Latest news with #NationalCenterforMissing&ExploitedChildren
Global News
13-06-2025
- Global News
‘Doomsday Mom' Lori Vallow Daybell convicted in 2nd murder conspiracy case
Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called 'Doomsday Mom' who is already serving life sentences for the gruesome killings of her two youngest children, has been found guilty once again, this time of conspiring to kill her niece's ex-husband. The verdict marks her second murder conspiracy conviction in Arizona in less than two months. She was convicted Thursday on a charge of conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux, who was once married to Vallow Daybell's niece, outside his home in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert. In April, Vallow Daybell was found guilty in an Arizona court of conspiring with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in 2019 at her home in Chandler, another Phoenix suburb. Cox died in December 2019 and was never charged. 1:38 Lori Vallow Daybell found guilty in death of her fourth husband In that case, prosecutors argued she was motivated by an opportunity to cash in on Vallow's US$1-million life insurance policy and a marriage to then-boyfriend Chad Daybell, who wrote several religious novels about prophecies and the end of the world. Story continues below advertisement Daybell is also serving life sentences for the deaths of Vallow Daybell's children, seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and his wife, Tammy Daybell. View image in full screen This combination photo of undated file photos released by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows once-missing children Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, seven, left, and Tylee Ryan, 17. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP Vallow Daybell is scheduled to be sentenced in both Arizona cases on July 25. Each conviction carries a life sentence. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Boudreaux told the court that his ex-wife, Melani Pawlowski, aspired to be like her aunt Lori and that the two began attending religious meetings together in 2018, and soon Pawlowski was arguing that they should stockpile food for the end of the world. In October 2019, someone in a Jeep outside Boudreaux's home fired a rifle shot at him, missing him but shattering a window on his car. Boudreaux recognized the Jeep as the vehicle that Vallow Daybell's daughter, Tylee Ryan, regularly drove before her death. Story continues below advertisement Cellphone data, receipts and surveillance video placed Cox at the scene. Prosecutors argued that Vallow Daybell helped clear the way for the attack by arranging phone use and providing cover. After the verdict was handed down on Thursday, Boudreaux thanked investigators for uncovering what he called 'the truth,' and also the jury for turning that truth into a conviction. He said, '2,078 days,' referencing the number of days since the shooting. 'Hatred, selfishness and greed almost led to the end of my life. 'Twelve strangers verified that Lori must be held accountable. I did not enjoy sitting and giving someone who tried to kill me the chance to question me. But I owed it to Charles, to Tylee, to J.J., and to Tammy to speak — because I could.' Vallow Daybell isn't an lawyer but chose to defend herself at both trials in Arizona. 1:55 Lori Vallow Daybell, mom who killed her kids, handed 3 life sentences without possibility of parole Despite multiple guilty convictions, Vallow Daybell has denied any wrongdoing in the murders and believes she'll be 'exonerated.' Story continues below advertisement In March, Vallow Daybell sat down with NBC Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison to discuss her plans for the future. 'We will both be exonerated in the future,' Vallow Daybell said of her and Daybell in the episode, titled, Lori Vallow Daybell: The Jailhouse Interview. 'The same way I will be exonerated.' When Morrison asked Vallow Daybell to expand on why she believes she will be exonerated, she said, 'I have seen things in the future that Jesus showed me when I was in heaven and we were not in jail. We were not in prison.' 'After I get exonerated, maybe I'll go on Dancing With the Stars,' she continued, 'And you can come.' — With files from Global News' Katie Scott and The Associated Press
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Newborn kidnapped from CA Marine family in 1980. Newly created photo offers hope
A knock on a California apartment door changed everything for a Marine family the summer of 1980. Angelina and Kevin Verville had just gotten home with their newborn son after a trip for groceries when a woman stopped by their Sterling Homes apartment complex for families stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children said in a June 10 news release. The woman told the couple she was with an organization, 'HELP,' that assisted low-income military families, the nonprofit said. Intrigued by her generosity, the couple trusted the woman. Decades of heartache soon followed. On a trip to the 'organization's office,' the woman drove off with the couple's 17-day-old son, Kevin Art Verville Jr., the nonprofit said. The parents never saw their son again, according to the nonprofit. Yet, despite the passage of time, the family's hope never wavered; his younger sister never stopped probing. 