Iowa | My Crime Library

Ethan Orton Teen Killer Murders Parents

Ethan Orton was a seventeen year old teen killer from Cedar Rapids Iowa who would murder his parents. According to court documents Ethan Orton thought the best way to be able to take charge of his life was to murder his parents so he would stab Misty Scott-Slade and Casey Orton . When he though his mother was still alive he would take an axe and finish the job.

Ethan Orton would call 911 and told the operator what he had done and officers would soon arrive on the scene. Ethan Orton would be arrested and eventually plead guilty to two counts of first degree murder. Ethan Orton will be sentenced later this month

Ethan Orton More News

A Cedar Rapids teenager accused of stabbing his parents at their home in October 2021 has pled guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

Court documents say Ethan Alexander Orton killed Misty Scott-Slade and Casey Orton at their home in the 300 block of Carnaby Drive NE. When police arrived at the home, they say they found Orton sitting outside the home covered in blood.

Police say Orton admitted to stabbing and killing them in order to “take charge of his life.” They also say he used an axe to kill his mother when she appeared to have survived the initial stabbing.

Orton was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His defense initially filed a Motion for Competency Evaluation citing that Orton was suffering from a mental disorder that prevented him from appreciating the charge. After a medical evaluation found Orton competent to stand trial, Orton and his defense team submitted a ‘Notice of Defense of Insanity/Diminish Responsibility to the court in January 2022. The trial was then delayed in February 2022

On Monday, officials announced that Orton had pled guilty to both first-degree murder charges.

There is no sentencing date set at this time.

Ethan Orton pleads guilty to killing parents (kcrg.com)

Ethan Orton Other News

An Iowa teenager pleaded guilty Monday to murder in the deaths of his parents in 2021, using a knife and ax to kill them in an effort to “take charge of his life.”

Ethan Alexander Orton pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents Casey Arthur Orton, 42, and Misty Scott-Slade, 41, of Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids police were called about 2 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2021, to check out suspicious noises coming from a home and found the then-17-year-old Orton covered in blood. He told police he used a knife to stab his parents and then used an ax on his mother when she appeared to be alive, according to a criminal complaint.

The case was delayed as defense lawyers argued Orton suffered from a mental disorder and wasn’t competent to stand trial. A judge ultimately ruled he was competent.

Police say Orton admitted to killing his parents as part of a desire to “”take charge of his life,” according to the complaint.

The judge will set a sentencing date for Orton later

Iowa teen pleads guilty to murder in death of his parents (siouxcityjournal.com)

Madison Russo Fake Cancer Fraud

Madison Russo is a nineteen year old from Eldridge Iowas who is in a heap of trouble after pretending she had cancer in order to bring in thousands of dollars of donations. According to police reports Madison Russo claimed that she had both leukemia and pancreatic cancer and a number of kind people donated $37,000 through a GoFund me campaign as well as posting her cancer journey through social media. Of course her story was complete BS and Madison Russo would be arrested and charged with theft by means of deception

Madison Russo More News

A 19-year-old Bettendorf woman is in custody after an investigation revealed she had been faking cancer to solicit thousands of dollars in donations.

On Wednesday, Jan. 11 around 6 p.m., the Eldridge Police Department was made aware of 19-year-old Madison Russo, who was suspected of stealing over $37,303 from over 439 donors by using false claims that she, “suffered from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer and a tumor, the size of a football, that wrapped around her spine.”

Russo shared her story publicly through social media and a GoFundMe page, which was featured in the North Scott Press newspaper on Oct. 18. Russo also discussed her cancer journey as a guest speaker at St. Ambrose University, The National Pancreatic Foundation and on the Project Purple podcast.

Anonymous witnesses met with the investigating officer on Jan. 11 to discuss the medical discrepancies found in photos Russo posted to her social media sites.

Investigators learned that via her GoFundMe, Russo accepted private donations from other businesses, nonprofit organizations, school districts and Quad Citizens.

The GoFundMe page was still up as of Monday afternoon, with donations rolling in as recently as Saturday. The description of the fundraiser says:

“On February 10th, 2022 Maddie Russo found out she has Pancreatic Cancer and has been going to battle ever since to win this war. Maddie is currently undergoing vigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatments that make her very sick, but just like the Maddie we all know, she never gives up and is a fighter.

