Army Sgt. Maliek Kearney Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison, No Parole for the Premeditated Murder of Estranged Wife Pfc. Karlyn Ramirez (November 30, 2018)

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Sgt. Maliek Kearney, U.S. Army and Pfc. Karlyn Ramirez, U.S. Army

Army soldier Pfc. Karlyn Ramirez, 24, of Fort Meade, Maryland was found shot to death in her home on August 25, 2015 while she lay next to her newborn baby. Karlyn worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) and had a top secret security clearance. Investigators looked to her roommate and her husband as persons of interests. The media speculated that maybe this crime had something to do with her job. The Anne Arundel Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked jointly to solve Karlyn’s homicide. A $20,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. More then a year later on October 6, 2016 Karlyn’s husband Army Sgt. Maliek Kearney and his new girlfriend Army veteran Dolores Delgado were arrested for the murder. In testimony, Sgt. Kearney admitted to shooting Karlyn four times, placing their baby in her dead mother’s arms, and then fleeing the scene leaving a sliding glass door open. Investigators report that the crime was a well thought out and executed plan implemented in an effort to throw homicide detectives off.

Dolores Delgado gave Sgt. Kearney the car, the gun, and gas cans to refuel with so he wouldn’t be caught on any security cameras as he drove from South Carolina to Maryland on August 24th to carry out the murder. Sgt. Kearney returned back to work the next morning at Fort Jackson in South Carolina to establish an alibi. Additional testimony revealed that Karlyn and Sgt. Kearney separated only two weeks after they had been married. They had been married for roughly five weeks when Karlyn was murdered. Karlyn attempted to get a restraining order on Sgt. Kearney just days before the murder after he showed up to her home unannounced in an effort to reconcile with her. After the failed attempt at reconciliation, Sgt. Kearney was hospitalized because he tried to end his life with sleeping pills. Sgt. Kearney was a decorated Army veteran of 15 years who had served tours in Iraq, Pakistan and South Korea. One of Sgt. Kearney’s superiors at Fort Sam Houston testified that he has been “nothing but an exemplary soldier.” A friend reported that he had no idea that Sgt. Kearney and Dolores Delgado were even dating. Sgt. Kearney and Dolores Delgado are being prosecuted by the federal courts because they crossed state lines to execute a murder in another state. The U.S. Magistrate denied bail for Sgt. Kearney and Dolores Delgado and ordered they be transferred to Maryland to await trial. In August 2017, Dolores Delgado plead guilty to helping Sgt. Kearney with the murder of Karlyn Ramirez. On November 30, 2018, Maliek Kearney was sentence to life in federal prison with no parole for premeditated murder.

“He is sick and depraved. Slightly laughable was his compassionate transfer to San Antonio to be close to the child he put in her dead mother’s arms.” -Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka

In the News:

Anne Arundel County police have identified a woman whose body was found at a home in Severn. -WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (August 27, 2015)

Army Mom Murdered in Cold-Blood. -True Crime Daily (March 7, 2016)

Karlyn Ramirez, 24, was killed in her Maryland home. When police found her, she wasn’t alone. But the only living witness can’t say who killed her. -True Crime Daily (March 8, 2016)

24-year-old Karyln Ramirez, an army private stationed at Fort Meade, was found shot to death in her Severn home. Now, more than a year later, authorities make a big break in the investigation. -WJZ (October 10, 2016)

A couple will return to Maryland to face trial in the August 2015 shooting of the man’s wife. -WMAR-2 News (October 19, 2016)

A military mom with top-secret security clearance is gunned down in her Maryland home on August 25, 2015. Who killed 24-year-old mother Karlyn Ramirez, and why? -True Crime Daily (December 15, 2017)

A former girlfriend took the stand Wednesday in the trial of Army Sgt. Maliek Kearney, who is accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife in 2015. Kearney, 37, faces federal charges in the killing of Karlyn Ramirez, of Severn. Delores Delgado struck a plea deal last summer and pleaded guilty to the federal crime of crossing state lines to commit domestic violence that resulted in Ramirez’s death. The plea was in exchange for federal officials not seeking the death penalty. -WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (July 18, 2018)

Trial Underway For Army Sergeant Charged In His Wife’s Killing. -WJZ (July 18, 2018)

The mistress of Army sergeant charged in the death of his estranged wife testified Thursday about the plot to kill the Fort Meade soldier. Dolores Delgado testified she “lied to give him an alibi.” -CBS News (July 20, 2018)

The case against a U.S. Army sergeant who is charged in connection with the fatal shooting of his estranged wife resumed Monday with Delores Delgado back on the witness stand. She is the mistress and co-conspirator of Sgt. Maliek Kearney. -WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (July 30, 2018)

Former Army Sergeant Maliek Kearney has been sentenced to life without parole Friday for the 2015 murder of his wife in Anne Arundel County. -WJZ (November 30, 2018)

A federal judge sentenced Army Sgt. Maliek Kearney to life in prison without possibility of parole plus 10 years, in the 2015 killing of his estranged wife. In August, a federal jury found Kearney guilty in the killing of Karlyn Ramirez. Prosecutors called Kearney a cold-blooded, callous murderer who executed his estranged wife. -WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (November 30, 2018)

Investigation Discovery:

She had top security clearance from the U.S. military and was only 24 when she was found dead at home, her 5-month-old daughter by her side. Who would want Karlyn Ramirez dead and why? -Investigation Discovery (September 20, 2018)

Dateline NBC:

Andrea Canning reports on the homicide of private first class soldier and young mother Karlyn Ramirez. Canning also takes a glimpse into the FBI’s crime lab and an in-depth look at how multiple agencies uncovered a plot that spanned several states and prompted suspicions of espionage. -Dateline NBC (January 9, 2019)

