Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials
Husband, Au Pair Now Both Charged In Violent Virginia Double Murder: County Officials A grand jury in Fairfax County has indicted Brendan Banfield following a 19-month investigation into the murder of his wife and another man in February 2023, authorities announced on Monday. Banfield has been charged with multiple counts of murder after detectives recently uncovered new information that connected him to the deaths of wife Christine Banfield, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 24, last year. Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano said that Banfield is accused of stabbing his wife, and then shooting Ryan early on Feb. 24, 2023 inside their Reston home. "Early last year, a double murder dev…
Two Men Get 100+ Years For Nine Day Shooting Spree That Ended With 13-Year-Old's Death: Feds Two Men Get 100+ Years For Nine Day Shooting Spree That Ended With 13-Year-Old's Death: Feds
Two Men Get 100+ Years For Nine Day Shooting Spree That Ended With 13-Year-Old's Death: Feds Two men will spend the rest of their lives in prison for a nine-day shooting spree throughout the DMV region that resulted in the death of a teenage boy, federal authorities announced. Tyiion Freeman, 25, and Koran Jackson, 24, both of DC, have each been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison in connection to the crime spree that ended with the death of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes in 2020.  Specifically, Freeman was sentenced to 108 years and Jackson received 164 years in prison. A Superior Court jury found the two, and a third conspirator, Stephon Nelson guilty in July of:  …
Former DoD Deputy Chief Admitted To Operating Dogfighting Kennel, Electrocuting Dogs For Losing Former DoD Deputy Chief Admitted To Operating Dogfighting Kennel, Electrocuting Dogs For Losing
Former DoD Deputy Chief Admitted To Operating Dogfighting Kennel, Electrocuting Dogs For Losing A Maryland man who used to serve as a Department of Defense deputy chief admitted to his role in a violent dogfighting ring that involved him electrocuting animals who lost, federal authorities announced. Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., 63, pleaded guilty to federal charges that include conspiracy to engage in animal fighting, specifically the fighting of dogs, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. According to the guilty plea, federal agents began investigating Moorefield’s connections to dogfighting after officers from Anne Arundel County Animal Control responded to a rep…
Former DC Police Officers Sentenced For Causing Pursuit That Killed New Father Former DC Police Officers Sentenced For Causing Pursuit That Killed New Father
Former DC Police Officers Sentenced For Causing Pursuit That Killed New Father Two former members of the Metropolitan Police Department will spend years on the other side of the bars after being sentenced for their roles in an unauthorized police pursuit that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old new father, federal authorities announced. Officer Terence Sutton, 40, and former Lt. Andrew Zabavsky, 56, were both found guilty by a US District Court jury in DC on multiple charges in connection to a police pursuit on Oct. 23, 2020, in Northwest DC that led to the death of Karon Hylton-Brown. This week, a federal judge announced that Sutton had been sentenced to 66 months…
Baltimore County Woman Arrested For Pro-Gaza Demonstration Outside Union Station In DC Baltimore County Woman Arrested For Pro-Gaza Demonstration Outside Union Station In DC
Baltimore County Woman Arrested For Pro-Gaza Demonstration Outside Union Station In DC A 20-year-old Baltimore County woman was arrested on Friday morning and charged for her role using spray paint in July to deface federal property at Columbus Circle outside Union Station in Northeast DC, federal authorities announced. Towson native Isabella Giordano was taken into custody on Sept. 13, and is scheduled to make her initial court appearance later on Friday, when she will be charged with willfully injuring or depredating any property of the United States. According to court documents, on Wednesday, July 24, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the ar…
Estranged Son Shot Father, Self In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says (DEVELOPING) Estranged Son Shot Father, Self In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says (DEVELOPING)
Estranged Son Shot Father, Self In Spotsylvania, Sheriff Says (Developing) The estranged son of a Spotsylvania man is in critical condition after allegedly shooting his father and then himself on Wednesday night, officials say. Deputies were called shortly before 10 p.m. on Sept. 11 to the 3700 block of Glen Dower Drive, where they were met by a man in the driveway suffering from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. According to a spokesperson from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, further investigation led to the discovery of a second man inside the home with a gunshot to an extremity.  The initial investigation determined that an…
