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Convicted murderer denied geriatric compassion release

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2025

By Margaret Kavanagh , Bryant Maddrick

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (WTKR) — The Virginia Parole Board denied parole for convicted murderer James King and will not consider him for eligibility again for another three years, the board confirmed with WTKR News 3 Friday morning.

The board’s decision follows efforts from the murder victim’s sister to prevent King — and other repeat violent criminals in the state — from being eligible for parole under a Virginia law regarding age.

King is currently serving two life sentences for assaulting and murdering Lexie Walters back in 2020 at a Virginia Beach Days Inn. It’s not his first murder conviction: He previously served 20 years in jail for violently murdering a woman in Ohio back in 1986.

Although King was recently sentenced for the Virginia Beach murder back in February, he was being considered for the possibility of parole due to his age.

Under Virginia law, an inmate must be at least 65 years old with 5 years served, or 60 with 10 years served, to be considered annually for “geriatric conditional release.” The current law excludes people convicted of Class 1 felonies, but King was found guilty of Class 2 felonies.

King was denied geriatric conditional release and his case was deferred for three years, which the board says is the maximum amount of time.

On Friday morning, the parole board called Lexie’s sister, Marie Jones, to let her know his parole was denied.

“I was overwhelmed with joy. That’s all I could think of was ‘thank you, Lord,'” said Jones.

Jones is now fighting to change Virginia law with legislation called “Lexie’s Law.” It would make it tougher for repeat criminals to be considered for release and do away with geriatric parole, among other changes.

Jones said a draft of Lexie’s Law should be ready for lawmakers to look at as early as Sept. 10.

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Man believed to have filmed thousands of males in bathrooms: Police

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2025

By Colter Anstaett , Noah Kim, Maddie Miller

Click here for updates on this story

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (WTKR) — A Gloucester County man is accused of unlawful filming in public restrooms in Colonial Williamsburg, the city’s police department said Monday. Officers are now looking into the extent of his alleged crimes, as they believe he’s unlawfully filmed “thousands of males” and shared the pictures and videos with others online.

George Thomas West, 76, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of unlawful filming of another person and one count of disorderly conduct, according to police.

A citizen told authorities on Aug. 2 they saw West filming people in a public restroom located on the corner of South Henry Street and Duke of Gloucester Street, police say. When officers arrived, a witness alleged they’d seen West filming people in a bathroom before on two separate occasions, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WTKR News 3.

While speaking with West, an officer noticed West had a phone and was deleting photos from it, the complaint states. The witness got upset about West’s alleged attempt to get rid of evidence, the complaint states, and snatched the phone from him.

An officer then took the phone, the complaint goes onto say. With West’s consent, the complaint states, the officer looked at the phone’s camera roll and found two photos showing “mens’ penises from inside the bathroom,” as well as 15 more in the trash folder.

Multiple victims from the August report are still unidentified, police added.

Officers then obtained warrants to search West’s phone and car.

Police say they believe West has unlawfully filmed “thousands of males in public restrooms” — specifically, in the Colonial Williamsburg area. Police further believe he did most of his filming in the Williamsburg area on Saturdays.

West is accused of uploading the pictures and videos he took online to share with others, News 3’s Colter Anstaett confirmed with Nicole Trifone, the city of Williamsburg’s Communications Director.

The unlawful filming allegations against West date back to 1996, police determined after uncovering evidence.

Police say they are trying to identify more victims and will seek additional charges as appropriate.

If you believe you may have been unlawfully filmed in a men’s bathroom in Williamsburg, police encourage you to contact them. You can send an email with “West 825” in the subject line to srobertsjr@williamsburgva.gov to provide information that can help police with their case.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Peninsula Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

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Farmington police report finding syringes taped to public toilet

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2025

By Hamilton Kahn

Click here for updates on this story

FARMINGTON, New Mexico (KOAT) — Police have issued a disturbingly dangerous warning in Farmington.

Farmington police told KOAT that occurred at Walmart on East Main in Farmington. syringes were taped to the toilet at Walmart on East Main Street in Farmington. One individual required medical care as a result of the incident.

