in Anjelica's life as a father figure. He reportedly raised her from late infancy to her early teens.

Wesley Hadsell
This is Anjelica's latest stepfather, who also legally adopted her. He, as everyone knows, is currently in jail on charges of obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of ammunition. Currently, the general opinion among the public is that he is suspicious regarding AJ's case. Many people believe that he had something to do with her disappearance and death.

I've had a lot of contact with Wesley, personally, and I've already said everything that can be said about him at this point. I understand that people think he is responsible,and I recognize why people feel this way. However, and  I can't believe I have to say this so much, I need to see evidence against someone before I go full bore on them.

I do, however, feel the need to point out that everyone appears to have tunnel vision with this case. While everyone is fixated on Wesley Hadsell -- who may or may not be guilty of involvement with AJ's death -- everyone appears to be ignoring other suspicious elements (and people) involved in her life. I'll get into that later in this post.

Anjelica's chaotic upbringing
This child is not only a product of a broken home, but she is the product of multiple broken homes. She was taken from her father (or abandoned by him, depending on whose story you believe) and then, for some reason, she chose to distance herself from Zach Hoffer -- the man who actually took the biggest role in raising her. To me, this is questionable. Why would a young teenage girl willingly separate herself from the person she knew as her father, unless she had a reason?

Teenage girls seldom get along with their mothers to the point of willingly alienating their fathers. Statistically speaking most children of divorced parents live with their mom. However, it's common knowledge that little girls tend to prefer their fathers at the age when AJ was seemingly closer to her mother.

I've had very little contact with Zach Hoffer, and he's never agreed to an interview, but he did make some statements. Unfortunately, his statements left me feeling a little troubled. He said that Anjelica chose her mother because she apparently offered her a life of fewer rules and restrictions. It seemed to me that Zach was insinuating that Anjelica wanted to live a wild or unruly lifestyle, but in reality AJ's character seemed to be the exact opposite of that. She was a bright college student and had been deeply involved in extracurricular activities, such as various sports. Every picture in existence of this young woman shows a happy and well adjusted person who enjoyed an actively rewarding life that did not involve drugs or alcohol or partying that is typical of girls in her age group.


Since around 2010 Zach has publicly posted his sentiments about the separation from AJ's mom Jennifer, but mostly his separation from Anjelica. For the most part, his posts (in my opinion) have come across absolutely obsessive and odd.

What I find troubling is how many people are choosing to ignore these posts, and the overall sentiment he has expressed toward Anjelica over the years. I can't help but think that if it had been Wesley Hadsell blogging these things, public opinion would shift right into thinking that these sentiments are unhealthy and unnatural. His writings come across as though he is a lover scorned, not a father who has been shunned by his daughter during a rough divorce or separation.

Also troubling to me is Zach's eager willingness to involve himself in not only the search for AJ, but the investigation. He has tried talking to police as her parent. He has tried to coordinate searches. He has participated in online discussion on Websleuths and other true crime fanatic arenas where he has soaked in the sympathetic limelight as a grieving father who has been denied access to his child. But this is a 19-year-old woman who reportedly chose not to be in his life, and he is not her father, but merely a former stepfather. Furthermore, he has two biological daughters with Jennifer Hadsell, and in none of his online rantings does he express even half the passion that he exhausts while talking about Anjelica. Everything has been about, and remains to be about Anjelica to the point that he has made himself look obsessed with her in a way that does not seem fatherly in the slightest.

I must also point out that from the beginning of Anjelica's disappearance, both Jennifer and Wesley -- along with other members of their family -- have stated that Zach was someone who was interfering with their search for her. They stated this publicly on the Bring AJ Home Facebook page back in March. Jennifer Hadsell (and family) have made it abundantly clear that Zach Hoffer is not AJ's father, and is not affiliated with the family's efforts. These are apparently Jennifer's wishes, and regardless of any suspicion held against Wesley, she is still the biological and custodial mother of the slain teen -- and Hoffer is just an ex who didn't even father her.

The man who should have been involved from the beginning of this disappearance is Mel Langer, AJ's biological father. He was completely nonexistent during the 38 days that she was missing. He did not come forward at all during the search for her. He did not involve himself in any way. It wasn't until Anjelica was found murdered that he and his family came forward with the halfhearted statement, "I wish I'd been around more for her." Now his wife and her family members are on the Case to Case fan page smearing Jennifer, and attacking anyone who questions his absence from AJ's life, but none of them have anything to say when asked why none of them came forward during the search, instead of watching two other men publicly take the role as father during this horrible situation.