45-Year-Old Crushed To Death While Working On Car In Virginia: Police 45-Year-Old Crushed To Death While Working On Car In Virginia: Police
45-Year-Old Crushed To Death While Working On Car In Virginia: Police A 45-year-old man was killed after a vehicle he was working on in Prince George's County fell on top of him, pinning him underneath, according to police. Officers were called at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning to the 15700 block of Cool Spring Drive in Haymarket to launch a death investigation after there was a mishap that led to the man's death. Police say that the vehicle unexpectedly dropped and pinned him underneath. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.  No foul play is suspected. More details may be released as the investigation continues. Check Daily Voi…
Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder
Shooter Who Killed Innocent Bystander Asleep On Couch During DC Hit-Run Convicted Of Murder The District man who fired several shots into his ex's family home and killed an innocent bystander before torching the evidence has been convicted of murder, federal authorities announced. Kylee Palmer, 25, has been guilty by a grand jury in connection to the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin in Southeast DC in February 2020. Prosecutors say that on Feb. 11, 2020, Palmer got into an argument with an ex-girlfriend and stole her cell phone, leading to an exchange with her brother in the early hours of Feb. 12, 2020. At approximately 11 a.m., Palmer drove a stolen black Nissan Alt…
Flying High: Bag Filled With 34 Pounds Of Ketamine From Amsterdam Seized At Dulles Airport Flying High: Bag Filled With 34 Pounds Of Ketamine From Amsterdam Seized At Dulles Airport
Flying High: Bag Filled With 34 Pounds Of Ketamine From Amsterdam Seized At Dulles Airport Nearly $1 million worth of ketamine never made it to the streets in the DMV after a package coming from Amsterdam into Dulles International Airport was intercepted, according to US Customs and Border Protection officials. Last month, nearly 34 pounds of ketamine hydrochloride arrived in an airline’s rushed baggage, but, officers at the airport made sure it did not go any further than that. CBP agriculture specialists initially detected anomalies when they x-rayed the suitcase on Aug. 8 when it arrived from the notoriously liberal nation, and officers were alerted. The anomalies c…
Decomposed Body Found Behind Virginia Gas Station: Police Decomposed Body Found Behind Virginia Gas Station: Police
Decomposed Body Found Behind Virginia Gas Station: Police A death investigation has been launched in Prince William County after a decomposing body was found behind a Woodbridge gas station. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, Sept. 11, officers responded to Exxon in the 2400 block of Prince William Parkway, where they found the body of a presumed male who was found between the dumpster and surrounding brick enclosure. The body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy to confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.  No foul play is suspected. More information is expected to be released. Check Daily Voice for updates…
Pair Who Stole 50 Firearms From Virginia Gun Store To Re-Sell In DC Sentenced: Feds Pair Who Stole 50 Firearms From Virginia Gun Store To Re-Sell In DC Sentenced: Feds
Pair Who Stole 50 Firearms From Virginia Gun Store To Re-Sell In DC Sentenced: Feds A pair who conspired to steal 50 weapons from a federal firearms licensee (FFL) with the intent to sell them have been sentenced, authorities announced. District resident Victor Jones, 22, and Cedric Minger, of Brandywine, both 22, were among four involved with two others to rob a gun seller, officials say. According to court documents, on April 29, 2023, the four drove a stolen Acura ILX from Washington to an FFL in Springfield with the intention of breaking in and stealing weapons. After his initial attempts to gain entry, including shooting a round at the door with a firearm, were unsuc…
Tipster Came Forward With 'Info Helpful In Case' Of Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle: PD Tipster Came Forward With 'Info Helpful In Case' Of Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle: PD
Tipster Came Forward With 'Info Helpful In Case' Of Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle: PD Information that was helpful in the search for missing Manassas mother Mamata Kafle has been provided to police, officials said on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators continue to search for evidence regarding the woman's disappearance, and the subsequent cover-up by husband Naresh Bhatt, who is behind bars. Kafle was last seen in Prince William County on July 27, and last heard from the following day during a phone call to a friend.  A welfare check was then conducted at the family's home on Aug. 2, and Naresh Bhatt reported his wife missing three days later on Aug. 5. On Sept. 10, the …
Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison
