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Josh Elkin, 7136 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg, IN (2026)

04/06/2026

Neighbor Charged with Second-Degree Mu*der in Fatal Sh*oting of Man Talking on Phone with Mother

Bartow, Fla. — A 48-year-old man has been charged with second-degree mu*der after authorities say he fatally shot his downstairs neighbor, who was outside smoking a cigarette while on the phone with his mother.

David Richard Morris, 48, faces charges of second-degree murder without premeditation and discharging a firearm in a residential area in the death of Jeffrey Blevins, 56. Morris was arrested over the weekend and made his first court appearance on Sunday, where he was ordered held without bond.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the shooting happened around 11 p.m. on March 26 at the Fountain Place Apartments. Blevins, who lived on the first floor with his sister, was standing outside smoking a cigarette and speaking with his mother on the phone.

"The mother heard a sound as if he had fallen down, and she called out to Jeffrey, and he didn't respond," Judd said during a Monday press conference. The mother then hung up and called Blevins' sister, urging her to check on him.

When the sister went outside, she found Blevins in a pool of blood. He had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, with entrance and exit wounds. Investigators recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene.

Detectives identified Morris, who lived upstairs from Blevins, as the suspect after speaking with other residents. They described Morris as having been aggressive toward tenants in the past. Ballistics testing later confirmed that a firearm linked to Morris was the mu*der weapon.

Sheriff Judd noted that Blevins was described by family and friends as a kind, non-confrontational, and easy-going person. No clear motive has been publicly disclosed for the shooting, and investigators continue to examine the circumstances.

Morris was charged on Saturday, March 28, 2026. He is being held in the Polk County Jail.

04/05/2026

Casper Teen Sentenced to 10-16 Years for Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal Sh*oting of Friend During Video Game Night

CASPER, Wyo. — A 19-year-old Casper man will spend at least the next decade in prison after fatally sh*oting his 16-year-old friend while the pair were smoking ma*****na, playing video games, and handling a loaded handgun.

Luka Wade Rasmussen pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Riley Jacob Sears. On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Natrona County District Judge Kerri Johnson sentenced Rasmussen to 10 to 16 years in prison. He will receive credit for the 377 days already served since his arrest.

The fatal incident occurred on the night of February 12, 2025, at a residence in east Casper. Rasmussen, Sears, and a 17-year-old witness were upstairs in a bedroom playing Madden NFL 2025 on video game consoles. According to court accounts, Rasmussen began "playing with" a .40-caliber G***k pistol, pointing it at Sears—who was seated in a gaming chair—and firing a single shot that struck him in the head.

Rasmussen told investigators the shooting was accidental, but a witness contradicted that account, stating Rasmussen had been pointing the gun at Sears while using its green laser sight. Prosecutors emphasized reckless behavior compounded by ma*****na use.

"There's a common sense aspect to this," District Attorney Dan Itzen said during the sentencing hearing. "You can't smoke dope and point g*n lasers with one in the chamber and expect things to work out."

In a victim impact statement, Riley Sears' father, Jacob Sears, described the devastating moment he learned of his son's death. He received a call from an unknown number informing him that Riley had been shot, only for a detective to later confirm the teen had died.

Rasmussen expressed remorse in court, stating, "This is something I will have to deal with the rest of my life." The judge denied a request for a boot camp program as part of the sentence and imposed the 10- to 16-year term. Involuntary manslaughter in Wyoming carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

04/05/2026

Calverton Man Indicted in St*bbing Death of His Mother, Body Dumped in Manorville Woods

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — A 36-year-old Long Island man has been indicted on a charge of second-degree mu*der after authorities say he repeatedly st*bbed his mother to death inside their shared home, then wrapped her body in a blanket and left it in a wooded area in Manorville.

Curtis Trent Jr., of Calverton (also referenced in some reports as living in Riverhead), stands accused in the k*lling of 63-year-old Kathleen Harrison Trent. An autopsy determined that she died from multiple st*b wounds to her torso, face, and neck. Prosecutors allege that Trent stabbed her additional times after death—more than 10 post-mortem sharp force injuries in total—before concealing the body.