Meanwhile, the only person involved in this case that isn't flinging insults about family members and former lovers is Jennifer Hadsell, who is being so quiet that some people are suspicious of her. I still don't know what to think about her, personally, but I think she had a reason to separate from both Mel Langer and Zach Hoffer. I think all of these people taking sides -- Team Hoffer, Team Langer, Team Hadsell -- just need to chill and wait for this case to produce some actual evidence. Because, to be honest I think every person in this case has reason to be considered suspicious by everyone -- and that is why there appears to be such polarizing points of view expressed by people regarding who they support and who they trust.

Charlie Ely deserves freedom

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Charlie Ely is being represented by Jose Baez now, the attorney famously known for getting Casey Anthony acquitted. This is good news because Baez is actually a pretty good attorney who is known for getting his clients out of trouble -- regardless of the polarity that surrounds some of these cases. Baez is the best friend Ely can get right now, especially at a time when others involved in her case are getting appeals.

Charlie is one of two young women convicted as accomplices in the horrific murder of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. The teen was lured to the home inhabited by Ely, where a group of teens beat and shot him to death, before burning him in a fire pit until he was ashes. His ashes were then put into paint cans in a crime that was one of the most gruesome committed by young people in recent Florida history.

There is one problem with the case, though: Charlie never physically committed any part of the murder.

Charlie Ely has long admitted that she was at the home the day Seath Jackson was murdered, and she has long maintained that she hid in a bedroom in shock and fear while the crime took place. Nonetheless, she was given a life sentence, of which she has served four years.

At the time of the crime, Ely was living alone for the first time in her life after her husband had gone to jail. She was a young bride of just 18-years-old, and a naive girl who had lived an otherwise sheltered life. She was also a long-term victim of bullying (due to her eye deformity). She was afraid and lonely, and therefore vulnerable to falling into the wrong crowd -- which is precisely what she did against the warnings of her loved ones (who lived elsewhere). Ely ended up in cahoots with Michael Bargo, Justin Soto, James Young Havens III and siblings Amber Wright and Kyle Cooper. All of the members of this group played active roles in the murder of Seath Jackson -- and likely the intimidation of Charlie Ely. Bargo has even been given the death penalty over his role in the murder.

There is no doubt that Jose Baez will be a bulldog for Charlie Ely. She is a young woman who made a terrible mistake, but she did not commit a murder and she did not voluntarily help in covering up the murder of Seath Jackson. She deserves freedom, another chance at life.


My thoughts on the Ashley Pegram disappearance

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What happened to Ashley Pegram? The South Carolina woman has been missing now for longer than two weeks in a case that has only recently made it to media reports. She disappeared after going on a date with a man she'd met on the messenger app Kik, but he claims that he kicked her out of his car because she was too drunk.

That man has been identified as Edward Bonilla, and he's been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice -- for lying to authorities and misleading people in the search for the missing woman. I wrote about the details of this arrest, along with the rest of the case in this Inquisitr article.



My thoughts on this case are pretty cut-and-dry: The evidence simply points at Edward Bonilla right now, as having something to do with Ashley's disappearance. He has lied to police, going as far as falsifying text messages to the woman's phone in an attempt to cover his own ass. Right now authorities do not have enough forensic evidence against him to flat-out charge him with kidnapping or murder (no body, for starters). Charging him with obstruction of justice can allow authorities to keep him behind bars long enough for them to find any evidence that can tie him directly to her disappearance.

The odds of something else being responsible for Ashley Pegram's disappearance aren't nonexistent, however. Her loved ones have acknowledged that she's battled depression since January when her boyfriend reportedly died in a traffic accident. However, her sister has declared that the mother of three would "never do anything to harm herself." Unfortunately, these are statements that are all-too-often echoed by the loved ones of people who do actually end up taking their own lives. Nonetheless, that is not at all what I think happened to Ashley.

Edward Bonilla wasn't counting on surveillance footage catching him up in a web of lies. If he's responsible for Ashley Pegram's disappearance, he has already proven to be sloppy at covering his ass. The evidence will hopefully not be that hard for authorities to uncover while they keep him behind bars on obstruction charges.

Crime scene photos: La Flaquita Mexican assassin dismembered in drug cartel violence

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Warning: The following images are unsuitable for readers under the age of 18, and unsuitable for readers who are easily offended or distressed. You have been warned.


Mexican drug cartel violence is so commonplace that it's almost unsurprising to hear of the countless people murdered and dismembered -- on a seemingly daily basis. Nonetheless, this latest development from South of the Border is still shocking and tragic.

