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Dhante Jackson Wanted In Sophia Mason Case

Dhante Jackson is wanted in the missing child Sophia Mason case after investigators searched his home and found the body of a child. According to police reports Sophia Mason, who has not been seen since December 2021, mother was arrested on a old charge of child abuse. The mother, Samantha Johnson, would then lead investigators to search the home of Dhante Jackson where a child’s body was found. Police are determining whether or not the body found is that of Sophia Mason. Dhante Jackson is wanted by Merced California police and Samantha Johnson was being held for investigation of murder with murder charges pending.

Dhante Jackson More News

A manhunt was under way Saturday for a man wanted in the death of a child whose body was found inside a central California home during the search for a missing 8-year-old girl.

The body was discovered at a home in Merced on Friday, several days after relatives of Sophia Mason told police in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Hayward that they had not had contact with the girl since December, and that she was known to stay at different locations between Hayward and Southern California.

The missing person report led Hayward police to arrest the girl’s mother, Samantha Johnson, 30, on a warrant stemming from a case of child abuse in Alameda County last year, the Merced police department said in a statement Saturday.

Her statements led police to serve a search warrant at the house in Merced, where her 34-year-old boyfriend Dhante Jackson resides, the statement said.

Investigators said they believe Jackson went on the run after news spread about the search of his home.

Merced police said investigators were working to identify the body. They did not release the cause of death.

Johnson was being held for investigation of murder. She will be transferred to the Merced County Jail to face charges, police said.

A warrant was issued for Jackson’s arrest. Police said he is known to frequent the Bay Area

Dhante Jackson Other News

A 30-year-old Hayward woman, being held for child abuse in Santa Rita jail, was charged with murder along with her boyfriend Saturday hours after she led police to a Merced home where a child’s body was discovered.

Merced police said Samantha Johnson now faces a murder charge along with her boyfriend, 34-year-old Dhante Jackson of Merced, who has Bay Area connections. He remains at large and is the focus of a statewide manhunt.

“Jackson resides at the home where the deceased child was found,” police posted on Facebook. “Soon after news spread about Jackson’s home being searched, he went on the run.”

Meanwhile, the Merced County Coroner’s Office was trying to determine if the child’s body was that of Johnson’s missing 8-year-old daughter, Sophia Mason

Since Tuesday, Hayward police have been searching for Sophia. Johnson was arrested Thursday evening after giving investigators suspicious information regarding her daughter’s whereabouts. She eventually gave Hayward police enough information to have them ask Merced police to check out a home on Barclay Way.

Once inside the home, detectives discovered the body.

“Detectives interviewed Johnson about the deceased child found in the residence that she led police to in the city of Merced,” police posted on Facebook. “Johnson was ultimately arrested for the charge of murder and remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail. Johnson will be transferred to the Merced County Jail.”

Merced police were asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective John Pinnegar at (209)388-7712 or by email at [email protected].

Luis Pulido-Esparza Charged In Girlfriends Murder

Luis Pulido-Esparza is a man from California who works at the Corcoran State Prison as a guard and has just been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Marilu Ramirez Olmedo. According to police reports 911 received a phone call saying that a woman at the residence had just committed suicide by shooting herself in the head. When emergency personnel arrived they found Marilu Ramirez Olmedo deceased. Luis Pulido-Esparza told police that he thought the suicide stemmed from an argument earlier in the day. However soon after investigators realized they were not dealing with a suicide but a murder and the Corcoran State Prison guard was put under arrest for murder. Marilu Ramirez Olmedo also worked at Corcoran State Prison in the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility providing services in the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment program.

Luis Pulido-Esparza More News

A Corcoran correctional officer now finds himself behind bars, accused of killing his girlfriend and trying to play it off as a suicide.

“This is a really unusual crime for this small community. Particularly one that would involve domestic violence, it’s kind of shocking for a small community,” said Corcoran Police Chief Reuben Shortnacy

Luis Pulido-Esparza, 34, a Correctional Officer at Corcoran State Prison, is in custody at the Kings County Jail.

He’s been booked for the murder of his girlfriend.

Corcoran Police say Sunday around 7 a.m., Luis Pulido-Esparza called 911 and reported that his girlfriend had shot herself and was not breathing.

“Originally, he had said that she committed suicide, and he thought it stemmed from an argument they had the night before,” said Chief Shortnacy.

Officers arrived and found a 32-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the head inside a home on Evergreen near Village Drive.

