| On September 11, 1998, Amanda Brown disappeared from her home at the hands of a child predator. Although her abductor has been brought to justice, her body was never found. The Amanda Brown Foundation was formed to educate others about the dangers of child abductions and to provide families with resources, information and comfort during a crisis. |
September 22, 2008
Willie Crain Interview With Mike Deeson CH 10
WTSP Ch 10 News at Eleven aired an interview between reporter Mike Deeson and Willie Crain, Amanda's Murderer. I watched a man that appears to be losing his mind rant and rave about his innocence.
Crain is stating that he was never advised of his Miranda Warning by investigators and how they said they would get him. He says that he asked for an attorney and was refused. Crain is challenging the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Forensics' expert about the blood and DNA. He showed a note that is from the alleged murderer. At times holding up copies of forms from the incident report, pointing to alleged mistakes.
My opinion is that his time is close for execution. He is grasping at anything that he thinks will get him a new trial and save him some time. His arguments have been heard by the appeals court and his conviction has been UPHELD.
There will be a hearing in December in regards to these allegations. The hearing will be held in Tampa.
Crain, the clock is ticking.
Posted by admin at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
WILLIE CRAIN MURDERER
I have tried since I became Admin of this site, to refrain from placing Willie Crain's picture or say much about him. He, in my opinion, is a slug of society but since he is scheduled to be coming to Tampa in November for a hearing, I think his repulsive face should be seen to remind everyone that he murdered a 7 year old innocent child and disposed of her body without remorse. He can plead innocent all he wants but the facts were presented to a jury and he was convicted. In a recent interview when asked about the cancer and if will kill him, he stated that everyone has to die and he would like to be out for awhile before that happens. Well, well, so would have Amanda. She would have loved to grow and become productive in life but you took that away from her. If cancer rots your insides while you sit there on death row and you die before justice is carried out then we will have the satisfaction knowing that the cancer is slow and painful whereas the lethal injection would be quick and painless.
On September 14, 1999 Willie Seth Crain Jr., the crab fisherman accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Amanda Brown last year, was found guilty of first-degree murder Monday and faces a potential death sentence.
Crain was stoic as the clerk read the verdict, winking at his two daughters seated in the front row. Crain, 53, put an arm around each of their shoulders as he talked with his attorney, Danny Hernandez, for about 20 minutes before sheriff's deputies led him away.
It has been 10 long years for Roy Brown and his family. Amanda has never been found and Crain refuses to tell. Hoping one day he will be released but those hopes seems dim as he is alleged to have cancer. Whatever his death, whether by lethal injection or cancer, let us pray it is soon.
On September 11, 2008 Roy and friends visited the Courtney Cambell Causeway in memory of Amanda. It is believed that Crain disposed of Amanda's body somewhere in the waters of Tampa Bay.
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September 8, 2008
GOING BACK IN TIME
Amanda Victoria Brown in her time of innocence and beauty. A child who was enjoying life and had so much ahead of her. A child who had just started the school year, making new friends and was on the road to a bright future. A child who trusted everyone even, Willie Crain, the demon.
Her disappearance nearly ten years ago affected many adults and children alike. As close as last month, two emails from childhood friends asking about Roy and Sylvia. These friends of Amanda, now in their teens still remember her and want to reach out to the family. They were given Roy's phone number to contact him. He knew them to be real friends as they related incidents that only they and the family would know. Roy was so happy when he called me. He told me of the conversations and I could hear the happiness in his voice. Though Amanda has not been found she remains in the hearts and minds of many.
Amanda loved butterflies, thus the theme of this site in her memory. Not too long ago my wife and I were on the back patio when a beautiful and colorful butterfly fluttered about our heads. Both of us were surprised at the lack of fear by this creature as it fluttered about. Soon it settled on my wife's hand that was in her lap. It flapped its wings a couple of times leaving them in a vertical position. Soon my wife, with her other hand, softly stroked the butterfly wings. It sat there as most other pets would do and seemed to enjoy the affection. About a minute later took flight, fluttered about our heads again and was gone.Was it Amanda? We'd like to think so.
Thursday September 11, 2008 you are invited to share stories, visit with Roy,Sylvia and remember Amanda. They will be set up at the boat ramp on the Courtney Cambell Causeway in Tampa greeting friends and sharing warm moments.
BJ and Randy will represent Zach Bernhardt who at age 8 became missing from his home in Clearwater, FL on September 11, 2000.
Ellen Fullwood mother of Coralrose Fullwood is also planning on attending.Coralrose was murdered September 17, 2006. Ellen says that a prior appointment will delay her leaving Northport until midday and Hurricane Ike may have influence her decision to travel or not.
