Crime

Mercer law grad murder trial to start in April

Sunday, February 16th, 2014, 8:34am

Mercer law grad murder trial to start in April

MACON, Ga. -- Bibb Superior Court Judge Howard Simms says he's scheduled Stephen McDaniel's murder trial for April 28.

McDaniel is accused of killing his Mercer Law classmate and neighbor Lauren Giddings in June 2011.

His lawyers filed a change of venue request last month, and prosecutors agreed to it. However, Simms says he has not made a decision on moving the trial to a courthouse outside of Bibb. Another option would be to bring in jurors from another county in Georgia.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, January 17th, 2014, 12:38pm

6 vehicles involved in deadly rush hour wreck

NORCROSS, Ga. -- One driver was killed and and two others were hurt in a six-vehicle accident at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Singleton Road Thursday morning.

Gwinnett County police said it appears 22-year-old Jacob Nicholson of Gainesville was driving his blue Honda Odyssey too fast and in the wrong lane when he crashed into several cars stopped at the light.

Witnesses told 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie that the minivan went flying into the air and landed on a tan Honda Accord, killing its driver, 59-year-old Cynthia Thornton of Norcross.

"I think the little old lady, she didn't see it coming," said witness Mike Alvarado. "It was pretty bad."

Nicholson was ejected from his minivan. He is still in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical Center Friday morning.

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Submitted by Kevin Rowson, 11Alive Reporter

Thursday, January 9th, 2014, 12:32am

Suspect now tied to seven armed robberies in past month

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga -- A serial robber isn't making it hard for police to tie all of his robberies together. So far police believe the suspect has robbed seven gas stations or drug stores since December 10, 2013.

Five different police agencies have tied the cases together from surveillance video and descriptions from victims and witnesses in the seven robberies.

He walks into the stores and demands money from the clerk and then walks out with only a handful of cash. Police said he is rarely violent. In one robbery he knocked over a display case when the clerk didn't comply with his demands.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, December 20th, 2013, 8:08am

3 MS-13 members sentenced to life in prison

ATLANTA -- Three members of the MS-13 gang have been sentenced to life in prison for committing murders in two counties.

Ernesto Escobar, 30, of Norcross was sentenced Thursday in federal court. He goes by the street names "Flaco" and "Pink Panther."

Two co-defendants -- 25-year-old Miguel "Joker" Alvarado-Linares of Norcross and 30-year-old Dimas "Toro" Alfaro-Granados of Duluth -- were sentenced in October.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said the three men were charged with murder, attempted murder and armed robbery for several incidents in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

Evidence presented in court showed Alvarado-Linares and Alfaro-Granados killed a fellow MS-13 member in October 2006 because they believed the victim was cooperating with police.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, December 5th, 2013, 11:36am

PELHAM, Ala. -- Investigators believe two men arrested in Alabama last month are responsible for multiple car break-ins in metro Atlanta.

Oscar Moses Badger, 37, and Bobby Hanna, 24, were arrested Nov. 14 in Pelham, Ala. Police said they were caught trying to break into a car in a daycare center parking lot. They led Alabama authorities on a brief chase, but were soon captured.

Cherokee County (Ga.) Sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said investigators believe Badger and Hanna are behind at least six car break-ins at local parks and daycare centers in early November.

They may also be responsible for thefts in Gwinnett County and Peachtree City, Baker said.

Badger and Hanna are both from south Florida. At their time of their Alabama arrest, they were out of jail on bond for similar crimes in Pennsylvania and Texas. Because of this, they are being held on $2 million bond.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, November 1st, 2013, 11:05am

Lilburn teen arrested for hiding weapon near school

LILBURN, Ga. -- A 17-year-old Berkmar High School student was arrested after stashing a gun in some bushes near the campus.

Demarcus Connell Lewis Jr. was charged with being a person under 18 in possession of a pistol or revolver.

A witnessed told Lilburn police that on Wednesday, she saw a young man hide a pistol in some bushes adjacent to her workplace, which is next to the Berkmar High campus.

Investigators found the unloaded gun in the bushes and used surveillance video to identify Lewis as the student who placed it there, according to Lilburn police spokesperson Nikki Perry.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, August 2nd, 2013, 7:10pm

Cobb couple indicted for murdering grandfather

MABLETON, Ga. -- Two Mableton residents were indicted by a Cobb County Grand Jury for stabbing an elderly man to death.

Casey Collins and Sarah Cook face charges of murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and concealing a death in the May 2013 death of 78-year-old Edward Smith of Lilburn.

Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds said 30-year-old Collins and 23-year-old Cook strangled Smith with a belt and stabbed him in his truck. The victim was Collins' grandfather.

Both suspects are being held without bond in the Cobb County Jail. Their arraignment dates have not yet been set.

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