death
Woman arrested for death of newborn
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Child Abuse detectives arrested 24-year-old Courtney Addington on Tuesday in connection with the death of her infant child.
On January 25, the medical staff at Mercy General Hospital contacted the sheriff’s department to advise them that Addington had been admitted and treated at the hospital with complications from excessive bleeding. According to Mercy General she exhibited evidence that she had recently given birth, but Addington denied ever having a baby. She was subsequently released from the hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 3800 block of Wildrose Way in Sacramento to perform a welfare check on Addington. Deputies conducted a search of Addington’s residence and discovered a deceased newborn child under the bed wrapped in a trash bag.
Detectives contacted the Sheriff’s Child Abuse Bureau who conducted an investigation into the death of the newborn. The investigation ultimately led to a warrant being issued for Addington’s arrest.
Addington was taken into custody Tuesday night and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on a charge of murder. She’s being held without bail.
Two motorcyclists identified in Fair Oaks accident
Fair Oaks, CA – Today the California Highway Patrol released more details in the Saturday night accident that left a motorcyclist and passenger dead in Fair Oaks.
Citrus Heights resident, 34-year-old Christopher J. Bartish, was riding a motorcycle on San Juan Avenue just north of Palm Avenue at around 9:30 Saturday night. He had 34-year-old Brandi Anzaldua on the back of the motorcycle.
According to the CHP press release, the two were headed southbound on San Juan Avenue, when a Toyota Corolla heading northbound entered the two-way left turn lane and proceeded to make a left turn. As the driver of the Toyota was turning onto Palm Avenue, the motorcycle hit the right front of the Toyota.
Both riders were thrown from the motorcycle. Bartish was pronounced dead at the scene and Anzaldua was rushed to a local hospital, but later died of her injuries. Both riders were wearing helmets
Both the driver and passenger in the Toyota suffered minor-to-moderate injuries.
The CHP is still investigating.
Davis couple found dead
Photo: Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis
Davis, CA – In its first homicide since 2011, Davis police are investigating a double-homicide.
According to Davis police they received a call Sunday night around 9:20 from the daughter of 76-year-old Claudia Maupin. The daughter reported that she was at the house and the lights were on, but she had not entered the home.
The daughter and friends began to worry when Northup, who plays in the Putah Creek Crawdads band, failed to show up at church to sing.
Officers entered the condominium at 4006 Cowell Blvd. and found 87-year-old Oliver Northup along with his wife Claudia dead with apparent trauma to their bodies.
Davis Police Lt. Paul Doroshov told the Sacramento Bee that, while the house was not ransacked, there were visible signs of forced entry.
Northup was criminal defense attorney.
This usually quiet college town has seen an increase in the number of break-ins in recent weeks, with some break-ins occurring while occupants are at home.
Police are not releasing any information and continue to investigate the deaths as a homicide.
Lumpy from ‘Leave it to Beaver” dead at 71
Frank Bank (R) and Jerry Mathers
Photo: Facebook – Jerry Mathers
Frank Bank who played bully Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford, in the hit television series “Leave It to Beaver,” has died at the age of 71.
On Saturday Jerry Mathers, who played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, posted on his Facebook page, “I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank’s family.”
The show originally aired from 1957 to 1963 with a total of 234 episodes. The show also starred Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver) and Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver) and Tony Dow (Wally Cleaver), Beavers brother.
The Cleavers exemplified the perfect suburban family of the mid-20th century.
Bank appeared on “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud.” He later became a bond broker.
Deftones original bassist dead at 42
Co-founder of the Deftones, bassist Chi Cheng, died after being rushed to the emergency room in the early morning hours Saturday. He died from complications of injuries he received five years ago in a car accident that left him in a coma.
In a statement posted on OneLoveForChi.com, the family said the 42-year-old bassist was taken to the emergency room at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday.
Mom J wrote in the statement that Cheng, “left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear.”
The usually outspoken Lead singer and co-founder of the Deftone’s, Chino Moreno posted on his Facebook page, “Rest in peace Chi Cheng.”
Clearly Sacramento has lost a true friend and musician as sympathy came flooding in from around the world. One Facebook user wrote, “It feels like I’ve lost someone close to me and I haven’t even met him nor had the privilege of seeing him live. I pray for the rest of the band and Chi’s family just like I’ve prayed for his health.”
With the overwhelming response to his passing, the servers for OneLoveForChi.com, cohosted at Hostgator.com, crashed over the weekend. However, Hostgater.com upgraded the server, at no additional cost, to handle the increase in traffic.
Chino Morena via FB, “Rest in peace Chi Cheng.”
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Cheng was left in a coma after suffering major injuries in a car accident in Santa Clara, Calif. He was driving with his sister when their car collided with another car, causing the vehicle he was driving to rollover. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. His sister, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained minor injuries.
A Sacramento native, Cheng attended CSU Sacramento. He authored a collection of poetry, releasing it as a Spoken Word album titled “The Bamboo Parachute.” Cheng was a practicing Buddhist with an interest in Shamanism and Taoism.
Helping out his hometown of Sacramento, Cheng sponsored a community service group to aid the homeless in developing their musical talents.
OneLoveforChi.com was created to help raise funds to help pay for Cheng’s skyrocketing medical expenses. The initial target was to raise $20,000 then went on to raise over $500,000 in 2010.
Animal rights group PETA also jumped in to help out by providing 20% of the income from a “Happy Families, Not Happy Meals” T-shirt that was designed by Chi. Donating the proceeds to the One Love For Chi foundation.