Between the three families you will have the opportunity to ask questions in regards to their lives after the loss of a child, whether by murder or just missing and never found. The Brown's have experienced the death, investigation, trial and sentencing but Amanda has never been found. The person responsible is sitting on death row awaiting execution and is still filing appeals. Zach Bernhardt has been missing eight years and the unknown is stressful to the family. BJ his aunt, will bring you up to date on Zach's disappearance. Ellen Fullwood has experienced the murder of her daughter Coralrose, a stressful investigation that accused family members of the death and now that an arrest has been made of an outsider, will go through the trial and sentencing process.
Please stop by and show support to all three of these families on September 11, 2008 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. There will be a candlelight vigil in memory of all three children and we would love to have you join us.
Posted by admin at 6:32 AM | Comments (1)
September 7, 2008
SEPTEMBER 11, 2008
Roy and Sylvia Brown will be arriving in Tampa from Kentucky this week and are scheduled to be at the boat ramp on the Courtney Cambell Causeway September 11th from about 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., to greet friends and many of the people involved in the search at the onset. Please drop by, if only for a minute or two, and show your support to the Brown's.
Amanda is not forgotten, nor will she ever be, and you are invited to stop in to visit with Roy and Sylvia in memory of Amanda. A candle light vigil is scheduled for 7:30 p.m in memory of Amanda Brown and Zach Bernhardt. Zach, at age 8, was reported missing from his home during the early morning hours of September 11, 2000 and has never been located. Members of Zach's family will be present with Roy and Sylvia also. These families have had tremendous losses and are survivors; your visit will mean so much.
Next Thursday September 11th will mark ten (10) years ago that Amanda was kidnapped and murdered by Willie Crain. Although Amanda's body has never been found Crain was convicted of her murder and sits on Death Row at Florida State Prison. He has enjoyed the comforts of home all of these years. He gets his free room and board, medical attention when needed and most anything he wants, except his freedom. You and I, the tax payer, have funded his upkeep all of these years proving once again that the wheels of justice turn very slowly, at times seeming to stop completely. There is no reason that he should have survived the death penalty this long and should have been put to death years ago. Amanda had no choice, her life was taken at age 7 and the man who murdered her has lived on Death Row longer than Amanda lived on earth.
On September 11, 2000, at approximately 4 a.m., Zachary Bernhardt disappeared from his residence in Clearwater. His mother went for a walk and upon returning, Zach was missing from his bed.
Both families will answer questions in regards to the cases surrounding their losses and how it has affected their lives.
UPDATE: I have just had contact with Ellen Beth Fullwood, mother of Coralrose Fullwood who was murdered September 17, 2006. She said that she has a previous appointment and depending on the weather, she will try to be at the boat ramp by 5 p.m. to join the others.
Coralrose was a delightful imp of a child. She enjoyed getting dressed up in her favorite red dress. And then promptly playng in the mud with the tadpoles. She was full of life and did not deserve to die. Her broken body was found just a few blocks from her new home on September 17th, 2006. (Incidentally this was her sister's 9th birthday.) Coralrose was just shy of 7 years old. She had violet blue eyes and reddidsh brown hair full of waves. She had been sexually molested and violently murdered.
We will continue to update the information as soon as we receive it.
Posted by admin at 5:31 AM | Comments (0)
September 1, 2008
OUR MOST FEARED THOUGHTS ARE IMMINENT!
Our desire to see Caylee found alive and well seems to be diminishing as the days pass us by. At first I believe everyone wanted the kidnapping theory to be true but as lie after lie was told it was obvious that more than a kidnapping has taken place.
There are many scenarios of what may have happened to Caylee and the truth is still unknown but it appears Caylee is dead. At the onset the Anthony family wanted media attention in locating their precious gift, Caylee, but as the questions were asked and statements contradicted, the Anthony's became more and more defensive and combative with anyone in authority and the media. Law Enforcement has been sent on one wild goose chase after another by the family. Innocent people have been named in the family's lies causing unnecessary attention drawn to them and their families.
Any of you that have been keeping up with the investigation know that Cindy Anthony, grandmother of Caylee, is in deep denial in the death of the child and that Casey, her daughter, may be involved. Cindy has refused to work with the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando and criticizes everything they do. She requested that The FBI become involved as she felt they would be more reliable and impartial while investigating the disappearance of Caylee. The FBI has had to work with the same lies and evidence as the OCSO therefore their findings have been similar with the exception that the FBI Lab has now revealed that the hair, stain and odor in the trunk of the car used by Casey Anthony is that of a decomposing body, Caylee.
