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My Apologies for Yesterday's Offensive Photo

I wanted to apologize for the photo posted with yesterday's story about a large mural that appeared suddenly on Christmas Eve in NYC.  I did not intend for this photo to show up on Facebook when I shared the story.  I'm sorry if anyone was offended - I was shocked to see that someone could/would paint something of that size and detail overnight and apparently nobody noticed until Christmas Eve when it appeared.

Anybody who has been a regular reader of my blog posts knows I never post anything offensive or pictures of questionable nature.  This blog is mainly for news about the criminal justice system, unsolved and solved murders, trials and the like.  As you know it was started with the Jodi Arias circus/trial.  Thank you for your continued support and please accept my sincere apology for the photo.

MyForte



Shocking Painting Appears on NY Building on Christmas Eve *WARNING..EXPLICIT MATERIAL*

OK, this is not something I would normally post - but I found it so shocking that I just had to.  A very unusual painting showed up on a NY building on Christmas Eve - a giant penis.  How it was painted overnight is anyone's guess.  Please be advised, this picture may be offensive so beware before you scroll down!

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Giant Penis Painting Shows Up Overnight on Christmas Eve! (Photo by Levine Roberts)

There is an "artist" taking credit for the four story painting.  It is said to have been commissioned in response to another painting on East Pike of the female equivalent of this subject matter.  The painting is on the side of an apartment on Bloome Street on the Lower East Side and is said to have been commissioned by a "local art foundation".  The artist is said to be Carolina Falkhort who has had other murals/paintings of questionable subject matter.  Obviously many residents are not at all happy about their children being exposed to this giant .........

A NYC building inspector was sent out to review the mural and says "it may be out of our hands". I guess anything he says is going to sound like a pun.  Most residents want it removed immediately.  Others don't have a problem with it....  This is New York after all.  What are your thoughts?  I believe in free speech, but this borders on vandalism.  If I lived in that neighborhood, I wouldn't want to have that painting front and center for all guests to see.  Shock value is everything in this world today, and I believe the artist achieved it.


NYPD Cops Suspended After Failing to Show for Welfare Check - 22 Year Old Pregnant Woman Found Dead

Another police story in the news, this one is inexcusable.  Two NY police officers have been suspended after failing to respond to a 911 call to conduct a welfare check on a 22 year old pregnant woman who was reportedly afraid of her husband.  
Torie and Barry Wells


The 911 call was made by Torie Wells's sister and the officers were told she was scared of her husband. The officers allegedly drove by the house but failed to get out and investigate or conduct the welfare check.  She was later found strangled to death and her husband was arrested.  What a monumental failure on the part of the NYPD.  If they were already in front of the house, why didn't they bother to get out of their squad car and conduct the welfare check?  Welfare checks don't take that long, and cops know that potential domestic violence calls are some of the most dangerous situations they come across.  I don't understand their decision.  Perhaps they got another more "pressing" call, however even that wouldn't excuse investigating this call.

The officers have not been named and have been suspended for their lack of action.  It's possible the murder had already been committed by the time they arrived but it's also possible it hadn't.  I guess the coroner's report will give us an idea of her time of death and what responsibility these officers have towards this murder.

It's been a bad month for officers ad we seem to be hearing these types of stories weekly if not daily.  Torey Wells' body was found at 9:50AM with visible bruising on her neck and body.  Her husband was arrested later that day.  Although we don't know the full story of why they took the time to drive to the residence and then failed to investigate, it seems the officers had an obligation to check out a potential domestic violence situation.  In this case, it was the ultimate domestic violence case that resulted in a young pregnant woman being murdered.

These situations make the "protect and serve" slogan seem like a joke.  Come on now - officers should know better. I'd love to hear their side of the story.  They had better have a pretty good explanation as to why they failed to get out of the car and conduct that welfare check.

I will follow up when more information becomes available.





Still No Answers in Shooting Death of Det. Sean Suiter


Detective Sean Suiter
There has been little news released on the progress of the FBI Investigation into the shooting death of veteran Detective Sean Suiter in Baltimore.  If they have any suspects or persons of interest, they aren't saying.  The Baltimore PD brass continues to insist the death (MURDER) had nothing to do with Det. Suiter's expected Federal Grand Jury testimony the day after he was killed.  How is that ruled out so quickly and suicide remains on the table? 

After reading all I've read about the Baltimore Police Department, I find this all hard to believe.  There is something rotten in Baltimore.  I believe there are more secrets, possible being covered up internally and if everything comes out along with the crimes the DA is already aware of, they will be "draining the Baltimore PD swamp".

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis continues to convey that they are cooperating with all investigating agencies.  The FBI says additional personnel and agencies could be brought in to assist in this case. It's difficult to understand how a detective with 18 years of experience under his belt could be ambushed by a "suspicious man" in a vacant lot with a partner nearby in broad daylight.  There had to be witnesses - even a neighbor peeking out from a window.  Somebody saw what happened.  I'm surprised the reward money hasn't led them straight to the shooter.  Unless they are too scared to come forward because of the people involved.  There is a good possibility that fear is slowing down this investigation but I believe the FBI and any outside agencies that assist WILL get to the bottom of this hideous crime.

