Today came the long awaited verdict in the case of Nicky Verstappen. The fact that we waited about five weeks for the verdict, points to how unusual the case is and how heavy it weighs on the judges. This was symbolized today. After the judges were seated, they first addressed Nicky’s family. Acknowledging the pain […]
DNA
Ewing plead not guilty
On Nov 16, 2020 Alexander Christopher Ewing plead not guilty during his arraignment on Monday. That arraignment had been postponed several times due to Covid19. Ewing is as my readers know, the accused in two cases: the Bennett Family murders and the murder of Patricia Smith. The link between the cases is of course, DNA. […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 7
Today in the trial in the Nicky Verstappen case, we will hear from the Verstappen Family, the prosecution, the defense, and the last word is for the defendant himself. So let’s go over it. WARNING: this post contains graphic elements. First, I heard from readers who thought that if the defendant remained silent during the […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 6
Today, the defense presented their answer to the prosecution’s charges and evidence as presented in court related to the Nicky Verstappen trial. WARNING: this post contains graphic details! The loss of a child as young as Nicky, is horrifying. However, demanding a harsher sentence than the law from that time period allowed for, is unlawful. […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 5
Day 5 in the court room in the case of Nicky Verstappen. Defendant Jos Brech is present. WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. Today, the prosecution presents its case in full. They will follow the case’s time line, presents all forensic evidence again, detail the steps that the police took in the investigation over the […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 4
Today is day 4 in the trial against Jos Brech in the case of Nicky Verstappen. We heard victim impact statements from Nicky’s direct family members: his mother Berthie Verstappen spoke also on behalve of father Peter, Nicky’s younger sister Femke, and Peter’s sister Jacqueline. Earlier today, the family had asked the court whether they […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 3
Day 3 in the Nicky Verstappen trial against Jos Brech brought forward some interesting details but not the breakthrough to solidify this case. We heard from a forensic expert, we got details about the psychiatric observations at the Pieter Baan Centrum where Brech has been for evaluation, and we got a more detailed look at […]
Nicky Verstappen, trial day 2
Day two covering the trial in the Netherlands in the 1998 unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen (11) who went missing from summer camp. Nicky was found dead 40 hours later. His body was a kilometer away from camp in an area where Christmas trees are grown for wholesale. All posts about Verstappen can be found […]
Nicky Verstappen, case on trial
Today the trial started in the Netherlands in the unsolved case of Nicky Verstappen. Appearing in court: Jos Brech. Brech is charged with abduction, possession of child pornography, and qualified manslaughter. Now, in court, Brech revealed that he didn’t kill Verstappen. When he found him, he was already dead. My translation from articles in the […]
DeAngelo Jr., Convicted Felon
It is a rainy day on the East Coast. It set the perfect mood to write the introduction to this post. Because today, the man who ruined so many lives, the man who has dominated his many victims’ lives, will finally slip into the abyss of oblivion. Hence forth, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is a […]
Life sentence in Michelle Martinko murder
Today, we close the case of Michelle Martinko. Jerry Lynn Burns received the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was ordered to pay victim restitution of $150’000 to the estate of Michelle Marie Martinko or her heirs. The defense is seeking a restitution hearing on a later date. Burns […]
Rest in Peace, Richard Lapointe
Richard Lapointe (Oct. 18, 1945 – Aug. 4, 2020) died of corona virus complications. “He eventually tested negative for the virus, but could not outlive its complications.” Richard was born with Dandy Walker syndrome. This syndrome causes a malformation of the head. Fluids build up and place pressure on the brain. It is a hereditary […]
Nicky Verstappen: trial October 2020
Delays in trial proceedings due to Covid19 happened everywhere. So too in the case of Nicky Verstappen, the Netherlands. This week, it was decided that Jos Brech will be back in court on September 28 and 29 for trial preparations. Trial is now set for October 5, 7, 8, 12, and 16. In September, the […]
Detecting DNA
In the post I wrote about Gina Renee Hall, I mentioned that her sister Diane “was introduced to Dr. Arpad Vass, a forensic anthropologist who had invented an instrument to detect DNA buried beneath the surface. Since then, Gina’s remains have been discovered across eight locations throughout the New River Valley using that device.” Vass’ website states that […]
Barbara Ann Blatnik update
In the Barbara Ann Blatnik case, I just read that James Zastawnik posted bond. The amount was previously set at $100’000 but Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kelly McLaughlin granted the request from defense council to lower it to $35’000. There are conditions though: Zastawnik must wear an electronic monitoring device and must live with […]
Justice for Cheri Domingo and Greg Sanchez
Justice at last. On June 29, 2020 at 130pm EST, we heard Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., a.k.a. the Golden State Killer plead guilty to the murders of Cheri Domingo and Greg Sanchez. Today, DeAngelo Jr is pleading guilty to a string or murders, rapes, robberies, and other crimes that were committed from the mid-70s to […]
Is the use of genetic testing constitutional?
Genetic testing is what finally brought the case of Michelle Marie Martinko in court. Jerry Lynn Burns (66) was found guilty of Michelle’s 1979 murder based on genetic testing of DNA. He is awaiting his sentencing hearing. It will be the mandatory life sentence. In the meantime, his attorney, Leon Spies, is working on the […]
M-Vac, a cold case murder, and a true crime show
Please welcome back to DCC, guest blogger Jared Bradley. As you know, Jared is the President and CEO of M-Vac Systems, Inc. What you may not know is that he served 14 years with the US Army and Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Captain. Since leading M-Vac Systems into the forensic market, Jared had […]
Barbara Blatnik: finally an arrest!
Cuyahoga Falls Police announced the arrest of James Zastawnik (67) for the December 1987 murder of Barbara Ann Blatnik. Zastawnik has been charged with first degree murder. Falls Lt. Chris Norfolk will not say if Zastawnik was a suspect in the early stages of the investigation. He did say that Zastawnik was “arrested in Akron in […]
Guilty verdict in Martinko Trial
Today were the closing arguments for the prosecution and the defense in the 1979 murder case of Michelle Marie Martinko. The order was as follows: First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks gave his closing arguments. The defense attorney Leon Spies, gave his for his client Jerry Burns. After that, the state got the change […]