Woman Tried Feeding Remains of Husband’s Ex-Girlfriend to Alligators After Couple Murdered Her
A North Carolina woman was convicted last week of helping her husband get rid of his ex-girlfriend’s dismembered body — first by trying to dissolve the remains in acid, then by throwing them into a Texas creek in the hopes alligators would eat them.
Amanda Perry Hayes, 46, was convicted of tampering with evidence, according to a press release from Fort Bend County prosecutors in Texas.
She and husband Grant Hayes had already been convicted of second- and first-degree murder, respectfully, in the 2011 death of Grant’s ex, Laura Ackerson, the release states. The couple killed Ackerson in their apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, before cutting up her body and transporting it in coolers to Hayes’ sister’s home in Richmond, Texas.
Once Ackerson’s body was in Richmond, the couple tried to use muriatic acid to destroy it. They then took it on a boat onto Oyster Creek and “dumped Laura’s body parts into the water with hopes that alligators would eat her remains.”
At trial, Amanda Hayes testified she didn’t kill Ackerson and only helped dispose of her body because her husband threatened to kill her. The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before rejecting her defense with their guilty verdict, the release states.
Prosecutor Amanda Bolin tells PEOPLE Amanda Hayes had admitted on the stand that she had never been physically abused by her husband, though Bolin says, “There’s evidence that Grant Hayes is a violent person and that he’d been violent with Laura [Ackerson].”
Amanda Hayes was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum allowable. She was ordered to serve the sentence consecutive to the 13 to 16 year sentence she received in North Carolina.
Grant Hayes is already serving a life sentence without parole in North Carolina for Ackerson’s murder, Bolin says, adding that Texas prosecutors saw no need to prosecute him for allegedly disposing of Ackerson’s body.
Bolin says that Ackerson was a “very independent, very bubbly” person who was “always smiling and happy.” At the time of her death, she had recently started two businesses related to graphic design.
She was a mother to two boys who were toddlers at the time of her death. “Nothing in the world meant more to her than those two little boys,” Bolin says.
PEOPLE’s call to Amanda Hayes’ attorney Patti Sedita was not immediately returned and it was unclear whether she plans to appeal.
Teen battling brain cancer told wig breaks school dress code
DALLAS, Texas – A Texas high school senior battling brain cancer has won the fight to wear her blue-black wig after school officials told her it was a violation of the dress code.
McKinney ISD, located north of Dallas, announced Sunday that they have reversed their decision and will allow Kate Pepper to wear the wig.
“I feel a relief, and I am honestly hoping that if anyone else is going through my circumstances that this will help them along the way as well,” Pepper told CNN affiliate KTVT.
Pepper, 17, has been battling her second bout of brain cancer. A week before her senior year, she made the tough decision to shave her long, braided hair, which had started falling out from cancer treatments. The teen documented her journey throughout her treatments on YouTube.
“Losing your hair is always the tough part about having cancer,” Pepper said in a YouTube video. “But at the end of the day, I know I can make it through and that my hair will grow back.”
Pepper was sad that she wouldn’t be able to express herself through her hairstyle the way she had in the past. But before the start of her senior year, she and her mother went wig shopping and found the perfect one.
“After a few days of us looking I was able to hide my baldness and show my strength with a two tone turquoise and black wig that symbolizes confidence, integrity and power, to help me weather through the storm,” she wrote in a letter to the school that her mother posted on Facebook.
“This wig makes me feel normal, confident and other wise pretty during a time in my life where I have so many things I can’t control. …. I’m empowered by wearing this wig although it’s subtle in color it gives me an abundance of strength and power to grieve the loss of my hair, and gives me the fortitude I need to fight this battle I’m facing with cancer.”
After administrators told her the color of the wig violated the dress code, her mother, Tyliece Pepper, took to social media to share her dismay and soon her story was featured on the local news.
It even caught the attention of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. “I support clear rules for students but I am asking McKinney ISD to create an exception to their dress code and allow Kate Pepper to wear her beautiful wig,” Patrick tweeted on Sunday. “I will send a formal communication to the district tomorrow.”
