Steve Whitmore

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 23 2010

New findings may lead to a definitive cause of death

A memorial service was recently held for Mitrice Richardson, the 24-year-old woman whose remains were discovered Aug. 9, 11 months after she was released from Malibu Lost Hills Police station. She was held, after being arrested for non-payment of a dinner tab at Geoffrey’s restaurant.
 
During the service, which was organized by the victim’s mother Latice Sutton and other friends of the family, they came across what was later determined to be a finger bone. 
 

Dec 15 2010

Men's Central Jail

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Seven Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have been relieved of duty pending an investigation into a brawl at a Christmas party, a sheriff's spokesman said today.

The party, held Friday at the Quiet Cannon banquet hall in Montebello was for deputies who work at Men's Central Jail. About 11:30 p.m., a fight broke out, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. He said he thought it happened outside the hall.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Nov 11 2010

Coroners office says it was against clear orders

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Department are in disagreement about whether or not protocol was violated, regarding the handling of Mitrice Richardson’s remains.

The coroners office says Sheriff’s deputies may have violated the law and undermined the entire investigation, when they moved the remains found in August without the coroner’s permission.

Oct 26 2010

May be connected to third slaying

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A 53-year-old man was charged today with capital murder in the slayings of a Hawthorne couple during a robbery at their home last week.

John Wesley Ewell was scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon at the Airport Branch Courthouse on two counts each of murder and residential robbery, along with the special circumstance allegation of murder during a robbery.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.