Issue 28, December 13, 2023

Canadian Chef Charged with 14 Counts of Murder, 73 Year Old Mom Arrested For Hiring Hit Man For Son

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

Which infamous criminal was known as the "Night Stalker" and terrorized Southern California in the mid-1980s?
^{Answer at the bottom of the newsletter}

What’s Happening Now

Canadian Chef Faces 14 Murder Charges for Online Suicide Scheme

On December 12, 2023, Canadian chef Kenneth Law was charged with 14 counts of murder related to suicides in Canada as a result of his online scheme. Law had previously faced 14 charges for allegedly counseling or aiding suicides in Ontario. His defense lawyer confirmed that he now faces 14 new counts of second degree murder.

Law was originally arrested in May for selling sodium nitrite and masks, substances that can be lethal if misused. He is believed to have targeted vulnerable people online and sent packages to over 40 countries since 2020. Other countries, including New Zealand and Italy, have also launched investigations into Law's activities.

The Canadian victims ranged in age from 16 to 36, and suicide rates in Canada and the United States remain concerning. If you or someone you know is in crisis, several suicide prevention resources are available.

FL Dentist Given Life Sentence for Murder of Former Brother-in-Law FSU Professor, Mother Arrested for Alleged Involvement.

A South Florida dentist, Charlie Adelson, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his former brother-in-law, Dan Markel, a prominent professor at Florida State University.

Prosecutors argued that Adelson paid to have Markel killed, and he was found guilty after a three-hour deliberation by the jurors. The case involved wiretaps and secretly recorded conversations as evidence against Adelson.

Adelson's girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, and the father of her children, Sigfredo Garcia, were already serving life sentences for the murder, while another accomplice, Luis Rivera, is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty. Adelson's 73-year-old mother, Donna Adelson, was arrested for allegedly orchestrating the hit-man murder of Markel. She was apprehended at Miami International Airport, intending to flee to countries without extradition treaties.

Donna Adelson is now facing the same charges her son was convicted on.

🔒 Safety Tip of the Day: Stay Aware, Avoid a Stare!

When walking alone, keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Avoid excessive use of headphones or staring at your phone. Maintaining awareness reduces vulnerability and helps you stay alert to potential risks in your environment.

Cold Case Highlights

"The Bag Lady" Who Was Brutally Murdered in 1981 is Identified

The woman, Elaine Armstrong from Kalamazoo, Michigan, was discovered on Garnet Avenue in October 1981. Although she was known to frequent Pacific Beach, her true identity was unknown, and she was referred to as "The Bag Lady." The police report revealed that she had been brutally attacked, stabbed, and set on fire. Despite her burned purse containing an ID, it was unreadable due to the fire.

With the assistance of Project Justice and Othram, her remains were finally identified using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office then located distant relatives for confirmation testing, and Armstrong's identity was confirmed by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office in December.

Efforts are now underway to re-examine the remaining physical evidence from the crime scene to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers.

Two men indicted for the 2008 murder of Frank Williams in Portland, Maine, providing closure to Williams' family after 15 years.

Two men, Shane Hall and Khang Tran, have been indicted for the 2008 murder of Frank Williams in Portland, Maine.

Williams was walking in the Kennedy Park area when he got into a fight with a large group of males and was subsequently chased to the Fox Street soccer field, where he was beaten and stabbed to death.

Both Hall and Tran are currently serving time for unrelated crimes. The police have not revealed how they cracked the case or the connection between Williams and the two men indicted.

🔍^{Trivia Answer}

The "Night Stalker" was Richard Ramirez, a serial killer, rapist, and burglar who committed a spree of heinous crimes in California.