Recent Posts in Murder/Manslaughter Category

Recently, police say that they have arrested 22 year old Darius Brown.  After his arrest, Brown was charged with one count of murder and four counts of malicious wounding in the death of a 17 month old.

Police say that the 17 month old boy was being babysat by Darius, who was a friend of the child's mother.  Police received a call about an unresponsive child and began to investigate.

When they arrived at the scene, they found the baby in a bedroom with obvious signs of trauma.  He was pronounced dead at the scene and authorities say the mother was at work when the death occurred.  Now, the case is being investigated by Child Protective Services as well as the Newport News Police Department's Special Victim's Unit.

Have you been charged with a felony, such as murder?  Contact us to discuss your case with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer.

Last month, an attempted rape in a pool restroom was reported to law enforcement.  Now, police say that they have made an arrest.

This month, police arrested 22 year old Fernandito Carpio in an attempted homicide.  Police say that while a female victim was entering her apartment, Carpio approached her.  He then sexually battered her before cutting her throat.  The 24 year old victim was able to escape from the back entrance of her residence and is currently recovering from her injuries.

Following the incident, police canvassed the area looking for the suspect.  Through an anonymous tip, they were able to bring the suspect into custody.

After they arrested Carpio, they noticed similarities between the recent attack and the attack that took place last month.  They showed a picture of Carpio to the first victims and she made a positive ID.  The second victim also identified Carpio as the man that had attacked her.

The Rivas Law Firm represents those who have been charged with serious felonies in Orlando.  If you have been charged with a felony, contact Rivas Law Firm and speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney today!

In Orlando, police say that they found a married couple dead inside of their Florida home.  Officers believe that the deaths were a murder-suicide.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, 52 year old Jose Duran shot his wife, 47 year old Aida Duran.  After killing his wife, he then turned the gun on himself.  Police found the bodies after the couple's adult son asked officers to check on his parents.

At this time, the sheriff's office is not saying what may have led to the murder and suicide.  However, they have revealed that there is no documented history of domestic violence.

Last week, the couple celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary. 

If you have been charged with a felony offense, such as murder, it is imperative that you seek help from an Orlando criminal defense lawyer who can protect your rights.  Contact Rivas Law Firm to discuss your charges with a legal professional.

In Orlando, a 17 year old was arrested by police after he allegedly stabbed a local librarian.  It is reported that the librarian had interrupted the boy while he was trying to rob the facility, which was closed for Independence Day weekend.

According to police, the boy fled into nearby woods and stayed there until he could no longer bear the bugs.  After he emerged from the woods, a store employee called 911 and police found the boy at a local restaurant.

Officers say that the librarian had stopped at the facility while it was closed to empty the book drop.  The boy then stabbed her in the throat, face and chest with a dull knife.  Thankfully, she survived despite her wounds.

The boy is now facing charges for attempted first-degree murder, occupied burglary, grand theft and possession of burglary tools.  He will be turning 18 next month.

If you would like to speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney about your charges, contact Rivas Law Firm to set up an initial case evaluation.

Florida State prosecutors announced that they will seek the death penalty in the case of three men accused of kidnapping and murdering Vincent Binder, a Florida State University student. A notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Peter Hughes, Kentrell Johnson, and Quentin Truehill was filed by Seventh Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

Binder disappeared on his walk home from a friend's house in Tallahassee on April 2. It was a month later before his body was found off I-95 near St. Augustine. The three men accused of Binder's murder were initially arrested in Miami on the charge of kidnapping Binder. Police then found receipts in the stolen truck the men were driving that showed the men had used Binder's debit card along the road. After Binder's body was found, murder charges were laid against all three.

If you have been charged with a federal crime, such as kidnapping, an Orlando criminal defense lawyer from the Rivas Law Firm can help.  Contact us now!

John Harper, 46, was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter after he set a man on fire as a result of a dispute over money. Harper is a habitual felony offender, and as such he faces up to ten years in prison.

Last September, Harper and Fultz became involved in a dispute over money. Fultz was hit in the head and face and knocked to the ground by Harper before Fultz agreed to take Harper to the homeless camp at which Fultz lived to give Harper the money he owed him. It was at the homeless camp that Harper was seen carrying a fuel can while Fultz was seen running with his clothes on fire. Fultz suffered first, second, and third degree burns over thirty percent of his body. Harper is set to be sentenced on July 13, assistant State Attorney Christopher Kelly reported.

A serious crime requires a serious defense. Get in touch with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer today if you have been charged with a serious offense such as manslaughter.  Contact the Rivas Law Firm now!

Authorities in the Bahamas have charged two tourists from Florida with the murder of a Jamaican man. The man who was killed, Clive Tomlinson was fatally shot early on Wednesday in Bimini. Authorities believe that Tomlinson was killed as part of a drug deal gone wrong.

The two men charged with the murder are 27-year-old Daniel Andres Ayo and 39-year-old Luis Mendez. A third man, 43-year-old Florida man Jorge Luis Paez was also allegedly a part of the incident, but was not charged in the murder. Paez was, however, charged with drug possession and weapons charges. Police say that the three men were carrying 1.6 ounces of marijuana at the time of the incident with the intent to sell.

None of the men entered a plea during their initial hearing, and their attorneys declined to comment.

If you have been charged with a serious criminal offense, you are entitled to a lawyer who will protect your rights. Contact the Rivas Law Group to consult with an Orlando criminal defense lawyer to discuss your options if you have been charged with a crime, such as murder.

Josh Hunter, a former high school teacher and football coach is currently on trial for a car accident which occurred last year that resulted in the death of Hunter's friend and colleague, Doug Garrity.

Hunter was believed to be driving when his F-150 flipped on I-75 after Hunter lost control of the car, but there is currently no hard evidence to prove that Hunter was the driver. Hunter was driving under the influence at the time of the accident with a blood alcohol level of .211. His older brother, who is currently in jail, was also in the car, but refuses to testify. Another man was in the car as well, but insists that he was too incapacitated to remember who had been driving. The group had left a bowling alley and barbeque together.

Without hard evidence that Hunter was driving, it is unlikely that he will be convicted.

If you have been charged with a serious offense such as DUI, contact an Orlando criminal defense attorney who can help get you through this difficult time.

Although this incident occurred several years ago, it’s still an important reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving.

A drunken driver was sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter for the death of a baby who was prematurely delivered after an auto accident. This case was one of the first to test whether or not a person could be held liable for harming an unborn fetus.

Fifty-year-old Frank Flores Cuellar sentenced to prison for the death of Krystal Zuniga, the unborn fetus who was delivered shortly after the traumatic accident. It was determined that Cuellar’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit when he drove his truck into Jeannie Coronado’s car as she was returning from a trip to the grocery store.

Coronado was 7 ½ months pregnant and gave birth to Krystal by emergency cesarean section. The baby weighed only four pounds, suffered extensive brain damage, and died within two days. Cuellar apologized after the sentence was delivered by the jury saying, “I didn’t intend for any of this to happen.”

As of yesterday, 49-year-old Texas resident Jose Fernando Corona is under suspicion for the murder of his wife, 44-year-old Maria Corona, a mother of six children. She was found decapitated and died of wounds inflicted by a chainsaw, the local medical examiner stated. A warrant has been issued for Jose Corona’s arrest in connection with the incident. The Dallas Morning news reported that a mail carrier discovered Maria's body near her home.

According to Lewisville police Captain Kevin Deaver, the couple had been having marital problems and it’s believed that Jose fled the scene in a gold Ford Ranger pick up truck. A chainsaw was found still running on the tailgate of a truck in the home’s driveway. It was noted that Corona had no previous criminal record.