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What Happened When a Star Prosecutor Was Accused of Running a Jailhouse Snitch Scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

1 Rat’s in the Trap The day before Michael Beckcom was arrested for murder, a Texas Ranger spotted his red Ford Explorer parked in a small town not far from the Gulf Coast. On its tailpipe was a silver substance that looked like the remnants of melted duct tape. It was evidence that would link Beckcom to the grisly killing of a federal witness.On June 4, 1996, Beckcom was jailed on a $10 million bond for his role in the slaying of George “Nick” Brueggen. Brueggen had been cooperating with federal authorities to build a fraud and tax evasion case against Beckcom and his associates, who fancied themselves a sort of South Texas Mafia. Beckcom and several others, including Mark Crawford, the former mayor of sleepy Ingleside, Texas, locked Brueggen in a large metal storage box. Using duct tape, they attached one end of a garden hose to the box and the other end to the tailpipe of Beckcom’s SUV. According to the Texas Rangers’ report, Beckcom then revved the en...

How Two Men Convicted by Kelly Siegler Uncovered the Dark Secret to Her Success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

1 Invisible Man Hermilo Herrero, 35, had been stuck inside the Harris County jail for months. He was bewildered and angry. He’d been serving a drug sentence at the federal correctional institution in Beaumont, Texas, when he was indicted for a cold case murder he swore he did not commit, then dragged to Houston to face trial. There was no evidence linking him to the crime save for a pair of informants enlisted by prosecutor Kelly Siegler. On the stand, they claimed that Herrero had confessed to the 1995 murder of his friend Albert Guajardo. In April 2002, Herrero was sentenced to life.Herrero was awaiting transfer back to FCI Beaumont when he saw that a man named Jeffrey Prible was about to stand trial down the road for murdering a family in Houston. The case was familiar — Herrero had read about it in the Houston Chronicle. Prible was charged at almost the exact same time as Herrero, and both cases involved murders gone cold. But the more Herrero learned...

Kelly Siegler Is a True-Crime Celebrity. Did She Frame an Innocent Man for Murder?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

1 Secrets of Stardom Only a few bones remained and there was no clear cause of death.In the realm of murder cases gone cold, this was a challenging one — even for Kelly Siegler, a veteran prosecutor from Houston, Texas, with a nearly perfect conviction record and an evangelical fervor for solving cold cases using circumstantial evidence.There were a few facts to start with. Twenty-nine-year-old Margie Pointer had disappeared in 1987. What was left of her was found in a ravine near Alamogordo, New Mexico, 17 years later. Despite the best efforts of a local cop haunted by the case, it remained unsolved. The Alamogordo Police Department needed help, and Siegler, star of the true-crime reality show “Cold Justice,” was there to answer the call.Siegler arrived in town with her co-stars, Yolanda McClary, a former Las Vegas crime scene investigator, and Johnny Bonds, a retired Houston homicide detective. They had their work cut out for them, but there was an addi...

Relief for Ten Hag as Man United holds Liverpool to 0-0 draw at Anfield

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Manchester United held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp’s team was knocked off the top of the table by Arsenal. Erik ten Hag’s United soaked up the pressure at Anfield and goalkeeper Andre Onana pulled off a string of saves to earn a valuable point in a match that saw Diogo Dalot sent off in stoppage time. Arsenal had provisionally moved to first place after a 2-0 win against Brighton earlier in the day. And the Londoners will now remain top — one point ahead of second-place Liverpool — ahead of their visit to Anfield next Saturday. United was routed 7-0 on its last trip to Liverpool in March and went into this game with speculation hanging over Ten Hag’s position after 12 defeats in all competitions and elimination from the Champions League. But it produced one of its most battling performances of the campaign to frustrate its fierce rival, and had a chance to score a winner through Rasmus Hojlund...

Texans without Stroud, Collins, Anderson, Fant vs Titans; team starts Keenum at QB

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Houston Texans will be trying to stay on the AFC playoff bubble Sunday without their rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, their top wide receiver and another top rookie.The Texans ruled out C.J. Stroud, who did not practice all week, on Friday with the No. 2 pick overall not practicing all week and unable to clear the concussion protocol. They also had ruled out defensive end Will Anderson, the No. 3 pick overall. But wide receiver Nico Collins, who has had a career-high 1,004 yards receiving this season, was ruled inactive Sunday. He had been questionable with a calf injury. They also ruled out offensive tackle George Tant, who had been questionable with an injured hip. He did not travel with the Texans. The Texans had been expected to start Davis Mills for the first time this season. Instead, first-year coach DeMeco Ryans went with veteran Case Keenum, giving him his first start since the final week of the 2021 season when he led Cleveland to a win over Cinc...

