Mother's boyfriend allegedly beat her 3-year-old son to death — and officials say she turned a blind eye



Authorities allege that a Texas mother turned a blind eye to her boyfriend beating her 3-year-old son over a sustained period. Now the boy is dead — and his mother as well as her boyfriend are charged with capital murder.

An arrest warrant states that Christopher Alexander — the boyfriend of Chelsea Berg — brought 3-year-old Dawson Zamora to Medical City McKinney on Oct. 14, KFDA-TV reported.

'Chelsea knew that Dawson was demonstrating signs of severe illness and physical deterioration, yet neglected to remove Dawson from the dangerous situation and failed to obtain appropriate care for his injuries.'

Medical staff determined the child was covered in "apparent physical injuries in various stages of healing" and immediately became concerned about intentional trauma or abuse, the station said.

Witnesses then observed Alexander speaking in an agitated manner on the phone with Berg, who is Dawson's mother, KFDA reported.

Witnesses added that they could hear Berg making accusatory statements toward Alexander and Alexander saying he "had to get rough with the child and strike the child in the stomach while trying to wake him up," the station said.

RELATED: Female accused of stabbing her newborn baby to death: 'I have never seen anything this gruesome'

Documents indicate that Berg told detectives her son previously had been hospitalized for normal illnesses but added that she recently noticed bruising on his body, KFDA reported.

More from the station:

She indicated she thought the child's day care was responsible for the injuries. She also indicated that she trusted Alexander to watch Dawson and made statements to indicate she had "never seen anything alarming concerning Christopher and her children."

Documents state detectives showed Berg photographs of Dawson taken during the current incident, which included severe physical injuries throughout his head, chest, abdomen, back, and all extremities. Berg denied having seen most of the current injuries and was shocked by the severity of the injuries.

Documents indicate that Berg didn't suggest that Alexander was responsible for the abuse, KFDA said.

Soon Dawson was taken to Children's Medical Center Dallas, where medical staff determined that the child's injuries likely would result in death or permanent disabilities, the station said.

Detectives then got a search warrant for the apartment of Berg, Alexander, and Dawson, KFDA reported.

RELATED: Mom says white man kidnapped her 3-year-old daughter — then admits the gruesome truth

Documents also note that investigators collected evidence in the apartment suggesting someone may have been hurt — and there may have been an attempt to clean or conceal blood or other trace evidence, the station said.

What's more, through search warrants detectives downloaded data from multiple cell phones and electronic devices — and documents say detectives found evidence illustrating that Dawson suffered numerous injuries over the past months while alone with Alexander, KFDA reported.

Police added to the station that the evidence "clearly indicated that Chelsea observed the injuries on her child, knew that her child was continuously getting hurt with Christopher, and clearly knew the dangers that Christopher presented to her children."

In addition, documents added that "Chelsea knew that Dawson was demonstrating signs of severe illness and physical deterioration, yet neglected to remove Dawson from the dangerous situation and failed to obtain appropriate care for his injuries," KFDA reported.

Dawson died Sunday of his injuries, the station said.

KFDA, citing the arrest warrant, states that evidence indicates Alexander had been physically assaulting the boy over a period of at least 30 days — and that both Berg and Alexander noticed his visible injuries.

Police added to the station that evidence also suggests the couple feared Child Protective Services would investigate them if they sought medical treatment for Dawson. In addition, KFDA noted that the couple "deliberately omitted pertinent information about the cause of the child's injuries" at one point, according to documents.

Berg was arrested Monday — the day after her son's death — and charged with capital murder, the station said, adding that Alexander's charges were upgraded to capital murder.

KFDA noted that a Texas capital murder conviction is punishable by death or life in prison.

Berg and Alexander were first arrested in October and charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony, KTVT-TV reported, adding that Alexander also was charged with tampering with evidence.

Berg had been out of jail on bond until she was arrested again Monday, KTVT said, adding that Alexander remained in the Collin County Jail.

