Deadly playground attack

KENTWOOD, Michigan — A community in Kentwood is in mourning following a fatal stabbing that took place between two kids on the playground Monday evening. It happened Monday at Pinebrook Village Mobile Home Park at about 6 p.m. Police said four children were at the playground inside the mobile home park when a 12-year-old pulled out a knife and began stabbing Michael Conner Verkerke, 9, repeatedly in the back. Adam Zachow, who lives across the street from the Verkerke’s, said his kids spend the weekend playing with Michael, who goes by his middle name, Conner. READ MORE HERE

Victim: Michael Conner Verkerke, 9, Kentwood, MI

Research has shown, along with parents and caregivers, many educators are unaware of the signs, symptoms and prevention of childhood sexualabuse adding to the rapid and ever rising statistics. This is unacceptable with over 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the United States affecting 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys. Many parents and caregivers have trouble talking to their young children about their bodies. Small children are notorious for asking questions that make parents squirm, especially when it comes to sexuality. Sex education and sexual awareness is a topic many parents and caregivers would prefer to avoid, but with childhood sexual abuse statistics at an all time high; it is one of the most important talks a parent or caregiver can have with their child. READ MORE HERE

PENNSYLVANIA – Today WNEP.com reported Pennsylvania State Police have charged 22 year old Tara Paltanavage with abuse of corpse and concealing the death of a baby girl. Pennsylvania State Police spent several hours searching through a trash covered lawn for evidence after a baby was found dead in the trash at a local residence. The coroner told WNEP the “body of a newborn was found in the trash early Tuesday morning along Winfield Drive near Middleport.” It remains unclear how the baby girl died, but an autopsy on the infant is scheduled for Wednesday. READ MORE HERE

DETROIT – Two Detroit men were arraigned in Wayne County Circuit Court in the fatal shooting of an 8-year-old boy on July 29. Calvin Mosby, 28, and Devaunte Starks, 17, were charged with first degree murder in the shooting of Jakari Pearson in the 680 block of East Street in Detroit. Mosby had previously dated Pearson’s mother and allegedly has threatened her. At 1:20 a.m. Mosby, accompanied by Starks, went to the woman’s home and shot Pearson.  READ MORE HERE

Child Sex Trafficking Loop Involved Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Birmingham

A recent investigation by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed a four-city child sex trafficking loop made up of Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Birmingham. Investigators say teenage girls are brought from city to city. One teen talked about how she was sold into the sex trade at 15 years old. An older man showed her affection, then drugged and took her to an abandoned house. READ MORE HERE

MICHIGAN – A jury found Dr. Donald Quinn, a dentist who was the focus of a recent 7 Action News investigation, guilty of two counts of willfully violating the sex offender registry act, following a one-day trial before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Colleen O’Brien. Last year, 7 Action News Investigator Heather Catallo found  Quinn working at a dental office that wasn’t listed with the state’s sex offender registry.  That is a felony. “Have you told the state that this is where you’re working – it’s not on the sex offender registry,” Catallo asked Quinn in November.  He did not answer the question. A few days after Catallo found Dr. Quinn at Southfield Dental Care PC, police arrested him at the dental office. READ MORE HERE

Tricia Norman listed three defendants in the lawsuit she filed Monday in Polk County, Florida

The mother of a 12-year-old Florida girl who authorities say jumped to her death because she was excessively bullied is now suing the Polk County School Board, a construction materials company and a teenager accused of stalking her daughter. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in Polk County. Rebecca Sedwick leaped to her death from the roof of an abandoned concrete plant in Lakeland in September 2013.  A month later, the sheriff’s office controversially arrested two of her classmates, Guadalupe Shaw, 14 and Katelyn Roman, 13, on charges of aggravated stalking. READ MORE HERE

William Bradford Bishop Added To FBI Top 10 List

On April 10th, 2014 the FBI’s Baltimore Division announced the latest addition to the FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, William Bradford Bishop. Bishop is wanted in connection with the cold case homicide of his five family members in March 1976, all of whom he allegedly bludgeoned to death before burning and burying their bodies in North Carolina. Additional information about Bishop can be found at the link below, to include details, photos, age-enhanced illustrations and a video podcast.

