Trials & Sentencings for October, 2025

[Niner]

For the week of Wednesday, Oct. 1st thru Friday, Oct. 3rd:

Thursday, Oct. 2nd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am ET) – MI - Kyrie Karter Muhammad Starks (23 mos.) (June 13, 2022, killed by Babysitter, threw boy against wall, shook him, told mom he ingested soap, Roseville) - *Kimora Launmei Hodges (21/now 24) arrested (6/14/22) & originally charged (6/13/22) & arraigned (6/23/22) with 1st degree child abuse has now been upgraded & arraigned (1/10/23) & charged (1/10/23) to felony murder & 1st degree child abuse. Plead not guilty. $250K Cash or Surety bond. Bod was revoked on 7/31/25. Macomb County's 39th District Court-Roseville/Bound over to Circuit Court 16th District Macomb County
Trial began on 7/22/25. State & defense rested their cases on 7/30/25. Jury received case on 7/31/25 to start deliberations. Deliberated for about 2 hours & found Hodges GUILTY on both charges.
Judge Diane M. Druzinski presiding. Prosecutor Lozen. Defense attorney Mariell R. Lehman.
Case & court info from 6/23/22 thru 7/17/25 & Jury Selection Days 1-2 (7/22-23/25) & Trial Days 1-6 (7/23-31/25) reference post #82 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...gested-soap-13-june-2022-arrest.628360/page-5
7/31/25 Wednesday, Trial Day 6: Jury began deliberations at 9:42am & returned with a verdict at 11:48am. Defendant found GUILTY on Court 1-Child Abuse in the 1st degree & Count 2-Homicide-Felony murder. Sentencing hearing on 10/2/25 @ 8:30am.

*Trial set to begin (all charges) (@ 8:30am CT) - TX - An Amber Alert was put out (10/17/22) after a 911 call for Nicholas Menina, 7, Zayden Menina, 10, Jovion Menina & Javier Menina, both 12, Jarod Menina, 14. Their older brother, 18-year-old Jamerian Robinson was also missing. Also assaulted 16 year old twins, girl & boy (no names given) who triggered the Amber Alert on Monday night 10/17/22. The children were last seen at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 10/18/22 in the 8700 block of Marina Alto Lane in Cypress, a suburb of Houston. Found late on Tuesday, 10/18/22 with relatives near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Twins say they were forced to drink bleach, burned & beaten with curtain rods & kept handcuffed) - *Zaikiya Titilayo Duncan (40/now 43) "mom" arrested (10/18/22 in Baton Rouge, LA), charged (10/18/22) & indicted (12/19/22) & re-indicted (6/27/25) with 2 counts of assault on family/household member & 4 counts of aggravated assault on family member/household. Held without bond in Louisiana awaiting extradition to Texas. Booked into Harris County jail on 10/29/22. Bond: $1M ea. for assault & $1.25M ea. for aggravated assault. Total bond is $4.5M. Harris County #179143101010-3 & 1794143201010-3 (aggravated assault) PLUS! *Charged (10/17/23) with 2 counts of injury child under 15 & Level F3 injury to child. Harris County
Trial set to begin on 10/2/25.
Judge David Daniel Simons presiding. Defense attorneys Thomas B. Dupont II & Jacob Julio Vela.
Court info from 10/18/22 thru 7/24/25 reference post #166 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-stepfather-cypress-18-oct-2022.640464/page-9
8/7/25 Docket updates: Motions to seal motion. Order-Seal Granted. Pretrial on 9/4/25 was reset upon defense request. Next pretrial conference hearing on 9/23/25 @ 8:30am.
9/22/25 Docket update: Defense motion Trns Pr Motion filed. 9/23/25 Docket updates: Order: Trnss Motions, Notices & filings. Judge Daniel Wayne Simons presiding. Attorney Thomas B. Dupont appointed from AAT court. Next jury trial on 10/2/25 @ 8:30am. 9/26/25 Docket update: Attorey fee voucher Ordered in the amount of $750.
*Jova Terrell (27/now 30) aka YGB Joker (rapper name) (BF) – Plea hearing on 4/8/24 plead guilty to a lesser charge-child endangerment & sentenced to 18 months in State jail.

 

[Niner]

Update for a 2018 case!