Killer Who Ditched Victim's Busted SUV In Fairfax County Lot Gets Life In Prison A man described by authorities as a "violent predator" was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday, Sept. 9 for kidnapping, robbing, and killing a Pennsylvania co-worker, authorities announced. Michael Allen Stark, 50, of Royersford, PA was found guilty by a Bucks County jury of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, flight to avoid apprehension, and abuse of a corpse, according to District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and court records. Stark's victim was 50-year-old Matthew James Branning of Sellersville, who went missing after l…
SpaceX Rocket Launch Dazzles East Coast Residents SpaceX Rocket Launch Dazzles East Coast Residents
SpaceX Rocket Launch Dazzles East Coast Residents No, it wasn't a UFO. That was a SpaceX rocket you saw early Tuesday, Sept. 10. Falcon 9 launched its Polaris Dawn rocket into space from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 5:23 a.m. Daily Voice readers captured footage of the rocket from Hackensack and Westwood, NJ (see Instagram reel below). Others shared videos of the rocket over Pennsylvania, Maryland, NYC, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Voice NJ (@dailyvoicenewjersey) Dawn jellyfish of Polaris Dawn lights up the skies over the Susquehanna River! pic.twi…
John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral
John Gaudreau's Wife Announces Pregnancy With Third Baby At Funeral As if the Gaudreau's story couldn't get any more tragic, Johnny's wife, Meredith, announced she's nine weeks pregnant with their third child — "a total surprise" — at his funeral service on Monday, Sept. 9. During her eulogy live-streamed by the Calgary Flames, Meredith said she and John shared an amazing six months as a family of four. Then announced there was another baby on the way. The audience audibly gasped at the news.  "These will forever be the best six months of my life," she said from the service in Delaware County, PA. "There's specifically one week I'll cherish forever, it…
Woman Driving On Crack With Minor In Vehicle Arrested For DUI, Child Neglect: Stafford Sheriff Woman Driving On Crack With Minor In Vehicle Arrested For DUI, Child Neglect: Stafford Sheriff
Jennifer Perseghin Busted For DUI, Child Neglect In Stafford A woman shouting at ghosts while under the influence of crack was arrested following a strange scene that played out in Stafford, the sheriff says. South Carolina resident Jennifer Perseghin, 45, is behind bars after causing a disturbance over the weekend in front of a juvenile on Friday night. Shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept. 6, a third-party tipped off the Stafford County Sheriff's Office that Perseghin was "not doing well," was possibly intoxicated and behind the wheel of a vehicle.  The caller also advised that Perseghin was randomly yelling at people on Bradburn Plac…
Police Search For Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt's Body In Area Of Camp, School Police Search For Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt's Body In Area Of Camp, School
Police Search For Missing Manassas Park Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt's Body In Area Of Camp, School The search for missing Manassas mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt's body reached a fevered pitch on Thursday afternoon, the same day her husband was reportedly granted a speedy trial. On Sept. 5, the Manassas Park and Prince William County police departments continued their active investigation into Bhatt's death, with a fresh search throughout the community after receiving new intel. According to police, on Thursday, they were searching the Blooms Crossing community, the area surrounding the Manassas Christian School, Camp Carondelet, and a portion of Blooms Park. Investigators say that "detectives d…
One Dead, One In Custody Following Fatal Shooting In Stafford County, Sheriff Says One Dead, One In Custody Following Fatal Shooting In Stafford County, Sheriff Says
One Dead, One In Custody Following Fatal Shooting In Stafford County, Sheriff Says One person is dead and a suspect was taken into custody by members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office following a fatal shooting overnight. Shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, deputies were called to the 100 block of Hulls Chapel Road in Fredericksburg, where they found a man shot to death. According to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office, the suspected shooter has been detained, and the incident is believed to be domestic in nature. He added that there is no threat to the public. During the shooting investigation, Hulls Chapel Road was temporarily closed. No details a…
Maryland Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff Maryland Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff
Maryland Man Who Took Deputies On 120 MPH Pursuit Taken Down By K9 In Virginia: Sheriff A Baltimore man took police on a high speed pursuit in Virginia, but he wasn't quick enough to outrun a police K9 in Fauquier County, officials say. Marcus Johnson, 46, is facing multiple charges after being treated for a dog bite following a pursuit that approached 120 mph over the holiday weekend. According the the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, shortly after noon on Sunday, Sept. 1, a deputy in the area of Opal spotted a reckless driver in a silver Cadillac casually drinking a beer, launching the pursuit. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Johnson took off, spe…