Dawson's father, Dahrian Zamora, confirmed his son's death Sunday in a social media post, KTVT said, adding that Dahrian's birthday also was on Sunday.

"His gift to me was his final breath, and we are now forever interlocked with my birth and his death," Dahrian Zamora wrote on Facebook, KTVT added. "He held on to spend one last birthday with me and refused to go until then."

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Mother, 26, accused of sexual encounter with 14-year-old boy in car — while her 3 children were present



A 26-year-old South Carolina mother was arrested Monday morning after being accused of a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old boy in a vehicle while her three children were present, WBTW-TV reported.

Lake City Police charged Aladrian Chandler with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, the station said.

'Disgusting. ... And to do it with your children in the vehicle and take away their innocence?!?!'

Chandler acknowledged a sexual encounter, WBTW said, citing a police report — but she denied having intercourse and said she believed the boy was older than he told her.

The station said the report indicates the boy told officers that he and Chandler met while she was delivering food, and they exchanged phone numbers and began texting each other. The alleged incident occurred Nov. 16, WBTW reported.

Police began investigating two days after the alleged incident after Chandler reported that a gun had been stolen from her vehicle, the station said.

The report added that during the investigation, Chandler gave police a written statement saying the boy took the gun out of her car when she went to a friend’s house to talk about how the boy had been talking to her, WBTW reported.

Florence County Detention Center records indicate Chandler remained behind bars Wednesday morning on no bond.

RELATED: Mother chaperoned junior high dance — then had a baby with her daughter's teen date: Court docs

Image source: Lake City (S.C.) Police

A number of commenters under WBTW's Facebook post about the incident were taken aback by the accusations against the mother of three:

  • "People are getting sicker and sicker," one commenter wrote.
  • "What the hell!!!" another user exclaimed.
  • "Real classy," another commenter noted. "People make me sick."
  • "Pedophilia at its finest," another user observed. "Disgusting. ... And to do it with your children in the vehicle and take away their innocence?!?! How shameful and sickening."

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Florida man exits bed in middle of night for car break-in alert. Then he goes after crook — still wearing superhero pajamas.



Police in Cape Coral, Florida, said officers responded just after 2 a.m. Wednesday to a burglary in progress at a home in the southeast part of the city.

Kyle Myvett told detectives he had gone to bed when his home security cameras alerted him to someone breaking into his vehicle, police said.

'Thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor in his Batman pajamas, another burglary suspect was put behind bars.'

Presumably without a second to spare, Myvett never bothered to change out of his pajamas before going into superhero mode.

Yup, he was still dressed in his Batman PJs when he ventured outside to investigate — and observed the suspect rummaging through his truck, police said.

The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Justin Schimpl, police said.

Detectives determined that Schimpl allegedly broke into Myvett's vehicle — as well as his neighbor's vehicle — and stole multiple items, including two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses valued at $300 each, a woman’s wristlet, cash, and more than $500 in gift cards, police said.

"Thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor in his Batman pajamas, another burglary suspect was put behind bars," police said.

As you can see, not all heroes wear capes; sometimes their bedtime duds just don't include them.

Image source: Cape Coral (Fla.) Police Department

Schimpl claimed another male was with him, but the name of that male changed multiple times, police said.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office helicopter as well as a Cape Coral Police Department K-9 searched the area, police said, but no other suspects were located.

Police said Schimpl was arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail on the following charges:

  • two counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (unarmed), a third-degree felony;
  • one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling, a second-degree felony;
  • two counts of petit theft under $750, a first-degree misdemeanor from a prior conviction.

Jail records indicate the total bond is for $40,000; Schimpl's next court date is Sept. 29.

Police also said Schimpl is "known to law enforcement from prior investigations."

You certainly might say that. Here's a look at Schimpl's mug shots dating back over the last two years:

Image source: Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

The charges against him from his previous arrests include:

  • weapon offense — missile into dwelling, vehicle, building, or aircraft;
  • resist officer;
  • battery;
  • probation violation;
  • drug possession;
  • larceny — petit theft;
  • grand theft of a firearm;
  • dealing stolen property.

