Category: arrests
Violent repeat offenders — 1 was arrested 14 previous times — accused of attempted murder, sexual abuse in two Chicago cases
Two violent repeat offenders — one of whom had been arrested 14 previous times — are accused of attempted murder, sexual abuse, and aggravated battery in separate cases in Chicago.
The first suspect is accused of sexually abusing a woman inside a Chicago Transit Authority elevator at the Jackson Red Line station in the Loop on Tuesday, CWB Chicago reported.
Briana Bush last week also was charged with three counts of aggravated battery in connection with the stabbing of a 24-year-old man, the outlet said.
Kurtis Porter is charged with criminal sexual abuse by force and aggravated battery of a transit passenger, the outlet said.
Porter allegedly followed a 29-year-old woman into the elevator around 5:40 p.m., the outlet said, adding that police said CTA security video shows Porter obstructing the surveillance camera upon entering the elevator.
The victim told police Porter exposed himself, sexually abused her, and grabbed her face during the attack, the outlet said.
Police and CTA distributed an internal bulletin that included images of Porter, the outlet said, adding that a CTA supervisor recognized Porter hours later and notified nearby patrol officers.
Judge Shauna Boliker on Friday ordered Porter detained, the outlet said. Cook County Jail records indicate that Porter — a 30-year-old — is behind bars on no bond.
More from CWB Chicago:
CPD records show Porter has been arrested 14 other times since becoming an adult in 2014, mostly for misdemeanors, but court files show nearly all of those charges were dropped. The only exceptions were a 2019 domestic battery case that ended with court supervision he did not complete satisfactorily and two trespassing charges at the same Old Town building that resulted in a 14-day sentence in November.
Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune
The second suspect — a 21-year-old female already on probation in connection with a violent 2024 robbery aboard a CTA train — has been charged with attempted murder, CWB Chicago said in a separate story.
Briana Bush last week also was charged with three counts of aggravated battery in connection with the stabbing of a 24-year-old man, the outlet said.
Officials told the outlet Bush was fighting the man and a 37-year-old woman aboard a Red Line train at 69th Street on Jan. 5 when Bush allegedly stabbed the man and left the scene. The victim was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, the outlet added.
Judge Luciano Panici Jr. detained Bush at the state’s request, the outlet said.
Bush had been on probation in connection with a group robbery aboard a Red Line train in July 2024, the outlet said, citing court records.
More from CWB Chicago:
In that case, CTA surveillance footage allegedly showed Bush punching a 29-year-old man as he slept on the train near 95th Street and taking his phone. Police arrested Bush shortly after she fled the scene with the victim’s phone in her pocket, authorities said.
Bush was also charged with escaping electronic monitoring while awaiting trial in the robbery case, but prosecutors dropped that matter when she pleaded guilty to the robbery in September. Judge Peggy Chiampas sentenced Bush to two years of probation for the robbery.
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Final words revealed from Marine who survived war — but was gunned down at home in Facebook Marketplace trap
A decorated U.S. Marine veteran — who reportedly survived dangerous military missions overseas — was shot and killed at his Missouri home during what was supposed to be the sale of an iPhone on Facebook Marketplace, according to police. The distinguished service member allegedly spent the last moments of his life delivering a heartbreaking message to his family.
According to KOMU-TV, police were dispatched around 8:15 p.m. Jan. 18 concerning reports of gunshots at a residence in Columbia.
‘While stationed in Baghdad, Burke founded the Oasis Church.’
The Columbia Police Department said in a statement that 42-year-old Michael Ryan Burke was shot at his home.
Citing court documents, the New York Post reported that Burke was trying to sell his iPhone 15 Pro for $585 after arranging the sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Court docs said Burke provided a buyer with his address, and around 8:10 p.m. one of the suspects messaged the seller: “I’m here.”
Moments later, the transaction reportedly spiraled into violence, and Burke was shot. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police arrested Alexis Baumann, Kobe Aust, and Joseph Crane, all 18 years old, along with a fourth individual whom authorities identified as a juvenile.
Citing court documents, the New York Post reported that one suspect confessed to investigators that they had “arranged to meet with the victim under the ruse of buying the victim’s cell phone.”
The Post reported that Baumann told investigators she drove the group to Burke’s home, and Crane and the juvenile went inside.
KOMU-TV in a separate story reported that Baumann confessed to investigators that she heard three gunshots from inside the home and recalled that the juvenile ran out of the home; the suspects drove away from the crime scene, according to court documents.
Citing the probable cause statement, WDAF-TV reported that detectives used traffic cameras to determine that the suspects’ car traveled in the direction of a nearby Walmart.
Just after the shooting, Burke’s stolen phone was sold at an ecoATM at a nearby Walmart, according to court documents.
Court documents indicated that surveillance cameras caught Baumann and the juvenile suspect selling the phone at Walmart.
A day before Burke was killed, the juvenile stole another cell phone under the guise of a Facebook Marketplace sale, according to court documents. The Post reported that the juvenile told the alleged victim, “If you touch me, I’ll shoot you.”
Baumann and Aust were arrested on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and first-degree burglary; Crane and the juvenile were arrested on charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, and unlawful use of a weapon, Columbia Police said.
