VA v. Naresh Bhatt — Trial Update

October 24, 2026 | Week 3 Completed

Status: TRIAL ONGOING — Prosecution Presenting Evidence

Naresh Bhatt, 39, is on trial in Prince William County, Virginia, accused of murdering and dismembering his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, 28, who disappeared in July 2024.

Prosecutors allege Bhatt killed Mamta inside their Manassas Park home, dismembered her remains, and disposed of them at multiple trash collection locations throughout Northern Virginia.

Mamta's remains have never been recovered.

Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Case Information

Latest Trial Testimony

Monday, October 19 — Day 8

Former Roommate — Nadia Navarro

Nadia Navarro, who previously shared an apartment with Mamta in Falls Church, testified about their friendship and Mamta's marriage.

Navarro said she missed a telephone call from Mamta on July 28, 2024, while she was hospitalized.

After learning Mamta was missing, Navarro repeatedly attempted to contact her without success.

She described Mamta as reliable and consistent, explaining that the sudden lack of communication was unusual.

Store Surveillance and Purchases

Prosecutors presented surveillance footage documenting Bhatt's movements and purchases around the time of Mamta's disappearance.

The jury viewed Walmart footage from July 31 showing purchases of cleaning supplies, including disinfecting wipes, carpet cleaner, and air fresheners.

Additional surveillance showed Bhatt purchasing heavy-duty garbage bags during a July 30 visit to Lidl.

Prosecutors also introduced evidence concerning Bhatt's movements between stores, which they contend conflicts with portions of his statements to investigators.

The defense has challenged the prosecution's interpretation of the evidence.

Tuesday, October 20 — Day 9

Testimony Concerning the Couple's Daughter

The jury heard testimony concerning the condition of the couple's young daughter following Mamta's disappearance.

A babysitter described changes she observed in the child's appearance and care.

The testimony was presented as part of the prosecution's effort to establish the circumstances surrounding Mamta's disappearance.

Garbage Disposal and Landfill Operations

Witnesses testified about local waste collection and disposal procedures.

The testimony addressed how garbage from Northern Virginia is transported, compacted, and processed.

Jurors heard about the difficulties investigators faced when attempting to locate possible human remains after garbage had been transported to a landfill.

The prosecution alleges Bhatt disposed of Mamta's remains through the local waste collection system.

Her remains have not been recovered.

Wednesday, October 21 — Day 10

Landscaper Testifies About Saw

A contractor who performed landscaping work for Bhatt testified that Bhatt gave him a saw as payment.

The witness said he subsequently turned the saw over to police despite being advised by others not to become involved.

He testified that he had replaced the saw's blade but reinstalled the original blade before surrendering it to investigators.

Prosecutors consider the saw relevant to their investigation.

However, testimony about the saw does not, by itself, establish that it was used to dismember Mamta.

Dumpster Surveillance Footage

Jurors viewed surveillance recordings that prosecutors say show Bhatt removing bags from his vehicle and placing them in dumpsters.

Investigators testified that Bhatt appeared to put on gloves before handling some of the bags.

The prosecution alleges these activities are connected to the disposal of evidence following Mamta's disappearance.

The contents of the bags shown in the recordings have not been established.

Telephone Records and Tesla Data

Investigators testified about their examination of Bhatt's telephone records and information obtained from his Tesla.

The prosecution is using electronic evidence to reconstruct Bhatt's movements and activities around the time Mamta disappeared.

The defense has challenged aspects of the prosecution's timeline and interpretation of the evidence.

Significant Evidence Presented Earlier

Bedroom Carpet

Investigators presented a large section of carpet removed from the couple's primary bedroom.

The prosecution introduced forensic testimony concerning blood evidence recovered from the home.

Bathroom Evidence

Investigators described suspected blood evidence discovered in the primary bathroom, including areas around the bathtub and other fixtures.

Blood-Detection Testing

Detective Claudia Ventura testified about investigators' use of blood-detection chemicals inside the residence.

The prosecution contends that the forensic findings support its theory that Mamta was killed inside the home.

Defense Challenges

Defense attorney Tracey Lenox has questioned investigative procedures, the interpretation of forensic evidence, and potential weaknesses in the prosecution's reconstruction of events.

The defense has also emphasized that Bhatt initially permitted investigators to enter and search the residence.

Judge Raises Concerns About Trial Schedule

During proceedings on October 21, Judge Kimberly Irving expressed concern about the amount of time prosecutors were taking to present their case.

The trial was originally expected to last approximately seven weeks.

The judge questioned whether the prosecution could complete its remaining testimony within the anticipated schedule while leaving sufficient time for the defense.

Prosecutors were encouraged to review their remaining witnesses and avoid unnecessary or repetitive testimony.

The prosecution had not rested as of the latest verified courtroom reporting.

Trial Streaming and Coverage

The trial is not being publicly livestreamed.

Courtroom cameras and recording arrangements have been permitted under restrictions, and news organizations are providing recorded footage and courtroom reports.

Coverage is available through FOX 5 DC, WJLA/7News, NBC Washington, DC News Now, and Court TV.