*Sentencing Hearing – Canada – Davion (5 yrs old) (disappeared July 19, 2018, Bramptom, found unconscious, stable but critical condition in medical induced coma; 7/20 in stable condition; 7/29/18 came out of induced coma, awake, alert & interactive) – *Dyon Courtney Smart (28/now 35) charged (7/19/18) with attempted murder, aggravated assault, failing to comply with recognizance & breach of a probation order. Back in custody.
Was out on bail for a Sept, 2017 charge of attempted murder, aggravated assault & mischief for allegedly stabbing a 44 year old man. Had bail hearing 7/20/18, judge issues that DS be remanded back into custody.
Next hearing 7/25/18.
9/30/25 Update: Smart has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting to murder a five-year-old boy through a “barbarous” & “relentless” beating as revenge for the child’s mother rejecting him. Furious that his ex-girlfriend rebuffed his advances & no longer wanted him living in her basement, Dyon Smart woke her young son in the middle of the night on July 19, 2018, preying on the child’s trust for a man he once saw as his “stepdad.” Although convicted in 2022, Smart’s sentencing was delayed several years as defence counsel was unavailable due to his schedule & health leave, and there was a need to deal with issues raised by the Crown’s request for a psychiatric assessment, for which Smart refused to be interviewed. The Crown presented the court with several sentencing options, chiefly that Smart be declared a dangerous offender & receive an indeterminate prison sentence; if the court disagreed, then the Crown asked for a life sentence. The defence asked for a 16- to 18-year sentence; with credit for time served in custody since his arrest & for harsh jail conditions, the defence argued that Smart would have had just over four years left to serve. Stribopoulos declined to declare Smart a dangerous offender. While noting the attack involved “extreme brutality,” he deferred to Klassen’s opinion that nothing about the circumstances of the incident would suggest that Smart would be unmanageable in the future. But in handing down the life sentence, he noted that Smart’s chance at parole is nonetheless “extraordinarily unlikely” until he can show the parole board that he has completed a “considerable amount of programming” to address his violent behaviour. Smart will have no guarantee of parole for the rest of his life; a dangerous offender designation would not have eliminated the possibility of parole.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, Oct. 2nd:
*Trial Continues (Day 3)-VERDICT REACHED! (@ 9am CT) - MO - *Daniel Vasquez (32) No. Kansas City Police officer shot & killed, July 19, 2022. *Joshua Tyler Rocha (24/now 28) arrested & charged (7/20/22), indicted (8/31/22) & arraigned (9/1/22) with 1st degree murder & armed criminal action. Plead not guilty. $2M bond cash/or Surety. DA will seek the DP (3/21/23). Clay County
MO - *Joshua Tyler Rocha (25/now 26) indicted & charged (9/13/24) & arraigned (9/13/24) with 5 felony charges of possession of child . Plead not guilty. Bond $500K.
Jury selection began on 9/15/25 & ended 9/25/245. Jurors are from St. Charles County, but the trial will still take place in Clay County.
Trial began on 9/29/25 & State rested their case on 10/1/25 & defense also rested their case on 10/1/25.
Jury Deliberations began on 10/2/25 & deliberated for 2 hours – with a verdict of GUILTY of 1st degree murder.
Sentencing phase began on 10/3/25.
Judge Clay David Paul Chamberlain presiding. Prosecutors Robert Lee Sanders, Spencer Curtis & Savina Antoinette Balano & defense attorney Stephen Paul Reynolds & Delaney Catlettstout.
Case & court info from 7/20/22 thru 9/22/25 & Trial Days 1-2 (9/29-9/30/25) & thru 10/1/25 reference post #112 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...led-daniel-vasquez-july-19-2022.630647/page-6
10/2/25 Thursday, Trial Day 3: Closing arguments by Prosecutors Robert Sanders & Spencer Curtis & Defense attorney Stephen Reynolds.
Jury was sent out to deliberate. Came back 2 hours later & a GUILTY verdict for Rocha convicted of first-degree murder.
The case now moves to the sentencing phase. Prosecutors previously announced their intent to seek the death penalty against Rocha. Jurors will review sentencing as part of their work & provide their recommendation to the circuit court judge, who will make their final ruling at a later date. Sentencing phase hearing continues on Friday, 10/3/25.

