crime

Lawyer: Shooter Wasn't Trying To Kill A Mob Boss. He Was Under 'QAnon' Delusion

By • Jul 23, 2019

A 24-year-old man who has been charged with shooting to death a reputed New York mob boss earlier this year thought he was under the influence of QAnon, pro-Trump Internet postings about the president supposedly battling a cabal of liberal elites, his lawyer wrote in a recent submission to New York state court.

Seattle Faces Backlash After Easing Up On Punishing Crimes Involving Mental Illness

By • Jul 12, 2019

Seattle is grappling with a crisis of what is sometimes called "visible homelessness" — people who live in the street and struggle with mental illness or drug addiction. It's a population that often commits small crimes, such as disorderly conduct or shoplifting to pay for drugs. And public frustration is growing.

Some accuse a reform-oriented local criminal justice system of becoming too tolerant.

New Bill Aims To Help Solve Missing Persons Cases In Oklahoma

By • Apr 9, 2019
Oklahoma State Senate

A bill to help solve missing persons cases is one step away from becoming law in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma House and Senate approved House Bill 2640, which would require law enforcement, medical examiners, and coroners to enter all missing and unidentified persons’ information into a national database.

Senator Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville) says the measure—known as Francine’s Law—will help solve cold cases.

True Crime Podcast Leads To Arrest Of Ex-Rugby Star Over Wife's Disappearance

By Denise Couture • Dec 5, 2018

Police in Australia on Wednesday arrested the former husband of a woman who disappeared 36 years ago and has long been presumed dead. Renewed interest in the cold case came about after it was the subject of a hugely popular Australian podcast series called The Teacher's Pet.

According to the podcast, when Lynette Dawson disappeared in January 1982 she was 33, living in a Sydney suburb with her husband, Chris Dawson — a high school teacher and former professional rugby player — and their two children.

Russia Plans To Deploy More S-400 Missiles To Disputed Crimea Peninsula

By • Nov 28, 2018

Russia is sending new S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries to its installations in Crimea, its defense ministry says. The move comes days after Russian warships seized several Ukrainian naval vessels, adding to tensions with neighboring Ukraine over the land Russia seized in 2014.

Voters In Southeastern Oklahoma Consider Crime, Experience As They Select First DA In 30 Years

By • Oct 31, 2018
Quinton Chandler / StateImpact Oklahoma

Integrity, experience and a plan for change are the keys to some voters’ support in Hughes, Pontotoc and Seminole counties, which are all represented by the same district attorney’s office.

Voters in the three rural counties are set to elect a new district attorney for the first time in 28 years. Twice in the last three decades, the governor selected District 22 residents’ head prosecutor after the previous one retired.

More Than A Dozen Years Later, A Mother Strives To Catch Her Daughter's Killer

By KOSU • Oct 31, 2018

Learning her child had been murdered was Dr. Maggie Zingman’s worst nightmare. She came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about the lessons she learned and her continued quest to find her daughter's killer.

You can find out more about Maggie’s “To Catch a Killer” caravan here.

'I Was Lost': Overcoming Addiction, Crime & Homelessness To Give Back

By KOSU • Aug 22, 2018

The StoryCorps mobile booth was in Oklahoma City in early 2018, and we're bringing you some of the stories that were recorded here. Locally recorded stories will air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU.

Yvonne Munoz was angry when she arrived at ReMerge, a prison diversion program for women and mothers. She felt like the world had it out for her. But after she graduated the program, she realized she had something specific to give back: leadership from her own experience.

Oklahoma Bill Would Reduce Sentences For Some Non-Violent Crimes

By • Feb 7, 2018
Flickr / Wesley Fryer

The Oklahoma House approved legislation on Tuesday that reduces sentences for property crimes like larceny and forgery.

Republican Terry O’Donnell of Catoosa authored the bill. He says it will lower the state's overall incarceration rate and the number of women in prison — many of which are convicted for non-violent crimes like writing bad checks.

O'Donnell's office says prison admissions for property crimes grew by almost 30 percent recent years. The average sentence for those convictions has also increased over time.

Attorney General Sessions In Midwest City: The Problem Is Crime, Not Sentencing

By • Oct 20, 2017
Jacob McCleland / Oklahoma Public Media Exchange

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to a receptive audience Thursday when he addressed members of the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association at Rose State College in Midwest City.

Sessions said law enforcement nationwide is dealing with an increase in the violent crime rate, gangs, the opioid epidemic and threats of terrorism. Sessions says these issues are combined with cultural changes that concern him.

Pages