Issue 154, June 7, 2024

The Gilgo Beach Serial Killer, Murder of Kindergarten Teacher

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

What is the primary concern when treating a gunshot wound to the chest?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

‎PODCAST: 48 Hours | A Case For Murder

‎On June 2, 2007, the body of 36-year-old Hugues de la Plaza was found in his locked San Francisco apartment. He had been stabbed in the neck, chest and stomach. His apartment was covered in blood, and the scene seemed to have all the characteristics of a homicide, but there was no sign of a struggle, no sign of anyone else’s DNA at the scene, and no image of an assailant on nearby security cameras.

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What’s Happening Now

The Gilgo Beach Serial Killer: Arrest and Charges Unveiled

Long Island Serial Killer suspect Rex Heuermann was charged with six murders as of June 2024. In August 2023, accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex A. Heuermann stood before Judge Timothy P. Mazzei in Suffolk County Court.

After years of investigation, he was charged with multiple counts of murder relating to the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Additional charges were later added for the murders of Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor dating back to 1993 and 2003.

Authorities gathered evidence through DNA and digital traces, ultimately leading to Heuermann's arrest. He awaits trial in jail at the Riverhead Correctional Facility.

The timeline of the Gilgo Beach serial killings reveals a sinister pattern of crimes.

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Tragic Murder of Kindergarten Teacher Prompts Call for Help for Domestic Violence Survivors

Robert Cooley, 25, was arrested for the murder of his wife, 26-year-old Amber Morgan.

Police found Morgan dead in their Indianapolis home with gunshot wounds.

Cooley admitted to beating and shooting her during questioning.

The couple had ongoing domestic issues, and Morgan had asked her mother for help with a divorce the day before she was killed.

Cooley will face charges determined by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office.

Victory College Prep, where Morgan worked, confirmed her death and expressed condolences.

The incident prompted a response from the Indiana Department of Child Services.

If experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for help.

🚨 Safety Tip of the Day: Stabilizing Chest Gunshot Wounds

Using a non-occlusive dressing, such as a piece of plastic or a specialized chest seal, taped on three sides over the wound, helps to prevent a tension pneumothorax. This allows air to escape from the chest without letting more air in, stabilizing the victim until emergency medical services arrive.

Cold Case Highlights

The Unsolved Mystery of Deidre Week

For 29 years, the death of Deidre Week, an 11-year-old girl from Vesper, Wisconsin, remains unsolved.

On March 24, 1995, Deidre was hit by a car while riding her bike and her body was found 500 yards from her house.

Despite multiple witnesses and conflicting reports, no suspect has been charged.

The case is still actively investigated by the Wood County Sheriff's Department, now under Sheriff Shawn Becker.

The family, led by Kelli Cornelis, continues to seek justice for Deidre, hosting protests, keeping her memory alive, and advocating for answers.

If you have any information, please contact the Wood County authorities.sconsin-unsolved-cases-who-killed-deidre-week

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Arrests Made in Decade-Old Murder Case of Caleb Witty, Providing Hope for Justice and Closure

Caleb Witty, 17, was shot and killed during a robbery while walking home from a street festival with his younger sister in 2011.

After more than a decade, police have arrested two men, Michael I.

Wallace, 34, and Bobby Gipson, 34, charging them with first-degree murder in connection with Caleb's death.

The arrests bring hope for justice and closure to Caleb's family and friends.

The police department praised the community's support and collaboration with law enforcement in solving the case.

Wallace is in custody in Illinois, while Gipson is awaiting extradition from Tennessee.

Their plea status is unknown at this time.

PODCAST: ‎Smoke Screen | My Friend, the Serial Killer

‎Steve Fishman is an intern at his local Connecticut newspaper and a regular hitchhiker. When one of his hitched rides comes to an unnerving conclusion, Steve shrugs it off—until weeks later, when the news breaks that the driver he rode with has confessed to being a serial killer who preys on hitchhikers. Steve sees the chance to get the scoop of a lifetime: a killer’s story, Who better to tell it than someone who almost became one of his victims?

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🔍^{Trivia Answer}
Collapsed lung - also known as a pneumothorax

A gunshot wound to the chest can puncture the lung, allowing air to escape into the chest cavity and causing the lung to collapse. This condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical intervention to restore normal breathing and prevent further complications.