Family members have identified her as Marilu Ramirez Olmedo. Ramirez did not survive.

Detectives were called to start an investigation.

“We discovered it was in fact, not a suicide, Esparza was responsible for the homicide of that individual,” said Chief Shortnacy.

Corcoran Police say they recovered the firearm they believe was used in the shooting. It was legally owned and registered to Ramirez.

Officials say they don’t have any record of previous domestic violence between the two.

Family members say Ramirez met Luis Pulido-Esparza at work at Corcoran State Prison.

He was a correctional officer and she worked in the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility providing services in the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment program.

The two had been dating for about five years and had a two-year-old daughter together.

Ramirez also had two older boys from a previous relationship, aged 11 and 16.

Police say all three children were home at the time of the shooting.

Ramirez’s family members did not want to go on camera or be identified Tuesday for safety reasons but said she was a hard-working mom who adored her children.

“She was a teen mom, but that never stopped her. I think part of it was having support from family, but the other part of it was her drive to do good for her kids,” a family member said.

Family members say Ramirez’s kids will now be without her as a role model, and the family has lost an independent woman who was silly, and sometimes sarcastic. “I feel like no one can replace her. No one can replace her.”

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a statement confirming the two worked at the prison.

“The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is deeply saddened by this tragedy and supports the employees at Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran (SATF). As a result, the Peer Support Program was activated and is providing intervention, counseling and resources to help employees cope with the effects of this traumatic incident.”

They say Tuesday is Luis Pulido-Esparza’s normal day off, so as of Tuesday, he remains employed at Corcoran State Prison.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office formally filed charges against Luis Pulido-Esparza. He’s been charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse as well as special allegations for use of a firearm.

If convicted, he faces life in prison. He’s due in court on Wednesday.

If you are the victim of domestic abuse, or you know someone who is, there is help available 24/7. In Fresno County, call the Marjaree Mason Center at (559) 233-4357. In all other locations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.

https://abc30.com/corcoran-homicide-man-arrested-kills-girlfriend/11632973/

Sherri Papini Charged For Faking Kidnapping

Sherri Papini is a woman from California whose kidnapping made national news as when she was found she was branded and had a broken nose when she was found tied up on the side of the road, turns out the whole story was fake. Sherri Papini who told authorities that she was kidnapped by two Hispanic women at gun point and that she was tortured during the time that she was missing. Sherri Papini would even give the FBI two full descriptions of her alleged assailants. However when her family and friends were worried sick about her disappearance Sherri Papini was living it up with her boyfriend in Costa Mesa and would injure herself to make her story bulletproof. Of course when the FBI comes into play and learns that they have been played by this woman people were calling Super Mom you are going to end up with some serious Federal charges. So far Sherri Papini has been charged with making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and engaging in mail fraud and is facing 20 years in prison.

Sherri Papini More News

Officials announced that 39-year-old Sherri Papini of Redding was arrested Thursday on charges of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and engaging in mail fraud.

According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, on Nov. 2, 2016, Papini was reported missing, and extensive searches were conducted for her in Shasta County and California as well as in several other states.

The Department of Justice says at that time, Papini told law enforcement officers and others that she had been abducted and held by two Hispanic women at gunpoint and held against her will. She also provided details of the alleged abductors to an FBI sketch artist. Based on her account, law enforcement agencies were on the lookout for Hispanic women matching Papini’s description. The investigation eventually showed, however, that this was a false narrative Papini fabricated.

The DOJ says that in truth, Papini had been voluntarily staying with a former boyfriend in Costa Mesa and had harmed herself to support her false statements.

“When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Shasta County Sheriff’s Office immediately began investigating, calling on the assistance of the FBI. Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family. Three weeks later, she was found 146 miles south of where she disappeared, and the focus went from trying to find her to trying to find her abductors. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted based on the defendant’s conduct.”

According to the DOJ, in an interview conducted by a federal agent and a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office detective in August 2020, Papini was warned that it was a crime to lie to federal agents. She was presented with evidence that showed she had not been abducted. Instead of retracting her kidnapping story, Papini continued to make false statements about her purported abductors. In addition, Papini caused the California Victim’s Compensation Board to pay victim assistance money based on her kidnapping story. From 2017 through 2021, Papini’s request for victim assistance caused approximately 35 payments totaling over $30,000, including for visits to her therapist and for the ambulance that transported her to the hospital after her return.

