Category: CNN Regional

By Lindsay Weber, Peyton Headlee

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    LIVE OAK, California (KCRA) — A Sutter County day care worker is accused of sexually abusing multiple children who were in his care, leading to the revocation of the facility’s license, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Monday, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report of suspected child sexual abuse at Kruse Oralia Family Child Care Home, a state-licensed facility in Live Oak.

Following an investigation, officials said deputies arrested Steven Kruse, 63, an employee at the day care, for multiple felonies, including oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.

“He was kind of in charge of the transportation. So, he would take children to and from schools or to and from their homes for daycare services,” Sierra Pedley, spokesperson for the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, said. “To my knowledge, currently, most of the incidents did happen in the home, though.”

Pedley said the day care has been in business since 2006, is owned by Kruse’s wife, and is run out of their home.

These allegations are not the first against this day care facility. In December 2023, the California Department of Social Services received a complaint about alleged sexual abuse at the daycare.

State documents say a child reported being touched inappropriately by an adult who is not named in the report. But the investigator determined the claims could not be substantiated.

“The case from 2023 is being reopened and we will be investigating additionally on that. The incident from 2023 and the incident from yesterday are two separate victims,” Pedley said.

The city of Live Oak issued a revocation of business license to the day care facility after the charges were filed.

“This action was taken in accordance with the city of Live Oak Municipal Code,” the city shared in a statement. “Specifically related to relevant, active issues under police consideration and for the general safeguard of the public.”

Parents told KCRA 3 that the day care was open and operating on Wednesday morning, and that they learned about the allegations against Kruse after dropping their children off via a Facebook post from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office.

KCRA 3 tried to speak with someone at the day care Wednesday, but they didn’t answer the door or phone calls.

Additionally, the sheriff’s office notified the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division of the allegations, and an administrative investigation into the facility was opened.

Kruse is set to appear in court on Friday. He is being held without bail.

Anyone with additional information related to the case is urged to contact Detective Rhiley Harrison or Sergeant Ernesto Chavez at 530-822-7307.

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By Hannah Hilyard

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Artificial intelligence is right now at the center of a Milwaukee police investigation.

Prosecutors have accused Kevin Scholz, who lives in Franklin, of using AI to alter a selfie of his ex-girlfriend into a nude photo and then sending it to her.

Investigators said the two briefly dated in 2022 and the altered photo was sent to the woman in May of this year.

“(She) recognized the photo of a selfie she took at a Bucks game in a bathroom, actually,” Det. Del-Moral said. “And that photo was modified so she would be fully nude.”

When asked how the ex-girlfriend knew the photo was modified, Del-Moral explained, “Well, one, she took the photo of herself fully clothed. And there was actually a cleaning person in the background.”

A criminal complaint states that the phone number used to send the picture “links to the defendant.”

Scholz, who recently served on Governor Evers’ Autism Council, was “promptly removed from the council” following the charges, according to the Governor’s Office. Scholz also has a background in law enforcement, including a brief stint as a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy 20 years ago.

Scholz’s attorney, Christopher Cherella, challenged the allegations during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing.

“You have no idea, as you sit here today where that picture was altered, correct?” Cherella asked Del-Moral

“Correct,” she replied.

“That picture was sent from the number previously affiliated with Mr. Scholz to her. Is that true?” Cherella asked.

Del-Moral responded, “That’s correct.”

The defense also noted that the picture was not posted on any form of social media, to which Del-Moral replied, “Not that I’m aware of.”

Attempts to reach Scholz at his home were unsuccessful, as no one answered the door, but someone was seen closing nearby blinds. Scholz is currently out on a signature bond as the case progresses.

Scholz is scheduled to be arraigned next month, facing one felony charge of capturing an intimate representation without consent and one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. His attorney declined to comment on the case Wednesday.

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By TJ Dysart

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A confrontation at a Brewers game in Milwaukee, where a woman threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a Dodgers fan, has gone viral and resulted in her resignation and job loss.

Ricardo Fosado, a Dodgers superfan and military veteran, recorded the incident during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field.

Fosado said the exchange began as friendly banter with Brewers fans but escalated when one fan took it too far.

“You know what, let’s call ICE,” the woman said, to which Fosado responded, “Call ICE, call ICE. I’m a U.S. citizen, war veteran, baby girl.”

Fosado captured the Dodgers taking a 3-1 lead and began cheering, which prompted the woman, wearing a Brewers shirt, to make the ICE comment.

She then appeared to swing at the camera. Fosado admitted to calling the woman an expletive off camera, after which security removed him from the stadium.

The video has since been viewed over 2 million times on social media.

“It just shows the level where a person’s heart is and how she really feels as a human being,” Fosado said.

12 News confirmed the woman is Shannon Kobylarczyk, an attorney at Milwaukee-based staffing firm Manpower. The company stated, “As soon as we became aware of this video, the individual was placed on immediate leave, and we began an investigation. As a result of this process, the employee is no longer with the organization.”