When officials announced she will be able to keep wearing her wig, Patrick sent out another statement in support for her.
“I am very glad to hear McKinney ISD has made an exception for Kate so she can wear her turquoise wig during treatment,” he tweeted. “Let’s keep Kate in our prayers.”
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/28/teen-battling-brain-cancer-told-wig-breaks-school-dress-code/
Man Accused of Serial Dining-and-Dashing, Leaving Women He Met Online To Foot Bill, Faces 10 Felony Counts
A man lambasted as the “dine-and-dash dater” after being accused of meeting women at restaurants across the Los Angeles area only to leave them with the bill pleaded not guilty to charges of theft and extortion on Monday, prosecutors said.
Paul Guadalupe Gonzales, 45, allegedly connected with a string of women through dating apps and websites and invited them out to dinner between May 2016 and this April with the intent of using them as a meal ticket, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
He arranged dates at restaurants in Pasadena, Long Beach, Burbank and Los Angeles, where he ordered and consumed food and drinks, then disappeared before the bill had been paid, the DA’s office said.
Eight women told prosecutors they’d footed the bill, one of them under the belief that Gonzales would pay her back. And at least twice, the restaurant paid its own check — making those businesses victims in the criminal complaint, officials said.
In total, Gonzales is accused of defrauding the women of more than $950.
He’s also charged with receiving hair salon services, then leaving before paying.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Gonzales on July 3, an inmate records show he was taken into custody Saturday, Aug. 25, in Pasadena.
He was subsequently charged with seven counts of extortion, two counts of attempted extortion and one count of grand theft — all felonies. He also faces two misdemeanor counts each of defrauding an innkeeper and petty theft.
If convicted as charged, the defendant could spend up to 13 years in state prison, prosecutors said.
Gonzales is scheduled to return to court in Pasadena for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 7.
Mom says bullies broke 6-year-old’s arm, beat him after he stood up for friend
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A 6-year-old Washington boy is recovering from serious injuries after he was allegedly attacked by a group of bullies.
“It’s been hell,” Dana English told KOMO. “I haven’t slept. I haven’t eaten. I can’t do anything. I can’t even leave his side.”
English says her 6-year-old son, Carter, was attacked by a group of kids at their apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon. Carter says it all started when he confronted the group for bullying his friend.
“They were just bullying him, like beating him up,” Carter said. “I just told them to stop, and then they did it to me.”
Family members say the bullies beat Carter with rocks and sticks and even rubbed sawdust in his eyes. He ended up with a broken arm, lacerated eye and several cuts and bruises across his face.
He had surgery on his eye and may need surgery on his arm.
According to KOMO, Olympia Police are investigating the incident. They reportedly have identified the 5-year-old they believe initiated the incident and are planning to involve social services.
Police reportedly told KOMO that “the case was briefly presented to the prosecutor’s office, but due to the age of everyone involved, the case will not result in a criminal referral.”
“Bullying is not okay,” English said. “There’s no reason to bully someone, ever.”
Family friends have started a GoFundMe account to help support Carter and his family during his recovery.
Boy, 9, kills himself after being bullied at school, mom says
DENVER – A Denver mom wants to shine a light on bullying and suicide after the death of her son last week.
Leia Pierce said her son killed himself in their home on Thursday. He was 9 years old.
Pierce says bullying was a factor in the death of her son, Jamel Myles. He started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School on Monday.
Pierce said he came out to her as gay over the summer.
“And he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, ‘Mom I’m gay.’ And I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, I still love you,” Pierce told KDVR.
Pierce said her son wanted to tell his classmates.
“He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” she said.
Pierce said when he came out, he opened up about wanting to dress more femininely.
“And he goes, ‘Can I be honest with you?'” Pierce said. “And I was like sure, and he’s like, ‘I know you buy me boy stuff because I’m a boy, but I’d rather dress like a girl.'”
On Thursday, four days into the school year, Jamel took his own life. Pierce found her son dead in their Denver home. She said he killed himself after being bullied.
“Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him,” Pierce said. “My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me.”
A letter from Denver Public Schools to families sent Friday said it’s providing extra social workers and its crisis team for students.