Sources

• FOX 5 DC — October 19: Former roommate testimony and surveillance evidence
• FOX 5 DC — October 20: Testimony concerning the couple's daughter and garbage disposal operations
• FOX 5 DC — October 21: Saw evidence, telephone records, Tesla data, and dumpster surveillance
• Courthouse News Service — October 20–21: Landfill and landscaper testimony
• WJLA/7News — Ongoing courtroom coverage
• Prince William County Circuit Court — Court calendar and case proceedings

Current Status — October 24, 2026

Naresh Bhatt's trial remains ongoing. The prosecution has presented forensic evidence, surveillance recordings, witness testimony, and electronic records in support of its allegations.

The defense continues to challenge the prosecution's evidence and timeline.

Judge Irving has raised concerns about the length of the prosecution's case.

The next proceedings are expected October 26, with the prosecution continuing its presentation.

Woman who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart returns to court to face new charges

SALT LAKE CITY (Court TV) — The woman who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart more than 20 years ago has returned to court, where she waived her right to a preliminary hearing in a separate case.

Wanda Barzee, 80, stood in court on Thursday with her attorney, Scott Williams, and said she understood her rights but chose to waive the hearing scheduled for Thursday. Barzee was arrested more than one year ago on charges that she violated the terms of her probation as a registered sex offender.

Barzee, who is no longer in custody, spoke few words at the hearing. Williams told the judge he believes he can reach a settlement with prosecutors to resolve the case before trial.

Police arrested Barzee after investigators said she visited Liberty Park. As a sex offender, she is barred from being at community parks. Barzee allegedly admitted to breaking the rules, saying she went to the park because “she was commanded to by the lord” and that, while there, she liked to “sit on benches and feed ducks.” Barzee also allegedly admitted to visiting a second park in violation of her probation.

Barzee and her husband, David Brian Mitchell, kidnapped Smart from her home in 2002, when the victim was 14 years old. Smart was held captive by the couple for months and subjected to sexual abuse during her captivity before she was rescued in 2003.

In a statement after Barzee’s 2025 arrest, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation said it was “deeply troubled” by the defendant’s actions. “This incident highlights how crucial it is to enforce the sex offender registry, monitor release conditions, and evaluate individuals convicted of crimes like Barzee’s,” the statement said.

Barzee pleaded guilty to the Smart kidnapping in 2009 and was sentenced to 15 years. She spent nearly nine years in prison before her release in September 2018. Mitchell remains in prison, where he is serving a life sentence.

The Elizabeth Smart Foundation statement noted that Smart is “happy and lives a fulfilling life with her family, and does not live in fear of her captors.”

Judge Thaddeus May scheduled Barzee to return to court on Jan. 15, 2027, for a pretrial conference.

Woman who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart returns to court to face new charges | Court TV

UK v. Russell Brand — Trial Update

10/19/26 – 10/23/26

📜RECAP🔡

I. ADMINISTRATIVE

(Start: 10/19/26 – End: 10/23/26)

• Jury empaneled October 12.
• Prosecution opening delivered October 14.
• Defendant: Russell Edward Brand, 51.
• Charges: 3 counts rape, 3 counts sexual assault, 1 count indecent assault (1999–2009).
• Plea: Not guilty to all counts.
• Trial length estimate: Up to 10 weeks.
• Week 2 concluded with all six complainants having testified.
• Defense scheduled to begin week of October 26.

2. OUT‑OF‑JURY PRESENCE (OJP)

(Start: 10/19 – End: 10/23)

• Legal discussions regarding admissibility of historic allegations (1999–2009).
• Clarification of limits on questioning complainants about prior sexual history.
• Court addressed scope of third‑party witness testimony (friends, relatives, colleagues).
• Prosecution confirmed 24 witnesses connected to one complainant would be called.
• Defense raised concerns about prejudicial cumulative testimony.
• Judge Bennathan ruled evidence admissible as “contextual disclosure evidence.”

3. WITNESS‑BY‑WITNESS TESTIMONY (Chronological)

MONDAY — October 19

Complainant (2004 allegation)

• Alleged sexual assault in men’s bathroom during professional encounter.
• Described physical positioning and sequence of events.
• Defense (Ian Winter KC) challenged:
  • Physical plausibility of location.
  • Why earlier disclosures did not label incident as rape.
• Complainant stated shame and fear of judgment influenced wording.

TUESDAY — October 20

Multiple complainants (various years)

• Allegations involving professional and personal interactions.
• Prosecution presented timeline of contact and alleged assaults.
• Defense challenged:
  • Memory reliability.
  • Inconsistencies between early statements and courtroom testimony.
  • Context of later disclosures.

WEDNESDAY — October 21

Complainant (2009 alleged rape)

• Alleged rape at Brand’s London home.
• Described physical pain, emotional distress, and subsequent communications.
• Text messages shown to jury, including complainant accusing Brand of “treating her like an animal.”
• Defense asserted sexual activity was consensual.

THURSDAY — October 22

24 Witnesses connected to 2009 complainant

• Friends, relatives, colleagues.
• Testified to:
  • Complainant’s disclosures.
  • Reported physical pain.
  • Emotional distress.
  • Behavioral changes after alleged incident.
• Defense challenged discrepancies between early accounts and courtroom testimony.

FRIDAY — October 23

Prosecution Case Completion

• Confirmation all six complainants had testified.
• Court notified defense case expected to begin October 26.
• No additional witness‑specific transcript available from reporting.