Kathleen Trent was last seen or heard from on January 27, 2026, just days before her 63rd birthday on February 1. She was a longtime employee at Riverhead Raceway, where she worked for about 40 years and was described by colleagues as an integral part of the track’s community. She had also worked as a Head Start teacher and in-home caretaker for the elderly. Family members remembered her as a loving mother and grandmother to five grandchildren who “would give you the shirt off her back.”

On January 29, a relative—later identified in reports as her other son, Robert Trent—went to the family’s mobile home at 61 Forge Road in Riverhead/Calverton and discovered what appeared to be blood in and around the residence. Kathleen’s cell phone, wallet, vital medication, and other personal items were left behind, but she and her 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck were missing. Riverhead Town Police were called, and a missing person alert was issued.

Early the next morning (January 30), Curtis Trent Jr. returned to the home driving his mother’s truck. When questioned by officers, he claimed he had been out looking for her and said he would harm himself if something had happened to her. He attempted to flee, was taken into custody briefly, and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. The truck was impounded; blood was later found on the tailgate.

During the investigation, blood-stained male sneakers were recovered from the home, and bloody clothing allegedly belonging to the suspect was found on Mill Road in the Manorville area. Those items, along with swabs from the truck, were sent for forensic analysis at the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory.

On February 11, 2026, Suffolk County Police patrol units discovered Kathleen Trent’s body—frozen and wrapped in a blanket—approximately 25 feet off Connecticut Avenue in a wooded section of Manorville, a suburban community about 25 miles west of the Hamptons and roughly 12 miles from the family home. The discovery came after a multi-day search effort.

Curtis Trent Jr. was arrested on February 18, 2026, at the Forge Road home by Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives. He was initially charged with second-degree murder, as well as concealment of a human co**se and tampering with physical evidence (both Class E felonies).

On March 6, 2026, he was arraigned in Suffolk County Criminal Court on a grand jury indictment for second-degree mu*der. He pleaded not guilty. Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz ordered him held without bail, citing the nature of the crime and risk of flight. A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation was granted at the request of his defense attorney.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement: “Today’s indictment reflects our commitment to seeking justice in the face of a deeply disturbing act of domestic violence.

The defendant is charged, not only with taking his mother’s life, but with attempting to conceal the crime and hide her body. Tragically, it was another family member who discovered that the victim was missing and found blood inside the home; an unimaginable and heartbreaking experience.”

If convicted on the top charge, Trent faces 25 years to life in prison. He is due back in court on April 22, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys from the Homicide and Major Crime Bureaus.

Family and friends held a memorial for Kathleen Trent on March 7 at a Riverhead funeral home. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to cover funeral expenses, with tributes highlighting her caring nature and community ties. Some family members have publicly called for greater accountability around mental health treatment, noting that Curtis Trent Jr. reportedly struggled with conditions including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, though those details have not been confirmed in court filings.

This remains an ongoing case. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

04/05/2026

Adams Foster Parents Sentenced in D*ath of Kristoff Zenopolous
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Superior Court Judge Tracy Duncan on April 2, 2026, sentenced Matthew Tucker and Cassandra Barlow-Tucker, both of Adams, Massachusetts, to three to five years in state prison for their roles in the death of 10-month-old Kristoff Zenopolous.

The couple was convicted on March 16, 2026, following a six-day trial in Berkshire County Superior Court. A jury found each guilty of one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless child endangerment after about two and a half hours of deliberation. Testimony came from 14 witnesses.

Kristoff died on February 18, 2020, while in the couple’s care. He had been placed with Tucker and Barlow-Tucker as a foster child about two months earlier. Prosecutors argued that the infant showed “clear and obvious signs” of serious but treatable medical conditions, including infections, yet the couple did not seek necessary medical treatment, leading to his preventable death.
Staggered Sentences to Accommodate Family

Judge Duncan structured the sentences on a staggered schedule, citing the couple’s four biological children. Cassandra Barlow-Tucker will serve her prison term first (at MCI-Framingham), followed by three years of probation. Matthew Tucker will serve five years of probation before beginning his three-to-five-year prison term once his wife is released. While one is incarcerated, the other will be on probation.

The court also ordered that neither Tucker nor Barlow-Tucker may serve as foster parents or act as caregivers for other children in the future.