Jail records show he's scheduled for a hearing on a charge of grand theft of a firearm on September 16.

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2 female suspects jailed over Cincinnati mob attack get big breaks from judge



Two females who've been in jail over their alleged roles in last month's Cincinnati mob attack got big breaks Thursday on their respective bonds.

Dekyra Vernon, 24, has been behind bars since July 29 — three days after the beatdown caught on video in which several men were pummeled in the street, and a woman known as Holly was punched in the face by a male and knocked flat on her back, seemingly out cold.

'This is Holly. She wanted to have a nice evening out with friends. Instead, she got this.'

It appears Vernon allegedly is the individual seen on video punching Holly from behind prior to the male punching Holly in the face. WXIX-TV, citing criminal complaints, reported that Vernon "struck [the] victim in the face with a closed fist prior to the victim becoming unconscious from the attack."

Cellphone video (1:34 mark) shows Holly, who's wearing a blue dress, apparently trying to intervene on behalf of a beaten-up man, but instead another female punches her from behind — and seconds later, a male punches her in the face, knocking her flat on her back on the street.

Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio shared on X grisly images of Holly's face after the beatdown.

RELATED: Cincinnati official who said mob attack victims 'begged' for beating doubles down; woman punched in face records tearful clip

"This is Holly," Moreno wrote in his post, which has been viewed nearly 4 million times as of Thursday afternoon. "She wanted to have a nice evening out with friends. Instead, she got this."

Aisha Devaughn, 25, has been in jail since last Wednesday. WXIX in a separate story indicated that sources said Devaughn is the "woman seen in the viral video wearing a white bodysuit, stomping and kicking a victim on the ground."

WXIX embedded two screenshots from that video — which you can view here — in its story, and the clip allegedly shows Devaughn in action.

Around the 9-second mark, a woman dressed in a short, white bodysuit comes into frame and delivers at least three stomps upon a male victim lying in the street. But around the 17-second mark, someone pulls the woman away — and what appears to be a wig is ripped from the top of her head.

At the 1:27 mark, the woman in the white bodysuit reappears — with the wig back on — and she's seen apparently making physical contact with Holly just after another female punches Holly from behind — and just before a male punches Holly in the face, knocking her flat on her back.

Vernon and Devaughn — along with four male suspects — were indicted on eight charges each last week in connection with the mob attack: three counts of felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated riot. They all face nearly 30 years in jail if convicted on all charges.

But on Thursday morning, the bonds for Vernon and Devaughn were significantly lowered after they went before Judge Alan Triggs, WCPO-TV reported.

Vernon had been held on a $200,000 secure bond, but the station said Triggs lowered it to $25,000 — and she only needs to cough up 10% of that, or $2,500. Fox News said cheers were heard in the gallery after Vernon's bond was lowered. Hamilton County court records show Vernon has no prior criminal convictions in the county, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Devaughn had been held on a $300,000 secure bond, but WCPO said Triggs also lowered it to $25,000, of which — as in Vernon's case — she only needs to pay 10%, or $2,500. Fox News added that Devaughn's attorney cited her lack of prior felonies.

Blaze News on Thursday reached out to Prosecutor Kip Guinan for comment regarding the lowered bonds for Vernon and Devaughn; the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office replied to Blaze News that it's not commenting on the case outside the courtroom as it "remains under investigation by the Cincinnati Police Department."

Mob-attack suspect Patrick Rosemond — who was arrested Aug. 4 in Fulton County, Georgia, and is "accused of hitting the victim named Holly," WLWT-TV reported — was not in court Thursday as prosecutors said the 38-year-old was being extradited from Georgia and wasn't ready to appear on the day's docket, WCPO said.

RELATED: Cincinnati councilwoman suggests mob attack on white victims was justified: ‘They begged for that beatdown!’