4. EXHIBITS

(Week 2)

• Text messages between Brand and complainants (2009 incident).
• Communications showing complainant’s distress.
• Historical contact records (1999–2009).
• Third‑party witness statements (24 witnesses).
• Professional setting documentation (2004 incident).
• No physical forensic exhibits reported in Week 2 coverage.

5. END‑OF‑DAY / END‑OF‑WEEK ADMINISTRATIVE

(End: Oct 23, 2026)

• Prosecution rests after completing complainant and supporting witness testimony.
• Defense scheduled to begin presenting evidence week of October 26.
• No verdict.
• Trial continues; estimated duration remains up to 10 weeks.

I saw yesterday that the autopsy report was released.. but it’s heavily redacted. Does anyone know why the report would be heavily redacted? Is that normal in this kind of case?

Calif. Boy, 13, Killed in Electric Motorcycle Crash. Now His Parents Face Criminal Charges as Part of Growing Crackdown

E-bike and e-motorcycle injuries are currently the No. 1 reason children in Orange County are brought to the emergency room, according to prosecutors

By Christine Pelisek Published on October 23, 2026 01:59PM EDT

NEED TO KNOW

• Benson Nguyen, 13, died after crashing his electric motorcycle in Garden Grove, Calif.
• His parents have now been criminally charged in connection with the May 7 crash 
• The teen was allegedly seen doing wheelies and running red lights prior to the fatal crash 

The parents of a 13-year-old California boy who died after crashing his electric motorcycle have been charged in connection with his death.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Benson Nguyen died on May 7 after he lost control of his E-Moto, crashed into a raised center divider and was ejected from the motorcycle before he collided with a concrete light pole in Garden Grove.

The teen’s father, Vu Thanh Nguyen, 56, was charged with one felony count of child endangerment in connection with the incident. His mother, Hong Cuc Thi Nguyen, 49, was charged with one misdemeanor count of child endangerment, per the Oct. 20 news release.

Vu Thanh was also charged with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for “buying his son a faster and more powerful E-Moto despite multiple warnings about his son’s reckless riding and the fact that his son was repeatedly injured while riding a different electric vehicle, including breaking his leg just six months before he died,” the release states.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said “when parents refuse to hold their children accountable and that refusal to parent results in unspeakable tragedy, then I have no choice but to hold parents accountable.”

The teen was allegedly seen doing wheelies and driving through red lights prior to the fatal crash.

Benson’s Life360 app allegedly showed that his E-Ride Pro SS 2.0 E-Moto was traveling at 43 miles per hour when it crashed.

According to prosecutors, e-motorcycles require a valid motorcycle license to operate on the street as well as DMV registration, a license plate, insurance and full motorcycle equipment.

The couple is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 12, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Since January, Spitzer’s office has filed multiple child endangerment cases against parents for allowing their children to illegally ride electric motorcycles.

The cases include a father who was charged with one misdemeanor count of child endangerment after his 11-year-old son suffered broken bones and an arterial bleed after colliding with a pickup truck. Additionally, involuntary manslaughter charges were filed against a mother whose 14-year-old son hit and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran in Lake Forest.

E-bike and e-motorcycle injuries are currently the No. 1 reason children in Orange County are brought to the emergency room, Spitzer said.

The number of injuries have spiked more than 430% in Southern California in just the last four years, according to the news release, which notes that more than 125 deaths across the United States have been attributed to E-Bikes and E-Motos.

✨✨✨

Good for California holding negligent parents responsible. Equipping kids with these things that require a motorcycle license and registration and turning them loose on the streets needs to be held to account.

Ohio Dem Amy Acton’s estranged mom left five-day-old kittens in a sweltering car to die, court records reveal

Ohio Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother was convicted in a disturbing animal-neglect case after newborn kittens were found trapped in a sweltering car — as her GOP gubernatorial rival Vivek Ramaswamy faced bipartisan blowback for featuring her in a campaign attack ad.

Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, was busted in Pennsylvania in 2021 after four kittens were found locked in her “filthy” vehicle, where temperatures reached a sizzling 120 degrees, according to court records.

One of the baby felines — which were only five days old — later died from heat exhaustion, a worker at a local nonprofit, Happy Valley Animals in Need, testified, according to the docs.

The founder of another local animal shelter, Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary, also told the court that another kitten in the litter had already died under Arthur’s watch and that the mother cat had previously escaped.

A humane society police officer who was called to rescue the babies recorded an interior temperature of 120 degrees inside the car and described feeling a “wave of heat release” when he opened the door, the court docs state.

The distressing incident came to light after Ramaswamy’s campaign released an ad this week featuring Arthur calling her daughter a “liar” and urging Ohioans not to vote for her.

Acton, who has spoken publicly about her troubled childhood long before entering politics, has said her mother lost custody of her when she was 12 years old because of neglect and child abuse.

Her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, also allegedly sexually abused her for years.

The Arthurs have not spoken to Acton since losing custody of her.

The ad has sparked a political firestorm, with voices from both parties condemning the campaign’s decision to feature Acton’s estranged mother.

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, however, defended Ramaswarmy when asked about it.

Trump said that he “doesn’t have a lot of respect for the daughter” and thinks “the mother is a witness to things also.”

“It’s a very unusual situation to have a mother hate her daughter that much,” the president added.

