Quantcast
Channel: True Crime Writer Chelsea Hoffman
Viewing all 494 articles
Browse latest View live

Religious parents let their child die in pain while 'praying for his health'

$
0
0
Two Minnesota parents have been arrested, after they reportedly allowed their seven-year-old son to die of pancreatitis, without seeking medical attention. Ozarks First reports that Timothy and Sarah Johnson, a highly religious couple who have "issues with doctors," chose to pray for their child, instead of taking him to the hospital, when he showed signs of extreme, life-threatening illness.

Police say that the Minnesota couple left the little boy in the care of an older sibling, to go out of town for a wedding, even after they knew that he was gravely ill. The night they returned from their little holiday, they found the seven-year-old lad, named Seth, unresponsive. The parents have noted that he did not "react" when they "prayed for his health."

The parents of this poor child have admitted to police that they were aware that he was ill before they took off and left him in the care of a sibling for a handful of days. They have admitted that they chose to attempt treating him at home, because they were worried that doctors would "put him on medications."Of course, those medications and the attention of trained doctors would have very likely saved the child's life.

Seth died on March 30 of last year, and was found on a vomit-covered mattress in his family's residence. At the time of his death, officials noted that the child was covered with bruises and contusions -- which could indicate possible abuse. Nonetheless, the child's cause of death has been determined as pancreatitis. It should be noted, however, that acute pancreatitis could be caused by injury to the pancreas. Is it possible that this child was the victim of physical child abuse in the days leading to his death? Or do the lad's parents share responsibility for relying on their religion to heal a child who was in severe need of medical attention? 

Georgia girl live-streamed suicide [Shocking Video]

$
0
0
Last Friday, a 12-year-old Georgia teen committed suicide, by hanging herself from a tree. To make this already-tragic story worse, The Dreamin' Demon reports that 12-year-old Katelyn Nichole Davis chose to live-stream the entire 45-minute incident, using a popular video-streaming app.

Because of Katelyn's horrifying decision to live-stream her suicide, the video is now permanently on the internet for anyone to see. While that is an utterly disturbing thought, it may also be a blessing -- a video that may deter other suicidal teens (and adults) from going through with their urges.

If you can stomach it, the video can be viewed below. Be warned: This is a 12-year-old girl committing suicide. This is real, this is not a dramatization. If you can't handle this kind of imagery, do not watch it.

This is a truly tragic case of teen suicide, but it's not the first time someone has broadcast such a thing on the internet. Unfortunately, this is just the latest case to make media headlines. What exactly led Katelyn Nichole Davis to take her own life on a live internet stream? What led her to commit such a permanent act of self-harm before an audience of countless people? Her final words, prior to committing suicide, seemed to reveal that this was a deeply depressed child. Were there any red flags that could have prevented this? 

Alleged kidnapper and rapist smiles in mugshot after arrest

$
0
0
An accused kidnapper and rapist has been arrested, and now he's facing charges in association with the incident. Police in Morehead, Kentucky say that 25-year-old Carson Carter has admitted to his actions -- and he even offered a bit of a smile in his booking photo.

The incident reportedly took place on Dec. 30, shortly before New Year's Eve celebrations got into full-swing. An unnamed Rowan County woman reported to police that she had been kidnapped and raped by the man, but she had absolutely no memory of how she wound up in his home. This is where the story gets absolutely bizarre.

The unnamed woman told police that she went home from a bar with her fiance', before falling asleep on the couch in the home the couple shared. She said that she later woke up in the presence of the 25-year-old Kentucky man, and she was no longer in her home. She doesn't remember being transported from points (a) to (b). The woman also said that she discovered that the man had raped her over the course of the time that she was unconscious in his custody.

Carson Carter was interrogated by authorities, and quickly admitted to removing the home from her home -- after entering it uninvited. He told police that he raped her while she was asleep on the couch in her residence, shortly before removing her from the home and taking her with him to Elliott County.

The Kentucky man offered no known reasoning for his actions, nor has it been published as to how he knew to enter the woman's home, where she would be sleeping. It seems that there are a lot of details that are yet to be revealed in this bizarre case of kidnapping and rape. Meanwhile, Carson Carter has been charged with 2nd degree rape, 2nd degree burglary and kidnapping. 

Important message about the Case to Case podcast!

$
0
0
As many of you are aware, I've recently revived the Case to Case podcast, with hopes of airing it, live, every week. However, I've struggled with using the BlogTalkRadio platform to host my show. I told you guys last week that I wasn't sure I would stay on BTR, and now it's time to make my final decision.