 

[Niner]

Happening today:

Saturday, October 4th:
*Trial Continues (Day 5)/Sentencing Phase (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) - MO - *Daniel Vasquez (32) No. Kansas City Police officer shot & killed, July 19, 2022. *Joshua Tyler Rocha (24/now 28) arrested & charged (7/20/22), indicted (8/31/22) & arraigned (9/1/22) with 1st degree murder & armed criminal action. Plead not guilty. $2M bond cash/or Surety. DA will seek the DP (3/21/23). Clay County
MO - *Joshua Tyler Rocha (25/now 26) indicted & charged (9/13/24) & arraigned (9/13/24) with 5 felony charges of possession of child . Plead not guilty. Bond $500K.
Jury selection began on 9/15/25 & ended 9/25/245. Jury: 7 women & 5 men. Jurors are from St. Charles County, but the trial will still take place in Clay County.
Trial began on 9/29/25 & State rested their case on 10/1/25 & defense also rested their case on 10/1/25.
Jury Deliberations began on 10/2/25 & deliberated for 2 hours – with a verdict of GUILTY of 1st degree murder.
Sentencing phase began on 10/2/25.
Judge Clay David Paul Chamberlain presiding. Prosecutors Robert Lee Sanders, Spencer Curtis & Savina Antoinette Balano & defense attorney Stephen Paul Reynolds & Delaney Catlettstout.
Case & court info from 7/20/22 thru 9/22/25 & Trial Days 1-4 (9/29-10/3/25) & Penalty Phase Days 1-2 (10/2-10/3/25) reference post #119 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...led-daniel-vasquez-july-19-2022.630647/page-6
10/4/25 Friday, Trial Day 5/Sentencing Phase (Day 3): No info yet. Trial continues on Monday, 10/6/25. ??

For the week of Monday, October 6th thru Friday, October 10th:

Monday, October 6th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 2) (@ 8:30am PT) – CA- Maurice Taylor, Jr. (12) & Maliaka Taylor (13) (killed on Nov. 29, 2020, found on Dec. 4, 2020, Lancaster, found decapitated) – *Maurice Jewel Taylor, Sr. (34/now 38) “father” arrested (12/4/20), charged (12/8/20) & arraigned (12/21/20) & re-arraigned (11/10/21) & re-arraigned (4/26/22) with 2 counts of felony murder & 2 counts child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death (8 & 9 yr. old boys were starved for several days). Plead not guilty. $4.2M Bond.
*Natalie Sumiko Brothwell (44/now 48) “mom” charged (9/27/21) & arrested (9/28/21) & extradited to CA (10/14/21) & arraigned (11/10/21) & re-arraigned (4/26/22) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder & 2 counts of child endangerment (8 & 9 yr. old boys). Plead not guilty. $2M bond. Bond raised (10/14/21) to $4.2M. LA County
Jury selection began on 9/30/25 & 10/6/25.
Trial set to begin on 10/13/25.
Judge Michael D Antonovich presiding. Deputy DAs Kirsten A. Brown & Alexander F. Lara. Taylor's attorney Christopher Chaney & Brothwell's attorney Hung Phi Du.
Court info from 12/4/20 & 9/27/21 thru 8/25/25 reference post #451 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ster-dec-2020-parents-arrested.552703/page-23
9/30/25 Tuesday, Jury selection Day 1: Taylor: Held & continued. Brothwell: Held. No other info available. Jury selection continues on Monday, 10/6/25.