'I wanted my parents to be happy. I knew that him being taken was a dark cloud that just lingered and stayed there, and I wanted that to disappear for them,' Angelica Ramsey said in a video news release. 'I wanted them to have answers.' So, she pushed investigators about her brother's case, and now the nonprofit has released a new age-processed photo of Verville Jr. to try to solve the case. 'Kevin Verville Jr. was taken from his mother in broad daylight by a woman posing as a social worker 45 years ago,' FBI San Diego wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Today, Kevin could be anywhere, unaware of who he truly is.' 'Social worker' kidnaps newborn Kevin Verville Jr. was born June 14, 1980, at Camp Pendleton, Angeline Hartmann, Director of Communications at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said in the video release. His parents, who were married two years earlier while his father was stationed in the Philippines with the Marines, were new to the area, having recently been transferred to Southern California, Hartmann said. 'When I look at their wedding photos, when they were younger, they seemed so happy before everything happened,' Angelica Ramsey said. But then came July 1, 1980 — the day 'Sheila,' as she called herself, knocked on the apartment door, the nonprofit said. 'She showed up before we even had a chance to put the groceries away,' Kevin Verville said in the video release. 'She said there is an opportunity for us to get Junior signed up for the program.' 'Sheila' offered his wife and their newborn son a ride to the office, he said. 'I said, 'Sure. no problem. I can put all the groceries away,'' Kevin Verville said. On their trip, 'Sheila' stopped at a remote area in San Diego County and told Angelina Verville they were there to pick up another mother, the nonprofit said. 'When they arrived, the woman asked my mother to go knock on the door because she herself was pregnant,' Ramsey said. 'As my mom was getting out of the car, the woman drove off.' Kevin Verville Jr. was gone. Initial investigation In a decades-old news clip, a KFMB reporter asks Kevin Verville what he would say to the woman accused of taking his son. 'I don't want to talk to her,' he says in the clip. 'I just want my baby.' Angelina Verville is visibly shaken and too distraught to speak with the reporter, turning away from the camera, muttering to her husband. In the months after the abduction, 'the San Diego FBI office became involved in the case, extensively searching for Kevin Jr. and the unknown woman,' the nonprofit said. Investigators learned 'Sheila' had wandered about the apartment complex in the days leading to the abduction, the nonprofit said. 'Sheila' spoke with dozens of residents, searching for something, the nonprofit said. 'She appeared to be baby shopping, looking for a specific type of baby: a baby under 6 months old, and apparently one that was part Filipino,' Angeline Hartmann said in the video release. Using information from witnesses, investigators created a sketch of the unknown woman, the nonprofit said. 'From the Vervilles' accounts, along with other residents, investigators say they're looking for a woman who was in her 20s back in 1980, with red or blond frizzy hair,' the nonprofit said. The woman, who looked to be pregnant, also had a circle with an 'X' inside tattooed 'on her left hand in the webbing between her thumb and index finger,' the nonprofit said. Despite investigation, few leads surfaced, and the case went cold. 'I have hope' Now, decades later, the nonprofit said its forensic artists used family photos as inspiration to create an image of what Kevin Verville Jr., who would soon turn 45, might look like today, Angeline Hartmann said. 'It's very possible that Kevin Art Verville Jr. is out there, alive, with no idea about his real identity and we need your help to bring him home,' Hartmann said in the release. 'It's likely Kevin Jr. doesn't know what happened to him and that his biological parents are still searching for him.' For Kevin Verville, it's a search that will never cease. 'Even if I'm gone … I want my children to be together,' he said. 'I have hope, and I just want him found.' Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit tips on its website. Anyone with information that leads to finding 'Kevin Verville Jr., as well as the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his abduction,' could be eligible for a $10,000 reward. Oceanside is about a 40-mile drive north from San Diego.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
109 Kids Saved, 244 Suspects Nabbed In Texas' ‘Operation Soteria Shield'
