Category: Crime News

Crime news from around the world.  Updated daily

Murder Of Bobby Kent

bobby kent murder 1

The murder of Bobby Kent was a Florida murder committed by a number of teenagers including his best friend. The murder that took place in 1993 was a rather shocking case due to its brutality and the ages of the teen killers. On this article on My Crime Library we are going to take a closer look at the murder of Bobby Kent

Bobby Kent Murder – The Beginning

Bobby Kent best friend over the last few years was a kid who lived in the same Florida neighborhood whose name was Martin Puccio, everyone would call him Marty. The two had a rather odd relationship as Marty claimed that Bobby would bully him as well as assault him.

The parents of both of the teenagers did not approve of the relationship as well as the Puccio’s would see the bruises that Bobby Kent left on Marty and Bobby Kent’s father thought that Marty had not future and would drag his son down. Marty Puccio dropped out of high school and was working minimum wage jobs

The two teenagers were also rumored to be doing steroids and they also attempted to sell gay porn films that they created by using a 40 year old man to perform in them. No video store would buy the tapes due to their poor quality, neither Marty nor Bobby appeared in the videos.

Bobby Kent Murder – Lisa Connelly Enters The Picture

In early 1993 Marty Puccio started to date an eighteen year old girl by the name of Lisa Connelly who immediately became jealous about how much time her new boyfriend was spending with Bobby Kent. Lisa Connelly tried to distract Bobby by setting him up with a friend of hers, Alice “Ali” Willis. The two would not date long however as Bobby was reportedly abusive towards Ali Willis.

By the summer of 1993 Lisa Connelly was discussing with Marty Puccio and others about killing Bobby Kent to get rid of him. By this time Lisa Connelly was pregnant and wanted Kent out of the picture. According to Ali Willis, Lisa called her and told her that Bobby Kent threatened to kill Willis and smother her baby. Lisa told Ali to come to her home so they could discuss how to solve their Bobby Kent problem.

Ali Willis would show up at Lisa Connelly home and she brought along with her two of her friends, Donald Semenec who Ali was dating and Heather Swallers. The group would discuss and come up with a plan to murder Bobby Kent

Bobby Kent Murder – The First Attempt

The plan the group came up with was put into play on July 13, 1993. Marty Puccio, Donald Semenec, Heather Swallers, Lisa Connelly, Ali Willis met Bobby Kent at a new housing development. Early on Donald and Heather became uncomfortable and would leave.

The plan consisted of promising Bobby Kent that he could drive Ali Willis new car and have sex with her. While the two were engaged in sexual activity Lisa Connelly would fatally shoot Bobby however she lost her nerve when the time came.

Bobby Kent Murder

bobby kent murder

Even though their first plan to murder Bobby Kent failed the group still wanted to get rid of him. Lisa Connelly would come into contact with Derek Kaufman, a reported hitman, the group would meet with him at his residence (where he lived with his parents). Lisa asked Kaufman to get a gun however he reported said he could not get one in time.

The group would go back to Lisa Connelly home where they were joined by her cousin Derek Dzvirko. The group would discuss their plans to murder Bobby Kent the next night.

On July 14, 1993 the seven would meet at Marty Puccio’s residence where they would call Bobby Kent and arrange to meet him later that night. At 11:30pm Bobby Kent would be picked up and it would be the last time his parents saw him alive

The group headed back out to a construction site and once there Bobby Kent and Ali Willis would head off so they would be able to talk, Heather Swallers would join them. While the two girls would distract Kent Donald Semenec would run up and strike Kent with a knife to his neck.

Bobby Kent reportedly turned around and asked Marty Puccio for help, however for a reply Marty would stab his best friend in the stomach. While Bobby begged for his life Marty would continue to stab him. When Bobby tried to run away he would be swarmed by Puccio, Semenec and Derek Kaufman. Marty Puccio would slit Bobby’s neck and Derek Kaufman would strike him in the head with a baseball bat. Bobby Kent was dead by this time and his body was left near a pond in the hope that alligators would get rid of the evidence

Bobby Kent Murders – Arrests

The group of seven would leave the area and would make promises to each other that no one would talk about the murder to anyone however this did not happen.

