Juveniles

‘Crime Stories’ Podcast: Guilty plea in Snapchat murder plot after 14-year-old girl shot in head, left freezing in a ditch over ‘annoying’ social media messages

 ‘Crime Stories’ Podcast: Guilty plea in Snapchat murder plot after 14-year-old girl shot in head, left freezing in a ditch over ‘annoying’ social media messages
Juveniles

A second teen boy has pleaded guilty to plotting to murder a 14-year-old girl because he and the triggerman didn’t like her Snapchat posts. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Jayzon Decker, 17, pleaded guilty to to first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder and second-degree felony obstruction of justice. Colter Danny Peterson, also 17, had previously admitted to …

‘Enough is enough’: Parents of girl who hanged herself after years of bullying to sue school district [UPDATE]
Bullies
December 19, 2017

‘Enough is enough’: Parents of girl who hanged herself after years of bullying to sue school district [UPDATE]

The parents of a 13-year-old California girl who committed suicide have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District, accusing officials not doing enough to squash the relentless bullying their child experienced. Redlands Daily Facts reported that at Monday’s news conference Rosalie Avila’s father, Freddie Avila-Olague, accused the district of not doing “justice” …

Tad Cummins, perv teacher accused of kidnapping AMBER alert teen, claims police ‘coerced’ statements admitting to sexual acts with minor
Child Abuse
December 18, 2017

Tad Cummins, perv teacher accused of kidnapping AMBER alert teen, claims police ‘coerced’ statements admitting to sexual acts with minor

The former Tennessee teacher who led authorities on a manhunt after he allegedly kidnapped 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas is now claiming that authorities coerced a confession from him. WHNT News 19 reports that Cummins, who was arrested in April in California after five weeks on the run with Thomas, is asking to have statements he made …

First grader asks Santa for food and a blanket in heartbreaking letter
Juveniles
December 18, 2017

First grader asks Santa for food and a blanket in heartbreaking letter

A Texas first grader’s humbling letter to Santa Claus has prompted an outpouring of donations after her teacher posted the note to social media. ABC News reported that Ruth Espiricueta, a first-grade teacher at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Edinburg, instructed her students to pen a letter to Santa about something they want and need. Espiricueta said she …

Soccer coach who fled with teen faces child sex charge
Juveniles
December 17, 2017

Soccer coach who fled with teen faces child sex charge

A Florida soccer coach who traveled up the east coast with a 17-year-old high school student is now facing additional charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Caitlin Frisina of Colombia County went missing in late November and was later found to have fled with Rian Rodriguez, 27, the head boys soccer …

Little girl, 8, takes own life, possibly after reading about Ashawnty Davis’ suicide: Investigators
Juveniles
December 13, 2017

Little girl, 8, takes own life, possibly after reading about Ashawnty Davis’ suicide: Investigators

Investigators said a New Jersey girl who killed herself while on time out possibly read a story about 10-year-old Ashawnty Davis’ suicide on Facebook before taking her own life in a similar manner. WNBC reported that Essex County prosecutors are determining what caused Imani McCray, 8, to kill herself in her Valisburg home on Sunday afternoon. Authorities claimed …

Day care closes after SECOND toddler dies from meningitis in less than a week: Reports
child endangerment
December 13, 2017

Day care closes after SECOND toddler dies from meningitis in less than a week: Reports

A Miami day care will remain closed following reports that two toddlers possibly died from meningitis within a week of each other. Dr. Alvaro Mejia, a medical epidemiologist at the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, told WTVJ that a 22-month-old boy who died December 3 and a 2-year-old boy who died Sunday both …

School disciplines teen cancer survivor for wearing hat to cover hair loss: Reports
Juveniles
December 12, 2017

School disciplines teen cancer survivor for wearing hat to cover hair loss: Reports

An Iowa teen who recently beat cancer said her high school reprimanded her for wearing a hat. The Hawk Eye reported that Chloe Terpenning, 15, was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March and lost her hip-length hair shortly after undergoing chemotherapy. Now in remission, the West Burlington High School freshman claimed she had to …