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities 5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities
5-Year-Old Assaulted By Assistant Principal Of Spotsylvania County School: Authorities A 52-year-old assistant principal has been arrested after authorities said she assaulted a 5-year-old child in Northern Virginia. Misty Kelly, the assistant principal at the Spotswood Elementary School, has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and is expected to surrender to police in Spotsylvania, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said. The 5-year-old student's mom said she noticed bruising on her daughter's back and ribs and notified authorities on Aug. 28, the sheriff's office said. "When the mother questioned her child as to how she received the injuries, the child s…
Teen Killed Breaking Up Fight At Party On Property Owned By Spotsylvania County: Sheriff Teen Killed Breaking Up Fight At Party On Property Owned By Spotsylvania County: Sheriff
Teen Killed Breaking Up Fight At Party On Property Owned By Spotsylvania County: Sheriff One teen was killed attempting to break up a fight in Spotsylvania County and another is behind bars for his death on Sunday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Kenneth Watson has been charged with homicide and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection to the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Christian Whalen at a large gathering in Fredericksburg. According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, at around 1 a.m. on Sept. 1, deputies were called to the 14600 block of Spotswood Furnace Road to investigate a reported shooting on property owned by the county. …
Fisher-Price Recalling 366K Baby Dumbbell Toys Due To Infant Choking Hazard Fisher-Price Recalling 366K Baby Dumbbell Toys Due To Infant Choking Hazard
Fisher-Price Recalling 366K Baby Dumbbell Toys Due To Infant Choking Hazard Fisher-Price is recalling hundreds of thousands of baby dumbbell toys that could pose a potential choking threat to infants the US Consumer Product Safety (CPSC) announced. The retailer is recalling 366,200 toys that were sold nationwide and online along with the Baby Biceps Gift Set that includes dumbbells with caps that can pop off, creating the hazard. CPSC The bar of the dumbbell toy is gray with orange and red plastic weights on each side, officials said. The model number GJD49 is located on the back of the kettlebell toy in the gift set. CPSC None of the other toys inside the Bab…
'Best Years Of My Life:' Johnny Gaudreau's Wife, JMU Grad Speaks Out After Deadly Wreck 'Best Years Of My Life:' Johnny Gaudreau's Wife, JMU Grad Speaks Out After Deadly Wreck
'Best Years Of My Life:' Johnny Gaudreau's Wife, JMU Grad Speaks Out After Deadly Wreck Johnny Gaudreau's wife, Meredith, posted a moving tribute to her late NHL player husband following the South Jersey DUI crash that killed him and his brother, Matthew, this week. "Thank you for the best years of my life," Meredith said in an Instagram post.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meredith Gaudreau (@meredithgaudreau_) Meredith graduated from JMU in Virginia and then earned her master's in pediatric nursing from Drexel University, her LinkedIn page shows. She works as a NIICU nurse at CHOP. "Despite losing you…
Signal Hill Park Shut Down Amid Ongoing Search For Manassas Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt (DEVELOPING) Signal Hill Park Shut Down Amid Ongoing Search For Manassas Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt (DEVELOPING)
Signal Hill Park Shut Down Amid Ongoing Search For Manassas Mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt (Developing) The search for missing Manassas mom Mamta Kafle Bhatt's body made its way to Signal Hill Park on Friday afternoon. Investigators temporarily shut down the park on Aug. 30 as they continue to search for evidence regarding the woman's disappearance, and the subsequent cover-up by husband Naresh Bhatt, who is behind bars. Mamta was last seen in Prince William County on July 27, and last heard from the following day during a phone call to a friend. A welfare check was then conducted at the family's home on Aug. 2, and Naresh Bhatt reported his wife missing three days later on Aug. 5. On Friday…
Stafford Driver Attempting To Run Woman Over Near Heritage Trail In Custody, Police Say Stafford Driver Attempting To Run Woman Over Near Heritage Trail In Custody, Police Say
Stafford Driver Attempting To Run Woman Over Near Heritage Trail In Custody, Police Say A man wanted for using a U-Haul in an attempt to run over a woman on a Virginia trail has been arrested, authorities announced. Stafford resident Anthony Pittman was taken into custody on Friday following an incident that played out on Thursday afternoon. According to the Fredericksburg Police Department, at around 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 29, officers were called to the 400 block of Riverside Drive, where a woman reported that a man was attempting to run her down, though his efforts were thwarted when he struck a mile post marker on the Heritage Trail.  The man - later identified as Pittman…
