Crime Wire Investigates! August 30
August 27, 2011 by Dennis Griffin
Filed under Updates
Together we can make a difference.
Segment One: The Victor Bach Case
Victor Bach, 71, was foundbeaten to death at his Western Plumbing and Heating business on Treat Avenue San Francisco
On December 22, 2004, Victor’s widow, KathleenBach, was arrested on fraud and embezzlement charges. However, the case didn’tgo to trial until nearly four years later, with testimony finally beginning onOctober 27, 2008. While awaiting court action the Bach family filed a civilwrongful death suit against Kathleen on October 28, 2005, alleging that she wasresponsible for her husband’s death.
On November 14 Kathleen was foundguilty on 13 counts in the $2 million fraud. On June 30, 2008, after a seriesof postponements, the widow Bach was sentenced to nine years and eight monthsin prison. Although it was less than the prosecutor and Victor’s family wanted,it was a victory. In spite of a $127,000 reward, no arrests have been made inregard to Victor’s murder.
Victor’s sister, Sandra Hayes,and Gene Cervantes of Citizens Against Homicide, will update this troublingcase.
Segment Two: The Joseph Martinez Case
OnSeptember 10, 2010, 20-year-old Joseph Martinez was shot to death just insidethe front door of his home in Richmond , California
At around 4 p.m. that day,Joseph’s mother, Barb Myers, saw her son across the street from their home,where his car was parked. He was talking with a black male, age 17 to 20, whowas sitting on a bicycle. Barb felt that Joseph seemed uncomfortable and had astrained expression on his face. When he returned inside the house she askedhim about it. He said only that he knew the other young man. When Barb and hersister left to go to dinner a few minutes later, the sister noticed the samekid sitting on his bike down the street staring at the Myers’ home.
Upon arriving back at the houseat 6 p.m., Barb and her sister found the street blocked off with crime scenetape. Police were everywhere, including on Barb’s porch. When she asked theofficers what was going on she was told that her son had been shot to death.
So far, the $10,000 reward beingoffered has failed to lead to an arrest and Joseph’s killer remains at large.
Barb Myers and Gene Cervantes willdiscuss the case with the Crime Wire Team.
Dennis Griffin Presents! The Smurfs, The Inside Story!
August 24, 2011 by Dennis Griffin
Filed under Updates
Wednesday, August 24, at 9 pm eastern, 6 pm Pacific at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/crimewire.
If you were a child growing up in America in the 1980s, there is a good chance you spent some of your idle time watching the Smurfs on television. And if you were a parent or grandparent in that era, you may have been thankful that the adorable little characters occupied the kids for a while so you could take care of other duties or just relax.
But was there a hidden agenda behind the Smurfs? Were the kids actually being brainwashed while the adults were sipping coffee, doing the laundry or washing the car?
Dennis Griffin will ask that question of a person with intimate knowledge of what the Smurfs were really all about. Las Vegas-based author Rena Winters penned Smurfs: The Inside Story Of The Little Blue Characters. She was a key executive at the company that created the Smurfs for TV and movies.
Rena will tell us whether the Smurfs were providing innocent entertainment, or teaching America's children the benefits of communism.
Crime Wire Welcomes Mother of Missing Billy Smolinski, Janice Smolinski
August 21, 2011 by Dennis Griffin
Filed under Updates
Crime Wire Investigates!
Tuesday, August 23, 9pm ET
Listen LIVE: http://blogtalkradio.com/crimewire
Please visit our Crime Wire Website.
Together we can make a difference.
MISSING BILLY SMOLINSKI AND "BILLY'S LAW"
In August 2004, Billy Smolinski, a 31 year old resident of Waterbury, CT went missing. His family had difficulty in getting the attention of the Waterbury Police to investigate Billy’s mysterious disappearance. Waterbury Police told the family they had to wait 3 days to file a missing person report. By all indications, Billy was murdered and his body buried. Billy’s family agonized over the delayed police response and began lobbying to change police procedures associated with missing person cases. Recently, the State of Connecticut passed Missing Person Legislation that will remedy the Smolinski family’s experience and alter police procedures and training regarding missing persons. Billy’s Law goes into effect this fall. Billy’s mother, Janice Smolinski, joins the Crime Wire Team to share her son’s story and talk about her legislative efforts.
Second Segment TULSA POLICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION
Earlier this month, the nation focused its attention on Tulsa, Oklahoma where the Tulsa Police Department engaged in a precedent setting 6 day standoff with a man perched several hundred feet atop a communications tower. The man has a history of mental illness, and went without food or water until the ordeal was resolved with the assistance of a retired Tulsa Police Department crisis negotiator, Tyrone Lynn. Crime Wire will examine the challenges police face on a daily basis when dealing with crisis and conflict situations such as the recent episode in Tulsa. Crisis Intervention and Conflict Resolution are critical police tools that are often overlooked and underappreciated by the general public. Vito Colucci and Tom Shamshak will share their experience and perspective on this interesting component of police work.
Second Segment TULSA POLICE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION
Earlier this month, the nation focused its attention on Tulsa, Oklahoma where the Tulsa Police Department engaged in a precedent setting 6 day standoff with a man perched several hundred feet atop a communications tower. The man has a history of mental illness, and went without food or water until the ordeal was resolved with the assistance of a retired Tulsa Police Department crisis negotiator, Tyrone Lynn. Crime Wire will examine the challenges police face on a daily basis when dealing with crisis and conflict situations such as the recent episode in Tulsa. Crisis Intervention and Conflict Resolution are critical police tools that are often overlooked and underappreciated by the general public. Vito Colucci and Tom Shamshak will share their experience and perspective on this interesting component of police work.
