Hard Boiled News

True Crime and News of the Weird from around the Globe

Stoned Indiana Teen Driving 107 MPH Crashes Into House, Killing 2 Sisters

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Alia Sierra

FRANKFORT, Indiana — A teenage speed demon allegedly high on drugs, was driving 107 miles per hour when she lost control and crashed into a house, killing two young sisters inside, authorities said.

Alia Sierra, 17, has been charged as an adult and faces homicide charges for the July 12 crash, Indiana prosecutors said.

Sierra had been driving at the extremely high rate of speed with two passengers onboard when she hit a bump and went off a roadway trying to avoid a tree, WXIN-TV reported. Her car, a white Honda Accord, then tore through the living room, killing 17-year-old Haleigh Fullerton and her 8-year-old sister, Callie, as they watched TV.

The girls’ mother, Bridget Fullerton was just heading back into the living room at the time of the crash and was seriously injured but is expected to live.

One of the passengers in Sierra’s car told investigators she warned her to slow down. A boy who was riding in back said he had asked to be let out several times because he was alarmed by Sierra’s driving,

Sierra allegedly kept referring to her car as a “beast,” and told her friends she wanted them to see how fast the car could go.

A drug test showed that Sierra was high on opiates at the time of the crash.

Sierra’s lawyer told WXIN that he planned to appeal the decision to try Sierra as an adult.

Decorated Pilot Admits Stealing From Distinguished Flying Cross Society

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SAN DIEGO — A highly decorated combat pilot admitted stealing $124,000 from a national society of Distinguished Flying Cross winners to pay for his stable of horses and buy stocks in order to maintain his high-flying lifestyle.

Anthony Ventura, 71, of Lincoln, California, was awarded the medal and many other during the Vietnam War and served as the treasurer for the Distinguished Flying Cross Society from 2012 until 2016.

Federal prosecutors say that in 2014, Ventura — who once served as a senior vice president for Wachovia Securities — filed for personal bankruptcy following a series of poor business decisions.

But instead of cutting back on his lavish lifestyle, Ventura admitted dipping into the society’s coffers to cover bills related to his horse stable, pay for personal expenses and to buy stocks and bonds.

In addition to embezzling the funds, Ventura also admitted he filed false tax documents for the charity, claiming it had tens of thousands of dollars more in its accounts than it did.

“Regardless of how significant an individual’s contribution is to our society or how desperate their financial condition, there can be no excuse for stealing charitable funds that are destined for the awarding of scholarships,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was first awarded by President Calvin Coolidge to Charles Lindbergh for his solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Other recipients include Amelia Earhart, the original seven astronauts, President George H.W. Bush and Sen. John McCain.

 

Two Christians Drown During River Baptism in Tanzania

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ROMBO, Tanzania — Two Christian parishioners drowned while being baptized in a river after being swept away by the strong current, authorities said.

Police say the two men, Gasper Gervas, 47, and Proches Msema, 30, died on Sunday while being baptized with several others in the waters of the Ungwasi River in northern Tanzania.

Authorities have detained the pastor of the Shalom Church, a charismatic Christian flock, for questioning to determine what had happened. The waters were high and had a strong current at the time, police said.

“We are holding the church Pastor and other followers for interrogation. We are holding them for further investigation to understand on how others dead and some of the people managed to escape death,” Kilimanjaro Region police commander, Hamis Selemani, told the Azania Post.

The police advised that parishioners should check the depth of rivers before performing river baptisms. The religious ceremony is done in rivers mainly by charismatic churches in Tanzania.

Felon Hit With Gun Charge in Tragic Shooting of 7-Year-Old By Toddler

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Harmony Warfiled was fatally shot by her 2-year-old cousin using Anthony Sanders’ gun

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — A convicted felon has been charged with illegally possessing a gun that a 2-year-old boy got his hands on and used to accidentally shoot and kill his 7-year-old cousin in Tennessee.

Anthony Patrick Sanders, 27, was released from prison last year after serving eight years for kidnapping. As a convicted felon he is legally barred from owning a gun.

Federal authorities say Sanders had been carrying a gun when he came to stay in an apartment in the J.C. Napier Houses in Nashville on June 6, where the little girl, Harmony Warfield, was killed.

Sanders faces 10 years

The tragic incident unfolded when Sanders — who regularly carried a gun when he stayed in the public housing development — stepped outside of the apartment, leaving the firearm inside where a toddler picked it up, prosecutors said.

When he heard the gun go off, Sanders allegedly ran back into the apartment, saw Warfield lying bleeding on the kitchen floor, grabbed the gun and took off, saying he did not want to go back to jai.

“Another innocent child has died because the defendant, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing a firearm, chose to ignore the law and arm himself with handguns, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith.

Sanders faces up to 10 years in prison for the gun rap.

 

Man Who Robbed Bank to Get Away from Wife Sentenced to House Arrest

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KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Sometimes, the punishment truly fits the crime.

A 71-year-old man who told authorities he robbed a bank because he preferred to spend the rest of his life behind bars rather than with his wife, has been sentenced to six months house arrest — in the home he shares with his wife.

Lawrence John Ripple  had faced up to 20 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in January but his attorneys had asked the judge for leniency, saying Ripple had been suffering from severe depression at the time of the robbery and had sought treatment and has undergone couple’s counseling with his wife.

They also argued that he has health problems and is unlikely to re-offend.

Ripple had walked into the Bank of Labor across from police headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas last September with a note stating, “I have a gun, give me money.”

