'Pure evil': Gay couple raped adopted baby boy before brutally killing him



A teacher who claimed his adopted baby had accidentally drowned in a bath has been convicted of sexually assaulting the boy before murdering him.

Jamie Varley, 37, took time off work in order to adopt Preston Davey with his partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, according to the Lancashire Constabulary in the U.K.

'For the first nine months of his life, Preston was a happy and healthy child, but by the end he was a broken shell.'

In July 2023, the boy was found dead only 13 months after he was born.

Preston had been placed into emergency foster care just days after he was born and was adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley when the boy was 9 months old.

Prosecutors said the couple subjected the child to sexual and physical abuse before his death four months later.

Police grew suspicious about Varley's story about an accidental drowning after a post-mortem examination found 40 injuries on the body of the child. At trial, prosecutors said the boy's hair was dry, he was wearing a diaper, and there was no evidence he had swallowed any water, the BBC reported.

They found instead that he had died of acute upper airways obstruction, police said, likely from having an object or objects forced in his mouth, the BBC noted. He also suffered a cardiac arrest.

Before he died, Preston suffered regular abuse, even after medical staff noticed suspicious injuries to the boy during the three times he was taken to the same hospital for treatment. The couple was able to explain away the incidents. Social workers had also seen the boy.

Police said indecent photographs and videos of the victim were found on Varley's phone, and one indecent video had been shared with his husband via Snapchat.

A jury found both men guilty on all counts. Varley was found guilty of murder, sexual assault of a child, taking incident child images, and child cruelty, among others. McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, child sex assault, and cruelty to a child.

They will be sentenced Thursday.

Sky News published police camera video of Varley pretending to be distressed after calling police about the boy's death. He was wearing a Jurassic Park shirt at the time.

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Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows described the couple as "pure evil" in comments about the case.

"Almost from day one, they set about abusing Preston and making his short life a harrowing tale of misery and pain," Fallows said.

"For the first nine months of his life, Preston was a happy and healthy child, but by the end he was a broken shell," he added. "This was due to the sordid and wicked acts of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley."

Officials are reviewing "the handling of Preston's safeguarding," the BBC reported.

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Atlanta man angry at his girlfriend for leaving him does the unthinkable to their 4-year-old daughter, police say



A Georgia mother can be heard screaming on a harrowing 911 call before Atlanta police responded and found a horrific crime scene.

Atlanta police said they responded to a call of an injured person in a domestic dispute at about 11:30 p.m. on March 14.

'Stop! Rashad, stop! Help!' she says before the line goes silent.

They found a 4-year-old girl with multiple lacerations being held by an adult male later identified as 35-year-old Rashad Dixon. They were able to separate the girl from Dixon through the use of de-escalation tactics.

Police said she succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to a hospital.

Dixon was also treated for laceration injuries and was then arrested.

After an investigation, prosecutors said that Dixon stabbed and killed his daughter in order to punish the girl's mother for leaving him.

WSB-TV obtained the audio of the 911 call, where the girl's mother can be heard yelling for Dixon to stop.

"Stop! Rashad, stop! Help!” she says before the line goes silent.

Prosecutors say Dixon stabbed the phone in order to stop the emergency call. He then allegedly broke one of the windows in her car and also stabbed himself in an attempt to "evade the consequences of his actions."

Dixon was charged with a slew of crimes, including:

  • Murder;
  • Aggravated assault;
  • Aggravated battery;
  • Cruelty to children in the first degree;
  • Possession of a knife during the commission of a felony;
  • False imprisonment;
  • Two counts of criminal damage to property; and
  • Simple assault.

"It's a horrible case of a father taking the life of his child to punish the mother," Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said about the case.

"We're going to ask that he be put in prison for the rest of his life," Willis added.

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"Sometimes they say prosecutors don't cry, but this one, when you read it, when you see some of the evidence, it's heart-wrenching,” Executive District Attorney Simone Hylton said.

