Police Blotter

Harrisburg boy finds mother fatally stabbed by stepfather at home

Harrisburg, PA A 13-year-old boy discovered his mother dead on the bathroom floor after returning home from school. Violette Pierre, 31, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Rocheny Clerge, who subsequently attempted suicide.

Pierre was found lying beneath Clerge’s body on Monday. Clerge was covered in blood and had inflicted a severe laceration on his neck.

The boy ran to a neighbor’s house for help, which prompted a 911 call. He informed police that there were frequent arguments between his parents and that he had left for school following a dispute that morning.

Clerge was rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Home security footage captured the moments leading up to the crime, revealing the boy leaving for school at 8:30 a.m. and returning later in the afternoon.

The investigation indicated that Clerge was responsible for Pierre’s death. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime.

Clerge remains detained without bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 23.

Couple sentenced after twins suffer severe malnutrition

Bristol Township, PA

A couple has been sentenced for neglecting their newborn twins, leading to severe malnutrition. Courtney Soyka, 33, was sentenced to between 364 days and 729 days in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of child endangerment.

Marcus Maddela, 45, received a sentence of 8 to 23 months after also pleading guilty to similar charges. The twins were born two months premature in October.

Each child missed four crucial follow-up appointments after being released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When brought back to the hospital on December 11, the twins were found dangerously malnourished, falling below the first percentile for their age.

The twin that weighed 4.16 pounds at birth had gained only 1.62 pounds while the other gained 1.3 pounds. Following their readmission, they were transferred to St. Christopher’s Hospital and showed immediate improvement under medical care.

Doctors indicated that insufficient caloric intake at home was a primary cause of their malnourishment. The current status of the twins is unknown.

Man sentenced to 18 years for killing estranged wife in Clovis shooting

Clovis, CA

Antonio Saldana Jr. was sentenced to 18 years to life on Thursday for the murder of his estranged wife, Lisa Saldana, 33. This sentencing comes after a plea deal agreed upon in October with prosecutors from the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

On the night of the shooting in September 2021, Antonio Saldana shot Lisa in the backyard of their Clovis home while their five children were inside. His defense challenged the circumstances leading up to the shooting but did not contest culpability.

During the hearing, Saldana appeared visibly affected as he accepted his fate. Judge William Terrence cited the loss experienced by the community and family, stating they lost a mother and friend to gun violence.

Lisa’s daughter spoke at the sentencing, expressing deep pain and animosity toward her father. She described him as a “shell of a man” and shared how the family continues to mourn their mother.

Saldana had initially faced multiple charges related to child endangerment, but those were dismissed. The court considered the presence of the children during the incident when determining the sentence.

In addition to the prison term, Saldana has been barred from any contact with his children for three years. Lisa’s mother urged the court for a harsher sentence, recalling the tragic aftermath of seeing her daughter deceased.

A GoFundMe campaign for Lisa’s children remains active and is accepting donations to support their needs.

Ohio mother sentenced for child endangerment after torturing son

Youngstown, OH

A local mother received a three-year probation sentence after being convicted of child endangerment. Stacie Gilmore, 51, was found guilty of multiple charges including unlawful restraint, child endangerment, and domestic violence, following a trial that concluded last month.

Her 11-year-old son reported the abuse to authorities after wandering alone in a store in 2023. The charges stemmed from allegations that Gilmore used zip ties, electrical cords, and pipes to restrain and torture her child.

Following a three-day jury trial, she was found not guilty of felony kidnapping.

During the trial, the assistant prosecutor stated the child was hit with objects while restrained. Gilmore denied the allegations, claiming her son was lying due to her overprotective parenting style.

She admitted to using a bed sheet to tie herself to her son but claimed this was done to keep him from leaving the house.

Despite the evidence presented during the trial, Gilmore testified she never restrained her son or used abusive methods against him.

Her son accused her of tying him up in their basement, which Gilmore denied, stating he was made to sleep on the couch due to damaged beds.

At her sentencing, Gilmore asserted she was not a criminal and believed she contributed positively to her community.

She must serve an additional 55 days in jail to fulfill an eight-month sentence. As part of her probation, she is required to undergo mental health treatment and must not contact her son, who was removed from her custody.

Mother abandons toddler in empty apartment with goodbye note

Richmond, KY

A Richmond woman is facing serious charges after allegedly leaving her one-year-old daughter alone in an apartment. Sarah Vicker, 34, was charged with child abuse and abandonment.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning when Vicker reportedly fed her daughter before leaving the child in a playpen without food. She allegedly wrote a goodbye letter to her partner and walked to the nearby Revival Tabernacle church.

