Articles Posted in Kidnapping

Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I suggest, in general, that if law enforcement tries to talk to you about criminal activity to which they would like to connect you, you should politely defer questioning until you have an experienced lawyer present.

Of course, this pre-supposes that you are either a suspect or that the ensuing conversation is likely to make you one.

The right to invoke what is commonly known as Miranda Rights. It is more complicated than most people think which is why it is best to follow this suggestion. If you get a lawyer and there is nothing to fear, then your lawyer can tell you that. I have seen too many cases, though, in which it is the police who invoke their right to lie, deceive and mislead someone in order to get a statement they actually like out of a soon-to-be-revealed suspect…or defendant. To give a general admonition to simply go ahead and answer all the questions to the best of your ability without the safeguard of a lawyer would not be great advice. Particularly given what is often done with such statements.

Over the past couple days, the criminal investigation into the disappearance of Hannah Graham (the “Missing”) and the until-now-officially-“non-suspect” Jesse Leroy Mathew (now the “Defendant”) has had some developments.

Finally, it would seem that the façade that the Defendant was merely wanted for his poor driving habits and simply a “person of interest” in connection with the presumed abduction of Missing has ended. His official status has changed in places other than this blog to that of “suspect”. Criminal charges have also brought charging him with the suspected abduction.

Shortly thereafter, he was captured in Texas where he awaits extradition.

Another story involving potential college campus crimes is in the news today. It involves what all parents fear…the disappearance of a child.

Hannah Graham, 18, a sophomore at University of Virginia, has been missing since September 13th. To make matters worse, at least three other young women have disappeared in the area in the last five years. While the police indicate that they do not believe that Ms. Graham’s disappearance is connected to the others, one cannot say for sure. After all, the disappearance of Ms. Graham remains a mystery.

The local police do have a “person of interest” with whom they would like to speak though. He is believed to be the last person to have seen Ms. Graham before she disappeared. While the police certainly want to question him, Jesse Mathew now faces charges for reckless driving.

Well, I don’t know how you are starting your week, but I started mine arguing with my alarm claiming that “It is not bright enough outside to be morning!” I lost that argument as shorter days get ready to become the norm.

I would guess, however, that as reluctant as I was to throw back the blanket and face the day, Worcester’s 36-year-old Victor Baez. Jr.(hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was even morehesitant. Like me, he would start his day in court; unlike me, he was probably not returning home tonight.

The Defendant, a Level Three sex offender, is set to be arraigned on charges of kidnapping, receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment of a child, and driving with a suspended license. Clearly, this was not his first visit to the halls of justice. He was previously convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age in 2004.

Last week, Dedham police officer Michael Schoener (hereinafter, the “Defendant”), 40, was in court. No, not in the seats reserved for police officers waiting to testify…in the defendant’s seat waiting to be arraigned.

The Defendant has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of an Avon man which is alleged to have taken place back in January. The arraignment took place in Norfolk Superior Court. The specifics involve allegations of having supplied police gear and other materials to the kidnapping scheme.

37-year-old James Robinson from Avon was allegedly kidnapped from home on new Year’s Day. According to Mr. Robinson’s parents, he was taken by two men “posing as” officers. Authorities say he has not been seen sincxe, although law enforcement apparently believes that he is no longer alive.

Authorities said that a 14-year-old Falmouth girl escaped from an attempted abduction yesterday. According to the Boston Globe, she was walking from her bus stop in the afternoon when two men in a white pickup truck approached her and attempted to force her into the truck. The girl escaped by biting the man’s arm, and the two men were spotted fleeing north on East Falmouth highway.

When people think of child kidnappings, they usually think of situations like this one involving strangers. The majority of child kidnappings, however, are committed by family members. Under Massachusetts law, kidnapping is a felony that usually involves prison time and fees. It is punishable by up to 10 years in the state prison. Since this was an attempt to commit a crime punishable by more than 5 years in the state prison, the penalty here could reach up to 5 years in the state prison.

The motive for kidnappings by strangers is typically to subject the victim to some further criminal act, such as rape, sexual assault or sex slavery, or murder. Recently, an increasing amount of kidnappings are being committed to force children into prostitution.

Sometimes kidnappings are for the purpose of extorting money or holding the victim for ransom. In Massachusetts, when the purpose of the kidnapping is extortion, it is punishable by up to life in prison.

Source: The Boston Globe, Girl escaped abduction in Falmouth, police say
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