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!

Mass Shootings in America - The Numbers Keep Rising

Since 1982 there have been more than 85 public mass shootings in America in 34 different states.  48 of the shootings have occurred since 2006.  This is a very disturbing trend that needs to be reversed.  What exactly is the cause of this rise in violence?  Guns have been around for decades, people have been around even longer - which has changed?  More than likely it's the people who have changed.  Aside from the scenario where a student or employee goes into a workplace where they have been fired or a school where they have been bullied and take aim, people in general just seem more angry.

There is a population of people who crave attention and the media attention these events generates may be a motivating factor. Even negative attention is attention.  It really seems to have started in full swing following the Columbine shootings in Colorado.  Those two young men are actually idolized by many misguided youth - because of the "strength" and courage it must have taken to walk into your own school and kill so many people.  They felt persecuted and bullied and they were not going to stand for that for that when they had guns to fire.

I'm not blaming the video game industry, but many of these teen aged shooters end up being proficient in violent video games in which killing people is actually glorified and makes the player a winner.  This isnt' real life. The video fails to show the victims families devastation, the funerals, the grief.  This is a fantasy world that sometimes they cannot separate from the real world. Other kids may not feel they have any other way to deal with a problem if they have been bullied or picked on throughout their high school years.  Bullying isn't new - I can remember people making fun of our center on the girls basketball team because of her height - she was 6'7.  That was tall back in 1982.  It's still tall today but even more so then.  We stuck up for her against the bullies on the other team.  Not one of us thought of bringing a weapon and using it to kill the bullies.  Times have changed and it's changed people.

Naturally only a portion of the mass shootings are committed by teenagers.  There are plenty of adults who should know right from wrong yet they choose to commit these acts anyway.  Perhaps they are suicidal and angry and want to take out as many people with them before they die.  Again, they may feel persecuted, picked on, laughed at - and feel like they have not been successful in life as they had hoped.  This description fits many people - life can be tough.  People lose jobs, lose relationships, lose houses and experience financial problems.  Thankfully not everyone responds with violence.

I can remember the fire drills at school.  I remember earthquake drills, being evacuated from class.  I can't imagine this generation being so accustomed to "active shooter" drills.  The fact that they are makes me sad.  So what do we do as a society? How can we collectively make the world a better and safer place?  I don't have the answer.  I know we can each try to be better people, let a car in a heavy traffic area, smile, hold the door open for someone else.  Random acts of kindness are so much better than random acts of violence.

Can we start a campaign of kindness in an effort to offset the violence we are saturated with every time the news comes on?  Let's give it a go.  It can't hurt, right?

Vehicle Transporting Det. Sean Suiter to Hospital After Shooting Was in an Accident

We are just now hearing details about the car & officer rushing Detective Sean Suiter to the hospital after he was shot was involved in an accident.  An ambulance arrived and transported him, where he later died of the gunshot injury.

I may have missed this detail earlier when researching this story, but I think I'd recall a detail such as this - another "coincidence"?  Reportedly he was being rushed to a trauma hospital by another officer when the collision happened.  Authorities say the delay in transport and the accident itself did not contribute to his eventual death.

Authorities also believe the shooter may be wounded - more than one round was fired from Suiter's service gun - guess that itself would blow the suicide theory out of the water, right Commissioner Davis?  Or did he try once and miss and then try to kill himself a second time and succeeded?  Outrageous theory.

There is a growing reward fund of over $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.  Hopefully the reward will entice somebody who is in the know to come forward and help authorities.  Even people against snitching can't ignore that type of windfall.  I will continue to follow this story to it's conclusion because I really want to know what happened and why.    

Martin Martinez Murder Trial - Court Documents Provide Aggravating Evidence in Crews' Murder

Amanda Crews, Elizabeth Ripley, Martin Martinez

Thanks to the Internet, we can take a peek into the justice system and review court documents relating to criminal trials in Stanislaus County.  They don't divulge all, but there is some telling information to be found in the case of CA vs. Martin Martinez.  Martinez is facing a total of 6 murder charges in 2 separate cases (that may be combined) for the killings of his girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend) Dr. Amanda Crews, Rachel, who was his own 6 month old daughter with Crews, Elizabeth Crews - Amanda Crews 6 year old daughter with ex husband Timothy Ripley and Martinez's own mother and niece were among his victims.  In a separate case, he stands accused of aggravated child abuse and murder in the death of 2 year old Christopher Ripley.  Christopher and Elizabeth were the children of Amanda Crews and Timothy Ripley but Martinez was reportedly close to both of the children.

