Detroit Escorts: Hearing Delayed For Man Charged In ‘Backpage Murders’
May 17, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsMay 17, 2012 12:38 PM
James Brown of Sterling Heights has been charged in connection with the deaths of four women whose bodies were found burned in car trunks in December in Detroit.
DETROIT (WWJ) – A hearing for a Sterling Heights man facing charges related to the deaths of four women dubbed the “Backpage Murders” has been adjourned.
Thursday’s preliminary hearing for James Brown in Detroit’s 36th District Court was reset for May 30 at the request of prosecutors.
Brown pleaded not guilty to charges of arson, mutilation of a dead body and disinternment in connection with the murders of four Detroit women, whose bodies were all found in abandoned cars in the city last December. Police said three of the women had ties to ads for escort services on the website backpage.com.
See the full article from “CBS Local”
Detroit Escorts: PONTIAC: Escort from Lincoln Park released from jail, cleared in death of client
May 8, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsNatasha Vanwasshenova, 28, avoided a sentence of up to life in prison when a charge of delivering a controlled substance resulting in death was dropped last month. She had brought a small amount of heroin to Jonathan Hood, 38, of Rochester, who had requested her and the drugs at his house, her attorney, Charles D. Toby, said today.
Hood died that night of a heart attack and a pathologist at the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office initially ruled the death was caused by heroin.
Vanwasshenova was sent to the house by a Dearborn-based escort service, and when she arrived, Hood, who already had been drinking, used some of the heroin. The woman began performing a sex act and, according to Toby, Hood collapsed and died shortly afterward. She called 911 and waited for police and EMS to arrive.
Detroit Escorts: Prostitute Cleared Of Life Felony In Customer’s Death
May 8, 2012 at 10:13 am | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsROCHESTER (WWJ/AP) – A prostitute no longer faces a life felony for supplying heroin to a customer who died while having sex with her.
Oakland County prosecutors dropped a charge of drug delivery causing death against 28-year-old Natasha Vanwasshenova. She is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday on a reduced charge of delivery of a controlled substance and could walk free after 14 months in jail.
The original charge carried a maximum sentence of life in prison. Her lawyer said he plans to ask Judge Leo Bowman on Tuesday to sentence Vanwasshenova to time served.
Vanwasshenova allegedly worked for a Dearborn-based escort service for about a year to support her four children. According to authorities, a 38-year-old man hired Vanwasshenova on Nov. 23, 2010, to come to his home in the Detroit suburb of Rochester. He asked her to bring heroin, and she bought $80 worth, according to court records.
See the full article from “CBS Local”
Detroit Escorts: Lincoln Park escort cleared in client’s death
May 8, 2012 at 2:13 am | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsOakland County Chief Medical Examiner Ljubisa Dragovic said tests on heart tissue in such drug-related deaths are done at the pathologist’s discretion. “The pathologist felt that other information provided — the heroin purchased and used by the man — pointed to it as the factor or a contributing factor in his death and further tests were not required.”
“We went back as soon as we had more information. Now it appears that it should have been done at the time. But you cannot run those kinds of tests on every drug overdose case.”
Toby said Vanwasshenova worked for a Dearborn-based escort service, and Hood sought her services Nov. 23, 2010. After they took heroin, drank alcohol and sat in a hot tub, she performed sex on him. He collapsed and could not be revived, Toby said.
Detroit Escorts: Medical tests save escort from life term in client’s death, attorney says
May 7, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsOakland County Chief Medical Examiner Ljubisa Dragovic said tests on heart tissue in such drug-related deaths are not routinely run and are done at the discretion of the pathologist working the case.
“The pathologist felt that other information provided — the heroin purchased and used by the man — pointed to it as the factor or a contributing factor in his death and further tests were not required,” said Dragovic. “We went back as soon as we had more information. Now it appears that it should have been done at the time. But you cannot run those kinds of test on every drug overdose case.”
Toby said Vanwasshenova worked for a Dearborn-based escort service for about a year to support her four children. For a fee, Vanwasshenova would be instructed by her boss — who was also her landlord — to meet with clients and perform sexual services, the attorney said.
Detroit Escorts: Man Charged in Backpage.com Murders
May 7, 2012 at 2:12 am | In Detroit escorts | No Comments… DETROIT, Mich.) — A man has been charged in connection to the murders of four women who were found in the trunks of burning cars last December in Detroit.
