California Archives - The American Retiree

Trial Begins for California Father Accused in Tragic Death of 6-Month-Old Son

South Pasadena, Calif. — A young father stands accused in the traumatic death of his 6-month-old son, whose life ended after enduring severe injuries while under his care. The murder trial for Christopher Richmond commenced this Monday, shedding light on the harrowing details that led to the infant’s death at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. According to prosecutors, Cash Richmond’s brief life was marred by violence almost from the moment he was born. The case took …

California Cold Case Breakthrough: Woman Pleads Not Guilty in 1987 Newborn Murder Case

Riverside, CA — Nearly four decades after a tragic event in which a newborn was found dead in a dumpster, a North Carolina woman has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of murder. The case, which remained unsolved for years, has seen new developments thanks to advances in DNA technology and dedicated cold case detectives. The woman identified as Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina, was arrested following rigorous investigation …

California Man Faces Murder Charge After Fatal DUI Crash in Lenexa Claims Life of Local Woman

Lenexa, KS — A catastrophic collision in Lenexa this past weekend has led to serious charges for a California man, whose actions police say resulted in a fatal accident on a busy boulevard. As the community mourns a tragic loss, authorities grapple with the events leading up to the incident. Vincente F. Perez, 31, from Barstow, California, is facing second-degree murder charges after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle, resulting in the …

Decades-Old Cold Case Cracked: Idaho Man Arrested for 1973 California Murder Following DNA Breakthrough

BOISE, Idaho – A breakthrough in a long-cold case has led to the arrest of a 75-year-old Idaho man for the unsolved murder of a California woman dating back to 1973, authorities announced. Advances in DNA technology allowed investigators to link Michael Eugene Mullen to the murder of Nina “Nadine” Fischer, who was found dead in her San Rafael home nearly 50 years ago. Mullen was taken into custody near his residence in Salmon, Idaho, …

Love, Tragedy, and Fatal Consequences: The Heart-Wrenching Tale of a California Man Murdered Before His Proposal

Camarillo, Calif. — Kenneth Migliardi, a 30-year-old from Camarillo, had recently returned from a romantic trip to New York with his girlfriend, where he was planning his future marriage proposal. His mother, Marilee Canaga, recalls him speaking about their future together; envisioning travels across Europe and raising children. Tragically, just days after these joyous discussions, tragedy struck early in the morning of July 12. Daniel Jonte, the former boyfriend of Kenneth’s girlfriend Diana Bronakowska, forcibly …

Former Trucker Arrested for 1977 Cold Case Murders of Three California Women

Ventura, Calif. — A former long-haul trucker has been accused of the 1977 murders of three women in Ventura County, making a grim chapter in a cold case that has puzzled authorities for decades. Warren Luther Alexander, 73, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder after new evidence linked him to these decades-old crimes. In 1977, the bodies of Kimberly Fritz, 18, Lorraine Rodriguez, 21, and Velvet Sanchez, 31, were discovered in separate …

Tragic Incident at California Race Track: Yearling Suffers Fatal Injuries, Highlighting Concerns Over Horse Racing Safety

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A heart-wrenching incident involving a 1-year-old racehorse, which suffered multiple muscle ruptures in both hind legs, is casting a somber light on the plight of young equine athletes in competitive racing. The unfortunate animal was merely one among several recent casualties reported in California’s horse racing tracks, igniting fresh concerns over animal safety and welfare standards in this high-stakes sport. In a troubling pattern that has haunted racecourses statewide, these majestic beasts …

Tragic Discovery in Southern California: Young Girl Identified After Being Found Murdered and Set on Fire

Hesperia, Calif. — Authorities in Southern California have identified a young girl who was tragically killed and set on fire earlier this week in Hesperia, a city approximately 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the victim was an 11-year-old local resident, although her name has not been released. Initial reports revealed that the horrifying incident occurred late Monday night when local law enforcement responded to a call …

California Man Found Guilty in Fatal Stabbing of University Student

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A California resident has been found guilty of the murder of a University of Pennsylvania student, an incident that authorities have described as an act of rage. The verdict culminates a trial that captured national attention due to the brutality of the crime and the backgrounds of both the victim and the assailant. The tragic episode unfolded in January 2018, when 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, who was home in Southern California during …

California Man Found Guilty in Tragic Hate Crime and Murder of Gay College Student

Orange County, Calif. — A California man has been found guilty of both murder and committing a hate crime in the fatal stabbing of a gay college student, authorities reported. The conviction highlights ongoing concerns regarding hate crimes in the UOS and sheds light on the tragic impact of such actions on communities and families. The victim, identified as a college student, was overtly targeted based on his sexual orientation which added the hate crime …