The crimes in which the 8 officers were indicted for are very serious - in particular, for a person who the public puts their trust in to actually rob the very citizens they are sworn to protect, for sworn officers to help or facilitate the distribution of drugs into this "troubled and dangerous" part of Baltimore is inexcusable and unforgivable.  We expect and deserve much more from our officers.  We pay their salary and if they do something that egregious, they need to be fired, prosecuted and whatever else the law allows.  Enough already!  We need to be able to trust the first responders, not fear them.

I have little doubt this crime will be solved, and I also have little doubt it will not be found to be a "random" act of violence.  There are too many coincidences.  This must be related somehow to the multiple indictments coming down the pike. The timing of the murder alone speaks volumes if you open your mind to the possibility that these bad cops could have done one more despicable thing.  I believe they did.  If they did, it might be difficult to prove because they are so well versed on how murder investigations are conducted and they would have taken precautionary measures.  I believe the best hope is to make a deal with the shooter in order to get the people who organized the murder.

I'm going to stay with this case until we see some answers come out.  You don't need to live in Baltimore to care about what's happening there.  This is our country and ALL police departments need to adhere to the same "Protect and Serve" mantra.  If they wanna be dirty, don't become a cop.

 

Recognizing the Signs of Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease

I've. recently read that dementia isn't technically a disease (it's a "syndrome")and that confused and surprised me because my mother has it.  I've watched the changes in her and they have occurred faster than I believed possible.  It's painful and sad to see the fear and confusion on her eyes and it's painful for me to be losing one of my best friends.  Anybody who knows me knows I have a close relationship with my mom.  Even as a small child, I always worried about my mom.  My parents divorced when my sister and I were young and I didn't always approve of the men my mom dated, but she eventually remarried and although I wasn't thrilled with her choice for husband #2 they remain married to this day (40+ years later).  They love each other and I eventually came to respect his devotion to her.

As I became an adult our relationship changed, she was still my mom but also my friend.  We shared secrets, we had breakfast almost every weekend at Doug's Place in Castro Valley when I was a young adult and I saw her at least once a week.  We remained close when I relocated to Phoenix for work and she was a frequent visitor.  She started showing signs of confusion over a year ago.  She always told me it was the medications she was on for her other health problems and that made sense to me.  But as the confusion and loss of memory progressed it became clear something else was going on.  She started doing things that didn't make sense, like putting the TV remote control on the phone charger.  She always would laugh and play it off and say she was just tired.

Her husband has been in long term care for almost 2 years now and I've been her caregiver.  Her physical & mental health has been rapidly declining, especially during the last month.  I had a difficult choice to make, to put my life in a storage unit and quit working (which I have always done and enjoyed) but it had to be done.  I believed she would improve having companionship and more care during the day but I was wrong.  Her health continued to decline.

Dementia is a very generic term in my opinion but a very cruel condition.  What it does to people varies, but what it's done to my mother has been hard to watch.  She does not want to go into a long term care facility - in fact she refuses.  She's been in and out of the hospital more times that I can count in the last year.  She's at the point now where her last trip to the hospital a difficult choice had to be made since she was refusing long term care facilities once again - she's now home with hospice help and my care.

I'm still caring for her full time, but now I have a whole team of people helping me keep her comfortable and clean.  The point of this posting is to tell you how quickly this condition can progress and change your loved one.  While I feel extremely lucky to still have both my mother and father alive, I can't help but feeling that I've lost my mother already because the mom I knew is no longer here and I miss her.
  
Many of my friends from high school have had parents with dementia and Alzheimer's pass away - there are no cures for either disease or syndrome. With research perhaps progress can be made towards finding out more about these two closely tied illnesses and prevention could be an eventuality.  There are many organizations that help patients and families of dementia and Alzheimer's  and if we all supported them with a small donation it would go a long way towards the answers that are badly needed. 

http://www.alzheimersresearchfoundation.com/


Courtesy of Sherri's Facebook Page - loved the photo
Tomorrow I am attending the funeral service for a man I've known since Jr. High School - he was one of the kindest people I've had the pleasure of knowing.  He had 4 daughters and a big Italian family (can you imagine) and he will be greatly missed by many.  He lost the battle with this disease.  Mr. Dietrich Tasto was a self made business owner who ran a successful glass company with his wife Carol and his daughter's Judi and Coreen.  He was a savvy businessman but more importantly he was a kind soul who people liked.  There are many organizations out there that conduct research into the cause of Alzheimer's and dementia, but here is one that seems to do it all:  

http://www.alzheimersresearchfoundation.com/

On their site, there is a tab where you can make a donation should you wish to help find answers towards a cure.  Perhaps you have a loved one who has suffered from one of these similar diseases and want to do something. Together we can make a difference.  

I am still looking for answers as to why my own mother's dementia is progressing so rapidly - I've gotten answers that vary but basically the prognosis is not great.  I'm trying to come to grips with this but it's not easy watching somebody deteriorate before your eyes.  I don't want this to be a depressing post - I also wanted to honor "Mr. T" , who did so much for all of his children and their friends.  He generously sponsored and was involved with our softball leagues for many years.  Many of my best memories were playing softball and hanging out at the Tasto house, where you could ALWAYS find a big fresh roll of salami, French bread and mayo.  