Back when this podcast began (several years ago) I used BlogTalkRadio, because I didn't know much about podcasting and sound quality. I never attracted more than 30-something followers on BlogTalkRadio.

When I switched my podcast to the Spreaker platform in 2014-2015, I immediately noticed an improvement in sound quality. I also noticed that I was attracting thousands of followers -- and tens of thousands of downloads/listens. While I can easily attribute this to the fact that I was discussing some very high-profile topics on my show, I really would like to think it had a lot to do with quality.

That is why the Case to Case podcast has switched back to the Spreaker platform. As of the next episode -- Wed., Jan. 11, 2017 -- you will listen to my podcast in far better quality. The sound will be richer, clearer and less tinny. The problem with BlogTalkRadio is that no matter how expensive your studio equipment is, it sounds like you're broadcasting through a telephone. This could be due to their system originally being set up for telephone use, but I use the direct-connect feature -- using my Blue Yeti microphone. The quality is still terrible. Yes, I am still complaining about this.

Overall, I think it's best for the Case to Case podcast to stay on Spreaker. Judging from the number of downloads and followers I have on that platform, I think it's safe to say that you guys agree.

Cold Case: What happened to Amber Barker?

$
0
0
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: On the evening of December 18, 1997, 10-year-old Amber Renee Barker was reported missing by her family. The child had last been seen at around 6:00 that evening, riding her bike from a friend's residence -- on her way back home. Suffice it to say, the child never made it to her intended destination, which kicked off a high-profile search for her that has still come out fruitless all these many years later. It's been two decades since this child was reported missing, but the circumstances remain as suspicious as they were on that fateful evening in 1997.

The last time Amber's mother spoke to her was just moments before she embarked from her friend's home, on her bicycle. She had phoned her mom to tell her that she was on her way home, and that she would be there soon. However, after some time had passed, it had become evident that something happened to the 10-year-old Oklahoma City girl. Authorities, and loved ones, searched for the child throughout the night, upon the initial report of her disappearance, but this search came out fruitless.

It wasn't until the following morning that the first piece of evidence in Amber Barker's case made itself apparent. Her bicycle was located, abandoned, in Denniston park. This was approximately one mile from the child's home. The discovery of the bike, as disturbing as it was, was not the worst of the evidence gathered in the days following Amber's disappearance. Detectives also located articles of the child's clothing, which had been abandoned along a street. Authorities noted that the child's shoes were located, separately, a block apart from one another.

Detectives also found blood and hair evidence, along with vomit (which was located on a sweater belonging to the girl).

Over the course of the past 20 years of investigation, nothing definitive has been found in order to locate the child's remains or at least find out who is behind her disappearance. Due to the evidence found in the search for Amber Renee Barker, authorities believe that she was the victim of foul play. More than one person of interest has come up in this case -- none of which have ever been charged or convicted in association with her disappearance or death.

 One person stands out in the lineup of potential suspects in this case, however, but there will never be any closure if he was involved. Daniel John Smith -- the husband of Amber's older sister -- was questioned following the child's disappearance. Smith had a reported history of being accused of similar crimes, so he seemed like an ideal person of interest. Unfortunately, Daniel John Smith committed suicide by hanging, just four days following the disappearance of Amber Barker. Police never declared him a suspect -- even after his suspicious suicide.

Will Amber Barker ever be found? Will her mysterious and tragic case ever find closure?


FAKE 'missing child alert' goes viral on Facebook

$
0
0
Recently, residents of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania were duped when they fell for a hoax on social media, which involved the fake disappearance of a child. With good intentions, these people reacted as anyone should when notified about the possibility of a missing child: They shared the hell out of the posts, in hopes of locating the lad or getting his face out in the public view. However, the child in this latest viral Facebook campaign wasn't ever missing. 

Fake news has been getting a lot of attention on social media these days, especially with the belief that satire news articles played a role in the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States. However, fake posts involving crime stories (including missing people) pass through social media feeds every day. While it's a headache that this particular post went viral among residents of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, it's absolutely fortunate that this child is not indeed missing.

It takes a special kind of person to exploit the concept of a missing child in order to troll people on social media, but as long as the means exist, these people will continue finding ways to play "practical jokes" on those who have good intentions. Hopefully the rest of us don't let these trolls affect how we broadcast and alert others to the real dangers of missing children. For every single "fake" missing child alert, there are far more legitimately missing kids that need our attention.