Patrick Rosemond. Image source: Fulton County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

Mob-attack suspects Dominique Kittle, 37, Jermaine Matthews, 39, and Montianez Merriweather, 34, did appear in court Thursday morning, but WCPO said the judge didn't lower their bonds.

RELATED: Mother of Cincinnati mob attack suspect defends 'honor roll' son, 34, charged with felonious assault, aggravated riot

(L to R) Dominique Kittle, Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather. Image source: Hamilton County (Ohio) Sheriff

WLWT-TV reported that the prosecutor's office said Kittle "approached the victim ... struck him from behind, [and] attempted to take a wallet from him. When he was unable to do that, he started to walk away, and then turned around and knocked the prosecuting witness out." Kittle's bond was set at $150,000, the station said.

Police said Matthews is seen on video “punching and stomping on [a] victim with his hands and feet attempting to cause serious physical harm,” WXIX-TV reported, citing a criminal complaint. Matthews also is accused of dragging an unconscious person into the middle of the street and punching and assaulting a victim, the station said. Matthews' bond was set at $270,000, after which he bonded out of jail, WXIX said.

Matthews’ attorney said during Thursday's hearing that his client was "slapped" by a white male, Fox News reported.

Matthews apparently is no stranger to law enforcement. Here's what WXIX said about him in a separate story:

Matthews is a convicted felon who pleaded guilty in 2009 to two counts of cocaine possession and a single count of cocaine trafficking, court records show.

He was sentenced to three years in prison.

During each of his two separate arrests in those cases — in December 2008 and February 2009 — police said Matthews tried to swallow a bag of crack cocaine but spit it out after being shocked with a Taser stun gun.

Merriweather was "identified on video punching [the] victim while co-defendants are stomping the victim in the head," WXIX reported, citing criminal complaints.

Merriweather also has been in trouble with the law before.

In fact, Merriweather was indicted July 10 on four felony charges after investigators said he was found in possession of a stolen firearm, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Court records indicate he was charged with carrying concealed weapons, receiving stolen property, improper handling of firearms in a vehicle, and weapons under disability, the paper noted. The weapons under disability charge stems from a 2009 felony conviction for aggravated robbery, the Enquirer added, citing documents.

But after his July 10 indictment, Merriweather was released upon posting 10% of a $4,000 bond, the paper said.

"He never should have been out," Ken Kober, Cincinnati police union president, told the Enquirer.

Merriweather's bond in connection with his mob attack charges was set at $500,000, the Enquirer reported.

What's more, a federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted Merriweather for illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

A seventh mob-attack suspect — 32-year-old Gregory Wright — didn't appear in court Thursday, WCPO reported, adding that Wright is accused of stealing a necklace off the neck of an alleged assault victim.

RELATED: 8 mainstream news outlets that REFUSED to cover Cincinnati mob attack

Gregory Wright. Image source: Hamilton County (Ohio) Sheriff

Unlike the other six suspects, Wright was charged with aggravated riot and aggravated robbery, WXIX-TV reported. Jail records indicate his bond is $100,000.

All seven of the suspects have pleaded not guilty, Fox News said.

Guinan said in court Thursday there are more videos from city cameras that show new angles of the mob attack that haven't yet been made public, Fox News added. Guinan also said alleged racial slurs spoken toward perpetrators were said nearly two minutes after the attack began, the cable network added.

Cincinnati black leaders want charges brought against a white male who was seen on video slapping the face of a black male just before the July 26 beatdown began.

Fox News said police chief Teresa Theetge last week noted that the white male in question is "represented by counsel" and that his counsel said "they did not want the police talking to his client. So therefore, we have not had a conversation with him yet."

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Dad visits 'the Adult Shoppe' while his kids sit in 125-degree car for almost an hour, cops say



Police in Phoenix, Arizona, told KSAZ-TV they responded Thursday afternoon to a parking lot of a business near 24th and Madison Streets regarding multiple children inside a vehicle that was not running.