“As one can imagine, this diagnosis has been very hard on Maddie’s family. Just like with any cancer diagnosis, the cost of medical bills, gas, meals, and expense can be a burden, and that is something this family should not have to worry about.

“If you are able to, donations would be greatly appreciated to help cover medical expenses and to allow Maddie to focus on one thing only, which is to show that she is stronger than cancer and will beat this. Please donate/share if you can.”

A search warrant was carried out at her Bettendorf residence, but officials found no evidence.

Subpoenas for medical records were obtained which revealed that Russo has never been diagnosed with any form of cancer or tumor from any medical facilities within the Quad Cities or surrounding communities.

On Monday, Jan. 23, Russo was arrested for theft by means of deception on the St. Ambrose University campus.

Russo was released just four hours after being booked into the Scott County Jail on Monday.

Community members are encouraged to assist investigators as they attempt to locate any citizens or businesses that have donated to Russo.

This is an ongoing investigation.

https://www.wqad.com/article/news/crime/madison-russo-bettendorf-faked-cancer-police/526-78687a74-007a-4c37-baf3-d05f949e66c6

Alexander Jackson Guilty Of Murdering His Family

Alexander Jackson is a man from Iowa who was just found guilty of the murders of his parents and sister. According to court records Alexander Jackson would murder his father Jan Perry Jackson, mother Melissa Ferne Jackson, and sister Sabrina Hana Jackson would then shoot himself in the foot. When police arrived Alexander Jackson would tell officers that a black man had broken into the home and killed his family and shot him. However soon Alexander Jackson story would fall apart and he would be arrested and charged with the triple murder. Alexander Jackson would be found guilty at trial of all charges.

Alexander Jackson More News

After six hours of deliberations, a Linn County jury has found a Cedar Rapids man guilty of killing his parents and sister at their northeast side home in June 2021.

Alex Jackson, 22, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder on Wednesday morning. He’ll receive a mandatory sentence of life in prison on March 3.

Melissa, Jan, and Sabrina Jackson were found dead in the family’s Oak Leaf Court NE home the morning of June 15, 2021. Alex Jackson had called 911 himself, claiming that an intruder had broken in and shot him and his father. The two women were found dead once police arrived at the home.

Danielle Jackson-Parsons, Alex’s cousin and Jan’s niece, read a statement to media members after Wednesday’s verdict

“Alex wanted the world to think he was a victim of this horrendous crime,” Jackson-Parsons said. “But we know that is not the case, and now, everyone knows the truth of what happened that day. Alex murdered three members of our family – and that pain will never go away.”

“Being able to give (the Jackson family) a moment of peace and closure after a year and a half of tragedy and hurt – I don’t think that makes this verdict any easier on them – knowing that a family member killed and murdered their other family members,” assistant Linn County attorney Monica Slaughter said, “but at least now, the healing process can begin.”

Defense attorney Tyler Johnston tells Iowa’s News Now he is planning to appeal Wednesday’s ruling – maintaining Jackson’s innocence.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “Alex is 22 years of age and is going to spend the rest of his life in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit.”

Jackson said he’d been shot in the foot while fighting the alleged intruder over a Browning .22 rifle found in the home. Investigators say that gun, which belonged to the Jacksons, is the murder weapon – and that two clear palm prints found on it are Alex Jackson’s. The box to the gun was also found under Jackson’s bed.

Jackson’s defense argued that investigators were sloppy in their search for the alleged intruder and ignored potential evidence that could have proven another person’s presence at the home. The defense also said two investigators that interviewed Jackson at UnityPoint St. Luke’s that morning took advantage of a shocked and medicated Jackson as they began to blame him for the murders.

The jury deliberated for four hours on Tuesday before resuming discussions at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. News of a verdict being reached came around 10:10 a.m.

https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/alex-jackson-triple-murder-trial-day-8

Preston Walls Murders 2 Teens In Des Moines

Preston Walls is a teenager from Des Moines Iowa who is charged with the murders of two teens at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth. According to police reports Preston Walls who was on pre trial detention would cut off his ankle bracelet and head into Starts Right Here program building where he would shoot and kill an eighteen and sixteen year old boy. Preston Walls would be arrested and now faces two counts of murder along other offences.. The Starts Right Here program is run by William Holmes a local rapper who goes by the name Will Keeps who was also injured in the attack.

Preston Walls More News

An 18-year-old man was charged with murder in Monday’s killing of two teenagers at an alternative educational program for at-risk youth in Des Moines.