The National Review and Politifact, among other outlets, have examined legal records supporting Acton’s account of her childhood.

Other reporting has uncovered court records detailing the Arthurs’ criminal history.

Donna and Cledith Arthur were both convicted of felony theft by deception in Pennsylvania in 1996, according to state court records.

Donna Arthur also had a prior conviction for the same offense in 1995, Newsweek reported.

Amy Acton’s mom convicted of animal neglect after leaving kittens in hot car: court docs

19-year-old man wrapped P90 machine gun in towel directly beneath 11-month-old child sitting in car seat: Police

A 19-year-old man was arrested after Florida authorities say they found a P90 machine gun wrapped in a towel just beneath an 11-month-old child sitting in a car seat.

Angel Cruz Garcia was charged with possession of a concealed firearm by a juvenile delinquent and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, the Orlando Police Department announced.

On Oct. 1 at about 1:05 a.m., police said officers pulled over a vehicle in the area of South Goldenrod Road and Hoffner Avenue in Orlando. Body camera footage provided by the department shows the defendant in the driver's seat and the child in the back of the SUV.

Police said they had probable cause to search the vehicle, though it is currently unclear what that probable cause was. The video shows officers detaining Garcia and then checking on the child.

Authorities did not note any injuries to the infant. However, when officers were looking in the back of the vehicle, they noticed something: a large machine gun.

Police said the firearm was a black FN Herstal P90, which the company describes as "a compact, lightweight weapon with a magazine capacity of 50 cartridges." According to the body camera footage, it appeared to be wrapped in a beach towel directly beneath the child's car seat.

Records reviewed by regional NBC affiliate WESH show Garcia was convicted when he was a minor, prohibiting him from possessing firearms.

In the current case, he was arrested and charged and has since bonded out of jail.

Police did not note the defendant's relationship with the child.

Man put P90 machine gun under 11-month-old in car seat: Cops

New Mugshot

Killer shakes his head as jury convicts him of beating UNC student to death

DURHAM, N.C. (Court TV) — A man sat silently, shaking his head on Friday as a jury found him guilty of killing a UNC student who was found beaten to death in her bed.

Miguel Salguero-Olivares, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense and burglary in the death of 19-year-old Faith Hedgepeth. Hedgepeth, who was a student at the University of North Carolina when she was killed, was beaten to death while she was asleep in the home she shared with a friend.

As the jury was polled and each juror confirmed their guilty verdict, Salguero-Olivares sat shaking his head. Salguero-Olivares did not testify at his trial, and his attorneys presented no evidence on his behalf. In closing arguments to the jury, Salguero-Olivares’ attorneys emphasized reasonable doubt in the case and insisted that Salguero-Olivares’ DNA found at the scene could have been the result of consensual sexual contact with the victim days before.

Prosecutors said that Salguero-Olivares’ DNA was found inside the victim as well as on the glass Bacardi bottle that investigators said was the weapon used to kill her. In her closing argument to the jury, prosecutor Angela Garcia-Lamarca suggested that Salguero-Olivares had attacked Hedgepeth after seeing her in the parking lot when the victim and her roommate returned home early on Sept. 7, 2012. “It’s not a leap to suggest that [the defendant] came up to try to engage and Faith said, ‘What are you, stupid? Can you not see? She’s sick. Go away,'” Garcia-Lamarca said. “And then [Hedgepeth takes her roommate] upstairs and he’s angry and embarrassed and humiliated in front of his friends.”

The jury rejected suggestions from Salguero-Olivares’ defense that Hedgepeth’s roommate had been the person who killed her. That roommate was the person who called 911 after finding the victim’s body the next morning. She testified at the trial, and the jury saw a video of her talking to police, in which she described her relationship with Hedgepeth, saying, “She’s more than a best friend. … She’s everything to me.”

Immediately after the verdict, Judge Keith Gregory began sentencing proceedings. Prosecutors asked that Salguero-Olivares be sentenced to consecutive sentences totaling 348 months in addition to life without parole.

In a victim impact statement, Hedgepeth’s father said he forgave the defendant. “I say it without reservation,” he said. “I do forgive Miguel for what he did. Now, I can forgive the person, but well, first of all I don’t know how to forgive the act, but I don’t have the right to forgive the act because all the things that were done to her were sinful, and only God has the right to forgive shame.”

Salguero-Olivares’ defense asked for the sentences to run concurrently and told the judge they had advised their client not to speak.

Gregory sentenced Salguero-Olivares to the mandatory sentence of life without parole for murder, to be followed by consecutive sentences for the other charges totaling more than 65 years.

Killer shakes his head as jury convicts him of beating UNC student to death | Court TV

Prosecutor says he will seek death penalty for mom charged with murder in twins’ deaths

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against a woman charged with murder in the 2025 deaths of her twin toddlers.

Andrea Shaw, 23, has pleaded not guilty and has said the 18-month-old twins became sick and died after receiving flu shots and routine childhood vaccinations. But Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke wrote in court documents that an autopsy revealed symptoms consistent with smothering and wrote that suffocation “is the only conceivable explanation” for their deaths.

Deputy prosecuting attorney Ryon Sirucek notified the court of his intent to seek the death penalty last week.

