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This Week in Crime: April 20 - 26, 2024

This Week in Crime: April 20 - 26, 2024

Top Stories of the Week

$138.7 Million Settlement Reached in FBI Mishandling of Larry Nassar Sexual Assault Allegations

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Justice Department has announced a $138.7 million settlement with over 100 individuals who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar, the former sports doctor. This settlement covers a critical time gap in 2015 and 2016 when the FBI’s inaction allowed Nassar to continue preying on victims before his eventual arrest.

Combined with previous settlements, a total of $1 billion has now been set aside by various organizations to compensate hundreds of women who were victims of Nassar’s sexual assaults, which he perpetrated under the guise of medical treatment for sports injuries. Nassar, who worked at Michigan State University and served as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics, has been convicted for assaulting numerous female athletes, including Olympic gymnasts.

Harvey Weinstein’s Manhattan Conviction Overturned, New Trial Possible

Harvey Weinstein

New York, NY - The highest court in New York has overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on sex crimes charges in Manhattan. The decision has raised numerous questions about Weinstein’s future, including the possibility of a new trial and the impact on his subsequent conviction in California.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, has expressed its intention to retry the case, stating its commitment to survivors of sexual assault. The original conviction, handed down by a jury in February 2020, found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann in 2013. However, the appellate court’s ruling to overturn the conviction was based on the admission of excessive evidence regarding alleged “prior bad acts” and the unfair dissuasion of Weinstein from testifying.

Australian Police Arrest Seven Teenagers in Anti-Terror Raids Following Stabbing of Assyrian Bishop

Syndey, Australia - In a series of anti-terror raids, Australian police have arrested seven teenagers in connection with the stabbing of an Assyrian Orthodox bishop. More than 400 officers were involved in the operation, executing 13 search warrants at various properties. The suspects, considered an immediate threat, were apprehended as authorities feared they may be planning further attacks, posing an “unacceptable risk” to the public.

The detainees, aged between 15 and 17, are believed to be part of a network that includes a 16-year-old member allegedly involved in the recent attack on the bishop during a live-streamed sermon at a church in western Sydney on April 15. Five additional teenagers are being questioned by a joint counterterrorism team, comprising federal and state police, ASIO, and the New South Wales Crime Commission.

In Other Crime News

Cameron Parish, Louisiana - NOAA Offers $20,000 Reward for Information on Dolphin Found Shot to Death on Louisiana Beach. Read More.
Houston, Texas- Police Dog Rescues Puppy Tied to Box Spring During Robbery Chase. Read More.
Turks and Caicos - Oklahoma Man Faces Up to 12 Years in Prison for Ammunition in Carry-On Bag. Read More.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Top Soft Drinks Tycoon Sentenced to Eight Years in $40m Fraud Case Read More.
Baltimore, Maryland - Athletic Director Arrested for Creating Fake Racist Conversation at Pikesville High School. Watch Video.

Crime History

April 18, 1943 - Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?

Four boys were hunting for birds’ eggs on April 18, 1943, in Hagley Woods in Worcestershire, England, when they found something much more disturbing. As one of the boys scaled a large wych elm tree, he glanced down and saw a skull. Upon further investigation, he discovered it was a human skull. As the boys trespassed on the property, they quickly fled without telling anyone what they’d seen. However, later that night, one group member told his parents, who notified the police.

In 1944, someone wrote the words “Who put Bella down the Wych Elm – Hagley Wood” on a wall on Upper Dean Street in Birmingham. A similar message, “Who put Bella in the Wych Elm” began appearing on the Hagley Obelisk in the 1970s. However, none of the graffiti led investigators to discover the woman’s identity.