Since the publicity campaign began last week, the FBI’s Baltimore Division has received a large number of tips in areas where Bishop lived and worked. Bishop, who was born in Pasadena, California and still has associations in that area. Bishop was also known to have an affinity for the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Investigators believe there is a strong possibility Bishop could have returned to places with which he was familiar near Southern California, or the mountains in the state of California or Nevada. READ MORE HERE

‘Family Annihilator’ William Bradford Bishop, Jr. Added To FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List

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Police: Woman in custody in death of daughter

UPDATE:  CANNON BEACH, OR— The mother of a toddler found dead at a coastal Oregon resort has been taken into custody, authorities said Sunday night. Jessica Smith, 40, faces charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said. READ MORE HERE

No bail for mom accused of killing 2-yo

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2-YO Toddler found dead at Oregon resort; mom sought
PORTLAND, Oregon — A hotel housekeeper discovered an injured 13-year-old girl and the body of her 2-year-old sister at an inn on the Oregon Coast on Friday, and police were searching for their mother. Cannon Beach Police Chief Jason Schermerhorn said Jessica Smith, 40, of Goldendale, Washington, is a person of interest in the case and investigators want to make sure she’s safe. He asked the public to be on the lookout for a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban that’s gold and has the Washington license plate, APX 3141.  READ MORE HERE

Police looking for Washington mom

Washington mother sought in 2-year-old’s death

Dead toddler, severely injured child found in Cannon Beach

2-mo child in Denver abuse case dies; mother in custody

A 2-month-old victim of suspected child abuse last weekend died Thursday, Denver police announced. The mother, 21-year-old Kelsy Newell-Skinner, was arrested on Monday and remains in custody. Around 11 p.m. Sunday police were called to Children’s Hospital in Aurora, where the baby girl had been transported from Parker Adventist Hospital, according to the arrest affidavit. READ MORE HERE

HARRISBURG, PA — The mother of an 8-year-old Pennsylvania boy whose decomposing body was found on the third floor of their home said Saturday she didn’t know he had died until noticing the smell. Kimberly Tutko said her husband was the primary caretaker of their mentally disabled son, and he waited several days to tell her the boy had died. Police were called to the home Friday and found the boy’s body. Police charged Jarrod Tutko, 38, on Saturday with child endangerment, concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse. Court records do not list an attorney for him. READ MORE HERE

8-year-old disabled boy’s death unnoticed by mother

Bond was set Friday morning at 10 percent of $150,000 for an Omaha man charged with felony child abuse resulting in death. During the court hearing, prosecutors began to lay their case out against Tyler Kennedy, saying that he admitted to slapping and shaking 16-month-old Orlando Were. According to prosecutors, Kennedy was caring for his girlfriend’s son while she was at work last Saturday when medics were called to their home near North 36th Avenue and Pinkney Street just after 6:30 p.m. READ MORE HERE

Fund Drive

A fund-raising effort is under way to help offset medical and funeral expenses for the family of Orlando Were. Click here for details.

UK — Brian Callaghan was arrested at his home in September 2012 following several allegations of historical sexual assaults in Suffolk and Lancashire from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The 78-year-old retired man from Waterford Road was charged with offences in December 2013. At Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday he pleaded guilty to two counts of administering a drug with intent to have sex; six counts of inciting indecency with children; six counts of sexual assault; three counts of child rape; two counts of committing gross indecency with children and one count of cruelty to a child. READ MORE HERE

Washington — The state Department of Health suspended the license of a Chelan County registered nurse after he was charged with raping a child. Charles White’s license to practice was suspended today following a three-week review by Health officials. According to the agency, White was arrested April 15 in Douglas County and the state Nursing Commission referred the case to the Department of Health on July 8. READ MORE HERE