Video Links:
Police identify Severn homicide victim
Woman, 24, Found Murdered in Maryland Home Next to Unharmed Baby
Army Mom Murdered in Cold-Blood – Crime Watch Daily
Female Soldier Found Shot Dead Next to Baby After Panicked Calls – Pt. 1
Female Soldier Found Shot Dead Next to Baby After Panicked Calls – Pt. 2
Fort Meade Murder Arrest
Couple to return to Maryland to face trial in soldier’s death
Dolores Delgado Pleads Guilty to Role in Karlyn Ramirez Murder
Former girlfriend testifies about man’s plot to kill estranged wife
Trial Underway For Army Sergeant Charged In His Wife’s Killing
Second day of testimony for mistress of Army sergeant accused of murder of estranged wife
Testimony: Murder suspect wanted mistress to take responsibility
Former Army Sgt. Who Murdered Wife And Left Baby In Her Arms Sentenced To Life In Prison
Judge calls Kearney dangerous, predatory person
Karlyn Ramirez: Military Murder? | ID Now
Dateline Episode Trailer: The Alibi

People Magazine Investigates Premiered ‘Terror in Philadelphia’ on Investigation Discovery: Air Force SrA Troy Graves Serving Life Sentence for Rape & Homicide (November 12, 2018)

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

ID Go: In 1998, a gifted Philadelphia graduate student is found murdered in her bed. The hunt for her killer forces police to reevaluate a series of unsolved crimes, turning the city upside down. Will her killer be caught or will he strike again? -Terror in Philadelphia, People Magazine Investigates (S3, E2)

Date of Arrest: April 23, 2002
Offender: Troy Graves, 29, US Air Force service member
Victims: Shannon Schieber, 23, University of Pennsylvania student (rape/homicide), multiple rape victims in Pennsylvania & Colorado
Circumstances: Shannon Schieber was enrolled as a Phd. student at the Wharton School of Business, on May 7, 1998, Shannon was studying for exams when a neighbor heard what sounded like cries for help, he called 911 to report that his neighbor was asking for help, the police arrived but no one answered the door and the neighbor backed off his statement, they searched the property and the neighbor said it could have been outside so they left, Shannon’s brother showed up the next day and Shannon didn’t answer the door, the neighbor told her brother what he heard the night before, they broke into the apartment and found Shannon naked on her bed, Shannon was strangled to death and it appeared she tried to fight off her attacker, police found DNA at the scene, DNA ruled out those close to Shannon, Shannon’s parents were outraged that the man who killed their daughter was in the apartment when the police knocked on her door, but the police did their job right and by the book, a few days before the murder, Shannon reported being followed home one night, she was scared, so police started investigating the stranger angle, perhaps this is a serial rapist, they look into sex crimes in the area, they want to match the DNA to other sex crimes in the area, in February 1999, they got a DNA match, 2 other sexual assaults had occurred but they were coded as misdemeanors, the assaults occurred just a few blocks from Shannon’s apartment, in June and July 1997, two more sexual assaults were connected to the offender bringing the total to 5, the PPD coded these sexual assaults as misdemeanors as well, they downgraded the offenses because it lessoned the load for the police, and made the arrest rate look better than it was, Shannon’s case helped enact change in Philadelphia, if they had investigated these cases, everyone would have known there was a serial rapist, Shannon would not be dead if she knew what was going on, the DNA still didn’t have a match to the offender, in 1997, a sketch was drawn from the recollections of the first victim, they got a new composite, this offender would enter the home, hold the victim down on the bed, rape them or make them perform oral sex, it was about control and domination for this guy and he was also somewhat of a romantic, once they acquiesced, he would treat them like a date, he would get comfortable with the victims, they determined he was a light skinned black male based on information he shared with one victim about his life growing up with bi-racial parents, he was dubbed the Center City rapist, in August 1999, no other cases were reported since Shannon’s murder, the case went cold, the police got a bulletin in 2001 from Fort Collins, Colorado, the offenders modus operandi sounded familiar to the Philadelphia PD, on June 13, 2001, one victim was home when she was attacked from behind and raped, after she acquiesced, the rapist became gentle as if he was a boyfriend, after he left, she called 911, she was his third victim in Fort Collins, they were all blitz attacked, FC police were investigating a serial rapist, a fourth & fifth rapes were reported, he made a mistake and left behind a ball cap at the fifth victims home, Fort Collins DNA was matched to the rapes in Philadelphia, PPD gave FCPD the composite drawing, police received a letter in the mail from the suspect, he was taunting them, in the fall of 2001, the attacks in Fort Collins stopped, meanwhile the PPD started focusing on cross referencing names of suspects with the two geographic locations, they got a match for Air Force service member Troy Graves, he was in Philadelphia, Fort Collins, and now at Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 2002, the police had the new suspect in their sites, the police learned that Troy was also investigated by the Office of Special Investigations, it was over charges of harassing a female colleague, the charges were dropped but there was still something suspicious there, Graves has a clean criminal record and no finger prints on file, the case was circumstantial, they reached out to Graves to come to the police department and do an interview, Troy Graves and his wife showed up to the Fort Collins PD, the police immediately separated the couple, his wife admitted that he had insomnia and went for walks and drives at night and that honestly she thought he was having an affair, meanwhile Troy denied knowing anything about the crimes, the police confronted him about the rapes in Fort Collins, he denied being arrested for any sex crimes, he denied being investigated by the Air Force, he did not want to provide his fingerprints but a warrant was issued to compel him, the fingerprints were a match, Troy Graves was arrested and booked into custody, this case changed the PPD policies on sexual assault to include how evidence is handled and how the victims are treated and interviewed
Disposition: Troy Graves feared a trial would not go in his favor in Fort Collins, Colorado, he pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole; Pennsylvania wanted to seek the death penalty but Shannon’s family did not want that because Shannon wouldn’t have wanted that, Graves entered into a plea agreement and got life in prison plus sixty years

Notable Quotes: “We have to change the system but not put people to death.” -Vicki Schieber (Shannon’s mom)

Source: ‘Terror in Philadelphia’ People Magazine Investigates

Shannon Schiebercredit: Courtesy Schieber Family

Shannon Schieber (Photo: People Magazine Investigates)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Fear Thy Neighbor: 21 Veteran Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery (November 5, 2018)

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

Preview: In North Carolina, a retired Vietnam veteran sells off a piece of his land to a young family. No one can predict the modern day Hatfield McCoy neighbor feud that will ensue and the midnight shootout that will end it. -Lies, Lawns & Murder, Fear Thy Neighbor (S1, E1)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Lies, Lawns & Murder’ on Investigation Discovery: Roland Younce was Fatally Shot by Cops After Wounding Four People (April 14, 2014)