Cindy Anthony is not satisfied with their investigation either and wants another opinion. Well all I have to say grandma, You ain't gonna like what HE has to say either. It is written: 'Honor your father and your mother'; 'You shall not murder.';: 'You shall not commit adultery.' : 'You shall not steal.' Casey has violated a couple of these already and another is yet to be proven. Let us pray that you have not involved yourself in this so deeply that you also may be arrested and end up in jail. The trials here on earth are relatively simple but the final judgment day is the most critical you and your family will face.
So many of us, like you, would love to have Caylee found alive and reunited in a family of love and caring but those chance seem pretty dim, at least as of today. Maybe tomorrow?
May God hold Caylee in the palm of His hand and close to His heart, now and forever.
Continue reading "OUR MOST FEARED THOUGHTS ARE IMMINENT!"
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August 31, 2008
Cards Make A Play For A Break In Cold Cases
By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 30, 2008
TAMPA - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is hoping that jail inmates, with little to do but play cards, can help solve 52 cold cases from across the state.
For the third time in a little more than a year, the FDLE has released a deck of playing cards. Each card in the deck bears the photo of a missing or slain person as well as details of the case.
As details of the current program were announced publicly Friday, Carole Bernhardt stood in an FDLE auditorium wearing a T-shirt adorned with several images of her grandson, Zachary Bernhardt.
The pictures show Zachary at 8 years old, at 10 years old and at 14 years old. Only the first picture is real. The others are computer composites designed to show how he would look if his family were still able to photograph him.
Zachary has been missing from Clearwater since 1999. He would be 16 today.
"It's terrible," she said. "You have to watch him grow up on a T-shirt."
Bernhardt said she is honored that Zachary is included in the new deck of cards.
Maybe, she said, an inmate in one of Florida's county jails will see the picture and know something. Maybe, she said, an inmate will hear another inmate talking about the boy on the four of diamonds.
Maybe an inmate will come forward with new information and Zachary will be found.
In summer 2007, the FDLE released two decks of cards displaying cold case pictures and information. Two of those cases have been solved.
A man is awaiting trial on charges that he murdered 53-year-old James Foote of Fort Myers. Foote was shot dead in 2004. An inmate who saw the cards provided information that led to the arrest.
Donna Foote said her husband's death remained a mystery for two years, 11 months and four days - until the playing cards ended up in front of the right person.
The 2004 slaying of Ingrid Lugo in Bradenton also was solved by an inmate who saw the playing cards, said Frank Brunner, executive director of Manatee County Crime Stoppers.
That inmate waived his immunity and testified against Bryan Curry, who was convicted and is serving a life sentence, Brunner said.
The playing cards are distributed in all of Florida's county jails and through Florida's probation offices. That means 206,000 decks will go to 65,000 inmates and 141,000 people on probation.
The toll-free number for Crime Stoppers is on each card. Crime Stoppers collects anonymous tips and pays cash rewards for information that leads to arrests or convictions.
The cards were purchased through a federal grant of more than $87,000. Each deck costs about 33 cents to produce.
The idea for the cold-case playing cards originated in Polk County, inspired by U.S. troops distributing playing cards featuring Iraq's most wanted fugitives.
After several quick successes, several law enforcement agencies in Florida followed suit. The concept has expanded to several states and international agencies, said Jim Madden, the special agent in charge of Tampa's FDLE office.
Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.
Posted by admin at 8:09 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2008
Ron Berry, convicted sex offender, gets partial pardon
Published
by
Delano Massey
on August 28, 2008
in Fayette Circuit Court
. Tags: 12 counts of sodomy, Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson, Ernie Fletcher, Gayle Slaughter, Gov. Steve Beshear, Jay Blanton, League of Women Voters, Micro-City Government, Northpoint Training Center, partial pardon, right to hold office, right to vote, Ron Berry, the NAACP, Trey Grayson, Urban County Government.
By Brandon Ortiz
bortiz@herald-leader.com
Gov. Steve Beshear has restored the right to vote and hold office to convicted child molester Ron Berry, the former head of the defunct Micro-City Government youth program.
The partial pardon, which was signed on Aug. 20 and filed Wednesday in Fayette Circuit Court, does not restore Berry’s right to own a gun or serve on a jury.
Berry, 64, was convicted of 12 counts of sodomy with 12- to 16-year-old boys in 2002. He completed a three-year prison sentence at Northpoint Training Center in 2005.
A Lexington lawyer who was instrumental in Berry’s downfall was flabbergasted by the news.