A month-long statewide law enforcement operation in Texas targeting online child exploitation resulted in the rescue of 109 children and the arrest of 244 suspects, authorities announced. Named Operation Soteria Shield, the effort was conducted in April 2025 and involved more than 70 Texas law enforcement agencies, led by the FBI Dallas Division, the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas. The operation, supported by the National ICAC Task Force, focused on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Participating agencies, including the Dallas, Plano, Wylie, and Garland police departments, seized terabytes of illicit digital content stored on electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic analysis. Authorities said additional arrests and victim identifications are possible. 'The numbers of offenders arrested and children rescued in this operation are significant,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay Combs. 'We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting these crimes to protect children from online sexual exploitation.' The effort has already led to multiple grand jury indictments in the Eastern District of Texas for charges related to child pornography distribution and sexual exploitation of minors. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provided critical intelligence and case coordination, contributing to the operation's success. 'Operation Soteria Shield brought together over 70 agencies from across the state of Texas, including police departments, federal agencies, state and federal prosecutors, children's advocacy centers, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We had a common goal, which was to rescue children from abuse and exploitation,' said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. 'This was not an easy operation, but a necessary one. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the children in our communities, and we will hold child predators accountable for their crimes,' he added. Detective Rich, a key investigator from the Plano Police Department and member of the FBI Dallas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, played a central role. Known nationally and internationally for his work on computer-facilitated crimes against children, Rich helped coordinate the efforts of skilled investigators working around the clock. 'Operation Soteria Shield was a massive team effort and a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we unite around one clear mission: protecting our kids and holding offenders accountable,' said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux. 'I am proud that the Dallas Police Department is the lead agency for the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and am grateful for the many, many agencies who contributed to this successful operation.' Plano Police Chief Ed Drain emphasized the operation's broader impact. 'Online exploitation of children is one of the most insidious crimes we face as a society. It reaches into every community, crosses every boundary, and leaves lasting harm on its youngest victims,' Drain said. 'Through this operation, we not only rescued children from unimaginable abuse, but we also sent a clear message: those who seek to harm our children online will be found and brought to justice.' Wylie Police Chief Anthony Henderson highlighted the operation's resolve. 'The coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in Operation Soteria Shield serve as a powerful demonstration of unwavering dedication in the battle against online child exploitation,' Henderson said. 'By exposing the darkest corners of the Internet, this operation has targeted predators who seek to harm vulnerable children.' Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan underscored the mission's significance. 'Operation Soteria Shield was more than an enforcement effort; it was a mission to rescue, protect, and restore hope,' Bryan said. 'The scale of this operation sends a strong message: predators will be pursued, and survivors will never stand alone.' Operation Soteria Shield stands as one of the largest efforts of its kind in Texas in recent years, showcasing the power of interagency collaboration. Participating agencies included the Abilene, Allen, Arlington, Fort Worth, Frisco, McKinney, and San Antonio police departments, among others, as well as the Collin, Denton, and Tarrant county sheriff's offices, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and federal agencies like Homeland Security Investigations. Authorities expressed gratitude to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for its vital support. The operation's success reflects a shared commitment to protecting children and ensuring justice for survivors of online exploitation.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities reignite search for newborn abducted by fake social worker 40 years ago
More than 40 years after a 17-day-old was ripped from his family in Southern California, authorities hope a new age-progression image could be the key to finding the now-adult man who likely has no idea about his real parentage. The FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have released a new rendering of what Kevin Art Verville Jr., now 44, might look like if he's still alive like they believe. Kevin was abducted from his mother in San Diego County on July 1, 1980, by a woman posing as a social worker who claimed to be offering parental assistance to low-income military families near Camp Pendleton. The unknown woman showed up at the doorstep of Angelina and Kevin Verville in Oceanside, and identified herself only as 'Sheila.' She said she came from an organization called 'HELP,' offering financial assistance and newborn supplies to local military families. For the young parents, the offer seemed like a dream come true. But it quickly turned into their worst nightmare. Sheila agreed to come back later and take Angelina and Kevin Jr. to her organization's headquarters to enroll the newborn in the program. The mother and the infant rode with the stranger to a location in a remote, rural area in northern San Diego County. Sheila pulled over and asked Angelina to knock on the door of a nearby house where she said another mother enrolling in the program lived. 