ID Go: The Phillips’ family moves to a quiet seafront town in Maine to escape a crime wave in Indiana. But their dream home comes with a not so dreamy ex-military neighbor. A barrage of gunfire between the houses one night shatters both families forever. -Red Picket Fences, Fear Thy Neighbor (S1, E2)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Red Picket Fences’ on Investigation Discovery: Richard Uffelman & 2 Children Executed The Phillips in Small Town Maine (April 21, 2014)

ID Go: In Miami, a young mother has no choice but to shut the door on her warring neighbors as a three-year feud over a patch of land and differing moral standards reaches a bloody and tragic conclusion. -Home’s Where the Hearse Is, Fear Thy Neighbor (S1, E5)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Home’s Where the Hearse Is’ on Investigation Discovery: Baldomero Fernandez Ended a Property Dispute with Fatal Violence (May 12, 2014)

ID Go: An elite California Lakeside Community is rocked to its core when two well-to-do gentlemen go to war over an 18-inch property line discrepancy. One neighbor takes the dispute to new levels when he hires a hitman to permanently solve the problem. -Welcome to Murder Street, Fear Thy Neighbor (S1, E6)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Welcome to Murder Street’ on Investigation Discovery: Bill Weissman Busted in Undercover Murder-for-Hire Sting Operation (May 19, 2014)

Preview: An older man obsessed with his property lines soon learns that his neighbor’s dock is actually on his property, and wants it moved immediately. His neighbors aren’t going to go down without a fight. -Lake of Madness, Fear Thy Neighbors (S2, E2)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Lake of Madness’ on Investigation Discovery: Paul Crawford Executed Family Next Door, Then Killed Himself (April 20, 2015)

Preview: Neighbors go to war when an older man obssesses over the boundary lines of his property and wont let his neighbors anywhere near it. -Driveway of Death, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E3)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Driveway of Death’ on Investigation Discovery: John Kenney Fatally Shot The Grimes Over Shared Driveway Dispute (April 27, 2015)

ID Go: Instead of a brand new start, a man’s move to Canyon Country, California, finds him locked in a bizarre and increasingly acrimonious eight year feud with his neighbor that is finally resolved with blasts from a shotgun. -Good Fences Make Dead Neighbors, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E4)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Good Fences Make Dead Neighbors’ on Investigation Discovery: Paul Tracey Created a Kill Zone & Fatally Shot Anthony Davis (May 4, 2015)

ID Go: Two families in Elyria, Ohio live beside each other in friendship and peace for decades, but as time goes on things deteriorate into acrimony, mutual accusation, violence, and finally a shocking and bloody shoot out. -There Bleeds the Neighborhood, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E5)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘There Bleeds the Neighborhood’ on Investigation Discovery: Paul Hashman Shot Darrell Hoskins 7 Times with Intent to Kill (May 11, 2015)

ID Go: When a freewheeling family moves from California to the buttoned down enclave of Leesburg, Virginia, they quickly get on the wrong side of their neighbour across the way. The conflict escalates until bullets fly and blood flows in the street. -Kill-De-Sac, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E8)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Kill-De-Sac’ on Investigation Discovery: Robert Lorenz Shoots Duren Eldridge, Claims Self-Defense, Acquitted of Murder (June 1, 2015)

ID Go: A couple settles in Josephine County, Oregon, where they learn their new neighbor has a deadly past. Now, as relations sour and tempers flare, blood will be spilled on this land…. -Homeowner Hell, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E11)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Homeowner Hell’ on Investigation Discovery: Donald Easley Killed 2 Property Owners, Kenneth Vaughn & Laron Estes (June 29, 2015)

ID Go: A young couple finds their paradise in a Vancouver, Washington housing development with strict codes of community conduct. But someone forgot to tell their neighbour the rules, and he will resist them at all costs. -Landlord, Death Lord, Fear Thy Neighbor (S2, E12)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Landlord, Death Lord’ on Investigation Discovery: John Kendall Shot at Erich & Abigail Mounce 17 Times With an AK-47 (July 6, 2015)

ID Go: The promise of peaceful life in Tamarac, Florida is broken when the son of a newly arrived family befriends the neighborhood’s most unruly kids. Bad blood between the neighbors boils over until things come to a horrifically violent end on Halloween. -Nail in the Coffin, Fear Thy Neighbor (S3, E1)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Nail in the Coffin’ on Investigation Discovery: Richard Day Used Truck as Murder Weapon, Killed Robert Campbell in Florida (March 30, 2016)

ID Go: In peaceful Alden, New York, siblings who live in neighboring houses get into a conflict when their prodigal brother returns home. Soon, the family is at each other’s throats until their war finally comes to a shocking, fiery end. -Burn Neighbor, Burn, Fear Thy Neighbor (S3, E6)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Burn Neighbor, Burn’ on Investigation Discovery: In Retaliation, Andrew Sindriewicz Burned Down Two Family Homes (May 4, 2016)

ID Go: An argument about access to a disputed road puts two Lompico, California men at each other’s throats. Things progress from intimidation and property damage to a backhoe attack and, finally, one of the most shocking murders the area has ever seen. -Bonfire of Blood, Fear Thy Neighbor (S3, E9)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Bonfire of Blood’ on Investigation Discovery: Escalating Property Dispute Between Walter Stephens & Bob Hall Turns Deadly (May 25, 2016)

ID Go: Two young couples in an Idaho apartment building walk on eggshells around a neighbor who can’t stand the one couple’s music and the other’s dog. Tensions keep rising between all parties until finally hell breaks loose and a violent rampage erupts. -Night of the Machete, Fear Thy Neighbor (S3, E10)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Night of the Machete’ on Investigation Discovery: Veteran Twain Thomas Flipped Out on Camera After VA Cut Off Monthly Benefits (June 7, 2016)

ID Go: A couple who tragically lost their son are thrilled when a family with two boys moves in across the street. But the relationship soon sours, engulfing all of them in conflict, accusation, and finally a deadly shooting. -Hysteria Lane, Fear Thy Neighbor (S4, E3)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Hysteria Lane’ on Investigation Discovery: Ronald Ragland Harassed, Gaslighted & Executed Army Vet Robert Mitchell (April 20, 2017)

