Murder

June 5, 2009 -- The Department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas have launched a federal investigation into federal crimes in connection with the murder of Dr. George Tiller. The federal probe will consist of a thorough review of the evidence and an assessment of any potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) or other federal statutes.

The federal investigation will be conducted in close coordination with the Office of the Sedgwick County, Kan., District Attorney, and the state's ongoing murder prosecution will have the full support of federal investigators.    » read more »

June 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today rejected a challenge to the conviction of James Ford Seale, a former member of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of Mississippi.

Seale was convicted by a federal jury in Mississippi in 2007 and sentenced to three life terms in prison. The jury determined that Seale and other Klansmen conspired to abduct, interrogate, beat and eventually murder Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charlie Eddie Moore, both 19 years old at the time of their murders.    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – In response to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:

"I am outraged and saddened that in this day and age, a doctor is murdered simply for working on behalf of his patients.

"While the issue of reproductive rights provokes emotions on both sides, threats of violence and harassment are morally reprehensible and should not be tolerated.

"Dr. Tiller’s death is a tremendous loss for all those who care about the health and well being of women and families.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Tiller's family.”

Source: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

June 1, 2009 -- "I send my condolences to Dr. Tiller's family, friends and patients who relied on him.

The debate over abortion rights is very difficult and reaches deep into religion, philosophy and one’s view of Roe v. Wade.

Everyone has the right to work for changes in the law. But to assault a health care worker, a patient or anyone else because of a disagreement about an issue, regardless of how contentious, brings all of humanity down into a dark pit of violence.

Such actions must not be tolerated.    » read more »

May 31, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement on the murder of Dr. George Tiller:

“I was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. George Tiller, a well-known provider of and advocate for women’s health care, was gunned down this morning at his church in Wichita, Kansas. With his murder, we are robbed not only of a dedicated and courageous physician, but also of a husband, father and neighbor. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Dr. Tiller’s family, friends and community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.    » read more »

06/01/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today offered rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction in a California court of the person or persons responsible for each of the following three unsolved murder cases in California.

The following is a brief description of each crime and the reward amount offered:

* On July 16, 1975, the body of 17-year-old Donna Joann Peeples was found in a grape vineyard in Stanislaus County. The Governor is offering a reward in the amount of $50,000. It was requested by Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson.    » read more »

NEW YORK, NY – May 31, 2009 -- Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today issued the following statement on the murder of reproductive health care provider Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS.

The entire Planned Parenthood family is deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. While he was not a Planned Parenthood provider, he was an integral part of our community and his loss is felt by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and those close to him who are suffering a personal tragedy.    » read more »

January 22, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the campus murder at Virginia Tech this week:

"My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Xin Yang today-and with the broader Virginia Tech community. The tragic attack on campus this week has no doubt revived terrible memories for countless members of the Hokie family.

"I urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to join me in sending sympathies and support to Virginia Tech in the days and weeks to come."

Source: Virginia Governor

Half of Chicago Homicides Linked to Gangs

August 11, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today applauded the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s decision to include Chicago - where half of all homicides are gang-related - in the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative, a move that the Senators requested in April. Through this initiative, $2 million will be made available for Chicago area law enforcement agencies to assist in developing plans to combat gang violence and implementing anti-gang strategies using three components of prevention, enforcement, and prisoner reentry.    » read more »

Mayor Bloomberg And Police Commissioner Kelly Announce New York City Remains The Safest Big City In America According To FBI Uniform Crime Report; New York City's Drop in Violent Crime Was Twice as Large as the Nation's

June 9, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced that New York City remains the safest big city in America, according to the FBI's preliminary Uniform Crime Report for 2007. The report shows that, compared to 2006, the City experienced a 2.7 percent drop in overall crime last year.    » read more »

June 9, 2008 -- Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, reiterated his call for the Congress and the Administration to fully support state and local law enforcement in wake of new data detailing nationwide decreases in murders, robberies and other felonies.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Tomorrow, April 16, 2008, marks the first anniversary of the horrific incident at Virginia Tech that resulted in the tragic deaths of 32 students and faculty members, and serious injuries to many other innocent victims. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families as they mourn their loved ones who tragically lost their lives before their time.

Virginia Tech candlelight vigil, April 17, 2007: Photo by Ashley Dinges (CC)    » read more »

“Solutions For Safe & Secure Communities Now” Plan Will Provide 100,000 New Cops And Invest $1 Billion To Reduce Number Of Repeat Offenders

4/11/2008 -- At a speech in Philadelphia today, Hillary Clinton unveiled an ambitious new anti-crime agenda that would cut the murder rate in big cities in half and put 100,000 new police officers on America’s streets.

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton: Photo by Daniella Zalcman (CC)    » read more »

March 27, 2008 -- New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte announces that recent DNA test results have provided additional confirmation that Robert Breest is guilty of the 1971 homicide of Susan Randall. Susan Randall’s badly beaten and partially naked body was found on the ice of the Merrimack River in 1971. Robert Breest was eventually arrested for the murder and brought to trial.

The evidence at trial included substantial forensic evidence that tied Breest to the murder including hairs and paint chips. He was convicted by a jury of First Degree Murder and sentenced as a psych-sexual murderer in 1973. Breest was sentenced to life in prison. Under the laws in place at the time of his sentencing, he was not eligible for parole for 40 years.    » read more »

03/27/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued six rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction in a California court of the person or persons responsible for each of the following unsolved murder cases in California.

The following is a brief description of each crime and the reward amount offered:

* On January 26, 2005, 65-year-old James Booth was shot to death on the porch of his Hayward home. The Governor is offering a reward in the amount of $50,000. It was requested by Hayward Police Chief Lloyd Lowe.

* On April 29, 2007, 19-year-old Aaron Anthony Breaux was shot to death in Fremont. The Governor is offering a reward in the amount of $50,000. It was requested by Fremont Police Chief Craig T. Steckler.    » read more »