But after the teller handed him $2,924 from the drawer, he went and sat down on a chair in the bank lobby. When a bank security guard approached Ripple, he said he was the guy they were looking for and handed back the cash, according to court documents.

While being interviewed by investigators, Ripple said he had gotten into a fight with his wife at home “and he no longer wanted to be in that situation.” He said he wrote the demand note in front of his wife and told he he’d rather be in jail than continue living with her.

His lawyers said the episode amounted to a “cry for help.” In court, Ripple apologized for scaring the bank’s employees, the Kansas City Star reported.

 

 

80 Ducks Killed by Parasite at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

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WASHINGTON — When Trump talked about “Draining the Swamp,” this  probably wasn’t what he meant.

A lethal water-borne parasite in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has left 80 ducks dead, authorities said.

The National Park Service said it would drain the pool after detecting the toxic condition.

The service said that on May 20 and 21, rangers discovered dozens of dead ducks and ducklings in and around the poll. An investigation yielded that a high level of a parasite that grows in snails that live in the pond was the likely cause.

Officials say the situation cannot be treated chemically and requires that the pool be completely emptied of water and cleaned.

Humans who come in contact with the parasite are at low risk for any trouble but could develop “swimmer’s itch,” an allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash. The condition is not contagious and rarely requires medical treatment.

The park service say the risk of contracting it at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is extremely low, as it is only contracted by sustained contact with affected water, such as by swimming or wading.

Meanwhile, officials say it will take approximately eight days to drain, clean and refill the pond. They say they will aggressively monitor the water for the parasite afterwards.

Dad Shot Dead After Scuffle Among Kids at Kindergarten Graduation Party

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Devon Brown was shot dead during a kindergarten party

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania — A scuffle between two kids at a kindergarten graduation party turned deadly when the fight spread to a group of adults and a man was fatally shot, cops said.

Investigators say Devon Brown, 29, was shot and killed by Tremaine Jamison on Wednesday after their kids got into a fight at the party.

“An altercation between two 6-year-old boys is the reason why I don’t have my kid’s father with me today,” Brown’s wife, Antionette Nimmons told WNEP-TV. “They were just rough playing like boys do.”

Cops are hunting for the 27-year-old Jamison, who hails from New York City. He has two prior robbery convictions in New York, records show.

According to the criminal complaint, Brown and Jamison got into a heated argument with several other adults after another resident of the complex accused Brown’s son of punching Jamison’s son, according to a criminal complaint.

Cops are on the lookout for Tremaine Jamison

The fight escalated when someone pulled a knife on Brown, the complaint said. He then retrieved a knife from his apartment, and Jamison pulled out a gun and fired a single shot at Brown, the complaint read. He was declared dead at the scene.

 

Worker Installing Cesspool Killed By Giant Sinkhole Collapse

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HUNTINGTON, New York — A worker helping install a cesspool was killed when a giant sinkhole ruptured the ground beneath him, burying him beneath 15-feet of dirt, police said.

It took rescue crews more than six hours to get to Edward Sinnott, 59, but by that time it was too late, the Suffolk County police said.

Sinnott had been directing a crane that was lowering the cesspool into a hole that had been dug out of the front yard of a home in Huntington on Long Island when the ground opened up underneath him. THe hole spread across much of the homeowners front yard and driveway.

As the hole opened, it pouted 15-feet of dirt on top of Sinnott, authorities said. A second worker managed to escape by grabbing onto some equipment and pulling himself free from the hole.

Rescue crews brought in another crane and machine that suction out dirt, but workers were unable to quickly find Sinnott.

Motorcyclist Thrown From Bike After Striking Alligator in Florida

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This was all that remained of the gator after crossing the road in front of a motorcycle

WIMAUMA, Florida — There is no later for this gator.

A motorcycle driver was seriously injured when he hit an alligator crossing a rural Florida road, throwing him from his bike.

Calun Ethan Nelson, 27, was riding his bike south of Tampa early Friday morning and didn’t see the 10-foot-nine-inch-long gator crossing the road in front of him until it was too late, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Nelson, who was wearing a helmet, was airlifted to a hospital in Tampa where he was listed in serious condition. He is expected to live.

A trapper was brought in to retrieve the alligator, but the animal died later in the day.

Earlier in the week, a driver narrowly avoided serious injury when she hit an alligator on the road near Sarasota, causing her car to flip several times, cops said.

Animal experts say a lack of rain in Florida has caused alligators to have to search farther for water, which may may explain why they have been turning up on roads more frequently.

89-Year-Old Florida Man Killed In Freak Fire Hydrant Mishap

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VIERA, Florida –An 89-year-old Florida was drowned in a freak accident after his car crashed through a fire hydrant and triggered a high-pressure gusher of water that pulled him under as he stepped out of the vehicle, police said.

Robert Dreyer, of Melbourne, was driving his 2016 Mercedes Benz in Brevard County early Wednesday, when he veered off the road and knocked over the pump, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The spraying water quickly ripped a six-foot deep hole in the ground under the vehicle.

“The water started erupting from the fire hydrant. As a result there was a divot in the space where the fire hydrant used to be and right adjacent to his driver’s door, he fell into that divot” Channing Taylor of the Florida Highway Patrol told Florida Today.

Bystanders said high-pressure water began shooting high into the air, hitting the tops of palm trees standing nearby, which made it difficult to get to Dreyer. By the time they managed to pull him free, several minutes had passed.

Dreyer was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.