A Connecticut judge has sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, to die today for the brutal murder of a mother and her two daughters during a home invasion in 2007. “This is a terrible sentence, but one you have written for yourself,” Judge Jon Blue told Komisarjevsky in New Haven Superior Court. “Your crime was one of unimaginable horror and sadness,” the judge said. “Your fate is now in the hands of others. May God have mercy on your soul.”

Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was raped and died of strangulation. Her daughters died of smoke inhalation as the home was set afire. Hawke-Petit’s husband, Dr. William Petit Jr., was tied up and beaten, but escaped before their home went up in flames. “July 23, 2007, was my own personal holocaust,” Petit Jr. said. “Evil does live among us.”

Komisarjevsky targeted Hawke-Petit and her younger daughter at a grocery store and later went with Hayes to their home as the family slept, police said he confessed to investigators. He bashed Petit with a baseball bat, tied him up and ransacked the home.

Police caught Komisarjevsky and his accomplice, Steven Hayes, 48, as they tried to flee.

Komisarjevsky’s sentencing brought to 11 the number of men on the Connecticut’s death row, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Connecticut has executed only one person, in 2005, since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976, the center said.

Police booked Downing on charges of sexual battery and obscenity. He was videotaped Jan. 9 “placing his genitals on an LSU fan’s face. The LSU fan appears to be heavily inebriated and practically unconscious,” a police statement said.

Downing surrendered himself to police peacefully after meeting with his attorney in New Orleans. He was encouraged to give himself up because of his family connection to Russell County, Ala., Sheriff Heath Taylor, who earlier Thursday had said Downing was on his way from Alabama to New Orleans to surrender.

If you or anyone you know has been arrested, call Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for immediate help and a free case evaluation.

At 8:45 a.m. Monday Andrews, his cousin and Blue, the pit bull, drove to the Capital One at Canal Street and South Carrollton Avenue. Andrews, a trombone player, planned to deposit $3,500 from the weekend’s work to divide among his six band members.

Around 8:50 a.m., they pulled up to the bank’s entrance to see about six people waiting for the bank to open. Two of those waiting were young men wearing hooded black sweatshirts and standing apart from one another.

Local Musician Glen David Andrews. Photo Courtesy of NOLA.com

As Andrews got out of the passenger side to join the group, Blue began to bark loudly. Soon afterwards, one of the hooded young men approached Andrews and said calmly “You better leave right now with that dog. We ’bout to rob the bank.”

Andrews turned immediately and got back in the SUV’s passenger seat, telling his cousin to drive away. As they were leaving the scene, Andrews and his cousin saw the hooded men pull bandanas over their faces to rob the waiting group at gunpoint. Andrews then dialed 911 from his cell phone.

The bank robbery was one of several on Monday and all occurred in the span of about an hour. New Orleans police believe all three incidents are related.

Remembering the victims of Flight 93, honoring victims, and service groups of an estimated 33 million Americans will volunteer in many thoughtful ways on this National Day of Service and Remembrance. Take time to remember the everyday heroes, the fire and police that served on 9/11. Life changed but we pulled together.

Listen at your own discretion. There is no foul language, but the intense situation and reliving of these moments can be powerful and disturbing.

1.Flight attendant Betty Ong is on-board Flight 11. She calls AA reservations from a seatback phone on the plane.
2.Controllers hear one of the hijackers aboard AA flight 11.
3.Controllers realize they have lost AA flight 11.
4.Air controllers are watching the second plane, United 175, hit the tower.
5.Controllers are talking when there is a commotion in the cockpit.
6. Officials now realize United 93 has crashed.
7. Permission is given to shoot down commercial aircraft if needed.
8.P. Zalewski, a Boston controller can’t reach American Airlines flight 11

Prostitution, formally known as the world’s oldest profession, has become a prominent issue in New Orleans and these prostitutes are compelled to work in a condition of near slavery. A crackdown on prostitution in the French Quarter and Central Business District called, “Project Heat,” has been authorized by the combined efforts of New Orleans police, with State Police, the FBI and the Secret Service.

It all began in early July. Since then they have ran periodic undercover sweeps in the French Quarter; on Bourbon, Royal, Poydras, St. Charles, Canal, and Carrolton. In the last two months they arrested 67 prostitutes, their handlers and their customers. 90 percent of suspects with court dates so far have pleaded guilty from Project Heat. The multi-agency project seeks underage girls being trafficked in the interstate sex trade, a federal offense, 18 officers running undercover encounters found that in this prostitution sting other crimes led to ATM card or identity theft and credit card fraud.

If you or anyone you know are involved with the law and need a criminal defense lawyer, please feel free to call Bloom Legal for a free consultation at 504-599-9997. We are ready to start diligently working for you!

The storm system churned up treacherous waters across the South. Including heavy surf that sent tar balls washing onto Alabama’s prime tourist beaches. Lee continues out of the Southeast and into the Northeast drenching New England. After thousands of power outages and up to 30 spawning tornadoes, Lee is now ranked #4 for Tropical Storms.

As Lee continues into New York, The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch. The Finger Lakes region expects the heaviest rainfall tomorrow afternoon through Thursday afternoon. The flood watch includes Ontario, Livingston and Wyoming and several other counties.

Photo Courtesy of nola.com

According to Melancon’s suit, the K9 unit in question, officer Joseph Mekdessie and his dog Zin, had illegally searched Melancon’s truck days before the incident. After finding nothing in the vehicle, the officer wrote a citation because the truck’s radio was too loud. Melancon felt the citation was a manipulation to justify the search, the two men exchanged words. When a warrant for Melancon’s arrest was issued for breaking and entering and assault, which Melancon denies, Mekdessie was supposedly eager to settle a score.

When police arrived at Melancon’s residence, his fiancé lied saying he was not home. Melancon claims that once Mekdessie threatened to release Zin, he made his presence known, and once he was kneeling on the floor with his fingers interlocked behind his head, Mekdessie yelled at him to stop resisting and released the police dog.

Mekdessie claims that while at the front door, he heard sounds of a possible escape attempt from inside the apartment and released the dog, who subdued Melancon while he was running from the bedroom towards rear of the residence. Melancon’s attorney points out that there are no windows in the back of the apartment, so an escape attempt was impossible.

The suit, which also claims the police falsified reports, seeks $31 million for medical expenses and punitive damages. While local police have faced high profile criminal cases recently, this suit has the added complication of a personal injury claim.

If you or anyone you know has been injured and wishes to file a personal injury claim, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997, for a free legal consultation.