'But when Angelina got out, Sheila sped away with baby Kevin,' a profile on the NCMEC website reads. Angelina was left alone in the middle of nowhere. It was the last time she saw her son. Local authorities searched for 'Sheila' and Kevin Jr., but were unable to find any sign of them. The FBI later got involved in the search. Investigators later learned that the woman had been lurking in the off-base apartment complex for days leading up to the abduction, specifically looking for a child that met her criteria: under 6 months old and part Filipino. She spoke with dozens of people in the apartment complex before finally identifying the Vervilles as her target. She was seen by so many different witnesses in the preceding days that authorities were able to create a detailed description and a composite image of what she looked like. 'From the Vervilles' accounts, along with other residents, investigators say they're looking for a [white] woman who was in her twenties back in 1980, with red or blonde frizzy hair,' NCMEC said. 'She had a tattoo on her left hand in the webbing between her thumb and index finger. It was described as a circle with an 'X' inside. [She] also appeared pregnant.' The search continued with sparse leads that became dead ends. Days turned into weeks, and years turned into decades, with no arrest made or suspect ever identified. Now, 44 years later, the search for Kevin Jr. has been renewed. Unlike many missing child cases from decades ago, investigators believe Kevin Jr. is likely still alive, taken by his abductor to be raised as her own. According to 60 years' worth of data, NCMEC says the profile of a 'typical' infant abductor is usually 'a woman of childbearing age, who appears pregnant, and may be trying to replace a baby lost through miscarriage.' If alive like investigators believe — and his surviving family members hope — it's possible that the now-44-year-old has no idea about his real identity, the parents he lost or the sibling he never met. 'It's likely Kevin Jr. doesn't know what happened to him, or that his biological parents are still searching for him. Today, he could be anywhere, so we're asking everyone to be part of this search,' said Angeline Hartmann, NCMEC's director of communications. 'We need your help to bring him home.' On Tuesday, the FBI and NCMEC released a joint news release announcing the renewed efforts to locate Kevin Jr., which included a new age-progressed image that shows what he may look like as an adult man in 2025. The FBI is continuing to offer a $10,000 reward for information in the case. Officials for the Bureau say they are just as committed to finding him today as they were four decades ago. Among those most desperate to find him is Angelica Ramsey, the biological sister he never met, who has continued to reach out to investigators for updates on her brother's case. Anyone with information about the abduction of Kevin Verville Jr. is urged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. Tips to the FBI can also be submitted online. 'Although baby Kevin was abducted 45 years ago, FBI San Diego's work to reunite him with his family has not ceased,' said Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. For more information on Kevin's story, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Texas Amber Alert for Missing Dallas Boy Canceled
Police said four-year-old Luciano Gallegos has been recovered after an Amber Alert was issued for his disappearance in Dallas, Texas, early on Tuesday morning. No further details were given. Newsweek has contacted the Dallas Police Department's public information office for more information. The original Amber Alert said Gallegos was taken by a 21-year-old man named Louis Ricker on Monday, June 9, and was last seen at 2900 Block of South Walton Walker Boulevard in Dallas, traveling southbound at around 11:30 p.m. in a White Mitsubishi Outlander. The Amber Alert system is used widely throughout the U.S., with 82 plans in place to help recover children after they have been determined missing, enabling some missing child reports to be resolved. The alerts can be issued on a state-wide or local scale and more than one child can be involved in the case. The system, which stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, dates back to 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters worked with the local police to develop a warning system to find abducted children, and later other states and communities soon set up their own plans. These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices. The Amber Alert system is used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27 other countries. By the end of 2024, 1,268 children had been recovered due to the activation of an Amber Alert, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which helps to distribute alerts to the public. This is a developing article. Updates to follow. Related Articles Amber Alert: Kidnapped Toddler, Mother 'Found Safe' in North CarolinaAbducted 8-Year-Old California Girl Found After Amber Alert IssuedAmber Alert Issued as 1-Year-Old Goes Missing in South DakotaAmber Alert Canceled for Missing 1-Year-Old From Washington State 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