Lisa Connelly would tell her mother and her mom would call the mother of Derek Dzvirko. The two sisters would bring their adult children to a lawyer who happened to be their brother. The lawyer would put them in contact with a detective of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Soon after Derek Dzvirko would confess everything to the detective and lead him to the body of Bobby Kent

The seven murderers would be arrested and charged with the murder of Bobby Kent

Bobby Kent Aftermath

marty puccio bobby kent
Marty Puccio
DC Number:963022
Name:PUCCIO, MARTIN
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:03/01/1973
Initial Receipt Date:08/03/1995
Current Facility:DESOTO ANNEX
Current Custody:CLOSE
Current Release Date:SENTENCED TO LIFE

Marty Puccio was originally sentenced to death however on appeal his sentence was reduced to life in prison with the chance of parole after 25 years. He will be eligible in 2022

donald semenec bobby kent
donald semenec
DC Number:963020
Name:SEMENEC, DONALD
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:07/15/1975
Initial Receipt Date:06/06/1995
Current Facility:FSP WEST UNIT
Current Custody:CLOSE
Current Release Date:SENTENCED TO LIFE

Donald Semenec was sentenced to life in prison plus fifteen years for conspiracy

derek kaufman bobby kent
Derek Kaufman
DC Number:894391
Name:KAUFMAN, DEREK L
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:05/08/1973
Initial Receipt Date:06/14/1995
Current Facility:TOMOKA C.I.
Current Custody:CLOSE
Current Release Date:SENTENCED TO LIFE
lisa connelly bobby kent
Lisa Connelly

Lisa Connelly was initially sentenced to life without parole however her sentence would be drastically reduced to 22 years in prison. She would be released in 2004

alice willis bobby kent
Ali Willis

Ali Willis was sentenced to forty years in prison and forty years on probation however her sentenced would later be reduced to 17 years. Alice Willis was released in 2001

derek dzvirko bobby kent
Derek Dzvirko
DC Number:960096
Name:DZVIRKO, DEREK
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:11/02/1973
Custody:MINIMUM
Release Date:10/01/1999

Derek Dzvirko plead guilty to second degree murder and would be sentenced to 11 years in prison. He would be released in 1999

heather swallers bobby kent
Heather Swallers
DC Number:162525
Name:SWALLERS, HEATHER
Race:WHITE
Sex:FEMALE
Birth Date:05/04/1975
Custody:MINIMUM
Release Date:02/14/1998

Heather Swallers plead guilty to second degree murder and would be sentenced to seven years in prison. She would be released in 1998

Shanda Sharer Murder

Shanda Sharer

The murder of Shanda Sharer shocked Indiana and the rest of the country when this twelve year old girl would be tortured and murdered by a pack of teenage girls. Melinda Loveless, Laurie Tackett, Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence would be responsible for the brutal murder. In this article on My Crime Library we will take a closer look at the murder of Shanda Sharer.

Shanda Sharer Murder – The Beginning

Melinda Loveless was dating a girl by the name of Amanda Heavrin however like most teen relationships the two would eventually have a falling out. Amanda Heavrin would start to date Shanda Sharer and that would infuriate Melinda who began to openly threaten the twelve year old and spoke about killing her with others. Shanda Sharer parents would transfer their daughter to a Catholic school after becoming aware of her relationship with Amanda Heavrin

Shanda Sharer Murder – The Abduction

On January 10 1992 Toni Lawrence (age 15), Hope Rippey (15), and Laurie Tackett (17) would drive from Madison Indiana to New Albany Indiana to pick up Melinda Loveless (age 16). Though two of the soon to be teen killers had just met Loveless on one other occasion the group planed the murder of Shanda Sharer.

The four teen girls would drive to Jeffersonville where Shanda Sharer spent weekends with her father. The girls would ask Shanda to go out with them however the twelve year old told them she couldn’t as her father was still awake and to come back after midnight.

