First Responder Resources

 This is a great site also for First Responder's. Our first responders have to deal with so much and have seen unbearable things and they do it with grace, compassion and dignity. They have very few resources to assist them in processing all that they have witnessed. They need help and an outlet. This site, Responder Strong offers many great resources. You make a profile, which is basically just name and email, and they break down help per your state of residence. 

I have included a few here such as Supporting First Responders through atypically stressful events and Post Disaster Interventions. 

Set up your free, personalized account for more. 

Great Resources for Veterans and those with PTSD or Substance Abuse Issues.

 I LOVE this website! It provides great resources for our veterans and those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It also includes some good resources for substance abuse. You can access the site here.

Housing, suicide prevention, and more. 

Our veterans struggle so horribly when returning home from being deployed and aside from the  Veteran's Administration there are often not a lot of help available. This needs to change. 

Risk factors are here. and understanding the risk factors are explained. 

Samuel Little The Most prolific Serial Killer in U.S. History

 Sam Little confessed to killing 93 people from 1970-2005. I only learned of him a few years ago. He spent time in Cleveland, Ohio and confessed to multiple murders there. 

There is a very good article on the FBI website here.

List of Unsolved Murdered & Missing in Columbiana County, Ohio

 Tweed/Morris Murders

Ardes Bauman

James Anthony Sr.

James Brenneman

Richard "Dick" Hubbard

Sherry Ieropoli

Jamie Huffman

Bruce Burton

Tim Wamsley

Irvin Keefer

Frank Daniels

Gene Lysle

Joey Gilmore

Evelyn "Louise" Davis

Tracy Hill

Dick Altomare

Craig Roberts

Walter Valentine

Terry Ballard

Dalton Springer

Charlie McKinnon

Michael Williams

The Case of Gabby Petito

 This is a really interesting case. 22 year old Gabby Petito is missing. She was traveling across country with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie.  Less than 2 months after beginning the road trip he returned home, but she did not. For more information, watch this YouTube Video
Update: Her boyfriend refuses to give any explanation as to where she is and why he left her in Wyoming, and drove her van to Florida. He is refusing to talk to the family and has referred everyone to talk to his lawyer. News Coverage here and here. (information courtesy of YouTube). 

Updates: This case has become more and more bazaar. There are several Facebook groups now and hundreds of theories.(Just type Gabby Petito in the search box and several pop up). I have also noticed that everyone is a "Facebook Attorney" and throw around the fact that Brian has Constitutional Rights, as if we do not know that. 

Here is the latest about Brian's disappearance. There is a lot of unbelievable speculation and so many things do not make sense. It has been said that Brian's family has law enforcement connections such as his mom works for DA and his Uncle is a cop but this has just been speculated, not confirmed. His parents behavior is strange, to say the least. They told the FBI that they have not seen Brian since Tuesday and that he was going camping and they found his car at the entrance to the campsite when he didn't return home, but then they took his car and drove it home???? More here. Fox Channel 13 in Tampa posted this Timeline here.

The rumors and opinions are out of control. I have my opinions, as I am sure that you do. What I do know is that we don't know the facts in this case, just what has been reported by the media. I DO know that my heart goes out to her family because what they are going through must be unimaginable. The most important thing is Finding Gabby. I pray she is found alive and that the truth comes out soon. 

Another update: Today, September 19, 2021- FBI held a press conference stating that they have found a body in Wyoming where searches were taking place for her.  It has not been confirmed that it is her by the coroner but her family has been notified that law enforcement believes it is her and the body matches her description. 😢😢😢

Today, the search continues for Brian and the FBI executed a search warrant on his parents home. 

Homicide Handbook for Families & Friends

 I came across this resource for families It is a lengthy article but well worth the read. I wish I would have came across something with this much information when Michael was first murdered. I have provided the pdf here. https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-dc/legacy/2013/08/07/coping_after_homicide.pdf

 

It is from the U.S. Department of Justice so it is a reliable source. 

Quiz to evaluate your risk factor for being a victim of crime

 This website was part of my class for criminal behavior. It is really interesting to see in what areas you may be at risk to become a victim of crime. No personal (identifiable) information is asked and it is worth checking out. Take the quiz here

What's New?

New Cold Case Task Force! 

There's a new Sheriff in Town!! 

                                  Photo courtesy of  CC Sheriff Website
 

    I have had the pleasure of meeting with  Brian McLaughlin several times and have to say that I am impressed with his office. He has a good group of new Detectives that seem to be really dedicated to solving some of our cases. One thing I like about Brian is he doesn't blow smoke and make promises he cannot keep. He has promised me that he will work on Mike's case but did NOT promise me that it can be solved. 

    You have to remember that he walked into a mess, not to mention, a less than stellar reputation. I know that we have all had issues with communication from the previous administration, but I am hoping you will give these new guys (and gal) a chance. So far, I have found them to not only be sensitive to our unique situations, but they actually listen when I talk about concerns, our families, and things that have happened in our past. (and you guys know I have no problem letting them know my thoughts). 

    I will not get on here and promise that all of our cases will be solved, but I can say, without hesitation, that it is a completely different vibe in that office and so far, I have personally received much better communication from everyone involved. Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Tucker has been particularly kind and quick to respond when I contact her for something. 