This week's podcast: Missing people Jan. 11, 2017

$
0
0
The Case to Case podcast is back on a permanent schedule! Every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. -- Pacific time -- you can catch a live broadcast here on the Case to Case blog. You can also go straight to my Spreaker profile by clicking here, and bookmarking it. If you subscribe on the Spreaker page, you'll be notified every time there's a show. This week's episode is going to focus on missing people.

Call me live during the broadcast! (702) 997-1983

Anytime during this show -- and any others -- I encourage live callers. Call in to discuss whatever topics the broadcast may be about, or call in with any other questions or comments. The Case to Case podcast aims to be totally interactive.


Lovelock, Nevada: Liddia Weatherman Is Missing


Man Pretended To Be Justin Bieber To Trick Child Into Sending Him Nudes

$
0
0
A Los Angeles man has been arrested, after authorities say a man from Massachusetts tried to trick a nine-year-old girl into sending him nude photos. CBS News reports that 24-year-old Bryan Asrary told the child that he was Justin Bieber, in order to trick her.

Police say that the victim -- who is now 11-years-old -- was contacted on the internet by the man two years ago. The incident took place while the girl was playing around on Bieber's Instagram account, which apparently attracted the attention of the 24-year-old Massachusetts man. He reached out to the girl via direct message on the popular social media site.

The little girl says that the man told her to message him on KIK to talk to Justin Bieber -- which is where he evidently posed as the pop singer to trick the girl into thinking she was talking to him. Police say that Bryan Asrary coerced the girl into sending him nude photos of herself, threatening to hurt her if she didn't do it. For some reason, the girl was coerced into doing exactly what he wanted.

The 11-year-old victim says that Asrary contacted her again, demanding more photos of her. This time he threatened to publicize the photos that she had already sent him. Reports aren't clarifying on how authorities were alerted to the man's behavior, but they were able to track him down and question him regarding the alleged incidents. Police say that he has admitted to pretending to be Justin Bieber in order to extort inappropriate photos from young girls.

Bryan Asrary is being held in Massachusetts on suspicion of possession of child pornography. He may also face further charges in the state of California, which is where the young victim reportedly resides.

Update: Body of Donella Zukosky Located

$
0
0
The body of missing woman Donella Zukosky has been located, bringing a tragic end to the search for her. Fox 23 News reports that a person of interest has also been arrested in association with the Oklahoma woman's disappearance and death.

The person of interest in this case has not yet been identified by authorities, but family members of the once-missing woman believe that this person of interest is who led police to her body. There are no other details available regarding this heartbreaking discovery at this time.

Please continue to check back on the Case to Case blog for more updates on this case.

Retirement from "professional" writing

$
0
0
Hey guys! I'm announcing a pretty drastic change in my life, that I hope you can all stand behind. As of right now, I have retired from writing "professionally." That means you will no longer see my work on The Inquisitr, Huffington Post or any of the other sites that I have had previous contracts with as a writer.

That doesn't mean that I have retired from writing altogether! In fact, this retirement from the world of paid content writing means that I will now be able to focus more time on original true crime books. I will also publish posts on this blog -- but ONLY this blog!

This decision comes after weeks of consideration. I have decided that I want to spend more time as an equal partner with my husband, who is working hard on his growing business here in Las Vegas. I also want to spend more time creating art and dedicating time to families who want my assistance as an independent profiler of unsolved crimes. Writing for other people to make money that I no longer need to make is counterproductive to the goals I want to achieve in life.

So here's to a future of more full-length books, and no more pay-per-click articles!

Are Madeleine McCann's parents suspects in her disappearance?

$
0
0
The parents of missing child Madeleine McCann aren't having a good 2017, apparently. First of all, they've ultimately lost their libel suit against Goncalo Amaral -- but that's not the most shocking update in this case. Now it's being reported, by some media outlets, that Kate and Gerry aren't necessarily cleared in association with their daughter's disappearance.

The Irish Independent reports that Kate and Gerry McCann aren't out of the woods yet. The Supreme Court Judge who recently ruled in favor of Goncalo Amaral has expressed that the British couple may not be innocent. To be exact, the judge has declared that even though the official title of "arguido" has been lifted from the couple, doesn't mean that they are innocent of wrongdoing in Madeleine's disappearance.

This statement comes as a breath of fresh air, as the only evidence that has ever existed in this case has pointed directly at Kate and Gerry. No evidence of an intruder has ever been proven, therefore making the abduction scenario in Maddie's case illogical. Hopefully the statement made by the judge opens the door for more to be examined -- officially -- regarding Madeleine McCann's parents.