Hylton said there was a history of abuse of the victim's mother by Dixon.

"This is an indication of the extreme events that can occur in intimate partner violence cases," she added.

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Women arrested in alleged torture and murder of 7-year-old sent sadistic texts: 'Can't hit her face. You gotta hit her body.'



An elderly woman, her 50-year-old daughter, and her 24-year-old granddaughter were all arrested Wednesday for the alleged "horrific abuse and torture" of a 7-year-old girl.

Paramedics were sent to a residence in Bayport on December 29, 2025, at about 10:30 a.m. after being alerted about a child who was unresponsive.

'This was not an alleged single act of violence. It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented.'

Jor'Dynn Duncan was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, where she was pronounced dead from a cardiac arrest.

Prosecutors said Barbara Renner, her daughter Emily Kelly, and Kelly's daughter Elyssa Seymore each had a part in the "prolonged torture, abuse, and the brutal murder" of the "defenseless, innocent child."

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office was able to document 90 injuries to the child's body at her death, which led to a homicide investigation being opened.

Investigators said Duncan was the daughter of Kelly's fiance, who is incarcerated, and that Kelly requested the child be placed into her care in Dec. 2024 by Child Protective Services. By April 2025, Kelly obtained full custody and guardianship of the girl.

Digital evidence from Kelly's cell phone and cloud services allegedly revealed "prolonged abuse and torture" of the girl that included physical injuries, prolonged restraint, and lack of medical attention for the injuries since Jan. 2025.

One of the texts allegedly read, "You can't hit her face. You gotta hit her body if you going to hit her. That's another thing we gotta hide."

The girl was also kept from attending school for a total of 40 days, allegedly in order to conceal the torture and her injuries.

Kelly was indicted on numerous charges that included murder in the second degree, Renner was indicted for second-degree manslaughter, and Seymore was indicted for unlawful imprisonment in the first degree.

"This was not an alleged single act of violence," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. "It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented. The child was allegedly left to die while these defendants watched her deteriorate. No child should ever endure such horror, and we will seek justice for Jor'Dynn."

Officials are now calling for accountability from the government organizations that were intended to detect these kinds of cases.

"How was this child placed in the hands of somebody who could be this unfit and this abusive?" County Legislator Rebecca Sanin asked. "How could the school not see her for 40 days over the course of a year and not ask questions?"

RELATED: AZ mom shoots woman she found with her husband — then sends him horrific photo of their child

Neighbors said they were shocked to find out about the horrific abuse allegedly perpetrated on the child.

"The cutest little thing that you want to see in your life," Tim Lowe said. "I never saw any marks on her face."

Relatives of the 7-year-old girl refused to comment to CBS News about the case.

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Child advocate blames Democrat governor for 6th child death related to family safety dept: 'There is blood on the governor'



The tragic death of another child in New Mexico has prompted a child advocate to blame the governor and the children's safety agency that had been warned about the threat.

Vanessa Chavez was charged with child abuse resulting in death after her 18-month-old daughter was found unresponsive and died after 20 minutes of CPR, Albuquerque police said. The girl's death is the sixth in only four months of incidents that involved the state’s Children, Youth & Families Department, according to KOB-TV.

'This is on the governor. There is blood on the governor at this point.'

New Mexico Child First Network founder Maralyn Beck said the death was preventable and places the blame squarely on the governor as well as the child safety agency.

"Every single one of these deaths was preventable," Beck said to KOB.

She added: "This is on the governor. There is blood on the governor at this point."

The child had been taken away from Chavez when she was born premature because the girl had been drug-exposed. KOB reports that the girl was returned to the parents for a trial period and died soon afterward.

"One call to child protective services in a functioning system should save the life of a child," an emotional Beck said. "One single call. That's a functioning system, and we don't have that."