Speeding Driver Busted For Fourth DWI, Other Offenses In Virginia: Police Speeding Driver Busted For Fourth DWI, Other Offenses In Virginia: Police
Speeding Driver Busted For Fourth DWI, Other Offenses In Virginia: Police A speeding driver was handed his four DWI offense after being stopped late on Thursday night in Loudoun County by members of the Leesburg Police Department, officials say. Ashburn resident Jimmy Lopez Gomez, 28, is back in trouble with the law and was being held behind bars on Friday afternoon following his latest arrest on a host of charges. Shortly before 11:45 p.m. on Aug. 29, officers on patrol stopped Lopez Gomez when he was clocked going 85 mph in a 45 mph zone. During the subsequent stop, it was determined that Lopez Gomez was intoxicated, he had no valid driver's license,…
Noise Complaints Lead To Arrest Of Man With Explosive Devices In Virginia: Fire Department Noise Complaints Lead To Arrest Of Man With Explosive Devices In Virginia: Fire Department
Noise Complaints Lead To Arrest Of Man With Explosive Devices In Virginia: Fire Department Noise complaints led to the arrest of a firebug in Arlington County who is facing a host of charges following an investigation by the Fire Marshal, officials say. Charles Peters, 77, was arrested this week following reports of loud noises in the 5700 block of Washington Avenue in Arlington. The initial probe was launched on Tusday, Aug. 20 by the Office of the Fire Marshal following a series of loud noises that were reported by residents throughout Bluemont along the Custis Trail. During the investigation Peters was identified as a person of interest, and he was arrested early on…
Man Arrested For Three Separate Indecent Exposure Incidents In Virginia: Police Man Arrested For Three Separate Indecent Exposure Incidents In Virginia: Police
Man Arrested For Three Separate Indecent Exposure Incidents In Virginia: Police An indecent exposure incident involving a 22-year-old man from Falls Church was linked to two others that were reported in Merrifield, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Juan Antonio Campos was charged with two counts of indecent exposure and masturbation in public following several reported incidents, authorities announced on Friday. According to police, in late August, officers from the department were called to the area of Fairmont Street and Woodberry Lane in Merrifield, where a man was allegedly exposing himself before fleeing the area. The man was later identified as …
District Man, 30, Killed In Motorcycle Crash Weeks After Wedding To 'His Beautiful Queen' District Man, 30, Killed In Motorcycle Crash Weeks After Wedding To 'His Beautiful Queen'
District Man, 30, Killed In Motorcycle Crash Weeks After Wedding To 'His Beautiful Queen' A 30-year-old District man killed weeks after his wedding leaves behind a reeling family following a fatal motorcycle crash. Southeast resident William Edwards, Jr. was identified by the Metropolitan Police Department as the rider killed following a crash in Northwest DC on Sunday morning. The incident was reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. on, Aug. 25 in the 1000 block of U Street NW while he was speeding on a Suzuki GSX motorcycle. According to police, Edwards was approaching the intersection of 11th and U Streets at a red light, while a Toyota RAV4 was heading north along the 1900 b…
Fentanyl Dealer Who Kept Selling After Fatal OD In Virginia Gets Prison Time: Feds Fentanyl Dealer Who Kept Selling After Fatal OD In Virginia Gets Prison Time: Feds
Fentanyl Dealer Who Kept Selling After Fatal OD In Virginia Gets Prison Time: Feds The man who sold the fentanyl pills through Instagram that led to a fatal overdose in Virginia - and then continued selling - has been sentenced to a decade in prison, federal authorities announced. Shan Mehmood, 21, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime, officials said. According to court documents, between May 2020 and April 2023, Mehmood was known to regularly acquire and sell fentanyl, and in March 2023, a purchaser reached out to him on social media about buying four pills. Mehmood met the p…
Police ID 22-Year-Old Man, Woman Killed In Virginia Shooting (UPDATED) Police ID 22-Year-Old Man, Woman Killed In Virginia Shooting (UPDATED)
Police ID 22-Year-Old Man, Woman Killed In Virginia Shooting (Updated) New details have been released by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office after two people were found shot in a Sterling home. Mijal Conejero-Romera, and Arlington native Diego Alexander Woollett, both 22, were identified by investigators as the two who were found shot and later died at an area hospital on Wednesday morning. Shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 28, deputies were called to investigate a shooting in the 21000 block of Ridgetop Circle, near Huntington Square, officials say. UPDATE ( 8:06 a.m.) LCSO continues to investigate the shooting on the 21000 block of Ridgetop Circle. We are…