Arrestan a joven por delitos ligados con actos terroristas antisemitas en Canadá

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

OTTAWA, CANADÁ – Un adolescente fue arrestado en Canadá y acusado de delitos relacionados con actos terroristas que supuestamente tenían como objetivo a personas judías, informó la policía nacional canadiense.La Real Policía Montada de Canadá indicó el sábado que el adolescente arrestado el viernes fue acusado de facilitar actividades terroristas al comunicar material instructivo relacionado con una sustancia explosiva.La policía no reveló más detalles sobre los presuntos delitos. Las autoridades también aclararon que no pueden revelar más información sobre el adolescente debido a la edad del sospechoso.En un comunicado de prensa, la policía nacional advirtió que ha detectado una tendencia preocupante de extremismo violento y uso terrorista de internet, incluso entre jóvenes. Arrestan a hombre en relación con asesinato de sacerdote en Nebraska Lo arrestan tras ataque a abuelo que llevaba a su nieto en un cochecito La RCMP in...

Southwest praised for plus-size policies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

Advocates for overweight passengers are praising Dallas-based Southwest Airlines for its accessible policies for more room on aircraft.Southwest, which has had the policy in place for years, allows for customers who require extra room to buy the needed number of seats before traveling. A traveler on Southwest can then request a refund for the cost after traveling. Travelers also may discuss seating arrangements with a customer service agent at the gate on the day of the flight.It’s a policy that’s been in place for “more than 30 years,” but has recently caught the attention of advocates on social media.“Most importantly, it ensures that all customers onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating,” Southwest’s policy reads.Other air carriers don’t typically publish or offer accommodations for passengers of size, leaving them frustrated and without guidance at the airport when trying to navigate the small legroom and seating size in a typical aircraft. Alaska Airlines has a poli...

Bailey Zappe’s interception proves costly in Patriots’ 27-17 loss to Chiefs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots gave fans in attendance at Gillette Stadium at least one entertaining half Sunday against the Chiefs.And that’s about all anyone could hope for this season while watching the now 3-11 Patriots after they lost their Week 15 matchup to the Chiefs 27-17.The two teams traded missed field goals in the first half as Patriots rookie kicker Chad Ryland’s season-long issues continue. Ryland was 1-of-2 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points as he made a 25-yarder and missed a 41-yarder. It would not be surprising if the team brought in more competition for the 2023 fourth-round pick this week.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots starting LG Cole Strange ruled out after being carted off with knee injury New England Patriots | Patriots still shorthanded at wide receiver in Demario Douglas’ return New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Another free-agent spending splurge should be coming in 2024 New Engl...

Wonka waltzes to $39M opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

NEW YORK — “Wonka” debuted with $39 million in box office sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That made it a strong start for the Timothée Chalamet -starring Willy Wonka musical that underscored the young star’s draw.Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years, so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song and dance elements of “Wonka” in trailers. Instead, the studio emphasized Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor who, with “Wonka,” notched his second No. 1 movie following 2021’s “Dune.” The earlier film recorded a $41 million opening.While “Dune” was a sprawling and star-studded sci-fi adventure, “Wonka” relies chiefly on Chalamet’s charisma.“Wonka,” which cost about $125 million to produce and played at 4,203 locations, was also the first big Hollywood release to launch following the end of the SAG-AFTRA actors&...

When is rain expected in San Diego County this week?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Chances of rain are on the forecast, but when exactly are those showers expected in San Diego County? The short answer -- possibly as early as Monday morning. The National Weather Service said a slight chance of precipitation is slated after 10 a.m. as the week before Christmas begins. A ‘Scrippshenge’ parallel: Crescent moon winks above Oceanside Pier The existing dry layer near the surface, however, should limit any significant rainfall accumulations, according to their expectations. This comes as Pacific moisture increases from the west, weather officials explained. Those chances increase come Tuesday, though mostly light showers are anticipated.Here's a look at regional rain chances for Tuesday, according to NWS:(National Weather Service)Come midweek, NWS said "disturbances arrive along a subtropical jet stream," likely sparking heavier showers and scattered thunderstorms in some Southern California areas. Low pressure dropping south ...