All three 18-year-old suspects are being detained without bond at the Boone County Jail, while the unidentified juvenile is being held at the Boone County Juvenile Office.
(L to R) Kobe Aust, Alexis Baumann, Joseph Crane. Image source: Boone County (Mo.) Jail
Jerry Reifeiss — who met Burke 24 years ago as a fraternity brother at Mizzou’s Sigma Nu — revealed the Marine’s heartbreaking last goodbye.
Reifeiss told KRCG-TV that Burke contacted his mother and sister: “He texted them saying that, ‘Hey, I’m dying, and I love you.'”
“That was just Ryan,” Reifeiss continued. “He always put people in front of him and wanted to make sure people knew how he felt.”
Before he died, Burke reportedly called 911 and gave a description of his attackers to the dispatcher.
“He didn’t want to go on to the next life and pass away without providing some information to us here that would bring justice to these people and let people know he always loves them,” Reifeiss said.
Reifeiss said of the arrests, “I’m very happy the police did their job and were able to get these people very quickly, assuming these are the correct people.”
Burke’s obituary said he served as a “Force Reconnaissance Marine in the United States Marine Corps, holding the rank of Staff Sergeant, with both active-duty and reserve service.”
Burke was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. From 2014 to 2021, Burke served as a medic in Baghdad.
While stationed in Baghdad, Burke founded the Oasis Church. According to his obituary, Burke also founded Holy Smokes — a men’s Bible study group. Burke also preached and taught in Uganda, the Philippines, Kenya, the U.K., and throughout the U.S.
The obituary states, “He was deeply committed to creating lasting impact, helping fund schools and churches in Africa and Asia, including support for 14 churches in the Philippines.”
One of Burke’s passions was fighting human trafficking, and he worked both locally and internationally to help victims.
Burke also served as a firefighter with the city of Columbia.
Police said there is an “active and ongoing investigation” into the alleged murder.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573-874-7652 or call CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477.
The Columbia Police Department did not immediately respond to Blaze News‘ request for comment.
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5-year-old boy weighed about 19 pounds at time of death, cops say: ‘Probably the worst case of child neglect I’ve seen’
Around 9 p.m. on New Year’s Day, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana responded to a reported medical emergency involving a juvenile at a gas station in Geismar, the sheriff’s office said. Geismar is about 30 minutes southeast of Baton Rouge.
Upon arrival, deputies found 5-year-old Marley Perilloux unresponsive, officials said.
‘People be treating their pets almost better than that.’
Detectives told WAFB-TV the boy’s parents put him in a car and called 911 in search of help, and deputies met them at the gas station off Highway 73.
Deputies immediately began performing CPR on the boy while awaiting emergency services, the sheriff’s office said.
Marley was transported to an area hospital while deputies and other first responders continued life-saving measures, officials said.
Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Col. Donald Capelo told WAFB that medical professionals at the hospital “continued to work on the child for about 40, 45 minutes before the child just passed away.”
Detectives with the juvenile unit of the sheriff’s office opened an investigation following reports of apparent injuries on the juvenile and additional concerns of child neglect, including severe malnourishment, the sheriff’s office said.
During their investigation, detectives executed a search warrant at the home where Marley lived with his parents, 33-year-old Marlon Perilloux and 27-year-old Raynisa Young, officials said.
Detectives reported the home’s interior was in poor condition and barely livable due to Perilloux and Young’s negligence, officials said.
Detectives interviewed Perilloux and Young and learned that both parents failed to ensure proper hygiene, feeding, and medical care for Marley, who weighed about 19 pounds at the time of death, officials said.
Detectives arrested Perilloux and Young for negligent homicide, second-degree cruelty to juveniles, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal carrying of weapons, the sheriff’s office said.
Both were transported to the Ascension Parish Jail with no bond, officials said, adding that additional or upgraded charges are pending.
In addition, investigators said Marley was bedridden and apparently never left the house, WAFB reported.
“This is probably the worst case of child neglect I’ve seen in my 34 years of law enforcement,” Capelo told the station. “To put it in perspective, when the coroners come out, there are body bags for adults, and there are body bags for infants. And this child, 5 years old, fit in an infant body bag.”
Cellphone video WAFB obtained shows the Geismar apartment where the family of six lived in squalor, the station said, adding that the unit was filled with trash, debris, and mattresses on the floor.
Neighbors told the station the news stunned them, and they had no idea what was happening inside the home.
“People be treating their pets almost better than that,” neighbor Calvin Lewis told WAFB.
Lewis added to the station that neighbors gladly would have helped if the family had asked.
“We’re a neighborhood where somebody needs something, that we have something going on,” Lewis told WAFB. “You’re more than welcome to come get a plate or, you know, any way we can help out.”
The state removed the three other children from the home, the station said.
The district attorney told WAFB that he will see if any other adults knew about the child’s condition — and if they did, they also could face charges.
An autopsy is pending, the station said, adding that investigators said it’s unclear when the child last ate.
Capelo urged parents dealing with tough times to seek help, WAFB noted.
“They need to seek help, whether it be through a family member, whether it be through [the Department of Children & Family Services], a division of the state, but you have to seek help,” he told the station. “You have to do whatever you can and whatever means you have to just take care of your children.”
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