Preview: A man finds himself living between hostile neighbors on both sides, including a former marine with severe PTSD. Their campaign of intimidation ramps up to the point of no return, ending with a deadly confrontation on the street outside their homes. -Monkey in the Middle, Fear Thy Neighbor (S4, E8)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Monkey in the Middle’ on Investigation Discovery: Spencer Newcomer Found Not Guilty of Murder, Claimed Self-Defense (May 25, 2017)

ID Go: Two neighboring bachelors start out as friends. Harmless banter turns into threats eventually igniting an escalating war. The violence ends with a murder so shocking it is almost beyond belief. -Head in the Oven, Fear Thy Neighbor (S5, E3)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Head in the Oven’ on Investigation Discovery: Ex-Marine William Perry Stopped Taking Meds, Unraveled & Murdered Brett Smith (June 16, 2018)

ID Go: Two women living next to each other since childhood descend into bitter conflict when the ex husband of one starts seeing the other. Add property issues to this toxic mix and the result is an act of shocking violence that engulfs all. -Mistress of Death, Fear Thy Neighbor (S5, E6)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Mistress of Death’ on Investigation Discovery: Linda Cowan Convinced Son Vinson Thomas-Ward Cowan to Kill Woman Next Door (July 7, 2018)

ID Go: A couple from Michigan realizes a long held dream when they relocate to Florida, but their life in the sun is destroyed when they get into a fatal conflict with their neighbor. -This Bullet’s for You, Fear Thy Neighbor (S5, E7)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘This Bullet’s For You’ on Investigation Discovery: Bruce Schunk Entered Keith Lewandowski’s Florida Home & Executed Him (July 14, 2018)

ID Go: A man who is meticulous about his lawn runs into conflict with a new neighbor who doesn’t have the same priorities. The feud between the two men viciously escalates, ultimately ending in an episode of shocking violence. -Dead Men Tell No Tales, Fear Thy Neighbor (S5, E9)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ on Investigation Discovery: Mark Tatum Ambushed Neighbor David Allen in Louisville, Kentucky Home (July 28, 2018)

Investigation Discovery Published ‘The Missing Pieces: The Staircase’: The True Crime Story of Michael & Kathleen Peterson (June 18, 2018)

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Jennifer Norris

In 2001, Kathleen Peterson’s body was found at the foot of a staircase in her home. The Missing Pieces looks at the nagging questions surrounding her death, dissecting a frantic 911 call, a potentially killer owl, and a blood-soaked stairwell. -The Staircase, Investigation Discovery

A Month in Review: In the News on Military Justice for All (November 2017)

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

Missing:
Lackland Air Force Base Nurse Nonnie Dotson Mysteriously Disappeared, Last Seen November 19th, 2006 in Littleton, Colorado While on Leave
Disappeared: Disabled Army Veteran Joseph Weber IV Missing from San Francisco, California Since November 24, 2014

Cold Cases:
Sneak peek: A Brother’s Mission
Murder still unsolved after 10 years
Murder remains unsolved 20 years later
CID Offers $25,000 Reward in Afghanistan Murder
Looking Back: Women’s Army Corp officer found slain near 12th, Grange in 1943

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ACTIVE DUTY

Stateside Deaths:
Fort Stewart soldier injured during live-fire exercise
Soldier killed over weekend in Texas car crash
One Air Force pilot dead, another injured after plane crash in Texas
Fort Carson soldier identified as snowboarder who died at Monarch Ski Area
Airman Found Dead Near Blacks Creek Reservoir
Report: CID agent who died by suicide resisted seeking help
Suicide suspected in death of airman stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base
Midshipman found dead at Prince George’s shooting range
Sailor found dead in a Virginia Beach hotel day before she was to report for duty
Military intelligence Airman found dead in work area at Fort Gordon
Body found in bay confirmed to be missing Navy sailor
Officials investigating Thanksgiving Day death of Fort Bragg soldier
Sailor found dead on USS John C. Stennis in Washington state
Authorities investigate after airman found dead at Altus Air Force Base
Sycamore Twp. father suing Pentagon, says son deserves Purple Heart
Veteran Who Killed Himself Amid UC Davis Scandal Discriminated Against For Service, Lawsuit Claims

Overseas Deaths:
US Navy Plane with 11 Aboard Crashes Into Pacific; 8 Found Alive
Navy Releases Names Of 3 Sailors Killed In Crash Off Japan
Army report blames ‘human factors’ for deadly Apache crash in 2015
Fort Bliss soldier dies in Iraq in noncombat incident
Army sergeant from Brooklyn dies at Iraq border base
Riverside soldier’s death while deployed in Iraq is under investigation
Additional remains of soldier killed in Niger found as US investigates ambush
Did US soldiers caught in Niger ambush fall into enemy hands?
Family Of Ranger Killed By Friendly Fire In Afghanistan ‘Completely At Peace’
Horror as US Air Force woman killed in early morning car crash close to RAF Lakenheath
Army investigating after soldier found dead by Landstuhl train tracks Oct. 9
The probe into whether SEAL Team 6 commandos killed an American soldier in Mali, explained

Homicide Cases:
Reality TV star killed Coast Guard member in DWI wreck, police say
Slain Westchester soldier remembered as a loving family man and a ‘corn-fed giant’
Determining what Happened to Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar
Judge refuses to release triple-murder suspect with strong military record
Sailor accused of murder at Navy party shot in self-defense, lawyer says
Police have ‘person of interest’ in Marine’s shooting death
Warrant officer accused of murder pleads not guilty
Former Marine who served time for killing man steps down from school board post
Former NASA employee gets 20 years in Gladstone slaying

Sex Crimes Cases:
Fort Eustis soldier arrested in rape case from 2009
Army medic charged with raping, killing 9-month-old daughter
Navy officer disputes attempted rape charge with ’bizarre’ defense
USAF master sergeant given six months for having sex with same child as a youth pastor
Air Force physical therapist convicted of possessing child porn, sentenced to confinement
Navy man investigated for child porn; photos possibly taken at San Diego home
Air Force Academy Informants Are at Center of Child Porn Case
Disgraced Marine charged with sex crimes involving minors