Within hours, Richmond police located Vicker at the church approximately a mile and a half away. Officers found the child alone next to a 65-inch television and an unlocked apartment door.

Vicker reportedly stated to police that she could not endure her situation any longer. “Overall, the situation with the door unlocked just made it very unsafe for the child,” said Makenzie Davis, an executive assistant with the Richmond Police Department.

Vicker was booked into Madison County Jail on Wednesday and was placed on a $10,000 bond. She was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Suspect arrested for brutal deli murders in Long Island

Bethpage, NY A 30-year-old man has been charged with the murders of his parents inside the family’s delicatessen. Vito Dambrosio is accused of killing his mother, Angela Pulisciano, 62, and father, Antonio Dambrosio, 70, at A&A Italian Deli and Pizza.

The incident occurred early Thursday morning during a confrontation at the deli located on Hicksville Road. Police responded to reports of a man with blood on his hands who was standing in the parking lot of the establishment.

Officers discovered both victims behind the counter, each having sustained stab wounds to the throat. Dambrosio allegedly initiated the confrontation with his mother before turning the weapon on his father.

At the time of the incident, Dambrosio was estranged from his family after a domestic dispute with a sibling, who had secured an order of protection against him in November. Witnesses described the tragic scene, recalling that Dambrosio appeared calm while exiting the deli, despite the blood on his clothing.

Law enforcement officials stated that Dambrosio slapped a worker’s backside at a nearby coffee shop shortly before the stabbing. The victims had operated the deli in the community for over 30 years.

During a press conference, Nassau Det. Lt. George Darienzo explained that police arrested Dambrosio outside the deli before entering the premises to discover the victims. Mourning locals have gathered outside the deli to honor the couple, known for their generosity and commitment to the community.

Dambrosio was taken to a local hospital and later arraigned on two counts of murder via a virtual court proceeding. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to honor the memory of the victims, highlighting their dedication to the community and the relationships they built over decades of service in their family business.

New York man sentenced to 25 years to life for hammer murder of elderly neighbor

Watertown, NY A man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison following his conviction for the murder of an 88-year-old woman. Jonathan Melendez, 41, was found guilty of killing Rena Eves with a hammer in her apartment in August 2023.

In addition to murder, Melendez was convicted on charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and tampering with evidence. He received consecutive sentences for these charges, totaling up to 36 years.

Melendez represented himself during the trial and claimed he was innocent. He alleged that police had planted evidence and altered the crime scene.

On August 27, Melendez attacked Eves and was arrested later that day wearing two pairs of sweatpants, with the inner pair stained in blood. It was reported that he called 911 to falsely claim the victim’s car had been stolen, but police later found the car fob in his pocket.

During the trial, jurors were shown evidence linking Melendez to the crime, including surveillance footage and text messages with his girlfriend discussing the incident. He argued that he and Eves were friends and denied killing her.

At his sentencing, the victim’s family addressed Melendez, calling his actions monstrous. Judge David Renzi stated he was sentencing Melendez to the maximum allowed based on the severity of the crime.

State prison records indicate that Melendez is already serving nearly 30 years for previous convictions in separate cases.

Man threatens woman with knife in road rage incident

Miami, FL

A Florida man was arrested after allegedly threatening a woman with a knife as she backed her car into her driveway. Kayan Dealmeida-Fernandes, 32, faces four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon related to the incident that occurred on November 6.

Court documents indicate Dealmeida-Fernandes drove through a residential area, honking his horn at the woman as she parked her car. He then exited his vehicle, confronted her, and allegedly yelled, “What the f— was that, b—?”

Dealmeida-Fernandes reportedly yelled threats at the woman before brandishing a pocketknife. The victim called for her husband, who intervened by pushing Dealmeida-Fernandes away, during which the suspect continued to hold the knife.

The altercation escalated as Dealmeida-Fernandes left the scene in his car but not before allegedly pointing a gun at the couple and yelling a racial slur while making further threats.

Police located Dealmeida-Fernandes at his home and initiated a traffic stop as he drove away. He was arrested after officers discovered a pocketknife in his possession and a gun in his vehicle.

Following his arrest, Dealmeida-Fernandes waived his rights and admitted to the confrontation and threats made with the knife and gun. He is now being held at the Metrowest Detention Center on a $20,000 bond, with a bond hearing scheduled for December 10.