An assassin known as "La Flaca" or "La Flaquita" has been murdered. Her body was dismembered, and photos were taken to show that the notorious female assassin has been killed. The following photos were released for proof of her death:



Travis Alexander crime scene and autopsy photos

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Warning: The following photos depict imagery that is unsuitable for some readers. Please do not read further if you are easily distressed or if you have a weak stomach.

The murder of Travis Alexander was a brutal and horrific event that still has people shocked even seven years later. Jodi Arias has been convicted of that murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, closing the case once and for all. Even though this case is closed, the photos of the crime scene and autopsy exist as a reminder of the brutality he suffered at the hands of a woman who claimed to love him.




Dear Jodi: Sending letters to Jodi Arias

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As many of you already know, I communicate with prison inmates from time to time via written correspondence. In particular, I correspond with convicted murderers and serial killers in order to study them and learn about them for my own personal enrichment. Well, I've decided that the next inmate I will begin writing letters to is none other than Jodi Arias.

I have many questions for the woman convicted of killing Travis Alexander -- and I'm sure all of you do too. One of the main questions I want to ask -- and that's been requested that I ask by fans on the Case to Case fan page -- is whether or not she'd do it again given the chance.

I'll keep you guys posted on any updates -- if I receive any responses from Jodi.

Podcast hiatus

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I apologize to all of the listeners of the Case to Case with Chelsea Hoffman podcast, for the delay in shows over the past month. Due to some issues with the scheduling and the busy schedules of myself -- along with others in my household -- things have been a bit dicey as far as the show goes.

Earlier in May I revealed the new schedule for the podcast: Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific time), but have not yet hosted a show under the new schedule. Please understand that I do not have any intentions to drop the show or cancel my podcast in any way. However, we are not out of the woods yet.

This week I will host the first episode of Case to Case with Chelsea Hoffman by the new schedule (Wednesday @ 6:30 p.m.). Hopefully, from there, things will start to solidify back into a concrete schedule as my hectic schedule lightens itself. Here's to some more fun times, intense interviews and informative discussions in the very near future.

I got pierced at Precious Slut IV

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On Sunday, June 7th, I got my first ever professional piercing -- and it was a surreal experience, albeit brief. I was pierced at the famous Precious Slut IV shop in Las Vegas (where I'm fortunate enough to be a local), after looking up shops in the city that operate in the late night hours (they're open 24 hours). 

To clarify: This was not the first piercing I've ever had, but it was my first professional one. Over the course of my life I have had several piercings -- my eyebrows, nostrils, lips, ears, navel and other assorted areas. However, I did each and every one of my piercings on my own (which I'm not necessarily recommending). I've always been nervous about letting other people pierce me, and have always preferred the slower (and painful) method of doing it myself. I'm accustomed to the discomfort of piercings myself, and have always believed that it is better than putting that much trust in someone else -- even though I have put trust in others to put less-than-acceptable tattoos on me -- go figure.
Anyway, I went to Precious Slut to pierce my septum after I toyed with the idea of piercing it myself. I even went as far as ordering a self piercing kit that included needle, clamp and jewelry so I could do it at home. However, this was the first time I ever chickened out about piercing myself. Even after watching multiple videos of people piercing their own septums, I still was unable to find my own "sweet spot" to do it myself. I simply was not confident enough to pierce it myself.

When I went to Precious Slut, Jay was my piercer. I let him know that I had never let anyone else pierce me, and he immediately put me to ease and explained that he knew what he was doing. He warned me that there would be a pinch but little else in regards to pain. He had me sit on the table in front of him, put a clamp in my nose and quickly found the right spot. He told me to take a deep breath -- and I closed my eyes -- and in just an instant my septum was pierced.

It was completely painless. I didn't even feel the "pinch" that he warned me about. When I asked him what gauge he used for the needle, he smiled and said "Fourteen." 

I couldn't hep but laugh. I had forgotten to tell Jay which gauge I wanted, but I was very happy with the choice he made, albeit shocked. I never knew a 14 gauge needle could be so totally painless. None of my piercings have ever exceeded 18 gauge. 

Overall, I recommend Precious Slut for piercings and I intend on trying them out for a new tattoo in the very near future. I will also probably never do my own piercings again after being pierced by Jay in such a perfectly painless and enjoyable experience. 

My thoughts on Anjelica Hadsell's cause of death

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Anjelica Hadsell's cause of death has finally been revealed after many, many weeks of waiting. As I wrote in this Inquisitr piece, the cause of death doesn't really answer any questions. Instead, we're left with more confusion and even more fragmented information on which to speculate.

