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Man charged in 1986 Franklin County cold case murder

For 34 years, Kristen Edwards’ family has waited for justice. No one was in custody. That changed this week thanks to a new cold case unit in Missouri

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. — On Saturday, July 5, 1986, Kristen Edwards’ husband came home to an unsettling scene. His wife was missing from their house in Sullivan, Missouri.

She seemingly disappeared in the middle of a normal day. A meal was left half eaten. The TV was on. Her purse was in the couple’s truck, which was parked on the driveway.

Her body was found in a field three days later about a half-mile from her home. She was nude and partially covered by sticks. A medical examiner determined she was strangled to death.

For 34 years, Edwards’ family has waited for justice. No one was in custody charged with her murder. That changed this week.

Kenneth Avery was charged with second-degree

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L.A. County prohibits most public and private gatherings between households

Almost all private and public gatherings between households will be temporarily prohibited in Los Angeles County starting Monday, the county’s public health department announced Friday. The prohibition is just one of the modifications to the city’s “Safer At Home” order that are being implemented to slow a surge of new coronavirus cases. 



a group of people on a city street: Dodgers Fans Cheer For Their Team On First Day Of World Series

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Dodgers Fans Cheer For Their Team On First Day Of World Series

The ban does not include protected events such as protests and church services. Schools will still adhere to established re-opening protocols. 

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The extended order goes into effect on Monday, November 30 and advises residents “to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their household and around others.” Businesses including restaurants, non-essential retail, libraries, gyms, and museums will all operate under restricted occupancy limits, all of which

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King County prosecutors report rise in animal cruelty cases

SEATTLE (AP) — Prosecutors in Washington state have reported an increase in animal cruelty cases in King County, raising concerns among law enforcement and animal agencies.

The King County prosecuting attorney’s office had filed 19 animal cruelty cases so far this year, including 12 counts of first-degree felony animal cruelty, The Seattle Times reported. The office filed nine cases in 2019 and 10 in 2018.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tali Smith said Monday that she is in the process of reviewing another case this week and expects to see at least three more cases in the coming weeks.

“It’s concerning when we’re filing (more cases) in one month this year … than (all of) last year, and we’re concerned about these animals and the neglect or violence they’re suffering from,” Smith said.

The office has also filed two felony animal fighting charges, the most recent case involving 91 roosters.

“My

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Pandemic or not, Dallas County could begin summoning jurors for criminal trials

Criminal jury trials could be coming back to Dallas County soon — months after they were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Courts across the United States have tried Zoom trials, virtual jury selection and socially distanced hearings to get back to administering justice.

Now, Dallas County state District Judge Dominique Collins has created a plan, with the help of state officials, to resume work after watching how other counties have tried to keep jurors safe. She’s in charge of the county’s criminal jury selection process, so she was tasked with finding the best way to bring juries back to the courthouse.

“We’re doing everything we can to keep people comfortable,” she said. “Jury trials are very serious matters, and I don’t want people uncomfortable when deciding someone’s life and liberty.”

Collins initially hoped to test the plan with a trial in early December, but COVID-19′s climbing toll stalled things.

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ICE arrests 2 criminal aliens released by Maryland county after detainers not honored

BALTIMORE— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested two criminal aliens after their release by Prince George’s County, Maryland, despite each having immigration detainers. Those arrested include a member of MS-13 and a convicted sex offender.

“These arrests are yet another example of a local jurisdiction choosing to release demonstrated public safety threats to the community, rather than honoring lawful detainers and allowing ICE to take custody of these individuals and keep them off of the street,” said Francisco Madrigal, field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore field office.

On Nov. 19, ICE officers with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Capital Area Task Force arrested Jose Luis Sorto Gomez, 33, a citizen of El Salvador and a known member of MS-13. Sorto has been arrested several times by Prince George’s County between 2016 and 2020, but despite five ICE detainers lodged during that time, was released

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Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigations has new lead official

CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has hired a new captain.

Sheriff Chris Amason hired Steve Lowe to serve as captain of the Support Services Division, which includes criminal investigations, according to a Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Lowe, who has 26 years of law enforcement experience, started working for the Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

He worked for the Norman Police Department for 24 years, 13 of which he served as a detective sergeant. He served in both the Criminal Investigations Section and the Special Investigations Section, and worked as a major case detective, according to the news release.

Lowe became an Evidence Technician for the Norman Police Department’s Property/Evidence Section. He held the position until Amason recruited him for the Sheriff’s Office.

Lowe has over 3,000 hours of specialized law enforcement training, and has either achieved or completed the following:

  • Drug Recognition Expert;
  • Certification
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‘We seek justice’: Jefferson County district attorneys to tackle wrongful convictions

State inmates sentenced to death or life in prison out of Jefferson County could get a second look at their convictions under a new initiative aimed at righting wrongs of long ago.

Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynneice Washington on Monday announced the formation of the Conviction Integrity Unit which will formally launch Jan. 11, 2021. The CIU will review cases of wrongful convictions for defendants convicted of certain Class A felonies and sentenced to life, life without parole or death in the Cutoff.

Additionally, Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr on Jan. 1 will launch the Conviction Review Unit in the Birmingham Division.

“The only way to effectively correct wrongs that were carried out by the criminal justice system in Jefferson County was to implement a review of wrongful conviction cases within both office, inclusive of the entire county,’’ Washington said. “The buy-in by the elected D.A. in

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Ramsey County sheriff seeks public comment on drone privacy issues

Ramsey County is looking for public input on a drone policy for the sheriff’s office.



a airplane that is jumping in the air: A DJI M600 Pro drone owned by Steve Fines of St. Cloud hovers in the air Saturday, May 5, 2018, at a Minnesota Drone Day event in Eagan. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

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A DJI M600 Pro drone owned by Steve Fines of St. Cloud hovers in the air Saturday, May 5, 2018, at a Minnesota Drone Day event in Eagan. (Deanna Weniger / Pioneer Press)

The purpose of the policy is to establish guidelines for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones as well as how to handle the images taken by the drone in regards to privacy concerns. It is similar to the privacy issues regarding body cameras where the camera may capture more than what is relevant to the case, such as the interior of a person’s home.

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A drone can be helpful to public safety by assisting in the search for missing children, assisting in water or public area rescues, protecting police from unnecessary

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Weld County DA Calls Cop ‘A Danger To Community,’ Refuses To Prosecute Cases From Officer Zach Helbig

(CBS4) – CBS4 has learned that Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke is refusing to prosecute criminal cases involving Fort Lupton police officer Zachary Helbig, calling the officer “a danger to the community,” and saying, “I simply in good conscience cannot file charges in which Zachary Helbig is an essential witness. His decision making processes are dangerous to the people of my community.”



a person posing for the camera: Zachary Helbig

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Zachary Helbig

Zachary Helbig (credit: CBS)

Earlier this year, a jury acquitted Helbig on a manslaughter charge for the Jan. 16, 2019, fatal shooting of Shawn Billinger, who was unarmed when Helbig fatally shot Billinger in the chest.



a person that is standing in the grass: Zachary Helbig

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Zachary Helbig

(credit: CBS)

Rourke had taken that case to a grand jury which indicted Helbig on the felony manslaughter charge. The jury took about six hours to deliver a not guilty verdict. But the D.A. maintains the Billinger

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