Man attacks ex-girlfriend in bed, threatens her life

De Soto, MO A 31-year-old man entered a residence he previously shared with his ex-girlfriend and attacked her while she was sleeping. Christopher Brayton allegedly climbed into bed with her, stated “I’m home,” and then proceeded to threaten to kill her, according to court documents.

Brayton faces domestic assault charges stemming from two incidents occurring in October. These charges are in addition to another pending case involving separate incidents from June and July.

On Monday, Brayton appeared in court regarding the October events, which are detailed in a probable cause statement. The victim reported that on the morning of October 16, she was awakened around 8 a.m. by someone in bed beside her.

Despite having obtained an order of protection against Brayton, he allegedly returned to the home and hid the victim’s cellphone to prevent her from calling for help. Police state he prevented her from leaving the bedroom for hours.

After some time, the victim managed to escape, but Brayton allegedly followed her, pushing and slapping her. He reportedly threw her to the ground multiple times as she attempted to reach her car.

The probable cause statement indicates Brayton restrained the victim by grabbing her and placing his hand around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. Upon police arrival, Brayton allegedly threatened to kill her before being taken into custody.

A separate apparent abuse incident occurred on June 17 when Brayton reportedly attacked the victim after waking in a “manic mood.” He allegedly grabbed her by the hair and struck her several times before throwing her into a closet.

Brayton is currently out on bond and is scheduled to return to court for both cases on January 5.

Mother charged with child endangerment after baby found in trash can

Keokuk, IA A 28-year-old woman has been charged with child endangerment after the death of her infant son. Jaley Bush was arrested following an incident that left her son, identified as R.S., unresponsive.

On January 27, Bush visited a friend in Keokuk and fell asleep on a bed while her child was nearby. When she awoke, her son was discovered headfirst in a trash can beside the bed.

Keokuk police responded to the home around 2 p.m. and initiated lifesaving measures for R.S. Bush exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics, with slurred speech and a stoic demeanor.

Bush reported to police that she had taken a sedative prior to sleeping. She was unsure of the origin of the pills she consumed.

The following day, authorities obtained a search warrant for a blood sample from Bush. Toxicology results showed positive tests for methamphetamine and benzodiazepines.

R.S. was pronounced dead on February 5. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia.

Bush appeared in court for her charges on Tuesday, according to local reports. Keokuk is situated in southeastern Iowa, near the borders of Missouri and Illinois.

Father and mother charged after baby’s femur snapped during diaper change

Fernandina Beach, FL

A Florida couple faces multiple felony charges stemming from an incident involving their six-month-old child. Jasper Shick, 34, and Sarah Rediker, 36, are accused of child abuse and neglect after allegedly inflicting serious injuries on their infant.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges earlier this week. Shick is charged with aggravated child abuse and making false statements to investigators while Rediker faces charges for child neglect and filing a false report.

Police initiated an investigation after the child’s grandmother brought the baby to a local hospital with a broken femur. Medical staff alerted authorities on Monday evening about the serious nature of the injury, which required surgery.

Detectives later interviewed the grandmother, who allowed them to enter her home, where the child and parents reside. Inside the home, police observed a baby crib in a closet, empty alcohol cans in the main bedroom, and accessible marijuana paraphernalia.

The investigation revealed that Shick allegedly squeezed the child during a diaper change around 7 p.m. when the baby became fussy. Shick reportedly knew the child was injured yet chose not to seek medical help.

The child’s grandmother took action after arriving at the home around 10 p.m. and noticing the severity of the situation. It is reported that both Shick and Rediker had consumed alcohol and marijuana prior to the incident.

Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper described the case as upsetting, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable children. Following their arrest on Tuesday, Shick and Rediker are being held on $75,000 and $50,000 bond, respectively, with a no-contact order issued against them.

Bojangles manager charged in deadly parking lot shooting

Palmetto, GA A Bojangles manager has been charged in the shooting death of his employee’s father during a confrontation in the restaurant’s parking lot. Maurice Evans, 25, faces multiple charges including murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The shooting occurred around 1:15 p.m. in the parking lot located at 9135 Roosevelt Highway. Police arrived to find Dominique Goodman dead.

Goodman’s teenage daughter, who was employed at the Bojangles, had called her father due to a problem with Evans. In a subsequent altercation, Evans shot Goodman, according to police reports.

Evans was arrested and taken to the Fulton County Jail, where he remains in custody. A family friend described the incident as senseless and expressed concern about the ongoing violence.

A spokesperson for Bojangles issued a statement expressing condolences to those impacted by the shooting. The statement emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and cooperation with local law enforcement in the investigation.