KOB put the criticism to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and she said that it would be a priority for her office as she nears the end of her term but admitted that the agency had troubles.

"You're chasing your tail, and we've been chasing our tail for decades," she said.

When asked if she was going to make progress in the 18 months she has left, she responded, "We're gonna make some damn important progress, yes sir."

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The governor's office also released a statement.

"Gov. Lujan Grisham is working diligently to address flaws in the system for protecting New Mexico's most vulnerable children, most recently announcing a bold overhaul of the way our state protects babies born to drug-addicted parents," reads the statement in part. "New Mexico must also urgently address its addiction crisis — a contributing factor in recent child deaths."

CYFD also released a statement about its involvement in the death of the child. The department confirmed that two of the three children belonging to Greg Montoya and Vanessa Chavez had previously been taken into CYFD custody. On June 18, an attorney for the couple asked for the abuse and neglect case to be dropped because the parents had complied with a "court-ordered reunification plan," according to the CYFD.

CYFD said that none of the parties at the hearing objected to the dismissal, including social workers from the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy and the presiding judge.

"The death of this child is a tragedy of immeasurable proportions. CYFD extends its deepest condolences to all those affected by this loss," the agency said.

Beck believes far more needs to be done to prevent the child deaths.

"If this isn't a public health crisis, it's a moral health crisis," she said.

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Migrant arrested for suspected rape and murder of 11-year-old girl, wrapped body in trash bag under her bed after strangulation



A migrant man accused of the heinous rape and murder of an 11-year-old Texas girl was captured in Louisiana one week after the grisly killing. The suspect allegedly strangled the girl to death, dumped her in a trash bag, and hid the body under her bed at her house in Pasadena, Texas.

Authorities arrested Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez on Saturday in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Pasadena Police Department said the 18-year-old suspect was charged with capital murder for the strangulation death of 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez. He is awaiting extradition back to Texas.

Citing sources, KTRK reported that Garcia-Rodriguez "made a full confession."

Garcia-Rodriguez – a Guatemalan national – reportedly crossed the U.S. southern border illegally in January. He allegedly surrendered to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas. However, he was released to immigration sponsors in the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana. Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said attempts to contact the sponsors had been unsuccessful.

Garcia-Rodriguez allegedly lived in the same apartment complex as Gonzalez and her family in Pasadena.

Before her death on Aug. 12, Maria reportedly informed her father via text that someone was knocking on the door of their apartment around 10 a.m. – approximately 15 minutes after he left for work. Carmelo Gonzalez said he instructed his daughter not to open the door, and she agreed. The father said he never heard from his daughter again.

After the daughter stopped responding to his messages, the father asked his brother and sister-in-law – who live in the same apartment complex – to check on Maria. They reportedly found the front door unlocked and things were out of place in the apartment, but they did not find Maria.

The father returned to the home around 3 p.m. that day after work.

KTRK reported, "Police said Carmelo found her body wrapped in a trash bag inside a clothes hamper underneath her own bed. She had been strangled, beaten, and sexually assaulted."

Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said the suspect left his apartment key at the crime scene.

"It took investigators a few days to find out the key didn't belong to Maria's home and in fact, opened another apartment – the one Garcia-Rodriguez was staying in, according to KHOU. However, Garcia-Rodriguez had allegedly already bolted out of town before the key discovery.

Two days after the gruesome child murder, Garcia-Rodriguez allegedly told his roommate he was leaving town for a job.

According to police, the roommate asked for the apartment key, but Garcia-Rodriguez said he was going to hold on to it.

He allegedly told his roommate, "It's not going to be long. I'm coming back. It's fine."

After the suspect was captured in Louisiana, the Gonzalez family issued a statement that read:

We want to say thank you to the Pasadena Police Department and to Louisiana police and any officials that participated in bringing this cold-blooded murderer into custody. This arrest has brought the family and community some peace. We are extremely thankful that he cannot cause this type of pain to anybody again. I ask for those who are in charge to give us justice. May he be burdened with the full weight of the law, for what he has done to my daughter.

