Crime / Punishment

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Crime / Punishment

Cases Closed or Adjudicated

Former "current" crime stories and famous cases in the headlines that have now been closed and/or adjudicated.
The Prison Sentence of O.J. Simpson
On Dec. 5, 2008, Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass sentenced O.J. Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart for their conviction for the kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino motel room.
The Beheading of 'Precious Doe'
On April 28, 2001, the nude, decapitated body of 3-year-old girl was found near an intersection in Kansas City, Missouri. Two days later her head, which had been removed with hedge clippers, was found nearby in a plastic garbage bag.
Los Angeles Killer Grannies Target Homeless Men
In June 2006, two elderly Los Angeles women, who became known as the Killer Grannies, were arrested and later indicted by a federal grand jury on nine charges related murder for insurance fraud.
Top Crime Stories of 2007
The top crime stories that got the most attention in 2007 included a campus massacre, a rape that never took place, a jury that could not come to a decision, a missing boy found after five years, an old defendant back in trouble again, a spaced out love triangle, a 1964 case finally closed and finally justice for the girl in the pink hat.
The Case of Michael Devlin
On January 13, 2007, police serving another warrant in an St. Louis apartment complex spotted a pickup truck that matched the description of one involved in the kidnapping of 13-year-old Ben Ownby four days earlier.
The Darren Mack Case
On June 12, 2006, family court Judge Chuck Weller was shot in the chest through the window of his third-floor courthouse office in Reno, Nevada, by a sniper. On the same day, Charla Mack, wife of successful pawn-shop operator Darren Mack, was found stabbed to death her condo.
Taylor Behl
The profile of Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, left her dormitory room Sept. 5, 2005 to give her roommate some privacy with her boyfriend, and who was never seen alive again.
The Appeals of Wayne Williams
Between 1979 and 1981, 29 children and young black men were killed in a series of murders that terrorized the community in a case known as the Atlanta Child Killings.
The Call to Police - The Andrea Yates Case
Andrea Yates made a call to police after killing her children. Here is a copy of the transcript of the call from Andrea Yates to police.
The Murder of Dru Sjodin
An attractive 22-year-old University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin abducted from the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Nov. 22, 2003 and was never seen alive again.
The Trial of Andrea Yates
In 2002, Andrea Yates was convicted of murder for three of the deaths of her five children who were found drowned in her home in 2001. In April 2005, her conviction was overturned on appeal because of an error in the testimony of an expert witness for the prosecution in the first trial.
The Murder of Pamela Vitale
On Oct. 18, 2005, famous defense attorney Daniel Horowitz returned home from work to find this wife, Pamela Vitale, 52, bludgeoned to death in the entry way of the mobile home the couple was living in while building their dream home nearby. Evidence at the scene suggested Vitale had fought violently with her attacker.
Profile of Andrea Yates
A profile of Andrea Yates, her life, her marriage to Rusty Yates, and the tragic events that led up to her drowning her five children.
The Murder of Taylor Behl
Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond left her dormitory room Sept. 5, 2005 to give her roommate some privacy with her boyfriend. She took a cell phone, some cash, a student ID and her car keys.
The Barton Corbin Case
On Dec. 4, 2004 Jennifer Corbin was found shot once in the head in her Buford, Georgia home with a handgun beside her. Her 7-year-old son discovered her body and reportedly told police that his dad, Dr. Barton Corbin, had killed his mom.
Top Crime Stories of 2006
The top crime stories getting the biggest headlines in 2006 include one crime that may never have taken place, a confession in a sensational cold case that turned out to be false, several criminal trials that did not take place, and a book that was not published.
The Scott Peterson Trial
Scott Peterson is charged with the murder of his pregnant wife Laci Denise Peterson and their unborn son Conner Peterson sometime between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2002.
