Search Results for: homicide
Man charged with homicide after friend’s death staged as suicide
Man charged with homicide after friend’s death staged as suicide
Clarion, PA A 34-year-old man faces criminal homicide charges after allegedly attempting to make the stabbing death of a 45-year-old woman appear as a suicide. Chase Steigerwald is in custody at Clarion County Jail following the death of Rachel Roman, who was discovered on the floor of his apartment on the morning of November 5.
A criminal complaint details that Steigerwald and an unnamed woman were outside his residence when police arrived. Steigerwald claimed they had gone for a walk and found Roman dead upon their return.
The unnamed woman provided police with a conflicting account. She stated that she heard choking noises from the living room and discovered Steigerwald packing a backpack as Roman lay bleeding on the floor.
Surveillance footage revealed the pair leaving the apartment at 5:05 a.m. and returning at 6:38 a.m. Steigerwald reportedly told the woman he intended to stage Roman’s death to look like a suicide.
Upon returning, the woman alleged that she witnessed Steigerwald placing a knife in Roman’s hand to obtain her fingerprints. She also observed him hide methamphetamine in a couch.
Witnesses at a party the night before Roman’s death saw her alive at around 11 p.m. Another witness on a FaceTime call with Steigerwald reported seeing him brandishing a knife and heard him arguing with Roman.
The night of the incident, Roman sent a text at 11:39 p.m., but a response from her coworker at 12:20 a.m. was not delivered, indicating her phone may have been turned off.
Neighbors reported a loud party at Steigerwald’s apartment that stopped around midnight. Steigerwald told police the knife found belonged to him and that he had smoked molly before calling 911 on the morning of November 5.
Blood was found in various locations within the apartment, including the sinks and a dishwashing soap bottle. An autopsy indicated that Roman suffered multiple stab wounds, with a fatal wound to her neck.
Steigerwald was arrested on a drug charge shortly after Roman’s body was found. His homicide charge was filed on Tuesday, resulting in the dismissal of the drug charge. He remains in jail without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 2.
Prosecutors charge Indian national with double homicide of mother and son in New Jersey
Prosecutors charge Indian national with double homicide of mother and son
Maple Shade, NJ
A 38-year-old Indian national has been charged in the 2017 homicides of a mother and her young son in Maple Shade. Nazeer Hameed faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
The victims, Sasikala Narra, 38, and Anish Narra, 6, were found deceased in their Hamilton Road apartment on March 23, 2017. An autopsy revealed each died from multiple slash wounds to their necks, with evidence indicating Anish Narra was nearly decapitated by the attacker.
Hameed resided in the same apartment complex as the victims and was an acquaintance of the family through their workplace. After the incident, he returned to India, where he remains while the investigation proceeded.
Law enforcement identified Hameed as a person of interest due to his stalking behavior toward Hanumanth Narra, husband and father of the victims. Delays in filing charges were attributed to the pursuit of additional evidence and coordination with federal partners for potential extradition.
Physical evidence ultimately linked Hameed to the crimes. A blood droplet found at the scene was consistent with Hameed’s DNA. Efforts to secure a DNA sample from him in India faced repeated obstacles, including his refusal to cooperate.
A mutual legal assistance request to collect Hameed’s DNA was acknowledged by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, yet was not fulfilled. The case gained renewed attention as the investigation continued despite misinformation that suggested stagnation.
Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw expressed a commitment to justice for the victims. Chief Christopher J. Fletcher emphasized the emotional toll on investigators, keeping the memories of Sasikala and Anish as guiding reminders throughout the investigation.
Detectives employed various methods, including a subpoena that led to the collection of Hameed’s DNA from a company-issued laptop. A forensic examination of the laptop confirmed its connection to the blood evidence.
The motive for the killings remains unestablished, with prosecutors not required to provide one for conviction in New Jersey. The next steps involve efforts to extradite Hameed back to the United States.
Fletcher underscored the community’s outrage over the case and the duty of law enforcement to seek justice. The extradition authority rests with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of State.
