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A Journal Sentinel investigation into the violent life of Markus Evans reveals a series of "miscalculations by law enforcement and poor communication between authorities." Evans' violent background began as early as kindergarten, when he stabbed a teacher with a pencil. He was arrested twice before the age of 10 and shot a cousin in the back at the age of 15. When he was 17, he shot and killed a 17-year-old girl. Reporter John Diedrich finds the juvenile system is "ill equipped" to deal with young, violent offenders who show little interest in rehabilitating their behavior, and he explains how Evans fell through the cracks.
This investigation by The Gazette reveals that more than 18 percent of students graduating from the "University of Iowa’s prestigious Tippie College of Business" have "at least one non-traffic criminal conviction." The percentage of convictions possessed by students of the Business College is 6 percent higher than any other University of Iowa undergraduate. Some of the most common convictions are public intoxication, alcohol possession by a minor, drunken driving and theft. Recruitment consultants warn that a tarnished record could negatively impact the chances of students getting a job after graduation.
In this investigation by the Duluth News Tribune, reporters Brandon Stahl and Mark Stodghill revealed that one of the "highest-paid physicians at St. Luke's," neurosurgeon Stefan Konasiewicz, had a lengthy track record of complaints and malpractice suits. Konasiewicz cut and failed to repair a young woman's aorta during a spinal surgery that resulted in her bleeding to death. The surgeon also mishandled the treatment of an infection that resulted from another spinal surgery. The infection killed the recently retired woman who had plans to travel with her husband. Despite having "nine malpractice suits and a sanction from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice for “unethical and unprofessional conduct,"" Konasiewicz continued working for St. Luke's for nearly a decade.
A Palm Beach Post investigation finds that kids who have been placed in state juvenile facilities have been receiving heavy doses of antipsychotic drugs, which are meant to have a tranquilizing effect on the brain. The pills were passed out to children in the facilities "for reasons that never were approved by federal regulators." The drugs can have harmful side effects in young people, including thoughts of suicide. The Department of Juvenile Justice does not keep track of the prescriptions written for the children, but in response to this article, has imposed a review of the use of the potentially harmful medications. The investigation also revealed that several top doctors who were prescribing the medication had also received "speaker fees or gifts" from the companies that manufactured the antipsychotic drugs.
"A Palm Beach Post investigation found that Florida is doling out heavy doses of antipsychotic drugs to kids locked up in state juvenile jails. The drugs, which can cause suicidal thoughts and other dangerous side effects, are being prescribed by contracted doctors who, in some cases, have taken tens of thousands of dollars in speaker fees and other payments from companies that make antipsychotic medications."
Christina Boomer and Mark LaMet at KNXV-TV in Phoenix discovered more than 400 sex crimes cases, many involving young children, were ignored by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Detectives never interviewed victims, witnesses or potential suspects, despite having solid leads in most cases. In the City of El Mirage, AZ, 43 of 51 sex crimes cases handled by the MCSO SVU had not been worked at all or had minimal follow up conducted. When El Mirage Police went back to review the cases, most of the victims had moved and could not be reached. One day after the initial investigation aired, the MCSO admitted the problem was even bigger, having to reopen more than 500 cases county-wide. A follow up story revealed the Sergeant in charge of MCSO SVU cleared cases, even though no work had actually been done.
Three Milwaukee police officers disciplined by the department after women accused them of on-duty sexual misconduct continue to wear the badge, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Gina Barton found. One of the officers served a 60-day suspension and has since been promoted to sergeant. The other two were fired but reinstated after appealing to the civilian Fire and Police Commission, which has the authority to conduct its own disciplinary investigations and to overturn punishments imposed by the chief. Recently fired officer Ladmarald Cates – accused of raping a woman after he responded to her 911 call in July - hopes to use the same appeals process to get his job back. Like the other three, he is accused of using his police authority to prey on vulnerable women. The complaints against the other three date from 1990 to 2004. In one case, a woman said an officer agreed not to arrest her if she performed a sex act. The other two officers were accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with women in their homes. In all three cases, internal affairs investigators concluded the officers deserved discipline.
As part of a continuing investigation into problems with guardians in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported how a woman who lost her law license for negligence and dishonesty found a new career in the courthouse as a guardian and conservator for vulnerable adults. Now the woman is charged with stealing $68,000 for 10 of her clients, raising new questions about how the state oversees court-appointed caretakers. The mandatory background check for guardians and conservators did not include checking disciplinary action by licensing boards, and judges and social workers admit that they failed to communicate about the well-documented problems with this guardian.
A report by the Sacramento Bee shows revealed that "four pilots who are under criminal investigation for receiving possibly illegal payments of public funds have been appointed to key leadership posts in the California National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing based in Fresno. Two former commanders, also targeted in the probe, previously were relieved of their command." The investigation is related to a federal audit conducted last year that found routine overpayment of several pilots.
In this three-part series, Brandon Stahl of the Duluth News Tribune reports on a rape case that remains unsolved. In a classic case of "he said, she said," a 34-year-old woman accused a 17-year-old male of coming into her home and raping her while holding a gun to her throat. Andrew Lawrence, the accused, maintains his innocence and says he should have never been arrested. After Lawrence was released on bail, prosecutors dismissed the charges against him. Stahl investigates the holes in the investigation and the time line of events as told by the accused, the accuser, the police and as reported by the Duluth News Tribune.
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