Scott Peterson Gets Death Penalty
The jury in the Scott Peterson murder trial deliberated for 12 hours over three days before returning an unanimous recommendation that Peterson receive the death penalty for the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson.
The Peterson Verdict: Special Circumstances
When the jury in the Scott Peterson trial returned a verdict of first degree murder of his wife Laci Peterson with the finding of special circumstances, it may have signaled which sentence the jury may recommend in the sentencing phase of the trial.
Profile of Amber Frey
A profile of Amber Frey, ex-mistress of accussed murderer, Scott Peterson, her relationship with him, her cooperation with the police, dealings with opportunist, the press onslaught, and where her life is today.
Items Found in Scott Peterson's Car
These are the articles that police found in Scott Peterson's vehicle after police arrested him in San Deigo, April 18, 2003, according to court documents.
Scott Peterson Guilty of First-Degree Murder
Scott Peterson has been found guilty of of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and second-degree murder in the death of his unborn son Conner.
Circumstantial Evidence: The Scott Peterson Trial
The trial of Scott Peterson for the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn child Conner is a classic example of a prosecution based almost solely on circumstantial evidence, rather than direct evidence.
The Michael Jackson Case
Pop singer Michael Jackson faces charges of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, three counts of committing lewd acts upon a child, attempted lewd acts upon a child, and four counts of administering intoxicating agents to assist the commission of a felony.
Michael Jackson Accusation Details Revealed
Using confidential law enforcement and government reports, grand jury testimony, and sealed court records, The Smoking Gun web site has published the lurid details of the prosecution's case against singer Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson's Kids Need Protection
Jackson's inability to parent certainly appears to have roots in his own peculiar childhood. While that helps explain his behavior - it doesn't excuse it, says About Mental Health Guide Leonard Holmes.
False Imprisonment: The Michael Jackson Case
One of the charges facing pop singer Michael Jackson in his up-coming trial is false imprisonment. What exactly is false imprisonment?
The Robert Blake Case
Robert Blake, 70, faces charges of murdering Bonny Lee Bakley and soliciting two other men to kill her. Bakley, 44, was shot to death on May 4, 2001, as she sat in Blake's sports car in an alley behind the Los Angeles-area restaurant where the couple had just dined.
Robert Blake Not Guilty
A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for more than 36 hours before returning a verdict of not guilty in the murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley and not guilty on one count of soliciting someone to murder her. The jury deadlocked on a second solicitation charge.
The BTK Serial Killer
The BTK Strangler claimed credit for a series of seven murders in Wichita, Kansas in the early 1970s, then seemingly disappeared in 1977, and resurfaced again in March 2004 to claim responsibility for an eighth murder in 1986.
BTK Suspect Charged With 10 Counts of Murder
Dennis Rader, the man arrested in connection with the infamous Wichita, Kansas 'Blind, Torture, Kill' serial killings, has been officially charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and his bond set at $10 million.
BTK Confession Transcripts
Transcript of Dennis Rader, the BTK killer, open-court confessions to the rapes and murders he committed in the Wichita, Kansas area.
The Kobe Bryant Case
Professional basketball star Kobe Bryant, 24, is charged with a single count of felony sexual assault against a 19-year-old woman at an exclusive spa where he was staying when he came to Colorado for knee surgery in the summer of 2003.
Kobe Bryant and Sexual Assault
The issue in the Kobe Bryant case may parallel many date rape cases, where the couple began to engage in sexual activity, then one of the partners wanted to stop and the other refused.
Rape Shield Law: The Kobe Bryant Case
Rape Shield laws are designed to protect a rape victim from the trauma of having her sexual history brought up to undermine the credibility of her testimony, but a judge ruled in the Kobe Bryant case the alleged victim's sexual activity 72 hours prior to being examined by a nurse would be admissible.