Police told the station it was about 104 degrees outside at the time — and around 125 degrees inside the car.

After Largo reportedly exited the shop through the back door, officers asked if the car was his, and he shook his head 'no.'

Police added to KSAZ that the car was locked and its windows were rolled up, but they were able to gain entry and secure four children — ages 2, 3, 4, and 7 — who were placed into an air-conditioned police SUV and given water.

RELATED: Florida teen mom allegedly endangers her crying 2-year-old so she can watch 'Smurfs' movie in peace

Image source: Phoenix police

Police told the station that all of the children's internal temperature readings were near 100 degrees. Phoenix Police Sgt. Rob Scherer added to KSAZ that the children showed "signs of distress" such as bright-red skin and sweating: "Clearly, the heat was affecting the children."

After the children were taken to a hospital, police said they found the children's father — 38-year-old Ascencio Largo — "inside of a nearby business. It was later learned that Largo entered this business just short of an hour prior to police arrival on scene," KSAZ reported.

Court documents allege that Largo was inside an adult store called the Adult Shoppe, the station said.

RELATED: 'Break it!' Bodycam video shows moment cops save crying little kids locked in dangerously hot car for nearly an hour

After Largo reportedly exited the shop through the back door, officers asked if the car was his, and he shook his head "no," KTVK-TV reported, citing court papers. But officers followed him, and there were police and fire trucks near the Nissan — and Largo remarked, “Oh, s**t," KTVK added.

"The facts of the scenario, as alleged by the police, are rather shocking," Maricopa County Commissioner Jane McLaughlin said during Largo's court appearance, according to KSAZ. "The police allege that they went into the store, called out many times. Nobody came out. And they allege that when you came out, you attempted to pretend like it wasn't your car. It just indicates a strong level of reckless culpability of knowing. It's difficult to say that anybody who grew up in Arizona doesn't know that children and dogs die in closed cars."

What's more, court documents also note that police smelled alcohol on Largo, KSAZ said, adding that his driver's license has an ignition interlock restriction — but his car did not have the device.

RELATED: 3-year-old girl dies after being found in hot car with unconscious mom during 104-degree day, police say

McLaughlin added that "what the police are alleging could have resulted in, you know, the kind of story that gets picked up on international newswires: 'Man goes into porno store leaving his four children to die in their car,'" KSAZ reported.

Largo is facing eight felony child abuse and endangerment charges, KTVK reported. According to KSAZ, they break down to four counts of child abuse and four counts of endangerment.

The state asked for a $50,000 bond, citing Largo’s previous criminal history, which includes a prior extreme DUI, according to KTVK.

Largo is ordered to stay away from his children if he posts bail, which was set at $5,000, KTVK said, adding that a judge said they were under the care of their mother.

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Thugs rob teen of his iPhone, Nike sneakers; but boy's family finds 1 suspect — and delivers painful payback: Cops



A 14-year-old boy was walking near a bus stop in Chicago one afternoon last month when four males approached him, CWB Chicago reported, citing authorities.

One of the males asked for his sweater, authorities said, according to the outlet. But when the boy ignored them and kept walking, the same male allegedly picked him up — after which the boy punched the male in defense, CWB Chicago reported, citing authorities.

The outlet said that about five minutes after the robbery, the boy and his mother went to the house where two of the suspects had been seen entering.

With that, a second male allegedly rifled through the boy’s pockets and stole his iPhone, Nike gym shoes, and hoodie, the outlet said, adding that the Chicago Police Department report said the items are worth between $1,200 and $1,450.

RELATED: Thug carjacks a grandmother as her 6-year-old grandson looks on. But crook soon gets his comeuppance.

Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Authorities said the teen ran barefoot to his grandmother’s home nearby, and police were notified shortly afterward, the outlet said, citing the arrest report.

More from CWB Chicago:

Part of the attack was caught on video, prosecutors said in a detention proffer. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the boy fleeing the scene without his shoes and entering his grandmother’s house. It also captured two of the suspected offenders running into a building in the 3600 block of West Grenshaw Street, while the other two fled down an alley.