The four teen killers would return to Jeffersonville and would convince Shanda to come with them as Amanda was waiting for her. Once Shanda Sharer was in the car Melinda Loveless, who was hiding under a blanket, jumped out putting a knife to Shanda’s throat. The girls would taunt and threaten Sharer throughout the ride.

The car would first stop at Witch’s Castle where Shanda Sharer arms and legs were bound with rope. The girls would continue to threaten Sharer. After one of the girls set a tshirt on fire but they would quickly go back to the vehicle worried the flames would attract attention

The car would travel to a wooded area near Laurie Tacketts home. The teen killers would drag Shanda Sharer from the vehicle

Shanda Sharer Murder

shanda sharer murder

When they reached the wooded area Melinda Loveless and Laurie Tackett would drag Shanda from the car and order her to strip naked. Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence would stay in the car. Melinda would begin to strike the twelve year old girl, struck her several times in the face with her knee and then Loveless and Tackett began to stab her in the chest. Hope Rippey would come out of the car to hold Shanda Sharer down. The teen killers would tie a rope around Shanda neck and strangled the girl until they thought she was dead The girls would put the body of the twelve year old into the trunk of the car

The girls would travel to Laurie Tackett home and went inside to clean up. While they were inside they heard Shanda Sharer scream from the trunk of the car. Laurie Tackett would grab a paring knife and would stab Shanda several more times.

Laurie Tackett an Melinda Loveless would go back out to the car and drove to a nearby town. When they opened the trunk of the car Shanda Sharer sat up, Tackett would strike the twelve year old girl with a tire iron. Loveless and Tackett would drive back to Laurie’s home.

A couple of hours later all four girls were back in the car. They drove to a gas station where they bought a large bottle of Pepsi which they dumped out and filled with gasoline. The teen killers would drive to a remote location where three of the girls (Lawrence stayed in the car) would drag Shanda Sharer out (the twelve year old was still alive)

Shanda Sharer was dropped in the field, soaked with gasoline and set on fire. After the fire burned out Loveless was not convinced Sharer was dead so she would throw more gasoline on Sharer and set her on fire again.

The girls would leave the scene and go to McDonald’s where they would laugh about the murder.

Shanda Sharer Murder – Arrests And Trials

The burned body of Shanda Sharer would be found later the same morning. Police initially thought that the murder was a drug deal gone wrong. Shana Sharer father would report his daughter missing that day

At 8:20 Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence would go to the police station and tell the officers what had happened earlier that day.

Police would match the dental records of Shanda Sharer to the body found earlier that day and they would match.

Melinda Loveless and Toni Lawrence would be arrested the next day.

All four of the teen girls would plead guilty in order to avoid the death penalty.

toni lawrence

Toni Lawrence was sentenced to a maximum of twenty years in prison. She would be released after serving nine years

hope rippey 1

Hope Rippey would be sentenced to sixty years in prison, ten suspended and ten to be served on probation. This sentence would be reduced to thirty five years on appeal. Hope Rippey would be released after serving 12 years

hope rippey
Hope Rippey Now
laurie tackett
laurie tackett

Laurie Tackett, whose real name is Mary Laurine Tackett, was sentenced to sixty years in prison Laurie Tackett would be released in 2018

melinda loveless
Melinda Loveless

Melinda Loveless was sentenced to sixty years in prison. Melinda Loveless would be released in 2019. Loveless is currently serving her parole in Kentucky

melinda loveless 2021
Melinda Loveless 2021

Shanda Sharer Videos

Shanda Sharer Murder More News

The last of four teenagers convicted of the kidnapping, torture and murder of a 12-year-old girl has been released from prison.

Melinda Loveless, now 43, was released from the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis on Thursday, according to a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Correction.

In Dec. 1992, Loveless pleaded guilty to the Jan. 11, 1992 murder of 12-year-old Shanda Sharer of New Albany. 

Sharer was tortured, beaten and burned in a rural area of Jefferson County, Indiana. 