FPD are working to identify the substance involved, and this remains an active investigation. They believe this is an isolated incident. We urge the community to remain aware of your surroundings and to report anything suspicious immediately to dispatch at 505-334-6622.

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North Dakota State football player accused of stealing watch worth $228K, removed from team

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2025

By WCCO News Staff

Click here for updates on this story

TWIN CITIES, Minnesota (WCCO) — A former North Dakota State University football player is accused of stealing a watch worth nearly a quarter million dollars at a Twin Cities restaurant earlier this summer.

The 20-year-old from Wayzata, Minnesota, is facing one count of theft, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County on Aug. 27.

Charges say law enforcement responded to a reported theft at Maynards Restaurant in Excelsior on July 4. The victim told officers that a bag he had stored in the sealed cabin area of his friend’s boat went missing while he was eating at the establishment.

The bag, worth approximately $2,400, contained the victim’s car key, passport, AirPods, flash drives for work, approximately $400 in cologne, $25,000 worth of limited edition clothing, between $5,000 and $10,000 in cash and a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona valued at nearly $228,000, according to the complaint.

The suspect was also on the boat that night. Charges say Maynards employees had stopped him when he attempted to bring the bag through the restaurant because they do not allow large bags inside. He told employees he just needed to bring the bag to his car and they escorted him through the restaurant. He then left the premises.

Another person on the boat contacted the suspect about the missing bag, to which he said that his parents were wealthy and they would “write a check for whatever was inside the bag,” charges say. The other person told him it was not about the money and the victim just wanted the bag and its contents returned.

While executing a search warrant at the suspect’s home, investigators found the missing bag and most of the clothing. The watch, however, was not recovered, according to charges.

Officers also searched the suspect’s phone and found a video from July 4 on the boat that the bag had been on. In the video, charges allege the area where several bags had been stowed can be seen.

North Dakota State University confirmed the suspect was a member of the football team in 2024 but was not on the active roster for its 2025 fall camp. Head coach Tim Polasek said he has since been dismissed from the team and “will not be considered to re-join the team in any fashion.”

The suspect’s first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

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Dementia baby dolls bring meaning, joy into memory care patients’ lives: It “fills your cup”

CNN on September 8, 2025

KTVT

By Trevor Sochocki

Click here for updates on this story

MCKINNEY, Texas (KTVT) — Tonja Moon walked with purpose into the lobby of Golden Grace Assisted Living in McKinney, holding the baby in the crook of her arm.

“Hey everybody,” she cooed to the residents seated on the couches and chairs. “Look what we have.”

As Moon and the other volunteers with the Grand Baby Project passed out the rest of the babies to the memory care patients, some of them caught on.

“Is she a real baby?” a resident asked.

“If you want her to be,” Moon replied.

Strictly speaking, no — the handful of baby dolls the grandparents doted on are not living. But Moon said some of her clients don’t know that.

“We just want to give them the opportunity to have purpose every single day,” Moon explained. “Dementia doll therapy is really just a way for residents to have purpose and connection.”

For the last five years, Moon and her Texas-based nonprofit have been going around the country, giving dolls to memory care units and residents. Though the practice of giving dolls to the elderly is common overseas, it was a foreign concept to Moon when she first heard about it.

She started the project after seeing how her grandma reacted.

“We literally wrapped up this tiny little doll in a nursing home towel,” Moon recalled. “She thought she’d been handed a newborn.”

The project delivered 3,000 baby dolls last year around the world. Moon equates it to pet therapy — she said it gives residents a reason to be healthy and embrace their nurturing instinct.

“Depending on where they are,” said Golden Grace Assisted Living’s Erika Brown. “They take the baby and they love on them, because it reminds them of a time where they held their own baby or their own grandbaby.”

Moon said she’s seen improved outcomes across the board due to the dolls.

“You can see the smiles yourself of how wonderful it really, truly is,” Brown said. “Even the guys, even though you don’t expect them to really get involved, they really go for it.”

The dolls at Golden Grace will stay there for the residents to take care of for the rest of their lives — and Moon will be back in a year to celebrate all the babies’ birthdays.

“Fills your cup,” Moon said. “But man, it breaks my heart every single time — in a good way.”