The victim told his mother he recognized one of the robbers by a tattoo above his left eyebrow and said he remembered seeing the man at a facility where his mother works. She identified that person as Dnario Brown, according to police.

The outlet said that about five minutes after the robbery, the boy and his mother went to the house where two of the suspects had been seen entering.

CWB Chicago reported that the teen got back his iPhone and hoodie at this location. The outlet, citing the detention proffer, added that Brown was “beaten up by members of [the boy’s] family" at this location as well.

Police from the city of Burbank — which is located near the southwest side of Chicago — responded to the scene and detained Brown until Chicago police arrived, the outlet noted, citing the arrest report.

RELATED: 'I'll blow your head off': Carjacking victim threatened crook after turning the tables on him. Now carjacker learns his fate.

Lloyd Fox/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Brown, 18, was charged with robbery in connection with the June 16 incident, CWB Chicago reported.

Judge Ankur Srivastava during a bond hearing ordered Brown held in custody pending trial, the outlet said. Brown had been arrested four prior times in connection with violent crimes and already was facing charges in an unrelated pending case at the time of the robbery, CWB Chicago reported, citing the judge’s detention order.

According to Cook County Jail information, Brown's next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, and no bond amount is listed.

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Male, female — both just 17 years old — accused in road rage shooting



A male and female — both just 17 years old — were charged in connection with a road rage shooting in Georgia.

Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office — with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office — said they arrested Miranda Myers of the 200 block of Gustav Court in North Augusta as well as Cameron Howard of the 4100 block of Sapling Lane in Augusta for a road rage shooting that took place just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 20 at mile marker 196.

There was no word on what sparked the incident, the station reported.

A driver told police he was heading west on I-20 when a white female — Myers — pulled up beside him in a blue Tesla, WJBF-TV reported. The driver said a black male passenger — Howard — pointed a gun out of the window and fired five to six shots at his car, the station added.

RELATED: Road-rage suspect uses hatchet to repeatedly smash windows of crashed car — and the act is caught on cellphone video

Image source: Richmond County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

Richmond County Sheriff’s Office officials found a gray Toyota Camry with multiple bullet holes, WJBF reported.

The station said the Tesla left the scene, taking exit 194 — Belair Road — in Columbia County.

One victim was shot once in his ankle, WJBF said, and the other victim was shot once in her left shoulder.

Both victims were taken to Doctors Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, the sheriff's office said.

There was no word on what sparked the incident, the station reported.

Myers and Howard both were charged with two counts of aggravated assault, the sheriff's office said, adding that Howard also was charged with one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

RELATED: Road rage suspect opens fire on fellow motorist in Chicago, cops say. But victim is a concealed carrier — and wins shootout.

Image source: Richmond County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

The sheriff's office on Monday afternoon told Blaze News that both Myers and Howard are in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on their listed charges. The sheriff's office added to Blaze News that there is no bond for aggravated assault, and they will be held until their first court appearance, where bond will be determined or denied.

The following is a sampling of comments about the arrests on the sheriff's office Facebook page:

  • "Man they’re so young!" one commenter said. "They have no idea how this one act will haunt them for the rest of their lives. I’m glad they were caught, and I hope this is a lesson learned, and it stops here."
  • "Whoever owns the Tesla has money and will be bailing one of them, if not both, out," another user said. "My guess is ... their money will pay for the charges to be reduced to misdemeanors, and they’ll never really be held accountable because 'they can’t ruin their lives.' I’ve seen it too many times, and rarely do the kids not repeat or do worse subsequently."
  • "I pray every time I’m on the road for God’s safe watch and protection," another commenter said. "My grandbabies are with me so much of the time, and these are the kind of drivers on the road with you!"