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18-year-old suspect arrested after confessing to Texas 11-year-old's strangulation, sources say www.youtube.com

5-year-old Harmony Montgomery went missing in 2019, officials now believe she was murdered. Choked-up police chief pleads for public's help in bringing little girl's killer to justice.



Harmony Montgomery went missing in 2019. Now, law enforcement officials in New Hampshire believe the 5-year-old was murdered. On Thursday, police pleaded with the public to help find the little girl's killer.

Authorities suspect Montgomery, at age 5, went missing sometime between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019. However, the little girl was not formally reported missing until December 2021.

"All of these efforts have led us to conclude that Harmony Montgomery was murdered in Manchester in early December of 2019,” New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said during a press conference on Thursday. "At this point, while Harmony's remains have not yet been located, we do have multiple sources of investigative information, including just recently confirmed biological evidence, that have led us to this difficult and tragic conclusion."

"We understand that this is truly devastating news for Harmony’s family, friends, and loved ones," Formella continued. "And our hearts go out to them. This is also devastating news for the City of Manchester, for our state, and all who have followed this story. Our work now turns to getting justice for Harmony and all those who loved her."

Distraught Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg expressed that he was "beyond saddened" that the investigation had gone from a missing person case to a suspected homicide.

"As I stated from the beginning of the investigation and throughout, every effort has been made to bring Harmony back home to her family," Aldenberg said. "Our commitment to bring Harmony home has not wavered nor will it. Bringing Harmony home continues to be the number one priority of the Manchester Police Department."

"I myself continue to share the same concerns and still have many remaining questions," Aldenberg added. "However, the homicide of this little girl rests with the person or persons who committed this horrific act. The Manchester Police Department will do everything within the limits of the law to ensure that the responsible person or persons for the murder of Harmony are brought to justice."

"Do it for this little girl. … The time is now," the choked-up police chief said. "Time to step up and do the right thing. Make the call to that tip line or contact the Manchester Police Department any way you see fit. Harmony is a sweet and innocent child who deserves to be brought home to her family and friends."

Full Press Conference: 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery murdered in December 2019, police say www.youtube.com

Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey, lost custody of her daughter, but was the one to inform law enforcement that her daughter had gone missing.

At the time of her disappearance, the 5-year-old was living with her father, Adam Montgomery, and stepmother, Kayla Montgomery. Harmony only lived with the married couple for approximately eight months. The couple are now estranged.

Law & Order reported, "In previous statements to law enforcement, Kayla Montgomery allegedly said she last saw Harmony Montgomery while getting ready for a work shift on a morning in the fall of 2019. In early June of this year, the issue of time reared its head again. The stepmother was charged with perjury for allegedly lying to grand jurors about the location of her job and some aspect of the timeline she provided."

In January, Kayla Montgomery was arrested and charged with welfare fraud for collecting food stamps in Harmony's name.

Also in January, Adam Montgomery was arrested and charged with felony second-degree assault for a 2019 incident involving Harmony. Montgomery allegedly struck his daughter in the face, giving her a black eye.

The Boston Globe reported, "Harmony’s father, Adam Montgomery, a transient in New Hampshire with his own history of addiction, wanted custody. But he had a lengthy criminal record that included convictions for an armed attack on two women and for shooting a man in the head during a drug deal just six months before Harmony’s birth."

"In June, police and the FBI searched a home in Manchester where Harmony's father and estranged wife previously lived," WBZ-TV reported. "Investigators were seen bringing a refrigerator in and out of the home."

Neither of the adults have been charged with Harmony Montgomery's disappearance.

Police are begging the public to provide any information on the disappearance or murder of Harmony Montgomery. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Manchester Police tip line at 603-203-6060.

There is a $150,000 reward for tips that lead to the discovery of Harmony or an arrest of the little girl's killer.