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Tucker was represented by Attorney Jillian Sheldon of Pittsfield, and Barlow-Tucker by Attorney Jacqueline Dutton of the Committee for Public Counsel Services.

04/04/2026

💔 Justice Served in Shocking Arizona Mu*der Case

A 24-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to decades in prison for the brutal k*lling of his best friend.

Samuel Bush, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree mu*der and aggravated assault in the death of 24-year-old Alijah Bradley. On February 27, 2026, a Maricopa County judge sentenced him to 25 years for mu*der and 15 years for aggravated assault (plus 5 years on a separate drug charge).

The tragedy unfolded on August 12, 2024, in Gilbert, Arizona. Alijah, a recent Northern Arizona University graduate who had just celebrated his birthday, was shot in the back at Bush's apartment — the same day he missed his daily good-morning call to his mother. Bush then dismembered his childhood friend's body using a reciprocating saw purchased from a home improvement store and dumped the remains in a remote desert area east of Gila Bend, about 90 miles away.

Alijah's family reported him missing after three days of silence. His remains were later discovered, leading to Bush's arrest.

This heartbreaking case is a painful reminder of how violence can shatter even the closest bonds. Alijah was remembered as a kind, ambitious young man with a bright future ahead.

Our thoughts are with Alijah Bradley's family and friends as they continue to grieve. ❤️
Rest in peace, Alijah.

04/04/2026

A jury in Cook County, Illinois, has convicted Ahmeel Fowler of mu*dering his 21-year-old on-and-off girlfriend, Ja'nya Murphy, and kidnapping her 1-year-old daughter, Jaclyn "Angel" Dobbs, whose body was later recovered from a retention pond in Hammond, Indiana.

The Crime (November 2021)
On November 9, 2021, Murphy's family reported her missing after she failed to show up for work. Wheeling police conducted a welfare check at her apartment in the 300 block of Inland Drive in Wheeling, Illinois. Officers entered through an unlocked balcony door and discovered Murphy's body. She had been strangled to death (asphyxiation, ruled a homicide by the Cook County medical examiner). A strong smell of bleach filled the apartment, suggesting an attempt to clean the scene. Her 1-year-old daughter, Jaclyn "Angel" Dobbs, was missing.

Surveillance video captured Fowler leaving Murphy's apartment around 2:40 a.m. Approximately one hour later, at about 3:43 a.m., his vehicle was recorded near a retention pond in Hammond, Indiana—roughly 50 miles away. Jaclyn's body was recovered floating in that pond several days later. The autopsy listed her cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest, possibly due to hypothermia from exposure to cold temperatures (low 40s), with no signs of drowning or major trauma; the manner of death was undetermined.

Fowler, who was 21 at the time and not the biological father of the child, had a reportedly troubled relationship with Murphy. After the crimes, he briefly stopped at his parents' home before fleeing to Springfield, Missouri, where he was arrested shortly afterward.

Charges and Trial
Fowler faced charges including first-degree mu*der in Murphy's death and aggravated kidnapping in Jaclyn's abduction. Indiana prosecutors later filed additional charges related to the case. The trial took place nearly five years later in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (Circuit Court of Cook County).

On or around March 4, 2026, a jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Fowler guilty on three counts of first-degree mu*der and one count of aggravated kidnapping. He is now 31 years old and has been held in Cook County Jail.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2026. Given the convictions, Fowler is expected to receive a lengthy prison term, likely life in prison without parole.

04/03/2026

California Man Sentenced to 64 Years to Life for Gunning Down Ex-Girlfriend in Front of Their Young Children

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A 30-year-old Daly City man was sentenced to 64 years to life in state prison last week after a jury convicted him of first-degree mu*der for fatally sh*oting his ex-girlfriend in front of their two small children.

Romier Taguiam Narag was found guilty in February 2026 of first-degree mu*der with a firearm enhancement and child endangerment in the March 6, 2023, killing of 27-year-old Frances Kendra Lucero, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

During sentencing on March 5, 2026, before Judge Jeffrey Finigan in San Mateo County Superior Court, the judge told Narag: “The defendant has orphaned his own children and the devastation will last their entire lives.”