If you want to read up on information surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, consider checking out my book on Amazon by clicking here. 


Jodi Ecklund's spaghetti was just OK

$
0
0
Police in Merrimack, New Hampshire have arrested a woman, after an hours-long standoff that began with a simple spaghetti dinner. The Dreamin' Demon reports that Jodi Ecklund allegedly assaulted her boyfriend when the praise he gave her home-cooked meal wasn't to her satisfaction.

Police responded to the residence shared by the New Hampshire couple last Saturday night, upon learning that a domestic violence incident had taken place. When they arrived at the scene, the woman's boyfriend explained to them that she had attacked him after preparing him a spaghetti dinner. The reason for the attack? According to the New Hampshire man, when she asked how it was he said it was just "OK."

The man's response reportedly triggered the woman to fly in to a rage. Police say Jodi Ecklund punched her boyfriend in the face and in the arm. The man was able to flee from the apartment, but was locked out of the home so he couldn't return -- which is probably for the best, considering what happened next.

Police say that Jodi Ecklund barricaded herself in the home and wouldn't come out. At the time of the incident, the woman's boyfriend told police that she was heavily armed, while she was shouting threats from the locked home. Police say the New Hampshire woman threatened to shoot them, and or herself, while demanding that they leave. When they tried to enter the apartment, she warned them that the safety was off on her firearm.

Eventually, they were able to get into the apartment and apprehend the New Hampshire woman, who has now been charged with multiple crimes. Jodi Ecklund is currently being held in jail on bail in the amount of $25k.

It's hard to imagine that this all began with the simple act of her boyfriend telling her that the spaghetti she prepared was just "OK." That's probably why she's being asked to undergo a mental evaluation and inpatient treatment. Reports say that she could waive the $25k bail amount by entering a mental facility for observation and treatment.

Las Vegas Missing Teen Alert: Marcos Molina missing since Jan. 03, 2017

Madeleine McCann book giveaway: Win an autographed copy!

$
0
0
Hey everyone! Who wants an autographed copy of my book The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann? I have a single autographed copy available that I am willing to give away to one lucky reader.

To participate:


  1. Simply join the event page on Facebook, by clicking here. 
  2. Make a post on the event page using the hashtag #Justice4Maddie


That's it!

Now all you gotta do is wait until March 2nd, and I will announce the winner!

Book errors and the perils of self-publishing

$
0
0
As many of you know, I've had to recently pull and republish my book The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann: What Really Happened? due to formatting and other related errors. This minor setback only affected the Kindle/e-book version of the book, as paperbacks have always been available (and continue to be). Currently, the e-book version is on Amazon for a very affordable price!

As for the errors: As far as I can tell, any major formatting issues have been fixed. However, I cannot promise to be 100% perfect in my efforts, because I am only one person. I self-publish. I do not have a team of editors or proofreaders -- though I admit that I could hire one or two to help make things easier. In the meantime, I hope my readers understand that I'm not perfect, but I will continue to strive to publish stories of crime and intrigue for many years to come.

Craigslist baby sale foiled by cops

$
0
0
A Tennessee couple has been arrested, after police say they tried to sell their five-month-old baby on Craigslist. The Dreamin' Demon reports that 37-year-old Deanna Lynn Greer and her 26-year-old boyfriend posted the advertisement offering the infant for sale, but the interested buyer wasn't who they expected.


Police in Greene County say they were alerted to the illegal Craigslist ad, when other users on the site called them. When authorities responded to the ad, they were in direct contact with the couple responsible for posting it. An undercover officer exchanged messages with the parents of the five-month-old child in question, and the trio reportedly agreed on a price and time to exchange the money for the child.

How much was this infant worth to her parents? Just a little over $3k.

On Friday afternoon, the couple met with the undercover officer at a Dollar General store. That is where the child was "sold" by her own parents. Once the transaction was made, however, authorities made it immediately known that this was a sting operation. The Tennessee couple was arrested and charged with a laundry list of crimes -- including child abuse and neglect. Meanwhile, the infant has been placed in protective custody, which is clearly for the best.

This is far from the first time someone has tried to sell their own children, and it's also not the only time the popular site Craigslist has been used. While some of the posts advertising children for sale are merely pranks, some do end up being authentic, as this case illustrates. 