AJ died by acute heroin poisoning -- in other words, a heroin overdose. However, it's not known if that heroin overdose was due to voluntary use of the dangerous narcotic, or if she was given the drug against her will in an act of homicide. Both of these theories are possible, whether anyone wants to believe them or not -- and plenty of people don't want to believe that this young woman was a drug user. I don't even want to, since she clearly doesn't fit the profile of a user. However, anything is possible, and since heroin poisoning played a role in her death it's important to consider the possibilities, no matter how unpleasant.


We all know by now that Wesley Hadsell was arrested for trying to hinder the investigation, though he claims he was acting out as the father of a missing young woman. When he was arrested he had evidence of cocaine use on him along with ammunition to a gun that he did not have at the time. What he did not have in his possession was heroin or heroin paraphernalia. Furthermore, Anjelica Hadsell's cause of death did not at all involve being shot. So far her cause of death is not connecting with evidence that has publicly been acknowledged against her adoptive father.

So is Wesley even involved in her disappearance and demise? Is anybody at all even involved? It's absolutely possible, still, that Wesley played a role in AJ's death. After all, as many people have obsessed upon since day-one, Wesley has a criminal record -- a violent criminal record. Nonetheless, where's the evidence? Do investigators have any forensic evidence to prove that Wesley poisoned his adoptive daughter with heroin before dumping her body?

First, I want to repeat something that Wesley had told me during one of our conversations. He said that Anjelica had asked to borrow a couple hundred dollars. At the time he said that he believed it was for her boyfriend's birthday present. She was supposedly getting him a GoPro. Is it possible that Wesley was telling the truth when he said this - and could that money she borrowed actually been for the drugs that ultimately killed her? Or, was Wesley Hadsell creating a sort of backstory to draw attention off of himself? After all, if he says that he gave the girl money before she vanished, a drug overdose later wouldn't look entirely suspicious -- right? Of course, he probably wasn't counting on just how suspicious his past would look to a scrutinizing public! In my mind, either theory holds weight when authorities haven't released any forensic findings of their own.

Some people are offended that I'd even ask if this young woman experimented with drugs, but I want to point out that drugs have been brought up in relation to this case more than once. In fact, Zach Hoffer has even expressed fears of his own about alleged drug use playing a role in her case. He has publicly stated on Websleuths at least once that he feared she could have wandered off under the influence of drugs, which is unsettling since she was found at an abandoned property dead of a drug overdose. Meanwhile, there are no apparent signs that Anjelica Hadsell ever used hard drugs. So this case continues to be a head-scratcher.

To condense my thoughts into one sentence:I'm not convinced of anything yet. I need to see what investigators have found in relation to this case or simply pertaining to her cause of death. Until then, I won't join the bandwagon blaming other people for her death, and I'm not going to commit to saying that she dabbled with heroin use. To me, there is no evidence to support -- without a shadow of a doubt -- that either played a role. At the same time, there is no evidence to support the idea that neither of those theories are the answer.


My thoughts on the Ember Graham disappearance

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If you've been paying attention to my fan page on Facebook you'll know that I'm covering the disappearance of California baby Ember Graham. The six-month-old infant was reported missing by her father, who claimed that he last saw her in her crib the previous night. He also told authorities that the front door of his home was open when he discovered that his baby was missing. It's been five days since she vanished as I write this blog post, and the details in this case are immediately pointing to foul play. In fact, police in Shasta County have confirmed that Matthew Graham is a person of interest and has gone uncooperative in their investigation. Meanwhile, they've publicly declared that baby Ember may not be alive. So what are my thoughts on this disappearance?


To be honest, I think this is another one of those obvious cases, much like the unsolved disappearances of Ayla Reynolds and Lisa Irwin. The formula is always the same: 
  • Parent reports child missing, claiming they were snatched while the family slept (aka, every parent's nightmare). 
  • Detectives find no evidence of abduction.
  • Parents become persons of interest or suspects.
Sadly, Ayla Reynolds' and Lisa Irwin's cases remain unsolved, so the persons of interest in their cases remain free. Authorities in Shasta County aren't going the same route as investigators in Maine and Missouri. They were fortunate enough to arrest their person of interest on, at least, an unrelated charge. But now what? As of this latest update, Matthew Graham has been released from police custody. Will he end up back behind bars before long? If police suspect him -- and they clearly do -- it will take some solid evidence in order to have probable cause to arrest him in relation to Ember's disappearance and likely murder -- or at the least, inhumane handling of a possible accidental death. There are so many possibilities in this case, but not enough forensic evidence.

