Crime Time

Police seek more video to find Swafford's killer

On Day 3 of the investigation into the brutal murder of Leona Swafford, Arlington Police have this request:

"If you live in or near any of the three crime scene areas and have personally-owned surveillance cameras that might have captured video on Tuesday, June 4 from early morning to mid-afternoon, please call us ... We have already obtained business surveillance footage but may be unaware of private residences who have camera systems.

"Somebody out there knows something. Please have the courage to call us."

See this post on APD's Facebook page for more information on the three crime scene areas.

-- Bill Miller

Shot, beaten, choked is how Arlington grandmother died, officals say

The Arlington grandmother who was killed Tuesday morning during a carjacking that began in her driveway was choked, beaten and shot in the head, the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office reported Thursday.

“Gunshot wound and blunt force injuries of head with asphyxia” caused the death of 83-year-old Leona Swafford, the medical examiner ruled.

Read more here.

-- Bill Miller

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/06/4917222/arlington-grandmother-was-shot.html#storylink=cpy

'Minute' tips also urged in Arlington grandmother's death, police say

Arlington police have leveraged social media Tuesday in their efforts to find the killer of 83-year-old Lenora Swafford.

APD updates on Twitter and Facebook have kept reporters busy all day.

Later Tuesday evening, Sgt. Christopher Cook, police spokesman, posted a video (below) on YouTube. He stressed that all tips are important, "no matter how minute."

He also noted that investigators are eager to see any video surveillance near where the lady's body was found and where her car was found.

The APD tip line is 817-575-8529.

-- Bill Miller

 

 

Family: Slain Arlington grandmother was frail, but may have fought back

The victim killed in this morning's carjacking/kidnapping in Arlington was Leona Swafford, 83, (shown here) who was described by family as a frail and very religious widow and great-great grandmother.

Police believe her attacker was in his late 20s to late 30s, about 6 feet tall with a muscular build (composite shown here).

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/04/4908665/elderly-arlington-woman-kidnapped.html#storylink=cpy

“My impression was that she was fighting with him ... and was shoved aside,” said Richard Carter, whose wife is Swafford’s niece. “He has ruined a whole lot of lives, including his own.”

Read more in this update.

-- Bill Miller

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/04/4908665/elderly-arlington-woman-kidnapped.html#storylink=cpy

U.S. Marine reservist grabbed by gunmen in Mexico, FBI says

A U.S. Marine reservist disappeared in Mexico last month, but the FBI is investigating the case as a kidnapping.

Armando Torres III, is a U.S. citizen and a veteran of the Iraq war, according to The Associated Press.

The FBI says that on May 14, Torres drove across the International Port of Entry Bridge at Progresso, Texas, to visit his father's ranch.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/03/4905710/fbi-looking-into-kidnapping-of.html#storylink=cpy

But armed gunmen reportedly kidnapped Torres, along with his father and uncle, both Mexican citizens.

Read more in this FBI news release.

-- Bill Miller

 

 

The tales of two girls named Ruby

These are the stories of two 14-year-old girls, both named Ruby, who had contact with young men who reportedly had very dangerous pasts.

Ruby Zavala was found safe Monday in the East Texas community of Winfield, and the 23-year-old man accused of kidnapping her is in jail. Police said she was not with Jesus Ramirez willingly.

Her family told NBC 5 that the two had dated but she broke up with him. Ramirez did not take it well, so he allegedly abducted her and family members at knifepoint.

Ruby Contreras of North Richland Hills was reunited with her family late Friday after Mexican authorities found her and Stephan Cox, 26, on Thursday morning in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, investigator Keith Bauman said Monday.

Police said this Ruby met Cox on social media websites.

“During those conversations, Stephan Cox was able to entice Ruby away from the custody of her family,” Bauman said.

Cox remained in an El Paso jail awaiting extradition to North Richland Hills. He has a history of this sort thing, according to this report from Domingo Ramirez Jr.

-- Bill Miller

Colorado teen, accused of dismembering girl, shocks courtroom

Sixteen family and friends of Jessica Ridgeway, all wore her favorite color, purple, in a Golden, Colo. courtroom on Friday, to show solidarity for the slain 10-year-old girl.

The man suspected of kidnapping and dismembering her, Austin Sigg, shocked those in the courtroom by entering a not-guilty plea. This stunned them because of earlier police testimony that he had confessed to the crime.

After the hearing, Stigg, 18, turned around to face Jessica's supporters as deputies handcuffed him. He smiled awkwardly at them.

Writers from The Associated Press were there. Read their report here.

 — Bill Miller

Arlington girl bites, screams, thwarts kidnapper

Here’s a BOLO (be on the look out for): One man, early 20s, with teeth marks on his hand.

A 12-year-old girl thwarted a would-be kidnapper Thursday by biting his hand. Arlington police were looking for the man Friday, and issued a composite sketch of his face (shown here).

The girl told her parents that a man grabbed her, wrapped his arm around her neck covered her mouth with his hand, said Tiara Ellis Richard, police spokeswoman.

"The suspect was able to drag the girl several feet before she managed to bite his hand and scream for help," Richard said. "The suspect released the girl and ran away from the location."

Here’s more.

— Bill Miller

Child, 2, safe after thief steals family's SUV in Fort Worth

Here's a happy ending to a crime story.

Two-year-old Ricardo Calderon (shown here with his aunt, Jocelyn Lara) was returned to his family safely Thursday afternoon after a thief put him out of his mother's car a few blocks from where it was stolen in the Fairmount neighborhood.

Officers found the child and brought him back to his family. The thief was still on the loose Thursday evening.

"We're feeling better right now," said 11-year-old brother Ruben, "and thanking God that he helped us get back our little baby brother."

-- Bill Miller

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/24/4573430/fort-worth-todler-safe-after-thief.html#storylink=cpy

Texan won't go to prison for sex crime allegations in Fort Worth, New Orleans

This Texan has been accused of sex crimes in New Orleans and back home in Fort Worth, but he won't see prison time for either case.

Derrick Anthony Joseph, 50, was accused of abducting and trying to sexually assault a 56-year-old homeless woman Aug. 20 on East Lancaster Avenue.

A Tarrant County grand jury, however, apparently decided recently that there was not enough evidence to indict him and he was "no billed."

Joseph also was acquitted by a jury in February of a sexual assault in New Orleans, according to reports from that city.

Read more in this report by Staff writer Mitch Mitchell.

 

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/04/4459312/grand-jury-drops-charges-in-kidnapping.html#storylink=cpy