Other Crime Cases:
Marine military policeman arrested on strangling charge

Absent Without Leave (AWOL) Cases:
Love triangle led to murder of transsexual model Diane Delia

Military Explosives:

Wrongly Convicted:

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NATIONAL GUARD

Administrative:

Sex Crimes Cases:
Kansas Army Guard ignores warning signs of flight surgeon’s sexual misconduct

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VETERANS

Deaths:

Homicide Cases:
Convicted murderer attended Bergdahl’s sentencing hearing: report
Air Force retiree from Beaver County, wife among dead in Texas church massacre
Acquitted in 2010 murder, man goes to jail for attacking Columbus police officer
Coroner Identifies Remains of Missing Retired Army Veteran Found in Southern California Desert
Deaths of couple found in Otay Mesa West home ruled murder-suicide
Death of retired Killeen teacher still under investigation
Family pleads for help after Army veteran slain while helping stranger
Army veteran charged with killing man over drugs near Baldwin Park
Evidence suppression hearing set for Dec. 4 in Luc Tieman murder case
Manson family victim Jay Sebring honed hair-styling skills while in the Navy
Lee Harvey Oswald: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Army vet and former Minn. legislative aide charged in fatal shooting of his student girlfriend
Funeral services set for slain detective
Atheist Activist Kills Wife and Himself in “Suspected Murder-Suicide”
DPS Trooper killed, suspect arrested
Kidnapped Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek worker died of ‘undetermined trauma’
CVS murder case scheduled for 5-day trial in March
Son of Couple Found Dead in Murder-Suicide Speaks
Snapped: After the Verdict – Karen Sanchez
Woman’s sentence reduced in husband’s murder

Other Crime Cases:
Oxford County investigating Sheriff Wayne Gallant

Veterans Affairs Issues:

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Mental Health:

*************************************************

MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM

Felony Crime:
Local victim of military sexual assault speaks out
Victims of sex assaults in military are mostly men

International Incidents:
No lawyer for detained American accused of fighting with ISIS
Okinawa-based Marines charged with credit-card fraud by Tokyo police
Vandals strike vehicles, homes affiliated with the US military on Okinawa
Ex-US military base worker who raped and murdered a 20-year-old woman jailed for life in Japan
Prosecutor seeks to investigate Afghan war crimes allegations – and claims of US torture
U.S. military in Japan banned from alcohol after 21-year-old Marine arrested for fatal crash

Accountability:
Air Force: Fired commander tried to hide relationship with enlisted airman

Other Injustices:

Military Policy:
Texas mass shooting highlights failings of military justice
Number Of US Troops Killed In Plane Crashes Jumps In 2017
Pentagon IG: Military failed to report 31 percent of convictions that should bar gun ownership

*************************************************

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Publications:
Prosecutor: Navy Petty Officer Rebecca Braswell Considered a Pure Sociopath
Joseph Snodgrass, US Air Force, Hired Hitmen to Murder Wife Julie at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines for the $400,000 Life Insurance Payout (1991)
Phonthip Ott Discovered Dead in California River; Spouse Dennis Ott, US Coast Guard, Convicted of Murder and Sentenced to Life in Prison (1992)
Dishonorably Discharged Marine & Fugitive David Bieber Guilty of Murdering Police Officer in Great Britain, Charged with Two Murder for Hire Schemes in Florida (1995)
Army Staff Sgt Paul Norris Shot Spc Kamisha Block Five Times in Iraq, Then Killed Self (2007)
Disabled WWII Army Veteran Richard Englander Murdered by Live-In Caregiver Sara Moore in New York 5 Days After Move In Date, Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison (2014)
A1C Rhianda Dillard, US Air Force, Found Dead in Offutt AFB Dorm Room; Airman Timothy Wilsey Charged with Desertion and Pre-Meditated Murder (2016)
SSgt Steven Williams, US Air Force, Pleaded No Contest to the Second Degree Murder of his USAF Veteran Ex-Wife Tricia Todd in Florida (2016)
Army Reserve Veteran Micah Johnson Murdered Five Dallas Police Officers During Black Lives Matter Protest in Texas (2016)

On This Day:
Lt Verle Lee Hartley, US Navy, Died of Arsenic Poisoning in 1982, NCIS Cold Case Squad Solved Murder 13 Years Later, Wife Pamela Plead Guilty (November 18, 1982)
Army Reservist & Drexel University Security Guard David Dickson Murdered Student Deborah Wilson & Stole Her Sneakers, Sentenced to Life in Prison (November 30,1984)
Fort Carson Army Soldier Christopher Walton Shot Outside Night Club in Colorado Springs; Leroy Davis Sentenced to 20 Years in Leavenworth by Military Courts (November 21, 1991)
Army Spouse Melinda Stewart, Army Sgt. Daniel Stewart, Jill Yousaf & Army Soldier James Catlin Conspired and Murdered Homeless Colorado Teen Maggie Fetty (November 30, 1991)
SSG Jeannette Dunn, US Army, Died of a Non Combat Related Injury in Taji, Iraq (November 26, 2006)
Spc Christine Ndururi, US Army, Died of Non Combat Related Illness at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (November 6, 2007)
Retired Marine Brian Brimager Pleaded Guilty to the Second Degree Murder of Yvonne Baldelli in Panama; Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison (November 27, 2011)
Air Force Major Melissa Birtzer Found Dead at Eglin Air Force Base Range, No Foul Play Suspected (November 20, 2012)
Army Veteran Patricia MacCallum Murdered Husband Christopher for the Children, Social Security Benefits, and Life Insurance; Sentenced to Fifty Years in Oregon Prison (November 20, 2012)
Miranda Nichols, US Army, Shot & Killed by Army Boyfriend Samuel Tellu in an Apparent Domestic Dispute, Tellu Found Dead in Vehicle (November 24, 2012)
Army Veteran Tomas Young Dies at 34; Shot & Paralyzed on Black Sunday in 2004 on Peace Keeping Mission with Fort Hood in Sadr City, Iraq (November 10, 2014)
Army Staff Sgt. Kevin McEnroe Died of Wounds Sustained When Team’s Convoy Came Under Fire Entering Jordan Military Base (November 4, 2016)
Army Staff Sgt. James Moriarty Died of Wounds Sustained When Team’s Convoy Came Under Fire Entering Jordan Military Base (November 4, 2016)
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Lewellen Died of Wounds Sustained When Team’s Convoy Came Under Fire Entering Jordan Military Base (November 4, 2016)
Army Specialist Ronald Murray Jr. Died of a Non-Combat Related Incident in Kuwait Supporting Operation Inherent Resolve (November 10, 2016)
Fort Hood Infantryman Pvt. Kevin Paulino, US Army, Died of Gunshot Wound in Peru, Indiana; Police Confirm Suicide (November 16, 2016)
Army Infantryman Sgt. 1st Class Grant Shanaman of Fort Bragg, North Carolina Found Dead in Off Post Residence (November 16, 2016)
Army Pfc. David Winchester Found Dead in Barracks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (November 16, 2016)