NH officials say Harmony Montgomery was murdered www.youtube.com

Colorado father convicted in killing his 13-year-old son who found his dad's sordid and embarrassing diaper photos



A Colorado father was convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse, which the jury said resulted in the death of his 13-year-old son, who disappeared on Nov. 19, 2012. After years of delays, two mistrials, and more than four weeks of trial arguments, a La Plata County jury reached its verdict that Mark Redwine, 59, was guilty of killing his son Dylan Redwine, who had found embarrassing photos of his father.

"This has been an extremely difficult case for everybody involved," Judge Jeffrey Wilson said before the verdict was read. "It's been difficult for the parties, for the attorneys, for their staff. It's been difficult for the families, the entire community."

Redwine, with his hands clasped, did not show any reaction when the verdict was read, which elicited a gasp from people in the courtroom.

The moment the guilty verdict was delivered in the Mark Redwine trial. @KRDONC13 https://t.co/DJaZ0kZO4v

— Spencer Soicher KRDO (@spencersoicher) 1626470990.0

In 2012, Dylan was ordered by the courts to make a Thanksgiving visit to his father's home in Durango, Colorado. Prosecutors presented a case that during that visit, Dyland and his older brother Cory found sordid photos on a laptop in the home of their father wearing women's lingerie and eating feces. Cory testified that Dylan discovered the photos before he went missing. Cory also testified to taking photos of the disturbing images from their father's laptop, and those were shown in court. Prosecutors claimed that the embarrassing photos launched Redwine into a fit of rage, which ultimately resulted in the death of his son.

Redwine, who didn't testify at the trial, told investigators he left Dylan alone at home to run errands, and his son was gone when he returned.

When Dylan's mother, Elaine Hall, found out about her son's disappearance, she was immediately suspicious of the story given by her ex-husband Mark Redwine.

"He wouldn't just leave," Hall wrote in a text to her ex-husband two hours after Dylan was reported missing. "He would have called me. I am so suspect of you right now. How could he just disappear?"

The case gained nationwide publicity in 2013 when Mark Redwine and Elaine Hall appeared on the "Dr. Phil" show.

The Disappearance of Dylan Redwine Clip 1 www.youtube.com

Defense attorneys argued that the lewd photos have no connection to Dylan Redwine's death, and argued instead that the boy ran away and may have been killed by a wild animal, such as a bear or a mountain lion.

Dylan Redwine's partial remains were found in 2013 off an ATV trail less than 10 miles from Mark's home. A witness claimed that he saw Mark Redwine "hurtling down Middle Mountain Road one morning in April of 2013, days before the area was to be searched for the first time (once the snow cleared) since Dylan's disappearance in November of 2012."

Two years later, the boy's skull was discovered about 1.5 miles from where the rest of his remains were found, according to the Daily Beast.

Dylan's skull had two marks on it, which public defender John Moran suggested were tooth marks from an animal. Forensic anthropologist Diane France testified that Dylan suffered a fracture above his left eye, and said the injuries were likely caused by a knife or sharp tool at or near the time of death, Fox News reported.

Fred Johnson, special deputy district attorney, told jurors that a cadaver-sniffing dog alerted them to the smell of human remains in the back of Redwine's truck and on his clothing. He said investigators found traces of Dylan's blood in Redwine's living room.

"Dylan Redwine's blood was found in multiple locations of Mark Redwine's living room, including on the couch, the floor in front of the couch, the corner of the coffee table, on the floor beneath a rug, and a love seat," the indictment stated. "DNA testing showed that Dylan Redwine was the source of the blood on the love seat, and could not be eliminated as a contributor to the mixture found in the blood found on the couch, floor in front of the couch, the corner of the coffee table, and the blood found beneath the rug."

Redwine was arrested in Bellingham, Washington, following a grand jury indictment in 2017.

After being convicted, Redwine will next appear at his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for October.