Christopher suffered a fatal head injury in 2014 while under the care and supervision of Martin Martinez.  He died in a hospital two days later of massive head injuries.  The injuries were inconsistent with Martinez's changing stories of  how the injury happened and his death was subsequently ruled a homicide.  It's not surprising that a man facing 6 murder charges is facing the death penalty.  The death penalty is for these types of cases where an entire family has been eliminated from life on earth but the delays in getting to trial can be brutal for the families.

Martinez has plead not guilty to all charges and has remained in the Stanislaus County Jail since his arrest the day after the July, 2015 murders.  He has had several court appearances and subsequent delays in appearances.  I was at the last court date and saw him with my own two eyes.  I've only seen a few pictures of him prior to the court viewing and his look has changed substantially.  Gone is the short clean cut hair, instead Martinez now has hair that goes well beyond his shoulders and a beard and mustache.  He appears much heavier than prior photos - I would bet money that he is trying to bulk up for his eventual prison sentence because the CA prison system is full of very large inmates who don't appreciate killer's of women and children.

Martinez is facing a lifetime of having to look over his shoulder, and that's only IF he is spared the death penalty.  I'd have to say that a death sentence is more likely based on the sheer volume of murders and the violence and broken trust involved.  (Allegedly) killing 3 little girls aged from as young as 6 months to 6 years old is going to put a big target on his back in prison.  He also killed (sorry, allegedly) his own mother and 5 year old niece.  In the second case, he is accused of causing the death of a 2 year old little boy.  He'd better be bulking up because he is going to be a marked man when he enters prison.

According to the Stanislaus County Court's website, the state plans to enter aggravating evidence during the penalty phase including but not limited to:

• Testimony of friends and relatives who discovered the victims bodies
• Photographs and video of the victims in life
• Victim impact evidence including testimony of family and close friends of the victims
• The defendant's lack of remorse at the scene of the homicides
• Evidence of the defendant's statements about the victims
• Violence used to commit the homicides
• Crime scene details showing advance planning and lack of remorse
• All guilt phase evidence showing premeditation and deliberation, multiple murders and lying in wait

The State will also provide evidence of the defendant's character, background and history will include but not be limited to:

• Defendant's prior acts of child abuse and domestic violence

I don't know what type of defense Martinez has planned, but it will have to be spectacular to spare his life if he did murder 6 people in cold blood.  It seems to me that in most cases if the defendant can be put at the scene of the crime via DNA evidence (his blood mixed with victims, etc.) then for a man who can't necessarily claim he was an abused boyfriend - he may go for an insanity plea or temporary insanity.  That's the only way he could try to explain away the excessive violence it would take to kill those 5 people he knew so well.  I personally think "temporary insanity" is a bunch of bull.  If you were sane enough to plan this out, and then lying in wait - and killing one person, and then the next and the next and the next and the next...3 of the 5 were little girls.  Cowardly act if I ever heard of one.

Martin Martinez is a scary looking man.  You often hear people talking about the hair on the back of their neck standing up or certain reactions in the presence of certain people - I had that very reaction.  I wouldn't want to be in a room alone with Martinez.  He had his back to the gallery but he just had an evil aura about him.  I believe there is another hearing scheduled for December 18 and then a more substantial hearing in late January of 2018.  If I'm here in Modesto, I'm planning on attending both.  It's fascinating to see the justice system in action.  There has been so little disclosed about this mass murder case that I want to hear the whole story from start to finish.

I don't have some morbid fascination with death.  I am just very interested in the criminal justice system and true crime cases.  This just happened to have happened in my back yard and I may never have the opportunity to attend this type of trial again.  I look forward to posting if I'm able to attend.

In the meantime, I'd like to find out more about Dr. Amanda Crews.  Everything I've read about her is "heart of gold" type of descriptions - but who was she?  What did she enjoy in life?  She obviously loved being a doctor and had many many patients who were devastated at the loss of her.  That says a lot about a person.  How did she end up in Modesto?  Where did she meet and marry Tim Ripley?  I'm inquisitive.  I'll keep digging until I find what I'm looking for.  This is a tragic story, but one I really would like to tell.  Have a great week!