After a five-year investigation, the FBI and Kentucky State Police have arrested Brooks Houck, the former boyfriend of Crystal Rogers, a Kentucky mother-of-five who disappeared in 2015. Houck has been charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence, and his bond has been set at $10 million cash. He is expected to appear in court in early October for his arraignment, but no further details have been released.
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Michigan State University has fired head football coach Mel Tucker after an investigation into his alleged involvement in a consensual phone sex call with an activist and rape survivor. The school determined that Tucker had breached his contract and subjected the institution to ridicule, leading to the termination of his $95 million, 10-year contract. Tracy had reported the incident to the school, and MSU launched an investigation to protect the integrity of the institution and its students.
Baltimore police are searching for Jason Dean Billingsley, a 32-year-old parolee wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of Pava LaPere, the 26-year-old CEO and founder of EcoMap Technologies. Billingsley is believed to be armed and dangerous, and police are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact them. LaPere's death has left her family and friends in shock, with one friend saying, "It's just a tragedy. She was so young and had so much potential."
Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, appeared in court Wednesday for a pre-trial conference. Heuermann is being held without bail and the trial is scheduled to begin in April 2021. Analysis of a buccal swab taken from Heuermann matches the DNA found on a pizza box allegedly discarded by Heuermann, and the District Attorney said the case could grow to include other bodies found over the years.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is facing federal corruption charges and calls for his resignation from fellow Democrats, which has created a political headache for the Democratic Party. Despite the calls, Menendez is refusing to step down, causing uncertainty over the future of the Democratic Party's approach to international relations and the upcoming election. Menendez has yet to comment on the situation since his court appearance Wednesday.
Gerardo Cabanillas was wrongfully convicted of kidnapping, robbery and rape in 1995 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Conviction Integrity Unit of the District Attorney's office has been reviewing cases of possible wrongful conviction since 2015 and has exonerated 10 people, including Cabanillas, who was found factually innocent and released after nearly 30 years in prison. His exoneration highlights the need for continued vigilance in the criminal justice system to ensure that innocent people are not wrongfully convicted.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, have been charged with three counts of bribery and corruption related to a years-long plot. Despite the charges, Menendez has pledged to remain in his role as the senior senator representing New Jersey, but has stepped down from his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. If convicted, Menendez could face up to 20 years in prison.
The German government has taken decisive action against a far-right, racist group known as Artgemeinschaft, banning the organization and raiding dozens of homes and buildings. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser commented on the action, saying it was a hard blow against right-wing extremism and those who spread Nazi ideologies. The ban is part of a larger effort to combat the spread of far-right ideologies and promote tolerance and understanding.