*Trial set to begin (@ 9:30am ET) – FL – Kameela Russell (41) (May 15, 2019, last seen in driveway of Aunt’s house, found May 25, 2019 in Snake Creek canal, City of Miami Gardens) - *Ernest Joseph Roberts (39/now 46) arrested (6/14/19), charged (6/13/19), indicted (7/17/19) & arraigned (7/18/19) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. (5/18/20: bond denied due to COVID). DP Case. DA has waived the DP. Miami-Dade
Trial was set to begin on 8/11/25 was continued on 10/6/25.
Judge Alberto Milian presiding. Prosecutor Arvind Singh & Defense attorney Roderick Vereen.
Court info from 10/13/20 thru 5/19/25 reference post #228 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ami-gardens-15-may-2019-arrest.445549/page-11
7//14/25 Docket updates: [1419-1425] E-subpoenas: Jodelin Antenor, Millard Delancy, Cynthis Alexand, Shenekee Slaughter, Hector Infante, Nancy Torres & Rupert Butcher for trial on 8/11/25.
8/11/25 Docket update: [1427] Motion for continuance of trial filed. Oral hearing set on 8/11/25 @ 11:30am. Motion for trial-granted with stipulation. [1428] Trial has now been scheduled to begin on 10/6/25 @ 9:30am.
9/8/25 Docket updates: [1429 thru 1482] E-Subpoenas: Tyrone White, Michael Mallon, Richard Johnson, Karina Pimental, Victor Morillo, Wanda Jackson, Dewayne Piper, Roberto Robles, Charistopher Pacheco, Jeffrey Spokony, Darryl Owens, Eamon Curran, Glenn Sellan, Michael Perez, Dexter McLaurin, Luis Gonzalez, Angel Seary, Kevin Warren, Henry Schneider, Christopher Shuman, Michael Lissade, Pedro Valdes, Shirely Jones-Gray, Dennis Lavandera, Joseph Marinella, Stephen Parr, Diana Hedrick, Sean Horne, Joseph Schaefer, Jose Rodriguez, Teresa Windish, Michael Ruiz, Edgar Castelli, Henry Payoute, Juan Gonzalez, John Medina, Patrick Paolella, Kimberly Barfield, Roger Franklin, Jeremy McIntyre, Shane Basdeo, Timony Turner, Amariliss Owens, Terry Goldston, Christopher Williams, Roddy Eugene, Obsner Germinal, Jodelin Antenor, Willard Delancy, Cynthia Alexander, Shenekee Slaughter, Hector Infante, Nancy Torres & Rupert Butcher.
9/9/25 Docket update: [1483] Trial prosecutor assigned: Arvind Singh. [1484] Intake unit assigned: Felony Division 18.


Tuesday, October 7th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am ADT) - AZ - 4 children (2, 3, 4 & 7) left in hot car [temps outside 104F, inside car 125F when rescued] on July 24, 2025 in Phoenix. *Ascencio Largo (38) "father" arrested & charged (7/24/25) with 4 counts of child abuse intent. Plead GUILTY on 9/8/25 for a plea agreement. Maricopa County
Defense attorney Josh M. Coonor.
Case & Court info from 7/24/25 thru 8/5/25 reference post #16 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/az-d...-at-adult-bookstore-phoenix-july-2025.749580/
8/19/25 Docket update: Bond. 9/8/25 Docket update: Information. Release Order secured appearance Bond. Next preliminary hearing on 9/10/25 @ 8:30am. Sentencing hearing on 10/7/25 @ 8:30am.
9/10/25 Update: The abuse of child w/intent counts were dismissed due to a plea agreement reached or approved on 9/8/25 it would appear. He pled guilty to lesser charges. Sentencing hearing on 10/7/25 @ 8:30am.

*Jury Selection set to begin (all charges) (@ 9am CT) - TX - An Amber Alert was put out (10/17/22) after a 911 call for Nicholas Menina, 7, Zayden Menina, 10, Jovion Menina & Javier Menina, both 12, Jarod Menina, 14. Their older brother, 18-year-old Jamerian Robinson was also missing. Also assaulted 16 year old twins, girl & boy (no names given) who triggered the Amber Alert on Monday night 10/17/22. The children were last seen at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 10/18/22 in the 8700 block of Marina Alto Lane in Cypress, a suburb of Houston. Found late on Tuesday, 10/18/22 with relatives near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Twins say they were forced to drink bleach, burned & beaten with curtain rods & kept handcuffed) - *Zaikiya Titilayo Duncan (40/now 43) "mom" arrested (10/18/22 in Baton Rouge, LA), charged (10/18/22) & indicted (12/19/22) & re-indicted (6/27/25) with 2 counts of assault on family/household member & 4 counts of aggravated assault on family member/household. Held without bond in Louisiana awaiting extradition to Texas. Booked into Harris County jail on 10/29/22. Bond: $1M ea. for assault & $1.25M ea. for aggravated assault. Total bond is $4.5M. Harris County
*Charged (10/17/23) with 2 counts of injury child under 15 & Level F3 injury to child. Harris County
Trial set to begin on 10/7/25 with jury selection.
Judge David Daniel Simons presiding. Defense attorneys Thomas B. Dupont II & Jacob Julio Vela.
Court info from 10/18/22 thru 9/30/25 reference post #168 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-stepfather-cypress-18-oct-2022.640464/page-9
9/30/25 Docket updates: Order-Cert Order RG Gvrn RC Broadcasting. Order: Attorney Fee voucher for $750.
10/2/25 Docket updates: Order-Granted. State's Motion in Limine. Order-Granted. Amend indictment. Order-Granted. Defense's Motion in Limine. Order-Granted. Recording broadcast. Motions: Defense's Motion in Limine. Amend indictment. State's Motion in Limine. Motions: Elect as to punishment. Motions: Community supervision. Jury selection reset on 10/7/25 @ 9am.
*Jova Terrell (27/now 30) aka YGB Joker (rapper name) (BF) – Plea hearing on 4/8/24 plead guilty to a lesser charge-child endangerment & sentenced to 18 months in State jail.