“I’m so upset that he thought that was his option,” Pierce said.
In the statement, the district said it will continue to offer support to the family.
Through the devastation, Pierce wants to spread awareness about the effects of bullying.
“We should have accountability for bullying. I think the child should. Because the child knows it’s wrong. The child wouldn’t want someone to do it to them. I think the parent should be held because obviously the parents are either teaching them to be like that, or they’re treating them like that,” she said.
She said she hopes no parent ever has to go through this pain because their child is different from everyone else.
The Denver Police Department is investigating the death as a suicide.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or depression, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. You can speak with someone who will provide free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn how to help someone in crisis, call the same number. You can also click here for additional hotlines within your state.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/27/denver-boy-killed-himself-after-being-bullied-at-school-mom-says/
NYCHA staffers accused of throwing sex parties on company time
NEW YORK — Staff at the Throggs Neck Houses are accused of taking part in after-hour orgies.
Residents said the parties were happening on company time when staff should have been working around the clock on emergency repairs in public house, but instead they allegedly threw sex parties involving supervisors, subordinates and, in some, cases residents.
“We had a collapsed line and we had 24-hour staff doing overtime and during those hours is when all of the drinking and sex was taking place,” said Monique Johnson, president of the the Throggs Neck Tenant Association.
Johnson said that after numerous complaints from both staff and residents, she brought the sex parties to the attention of NYCHA management. NYCHA did a clean sweep last week, transferring every employee who previously worked at the housing complex.
“It’s not enough that staff was moved from here. I want the staff to be held accountable,” Johnson said during a news conference Monday. “I don’t want them to go to other locations and misappropriate someone over there.”
Johnson said not all of the staff members took part in the parties, but NYCHA decided to clean house as they continue their investigation.
“We’ve had long-standing concerns about management and performance issues at Throggs Neck,” NYCHA spokesperson Robin Levine said in a statement. “Those concerns, coupled with troubling allegations of misconduct, are why the staff was reassigned. We can’t comment further on an ongoing investigation.”
The 29 buildings at the Throggs Neck Houses have been the subject of controversy since NYCHA found lead in 78 apartments in December but did not notify the tenants.
Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) has been harping on the Housing Authority since word got out and said this is the final straw for these residents.
“The residents of the Throggs Neck houses have endured so much and I think enough is enough,” he said. “It has to end.”
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/27/nycha-staffers-accused-of-throwing-sex-parties-on-company-time/
Judge temporarily blocks school from enforcing ‘natural hair’ policy
TERRYTOWN, La. (WGNO) — A district judge has intervened in the controversy at Christ the King school in Terrytown and ruled that the school cannot enforce a “natural hair” policy that has sparked outrage nationwide.
The parents of two sixth grade students at the Terrytown Catholic school filed a lawsuit this week after both students were sent home because one had braids in her hair and the other had extensions.
According to the lawsuit, both children, who are African-American, were harassed at school over their hairstyles and given reprimand letters that had to be signed by their parents. The school has a new policy for students to have only “natural” hair.
One of the students’ parents had to provide a doctor’s note about her child’s medical hair loss condition and agree to cut the extensions to the nape of the neck.
The other student’s mother talked with school administrators and agreed to restyle her daughter’s hair so that the braids wouldn’t extend beyond her shoulders, according to the lawsuit.
But the new style wasn’t enough for school administrators, who pulled the student out of the classroom the following week and asked her mother to pick her up from school, according to the lawsuit.
When the mother arrived, the school’s principal, Dawn Castillo, reportedly told her that the student’s braids were distracting because girls “have the tendency to twirl and flip their extensions,” the lawsuit states.
Her mother responded that young girls often flip and twirl their hair, whether it’s “natural” hair or not. Castillo reportedly responded by saying “it’s just something we want. We don’t want them wearing fake hair.”
That’s when the student’s family posted an Instagram video of the crying sixth-grader, which quickly went viral and made headlines across the country.
Archdiocese Catholic Schools Superintendent RaeNell Billiot Houston said the student’s mother chose to remove her from the school, but according to the lawsuit, the child’s tuition was canceled for the month of September, and the student has not been allowed to return to school.