“I’m legitimately at a loss for words on this one,” said Gayle Slaughter, who represents several people who say they were sexually abused by Berry. “I guess it is good to know which side of the fence the governor is on in this battle against this scourge on society.”
Slaughter said she doesn’t mind allowing Berry the right to vote. “But I think allowing him to seek public office is a bit much,” she said.
In Kentucky, the governor must intervene for felons to have their civil rights restored.
A spokesman for Beshear said the governor, as a matter of policy, automatically approves the partial restoration of civil rights if applicants have served their sentence, paid restitution and have no outstanding warrants.
Having the right to vote automatically grants someone the right to run for office, spokesman Jay Blanton said.
Prosecutors can object to the partial pardon, and Beshear actually doubled the amount of time prosecutors have to review the cases, Blanton said. Prosecutors have objected in 56 instances, and in each case the governor refused to restore civil rights, Blanton said.
In Berry’s case, prosecutors did not object. He was prosecuted by Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson’s office.
Blanton said Berry’s application was forwarded to Larson in June.
Larson says he didn’t see it. If he had, he would have objected, he said.
“We object to people who kill people, and people who are sex offenders,” Larson said. “And I just obviously didn’t see it.”
He said it is too late for him to object now.
Larson did not have an explanation for why it did not reach his desk.
In March, Beshear, a Democrat, streamlined the process to make it easier for felons to have their rights restored. The move was praised by the League of Women Voters, the NAACP and some Republicans, including Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Blanton said.
The previous governor, Ernie Fletcher, did not automatically restore rights and required written essays.
Berry did not return a phone message seeking comment. Phone calls to a handful of his supporters were not returned.
Micro-City Government, which was founded by Berry in 1969, provided summer jobs and educational programs for disadvantaged youths, hosted dances and parties for the teens, and offered free lunches in impoverished neighborhoods. Berry led Micro-City until 1997, when allegations against Berry became public.
Micro-City was dissolved in 1998.
More than 160 people have sued the Urban County Government, claiming city officials ignored or concealed information that Berry was molesting under-age boys and girls for decades.
The lawsuits alleged that officials allowed the abuse to occur because Berry, once a prominent and powerful black leader, could deliver the black vote for them.
Slaughter said the partial pardon confirms what Berry’s critics have long said.
“Ron has friends in high places,” Slaughter said. “I guess Steve’s trying to get another vote.”
Replied Blanton, “I think that is a ridiculous assertion.”
“We apply the same standard for everyone,” he said. “It is irresponsible to make such a statement.”
Reach Brandon Ortiz at (859) 231-1443 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1443.
« Police look for ties in church
Continue reading "Ron Berry, convicted sex offender, gets partial pardon"
Posted by admin at 9:20 AM | Comments (1)
August 28, 2008
Padilla Begins Work To Revoke Anthony's Bond
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Leonard Padilla revealed he was beginning work to revoke Casey Anthony's $500,000 bond on Thursday morning.
Anthony is the mother of Caylee Anthony, 3, who has been missing since early June. Casey Anthony was released from the Orange County Jail last week on bond and faces child neglect charges over the girl's disappearance.
Casey Anthony left her house about 10 a.m. Thursday for a scheduled meeting with with her attorney, Jose Baez, which could last for as long as six hours.
Anthony is not scheduled to meet with any representatives from the state attorney's office, Public Information Officer Danielle Tavernier said.
Meanwhile, results of DNA tests in connection with the investigation were received by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. They're expected to be shared with the state attorney's office later on Thursday.
Also, an air sample taken from Anthony's car was tested at a University of Tennessee laboratory and tested positive for the smell of human decomposition.
A limited immunity deal for Anthony will expire on Tuesday.
Earlier on Thursday, Caylee's grandfather left his home with an unknown passenger in the car. George Anthony departed from his home just after 6 a.m. He pulled out of his driveway, and another person in the car's front seat could not be identified. He returned shortly before 9 a.m.
Stay with WESH 2 News and WESH.com for further details.
Posted by admin at 4:31 PM | Comments (0)
DNA Tests From Car Trunk Indicate Caylee Anthony Is Dead
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Tests have confirmed the stench in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car did come from a dead human body and evidence indicates it is that of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony. A California bondsman is reconsidering his decision to put up the money to free Casey.
Concrete results were back from FBI DNA tests on physical evidence found in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car. The samples, which included hair that investigators said was scientifically linked to Caylee, a stain and dirt, came back positive for signs of decomposition. Investigators said more results were expected from tests done on other evidence but all indications are Caylee Anthony is dead.
