COUPLE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

PORT HURON, Michigan – The “monstrous acts” that led to the murder of Mackenzie Maison defied “explanation or understanding,” a St. Clair County circuit judge said Thursday. Judge Daniel Kelly said Mackenzie is the third child-victim whose case he’s presided over in recent years where the death was orchestrated by the child’s parents and step-parents. “What puzzles me is how, in a community so dedicated to combating child abuse and neglect, these conditions go undetected until it is too late,” Kelly said. A father and his wife were found guilty of murdering of his five-year-old daughter Friday in a Michigan courtroom. The couple, Andrew, 25, and Hilery Maison, 27, of Port Huron were convicted of felony murder in the death of Mackenzie Maison. In addition, they were also found guilty of first-degree child abuse and torture of Mackenzie and her three-year-old sister Makayla. READ MORE HERE

Couple gets life for ‘monstrous acts’ in death of Mackenzie Maison

Port Huron parents will spend rest of lives in prison for 5-yo daughter’s murder

Couple guilty in death of 5-year-old Mackenzie Maison

Father, girlfriend charged in child’s death

CANTON, OHIO – Officials have charged the child’s father and his live-in girlfriend in connection with the 3 year old’s death. According to Canton police, Mathew N. Miku, 22, faces charges of murder and child endangering. His bond was set at $1 million. Mathew’s live-in girlfriend, Jessica L. Bender, 21, was charged with child endangering.  3-year-old Hailey Miku was found unconscious Friday morning at a home in the 1000 block of Dewalt Avenue NW. When paramedics arrived, they determined the 3-year-old girl was dead. Police are investigating the death as a homicide. READ MORE HERE

The ‘killer nanny’ who beheaded a four-year-old girl in Moscow kept her schizophrenia a secret and was ‘kicked on to the streets’ after a divorce, a police source has revealed. Gyulchekhra Bobokulova had been registered at a psychiatric clinic in her homeland Uzbekistan – and her condition had been deteriorating in recent months, the source said. In scenes that shocked the world yesterday, the hijab-wearing nanny, 38, was seen walking the streets of Moscow brandishing the head of Nastya Meshcheryakova for an hour before she was detained by police. READ MORE HERE

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Nanny suspected of brutal child murder questioned in Moscow

Woman held for Moscow child ‘beheading’

A former children’s television show host who vanished decades ago amid allegations he sexually abused children on a camping trip in Louisiana was indicted Thursday on rape charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says a grand jury indicted 76-year-old Frank John Selas III on two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual battery and eight counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Mosley said the charges relate to one alleged victim, who testified before the central Louisiana grand jury. READ MORE HERE

OKLAHOMA – The stepfather of a toddler who died from head trauma on Tuesday has been arrested on complaints of child abuse and child neglect. Branden Taylor, 30, of Tulsa, Oklahoma told police he kicked his wife’s 2-year-old son Michael Rigney in the face the day before he died and that the boy was ‘out cold,’ but he did not seek medical treatment. The boy was discovered with multiple bruises on his body, including the left side of his face, when police arrived to the home after his mother Tina called to report the boy was unresponsive. Branden is not facing any additional charges at this time because authorities have yet to determine if the child’s death was a homicide. READ MORE HERE

MISSOURI – After hours of searching, Missouri officers have confirmed the death of 3-year-old Titus Tackett. The parents reported the child missing shortly after midnight Wednesday morning.Officers and volunteers in the area searched for the boy. Police haven’t said if Titus wandered off or was abducted. READ MORE HERE

Officials: Body of missing toddler found inside van

Titus Tackett: How Did Tot’s Body End Up In Van?