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Featured in Television Episode, Movie, Documentary, Theatre:
Snapped: Preview – Keanna Barnes
Snapped: Sneak Peek – Did Michelle Do It?
The 7 best military stories from the glory days of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’
Maura Murray was Probably Murdered: “She Got Into a Car with Somebody and was Met with Foul Play”

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MISCELLANEOUS
Soldier who survived crash, being run over by bus: ‘God was over me’

48 Hours Premiered ‘A Brother’s Mission’ on CBS: Claudia Hoerig Stands Accused of Gunning Down Husband Karl & Fleeing to Brazil (November 25, 2017)

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Jennifer Norris

48 Hours:

After “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty tracks down the accused killer of a decorated military pilot in Brazil, the woman is extradited to the United States . Will the pilot’s family get justice?

To get justice for his death, Karl Hoerig’s family in the United States must first navigate the Brazilian criminal justice system, which may keep his suspected murderer from facing extradition. -48 Hours

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio, 13th District) has appealed to three U.S. Presidents to try and help Major Karl Hoerig’s family get justice for the U.S. Air Force veteran’s murder. “48 Hours” Erin Moriarty talks to the congressman about his push to have Claudia Hoerig extradited to the United States to stand trial. -48 Hours

In The News:

The family of a murdered military hero is embroiled in an international fight for justice. Karl Hoerig was killed in his Ohio home in March 2007. His family immediately suspected his wife, Claudia, but she boarded a flight to her native Brazil hours after her husband’s death. U.S. investigators charged Claudia with murder, but more than 10 years later, the Hoerig family is still seeking justice. -CBS This Morning (November 24, 2017)

A military hero found shot to death in his home in Ohio and his wife abruptly returns to her native Brazil. Now his brother is on a mission to track down a suspected killer. -CBS New York (November 24, 2017)

48 Hours reporter explains what Claudia Hoerig’s been doing in Brazil -WKBN27 (January 18, 2018)

More than 11 years have passed as the family of Karl Hoerig waited for his accused killer to be brought to justice. -WKBN27 (January 18, 2018)

A Brazilian fugitive accused of murdering her husband is back on U.S. soil to face justice, thanks in part to “48 Hours.” Karl Hoerig was a major in the Air Force reserve. He was shot and killed in his own home in March 2007. The main suspect was his wife, but she flew back to her native Brazil shortly after Hoerig’s death. -CBS This Morning (January 23, 2018)

Honoring the victim: Karl Hoerig, US Air Force Reserve

Former Twentynine Palms Marine Christopher Lee Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for the Murder of Erin Corwin in the Joshua Tree National Park, California (November 29, 2016)

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Jennifer Norris

Christopher Lee, U.S. Marine Corps, and Erin Corwin

Marine Corps spouse Erin Corwin, 19, was reported missing on June 29, 2014 by her husband who was stationed at Camp Pendleton near Twentynine Palms in California. After an extensive investigation and search, Erin’s body was found in an abandoned mine shaft on August 16th, 2014. During the investigation, authorities learned that Erin was having an affair with another Marine. This Marine was identified as Christopher Lee, 29, who was arrested in Alaska after Erin’s body was recovered from the mine shaft. Christopher admitted that he killed Erin but said it was because he became angry after she confessed to molesting his daughter.

The prosecution theorized he killed her to silence her and hide the pregnancy from his wife. He tricked her into believing that he was going to propose to her and instead he approached Erin from behind and strangled her for at least five minutes with a garrote made up of two pieces of rebar and a cord. After Lee was satisfied Erin was dead, he dragged her body to a mine shaft in the desert and pushed her in head first. Christopher Lee was found guilty of first-degree murder by civilian authorities and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the News:

Investigators are searching for the beautiful, pregnant wife of a U.S. marine corporal who was last seen over a week ago. 19-year-old Erin Corwin was reportedly last seen leaving her Twentynine Palms, CA home around 7 a.m. on June 28 to go to nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband of a year and a half Jonathan reported her missing the next day. Days after she disappeared, Erin’s mother Lore Heavilin found out that her daughter was about 3 months pregnant. -HLN (July 7, 2014)

An eyewitness spoke out Wednesday, describing the last time he saw the pregnant Marine wife who’s been missing for more than two weeks.Michael Beasley said he saw Erin Corwin get into a red car with another man and drive away. He added that it didn’t appear she was being forced into the car in any way.Corwin was last seen on June 28 leaving a home she shares with her husband, headed to Joshua Tree National Park. Her husband, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, reported her missing a day later when she never returned. -HLN (July 16, 2014)

According to a new search warrant affidavit released this week, homicide detectives now believe that — on the day she vanished — missing Marine wife Erin Corwin went on a day trip with a neighbor and ex-Marine whom she was romantically involved with. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

New police documents reveal Erin Corwin was having an affair with her married neighbor and told her friend the two were spending the day together when she went missing. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

Erin Corwin was last seen leaving her home on June 28, and was reportedly heading to Joshua Tree National Park. -HLN (July 22, 2014)

Following the discovery of Erin Corwin’s remains, friends and family father to honor her memory and begin healing. -WATE 6 On Your Side (September 19, 2014)

Part 1: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

Part 2: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

Part 3: Erin Corwin vanished after having a miscarriage and growing distant from her husband. She was allegedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance. -Crime Watch Daily (May 3, 2017)

Dateline (NBC):