Loveless served more than 26 years in prison for murder and criminal confinement. She convinced three other teens — Hope Rippey, Laurie Tackett and Toni Lawrence — to participate in the crime because she believed Sharer stole her girlfriend.

Loveless is the last of the four to be released from prison. She will now serve parole in Jefferson County, Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Sharer would have been 40 years old this year. 

https://www.wdrb.com/news/melinda-loveless-mastermind-of-1992-murder-of-shanda-sharer-released-from-prison/article_994b41c4-d00e-11e9-8e56-9b9b497efced.html

Kevin Foster And The Lords Of Chaos

lords of chaos kevin foster

The Lords Of Chaos was a group of teenagers in Florida lead by Kevin Foster who decided to start their own militia that would start with simple vandalizing and would end with the murder of a teacher. In this article on My Crime Library we will take a closer look at Kevin Foster and the Lords Of Chaos

Lords Of Chaos – The Beginning

The Lords Of Chaos would begin in Fort Myers Florida with just three core members: Kevin Foster, Pete Magnotti and Christopher Black. Foster was the only one out of the three who had a criminal record.

The Lords Of Chaos would start with the burning of a church bus and setting a birdcage on fire killing one of the Macaws inside.

Derek Shields who was in and out of the group would join on the next spree in which the group would go after a much bigger target, an abandoned Coca Cola Factory. Kevin Foster was apparently upset that the groups actions up to that point were being mocked in the local press where their vandalism was described as being committed by “obviously pea-brained vandals” and “person(s) of less than average intelligence and a cretin’s personality.”

On the night of the Coca Cola factory fire, April 20 1996, the Lords Of Chaos had stolen a number of propane canisters and would put them strategically around the empty factory. Kevin Foster would fill a Pepsi can full of gunpowder which he attached a twenty five foot wick. The fire would go off without a hitch causing over a hundred grand in damages.

Lords Of Chaos Escalation

The next target on the list for the Lords Of Chaos was the owner of a restaurant where Derek Shields mother worker. Shields was upset with the man who insulted his mother. Kevin Foster and Pete Magnotti would carjack and rob the man who would escape with no injuries

Lords Of Chaos Murder

On the night of April 30, 1996 after a plan to rob a clothing store in order to dress themselves for grad night the teenage killers plan changed when the plan fell apart so they decided to vandalize the school to which the majority of the group attended, Riverdale High School,

It was a typical vandalism with the group stole a number of small items from the school before Kevin Foster threw a Clorox bottle filled with gasoline which he lit on fire and threw into a window into the school gym.

As the Lords Of Chaos were admiring their handiwork from the school parking lot a teacher, Mark Schwebes, recognized two of the teens and told them he would be reporting them in the morning. Chris Black reportedly said “This has to be fixed tonight, because tomorrow’s a school day. So, he’s gotta die tonight.”

The Lords Of Chaos would obtain Mark Schwebes address through directory assistance and drove over to his home. It was decided that Derek Shields would knock on the door and Kevin Foster would pull the trigger.

At 11:30 pm the group arrived at the home and Derek Shields would walk up to the door with Kevin Foster hiding off to the side. After Derek Shields knocker Mark Schwebes opened his door and would be shot once in the face with a shotgun and once in the buttocks. The shotgun shells would be left at the murder scene.

Lords Of Chaos Arrest And Trials

Fort Myers Police initially thought that Mark Schwebes was murdered due to a love triangle however the Lords Of Chaos would soon be bragging that they had murdered a teacher. A girlfriend of one of the teens who associated with the group would tell her what happened and she would go to the police.

Soon the police would learn from other members of the group that the Lords Of Chaos were responsible for the majority of the vandalism that had occurred in the Florida town the prior week including the Coca Cola factory fire. Kevin Foster, Derek Shields, Christopher Black and Pete Magnotti were soon arrested along with a few lesser group members: Chris Burnett, Brad Young and Craig Lesh.

Brad Young and Craig Lesh would be released with no charges filed. Chris Burnett agreed to plead guilty to robbery and arson charges for a lesser sentence of two years in prison and would agree to testify against the other members of the group.

