Issue 312, January 23 2025

Tragic Tennessee School Shooting Leaves One Dead, Woman Sentenced for Foster Son's Death

January 23, 2025

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

What is reckless homicide in the USA?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

PODCAST: 20/20 | True Crime Vault: Overboard

A couple vanishes just as they’re about to sell the yacht they had been living on in order to move closer to their new grandchild.

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What’s Happening Now

Tragic School Shooting Leaves One Student Dead and Another Wounded in Tennessee

One student is dead, and another is wounded after a third student opened fire on Wednesday at Antioch High School outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

The gunman, a 17-year-old male, shot two students before killing himself.

The incident occurred during lunchtime, resulting in a female student's death and a male student sustaining a graze wound.

The police are investigating the incident and have not determined a motive yet.

The school was placed on lockdown, and students were taken to a nearby hospital for reunification.

State officials and the White House have expressed condolences and support for those affected.

Tennessee State Troopers and the ATF are assisting with the investigation.

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48-Year-Old Woman Sentenced to Prison for Sitting on Foster Son, Causing his Death

A 48-year-old woman was sentenced to several years in prison for killing her foster son by sitting on him, causing him to suffocate.

The woman pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in connection with the death of 10-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens, who asked a neighbor to adopt him just before the incident.

The woman, whose weight was listed at 340 pounds, sat on the 90-pound boy for several minutes, leading to his death from mechanical asphyxia two days later.

Video footage showed the boy underneath the woman, unresponsive and unable to move.

She was sentenced to six years in prison.

🚗Safety Tip of the Day: Always wear a seatbelt, no matter how short the trip.

Reckless driving, including not wearing a seatbelt, increases the risk of serious accidents. In the event of a fatal crash, failure to take basic safety precautions can lead to reckless homicide charges if the death results from the driver’s negligence.

Cold Case Highlights

Investigation into Homicide of Santino Cardella in Colorado Springs Continues

Authorities are investigating the death of Santino Cardella as a homicide.

Cardella, who went missing in April 2022, was identified after remains were found in Pueblo, Colo.

The Colorado Springs Police Department suspected foul play in Cardella's disappearance.

This case may be connected to a suspect in three other murders, including the conviction of Deka Simmons for the killing of Daxcimo Ceja.

The cause of Cardella's death is still unknown, but police are treating it as a homicide.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Decades-Old Cold Case Murder of Honolulu Teen Solved Using New DNA Technology

New DNA technology has helped solve a decades-old cold case involving the murder of Honolulu teenager, Dawn Momohara, who was found dead in 1977.

Gideon Castro, a former schoolmate of Momohara, was arrested after DNA tests led investigators to him.

Despite initial interviews with the Castro brothers, it was only in 2023 that Gideon Castro was identified as the suspect.

He has been arrested on a second-degree murder charge and will be extradited to Honolulu.

The Honolulu Police Department expressed gratitude to everyone involved in bringing justice for Momohara and her family.

Talking Dateline: A Little Patch of Perfect

Andrea Canning talks with Keith Morrison about his latest episode, “A Little Patch of Perfect.” They discuss the mysterious 2018 death of lawyer Gary Farris, theories surrounding his murder, and exclusive podcast content, including a key witness interview.

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🔍^{Trivia Answer}
Reckless homicide is causing a death through reckless actions, disregarding life.

In legal terms, reckless homicide occurs when an individual unintentionally kills someone by behaving in a way that consciously disregards the risks of their actions, which could lead to fatal consequences. It differs from murder because the intent to kill is not present.