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Man dumps girlfriend; she reacts by secretly marrying him without his consent or knowledge — then she lands in jail



After a Texas man dumped his girlfriend, the breakup reportedly didn't stop her from going behind her ex-boyfriend's back to marry him without his knowledge. However, the ex-girlfriend ended up going to jail for allegedly stalking her former lover.

Beverly Hills Chief of Police Kory Martin said a 42-year-old man contacted the police department on June 13 to report that he returned home and found a package from his ex-girlfriend on his property, Law & Crime reported.

Chief Martin said the alleged victim was 'going through a significant process to try to fix this at this point, so that's a whole [different] situation.'

The package was a "gift bag from Bath & Body Works," which contained products from the personal care and home fragrance retail chain, the outlet added.

The package also had some surprising contents.

One item was a photo of his ex-girlfriend — 36-year-old Kristin Marie Spearman — "holding what appears to be a marriage license showing them married and officiated by a local reverend," People magazine reported.

The package also had a copy of the marriage certificate filed with the McLennan County Clerk’s Office, Law & Crime added.

RELATED: Florida woman, who doused herself in Diet Mountain Dew to tamper with evidence, learns her fate in murder of elderly roommate

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The anonymous victim told police that he never got married to Spearman.

He told police he went with Spearman to get a marriage license on June 2. However, the couple reportedly got into an argument, they allegedly broke up, and their marriage never happened.

According to police, the man told Spearman that "he did not want to be in a relationship" with her any longer.

Investigators suspect that Spearman convinced a reverend to certify her marriage, even though the groom wasn't in attendance or even aware that he was getting married.

"It was found during a follow-up investigation with the reverend that Kristin Spearman pursuant to the scheme of obtaining a marriage certificate convinced the reverend to certify the victim and Kristin in the Holy Union of Matrimony without the knowledge of the victim and his required presence," police said, according to Law & Crime.

According to McLennan County’s website, both parties “must appear in person” and have valid identification to apply for a marriage license.

RELATED: Man once tried to outrun police on a mule — now he's in jail for allegedly weaponizing a raccoon

Chief Martin told KWKT-TV, "At first, we were really considering that it may be some forged documents. However, once we made contact with the reverend who ended up signing the actual ceremony, showing that they were unified, he basically, you know, solidified the fact that, yeah, the groom was not present when that occurred."

He added to the station that "I don't think in 23 years I've never heard of anybody who managed somehow to get married to someone who wasn't present for a ceremony."

The Beverly Hills Police Department did not release the identity of the marriage officiant.

Chief Martin said the alleged victim was "going through a significant process to try to fix this at this point, so that's a whole [different] situation."

Police took Spearman to the McLennan County Jail after obtaining an arrest warrant for third-degree felony stalking, KWKT said.

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Homeowner charged with murder after HS senior fatally shot amid what surviving teens say was 'ding-dong ditch' prank



A Virginia homeowner has been charged with murder after a high school senior was fatally shot amid what surviving teenagers said was a "ding-dong ditch" doorbell prank in the middle of the night over the weekend.

Tyler Chase Butler, 27, of Spotsylvania County was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said, adding that Butler was being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.

'It has been very emotional, honestly. We graduate next week.'

The sheriff's office said it received a call around 3 a.m. Saturday for a residential burglary in progress, during which a resident had fired shots. Officials said deputies responded to the area of McKenzie Lane and discovered that two people were wounded by gunfire and a third person was unharmed.

One of the wounded — 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr. — was taken to a hospital, where he died, officials said. The second wounded individual — a juvenile — was treated and released, officials said. The third involved person — another juvenile — will remain unnamed, the sheriff's office said.

Turns out, Bosworth Jr. was a senior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, where he played lacrosse, football, and also wrestled, his stepfather told WRC-TV.

Not only was Bosworth shot just hours before his school's prom, WRC said, but also adding to the tragedy is that one of the juveniles shot at over the weekend told detectives they were playing a "ding-dong ditch" prank during which they ring doorbells and run away, hoping someone answers the door with nobody there, WJLA-TV reported.

