Did Aaron Hernandez Execute Odin Lloyd?

Fireworks lit up the Attleboro District Court when the prosecutor claimed that former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez executed his friend, Odin Lloyd.  The former tight end, Aaron Hernandez, was arraigned on a charge of murder and five assorted counts of firearm possession. Hernandez pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Hernandez "orchestrated the execution," the prosecutor said while arguing that Hernandez should be held without bail. Lloyd was shot three times soon after getting out of the car, then two fatal shots were fired through his chest while he was lying on the ground. Keys to a rental vehicle belonging to Hernandez were allegedly found on Lloyd. 45 caliber shells from a semi-automatic weapon were recovered.


Surveillance footage from 14 cameras in and around Hernandez's home may show critical evidence. However, 6-8 hours of footage from around the time of the murder are allegedly missing. Allegedly there are text messages from Hernandez to Lloyd and to two other persons of interest on the night Lloyd was killed. The prosecutor claims he has a tape of Hernandez, with a firearm, saying "You can't trust anyone anymore" before driving to pick up Lloyd. The couple allegedly stopped at a gas station to pick up "blue cotton candy Bubblicious gum and Black & Mild cigars, which can be used as rolling papers for marijuana. Apparently Hernandez and another man returned to Hernandez's house. Surveillance cameras allegedly show someone carrying a gun into the house.
The judge has ordered Hernandez jailed without bail until his next court date on July 24.  Hernandez is to be presumed innocent unless otherwise proven in a court of law.

Can All In the Staudte Family Include Murder?

Diane Staudte, 51, of Springfield, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault and one count of armed criminal action. Diane's daughter, Rachel Staudte, 22, was also charged with the same counts.  Does the family that poisions together stay together?

Allegedly both women confessed to fatally poisoning two relatives with antifreeze and attempting to kill a third over a 14-month period.  Needless to say, both women are jailed without bond. Why such inappropriate conduct?

According to probable cause affidavits and local police, Diane Staudte initially told law enforcement that her husband, Mark Staudte, 61, hadn't been feeling well before his April 2012 death.  Not so coincidnetally, Diane's son, Shawn Staudte, 26, allegedly also had flu-like symptoms before his death in September.  Initially the Greene County medical examiner said Mark died of natural causes and Shawn as a result of prior medical issues.  However, after an anonymous tip, a re-examination led to a different conclusion.

Another daughter, Sarah Staudte, was hospitalized with a potentially fatal condition; however, Diane Staudte only visited a couple of times and did not stay long for any one visit.  Diane Staudte also allegedly joked and laughed with hospital personnel during her visit. Diane Staudte allegedly told a nurse that she planned to go on an upcoming vacation to Florida regardless of her daughter's condition.

Diane Staudte has allegedly admitted to poisoning her family by putting antifreeze in their soda and Gatorade.  She allegedly told a detective that she killed her husband because she "hated him" and her son because he was "worse than a pest." Diane allegedly wanted to kill her daughter, Sarah, because the young woman "would not get a job and had student loans that had to be paid."
 Rachel Staudte allegedly has also admitted to taking part in the poisionings. 

All suspects are to be presumed to be innocent! 

Pedophile Professor Nabbed In Mexico?

Former University of Southern California professor, Walter Lee Williams, 64,  who was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list was apparently living a luxurious life in the resort city of Playa del Carmen.  While former professors are entitled to retirement, Williams is wanted on charges of sexual exploitation of children and traveling abroad for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with children.  Williams was captured Tuesday in a park in the Caribbean beach town.

The fugitive, Williams, also had an address in nearby Cancun.  It is unknown whether Williams is suspected of committing any crimes in Mexico.  The federal arrest warrant was issued in April. It alleges that Williams traveled from Los Angeles to the Philippines in January 2011 to engage in sex acts with two 14-year-old boys.  Allegedly, Williams met both boys online in 2010 according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  Williams allegedly engaged in sex acts with both boys and sent sexually explicit photos of one of the boys. Williams left the Los Angeles area approximately one week after returning from the Philippines. It is believed that he has been in Mexico ever since departing California.
Allegedly, Williams' computers and a camera contain child pornography. If the allegations are true, Williams taking advantage of vulnerable children should be punished to the full extent of the law.

Edward Snowden Hero or Self Centered Criminal?

"The whistle blew so loud that the CIA's ears hurt," joked the comedian. But it is no joke!  Edward Snowden was the whistleblower who kissed and told The Guardian about top-secret documents that revealed the National Security Agency's secret surveillance programs. Not only is Snowden a blabber mouth, he is also delusional.  "I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong," Snowden told the press.  Guess again, Edward.
Snowden is a 29-year-old former CIA technical assistant and current employee of Booz Allen Hamilton. Like Daniel Ellsberg and Bradley Manning, Snowden has publicized material from one of the world's most secretive organisations – the NSA and the CIA. Snowden justified his actions from Hong Kong where he is staying by stating, "There are all sorts of documents that would have made a big impact that I didn't turn over, because harming people isn't my goal. Transparency is."

Snowden is believed to be the source about NSA secretly collecting phone data from millions of Verizon customers mentioned in the Washington Post.  Specifically, Prism, a NASA program that allows the agency to collect data from some of the country's largest Internet companies. Snowden claims he went public because he couldn't  "... in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building."  While this may sound noble, it seems to be a selfish, criminal act designed on obtaining ten minutes of fame. Champion of privacy or self centered criminal seeking refuge in Hong Kong?

Expect charges to be filed against Snowden for violating the Espionage Act.

Update 6-19-13:  Put President Obama in the group of people not ready to call Snowden a patriot or a hero.  Our President says lives have been saved by the surveillance programs run by the National Security Agency. Specifically, President Obama claims that at least 50 threats in the U.S. and overseas have been averted because of phone records and Internet information the agency has gathered. These programs are limited in scope and subject to judicial scrutiny according to the Executive Office.

Is the U.S. striking the right balance between national security and civil liberties?

Major League Baseball is at it Again!

A while back, Major League Baseball attacked and basically ended the career of Barry Bonds.  LINK.  We certainly know that Major League Baseball will act upon the allegations despite the Players Union's position.   LINK.  Now Major League Baseball appears to be targeting Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and several other players for their alleged connections to a performance-enhancing drugs.  The allegations arise from the Biogenesis investigation.  T.J. Quinn, Pedro Gomez and Mike Fish have prepared a report for ESPN's "Outside The Lines" stating that MLB will seek to suspend approximately 20 players, including Rodriguez and Braun, because of their involvement with the performance-enhancing drugs scandal.

Will this be the end of the long ball?  Perhaps it will merely be the return to dink and dunk baseball where slappers rule.