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin also announced that “Shannon resigned from our board of directors this afternoon effective immediately.”

Fosado said he did not intend for the video to go viral.

“Her heart is where it’s at, you know. I can’t do anything about it, nothing that I say that would change her thoughts about me.” Fosado said.

12 News reached out to the Brewers to see if they have seen the video, but has not yet received a response.

Kobylarczyk declined to comment for the story.

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By Jason Burger

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    GUYMON, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Tifany Adams has pleaded no contest to six of the nine charges against her in connection with the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two Kansas women found in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and will not face the death penalty.

Adams, who is in custody in Texas County, was accused of orchestrating a plot to kill Butler with four other suspects.

“Tifany’s thing was, she hated Veronica; she wanted her out of her life, she wanted her gone, so that she could raise her grandchildren, and the only way to do that, was to eliminate her,” said Ladonna Thompson, Veronica Butler’s aunt.

Since the spring of 2024, Veronica’s aunt, Ladonna Thompson, has been in touch with the media.

New court documents reveal that Adams will be spared the death penalty, stating, “In exchange for the defendant’s plea of no contest, the State of Oklahoma agrees that it will not file a bill of particulars or seek the death penalty in this case.”

The six charges include first-degree murder and desecration of a corpse in the deaths of Veronica and Jilian.

“Jillian was just along for the ride when they were headed to pick up the children for a birthday party,” Thompson said.

The two women were traveling together from Hugoton, Kansas, to pick up Butler’s children when they went missing in Texas County, Oklahoma. They were reported missing on March 30, 2024, and were found buried two weeks later.

“She’s loved, and she will never be forgotten. And that’s exactly what we say. She’s very loved and never forgotten,” Thompson said.

As part of the plea agreement, the state will drop three charges against Tifany Adams — two for child neglect and one for conspiracy.

She could still face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

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By Mya Caleb

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    CHELSEA, Alabama (WVTM) — Some residents and business owners are finding a haunted house billboard distasteful in Chelsea.

The billboard can be seen near Snider’s Pharmacy while heading down Highway 280 towards Birmingham. It depicts what appears to be a woman urinating on herself for the Atrox Factory haunted house in Leeds.

Doug Snider, owner of Snider’s Pharmacy, expressed his shock at the imagery, emphasizing that Chelsea is a family-oriented community.

“Honestly, me and my wife rode by probably a week or so ago, and we’re just taken away by it. It was…both of us, it caught our attention right out of the gate, which that’s what a billboard should do. But it was…caught our attention at being disgusting and all that. What were they thinking?” Snider said.

Family members in the area also shared their concern with WVTM 13.

Efforts to reach the haunted house and billboard company for comment were unsuccessful, as both declined to comment.

The City of Chelsea was also contacted but did not respond.

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By Michal Higdon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — A mother is begging for a response from the Birmingham Police Department.

Roderick Gray Jr. died three years ago on October 15, 2022. He was shot outside a club in downtown Birmingham and his mom, Myrtis Piggue, says she has heard nothing from police.

He was found in an alleyway outside of Playhouse Gentleman’s Club on 4th Street. While a person of interest was detained that night, no one has been charged.

Roderick Gray Sr. remembers that day like it was yesterday.

“Even to this day we don’t even have the coroner’s report because when we try and get the coroner’s report they were saying, ‘Oh, it’s an active investigation,'” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she hasn’t heard from Birmingham police since last year when she got an email saying security video from three cameras was collected from the area. They say a possible suspect vehicle was seen leaving the area but it was a common make and model and difficult to track. Police say the four shell casings collected from the scene were not found to be connected to any other crime.

Since that email, Piggue says she has called and emailed repeatedly for an update.

“They never responded to us,” Piggue says. ” We never got a call back or anything. Nothing. And then when I continually called back, I found out that a couple of the people that were working on the case are not even there anymore, so I need another person. It’s just been the run around the whole time.”

We’re approaching the anniversary of his death and even just doing this interview is hard because I have to spend most of the year trying to find a way to deal with it,” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she appreciates the new chief’s effort to deter criminal activity but she has a message for him.

“We applaud his effort in regards to crack down on crime because that’s that’s something that Birmingham needs,” Piggue says. But don’t forget the people at the crimes that have already been committed… Don’t forget about the people that are still here trying to get answers.”

Piggue says she just wants to know that someone is at least still working on this case.

Now, three years since their son lost his life they want to keep his memory alive.

“Mystic,” Piggue says. “His father nicknamed him that because he was a mystery. And he truly lived up to his name because he was a real himself type person. And once he got to know you, he was like the life of the party. He was just a real warm, loving person.”

I reached out to the Birmingham Police Department as well to get an update and talk with the detective over the case but have not received a response.

Piggue and Gray Sr. are begging, if you know anything about the case, to please come forward. If you have any information, police ask you to contact the B.P.D. Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.

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