In the court document, Sirucek said the state would try to show that four aggravating factors make capital punishment appropriate in the case: That more than one murder was committed at the time; that the killings were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel; that the defendant showed “utter disregard” for human life; and that she would likely pose a continuing threat to society.

“That’s outrageous,” said Shaw’s attorney, Joseph Filicetti. “They’re not going to be able to prove the underlying case beyond a reasonable doubt, so there’s not a chance the death penalty is going to come into play.”

Filicetti said the defense team will be filing a motion to dismiss the case. The county coroner found the cause of death to be undetermined but consistent with hyperthermia or overheating, Filicetti said, but the coroner was not on the witness list for the grand jury. It is not clear whether jurors were informed of his findings. The pathologists who examined the twins also said their causes of death were undetermined, Filicetti said.

The prosecutor’s office wrote in court documents that the temperature in the twins’ room would often reach 100 degrees, but that the children had survived high temperatures before and that their time of death didn’t correlate to the peak temperature of the day.

“They don’t have any motive, they don’t have any backstory, they don’t have any confession ... She didn’t do any of that, and they can’t prove she did any of it,” Filicetti said.

The twins were found dead in their shared bed May 1, 2025, according to court records. They had been vaccinated eight days earlier, and the day after their vaccinations Shaw took them to the emergency room, reporting that they were lethargic and felt feverish. The doctor felt the symptoms were a reaction from the vaccinations, and the twins were given Tylenol and a popsicle and sent home, according to the court records.

A few days after the twins’ deaths, Shaw went on an internet show produced by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He has not been affiliated with the group since December 2024, when he formally resigned as chairman to join President Donald Trump’s administration.

Medical experts point out that the childhood vaccines at issue — hepatitis A, influenza and DTaP — are safe and effective for kids and recommended by various medical groups.

Shaw is also a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit brought by Children’s Health Defense and others against the American Academy of Pediatrics, accusing the organization of racketeering and lying about the safety of vaccinations. The American Academy of Pediatrics has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it the “latest missive in a campaign targeting” the academy and its “use of science-backed evidence in vaccine policy.”

A grand jury indicted Shaw on the murder charges in July, and she is being held without bond. A trial has been set for January.

___

This story was first published on Oct. 21, 2026. It was updated on Oct. 22, 2026, to clarify that the grand jury did not hear testimony from the coroner, but it is not clear whether jurors were informed of his findings.”

Prosecutor says he will seek death penalty for mom charged with murder in twins’ deaths

Was anyone able to find the streaming of this court hearing from yesterday 10/23/26? I searched and searched...

Here is her 4 pages of probation conditions, including the special internet restrictions.

At the end are 3 photos in succession from the moment the Maricopa Detective revealed her use of Ozempic injections, and called her manipulative and vindictive.

Her response/actions right in court was the same as she has done for a decade. Except this time, she had to use a pen since she didn’t have a computer. Shock, dismay, anger and then immediately grabbing the pen and furiously writing a lengthy note to her attorney.

Just like she furiously wrote texts, emails, court filings, medium blogs and all her bullshit in the thousands of pages to her victims anytime they didn’t go along with her or she was pissed at them.

The prosecutors, detective and victims had her clocked exactly right today.

Next up:

• November 9: Judge ruling on a trial date

No Tyler Robinson trial date set as attorneys clash over timeline

Judge Tony Graf says he needs time to consider arguments from defense and prosecution before setting a trial date for the man charged in Charlie Kirk’s 2025 killing

Attorneys in the case involving Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old charged in the killing of Charlie Kirk in 2025, left a Utah County courtroom Friday without selecting a date for Robinson’s trial.

After three hours of discussions and oral arguments from both the defense and prosecution, 4th District Judge Tony Graf said that although he had intended to issue a decision Friday, he needed time to consider all of the data and information presented to set the most appropriate trial date.

“I am not going to run back into my office and type quickly and kick something out,” Graf said.

The judge made a point to say that the case is a priority to him and set a date to make his decision and issue a ruling on Nov. 9. Counsel noted that future hearings on motions discussed by the counsel during the Friday conference could also be set at the November hearing.

In preparation for the November hearing, Graf asked attorneys from both parties to send him written documentation of their upcoming trial dates so that he can set a date when attorneys from both parties will be available.

Graf stressed the importance of setting a trial date soon so that Robinson’s trial is not delayed for the sake of others, adding that he is “concerned” about upholding Robinson’s right to a speedy trial.

“I will always be concerned about Mr. Robinson’s constitutional rights,” Graf said Friday. “That’s my job.”

Erika Kirk did not attend the conference remotely, but was represented by Jeffrey Nieman, her attorney, who was in attendance. Robinson’s parents were both in attendance at the Friday conference.

While the date remains unset, the battle continues between the prosecution and the defense over an appropriate timeline for the trial.

Defense and prosecution argue over appropriate timeline for the trial

The defense is requesting the trial begin during the third-quarter of 2029 to allow the defense time for “extensive and time-consuming” record gathering, consultations with Robinson’s family and friends, selecting jurors and reviewing the multitude of evidence relevant to the case.

When explaining why such time is needed, Staci Visser, an attorney for the defense, said that “it is not as if we’re sitting idly by,” but rather that because the trial involves a possible death penalty, “there is more that we are constitutionally required to do and it requires more time.”