The lawsuit accuses Christ the King of discrimination over its new policy and says “it has a disparate impact on the African American female population of students at Christ the King.”
“On information and belief, only the African American girls who attend Christ the King have been inspected, investigated, reprimanded and subsequently punished for wearing extensions.”
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/23/judge-temporarily-blocks-school-from-enforcing-natural-hair-policy/
White security guard accused of ordering ‘Trayvon Martini’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A white, off-duty security guard in a bar in Kansas City has been suspended after he was accused of ordering a “Trayvon Martini” from a black bartender.
The security firm Chesley Brown International said in a statement that it opened an internal investigation and removed the guard upon learning of the allegations.
The issue gained attention after a bartender Alobar Bandaloop at the Buzzard Beach bar wrote on Facebook Monday night that the guard ordered the drink, then described it including watermelon juice and one shot of vodka, explaining that “it only takes one shot to put him down!”
It was an apparent reference to Trayvon Martin, the black teen fatally shot in 2012 in Florida.
Bandaloop refused to serve him.
The man who ordered the drink has been identified as Mike Dargy Jr., CNN affiliate KCTV reports.
Officials with the Westport Regional Business League, which subcontracts with Chesley Brown, said, “If true, it is reprehensible. We have zero tolerance for that type of behavior in this welcoming district.”
When KCTV reporter Caroline Sweeney went to Buzzard Beach bar, no one wanted to talk about it.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/24/white-security-guard-accused-of-ordering-trayvon-martini/
Brooklyn road sign hacked with anti-Trump message
GREENPOINT, Brooklyn — A hacker needed just nine letters and a traffic sign in Greenpoint to send a powerful message directed at the president earlier this week.
“I’ve seen the traffic sign for a few days. It just seemed like a typical traffic sign for the bike path or the Pulaski Bridge,” resident Greg Kaplan said. “Then the words ‘F’ Trump appeared and there were a whole bunch of people here shooting it with their phones.”
Pictures with the vulgar message posted online received mainly positive reviews. But shortly after word began to spread, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) sent out a crew to take down the sign.
The agency said an independent contractor is responsible for maintaining the message, which was supposed to display details about work on the Pulaski Bridge.
Kaplan said he’s used to people finding creative ways to express their feelings about the president.
“Absolutely no surprise at all anywhere, but especially here in New York,” he said.
This isn’t the first time someone has hijacked traffic signs to target President Donald Trump.
In 2016, someone used a similar sign in Texas to call Trump a “shape-shifting lizard.” That was part of a series of traffic sign takeovers that included zombie warnings, commentary on Harambe the gorilla and a message telling drivers they could go back home because work was canceled.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/08/24/brooklyn-road-sign-hacked-with-anti-trump-message/
Mother arrested after police find body of missing 3-year-old stuffed in duffle bag
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The body of a young girl was found inside a duffle bag at an east valley apartment following reports of a missing 3-year-old girl Thursday night.
Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer said the girl was reported missing just before 9 p.m. on the 6800 block of East Lake Mead Boulevard near Hollywood Boulevard. Initial reports claimed the mother, later identified as 29-year-old Aisha Thomas, was walking to Albertson’s with her four children and was on the phone when one of her children went missing.
Detectives from Metro Police’s Missing Persons Detail responded and began searching the neighborhood. Detectives setup a command post in the parking lot of the Albertson’s for additional resources, Spencer said. Officers began looking for the girl inside Thomas’s apartment but were unable to find the child at first.
According to Spencer, officers then conducted a second search since Thomas’s story began showing inconsistencies. During the second search, officers noticed a heavy duffle bag inside the master bedroom’s closet that was “emitting a mildew smell.”
Spencer said the officers found garbage bags when they opened the duffle bag. After officers opened the garbage bags, they found the body of the missing 3-year-old.
Thomas was arrested and is facing one count of murder, Las Vegas police said. The other three children were placed in the care of Child Protective Services. According to Spencer, police believe the girl was killed within the last three days.
Four days ago, the girl’s father had been arrested after a domestic violence call was placed, according to Spencer.
Photo: Aisha Thomas (Photo: LVMPD)