“The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office is very thankful for the partnerships with all of the local, state, and federal allied agencies that have been involved with this investigation for the last five-plus years,” said Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson. “The arrest of Sherri Papini was made possible by the outstanding hard work of a multitude of agents, detectives, DOJ criminalist, forensic analyst, crime scene investigators, and support staff members that were assigned to this investigation. Everyone involved in this investigation had one common goal; to find the truth about what happened on Nov. 2, 2016, with Sherri Papini and who was responsible. The 22-day search for Sherri Papini and subsequent five-year search into who reportedly abducted her was not only taxing on public resources but caused the general public to be fearful of their own safety, a fear that they should not have had to endure. The Sheriff’s Office has appreciated the support and patience from the citizens of Shasta County and abroad. This investigation has always been a priority to get solved for the Sheriff’s Office as well as for our investigating partners at the FBI and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services and Bureau of Investigation.”

Per the DOJ, If convicted of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer, Papini faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of mail fraud, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

https://krcrtv.com/news/local/sherri-papini-arrested-for-making-false-statements-about-her-kidnapping

Trezell West Charged With 2 Counts Of Murder

Trezell West the adopted father of two missing boys, Orson and Orrin West, has just been charged with two counts of murder. According to police reports Trezell West reported Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4, missing after he told police he briefly went into his California City, California home and came back to find the two little boys missing. There would be a massive search for the two boys and a ton of community support however the story took a dark turn today, March 1 2022, when their adopted father Trezell West was charged with two counts of murder. two counts of willful cruelty to a child and falsely reporting an emergency. The California City police early on suspected foul play however nothing in the West residence showed any evidence. The boys natural father, Charles Pettus, is suing the county for taking the boys away from him and failing to protect them.

Jacqueline West has also been arrested and charged with 2 counts of murder

Trezell West More News

A stunning development has occurred in the case of missing California City brothers Orrin and Orson West with murder charges filed Tuesday against Trezell West, their adoptive father.

Trezell West was not listed in custody as of 5 p.m. He’s charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of willful cruelty to a child and falsely reporting an emergency.

Orrin, 4, and 3-year-old Orson were reportedly last seen Dec. 21, 2020, playing outside the home where they lived with adoptive parents Trezell and Jacqueline West.

Trezell West said he had been gathering firewood and briefly went back inside. When he came out the boys were gone, he said.

They were reported missing to the California City Police Department that day. The department searched the home and brought the Wests in for questioning.

Police Chief John Walker told media in late December 2020 that foul play was suspected but nothing was found while searching the home. He said he didn’t believe they wandered into the desert because a thorough search aided by a helicopter with infrared took place covering a 5-mile perimeter.

Also, it was only 30 degrees Fahrenheit that night. Walker said the cold would have slowed the children.

Through the support of several local businesses and organizations, more than $100,000 in reward money was offered to anyone with information that led to the discovery of the boys.

In early March of last year, the Bakersfield Police Department took over as the lead agency in the investigation from the Cal City Police Department. The FBI and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children were also involved.

By June, the BPD said 44 search warrants had been served, 83 people interviewed and 170 items seized. Police did not elaborate on what was seized.

Police said 16 “mass area” searches had been conducted at that point and investigators had searched three locations outside the state and followed up on more than 200 tips. Data was extracted from cellular and electronic devices and seized items forensically examined.

All family members connected to the boys were interviewed.

The boys’ biological father, Charles Pettus, has filed a lawsuit against Kern County alleging officials were negligent in taking the boys from their birth parents and placing them in the custody of the West family.

Pettus told 17 News in December he couldn’t understand how the boys went missing after the county took them from him, supposedly for safe keeping.

“I don’t want my kids to be deceased. I want them to come back,” he said at the time. “My kids is all I got. After my parents pass it’s just me and my kids.

https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/cal-city-boys-murder-charges-filed-against-adoptive-father-of-orrin-orson-west/

Jacqueline West Arrested

The adoptive parents of two little California boys who vanished in 2020 have been arrested on murder and other charges, according to police and court records.

Trezell West and Jacqueline West were arrested Tuesday, Bakersfield police Lt. Jason Townsend told KERO-TV and The Bakersfield Californian.

Kern County Superior Court online records show both parents are charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of willful cruelty to a child and one count each of false report of an emergency.

Both parents were held without bail and face “arraignment on indictment” on Thursday, according to the records. The records do not indicate whether they have attorneys to speak on their behalf.