Pete Magnotti, who was seventeen at the time, would plead guilty to first degree murder and be sentenced to thirty two years in prison.

Derek Shields and Christopher Black would both end up pleading guilty to first degree murder and received life without parole sentences.

Kevin Foster decided to go to trial and turn down the same sentence received by Derek Shields and Christopher Black. Foster would be quickly convicted and sentenced to death.

Kevin Foster would make news years later when he attempted to convince a writer to murder people who testified against him. Kevin who also conspired with his mother would receive an additional sentence and his mother received five years in prison. Kevin Foster remains on Florida death row

Lords Of Chaos 2021 Updates

lords of chaos kevin foster 2021
Kevin Foster
DC Number:Y01561
Name:FOSTER, KEVIN D
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:06/16/1977
Initial Receipt Date:07/22/1998
Current Facility:UNION C.I.
Current Custody:MAXIMUM
Current Release Date:DEATH SENTENCE
lords of chaos christopher black 2021
Christopher Black
DC Number:Y01565
Name:BLACK, CHRISTOPHER P
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:04/17/1978
Initial Receipt Date:07/30/1998
Current Facility:AVON PARK C.I.
Current Custody:CLOSE
Current Release Date:SENTENCED TO LIFE
lords of chaos derek shields 2021
Derek Shields
DC Number:Y01564
Name:SHIELDS, DEREK
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:08/19/1977
Initial Receipt Date:07/30/1998
Current Facility:OKEECHOBEE C.I.
Current Custody:CLOSE
Current Release Date:SENTENCED TO LIFE
lords of chaos pete magnotti 2021
Pete Magnotti
DC Number:Y01562
Name:MAGNOTTI, PETER E
Race:WHITE
Sex:MALE
Birth Date:08/08/1978
Initial Receipt Date:07/30/1998
Current Facility:CROSS CITY WORK CAMP
Current Custody:MINIMUM
Current Release Date:07/08/2023

Lords Of Chaos Videos

Jason Sweeney Murder

jason sweeney murder

Jason Sweeney was a sixteen year old from Fishtown, Pennsylvania who would be brutally murdered by the girl he was dating, a friend since childhood and two brothers. Jason Sweeney had recently started dating Justina Morley a troubled fifteen year old girl. Jason who had been working construction was excited for the date he had that night with Justina Morley.

Justina Morley would invite him to meet her at a wooded area so the two of them could have sex. What Jason Sweeney did not know was that his friend Edward Batzig Jr and two brothers, Nicholas and Domenic Coia were lying in wait so they could rob him of his paycheck

Edward Batzig Jr would strike Jason Sweeney first which was quickly followed by Nicholas and Domenic Coia who would also attack. Jason Sweeney reportedly begged Edward Batzig Jr to stop however his so called friend would hit him repeatedly with an axe. The three teen killers would finish by smashing Jason Sweeney skull in with a large rock.

Justina Morley, Edward Batzig Jr, Nicholas and Domenic Coia would steal the money out of Jason’s pocket and reportedly the four shared a group hug

The four would spend the money on jewelry and drugs. It would not take long for police to figure out who was responsible for the murder of Jason Sweeney

Justina Morley lawyers would attempt to keep her case in juvenile court as they brought up her struggles with mental health and drug addiction however the prosecutors just pointed at the severity of the crimes that she was charged with. Justina Morley would be tried as an adult and would agree to testify against the three others in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Edward Batzig Jr, Nicholas Coia and Domenic Coia would all be found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many believed that Justina Morley was the ringleader and that prosecutors did not need her testimony in order to convict the other three and she deserved a life sentence for her actions.

Justina Morley would be released from prison in 2020.

