California News

Caregiver charged with murder of disabled man in Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

A 41-year-old caregiver has been arrested for allegedly killing a 59-year-old man who suffered from cerebral palsy. Richard McClintic was reported missing after family members lost contact with him on October 25.

On November 6, police executed a search warrant at McClintic’s apartment on San Juan Road and discovered his body. Christina Cowens faces multiple charges including unlawful disposal of human remains and grand theft, with additional charges for homicide being added after an autopsy.

McClintic’s nephew expressed concern over his uncle’s well-being after noticing irregular communications from his Facebook account. The family attempted to visit McClintic but were denied entry by Cowens.

Fearing for the safety of their loved one, the family contacted law enforcement, who initially began investigating McClintic’s disappearance. Cowens had been entrusted with McClintic’s care for several years, but relatives grew increasingly suspicious of her.

Cowens is scheduled to appear in court on November 24.

Man stabs elderly couple in California home invasion

Murrieta, CA A 36-year-old man has been charged with homicide and attempted homicide following an attack on an elderly couple in their home. Manuel Alvarez is accused of entering the residence early Wednesday morning and attacking both victims.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., the couple was violently confronted with the husband, aged 70, being stabbed with a knife. The wife suffered serious injuries after being stabbed in the head with a screwdriver.

The woman called 911, reporting that she feared for her husband’s life. She described the suspect as a man with a beard and mustache, wearing black clothing and barefoot.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and rendered assistance to the woman, who was later taken to the hospital in stable condition. The husband was pronounced dead at the scene.

A search for the suspect began shortly after the attack. Just before 9 a.m., officers located Alvarez hiding in a nearby ravine, where he refused commands to come out.

A police K-9 was deployed and successfully apprehended Alvarez. He was treated for injuries sustained during the arrest before being booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center.

Neighbors expressed shock over the violence, noting that the area is usually quiet. Reports indicate Alvarez had not been medically cleared to appear in court as of Friday.

Detectives are investigating the case and believe the attack was random in nature, stemming from an unlocked door. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed.

Los Angeles County employees charged with stealing over $430,000 in unemployment benefits

LOS ANGELES, CA – Thirteen employees in Los Angeles County face felony charges for allegedly stealing a total of $437,383 in state unemployment benefits from 2020 to 2023. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has ordered these arrests as part of an ongoing investigation into fraud.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman addressed the situation, stating, “When a civil servant steals from the government, that trust is broken.” He noted the gravity of the fraud, emphasizing that the defendants claimed unemployment benefits during a public health emergency when many Californians legitimately needed assistance.

Each of the charged employees faces one felony count of grand theft along with a misdemeanor offense. They reportedly submitted fraudulent claims to the California Employment Development Department while continuing to receive paychecks from the county.

The fraudulent claims involved asserting they earned less than $600 per week during two-week claim periods while their actual earnings exceeded that limit. “Public service is a public trust,” said Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez, adding that most county employees serve the public with integrity.

The cases against these employees were filed on October 9 and 10. Alm Agamalian is accused of stealing $37,800 between October 2020 and March 2023. Other individuals face similar accusations, with some scheduled for arraignment on dates throughout November.

If convicted, each defendant could receive up to three years in state prison. The cases remain under the scrutiny of the Los Angeles County Department of Auditor-Controller, Office of County Investigations.

The ongoing investigation has revealed that the county faced losses exceeding $3.75 million due to fraud linked to pandemic unemployment insurance. The public is being encouraged to report any known fraud involving county employees.

Thirteen county employees are behind bars for testing their luck on pandemic unemployment funds.