The Sh*oting
On the day of the mu*der, Narag and Lucero — who had been living apart — had dinner together with their children, ages 3 and 4. Afterward, Narag followed Lucero back to her home in Daly City (just south of San Francisco). A heated argument erupted in the driveway.

As Lucero tried to flee and screamed for him to stop, Narag pulled out a handgun and shot her multiple times, including twice in the back. Prosecutors described the killing as execution-style, noting that Lucero was attempting to run away when she was struck. The couple’s young children witnessed the entire incident; reports indicated they were confused at the time, unsure whether the blood they saw was ketchup.

Narag was arrested at the scene by Daly City police.

Trial and Sentencing
A jury convicted Narag of first-degree murder last month after a trial in which prosecutors highlighted the premeditated nature of the shooting. In court, Narag reportedly told the judge, “She pushed my buttons and it just happened,” while also apologizing to Lucero’s family, asking for forgiveness, taking “full responsibility,” and saying he hates the person he sees in the mirror.

Lucero’s mother, Liezel, addressed the court during victim impact statements, stating that Narag “made a decision every time he pulled the trigger.” Family members expressed that while the sentence brought some sense of closure, “there’s no such thing as justice” because their daughter is gone forever.

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office emphasized the lifelong trauma inflicted on the children, who lost their mother in such a violent manner directly in front of them.
Narag is scheduled to return to court for a restitution hearing in May.

04/03/2026

Furloughed Inmate Accused of K*lling Girlfriend, Stabbing Estranged Wife While on Work Release

Honolulu, Hawaii — A 55-year-old man participating in a state work furlough program is back in custody after allegedly st*bbing his girlfriend to death and then attacking his estranged wife in separate incidents on Oahu.

John Keanuenue Nihipali Sr. (also referred to as John Nihipali) faces charges including second-degree mu*der, first-degree attempted murder, burglary, and second-degree escape. He was indicted by an Oahu grand jury in March 2026.

According to Honolulu Police Department investigators, the attacks occurred on March 5, 2026. Nihipali allegedly stabbed his 53-year-old girlfriend, identified as Georgia Ann Kapana, multiple times inside her apartment on Fern Street in the McCully area. She died from her injuries.

Police say Nihipali then took Kapana’s vehicle and drove to Kapolei, where he entered the home of his 53-year-old estranged wife and st*bbed her. A man present at the scene intervened, and the wife was critically injured but survived.

Authorities linked the two crimes after determining both victims had relationships with the same suspect. Nihipali was arrested later that day wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor.

At the time of the alleged attacks, Nihipali was an inmate at the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC). He was serving a sentence for second-degree assault and had been granted a resocialization furlough pass as part of a work release program aimed at reintegrating inmates into the community. He was required to return to the facility by 6 p.m. that evening but did not.
Court documents and prosecutors noted that Nihipali allegedly removed his ankle monitor after the first attack and used his girlfriend’s Honda CRV to reach the second location. He has been held without bail at OCCC since his arrest.

Prior Criminal History
Reporting indicates Nihipali had previously served approximately 20 years in prison for an earlier violent offense involving his wife (attempted manslaughter or a slashing incident) before his more recent conviction for second-degree assault.

The case has prompted scrutiny of Hawaii’s work furlough and resocialization programs, with some questioning how someone with Nihipali’s history was approved for community release. Legal experts have noted that furlough decisions are typically made when authorities assess an inmate as presenting a minimal risk.
Nihipali has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Some court hearings were delayed after he reportedly refused to leave his cell for appearances.

04/02/2026

Ohio Man Sentenced to 17–22½ Years in Prison for Role in Girlfriend’s 2-Year-Old Daughter’s Death

WEST UNION, Ohio — A 23-year-old Adams County man will serve between 17 and 22½ years in state prison after pleading guilty in the suffocation death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, who showed signs of physical abuse.

Adams County Common Pleas Judge Brett Spencer sentenced Brian Moser on March 24, 2026, to a term exceeding the 15- to 20-year recommendation outlined in his plea agreement with prosecutors. Moser pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangering in connection with the July 1, 2025, death of Lilith Nova Burkhardt.