The State Attorney's Office also confirmed on Wednesday that Casey Anthony was invited to their office to shed light on the disappearance of Caylee. The State Attorney's Office is not revealing details about the offer of limited immunity. Eyewitness News has learned there is a time limit on that offer, however.
"Just putting the hair under the microscope, one can tell the difference between a normal hair root and one that's been infected with bacteria after death," said forensics expert Michael Baden. Baden said the inside linings of the mouth and nose release fluid when they begin to decompose. The fluid can be identified by DNA.
Investigators from the sheriff's office and the FBI met with Casey Anthony on Wednesday afternoon at her attorney's office. Cindy Anthony was also there. Casey only met with investigators for about 10 minutes and said nothing when she departed. Cindy Anthony left later in the afternoon, followed by the investigators. An investigator went to the Anthony's home but only stayed for a few minutes.
The sheriff's office, though, is not commenting on this development and issued the following statement late Wednesday afternoon: "Preserving the integrity of the investigative details of a case of this magnitude is paramount to its successful conclusion. We are unable to comment any further on information that has recently surfaced regarding the Caylee Anthony investigation. Any future returns in regards to evidence or submissions pertaining to this case will remain privileged or exempt unless the release of such information will be beneficial to the investigation or if it becomes a matter of public record in a legal proceeding."
The Anthonys have disputed the results of the tests, pointing out that Caylee hasn't been found. Casey Anthony's attorney refused to comment. The family was holed up in its home, Wednesday night. Casey's attorney remained there well into the evening, even parking his car in the family's garage.
It was Caylee's grandmother Cindy who first expressed concern about the disgusting stench that came from the trunk of Casey's car. It came during a 911 call when she reported Caylee was missing.
"It smells like there was a dead body in the damn car," Cindy told the dispatcher.
Cindy Anthony went on to change her story and say rotting pizza was behind the smell.
Casey Anthony has another meeting scheduled with her lawyer Thursday morning.
Continue reading "DNA Tests From Car Trunk Indicate Caylee Anthony Is Dead"
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August 27, 2008
Decomposing body was in Casey Anthony's trunk, air-sample tests show
Air sample tests from Casey Anthony's car show a decomposing human body was inside the trunk, a sheriff's office official just confirmed.
Officials have offered Anthony a partial immunity deal if she admits 3-year-old Caylee Marie died as a result of an accident. If she takes the deal, any information Anthony provides to law-enforcement could not be used against her in prosecution.
Danielle Tavernier, spokeswoman for the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office, said they are not disclosing any details of their prosecution, but that Anthony had been "invited to our office to shed light on the disappearance of the victim in this case."
During a bond hearing in July, investigators said they had found strands of hair, a questionable stain and bits of dirt in the trunk of Anthony's white Pontiac. That evidence led Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators to think it's possible that Caylee Marie is dead and her mother may be involved.
Family members initially said the smell came from a rotting pizza. But a 911 recording shows Cindy Anthony -- the missing girl's grandmother -- said it "smelled like there's been a dead body in the damn car."
Air samples from her car were sent to the University of Tenn. Body Farm and those results confirmed the investigator's preliminary conclusions.
Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Office met with Cindy Anthony and her daughter at attorney Jose Baez Kissimmee office today. Cindy Anthony walked out with Baez at 4:45 p.m. without commenting to reporters. Baez said he would make a public statement at the Anthony's east Orange County home later today.
Investigators left the attorney's office shortly afterward without commenting.
Casey Anthony had left Baez's office more than an hour earlier, wearing dark sunglasses, a shirt with Caylee Marie's picture and the court-ordered monitoring device on her ankle.
Meanwhile, California bounty hunter Leonard Padilla said Anthony has made no effort to help him find Caylee, he told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday.
"She has not communicated with us at all," Padilla said. "She has no interest in communicating with us."
Padilla, whose nephew posted Anthony's $500,200 bail last week, said if he knew what he knew today about the case, and that the 22-year-old wouldn't cooperate with him, he probably would not have helped get her out of jail.
Padilla said he still thinks Caylee is alive and that Anthony handed her off to someone. But he does not believe the toddler was dropped off with a baby-sitter named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, which is what Anthony has told detectives.
"We don't believe [Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez] exists," Padilla said.
"[Anthony's] got an invisible friend that's called Zenaida," he said. "She's got a world that she lives in that's apart from ours."
Padilla said he is using Anthony's cell phone records as part of his own investigation and has spoken to some of her friends.
Continue reading "Decomposing body was in Casey Anthony's trunk, air-sample tests show"
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