Florida woman filmed nursing home sex acts with Snapchat

$
0
0
A Florida woman has been arrested, after police say she unlawfully filmed sex acts between residents at a nursing home, using a popular social media platform. The Dreamin' Demon reports that 20-year-old Alexis Williams has been slapped with a variety of charges in association with the incidents.

Police say the incidents reportedly happened several months ago at the Bristol Court Assisted Living Facility in Pinellas County. They say the 20-year-old employee of the retirement home used Snapchat to film sexual acts between an 81-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man -- both residents of the facility.

Authorities say that they became aware of the unlawful acts of voyeurism when a Snapchat follower of the Florida woman alerted the nursing home of what they believed was happening. Of course, the facility had no choice but to contact the police and report their own findings -- which included security footage showing the 20-year-old employee recording the elderly residents with her phone.

Authorities say that they have a mountain of evidence against the Florida woman -- including an alleged confession. They say the woman openly admitted to filming the nursing home residents having sex, for the fun of it. They also say they possess records provided by Snapchat, which prove that the woman used the social media platform to record the sex acts. However, Alexis Williams claims that they don't have any evidence against her.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the 81-year-old woman and 59-year-old man involved in the incident were not at all aware that they were being filmed. In other words, their privacy was violated during this alleged act of exploitative voyeurism.

The Florida woman has been charged with video voyeurism and video voyeurism dissemination. She has also been fired from Bristol Court Assisted Living Facility. Things also aren't looking good for the nursing home in question. The Sheriff's Office in Pinellas County is considering having the place shutdown for good. The facility reportedly has a history of poorly training staff to the detriment of their residents, and this latest incident just may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Who killed Isabel Celis?

$
0
0
Tucson authorities have confirmed that the body of missing child, Isabel Celis, has been found. This update comes approximately five years after the six-year-old child went missing from her family's residence. Now that the child has been found, albeit under horrifying circumstances, the case must move forward so that justice can be served. Will we ever find out who killed this missing child, or will the answers behind her death remain buried for more years to come?

Police in Tucson say that remains identified as Isabel Celis were located in a remote area of Pima County, Arizona. The exact location of the grisly discovery has not been revealed by detectives, as they continue to investigate the circumstances of the discovery of Isabel's body. They are also not answering questions regarding specifics of the location -- such as whether or not it was in close(ish) proximity from where she vanished in 2012.

Over the course of the past five years, public suspicion has hovered mostly over the family of Isabel Celis. In particular, her father has been held under intense scrutiny. That's because of his incredibly suspicious behavior surrounding the disappearance of his own daughter -- whom was last seen by him. Paired with the fact that evidence of potential violence was found in the home, the man's behavior hasn't helped him. To make matters more suspicious, CPS in Arizona reportedly ordered that the child's father move out of the home -- separating him from his wife and other children -- not long after Isabel disappeared.

So does that mean the person behind Isabel's death is someone close to home? It very well could mean that. However, authorities in Tucson have not specified anything in their investigation on which to speculate. For all that is known, Isabel Celis could have fallen victim to an opportunistic stranger who gained access to her family's home.

Hopefully we won't have to wait another five or more years to find out what happened to this once-missing child. 

Henderson mom smiles in mugshot after killing toddler son

$
0
0
A Henderson, Nevada mom has been charged with killing her own son, but judging by her mugshot, it doesn't look like she's bothered by the arrest. Police say that 29-year-old Jazmin Ramirez lied about how her two-year-old child sustained fatal injuries, when she first reported to emergency workers that he wasn't breathing. However, the truth is coming out in this shocking case of alleged infanticide.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that two-year-old Uriel Heczko was pronounced dead on March 13th, after his mother called 911 to report that she had found him unresponsive in their home. At the time, she claimed that the tot had suffered injuries after falling from a bed, but a medical exam quickly found that this could not be the case. The two-year-old child passed away from his injuries, not long after his mother reported the incident.

It's highly likely that the Henderson mother beat or shook the toddler to death -- or a combination of both. Sadly, cases like these are the norm -- with approximately five children in the U.S. dying in abusive incidents per week. It's also incredibly common for perpetrators of abuse to attempt to blame injuries on accidental events. Fortunately, forensic medicine has made it nearly impossible for perpetrators of child abuse to get away with their crimes.

Jazmin Ramirez has been charged with murder, but it's unknown at this time if any other charges could come to light as the investigation continues. What's obvious by her booking photo, however, is that this so-called mother doesn't seem to care -- either that, or she believes she's going to get away with what authorities say is the murder of her own child.
Viewing all 494 articles
Browse latest View live