I think Matthew Graham has been made a person of interest in the disappearance of his daughter for a reason. Some of the inconsistencies in his statements to police have been revealed, for one thing. When he told police that he simply drove his daughter to a store to help her get to sleep, security footage actually showed otherwise. Footage showed him traveling in the opposite direction of his home, and then returning back toward his home an hour later. To no surprise, Daddy Dearest has a case of amnesia surrounding that hour of time. He told police that he "did not remember" what he was doing during that hour before he drove back to his home.

Another curious detail in the disappearance of Ember Graham, is the fact that authorities could see that the infant was in her car-seat on surveillance footage, when Matthew Graham drove in the opposite direction of his home. Authorities did not clarify seeing the baby when he drove back toward his home an hour later. Did they omit this detail for a reason? Was Ember in her car-seat?

Authorities believe that Ember Graham is dead -- and I do too. But how did she die, and was it homicide or accidental? These are questions that can't be answered without some kind of evidence indicating one outcome or the other. 

My thoughts: Why the owner of Marcy's Diner is a hero

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Everyone's going super crazy over an incident out of Maine involving a small diner owner and a crying child, but I've been pretty quiet -- until now. I wouldn't be me if I wasn't brutally honest and super opinionated -- especially when it comes to putting up with everybody's special little snowflakes. I love kids, don't get me wrong, but if you're on the side of this fussy child's parents you may not like what you're about to read.



First, some backstory:
Parents Tara and John Carson were vacationing recently when they stopped by a small-but-busy diner in Portland, Maine. They had with them their daughter, who is nearly two-years-old, and wanted to get her some pancakes. They were notified that it would be at least a half-hour wait for their party, since it was a busy day at Marcy's Diner. It was at this time that their daughter began to get fussy, but they decided that they would wait and order anyway, instead of opting for a more quick and convenient dining experience elsewhere.

Over the course of approximately 40 minutes, the Carson's tot cried and fussed while patrons around them tried to dine, and while the diner's staff tried to ignore it while working. It wasn't until around this time that the owner of the diner -- Darla Neugebauer -- lost her cool. Neugebauer shares her side of the story in this viral footage (below).

On the other hand, the mother of the crying toddler has recently spoken out, claiming that her child is traumatized by being yelled at. And she accused Neugebauer of throwing things. She also appeared to shift all of the blame in the situation to the owner of Marcy's Diner, by downplaying her role in it. After all, her lengthy sermon on The Washington Post all pretty much narrowed down to the sentiment that people in public should simply deal with the children of other people. "Babies cry," she declared dismissively, as though saying that this is something that every person should just simply "deal with," and accept.

Well. She's wrong, just my honest opinion. Yes, it's true that it takes a village to raise a child. However, this doesn't mean that it's okay to force your children on the village, so to speak. Not every person in the public likes kids. Some people in public love them. Expecting others to put up with your special snowflakes not only makes you look like a sloppy parent, it makes you look as infantile as your children. There are few things more upsetting than parents who expect others to watch and deal with their kids while in public places like restaurants and movie theaters.

Is there a growing problem with self-entitlement among parents? There certainly seems to be, The owner of Marcy's Diner likely feels the same way. As a business owner she is expected to provide a comfortable atmosphere for her customers, many of which are likely regulars who go to her diner to unwind after a hard day of work, or what-have-you. These people do not deserve to put up with someone else's out of control children, especially during busy moments when there is already a lot of people around. Furthermore, nobody wants to try to enjoy a meal through the screaming of a toddler  that is being ignored by her parents. It's not enjoyable when you're at home, and it is certainly not enjoyable after you've paid for a meal, and atmosphere, at a public place.

There's really not much else to say about this topic. Yes, it's true that parenting is hard, and parents sometimes have to bring their kids into public places with them. That is not at all the issue. However, certain parents -- especially the parents of the child that this particular story is about -- really need to learn a thing or two about common courtesy. Had they at least made some kind of effort to calm their child, the owner of Marcy's Diner may have reacted a lot more gently. Again, a little common courtesy goes a long way, and if these parents (and parents like them) can't grasp that, then they will constantly run into these kinds of problems in public.

Dear Charlie

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Charlie Ely was convicted in the murder of 15-year-old Seath Jackson back in 2011, after a quick trial -- during which she was given no chance to truly defend herself. The 19-year-old (18 at the time of the murder) woman was sentenced to life imprisonment, even though she had no physical involvement in the slaying of the Florida teen. 
Charly has been denied an appeal to retry her case in the court of law, even though other defendants -- who had actually committed the physical crime -- have been granted retrials. The state of Florida railroaded the 19-year-old woman, refusing her the most basic rights of an American, in a crime that she had very minimal involvement in committing.

