Issue 71, February 13, 2024

8-year-old Girl Dies After Being Hit by Car While Boarding School Bus, Convenience Store Manager Stops Gang-related Fraudulent Check Cashing Scheme

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

In the movie "Gone Girl," who plays the role of Amy Dunne, a woman who stages her own disappearance?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

‎PODCAST: MrBallen Podcast | Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories: Nightmare in the North

‎On a chilly November night in 2004, deep within a remote Alaskan town, a state trooper received a call regarding a possible car crash. Upon reaching the desolate logging road where the incident was reported, he encountered a smoking vehicle, clearly having veered off the road. This was no mere accident; it was something far more sinister...

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What’s Happening Now

8-year-old Girl Dies After Being Hit by Car While Boarding School Bus, Driver Arrested and Facing Charges

An 8-year-old girl, Adalynn Pierce, tragically died after being hit by a car while attempting to board her school bus.

The incident occurred in Henry County, Georgia, when a driver allegedly ignored a stop sign on Thursday.

Kaylee Andre, a 25-year-old, has been arrested and is facing charges including homicide by vehicle and failure to stop for a school bus.

Adalynn's mother, Ashley, shared that her daughter will be donating eight of her organs, highlighting Adalynn's compassionate nature.

Despite the heartbreaking situation, Ashley expressed forgiveness towards the driver, as she remained by their side throughout the ordeal.

Adalynn was initially treated by emergency medical personnel before being airlifted to Egelston Children’s Hospital.

Convenience Store Manager in Georgia Stops Gang-related Fraudulent Check Cashing Scheme, Four Suspects in Custody

Four suspects tied to gang activity were taken into custody after a convenience store manager in Grovetown, Georgia became suspicious of their fraudulent check cashing scheme.

The suspects, claiming to be from El Salvador and Colombia but living in Houston, attempted to cash numerous fraudulent checks before being caught.

The manager, Kinjalkumar Patel, fired a gun at the suspects' vehicle as they fled, and one suspect was hit by the vehicle in the process.

After a manhunt, two suspects were detained near the store, one was captured with the help of a K9 tracking team, and another was apprehended on I-20. A fifth suspect remains at large.

The suspects targeted businesses like the convenience store for their check-cashing operations.

The investigation is ongoing.

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🚌 Safety Tip of the Day: Being Safe Around School Buses

A crucial safety tip around school buses is to always obey their stop signs and flashing lights. When the bus extends its stop sign arm and activates its flashing lights, it indicates that children are getting on or off the bus and that other drivers must come to a complete stop in both directions, regardless of whether they're behind the bus or approaching from the opposite direction. This simple act helps ensure the safety of children crossing the street and reduces the risk of accidents.

Cold Case Highlights

UPDATE: Crystal Rogers' Disappearance: Indictments and Court Appearance Shed Light on Mysterious Murder Case

Crystal Rogers disappeared in July 2015 and is presumed dead.

Three men have been indicted in connection to her murder and appeared in court.

Brooks Houck, Rogers' then-boyfriend and father of her youngest child, has been charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Steven and Joseph Lawson have also been charged, although their relationships to Houck or Rogers have not been shared by investigators.

The trial dates have not been set yet.

Rogers' disappearance gained national attention and was investigated by various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

Additionally, the murder of Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard, remains unsolved.

LOOKING BACK: Prosecutors Investigating Possible Link Between Crystal Rogers' Disappearance and Father's Unsolved Murder; Boyfriend's Brother's Gun Examined for Connection

Prosecutors are examining a potential link between the disappearance of Kentucky mother Crystal Rogers and the murder of her father, Tommy Ballard.

Rogers vanished in 2015 and is presumed dead.

Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, was recently arrested on charges related to the investigation.

Now, eight years after Rogers' disappearance, investigators suspect that Houck may be connected to Ballard's unsolved murder.

A gun allegedly sold by Houck's brother, Nick, is being tested as a potential match to the weapon used to kill Ballard.

No arrests have been made in relation to Ballard's murder.

Rogers' family has expressed gratitude for law enforcement's efforts.

PODCAST: Beyond Bardstown | Unsolved Cases

In the first season, host Shay McAlister delved into five unsolved crimes occurring in and around Bardstown, Kentucky. Season two expanded the scope beyond Bardstown, exploring a fatal fire in the bayou town of Lacombe, Louisiana. Now, McAlister is back to co-host season three, titled "Beyond Bardstown: Unsolved.”

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🔍^{Trivia Answer}
Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike is the actress who played the role of Amy Dunne in the 2014 film "Gone Girl," based on the novel by Gillian Flynn.