If you would like more information on recognizing the signs of dementia or Alzheimer's, please email me.  I have a guide saved on my computer and I'd be happy to share it with you.  Knowledge is power.  








Suicide Still a Theory in Det. Sean Suiter's Death (MURDER)

RIP Det. Sean Suiter
It's very annoying that law enforcement continues to contradict themselves in bringing up suicide as a possibility in the murder of Baltimore Detective Sean Suiter.  On Dec 1, 2017 there was an article online on WBALtv.com stating that since Suiter was shot at close range with his service revolver, they are still considering suicide as a theory - although it's not the lead theory.  Should it really be a theory at all?  Let's look at the few facts the police have disclosed:

1.  There was a distress call made by Suiter on his police radio.  Why would he request assistance if he were about to commit suicide?
2.  Why would he commit suicide on the job with a partner with him?  Even if his family would benefit financially if he were killed on the job, there are no indications he was suicidal.
3.  The police indicate they KNOW there was a "brief but violent" struggle because of the state of Suiter's clothing.
4.  The police have stated there were more than one type of shell casings found at the scene.  Did Suiter have two guns and miss the first try?
5.  The police believe the suspect may be wounded - mostly because of the multiple shell casings.

How does ANY of this point to suicide?  Get that theory out of the media for the sake of his memory and his family.  When information/evidence is contradicting your theory, you need to rule that theory out.  Rule it out already.  Did Detective Suiter fake a struggle and do something to his clothing to make it appear there was a struggle?  Did he bring 2 guns to work that day and try to kill himself with a partner in the area, miss the first time and then use a second gun to shoot himself in the head?  Does any of this sound reasonable?  I don't think so.

The police have also said they are certain there is no connection between the murder and Suiter's expected testimony in front of the Federal Grand Jury the following day.  How can they be so sure about that yet still toss around the suicide theory?  Just shows me the Baltimore PD has a lot to hide.  There's more to this story - it may or may not have anything to do with Suiter's murder but I sense a big cover up.  The FBI or another outside agency should be able to pluck through the muck of this story and get to the bottom of this murder.  Perhaps it was a random shooting.  Let's find the answers and give this family some peace.

RIP Detective Suiter - just a reminder, Suiter was not one of the indicted officers and was not facing any type of charges at the time of his death (murder).  He was an 18 year veteran and said to be a good officer.  Maybe in Baltimore being a good officer can get you killed.
 

Surprise Surprise - ex wife of former NBA Player Lorenzen Wright Arrested in Connection With 2010 Murder

Ex wife Sherra Wright

Surprise surprise the ex-wife was involved in murder plot
It's police work 101.  The spouse, the side-dish, the jealous ex or someone very close to the victim who is usually involved in a murder.  There are fewer stranger on stranger murders these days.  Here comes another one of those where the killer was very close by but remained in the shadows for 7 years.  Sherra Wright was arrested in Riverside CA on Friday night, nearly 7 years after Lorenzen Wright's bullet ridden and badly decomposed body was found.  

According to Deborah Marion, Lorenzen's mother, the indictment on Sherra Wright is sealed but she indicated the charge is for murder.  Perhaps murder for hire or conspiracy to commit murder since another man has also been arrested and is presumed to be the shooter?  Billy Turner, a deacon at the church both Lorenzen and Sherra attended was arrested and charged with first degree murder.  He has plead not guilty.

The murder had been a long standing mystery and was one of Memphis' most high profile cases.  Wright played for many teams over his career, but at the time of his death he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 34 year old was last seen on July 18, 2010 as he left his ex wife Sherra's home.

It seems there was a delay in reporting Wright missing - the 911 center actually received a call from Wright's phone on July 19th, it was brief and dispatchers believed they heard a gunshot before the phone went dead.  Dispatchers failed to alert anyone because they couldn't confirm the call was in their jurisdiction so the ball was dropped somewhat due to confusion over where the call was initiated. Dispatchers did eventually bring the call forward to the Memphis PD but valuable time had been wasted in the process.

On July 22, 2010 Wright's mother filed a missing persons report with the Collierville Police Department. There were apparently missed opportunities in this investigation and the 911 call wasn't linked to the disappearance until much later.  The crime scene investigators found shell casings from guns of different calipers.  They believe there may have been more than one shooter and gun used to shoot Wright 5 times.

Lorenzen's mother believes Sherra had him killed for a $1,000,000 life insurance policy in which she would have benefited from.  It's one of the oldest motives known to man - greed.  She was already divorced and may have gone through her settlement money and wanted more.  The story is still developing and I'll bring you more as information becomes available.  My thoughts are with those who loved and miss Lorenzen Wright - may justice prevail!







My Apologies for Yesterday's Offensive Photo

I wanted to apologize for the photo posted with yesterday's story about a large mural that appeared suddenly on Christmas Eve in NYC.  I...

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