Cheng was one of the co-founders of the Deftones, forming the group with Sacramento natives, Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham. He performed on the band’s first five albums, with the final album being “Adrenaline,” which was released in 1994.
Bassist Sergio Vega, originally from the band Quicksand, stepped in to help out. He continues to perform with the band.
A candlelight vigil is schedule for Sunday night at 6:30 at Cesar Chavez Park in downtown Sacramento.
The families statement is below:
Our dearest Family,
This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the emergency room and at 3 am today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear.
He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone. I will write more later. I will be going through the oneloveforchi and any other information may not be reliable. If you have any stories or messages to share please send them to the onelove site. Please hold Mae and Ming and the siblings and especially Chi’s son, Gabriel in your prayers. It is so hard to let go.
With great love and “Much Respect!” Mom J (and Chi)
Woman killed in brutal pit bull attack
Russia
Photo: Brian Hrenko (owner)
Stockton, CA – According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office a woman was killed Thursday night after being attacked by a pit bull.
Deputies arrived just after 8 p.m. to the 400 block of North Lillian Avenue to find 38-year-old Claudia Gallardo dead, in a blood splattered front yard with multiple wounds from the vicious attack.
Sgt. Tom Rees with the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office said, “there’s a lot of blood,” and the dog was a “big, nasty pit bull.”
Neighbors were able to lock the dog in the backyard of the home where the woman was found. San Joaquin County Animal Services took custody of the dog named Russia.
According to neighbors the pit bull has attacked other animals and people in the past, even jumping fences to get to other animals. The owner of the pit bull, Brian Hrenko, reportedly owns multiple dogs.
Hrenko claims Gallardo jumped his fence looking for work, she was a house cleaner. The owner told reporters, “It makes me sad, real sad, but, I don’t know who it is, so I really don’t know how to feel.”
Neighbor Rita Vasquez spoke to reporters, telling reporters that her late husband was attacked by the dog. After her husband contacted the Sheriff’s Office he was told there was little they could do about it.
Neighbors say that Russia has been terrorizing the neighborhood for months, and they refuse to let their children play in their own backyard for fear the dog will jumper their fence and attack the children.
The woman has not been identified and the dog owner has been detained for questioning.
Man found dead in apartment identified
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office today released the identity of the man found shot to death in his apartment on Pocket Road in Sacramento.
The body was identified as 30-year-old Lawrence Dominic Smith.
Sacramento Police responded to an apartment complex on the 8000 block of Pocket Road on Tuesday, this after receiving a call from friends of Smith who went to check on him after not hearing from him for a while. Police arrived and discovered Smith with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
The Sacramento Fire Department pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
No arrests have been made and the investigation continues.
Man found shot to death in Sacramento apartment
The Sacramento Police Department is investigating the homicide of a 30-year-old man who was found Monday. He was shot to death inside his apartment with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
The Sacramento Fire Department was called out just after 10 this morning to an apartment building in the 8000 block of Pocket Road in Sacramento. The body was discovered by police officers, with fire personnel arriving a short time later. Fire personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
A friend of the victim, not hearing from him recently, went to check on him and discovered his body on the floor. The friend immediately contacted authorities.
Responding officers canvassed the area for witnesses and secured the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and currently there is no known motive or suspect.
As usual The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this crime to contact the Communications Center at (916) 264-5471 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. You can also complete an online form.
Mouseketeer Annette Funicello dead at 70
Annette Funicello
Photo: Disney
Disney has announced on their official Disney Fan Club Twitter that Legendary Disney Mouseketeer Annette Funicello died today at 70.
Extra has confirmed through the family that Funicello died due to complications of multiple sclerosis, a disease she had been fighting for the past 25 years.
Funicello became a star at the age of 12 after Walt Disney discovered the young girl and cast her in the original “Mickey Mouse Club.” A show that is responsible for churning out child stars such as Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.
Funicello was also an accomplished singer with several hits in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s including “First Name Initial,” “O Dio Mio” and “Train of Love.” They were released under the Buena Vista label.
As she grew up Funicello became a sex symbol attracting a large number of fans. She went on to star in the iconic “Beach Party” films co-starring Frankie Avalon.
French ‘Survivor’ Doctor commits suicide
Dr. Thierry Costa
Photo: Koh-Lanta
French TV station TF1 has announced today that the doctor assigned to the French version of “Survivor” has committed suicide, this after the death of one of the contestants last month.
Dr. Thierry Costa killed himself while in Columbia, the location of their current show Koh-Lanta (French for Survivor). Before killing himself, the 38-year-old left a suicide note saying he had been unfairly criticized over the death of contestant Gerald Babin.
Read: Contestant dies in French version of ‘Survivor’
In his note, which was published on TF1’s website, Costa wrote that the media was making, “unfair accusations and assumptions,” about his treatment of Babin.
Gerald Babin
Photo: Koh-Lanta
It was the shows first day of filming in Cambodia, when 25-year-old Babin jumped out of a boat with a group of contestants. Soon after the group started a game of tug-of-war, Babin complained about cramping in his arms. He was treated by staff doctors at the scene and flown by helicopter to a local hospital. During the ride he suffered a series of cardiac arrests before reaching the facility, where he was declared dead.
Costa was criticized for the time it took to treat Babin after he initially collapsed.
Costa wrote, “In the past few days my name has been tarnished in the media,” continuing he writes, “I am certain that I treated Gerald in a respectable manner, as a patient and not as a contestant.”
Adventure Line Productions, the show’s producers were quick to respond that Costa’s suicide should “encourage those who accuse and comment indiscriminately to exercise responsibility”.
This would have been Costa’s fifth season on the reality show.
Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into Babin’s death.