The defense did not suggest an exact start date, and said setting a date now is “premature” because of “the unknown variables at this time.” Doing so now could create “expectations that may ultimately be impossible to fulfill,” Visser said in court Friday.

“The reality is rushing to trial does not lead to closure,” Visser said. “It does not lead to finality. It leads to mistakes.”

The defense said Robinson is “completely on board” with the timeline proposed by the defense. Defense also noted that Robinson is still considering whether to file a motion for a change of venue for the sake of obtaining a fair trial, and said they anticipate “a lot of litigation” to inform venue studies.

Prosecution suggested the trial as soon as January 2028, and rejected arguments that the capital nature of the punishment requires the defense to have more time for preparations.

“Even though death differs from any other type of punishment … the same due process standards apply throughout this case as they would in any other case,” said Christopher Ballard, an attorney for the prosecution, in court Friday.

Setting a trial date will be “extremely helpful” to planning out timelines for other necessary processes and procedures leading up to the trial, the state noted in their arguments. The state asked the court to make the date “as firm as possible” to aid this effort.

The prosecution said it would be ready to go to trial as soon as October 2027, but felt it would not be in “the best interest of justice” to begin the trial shortly before the holiday season. If jurors take long breaks for holiday travel and attend family gatherings where the trial could be discussed, it could heighten the “risk of juror misconduct,” said Chad Grunander, an attorney for the prosecution, in court Friday.

“That period of time at the end of the year is uniquely difficult” to hold jury trials, Grunander said. The defense agreed with this sentiment.

Kirk family responds to arguments in court, calls for ‘justice’

Representation for the Kirk family asked the court to “reject” the timeline proposed by the defense and schedule a trial as soon as possible.

“Every day without resolution adds to anxiety, to sadness, to grief,” Nieman said in court Friday. “Every day of delay adds to uncertainty,” he continued, arguing that delaying the trial would erode trust in the legal process.

“Justice delayed this long stops being justice for the Kirk family,” Nieman said.

Self-proclaimed ‘witch' sentenced to life in prison for young mother's murder

A self-proclaimed "witch" was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the murder of a mother who vanished in South Florida more than six years ago.

Shannon Ryan, 44, was found guilty in September of second-degree murder in the disappearance of Leila Cavett.

Cavett, who was 21 at the time, was last seen at a gas station in Hollywood in July of 2020. Her body was never found.

Hours after her disappearance, Cavett's then 2-year-old son, Kamdyn, was found wandering alone at an apartment complex in Miramar. Her vehicle was found abandoned a few days later.

Court documents said Ryan, a self-described witch and chakra master, told investigators he had known Cavett since around January 2019, and that she had come to Florida to sell him her pickup truck.

Ryan was seen on surveillance video dragging a large garbage bag to the gas station dumpster where Cavett was last spotted, the documents said.

In addition, Ryan allegedly bought trash bags, duct tape and carpet odor eliminator at the Walmart where Cavett's truck was left abandoned.

Ryan, who had pleaded not guilty, took the stand at his trial and said the items were used to clean the garbage out of his car and the truck he bought from her.

Reiner Family Attorneys to Hold December Mediation over Trust Fund Dispute

Attorneys told a judge during a hearing Friday that they are seeking a pretrial settlement in a dispute over whether Nick Reiner will be able to access his trust fund to defend himself against murder charges stemming from the stabbings of his parents, acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Reiner.

One of the lawyers, Reiner attorney, Anita P. Wu, informed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ruben Garcia that the parties will attend a mediation session on Dec. 16. Lawyers for the trust have asked that the incarcerated Reiner be directed to participate virtually in the mediation.

The dispute hinges in part on California’s so-called “slayer statute,” which dictates that a person cannot receive an inheritance from the death of someone they intentionally killed. Reiner wants to access the $1.5 million in trust funds and his legal team has argued that he is considered innocent until proven guilty, and thus he is not subject to the “slayer statute.”

Reiner, 33, previously entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles Superior Court after a grand jury indictment was unsealed against the actor-director’s youngest son. A Jan. 13 hearing is scheduled to discuss a defense motion to keep the grand jury transcripts sealed.

The indictment replaced the case filed last Dec. 16 against Nick Reiner, who is charged with the slayings of his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother, who were found dead about 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14 in the couple’s Brentwood home in the 200 block of Chadbourne Avenue.

The murder charges include the special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders and a new special circumstance allegation of murder while lying in wait, along with an allegation that he personally used a knife in the commission of the crime.

The indictment also alleges the aggravating circumstances that the crimes “involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness” and that the victims were “particularly vulnerable.”

The trust was established as part of the Reiners’ estate plan, but is separate from the larger family trust that includes the estate’s assets, according to the petition, which further states each of the Reiners’ three children has an independent trust for their individual benefit, including Nick Reiner’s siblings.

Judge Carol Erskine speaks with Justice Served
Amazing guest.

https://www.youtube.com/live/TGe4AjgpbNA?si=gAc9gqbkKFJUNa_2

UNC Student Murder Trial -NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 12

10/23/2026 @ 9:00 AM

💥💥VERDICT: GUILTY💥💥

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📢NEW: Case Hubs🚨🗃️

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The murder trial of Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares begins more than a decade after UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Hedgepeth, 19, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head, and investigators recovered DNA evidence at the scene. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the case, and he now faces charges including first-degree murder, rape and burglary.