Orrin West, 4, and his brother Orson, 3, were reported missing from the family home in the desert town of California City in December 2020.

The investigation involved searches in California City and Bakersfield, about 60 miles to the west, where the boys lived before moving in September 2020.

Police: Parents of 2 missing California boys arrested on murder charges

Trezell West Other News – March 2/2022

Two young brothers died three months before their adoptive parents, who have been arrested on murder charges, reported them missing in late 2020, the Kern County district attorney announced Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference, DA Cynthia Zimmer said an investigation confirmed the deaths of Orrin West, 4, and his brother Orson, 3.

The boys’ bodies have not been found, Zimmer said, adding: “However, I would like to emphasize the fact that law enforcement has not found their bodies does not preclude a murder prosecution. As a matter of fact, there have been many hundreds of what we call ‘no body homicides’ prosecuted across the United States, successfully.

In December 2020, the boys’ adoptive parents, Trezell West and Jacqueline West, reported that the brothers had disappeared from the backyard of their California City home.

Police launched a search of the area, which was later joined by the FBI, California Highway Patrol, a Kern County sheriff’s search and rescue team, and members of the community. The search expanded to Bakersfield, about 60 miles to the west, where the boys lived before moving in September 2020.

Trezell West and Jacqueline West were arrested Tuesday and were each charged with five counts: two counts of murder, two counts of felony child abuse and one count of filing a false report of an emergency, Zimmer said.

Both parents are being held without bail and are expected to be arraigned in court on Thursday. Online records do not indicate whether they have attorneys to speak on their behalf.

“This is not the outcome that we in so many had hoped and prayed for over the last year,” Chief Greg Terry said at Wednesday’s press conference. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of orange and Orson who, with this news today, their worst fears have been realized.

https://abc7.com/adoptive-parents-missing-california-city-boys-murder-charge-orrin-and-orson-west/11614464/

Kather Sei Charged In Fatal Overdose

SWAT actor Kather Sei has been charged in the fatal overdose of Bed Head founder’s son Ray Mascolo fatal overdose. According to police reports Kather Sei and Mirela “Mimi” Todorova have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Mimi Todorova who is already in custody facing charges of intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy. According to reports Kather Sei had access to Todorova residence where he was able to pick up the drugs which he would later give to Ray Mascolo who would suffer a fatal overdose. Kather Sei has been in a number of TV programs including SWAT and Lucifer.

Kather Sei More News

An obscure Los Angeles actor is expected to be arraigned Monday for allegedly delivering fentanyl-laced pills to a Beverly Hills man who later died of an overdose.

Mucktarr Kather Sei, 36, of Koreatown, was arrested Saturday on federal charges alleging he worked with a Hollywood woman who ran a drug- delivery operation that sold counterfeit oxycodone pills and other drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The woman, Mirela “Mimi” Todorova, 33, is currently in federal custody after being charged last year with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy. Todorova holds United States, Bulgarian and Canadian citizenship, federal prosecutors said.

Todorova and Sei are charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The four- count updated indictment filed last week in Los Angeles federal court also charges Todorova with the two previously alleged drug counts stemming from the seizure of cocaine and MDMA at her home in March 2021.

According to the indictment, Todorova gave narcotics — including counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl — to Sei and other drivers to bring to customers across Los Angeles County and elsewhere. Todorova also delivered drugs herself and gave Sei keys to her Hollywood apartment so he could access the stash when Todorova went to Mexico, federal prosecutors allege.

The indictment quotes Todorova referring to a jaguar named Princess that the woman apparently kept as a pet in Mexico.

On Nov. 15 and 16, 2020, after a 37-year-old man placed orders for oxycodone pills to Todorova’s phone number, Sei allegedly delivered pills laced with fentanyl that caused the man’s fatal overdose in his Beverly Hills home, according to federal prosecutors.

Before and after the fatal overdose, other drug customers raised concerns about the authenticity and safety of the oxycodone pills that Todorova and Sei allegedly distributed. Several weeks before the death of the Beverly Hills man, another customer texted Todorova, telling her he had just gotten out of the hospital because “the oxys are dirty,” according to the indictment.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs and drug distribution resulting in death carry a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, prosecutors noted.

Sei, who uses Kather Sei as his stage name, once appeared in an episode of the TV series “S.W.A.T,” according to IMDB.com.

https://www.foxla.com/news/los-angeles-actor-accused-of-delivering-fentanyl-laced-pills-to-man-who-died-of-overdose