I've decided to initiate correspondence with Charlie Ely in my mission to advocate for her freedom. If you'd like to know more about her case and the unfair treatment she received from the state of Florida's "justice" system, please consider visiting the Facebook page dedicated to advocating for her freedom.You can also visit the Free Charlie Ely blog, which contains an archived collection of facts, photos and links to more information about her trial and the tragic death of 15-year-old Seath Jackson.

I have no intent of exploiting Charlie Ely, so I don't have any plans to show the letters I may receive from her. However, I will continue updating this blog and the Free Charlie Ely blog in hopes of attracting more attention to the unfairness of her life sentence.

My thoughts on Rebecca Henderson Paulk's disappearance

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Alabama woman Rebecca Henderson Paulk vanished on Labor Day, and her vehicle was found abandoned in a rural part of Mississippi. It's been two weeks and no new updates in her case have been publicized. Meanwhile, her loved ones fear the worst in her disappearance -- and for good reason. The woman has reportedly never gone more than a day without talking to her mother and father, but has since dropped completely out of contact with them over the course of her disappearance.


To make things more suspicious in her case, a cellphone was located not far from the car that was left abandoned, containing all of her belongings. Authorities in Mississippi haven't confirmed whether or not the cellphone belongs to her, but it should be noted that her cellphone was not found in the vehicle with her other electronics. It's never a good sign when a missing person's vehicle is found abandoned -- even worse when the missing's personal belongings are found in said vehicle. If the cellphone discovered near the car is confirmed as hers, this adds even more to the increasingly negative vibe that surrounds her disappearance.

Another disturbing detail in her disappearance is the fact that police believe that her car was parked by someone other than the missing woman herself. Geographically, she was near a raceway in the "Whynot" area of Meridian. When added to the other details in this case, a picture begins to manifest of a possible kidnapping situation -- or an otherwise potential for their being foul play involved. In other words, this woman may have been murdered if she is not being held against her will by an unknown captor.

While the media appears to be going silent about this case, there are a number of details that stick out to me that I feel should be given attention:

  • Drug task force agents are involved in the search for Rebecca Henderson Paulk -- this is not a common occurrence for missing persons investigations. 
  • Her Facebook page contains comments referring to a possible divorce, but no husband -- or former husband for that matter -- has come forward to speak out with her loved ones in the two weeks that she has been missing.
There are some other details that are sticking out in this case, but I'm going to refrain from sharing my two cents until more developments hit media headlines. I will say, however, that I don't have full confidence that this woman is still alive.

My thoughts on Down's Syndrome and the Ursula Presgrave controversy

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Down's Syndrome can be a very touchy topic with some people -- This is something I've personally experienced in my time as a career blogger and opinionista. That's why I feel particularly bad for former reality star Ursula Presgrave. The woman once featured on The Call Centre is currently facing a potential jail sentence after she expressed her opinion about people who suffer from the chromosomal defect, but that's not all. She's also being targeted with vitriolic backlash from people on social media who fancy themselves as word and thought police in the name of advocacy for people with Down's.  In other words, she's created quite the mess by simply expressing an unpopular opinion. Since she's facing possible jail time she has decided to apologize for her words, which she claims were declared in order to get attention. However, from my point-of-view, it looks a lot like she's been muscled into publicly backing down from a value in which she believes. I have a lot to say in this post, and I'm quite certain that I will get some of the same vitriol as Presgrave, because I've been in her position before (minus the threats of imprisonment, of course). So fasten your seat-belts, people. It's going to be a long one.
(Read more)
Let's get one thing straight: Nobody should be forced to share an opinion with others simply because it appears to be a "popular" opinion. In Ursula Presgrave's situation, it seems that she is being tried in the court of popular opinion, and the UK government is indeed prosecuting her based on that concept -- which is not at all right, and not at all just. We live in an era of butthurt, meaning everyone can and will find something to be offended over while perusing social media -- whether it's an opinion about religion, politics or fashion. And the way the current laws are enforced in the UK, all you have to do is offend a handful of people on the internet in order to be criminally charged, fined a large sum of money and/or tossed behind bars and treated like a criminal. This may seem like no big deal at all to all the sheeple who fall in line and who do not have their own original thoughts, but when it's all said and done, this kind of legislation and enforcement only stifles free expression and critical thought. It also teaches people the simple message: If you stray from the collective herd, you will be punished.This is the murder of individuality.