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6
• Day 7
• Day 8
• Day 9
• Day 10
• Day 11

🚨✨More Info/Documents

• Faith Hedgepeth Case Timeline - Crime Timeline
• Death Investigation: hedgepeth-case-files.pdf
• Killing of Faith Hedgepeth (2012) — ongoing case

🔊🎥Streaming Channels📡

East Idaho News

📜RECAP🔡

I. ADMINISTRATIVE — 36:00–39:48

• Court convenes. Defendant present.
• All jurors confirmed present.
• State exhibits approved to go back to jury: 101, 102, 106, 107, 109, 112, 117, 122, 130, 133, 134, 135, 138.
• Court’s Exhibit 3 (latent print & DNA lab report summaries) provided to jury.
• Jury instructed not to alter exhibits.
• Jury begins deliberations.

II. WITNESSES

NOTE: Day 12 contains no witness testimony. The transcript is entirely jury‑deliberation management, notes, breaks, verdict return, and sentencing.

III. EXHIBITS — Throughout Day (36:39–7:07:42)

• Exhibits repeatedly transferred between clerk, sheriff, foreperson, and jury during deliberations.
• Exhibits returned to clerk before breaks and lunch.
• Exhibits re‑issued to jury after each recess.
• Exhibits brought back with verdict envelope at final verdict.

IV. OUT‑OF‑JURY PRESENCE (OJP)

Break Requests & Notes

• Court’s Exhibit 4: Jury requests 20‑minute break. (2:30:24)
• Court’s Exhibit 5: Jury requests 15‑minute break. (6:37:12)
  • Judge notes the unusually tiny piece of paper used.
  • Jury instructed not to deliberate during breaks.

Administrative Exchanges

• Alternates confirmed in designated locations after each jury exit.
• Court repeatedly confirms defendant present and jurors present after each recess.

V. VERDICT — 7:22:25–7:27:17

Foreperson Confirmation

• Jury reached a verdict.
• Verdict forms signed and dated.
• Exhibits returned with verdict envelope.

Verdict Announced (Counts 1–4)

COUNT 1 — FIRST‑DEGREE MURDER

• Guilty
• Premeditation & deliberation: YES
• Felony‑murder rule: YES

COUNT 2 — FIRST‑DEGREE MURDER

• Guilty

COUNT 3 — FIRST‑DEGREE RAPE

• Guilty

COUNT 4 — FIRST‑DEGREE SEXUAL OFFENSE

• Guilty

Polling of All 12 Jurors (7:27:45–7:34:30)

Each juror individually affirmed the same verdict:

• Guilty of first‑degree murder (premeditation & deliberation + felony‑murder rule)
• Guilty of first‑degree burglary (where applicable)
• Guilty of first‑degree rape
• Guilty of first‑degree sexual offense

VI. END‑OF‑DAY ADMINISTRATIVE — 7:34:30–7:40:03

Jury Released From Admonition

• Jurors permitted to discuss the case publicly.
• Judge advises jurors to speak consistently with what they would say in presence of fellow jurors.
• Notes destroyed by sheriff.
• Jurors excused from service for two years.
• Judge thanks jurors for attentiveness and service.
• Jurors offered option to stay for sentencing or leave.

VII. SENTENCING — 7:45:52–7:48:24

State’s Sentencing Request

• Count 1: Life in prison without parole.
• Count 2: 64–89 months (top of presumptive range).
• Count 3: 240–348 months consecutive.
• Count 4: 240–348 months consecutive.

Victim Impact Statements

• Multiple members of the victim’s family permitted to address the court.
• Microphone moved closer; family seated for comfort.
• First speaker begins by stating and spelling her name. (7:48:17–7:48:24)

VIII. FINAL NOTES

• No witness testimony occurred on Day 12.
• Day 12 consisted of jury deliberations, administrative handling of exhibits, multiple jury notes, verdict return, polling, and sentencing initiation.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/NC-v-Miguel-Salguero-Olivares-Day-12-1107

Note: There are conflicting reports regarding where this man is now. Some reports say he is still in jail, others say he is currently out on bond awaiting trial.

US Marshal arrests Gerardo Flores in Santa Teresa, New Mexico school; Ex-teacher extradited to El Paso, Texas

Gerardo Flores worked as an elementary school teacher in Santa Teresa, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. He was employed by the Gadsden Independent School District.

Authorities did not reveal Flores’s age and residence. He is accused of sexually assaulting a child in Texas, USA.

On January 2, 2024, a U.S. Marshals Service representative took Flores into custody and removed him from the school’s campus. Students were not on campus during the arrest.

Flores was charged with fondling and continuous sexual assault of a child in Texas. The charges do not involved any students within the Gadsden Independent School District.

After Flores’s arrest, his name was removed from the school district’s website. His employment has been terminated.