James Brown, 24, of Sterling Heights, Mich., will be charged with Dead Bodies-Disinterment in connection with two of the murders, and with the arson of a dead body in connection with the other two murders. As of now, Brown is not being charged with murder.
Brown is being held on a $500,000 cash bond for each of the two cases, according to the Detroit Free Press. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 17.
“We just want justice. We want closure. We have waited 4 months,” said Chikita Madison, mother of one of the victims, according to ABC News affiliate WXYZ.
Three of the victims had offered escort services on backpage.com, a nationwide site similar to Craigslist, according to police.
See the full article from “WFJA Classic Hits and Oldies 105.5 FM”
Detroit Escorts: Man Charged in Backpage.com Murders
May 6, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No Comments… DETROIT, Mich.) — A man has been charged in connection to the murders of four women who were found in the trunks of burning cars last December in Detroit.
James Brown, 24, of Sterling Heights, Mich., will be charged with Dead Bodies-Disinterment in connection with two of the murders, and with the arson of a dead body in connection with the other two murders. As of now, Brown is not being charged with murder.
Brown is being held on a $500,000 cash bond for each of the two cases, according to the Detroit Free Press. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 17.
“We just want justice. We want closure. We have waited 4 months,” said Chikita Madison, mother of one of the victims, according to ABC News affiliate WXYZ.
Three of the victims had offered escort services on backpage.com, a nationwide site similar to Craigslist, according to police.
See the full article from “KGO-AM”
Detroit Escorts: Victims’ families encouraged by arrests in ‘Backpage’ murders
May 2, 2012 at 2:13 am | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsVictims’ families encouraged by arrests in Detroit ‘Backpage’ murders 2 arrested in Sterling Heights in connection with bodies found in Detroit Author: Bisi Onile-Ere, Local 4 Reporter Published On: May 01 2012 10:57:40 PM EDT
Updated On: May 01 2012 11:04:22 PM EDT
Arrests encouraging for families of ‘Backpage’ murders victims
DETROIT -
Two mothers who are coping with the tragic deaths of their daughters are beginning to feel relief.
“We’re feeling positive. At this point, we’re just basically looking for closure,” said Denise Reid.
Reid and Shikita Madison are the mothers of cousins Renisha Landers and Demesha Hunt who were among four women found dead in December in car trunks in Detroit.
Three of the victims were linked to escort service ads on Backpage.com.
It is a case that sent shockwaves through the community.
See the full article from “WDIV Detroit”
Detroit Escorts: Police make arrests in ‘Backpage’ murders
May 1, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No CommentsWhile police talked with the two persons of interest, crime scene investigators closely examined a suburban home near the area of 18 Mile and Mound Roads. A detective on the case tells the Local 4 Defenders 5 cars full of evidence were collected, including clothing and computers.
–Home searched by police near 18 Mile and Mound Roads
The neighborhood is described as being very upscale, with homes averaging between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet.
The case is being handled by the Michigan State Police, The Detroit Police Homicide Division, the Violent Gang Task Force and the Sterling Heights Police Department.
History of the case
In December 2011, the bodies of four women were found in the trunks of cars just blocks apart in Detroit. Police are not sure where the women had been murdered.
Police said three of the four victims had placed escort service ads on Backpage.com.
See the full article from “WDIV Detroit”
Detroit Escorts: 2 In Custody In Connection With Detroit Trunk Murders
May 1, 2012 at 6:13 pm | In Detroit escorts | No Comments2 In Custody In Connection With Detroit Trunk Murders
May 1, 2012 5:01 PM
DETROIT (WWJ) – Detroit police have announced that two people are in custody in connection with the deaths of four women late last year.
Police on Tuesday executed search warrants in Sterling Heights and are now questioning two people who are in custody, reportedly linked to the murder of four Detroit women whose bodies were found in car trunks.
Initially, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee said three of the four victims had profiles on the website Backpage.com, which is an escort service.
Tuesday’s arrests came in the area of 18 Mile and Mound Road. Detroit police, along with the Violent Crimes Task Force and FBI, are investigating.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for more on this developing story.
See the full article from “CBS Local”
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