When it comes to discussing Down's Syndrome and the moral dilemmas that parents face, passions do run high. However, I've personally found that advocates for Down's Syndrome acceptance tend to be religiously aggressive -- much like born-again Christians, PETA members, political activists and other "impassioned" interest groups. The reactions expressed by some of these individuals to Presgrave's opinion were not at all surprising to me, because I've seen it all before in response to my blogging on the topic -- and my blogs were nowhere near as callous as Presgrave's delivery on Facebook. You see, I've always supported a mother's right to abort her unborn child in the event of an undesirable amniocentesis result. By simply having (and sharing) that opinion, I've been targeted with death threats and relentless abuse for many years by these "loving" people who advocate for Down's acceptance/awareness. 

When I first saw Ursula Presgrave's comment on Facebook, I winced -- not only because she was overly harsh in expressing her opinion, but because I immediately anticipated the backlash she was sure to receive. I did not, however, anticipate that she'd be threatened with jail time. Her story makes me ever-so-thankful to be a United States citizen, where our Constitution protects our rights to opinions and self-expression. Nobody should be jailed or fined for expressing an unpopular opinion. No matter how offensive a person's opinion may be to certain interest groups, they shouldn't be held as criminals by any government. Imagine if you were a vegan, and you were arrested and jailed for expressing that meat-eaters should be given the death penalty for their crimes. Imagine if you were a Christian, and you were jailed for expressing that homosexuality is a sin worthy of death.  Imagine if you were a #BlackLivesMatter activist who expresses that people like George Zimmerman deserved death for what happened to Trayvon Martin -- and then ended up imprisoned for it. Imagine being a white supremacist who ends up jailed for declaring that blacks or Jews don't deserve to live on the same planet as you. Imagine being a bleeding-heart liberal who expresses that conservatives should all commit mass-suicide -- only to end up in jail. Imagine being a conservative who expresses that "every Muslim" should be executed -- only to end up prosecuted for inciting violence. Policing the opinions of people is a damned slippery slope, because none of us are perfect. None of us have completely pure thoughts and opinions. 

We all hold our values and points-of-view dearly. Some of our values and morals are not popular or shared by everybody else. Some of our values and points-of-view are indeed unpleasant to others. I may absolutely despise the Westboro Baptist Church for their "God hates fags" mantra, but I would be a bleeding hypocrite to advocate for their imprisonment just because of it. So why are so many people in support of what's happening to Ursula Presgrave? Because, to put it bluntly, these people are hypocrites who lack insight. It's really just that simple. 

Down's syndrome is a birth defect. It's not a quality to be celebrated.

This may come as a huge slap in the face to all the advocates out there, but it's just that simple. The fact of the matter is that people born with Down's Syndrome are susceptible to a plethora of physical ailments, depending on the degree at which they're affected by this chromosomal defect. Some of these individuals are so badly afflicted with this defect that they never grow to live fulfilling lives. Many become wards of the state, and are 100% dependent on others. It's also equally true that many persons with DS live fulfilling lives, even on their own. Nobody is the same. Everybody is different. Nonetheless, nobody should ever be forced to carry a child that they do not want. That includes a child that may be afflicted with a chromosomal abnormality or any other condition that could potentially limit their quality of life.

I understand that these opinions are not popular. I recognize and acknowledge that some people truly believe that children born with Down's Syndrome are "gifts." But you know what? There are also people out there that think children conceived from rape are "gifts" as well. There are people that believe pregnancies which result from incest and molestation are "gifts," too. It's important to realize that one person's idea of a "gift" is someone else's idea of hell-on-earth. Shaming people for their choices and decisions regarding their bodies and their pregnancies is wrong, regardless of your own personal biases. That is simply where I stand on this topic. I realize that by even having this opinion, I will draw backlash from rabidly obsessed people who are going to make this about them, and make this about their children or children they know personally. When I share a general opinion that a mother should have the right to abort a fetus that is diagnosed with DS, I realize that a number of people are going to read so deeply into that opinion that they are going to react as though I've told them that they should have aborted their own children born with this defect. Before this happens (and it will, as it always does), I want to say that this is not about any individual person. This is about a woman's right to choose what's best for her and her family. This is about every woman's right to make her own decisions without shame and without inciting anger and judgment from people with mob-mentalities.

So bring it on. I will not back down from my points-of-view, and I will not be muscled into agreeing with the herd all for the sake of having a "popular" opinion. I will not be bullied into pretending to agree with people who aggressively want to change the minds of every person on planet Earth. 

