Tag Archives: circumstances

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Vista man suspected of killing mother arrested

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A 55-year-old Vista man suspected of killing his mother has been arrested, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.

Tad Christopher Johnson was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon at a home in the 2100 block of Riviera Drive in Vista. Deputies discovered 80-year-old Linda Johnson of Arizona gravely injured at the residence while investigating a reported assault, according to Lt. Juan Marquez.

Paramedics transported Linda Johnson to a hospital, where she passed away the following day, Marquez said.

The exact cause of her death is currently under investigation, as are the motivation and circumstances surrounding the crime, Marquez added.

As of Thursday, it remained unclear who resides in the home where the alleged homicide occurred. Detectives believe the residence might belong to a member of the family shared by the mother and son, according to Marquez.

The suspect is being held without bail at the Vista Detention Facility, pending his arraignment scheduled for Friday afternoon.
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/10/17/vista-man-suspected-of-killing-mother-arrested/

crime, family, justice, murder, pregnancy

Florida man learns his fate after murdering his 9-months pregnant secret lover who refused to get abortion

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**Florida Man Sentenced to Death for Murdering His 9-Months Pregnant Secret Lover Who Refused Abortion**

*By Lauren Acton-Taylor | Daily Mail UK | October 15, 2025*

A Florida man was sentenced to death for the brutal murder of his 9-months pregnant secret lover just days before she was due to give birth.

Jose Soto-Escalera, 49, was convicted in 2018 for the murders of 23-year-old Tania Wise and their unborn son. On Friday, Judge Lawrence Mirman handed down the death sentence after Soto-Escalera was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder.

Tania Wise was just one week away from delivering what would have been her second child, Josiah, when she was killed. Reports indicate that the murder followed her refusal to obtain an abortion. Her body was discovered in a roadside ditch on August 24, 2018, with severe injuries, including a bashed-in head and a slit throat.

The jury voted 8-4 in favor of the death penalty, a decision that Judge Mirman later endorsed.

During the sentencing, Soto-Escalera’s attorney, Tom Burns, highlighted his difficult childhood and experiences of being bullied. Burns urged the court to consider life imprisonment instead, citing Soto-Escalera’s good behavior while incarcerated, according to Law & Crime.

However, Judge Mirman emphasized that the aggravating factors related to the murders—especially the death of the unborn child—outweighed any mitigating circumstances such as his good conduct and troubled past.

Lead prosecutor Assistant State Attorney Donald Richardson told Treasure Coast Newspapers that the evidence against Soto-Escalera was “conclusive” and that “there was no question as to his guilt.” He also described the case as “so egregious” that he was not surprised by the jury’s decision. “The facts were truly extreme,” Richardson added.

Expressing her feelings on the verdict, Tania Wise’s mother, Elizabeth Bedolla, told the outlet, “I’m not going to say that I am super happy because it doesn’t change anything. But justice needed to be done.”

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*Keywords: abortion, Florida, pro-life, Jose Soto-Escalera*

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https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4346648/posts

death, education, law enforcement, mental health, suicide

NDA cadet found dead in hostel room in Pune; cops suspect suicide

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A first-term cadet of the National Defence Academy (NDA) was found dead in his hostel room at the premier military training institute in Pune early on Friday, news agency PTI reported. Police suspect it to be a case of suicide.

The cadet’s family has alleged that harassment by seniors drove him to take the extreme step. Following the incident, a court of inquiry has been ordered by the NDA to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to police, the cadet was found dead by his batchmates after he failed to report for morning training. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, but initial findings suggest suicide, a police officer stated.

The 18-year-old cadet hailed from Lucknow and came from a family with an armed forces background. His father and uncle have served in the army, PTI reported.

Everything appeared normal until he recently complained to his mother about harassment by some seniors. After these complaints, the family took the matter to the authorities at the academy. His mother and grandmother visited the NDA before Navratri to raise concerns about the issue. The NDA authorities responded and assured them that appropriate action would be taken, according to the cadet’s maternal uncle.

The uncle further revealed that the cadet had spoken to his mother on Thursday afternoon and seemed normal during the call. “He spoke to his mother in the afternoon, but it seems something happened later in the evening as there was some party there. It seems something happened during the party which made him very sad and prompted him to take the extreme step,” he said.

He also mentioned that the cadet was disturbed by the alleged harassment and had expressed thoughts of discontinuing his training. “He used to say that he did not want to continue at the academy,” he added.

In an official statement, the NDA confirmed the cadet’s death and said an inquiry has been initiated.

“A first-term cadet died in the early hours of Friday. He was found in lifeless condition in his cabin by fellow cadets after he failed to report for the day’s training. He was immediately rushed to the Military Hospital, Khadakwasla, where he was declared dead at 6:30 am,” the statement read.

The NDA added that the cadet’s family and local police had been informed, and a court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident. Police confirmed that further investigation is underway.

(With PTI inputs)
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/pune-police-nda-launch-probe-after-cadet-found-dead-in-hostel-room-family-alleges-harassment-by-seniors-23598163