    This, in itself, is a huge improvement! 

    There may be a few kinks that he needs to work out, but I really believe he will and I KNOW he is working very hard to get our cases into the right hands. (Remember, new Detectives may find something that others have missed)! 

    You can follow them on Facebook here. They keep the page updated with any alerts you may need to know as well as things that have happened in our community. 

Rules, Laws & Other Info

     It is interesting how people feel about the death penalty. I am for it, always have been, always will be. I know many, many others do not agree and that is fine. I am open to any argument on the subject and have had many. You will not change my mind but I will admit there are some compelling argument's. 

    My perspective was set long before Michael was murdered in 2005. I had a friend send me an email once full of information about those who had suffered horribly from botched executions. My heart will always be for the victim. I do not feel sorry for someone who took the life of another, without remorse, because their execution was painful. Sorry but I do not. 

    Many states have banned executions but thankfully, Ohio has not. 

On another note...

  Marsy's Law has been a blessing for victims of crime. Do you know that of the 27 ratified amendments to the constitution, ZERO were to protect victims? In fact, most are in place to protect the accused. 

    That is just something to think about.

    These are just a few random thoughts. I'll update more info as it comes. 

    This is a great resource for Ohioans if you are unsure about the law Ohio Law and your rights. 

    The Law & You A Legal Handbook is another great resource. 

    Interested in DNA? How it is collected and what is and what is not the benefits. I learned a lot while sitting through a murder trial a few years ago. For example, did you know that if say a shirt is submitted for DNA extraction, that it must be specified exactly where on the shirt you want tested? So.. if you just submit the entire shirt and do not specify, NOTHING will be tested? The point of DNA and rules, etc. are listed on the Justice Department's Website. 

    Another fun fact is that if you want DNA evidence, you must collect it PRIOR to dusting for fingerprints because the chalk used to get fingerprints ruins any chance of collecting DNA from anywhere the dust collects. This explains DNA and how it works well. There are many misconceptions to what DNA actually does, how/if it solves crimes and how it is properly extracted. 

    

Forensic Psychology

     Forensic psychology is an area that I have always been interested in. I wanted to understand why people behave the way they do. Socioeconomic status, upbringing, who you are married to or surround yourself with, your mental processing, beliefs, religion all can factor in on your behavior. As does biology, chemical imbalances or neurological malformations. 

    Criminal behavior can best be explained here. 

    Theories of crime can be explained here.

    What makes someone commit a crime when others would not? How can human beings do the most unspeakable things to each other or animals? Why do some people appear to have no conscious?  How does a parent kill or torture their own children? Serial killers interest me because they are the most difficult to understand. How does someone kill someone again... and again.. and again... ??

    The Center for Crime & Justice Studies states "Although serial killing is statistically rare, it is nonetheless a ubiquitous cultural phenomena, one that for the vast majority of people is best understood as a media event (Gibson, 2006). Serial killers have become an inescapable point of reference in movies, television fiction, novels, true crime books and video games. This global system of mass media – again, a characteristic attribute of modernity – has made many citizens intimately familiar with the dynamics of serial killing and the lives of particularly notorious offenders."

    Anyway you look at it, understanding why someone does what they do deserves some further examination. 

    I will post things here that I believe will be of interest. 

Resources For Victims

 Death Penalty Info by State

FBI America's Most Wanted

Klass Kids Fingerprinting 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

National Sex Offender Registry

Ohio's Unsolved Cold Cases 

Ohio Attorney General's Victim Services

Ohio Victims Rights 

Ohio Human Trafficking Commission

Sexual Violence Prevention

National Suicide Prevention 

National Human Trafficking Task Force

Columbiana County Families of Homicide Victims (CCFHV) 

Resources for Our Veterans

Resources for First Responders

Coping After Homicide

Crime Victims Rights to Attend

Grief After Murder

Human Trafficking Resource for truckers

Scott Peterson May Get A New Trial

His attorney claims there was misconduct from a juror so apparently, he is claiming he did not get a fair trail. 

If you recall, Scott Peterson was convicted of the murder of his wife Laci and unborn son Conner in 2004. He was given the death penalty in 2005, but the sentence was reduced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by the California Supreme Court, which cited "significant errors" in jury selection. 

    I have mixed feelings about this. I watched this entire trial religiously during 2004 and was convinced he was guilty. At the very least, he is a piece of shit, but that doesn't make him guilty of murder. 

   [sidebar] When Michael was murdered, the first call I made was to the Carole Sund Carrington Foundation. They represented Laci's family all during the trial and I had their number etched in my brain. I was very fortunate to speak to a woman named Shelly Streeter whose family was murdered by Cary Stayner at Yosemite National Park and she facilitated getting the first $5000.00 reward money for Michael from their Board of Directors who was directed by, you guessed it, Laci Peterson's Mom. 

 

Scott's sister in law Janie has always maintained his innocence. Scott had impressive attorneys but no one was unable to clear him in the charges and his behavior during the time was went missing on Christmas Eve, 2002, added to the suspicion. 

He is due to go before the judge in June where the judge will determine if he gets a new trial. This should be interesting.