The judge structured the sentence as 11 to 16½ years on the involuntary manslaughter charge and three years on each of the child endangering counts, all to be served consecutively.

Judge Spencer departed from the stipulated sentence, stating that the recommended range did not go far enough given the vulnerability of a young child. He emphasized that “minor children… compose 100 percent of our future” and remarked that “only maximum sentences would suffice in regard to any assimilation of fairness in this case.”

Details of the Incident
Emergency responders were called to the Timber Ridge Apartment Complex in West Union just after 9 p.m. on July 1, 2025, after Moser reported finding the unresponsive toddler in bed with her 1-year-old and 5-year-old sisters.

Moser told the 911 dispatcher he had put the children to bed around midnight and later woke to discover Lilith not breathing. Paramedics were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death was suffocation. All three children had visible significant injuries consistent with abuse. Moser reportedly admitted to using corporal punishment on the children.
Lilith’s mother, Tien Hawkins, was also charged in the case and faces a change-of-plea hearing in May 2026.

Background and Sentencing Hearing
Moser, who had legally changed his name from Terry Smith III to Brian Moser just days before the incident (sharing the name with a fictional serial killer character from the TV series Dexter), told investigators he had a troubled past involving abuse in his own childhood. In court, he apologized to the family and described the death as an accident that left him traumatized.

Lilith’s obituary remembered her as a bright child whose “light… filled every corner of her family’s world.” She was born on May 1, 2023, and left behind her mother, father Jason Burkhardt, sisters, brother, and extended family.

Prosecutors had initially charged Moser with murder, which carried a potential sentence of decades to life. The plea deal dropped the mu*der charge and additional endangering counts in exchange for the guilty pleas and the stipulated sentencing range.

The case drew attention for the judge’s decision to impose a harsher penalty than agreed upon, underscoring the priority placed on protecting children in the justice system.

04/02/2026

Texas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Strangling 4-Year-Old Girl and Setting House Fire to Cover It Up

Perryton, Texas — When firefighters responded to a house fire in Perryton on July 20, 2022, they discovered the body of a 4-year-old girl inside and a man hiding under the home in a crawl space. Nearly four years later, that man has admitted to k*lling the child and intentionally setting the blaze.

Humberto Martinez, 43, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, to capital murder of a person under 10 years of age in the death of Hope Raley. In exchange for the plea, which was approved by the victim's family, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to Ochiltree County court records.
Martinez had also faced charges of arson and two counts of obstruction or retaliation.

What Happened on the Day of the Fire
Firefighters with the Perryton Fire Department were called to a home at 802 S. Drake around 9:53 a.m. While battling the flames, they found young Hope Raley dead inside the residence—initially in her bedroom or bed area. An autopsy later determined she had been strangled to death before the fire started.

During the response, firefighters also located Martinez hiding in the crawl space beneath the house. He was the last person known to have been with the child, as she had been left in his care along with the homeowner that day. Martinez was treated for smoke inhalation and later confessed to investigators, including Texas Rangers, admitting he strangled Hope and then set her room on fire using a lighter and combustibles in an attempt to conceal the crime.

The Perryton Police Department requested assistance from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office, whose investigation confirmed the fire was intentionally set to cover up the mu*der.

The Resolution
Martinez entered his guilty plea in the 84th District Court in Ochiltree County. By pleading guilty, he avoided the possibility of the death penalty. He was remanded to custody and will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve his life sentence without parole.

This case drew attention due to the horrific nature of the crime and the circumstances of the discovery by first responders. A woman connected to the case (the homeowner) faced related charges but has since bonded out under supervision.

04/01/2026

Chattanooga Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Brutal 2020 Mu*ders of Mother and Daughter

Chattanooga, Tenn. — A Tennessee man will spend the next several decades behind bars after being convicted in the gruesome k*llings of a mother and her young daughter in 2020.

Gabriel Fitzgerald Boykins, 50, was sentenced Thursday in Hamilton County Criminal Court to a total of 45 years in state prison for two counts of second-degree mu*der.

Judge [name not specified in reports] handed down a 20-year sentence for the death of 40-year-old Tamara Church and a 25-year sentence for the death of her 8-year-old daughter, Aquarious Church. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning Boykins must serve them one after the other.