When the 19-year old wife of a Marine vanishes without a trace in the California desert, investigators launch a massive search. They soon uncover a secret love triangle and a mystery with multiple suspects. -The Last Day, Dateline (December 1, 2016)

48 Hours (CBS):

Tonight’s episode of “48 Hours: NCIS” takes you inside the real-life investigation of a 19-year-old Marine wife who vanished in the desert. “The Marine’s Wife” uncovers the story of Erin Corwin and her disappearance. – CBS News (June 12, 2018)

MJFA Links:
Erin Corwin Reported Missing in California; Former Twentynine Palms Marine Christopher Lee Convicted of Pre-Meditated Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole (June 29, 2014)
Dateline NBC Premiered ‘The Last Day’: Twentynine Palms Marine Christopher Lee Lured Erin Corwin to the Joshua Tree National Park Under False Pretenses to Kill Her (December 2, 2016)
48 Hours NCIS Premiered ‘The Marine’s Wife’: Christopher Lee Strangled Erin Corwin After Finding Out She May Be Pregnant With His Child, Disposed of Body in a Mine Shaft (June 12, 2018)

Video Links:
Erin Corwin – pregnant woman missing in California
Car of missing pregnant woman found; search continues
Young pregnant military wife vanishes
Missing pregnant wife seen with mystery man?
Cops: Missing Marine wife was having an affair
Was missing marine wife living a double life?
Missing marine wife: Search warrants issued
Erin Corwin had affair with Christopher Brandon Lee, affidavit reveals
Marine’s pregnant wife missing from California
Man accused of killing Marine wife arrested
Erin Corwin’s body found – Christopher Brandon Lee arrested
Erin Corwin candlelight vigil
Chattanooga Update – August 19, 2014
Corwin Murder Trial
Marine’s Wife Vanishes After Affair – Crime Watch Daily With Chris Hansen (Pt 1)
Marine’s Wife Vanishes After Affair – Crime Watch Daily With Chris Hansen (Pt 2)
Marine’s Wife Vanishes After Affair – Crime Watch Daily With Chris Hansen (Pt 3)
“48 Hours: NCIS” sneak peek: The Marine’s Wife
“48 Hours: NCIS”: The Marine’s Wife |S30 E93 (website)
“48 Hours: NCIS”: Investigating the disappearance of 19-year-old Marine wife
Search for missing Marine wife ‘like finding a needle in a thousand haystacks’
Dateline Premiered ‘The Last Day’ on NBC: Erin Corwin & Christopher Lee (12/2/16)
Dateline Episode Trailer: The Last Day | Dateline NBC
The Last Day | Dateline | NBC (Full Episode)

Pvt. Wanya Bruns Died by Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Nine Months After Joining Army; One of Many in 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas (2016)

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Jennifer Norris

Pvt. Wanya Bruns, US Army

Army soldier Pvt. Wanya Bruns, 20, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Killeen, Texas on November 26, 2016. Pvt. Bruns’ home of record is listed as Bellwood, Illinois and he joined the Army in February 2016. Pvt. Bruns was a cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in Texas. At the time of the report, the Killeen Police Department investigated the circumstances of Bruns’ death and their findings indicated the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. In effect, Pvt. Bruns committed suicide nine months after joining the Army; five months after getting to Fort Hood. The following comment on MJFA under Spc. Zachary Moore’s story begs the question: Why Are Army Soldiers at Fort Hood Dying at Alarming Rates Stateside?

Comment left on MJFA on 1/18/18

In Memory of Keonte Griggs & Wanya Bruns. Rest In Heaven. The Brothers

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Love Leaves Town’ on Investigation Discovery: Katrina Bridges Shot Her Sleeping Boyfriend Chris Ingraham for the Life Insurance (November 25, 2016)

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Jennifer Norris

ID Go: With hearts of stone, these Deadly Women give their men special send-offs when “Love Leaves Town.” A young mom prefers her vices to her boyfriend. -Love Leaves Town, Deadly Women (S10, E12)

In 1999, 18-year-old Katrina Bridges and 21-year-old Chris Ingraham were head over heels in love. Chris was the all American guy and he was in the U.S. Navy. He was the guy everybody loved to be around. It was a magical time for both of them that is until Katrina found out she was pregnant only three months after they began dating. Chris didn’t run away, he wanted to do the right thing, and he wanted to be a dad. Chris agreed to move to Maine from New York so Katrina could be close to her family. Chris needed to provide for the family so he got a job at the local Naval base as a clerk. Chris recognized he had a family and he was going to take care of them. The young couple had a supportive family including Katrina’s grandmother. But there’s something no one knew…Katrina had a serious problem. Cute little Katrina didn’t care who she took money from. And if she could steal from her own grandmother, she was capable of anything. Stealing was a bad habit Katrina had been doing for years. She stole from her school and family members in the past. Money was the object for her.

Katrina not only stole from friends and family but also the State of Maine. She received welfare benefits because she said there was no other income coming into the family even though Chris had a job. According to former FBI profiler Candice DeLong, compulsive thievery can be a sign of psychopathy and Katrina was a psychopath. DeLong explained that psychopaths steal because it makes them feel good, it’s a thrill, and they think they pulled one over on someone. The higher the risk, the more fun it is for them. And every time they get away with it, that buys them more time to steal something bigger and more valuable. Katrina’s life was all lies and she was a fraud. But one day, Katrina’s thieving ways were discovered. Her grandmother reported that some checks were missing and discovered Katrina had forged some checks and tried to cash them. Chris was appalled and when he confronted her, Katrina denied it. Chris reminded her that she stole from him, she stole from family, and he had enough.

Chris Ingraham didn’t know what to do; it was about money and trust. He was nervous about her raising their son because of some of the trust issues. He told Katrina that if she didn’t get professional help, he was leaving and taking their son with him. Chris gave her an ultimatum and this was most likely Katrina’s breaking point. Then one day, they got a knock at the door. It was a door-to-door life insurance salesman and this gave Katrina another option. When Chris got a life insurance policy for $15,000 that paid double indemnity in the event of an accident, Katrina saw a mountain of gold. So now there was a lot of money at stake. In Jonesboro, Maine on January 2, 2001, Katrina Bridges staged a robbery in her own home. Again, she was looking for money and she took some of Chris’ video games and sold them for a few dollars a piece. She called Chris at work and told him they had been burglarized. She told him they stole his shot gun and his video games. He told her to call the police…but she never did.