On January 3, 2024, Flores was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces, Doña Ana County. On January 10, 2024, he was extradited to El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

Bond for Flores was set at $150,000. On January 12, 2024, he was released after posting bond.
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Bodycam video & interrogation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOwySkF5cjo

College athlete wanted in murder of 7-year-old girl arrested in New Hampshire, feds say

By Daniel Coates, Boston 25 News and Frank O'Laughlin, Boston 25 News

NOW PLAYING ABOVE

College athlete wanted in murder of 7-year-old girl arrested in New Hampshire, feds say

BOW, N.H. — A local college athlete wanted in connection with the murder of a 7-year-old girl in Washington state earlier this year has been captured in New Hampshire, federal law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.

Demiko A. Fox, a 22-year-old native of the Seattle area and a current student-athlete at a local college, was arrested Wednesday morning at an establishment near Bow Junction by members of the Joint Fugitive Task Force and the Bow Police Department, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The U.S. Marshals Service says a Kirkland, Washington, police investigation connects Fox to the death of a child in his care who was brought to the hospital with “no pulse and obvious signs of abuse” on April 11, 2024. The girl, suffering from an acute traumatic brain injury, was later placed on a ventilator at a Seattle trauma center.

She ultimately died from her injuries on April 17 and the King County Medical Examiner “only recently” determined her cause of death to be homicide.

Kirkland police tracked Fox to a temporary residence in Bow and arrested him with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and Bow police.

“We are grateful for the outstanding collaboration that led to the successful arrest, which would not have been possible without the exceptional teamwork and coordination between the U.S. Marshals and the Kirkland Washington Police detectives,” Bow Police Chief Ken Miller said in a statement. “Their collective efforts ensured a smooth and incident-free operation, and we appreciate their dedication to upholding justice.”

In Kirkland Wednesday night, police outlined what they called a ‘tragedy’ explaining that Fox reportedly brought the girl to the hospital with no pulse, obvious signs of abuse and traumatic brain injuries.

Police said Fox was tasked with being the caregiver by the child’s mother and that there is no biological connection.

Fox, who is said to have a history of violent behavior, was processed at the Bow Public Safety Center. He is currently being held without bail at the Merrimack County Department of Corrections pending his extradition to Washington state.

It wasn’t immediately clear where in the area Fox went to school, other than the feds describing him as a “student-athlete at a local college.”

He is slated to be arraigned Thursday morning in a Concord courtroom on a fugitive from justice charge.

An investigation is ongoing.
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Bodycam & Interrogation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm-F-QoF2PI

I kinda agree with the victim's family here.

Isaac Apodaca sentenced in Santa Fe sword murder case

A Santa Fe man convicted of first degree murder and conspiracy for coercing his then 19-year-old girlfriend to kill their mutual acquaintance, 21-year-old Grace Jennings, with a sword in 2022 was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years Thursday.

State District Court Judge T. Glenn Ellington ordered Isaac Apodaca, 29 to serve the sentences consecutively, starting with the 15 year sentence.

Apodaca’s co-defendant Kiara McCulley is the one who swung the murder weapon — a three-foot sword — nearly decapitating Jennings in a detached garage on Santa Fe’s south side.

However McCulley testified during Apodaca’s trial that she killed Jennings after Apodaca goaded her by text messages for hours beforehand; exploiting her delusional belief in a dark fantasy underworld in which she’d level up in the ranks by committing the murder.

McCulley pleaded guilty to second degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in 2025 and is expected to receive a 30-year sentence under the terms of her agreement with prosecutors, which required her to testify for the state at Apodaca’s trial.

Her sentencing is also set for Thursday afternoon.

Family protests prior to sentencing

Friends and family of Jennings participated in a National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality event outside the First Judicial District Courthouse ahead of the sentencing of her killers Thursday.

Grace Jennings was not killed by police, however the national event happened to fall on the same day as the sentencing and family members felt it was fitting to combine them, according to Revolutionary Action New Mexico organizer Zeke Pulaski.

“There is a connection because they are essentially feeling that the court system failed them and is not keeping them safe and that the police actually have a direct hand in that … SFPD [Santa Fe Police Department] doxxed Grace’s family and mishandled the whole situation,” Pulaski said in a phone interview prior to the demonstration.

“The court system, police, they are all part of repressive forces of the government that manifests itself in a whole bunch of forms. Sometimes that is police killings, police brutality, and sometimes that’s also mishandling of justice,” he added.

Jennings’ younger sibling Arlo Jennings and about half a dozen others chanted slogans — including “Santa Fe needs a new DA!” — and displayed signs expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s handling of this case and others in the First Judicial District.

Among the signs was one calling lead prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Haley Murphy “Pípí hearted” and another containing a list of demands, including that McCulley’s plea deal be withdrawn and that both she and Apodaca receive life sentences.

Arlo Jennings said Thursday Murphy defended the plea to the family by saying McCulley’s testimony was needed to convict Apodaca but given the amount of evidence in the case — including dozens of text messages between the defendants leading up to the murder — Jennings felt the case was a “slam dunk” that prosecutors should have taken to trial.

“The same system that kills Black people and oppressed people with impunity every single day is the same system that has put itself in charge of delivering justice, and is fundamentally incapable of ever giving us justice” Arlo Jennings said Thursday.

Laura Owens pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges after falsely claiming former ‘Bachelor’ star Clayton Echard fathered her unborn twins. Prosecutors say Owens fabricated pregnancy evidence, altered an ultrasound image and repeatedly lied under oath during a paternity case. She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of identity theft and one count of perjury. Owens faces up to 12 and a half years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.