Bradshaw urged cooperation between the U.S. and Indian governments to ensure Hameed’s extradition. The Indian Cultural Center of Southern New Jersey offered support during the investigation, with board member Jayesh Parikh acknowledging law enforcement’s efforts over the past years.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Maple Shade Police Department, FBI, and New Jersey State Police. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Robert Van Gilst upon Hameed’s extradition.
Mom’s interviews sought to be excluded in toddler’s homicide case
Mom’s interviews sought to be excluded in toddler’s homicide case
Moorhead, MN An attorney for Valerie Zamora is pushing to exclude her interviews with police from court. Zamora, 33, faces charges in the death of her 20-month-old son, Jose, who died in May after the family reportedly stopped at a Walmart to purchase Pedialyte on the way to the hospital.
Zamora was arrested following an investigation that determined she may have been responsible for the child’s death. On May 15, Zamora, her partner, and their daughter brought Jose to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m.
During court proceedings on Monday, Zamora’s defense attorney argued that the recorded interviews conducted after Jose’s death should not be permitted as evidence. The attorney claimed Zamora was not advised of her Miranda rights during the three police interviews, which took place at the hospital and later at the police station.
Detective Katie Schultz testified that Zamora voluntarily spoke with police, stating she could end the conversation at any time since she was not under arrest. Zamora’s attorney, Michael Minard, argued the defense should prevail as the client had requested legal representation during the third interview.
Police noted that Zamora initially provided inconsistent statements regarding her son’s health leading to his death. She reportedly expressed concerns about social services taking her children away when asked why she hesitated to seek medical help the previous day.
Witnesses informed investigators that they had urged Zamora to take Jose to the hospital before his condition worsened. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Zamora entering Walmart at 10:12 p.m., just moments before Jose began showing serious symptoms.
Zamora is currently held at Clay County Jail facing a charge of second-degree murder following her extradition from Cass County.
Grafton man charged with attempted homicide after domestic dispute
Grafton man charged with attempted homicide after domestic dispute
Grafton, WI
A Grafton man has been charged with attempted homicide following an incident involving his wife. Guy Paider, aged 53, faces serious charges related to the attack that occurred Friday.
Paider has been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, according to court records. The couple’s marital struggles were evident, as the wife had met with a lawyer earlier that day to discuss divorce proceedings.
Upon returning home, she and Paider confronted each other. After sending their child to another room for privacy, Paider allegedly assaulted her.
The wife reported that she screamed for help and was eventually thrown to the floor. During the altercation, she claimed Paider retrieved a gun from a drawer.
He allegedly warned his wife by saying, “Look at me, look at me, so you can see me when I shoot you.” At approximately 3:50 p.m., deputies from the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene after receiving a 911 call.
First responders from the Grafton Police Department were the first to arrive and heard a woman calling for help. As they approached, a male subject, identified as Paider, reportedly fired multiple shots at the woman.
Paider was arrested on the scene and taken to the Ozaukee County Jail. The victim, a 48-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Milwaukee.
Following medical attention, she was reported to be in stable condition. Paider previously served as a firefighter in West Allis.
Arrest made in Linden homicide case
Arrest made in Linden homicide case
LINDEN, NJ – Yamir Saffold-Davis, 23, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the homicide of Darrell Sanders, 28, of Newark. The arrest follows an incident that occurred on September 27, as announced by Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Linden Police Chief David Hart.
Saffold-Davis faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree aggravated assault. The charges stem from the shooting death of Sanders.
On Saturday, September 27, at approximately 3:26 p.m., Linden Police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3100 block of Irene Street. Upon arrival, they found Sanders with a single gunshot wound, and he was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
A collaborative investigation conducted by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, Linden Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Department led to the identification of Saffold-Davis.
Saffold-Davis was taken into custody in Elizabeth, NJ, with the assistance of US Marshals and is currently held at Essex County Jail.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Sergeant Nick Veltre or Detective Kevin Stanicki at the provided numbers, or Linden Police Department Detective Daniel Hemenway.
These charges are accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A suspect is behind bars in a Newark murder case as authorities continue their investigation.