When Chris got home, he discovered that the shot gun was still there, no jewelry was missing, but the playstation games were gone. He knew that no one had broken into their home. He figured out that she took his games and sold them. He confronted Katrina and again she denied it. He told her he was done with her and the situation. The stage was set. Now Katrina had Chris exactly where she wanted him: defenseless and sound asleep. She didn’t have to go through with the murder but psychopaths are cool, calm and collected even when committing the most serious of crimes. She had no problem committing the murder, no guilt, no remorse, only nerves of steel. Katrina went into the marital bedroom and shot Chris once in the head while he lay asleep but the one shot didn’t kill Chris. Katrina attempted to shoot him a second time but the gun wasn’t working properly. So she just left him struggling for his life, took the child, and left the home. Now she needed to create an alibi. Katrina cut her hair and went to her mother’s house. She told her mother she was kidnapped by Canadian drug dealers.

Katrina Bridges, Jonesboro, Maine

Katrina said Canadian drug dealers broke into her house so she fled but was worried about what may have happened to Chris. The only reason for Katrina to cut her hair was to get rid of any blood smears or powder burns or powder soot that may have come from the gun when she fired it. Some ten hours after the shooting, Katrina finally went to the police. The police immediately went to the house to check on Chris and he was still alive and taken to the hospital; 24 hours later he died. Katrina told the cops there were two intruders and one of them raped Chris but the cops didn’t believe her story. Once Katrina realized her first story wasn’t believable, she changed her story and said Chris was depressed and he wanted them both to commit suicide. Now it was suddenly a murder-suicide pact. The police asked Katrina who pulled the trigger. Katrina said Chris wanted to commit suicide but he didn’t have the guts to do it himself and asked Katrina to do it. She put the gun to his head, she said she thought the safety was on, but then she pulled the trigger and the gun went off.

The cops arrested her on the spot because of her implausible stories and a history of lies, robbery, and Chris’ life insurance policy. It all pointed to her guilt. In 2003, Katrina Bridges was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to forty-seven (47) years in prison. Profiler DeLong summarized, “Katrina Bridges was cute, she was a pretty one, but she was pretty poison.” For Katrina, it wasn’t about the money, the lies and the thieving were fun. There were no indications Katrina had a drug problem, so what was she doing with the money? She didn’t need the money, she did it because it was fun but the consequences for those around her were devastating. Katrina Bridges was calculating, manipulative, secretive, and devious…and she’s right where she belongs.

Source: ‘Love Leaves Town’ Deadly Women

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Bonfire of Blood’ on Investigation Discovery: Escalating Property Dispute Between Walter Stephens & Bob Hall Turns Deadly (May 25, 2016)

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Jennifer Norris

Coast Guard veteran Walter Stephens shot and killed Bob Hall in Lompico, California on November 20, 1998. After killing Bob, Walt burned and attempted to hide his body in a bonfire on his property. Bob’s co-workers grew concerned when Bob didn’t show up for his retirement party at work. They called the police and asked them to do a welfare check on Bob. In the course of the investigation, police learned from family members that if anything happened to Bob, they needed to talk to his neighbor Walter Stephens. Bob and Walter had been in a long standing neighborhood feud with one another over a property issue. When police went to visit Walter at his home, they found him tending a large fire. They questioned Walter about Bob’s disappearance but he denied having any knowledge or information useful to the missing persons investigation. Upon closer examination of the bonfire, the police observed what appeared to be human remains in the fire. Walter admitted to killing Bob and he was arrested.

Fellow neighbors always thought it would be the other way around, that Bob would kill Walter. Some believe Walter finally snapped. Bob’s family believed it was first degree murder. Facing a possible death sentence, Walter pleaded self-defense but the prosecutors believed otherwise after the forensic evidence was examined. Walter said he thought Bob had a weapon when he approached him late one night on his property but his gun told another story. Walter pistol whipped Bob with his gun and then shot him while he was helpless and down on the ground. Prosecutors argued it wasn’t self-defense, it was straight up murder. They believed Walter started that confrontation with Bob that night with the intent to kill. Walter Stephens was found guilty and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for second degree murder. He got 14 years for the murder and another 25 years for use of weapon. Bob’s bones were burned and mostly disintegrated and his body was not recognizable. Detectives believe that had the police not discovered Bob’s remains in the fire, Walter Stephens may have got away with it.

Source: ‘Bonfire of Blood’ Fear Thy Neighbor

MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

No affiliation with the Department of Defense or any of the Armed Forces.

Tag Archives: November

Army Sgt. Maliek Kearney Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison, No Parole for the Premeditated Murder of Estranged Wife Pfc. Karlyn Ramirez (November 30, 2018)

People Magazine Investigates Premiered ‘Terror in Philadelphia’ on Investigation Discovery: Air Force SrA Troy Graves Serving Life Sentence for Rape & Homicide (November 12, 2018)

Fear Thy Neighbor: 21 Veteran Cases Featured on Investigation Discovery (November 5, 2018)

Investigation Discovery Published ‘The Missing Pieces: The Staircase’: The True Crime Story of Michael & Kathleen Peterson (June 18, 2018)

A Month in Review: In the News on Military Justice for All (November 2017)

48 Hours Premiered ‘A Brother’s Mission’ on CBS: Claudia Hoerig Stands Accused of Gunning Down Husband Karl & Fleeing to Brazil (November 25, 2017)

Former Twentynine Palms Marine Christopher Lee Sentenced to Life in Prison, No Parole for the Murder of Erin Corwin in the Joshua Tree National Park, California (November 29, 2016)

Pvt. Wanya Bruns Died by Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Nine Months After Joining Army; One of Many in 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas (2016)

Deadly Women Premiered ‘Love Leaves Town’ on Investigation Discovery: Katrina Bridges Shot Her Sleeping Boyfriend Chris Ingraham for the Life Insurance (November 25, 2016)

Fear Thy Neighbor Premiered ‘Bonfire of Blood’ on Investigation Discovery: Escalating Property Dispute Between Walter Stephens & Bob Hall Turns Deadly (May 25, 2016)