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Searchers Find Body of Shaniya Davis

2009-11-16T15:10:53Z

The body of a missing 5-year-old girl who was allegedly sold for sex by her mother has been found by searchers in a heavily wooded area about 40 miles from her Fayetteville home. Police did not say how Shaniya Davis was killed.

Her body was found southeast of Sanford, North Carolina, where she was last seen on video entering a hotel with a man. Read more...

Searchers Find Body of Shaniya Davis originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 15:10:53.

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Mother of Missing Girl Arrested

2009-11-16T02:18:37Z

The mother of a five-year-old North Carolina girl missing since last Tuesday has been arrested on charges of human trafficking, child abuse and prostitution, according to police reports. Antoinette Nicole Davis was arrested a day after Mario Andrette McNeill was charged with kidnapping Shaniya Davis.

Fayetteville police would not say if the human trafficking charges were related to Shaniya's disappearance, but reports filed in the case indicated they were. Read more...

Mother of Missing Girl Arrested originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 02:18:37.

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This Week's Top Crime Stories

2009-11-15T00:01:02Z

Below are the headlines from this week's top crime stories. Find out what others are saying about these cases in the Crime & Punishment Forum and add your comments and opinions.

Anchorwoman's Killer Avoids Death Penalty
Jury votes for life in prison.
More Serial Killer Victims Identified
Remains found in Cleveland home.
Former Astronaut Gets Probation
Lisa Nowak gets plea deal.
Evangelist Sentenced to 175 Years
Convicted in sexual abuse case.
Abortion Doctor's Killer Unrepentant
Scott Roeder confesses to "justified" murder.

^{Photo of Curtis Lavelle Vance: Police Mug Shot}

This Week's Top Crime Stories originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 00:01:02.

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Weekly Crime Poll: Life Sentences for Juveniles

2009-11-13T08:11:09Z

This week D.C. Sniper Muhammad was executed, however his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, was also convicted for murder in Virginia and Maryland. Because he was a juvenile at the time of the shootings, he was not eligible for the death penalty and instead received a life sentence.

Now the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether or not life sentences for juveniles are cruel and unusual punishments.

Poll: Do you think life sentences for juveniles should be unconstitutional?

Yes - Rehabilitate them and release them.

No - Do the crime, do the time.

Undecided - Depends on their age.

Man Convicted in Anchorwoman's Murder

2009-11-11T22:44:00Z

An Arkansas jury deliberated just two hours before finding Curtis Lavelle Vance guilty of all counts in connection with the brutal beating death of a popular morning Little Rock television anchorwoman. The same jury began deliberating whether or not to impose the death penalty of life in prison for the murder of Anne Pressly.

Pressly was beaten during a home invasion robbery and never regained consciousness before she died five days later. Read more...

Man Convicted in Anchorwoman's Murder originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 22:44:00.

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Lisa Nowak Avoids Jail in Plea Deal

2009-11-11T01:20:37Z

Former astronaut Lisa Nowak avoided trial and possible jail time by pleading guilty to lesser charges in a plea agreement in connection with her 2007 attack on a romantic rival at an Orlando airport parking garage. Nowak was sentenced to one-year probation.

Nowak was originally charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary of Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman's vehicle. Read more...

Lisa Nowak Avoids Jail in Plea Deal originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 01:20:37.

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D.C. Sniper Muhammad Executed

2009-11-11T00:34:15Z

Seven years after a series of sneak-attack sniper shootings terrorized the Washington D.C. area and left 10 people dead, the mastermind of the mass murders has been put to death. John Allen Muhammad was executed by the state of Virginia at 9:11 p.m. Tuesday.

Observers said Muhammad made no final statement before receiving a lethal injection. Read more...

D.C. Sniper Muhammad Executed originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 00:34:15.

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Court Ponders Life Sentences for Juveniles

2009-11-10T02:41:19Z

After previously deciding that the death penalty was unconstitutional for juveniles, making it possible for cold-blooded mass killers like D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to avoid execution, the U.S. Supreme Court is now considering whether or not life sentences for juveniles are cruel and unusual punishment.

Approximately 111 juveniles in the U.S. are currently serving life sentences. Read more...

Court Ponders Life Sentences for Juveniles originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 02:41:19.

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Venue Change Sought in Robert Manwill Case

2009-11-09T01:36:31Z

Attorneys for a 30-year-old Idaho woman and her boyfriend have requested a change in venue for their up-coming murder trial for the death of her 8-year-old son. Melissa Jenkins and Daniel Ehrlick each are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Robert Manwill.

Robert's body was found floating in an irrigation canal a week after he disappeared. Read more...

Venue Change Sought in Robert Manwill Case originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 01:36:31.

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'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Gets Plea Deal

2009-11-09T01:17:26Z

The founder of the soft porn "Girls Gone Wild" videos has accepted a plea agreement in his tax evasion case on the day before his trial was set to begin. Under the deal, Francis was sentenced to time already served and one year probation.

Francis will also have to pay $250,000 in restitution to the IRS. Read more...

'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Gets Plea Deal originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 01:17:26.

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