Convicted Archives - The American Retiree

Two States Conduct Simultaneous Executions: Florida and Oklahoma Enforce Capital Punishment on Convicted Murderers

STARKE, Fla. — A Florida man who committed a horrific double homicide in 1993 was executed Thursday at Florida State Prison. Edward James, 63, was put to death by lethal injection for the murders of an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother. Meanwhile, in a separate case, Oklahoma carried out its first execution of the year, sentencing a man to death for a deadly home invasion. James was condemned for the deaths of Toni Neuner, 8, …

Brother of Convicted Murderer Sentenced for Fraudulent Documents Amid High-Profile Georgia Case

ATLANTA — The brother of a man incarcerated for the brutal murder of a University of Georgia nursing student has been sentenced to four years in prison for using fraudulent documents during the investigation, escalating concerns around document fraud and its implications in crime-solving. In a recent hearing, 29-year-old Diego Ibarra admitted to possessing counterfeit identification, which surfaced after law enforcement detained him due to his resemblance to a suspect in the high-profile homicide of …

Family Seeks Justice in Controversial Sentence for New Philadelphia Man Convicted in Violent Assault

New Philadelphia, Ohio — Following a conviction for his role in a brutal assault last year, the family of 35-year-old Christopher Beatty is rallying for public backing, criticizing the sentence handed down as excessively harsh. Beatty was recently sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison on charges of aggravated burglary and felonious assault related to an incident that occurred on August 20, where he, along with three other men, allegedly assaulted a local man …

Judge Considers Pausing Inquiry into UK Nurse Convicted of Multiple Infant Murders Amidst New Challenges to Verdict

Chester, England — A high-profile inquiry into a series of tragic events at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby was convicted for the murder of seven babies, is facing potential suspension after recent requests from various parties. Letby, 35, also found guilty of attempting to murder seven additional infants, became notorious as one of Britain’s most prolific child serial killers. Appointed in 2023, Judge Kathryn Thirlwall, who is overseeing this …

Florida Man Convicted of Family Murder Reportedly Plotted to Hire Hitman to Assassinate ‘Ghost Adventures’ Celebrity

Tampa, FL — A Florida man serving a life sentence for the murders of his mother and brother has been accused of orchestrating a plot to assassinate a television personality from behind bars. Authorities have revealed that the man targeted Zak Bagans, the host of the popular TV series “Ghost Adventures,” allegedly because of a personal vendetta linked to the paranormal. Investigators stated that the incarcerated man, whose identity has been withheld due to legal …

“Joe Ferrari,” Former Thai Police Officer Convicted of Murder, Passes Away Behind Bars, Confirm Authorities

Bangkok, Thailand — A former Thai police officer, infamously dubbed “Joe Ferrari” due to his penchant for luxury cars, died in prison while serving a sentence for the murder of a suspect during an interrogation, officials confirmed Thursday. Thitisan Utthanaphon, aged 41, was found unresponsive in his cell at a maximum-security prison and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital. Thitisan, once a police colonel and chief of the Muang Nakhon Sawan Police …

Michigan Woman Convicted in Tragic Birthday Party Crash That Killed Two Children

NEWPORT, Mich. — A Michigan woman faces a life sentence after her conviction on Thursday for causing a fatal accident at a child’s birthday party while under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication. The Monroe County jury found 67-year-old Marshella Chidester of Newport guilty of killing two young siblings, Zayn and Alanah Phillips, and injuring several others during the tragic incident last April. Chidester was convicted on nine charges, including two counts of murder …

Oklahoma Prepares for Execution of Man Convicted in 1999 Tulsa Murder Following Transfer from Federal Custody

Tulsa, Oklahoma — George John Hanson, who was convicted for the 1999 murder of a 77-year-old woman, has been returned to Oklahoma after serving time in a Louisiana federal prison. Known also as John Fitzgerald Hanson, he was transferred to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester this past Saturday, a move coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections at the request of the state’s Attorney General, Gentner Drummond. Hanson was found guilty of kidnapping and …

Clovis Man Convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter in 2023 Stabbing Death of Wife at Local Travel Stop

Clovis, NM — A Clovis man, Lloyd Edwards, has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2023 stabbing death of his wife at a local truck stop, officials announced. The verdict came after a jury deliberation following a tense three-day trial that culminated on Feb. 26, 2025, shedding light on a case that has gripped the community. The incident, which led to the tragic death of Roxie Edwards, occurred on Jan. 18, 2023, …

Illinois Landlord Convicted of Murder and Hate Crime in Fatal Attack on Palestinian American Youth

Urbana, Illinois – An Illinois landlord was convicted of both murder and a hate crime in the 2023 violent attack on a Palestinian American teenager, intensifying ongoing national dialogues about racial hatred and the safety of minority communities. The decision emerged after a jury reviewed evidence that depicted not only a brutal assault but also a racially motivated one, aimed at the young boy due to his ethnic background. The convicted, whose identity and specific …