James VanCallis found guilty in April Millsap’s Murder

Macomb County, MI – After deliberating for six hours, a jury has found James VanCallis guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Armada teen April Millsap. He was found guilty on all four charges, including first-degree murder; felony murder; kidnapping; and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration. His sentencing date is scheduled for March 30, 2016. Prosecutors argued that VanCallis hit the girl with his motorcycle helmet then stomped on her neck along the Macomb Orchard Trail back in July of 2014. READ MORE HERE

VanCallis guilty in murder of April Millsap of Armada

Jury finds James VanCallis guilty in murder of April Millsap

Man Gets 220 Years to Life for Sexually Assaulting 3 Young Family Members

A 37-year-old Palmdale man was sentenced Friday to 220 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting three children in his family over a period of 18 years, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Richard Edward Ray was convicted on Dec. 9, 2015, of a total of 17 felony counts in connection with the abuse that spanned from 1996 to 2014, the DA’s office stated in a news release. READ MORE HERE

A second Virginia Tech student has been arrested in relation to the murder of a 13-year-old girl who vanished from her home three days ago. Student David Eisenhauer, 18, was arrested and charged on Saturday night with the abduction and murder of Nicole Lovell. Police revealed today that another engineering student, Natalie Keepers, 19, has been arrested and charged with helping dispose of Nicole’s body.  Nicole had disappeared from her home in the Lantern Ridge area of Blacksburg, Virginia, on Tuesday night, vanishing without her liver medication and with just a blanket and a bottle of water. Her body was found near Route 89 just over the North Carolina border, about 60 miles from where she was last seen. Eisenhauer knew Nicole before she disappeared, police revealed, saying that he ‘used this relationship to his advantage’ before allegedly abducting her. READ MORE HERE

Missing 13-year-old Nicole Lovell found dead

Virginia Tech freshman David Eisenhauer charged

UPDATE: Second Virginia Tech student charged

Nicole Madison Lovell Photos

A South Bay woman faces a murder charge after confessing that she drowned her adopted son in a bathtub in their house, police said. Tara McNeill Palajac allegedly killed the 12-year-old boy on Jan. 8 in a Conner Place residence. The 51-year-old Santa Clara woman, who has not yet entered a plea, initially reported that the child’s death was an accident, authorities said. READ MORE HERE

Police arrest couple of dead newborn for murder

ABILENE, Texas – Abilene police took 18-year-old Amber Craker into custody in connection with the dead newborn found in a south Abilene house Monday. Craker is the birth mother of the dead female baby, police said in a news release. Police said she was arrested shortly after her release from the hospital at about 4:15 p.m. She has been officially charged with first degree felony murder and second degree felony tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $300,000 and she remains in the Taylor County Jail.

Damian Scott Cate, 22, was arrested late Monday and charged with murder in connection with the homicide as well. Court documents say additional family members may face charges. READ MORE HERE

OHIO – A woman’s ex-boyfriend forced his way into her apartment early Tuesday and fatally stabbed her and her two children before being critically injured in a knife fight with her current boyfriend, police said. Officers were called to the sprawling apartment complex on the north side of Columbus just before 1:30 a.m. and found the woman and children already dead and the two men with stab wounds, police Sgt. Rich Weiner said. The slain victims were identified as Erveena Hammonds, 32, and her daughters, 10-year-old Anaesia Green and 7-year-old Breya Hammonds. READ MORE HERE

PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida —Port St. Lucie police are looking for the man who molested a 12-year-old boy. The child was found naked and screaming for help Monday afternoon. A homeowner, who did not want to be identified, told WPBF 25 News his security camera recorded a suspicious man riding a bike around the time of the attack. Detectives are reviewing the video and police say they’ll release it to the media if they deem it’s the suspect or relevant to the case. READ MORE HERE

Listen: Audio of 911 call

Port St. Lucie police release composite sketch of possible child molester

Police have not been able to identify a suspect, but released a composite sketch Monday night of what the alleged attacker would look like, according to the boy’s description. The boy described the man as a white man, 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 6 inches, 215 pounds, dark hair with a buzz-cut style, wearing a white shirt and green shorts.