Thursday, October 9th:
*Plea/Sentencing Hearing (@ 3pm ET) - WI - 2 children (ages 2 & 4) were found naked in a completely wild, unkept state at a Waukesha apartment that was a complete & total mess on May 20, 2025. *Jessica Rae Borkert (31) "mom" arrested & charged (6/5/25) & arraigned (6/13/25) with 2 counts of abandonment of a child. Plead not guilty. Bond set at $20K, Cash at $2,500. Signature bond denied on 7/16/25. Bond set at $250 cash (on 9/10/25). Waukesha County
Judge Michael J. Aprahamian presiding. Prosecuting attorney Zachary A. Wittchow & DAs Viien Morris, Randy P. Sitzberger, Mary Caitlin Brejcha & attorney Kevin J. Galezewski. Defense attorney Cassandra A. Miller.
Case & court info from 5/20/25 thru 8/22/25 reference post #15 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/wi-j...hild-abandonment-waukesha-5-june-2025.745911/
8/25/25 Update: Hearing held with Judge Michael J. presiding. Defendant Borkert in court, in custody Waukesha County Jail. Attorney Cassandra A. Miller in court for Borkert. Prosecuting attorney Angelena Gutierrez in court for the State of Wisconsin. Victim rights have been complied with by the Waukesha County District Attorneys Office. The Court addresses the Motion to Withdraw. Defense Counsel informs the Court of a conflict of interest. The Court grants the Motion & sets the matter out. Hearing scheduled on 9/10/25 @ 8:30am.
8/26/25 Docket update: Order on Motion to Withdraw as Counsel signed by Judge Michael J. Aprahamian on 8/26/25. 8/27/25 Docket update: Pubic defender Order appointing counsel attorney Adam Galaviz. 8/28/25 Docket update: Defendant's demand for discovery & inspection.
9/3/25 Docket updates: Plea questionnaire, waiver of rights with Elements of criminal offenses to which plea is being entered. Letters/correspondence dated 9/3/25, filed by Attorney Adam Galaviz requesting to convert the status hearing scheduled for 9/10/25 to a plea/sentencing hearing. 9/5/25 Docket update: Motion for modification of bond filed by Adam Galaviz. Notice of bail/bond hearing on 9/10/25 @ 8:30am.
9/10/25 Update: Bond hearing with Judge Michael J. Aprahamian presiding. Cash bond conditions modified for Borkert. On September 10, 2025 the Court lowers cash bond to $250 & will require GPS monitoring: Defendant to comply with I.D. Processing. Defendant to have no contact with victim A-B/co defendant listed in the Criminal Complaint/Victim Identification Key. Defendant is not to share, reproduce or distribute any personal and/or identifying information about the crime victim(s), except to their attorney. Defendant to report/comply with Wisconsin Community Services Pretrial Supervision Program under Level 4 supervision. The defendant is ordered to comply with drug testing through WCS. Drug testing frequency pursuant to Pretrial Supervision Program protocols. Defendant to pay costs associated with drug testing. The Defendant to report to WCS within one (1) business day of being released. Defendant Borkert in court, in custody Waukesha County Jail. Attorney Adam Galaviz in court for Borkert. Prosecuting attorney Kevin J. Galezewski in court for the State of Wisconsin. Victim rights have been complied with by the Waukesha County District Attorneys Office. The Court schedules a Plea and Sentencing. The Court addresses the Motion to Modify Bond. The Defense presents arguments in favor of the Motion. The State objects to the Motion for reasons stated on the record. The Defense presents further statements. The Court will lower cash bond to $250 and requires GPS monitoring. Plea/sentencing hearing scheduled for 10/9/25 @ 3pm.
*James Vernon Domoracki (36/now 37) “father” charged (5/20/25 with 2 counts of child abandonment. Bond set at $35K. And charged with narcotic drugs, possession of cocaine, 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia & bail jumping [misdemeanor]. Next preliminary hearing on 10/16/25 for drug possession. No movement on child abandonment charges as of 9/13/25.