Police said Preston Walls of Des Moines is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the Monday shooting at Starts Right Here. Two teenagers — an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male — were killed in the attack.

The program’s founder, 49-year-old William Holmes — a rapper who goes by the stage name Will Keeps — was injured.

Police said Walls was on supervised pre-trial release on a weapons charge and had removed an ankle bracelet 16 minutes before he went to the school with a gun and confronted the two student victims. Police said Walls and the two students all had gang affiliations and were in opposing gangs.

Preston Walls Other News

Two teenage students were killed Monday and a man was seriously injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at an alternative educational program that was designed to keep at-risk youth away from trouble, police said. The injured man was identified as the program’s founder — a rapper who left a life of violence and was dedicated to helping youth in Des Moines.

Three people were arrested shortly after the shooting at the educational program called Starts Right Here, police said. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie identified the injured adult as William Holmes — who goes by the stage name Will Keeps — and said the victims and those arrested were all teenagers.

“That brings a total of five families of teenagers affected by youth gun violence in a matter of minutes on a Monday afternoon, right here in our capital city,” Cownie said. “This is a growing and alarming phenomenon in our country, and one we’ve seen too often in the past and again today in the city of Des Moines.”

Cownie held a moment of silence for the victims. He said he spoke to their family members. “But there is little one can say that will lessen their pain. Nothing that can be said to bring them back, those who were killed so senselessly.”

Starts Right Here is an educational program affiliated with the Des Moines school district. Police said emergency crews were called to the school, which is in a business park, just before 1 p.m. Officers arrived to find two students critically injured, and they started CPR immediately. The two students died at a hospital. The adult, later identified by the mayor as Keeps, was in serious condition, and police said he was in surgery Monday evening

Taylor Blaha and Brandon Thoma Drown Newborn

Taylor Blaha and Brandon Thoma are two people from Iowa who have been charged with murder after drowning their newborn in a tub. According to police reports Taylor Blaha and Brandon Thoma would drown their newborn shortly after getting birth so that authorities would not find meth in the newborns system. After the newborn was murdered Brandon Thoma would take the body out of the home and dispose of it, police have yet to find the body. Brandon Thoma has been charged with first degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Taylor Blaha was charged with first degree murder

Taylor Blaha and Brandon Thoma More News

Two people have been arrested and charged in the death investigation of a newborn on Wednesday.

Brandon Thoma, 31, has been charged with First Degree Murder and Abuse of a Corpse. He is being held on a $1,050,000 cash only bond. Taylor Blaha, 24, has also been charged with First Degree murder and is being held on a $1,000,000 cash only bond.

On November 22 at around 2:48 p.m. the Webster County Telecommunications center received information that stated a female had given birth to a child at a home and that the newborn was later deceased. The newborn’s body was moved from the home to another location, and has not been found.

Thoma and Blaha are scheduled to make their first appearance in jail court in Webster County at 9:00 a.m. Thursday.

The Fort Dodge Police Department said it is continuing to investigate all credible leads to find the newborn’s body. The police department encourages anyone with information to contact the police or submit a tip anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

https://who13.com/news/arrests-made-in-fort-dodge-newborn-death-investigation/

Taylor Blaha and Brandon Thoma Other News

Two parents accused of murdering their child remained in custody awaiting a hearing in front of a judge in Fort Dodge Thursday morning in the death and disappearance of their newborn baby.

Brandon Thoma, 31, and Taylor Blaha, 24, both of Fort Dodge, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, according to a news release from the Fort Dodge Police Department. Thoma has also been charged with abuse of a corpse. Thoma and Blaha are currently being held on bond for $1,050,000 and $1,000,000, respectively.

Authorities were notified of the baby’s birth by a call to the Webster County Telecommunications Center on Nov. 22 at approximately 2:48 p.m., according to an earlier release. Police were informed that the baby was deceased and its body had been moved from its birthplace to a different location, the release stated

As of Dec. 7, the body of the newborn has yet to be found. Crime Stoppers has increased its reward to $1,500 for anyone that provides information that leads investigators to the body.

“We have not located the newborn, but that does not mean we won’t continue to keep trying to,” said Capt. Dennis Quinn of the Fort Dodge Police Department.

Thoma remains at Webster County Jail but Blaha is in custody elsewhere. Officials did not specify where.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2022/12/07/fort-dodge-police-iowa-charge-parents-dead-newborn-baby-murder/69710514007/