The Trial of Susan Polk
Susan Polk is facing trial on first-degree murder charges in the death of her 70-year-old wealthy husband, Frank (Felix) Polk. The prominent Berkeley psychologist was found with five stab wounds in the pool house at the couple's upscale San Francisco home in 2002. Polk claims she stabbed him in self-defense.
Susan Polk: Murder or Self-Defense?
Susan Polk, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 70-year-old wealthy husband, Frank (Felix) Polk, a prominent Berkeley psychologist, who was found with five stab wounds in the pool house at the couple's upscale San Francisco home in 2002.
The Mark Hacking Case
Mark Hacking has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife, Lori Hacking, whose body has not yet been found. He was also charged with three counts of obstruction of justice.
The Ward Weaver Case
On Jan. 9, 2002, Ashley Pond, 12, disappeared on her way to Gardiner Middle School in Oregon City, OR. Two months later, her friend Miranda Gaddis, 13, vanished and neither was ever seen alive again.
The Trial of Derrick Todd Lee
Derrick Todd Lee who accused of terrorizing Louisiana with a series of at least seven murders of women in 2002 and 2003, is facing trial in four of the cases on charges of murder, two of them death penalty cases.
The Eric Rudolph Case
Eric Rudolph, 36, is charged with the 1998 bombing of a Birmingham abortion clinic that killed an off-duty police officer and critically injured a nurse.
Ward Weaver lll
A look into the life of Ward Weaver, the man accussed of killing Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis and almost duplicating his father's crime from years before.
Miranda Gaddis
On March 8, 2002, Miranda Gaddis, 13, vanished on her way to Gardiner Middle School in Oregon City, OR. just as her friend, 12-year old Ashley Pond, had disappeared, two months earlier. Neither were ever seen alive again
Martha Stewart Asks to Begin Prison Sentence
Martha Stewart has asked to begin her five-month prison sentence as soon as possible instead of waiting for the appeals process in order 'to put this nightmare behind me.'
Martha Stewart's Empire
Just who is the woman who has created a multimedia empire? Martha started her career as a model in New York City more than 35 years ago.
Martha Stewart Gets Five Months, Plans Appeal
Martha Stewart was sentenced by a federal judge to serve five months in prison, but the domestic diva will not have to attempt living graciously behind bars anytime soon.
Stalking: The Dawnette Knight Case
Criminal proceedings against Dawnette Knight, 32, accused of stalking actress Catherine Zeta-Jones were suspended after the defendant took an overdose of sleeping pills in her jail cell.
Carlie Brucia
The story of Carlie Brucia, the 11-year-old girl whose kidnapping was caught on videotape as her abductor led her away, eventually murdering her and hiding her body in a church parking lot just miles from her home.
Darlie Routier - Guilty or Railroaded?
Darlier Routier sits on death row in Texas for the murder of her children. Many questions have come up since her trial. Was she railroaded? You decide.
Samantha Runnion
The kidnapping and brutal murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion and the trial of her accused murderer, Alegandro Avila.
The Trial of Alejandro Avila
Alejandro Avila is accused of kidnapping, sexually molesting and asphyxiating Samantha Runnion, who was snatched from an alley near her family's Stanton, California condominium complex on July 15, 2002.
Michael Jackson - The King of Pop or Wacko Jacko?
The 1980s brought fame and fortune to the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, but with stardom came a barrage of tabloid rumors mixed with Jackson’s own bizarre behavior. The British dubbed him “Wacko Jacko” and Jackson began to look the part, in what appeared to be an obsession to destroy his face through repeated plastic surgeries. Loyal fans stuck by his side until multiple charges of pedophilia were reported and now the King of Pop may be faced with doing real jail time.
The Trial of Edgar Ray Killen
Edgar Ray Killen, a reputed member of the Ku Klux Klan, has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder in the shooting deaths of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner -- civil rights workers who were registering black voters during the "Freedom Summer" of 1964.
Court Transcript of BTK's Confession