WJLA said it obtained search warrants for the cell phones of the two surviving juveniles, and the aforementioned juvenile said the three of them had performed the "ding-dong ditch" prank at a few homes, took at least one video of them carrying it out, and were planning to post their videos on TikTok as part of a social media trend.

The juvenile in question told detectives that they ran away and tried to hide after doing a "ding-dong ditch" at the home where Butler lives — and then the shooting commenced, WJLA reported.

Both surviving juveniles were read Miranda Warnings, WJLA said, but neither of them were charged, and at least one voluntarily handed over a phone to a detective.

Sheriff's Office Capt. Charles Carey told WJLA the initial 911 call indicated that three people allegedly were trying to break into Butler's home by kicking in the back door.

Khamoni Keys told WJLA he was on the freshman football team with Bosworth and is a friend of the other juvenile who was wounded: "[Bosworth] wasn't ever scared to show how he felt about things. He was a very passionate person about stuff. It's sad he had to go the way he did, but I know his family won't be by themselves. We will all be there for them as well. I went to the hospital that morning when I heard one of my closer friends got shot."

Massaponax High School Principal William Lancaster III sent a letter to families after the shooting, WJLA said, adding that it noted Bosworth's death and said counseling resources would be made available to students.

What's more, Tuesday night was the annual senior sunset at the high school — and what was normally a fun event to celebrate students' upcoming graduation was decidedly somber, WJLA said.

"It has been very emotional, honestly. We graduate next week," Keys told WJLA. "It has been very rough, like I said, but I think we will all get through it if we stay together the way we are. That's how it is right now at the senior sunset. We're all together. No one's alone. We're just taking time to all mourn together instead of taking it by ourselves."

You can view a video report here covering the incident and reactions to it.

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Thug asks DoorDash driver for cash, then suddenly stabs him in face, chest — and steals his car, heads to strip club: Report



A male in north Texas reportedly was asking a DoorDash driver for money late last month when the male suddenly and repeatedly stabbed the driver in the face and chest. But that wasn't all.

Soon the suspect reportedly stole the DoorDash driver's vehicle — and then took it for a joyride to a local strip club before police arrested him.

'I learned that night you’ve got to be very careful about who you’re willing to help out because sometimes they will take advantage of that good nature.'

Jackson Oltmanns told KDFW-TV he was waiting on a to-go order at a Waffle House off West Rendon Crowley Road in Fort Worth when he said someone knocked on his car window asking for money.

With that, the 28-year-old told the station he decided to order the man some food and was "acting out of my good nature and just trying to be nice."

But Oltmanns added to KDFW that "literally the second I open my door to step out, he just starts stabbing me."

The station said the male — later identified by the Fort Worth Police Department as Quindarius Cartwright — swiped at Oltmanns nearly a dozen times.

Cartwright cut Oltmanns on his face and chest, KDFW said, adding that the victim was able to fight off the suspect.

Then the suspect reportedly stole Oltmanns' car — and took it for a joyride to a strip club in north Fort Worth before police arrested him, the station said.

"[I] genuinely thought I was going to die, it was so much blood," Oltmanns added to KDFW. "I walked in Waffle House, and they were freaking out. I mean, I’m sure it’s probably a traumatic thing for anyone to watch. Most of the stab wounds, like to the body, weren’t really too bad; it was just when he stabbed me in the face that it was ... really bad."

What's more, Oltmanns told the station he recently purchased his 2024 Toyota Camry and is working several jobs, including DoorDash.

His new car has seen better days.

"He definitely hit something pretty good, and it’s messed up the wheel," Oltmanns lamented in regard to his vehicle. "I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked for money by homeless people or just people out on the streets, and typically, [I] just to want to do a good thing for them, but I learned that night you’ve got to be very careful about who you’re willing to help out because sometimes they will take advantage of that good nature."

Cartwright was charged with aggravated robbery and remained in jail Wednesday afternoon on a $150,000 bond.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

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