Furthermore, I support Ursula Presgrave's right to have and express her opinion. I don't agree with imprisoning someone just because some people on the internet were offended by her points-of-view. Ultimately, I would like for this woman to give up on Britain and come to the USA where she can legally and rightfully speak her mind without fear of persecution and prosecution.


Read 'Lust Murder' by Chelsea Hoffman

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Read Lust Murder: A look at sexually-driven slayings





Crime writer Chelsea Hoffman has released another book profiling the lives and crimes of serial killers. In the same vein as Sins of the Sexual Sadist, Lust Murder: A look at sexually-driven slayings takes readers on an analytical tour of various killers whose motives were driven by sexual perversion. What drives these sexually deviant individuals to the depths of total depravity? Could even the most violent and cunning sexual lust killer potentially be successfully rehabilitated? 


Read Lust Murder: A look at sexually-driven slayings to form your own opinions on the dynamics that drive some people to commit the unthinkable.

Paperback coming soon!

Look for Sins of the Sexual Sadist on Amazon.Com!

Where is Kerry Jones? Florida woman missing for over a week

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Authorities in Jacksonville, Florida are looking for Kerry Jones. The 46-year-old missing woman vanished mysteriously around the 7th of this month, and she still hasn't been located. First Coast News reports that she wasn't reported missing by her boyfriend, Jackie Kelly, until Feb. 9th, and the circumstances of her disappearance are attracting attention.

Authorities reveal that the missing Florida woman had argued with her boyfriend not long before her mysterious disappearance. Jackie Kelly, her boyfriend, told authorities that they had gotten into a dispute over a post that she made on Facebook. Her public Facebook profile doesn't show any posts made beyond Feb. 6th. The woman, who is originally from the state of Alabama, is also "legally deaf," according to news reports. 



The Jacksonville Sun Times reports that Kerry Jones hasn't  been seen since her boyfriend reported her missing. However, no reports indicate whether or not authorities in Florida believe that this missing woman is the victim of foul play. Meanwhile, social media is paying a lot of attention with this case, and with that comes a lot of speculation.

#Missing #JacksonvilleFL #KerryJonesKerry Jones, 46, of Mandarin Road, was reported missing by her boyfriend, Jackie...
Posted by Shari Lynne Tribble on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Kerry Jones isn't the only person missing out of the state of Florida. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, nearly 1,000 people have gone missing and remain missing -- some from as early as 1960, and numerous others since the year 2000.
Photo via Jacksonville Police

Waffle House waitress accused of drugging coworker with crystal meth

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A Georgia Waffle House waitress has been arrested, and is accused of drugging one of her coworkers against his knowledge. The results of her alleged crime caused the man to slip into a coma, which lasted approximately four weeks.  The alleged victim is lucky to be alive, but will he get the justice he so rightly deserves?

The Dreamin' Demon reports that 43-year-old Sonserea Evans was caught on surveillance footage after authorities in Dawsonville, Georgia launched an investigation behind the apparent drugging of 37-year-old Brian Mikeals. The investigation was launched after the man was rushed to the hospital on the night of December 23rd. It was there that he fell into a coma. Hospital staff were able to determine that he had suffered from an overdose of methamphetamine, which put him into the four-week-long coma.

Security footage at the Waffle House where both Evans and Mikeals worked showed the 43-year-old woman taking the coworker's drink without his knowledge, before leaving the facility with it. The footage also showed her replacing his drink slyly, which he then consumed. Authorities in Dawsonville believe that Sonserea Evans poisoned Brian Mikeals with a near-fatal dose of the dangerous street drug.

Sonserea Evans has been charged with aggravated battery and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute -- though she should have been charged with attempted murder since she drugged the man with such a high amount of a drug that could have damn well killed him. As for her motive? Brian Mikeals' sister believes that the Waffle House waitress couldn't deal with romantic rejection very well, and had allegedly drugged him to get back at him for spurning her attempts at hitting on him.

The 37-year-old victim has technically woken up from the coma, but he is in need of rehabilitation. This is because he reportedly can't speak or walk very well after suffering damage from the dose of meth that was sneaked into his drink. Hopefully he eventually makes a full recovery so he can take his attacker to civil court.

Kerry Jones is still missing

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Jacksonville, Florida: Kerry Jones is still missing from the Jacksonville area after disappearing around Feb. 7th. No new details exist in this developing case, nor have authorities revealed whether or not they suspect foul play (though her boyfriend does seem shady!) Please share the following flyer to get the word out about her disappearance.



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