Dennis Rader, the BTK murderer, confessed to his grisly crimes in a voice void of remorse but with a hint of pride and scholarly delivery.
Charges Dropped Against Debra Lafave
The State Attorney's Office in Marion County, Florida dropped all charges against Debra Lafave related to her having sex with one of her 14-year-old students on March 21, 2005. The office issued the following statement explaining it's actions.
Judge Hale R. Stancil's Order Rejecting the Proposed Plea Agreement
A copy of Judge Hale R. Stancil's order which rejected the proposed plea agreement in the case of Debra Lafave, the admitted child molester.
911 Call From Kelsey Stelting
The following is a transcript of the 911 call made April 11, 2006 to the Independence, Kansas police from Kelsey Stelting, a 16-year-old who was missing for more than 15 hours.
Top Crime Stories of 2005
The top crime stories of 2005 included the solving of some decades old cases, manhunts that unfolded on our television screens, children killed by known pedophiles, and the heartbreak of a mother whose daughter disappeared on a senior trip to a Caribbean island.
Feds Sue to Stop 'Native American' Tax Fraud Scheme
The Justice Department has asked a federal court in Georgia to stop Derrick Sanders, of Atlanta, from promoting an alleged tax-fraud scheme involving false claims that Native Americans are exempt from federal income taxes.
Medicare Contractor to Pay $6 Million for Overcharging
AdminaStar Federal, Inc. will pay the United States $6 million to resolve allegations that the company interfered with Medicare evaluations and overcharged the federal healthcare program.
GlaxoSmithKline Pays $150 Million in Drug Pricing Fraud Case
GlaxoSmithKline has paid over $150 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act through fraudulent drug pricing and marketing of two anti-emetic drugs.
Office Depot Pays $4.75 Million in False Claims Case
Office Depot, Inc. has paid the $4.75 million to settle allegations that it submitted false claims when it sold office supply products manufactured in countries not permitted by the Trade Agreements Act to United States government agencies.
Two CPAs Sentenced in Tax Shelter Case
Two Anderson's Ark & Associates (AAA) accountants have been sentenced to prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of fraudulent income tax returns.
Top Crime Stories of 2004
These are the crime stories that captured the public's attention the most during 2004 -- some because of the nature of the crime and others because of the fame of the accused.
'Law & Order' Star Jerry Orbach Dies
Actor Jerry Orbach, best known for his 12-year role as the wise-cracking Detective Lennie Briscoe on NBC's "Law & Order" series, died at age 69 after a long bout with prostate cancer.
Six Killed in Wisconsin Hunting Incident
A Minneapolis hunter who was asked to leave a deer stand located on private property in Wisconsin apparently opened fire on the property owner and his hunting guests, killing six and wounding two others.
Suspect Says Hunters Fired at Him First
The Laos immigrant who is accused of killing six deer hunters in Wisconsin says he only fired at the group after they surrounded him, used racial slurs, and fired at him first, according to court papers filed in the case.
DNA of Retired Police Sought in BTK Strangler Case
The lead detective in Wichita's BTK serial killer case raised a storm of controversy last week when he requested DNA swabs from retired police officers, but he said he felt it had become necessary to the investigation.
Sunday Morning Slasher Found Guilty
A Michigan jury look less than four hours to find Coral Eugene Watts, the Sunday Morning Slasher, guilty of the 1979 murder of Helen Dutcher, and made sure the confessed serial killer will never get out of prison.
Crematory Operator Gets Plea Agreement
A crematory operator who dumped 336 bodies on his rural North Georgia property instead of cremating them and sent cement dust to the families of the deceased instead of their ashes will serve 12 years in prison, as a result of a plea deal.
Mary Kay LeTourneau Talks to Barbara Walters
Mary Kay LeTourneau talks to Barbara Walters about her relationship, then and now, with Vili Fualaau.
Crime News Daily
The latest crime news and headlines updated daily by your About Crime Guide.

Explore Crime / Punishment

About.com Special Features

Crime / Punishment

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Crime / Punishment
  4. Current Cases
  5. Closed Cases

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.