Crime Time

CNN: Killing of robbed Florida couple also was a contract hit

CNN is reporting that the killings of Florida couple Byrd and Melanie Billings may have partially been during a robbery, but sources are telling them it also was a contracted hit.

The Billingses -- well known for having adopted many special needs children -- were slain in the home during what was apparently a home invasion.

The network says the key player in the killing apparently is suspect Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 35.

The network's source said that from "Gonzalez down" the crime was a robbery, but that from "Gonzalez up" it was a contract hit. The network said its source was unsure of the motive behind the hit.

-- Lance Murray

TV interview: Police chase gets 7-year-old grounded for 4 days

Remember the story the other day about the 7-year-old boy who led police in Utah on a slow-speed chase after he took his family's car to avoid going to church?

Well, the family was on the "Today" show and it turns out little Preston Scarbrough is going to be grounded for four days. Yep, no TV, no games.

The boy's father said the family had no idea what his son had done until the father started hearing sirens outside his home and then Preston came running in, saying: “Dad, the cops are outside.”

The story gives a good narrative of what happened and how the family has dealt with Preston's joyride as well as a video of their appearance.

-- Lance Murray

'Confused' boyfriend thought stolen baby was his

In an exclusive interview with the Boston Herald, the boyfriend of the woman implicated in the cutting out of a baby from another woman's womb, said he thought he had become a new father and is confused.

Here's what 27-year-old Alex Dion, boyfriend of suspect Julie Corey, told the newspaper: “I’m so confused. I don’t know what to think. I thought I had a brand-new daughter. I don’t know if it’s hit me yet.”

-- Lance Murray

Sports reporter charged with running prostitution ring

A longtime sport reporter in New Hampshire has been charged with running a prostitution ring in two states and Canada.

Police said he personally "auditioned" the women before hiring them as prostitutes.

The reporter was identified as Kevin Provencher, 50, who has worked at the New Hampshire Union for more than 20 years.

He has pleaded not guilty.

-- Lance Murray

Baby cut from slain mother is found alive; woman arrested

Some good news to report. The baby girl cut from her mother's womb in a horrific Massachusetts murder has been found alive and is in a hospital in New Hampshire.

Police said the baby was found with a woman and a man at a homeless shelter. The woman, identified as 35-year-old Julie Corey, has been taken into custody. The man was later released.

The body of Darlene Haynes, the girl's mother, was discovered Monday in a closet at her apartment in Worcester.   Public record indicate that Corey lived in the same apartment building as Haynes.

-- Lance Murray

Video: 7-year-old takes dad's car, leads deputies on chase

Some kids will go to extremes to avoid something they don't want to do -- like go to church.

Authorities say that's what a 7-year-old boy did Sunday when he took his father's Dodge Intrepid and then led sheriff's deputies on a chase reaching 40 miles per hour.

He eventually bailed on the car and rain inside. He's too young to be prosecuted, authorities said.

Make sure you watch the video.

-- Lance Murray

Mom accused of decapitating son: 'I didn't mean to do it.'

The mother accused of decapitating, mutilating the eating parts of infant son in San Antonio could be heard in the background of a 911 call saying, "I love him. I didn't mean to do it. He told me to."

The woman told police she had been hearing voices and that the devil had told her kill her son.

The 911 call was placed by the woman's sister.

-- Lance Murray

Local blotter: 'Lost Boy' in trouble; Irving police believe they caught Craigslist bandit

'Lost Boy' had been treated for mental illness, fellow refugee says

The 'Lost Boys' refugee suspected in stabbing a delivery driver Monday had been treated for mental illness, according to a friend.

James Panchol, 32, was shot and wounded by police who said he had repeatedly stabbed a UPS driver on her delivery route in West Fort Worth. The driver also was hospitalized.

Panchol was one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" refugees who came to Fort Worth in 2001 to escape war and famine in their native country.  More than 4 million refugees (like those shown right) have came to the United States since the Sudanese civil war broke out in the 1980s.

His friend, Gatjang Deng, also a Sudanese refugee, said Panchol was prescribed medication a few years ago for a mental condition but was unsure whether Panchol was still taking it.

Wichieng Wetnyangran, a pastor who works with African refugees in Tarrant County, said Panchol's arrest was an "absolutely a shock."

"That was a part of the life they ran away from," he said. "They were hoping their lives would change."

Staff Writer Elizabeth Zavala reports.

Man arrested in series of Craigslist robberies

An Irving man accused of robbing sellers and buyers contacted on the Internet site Craigslist was identified as Kenneth Hawkins, police said Monday.

Hawkins, 20, was arrested last week during an undercover operations by Irving police. An undercover officer posed as a buyer on Craigslist and arranged a meeting with the suspect to purchase some items, police said.

At the time of his arrest, Hawkins was armed with a handgun, police said Monday.

In the past two months, Hawkins is accused of robbing three residents of their cash or the items they were trying to sell.

Staff Writer Domingo Ramirez is uncovering new information on this story, but here's what he's been able to report so far.

-- Bill Miller

Boy, 11, accused of attempted holdup using toy gun

Police in Ohio have taken an 11-year-old boy into custody after he was accused of using a toy gun to try to rob two boys of their scooters. The father of the intended victims said his boys were scared because they couldn't tell it was a toy gun.

Seems the 11-year-old pointed the gun at them and said he wanted one of the scooters. Then he chased them when they took off, police said.

The pint-sized suspect faces a hearing on Aug. 7.

-- Lance Murray

DMN: Body of person missing from Lewisville found inside car trunk

Police in the Collin County town of Melissa made a grim discovery -- the body of person missing from Lewisville locked inside the trunk of a car that had been left in a store parking lot, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

The discovery was made at a closed store on U.S. 75 and Telephone Road.  Melissa police and the Collin County Sheriff's office are investigating.

-- Lance Murray