criminal-justice21.1 min read
Texas appeals court rejects lower court's finding that death row inmate Melissa Lucio is innocent
15 days ago•Source: The Texas Tribune
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17.32 min•15 days ago
Texas Executes Second Man in 2005 Edna Triple Murder Case
Ker'Sean Olajuwa Ramey, 41, was executed by lethal injection in Texas on September 23, 2026, for the 2005 triple murder of three residents in Edna. He was the sixth person executed in the state this year, following his codefendant LeJames Norman, who was put to death on September 16. Ramey and Norman were convicted of killing Celso Lopez, Tiffani Peacock, and Sam Roberts during a botched robbery attempt. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Ramey's final appeal hours before his execution, which focused on claims of racial bias and ineffective counsel. If three additional scheduled executions proceed, Texas will record its highest execution count for a single year this decade.
14.515 min•17 days ago
Texas Rangers seek digital evidence in Camp Mystic flood deaths
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Timothy Busfield Says He’s Been ‘Canceled’ Amid Child-Sex‑Abuse Indictment
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield testified to a Albuquerque grand jury that he has been canceled and will never work again after being indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child tied to alleged abuse of two boy actors on The Cleaning Lady; he maintained his innocence and claimed the allegations were for money and revenge by the boys’ parents, while prosecutors noted an internal Warner Bros. review found no substantiation—a judge will decide on a motion to dismiss as a potential trial is eyed for next spring.
Alabama jail accused of neglect during inmate’s labor as fellow inmates aid in delivery, lawsuit says
A federal lawsuit accuses Houston County Jail in Alabama of ignoring a pregnant inmate’s labor for hours, leaving her to deliver with help from fellow inmates after guards and medical staff allegedly refused timely care; about 20 defendants are named, and advocates say the case highlights systemic gaps in pregnancy care for incarcerated women and broader concerns about cost-cutting over inmate health.
Carrollton mall shooting: two dead, three wounded; suspect in custody
A man opened fire at a Carrollton shopping plaza north of Dallas, killing two and injuring three; police say the incident followed a known business relationship and was not random. The 69-year-old suspect, Seung Han Ho, was arrested about four miles away at a grocery store, with the FBI and other federal agencies assisting in the investigation. Officials say the victims who were injured are in stable condition and law enforcement is continuing the investigation.
Timonium lawyer murdered by son-in-law after protective-order turmoil
A 74-year-old Timonium attorney, Robert W. MacMeekin, was fatally shot by his son-in-law, Mark Thomas Ryan, after MacMeekin and his daughter sought a temporary protective order; Ryan, charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm, confessed to the shooting, saying he was angered by the protective order and by being kept from his children.
Timonium attorney killed in domestic incident; son-in-law charged with first-degree murder
A 74-year-old Timonium attorney, Robert W. MacMeekin of Fine, Kelly & MacMeekin, was killed in a domestic-related shooting at his home in the Millgate neighborhood of Phoenix, Baltimore County. His son-in-law, 41-year-old Mark Thomas Ryan of Bel Air, has been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm and is being held without bond; Ryan appeared in court, with a bail review and a preliminary hearing scheduled for this month.
Baltimore records record-low April homicide count, lowest since 1970
Baltimore logged four homicides in April—the lowest monthly total since 1970—marking a broad drop in violence, with about 10% fewer killings and nonfatal shootings than a year earlier; officials credit cross-agency collaboration and evidence-based violence-intervention strategies, though city leaders emphasize that violence remains high and public perceptions may lag behind the statistics.
Texas Executes Broadnax After Supreme Court Denies Final Appeal
Texas death-row inmate James Broadnax was executed by lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal tied to a cousin’s confession in the 2008 Garland double murder; the case also involved DNA evidence and allegations of racial bias during jury selection. Broadnax, who maintained his innocence in his final words, became Texas’s third execution of 2026, with further executions scheduled, including Edward Busby on May 14.
Texas Executes Broadnax in Controversial Lyrics-Based Death Penalty Case
James Broadnax, 37, was executed by lethal injection in Texas after courts rejected appeals over the use of rap lyrics in his sentencing, questions about the racial makeup of the jury, and a new confession from his cousin in the double-murder case that helped prompt review. The case drew support from rappers and scholars who argued art should not drive punishment in capital cases.
Texas Death Row Inmate Broadnax Faces Thursday Execution Amid Final Appeals
Absent last-minute intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas death-row inmate James Broadnax is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 2009 murder of two music producers in Garland, a sentence his lawyers say relies on co-defendant Demarius Cummings’ confession that Broadnax did not pull the trigger; the case has featured arguments about due process, race in jury selection, and ongoing appeals.
Chicago officer's bodycam reveals 90-second pause after fatal shooting of partner Krystal Rivera
A Chicago Police Department officer fatally shot his partner, Krystal Rivera, and bodycam footage shows the shooter taking cover for about 90 seconds after the shooting as investigators review the incident.