Jason Sweeney Killers Update

dominic coia 2021
Domenic Coia

Parole Number: GE5575
Age: 35
Date of Birth: 06/13/1985
Race/Ethnicity: WHITE
Height: 5′ 10″
Gender: MALE
Citizenship: USA
Complexion: LIGHT
Current Location: GREENE

nicholas coia 2021
Nicholas Coia

Parole Number: GE6387
Age: 34
Date of Birth: 08/30/1986
Race/Ethnicity: WHITE
Height: 5′ 06″
Gender: MALE
Citizenship: USA
Complexion: LIGHT
Current Location: SOMERSET

edward batzig
Edward Batzig Jr

Parole Number: GE6503
Age: 34
Date of Birth: 10/05/1986
Race/Ethnicity: WHITE
Height: 6′ 00″
Gender: MALE
Citizenship: USA
Complexion: LIGHT
Current Location: CHESTER

justina morley 2021
Justina Morley

Inmate Number: OJ6487
Age: 33
Date of Birth: 03/07/1988
Race/Ethnicity: White
Height: 5′ 04″
Weight (lbs): 142
Gender: Female
Complexion: FAIR
District Office: Allentown DO
County of Residence: BUCKS
State: PENNSYLVANIA
Release Date: 12/10/2020

King Von Murder Rapper Shot Dead

king von murder

King Von whose real name is Dayvon Daquan Bennett was shot and killed in Atlanta Georgia on November 6, 2020. According to police two groups of people were involved in an argument outside of an Atlanta nightclub around 3:15 am when it turned violent.

According to police the two groups of people began firing at each other which would leave three people dead including King Von. King Von who was not armed would die at the scene

There has been some confusion as Atlanta police were involved in the shooting however it was confirmed by King Von manager that the police did not kill the rapper. The two police officers at the shooting were not on duty at the time and were working as nightclub security.

Atlanta police would release the following statement

“There was an incident where two groups of individuals got into a physical altercation. The physical altercation escalated into an exchange of gunfire with those groups,” Peek said earlier this morning. “Two police officers who were working at that particular club, or lounge, noticed the gunfire, the altercation, and engaged some of the people involved. There was an exchange of gunfire with police as well.”

timothy leeks king von
Timothy Leeks

Atlanta police would arrest Timothy Leeks the next day. Timothy Leeks whose nickname is Lul Timm and Lil Tim was shot during the incident and treated at hospital where he was kept under police custody until his release and transfer to an Atlanta jail

Timothy Leeks has been charged in the murder of King Von.

King Von Murder Videos

King Von More News

 A 22-year-old man has been charged in the Atlanta shooting death of an up-and-coming Chicago-born rapper.

Timothy Leeks faces a felony murder charge in the death of Dayvon Bennett, also known as King Von

Leeks is in police custody at an Atlanta hospital, where he is being treated for a gunshot wound.

Three people were killed, including King Von, after a confrontation outside an Atlanta club that ended in gunfire early Friday morning, according to police.

Two off-duty Atlanta officers were working an extra job at a local hookah lounge when they saw two groups of men arguing with each other outside the establishment around 3:20 a.m. Friday, police said.

Officials said the argument quickly escalated to gunfire between the two groups.

One of the off-duty officers, along with an on-duty APD officer who was patrolling nearby, confronted the shooters and shots were also fired during the encounter with police.

Three people were transported to the hospital by EMS with gunshot wounds, and three others were taken to the hospital in private vehicles. Two additional people were detained on the scene, police said.

Officials confirmed Friday afternoon that three of the people shot died from their injuries, and three others were still being treated at the hospital. The officers involved were not injured, police said.
Rumors surrounding the incident claimed Bennett was killed by police gunfire, but APD officials said their investigators believe the rapper “was shot during the initial shootout between the two groups of males, prior to police responding and attempting to stop the shooting.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations was requested to respond and investigate the officer-involved shooting aspect of the incident. APD homicide investigators also responded and are investigating the deaths.
Officials said part of the investigations will include determining which individuals were struck by gunfire from the suspects and whether any were struck by gunfire from the officers.

Charges are anticipated against the two suspects detained on-scene, and additional charges are likely as the investigation continues, police said.

The identities of the other victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The investigation into the incident remains open and very active, officials said

Frequently Asked Questions