Boykins was convicted by a Hamilton County jury in June 2025 following a trial that revealed the horrific nature of the crimes. Prosecutors described the k*llings as particularly brutal: Tamara Church was strangled, while her daughter Aquarious suffered severe blunt force trauma, with autopsy reports noting that the back of the child's skull was "in pieces." Evidence suggested one victim may have witnessed the other's death.

The victims' remains were later discovered in a forested area near Chattanooga after they went missing in May 2020. Investigators found significant blood evidence at Boykins' duplex, including a large pool of blood that had been cleaned up. Surveillance footage also captured a man matching Boykins' build walking away from a burning vehicle linked to the case.

Boykins and Tamara Church had a prior romantic relationship, and court proceedings referenced past arguments and alleged incidents of abuse between them. No clear motive was ever publicly established at trial, though prosecutors presented the case as a domestic-related double homicide. Boykins was also found with another of Church's young daughters shortly after the disappearances.
During sentencing, the judge recounted the disturbing details of the crime scene and the impact on the victims' family. Boykins maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

The conviction came after Boykins was initially charged with first-degree mu*der and evidence tampering. The jury ultimately found him guilty of the lesser second-degree murder charges on both counts.

This case drew significant attention in the Chattanooga area due to its brutality and the young age of one of the victims. Family members and advocates have expressed relief at the lengthy sentence, though many noted that no amount of time can truly compensate for the loss.

Boykins will serve his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction system. With good behavior credits potentially applicable but consecutive terms in place, he is expected to remain incarcerated for the majority of the 45-year term.

04/01/2026

Virginia Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Sh*oting Girlfriend, Then Lying Repeatedly to Police

LORTON, Va. — A Virginia man who shot his girlfriend in the upper body during an argument in his SUV and then drove her to a hospital while providing shifting and false accounts of what happened has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Huy Tien “Max” Nguyen, 47 (or 48 at the time of later proceedings), was convicted in September 2025 of second-degree mu*der in the death of 38-year-old Alison “Kate” LaPorta, as well as using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Nguyen and LaPorta, a mother of two from the Lorton area, had been dating for about a year. On the night of April 17, 2024, the couple was inside LaPorta’s SUV when she was fatally shot. Nguyen drove her to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, where Fairfax County police first made contact with him. She was later transferred to another hospital and pronounced dead.

Multiple Changing Stories and Over 400 Lies
According to prosecutors, Nguyen initially told officers that LaPorta had been struck by a random bullet in a parking lot near a karaoke club in Annandale. Investigators quickly determined the couple had never been there that night.

Nguyen later changed his account, claiming that during an argument in the vehicle, LaPorta grabbed or pushed his hand holding the gun, turned it on herself, and fired—effectively alleging su***de. He admitted in court that some of his earlier statements were false and acknowledged lying to police multiple times. Prosecutors said he told more than 400 lies across his interviews and statements.

Physical evidence contradicted Nguyen’s versions of events. The bullet trajectory, the position of four .45-caliber casings (mostly on the driver’s side), a gun imprint on LaPorta’s seatbelt, and the recovery of the firearm (a CZ 97 BD .45) near Nguyen’s home all pointed to him firing the fatal shot while both were seated in the SUV. LaPorta also had a wrist injury in a brace, which made it difficult for her to handle a handgun.

Evidence of Prior Argument and Threats
Witnesses who were with the couple earlier that day at a pool hall testified that Nguyen and LaPorta had been fighting. One recalled Nguyen making threatening statements, including: “The only way this argument ends is with a bullet” and “I’m going to shoot this girl.”

Video footage shown in court captured Nguyen at the hospital displaying his blood-stained hands to officers shortly after arriving with LaPorta.

The defense argued LaPorta may have shot herself, citing her prior mental health history (including a 2022 hospitalization for schizoaffective disorder) and presenting hundreds of pages of medical records. Jurors rejected that theory and convicted Nguyen after trial.

Sentencing and Family Reactions
Nguyen faced a maximum of 40 years on the second-degree murder charge (plus three years on the firearm count). On February 13, 2026, a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison. If served in full, he would be released in his early 70s.

LaPorta’s family expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying it was not enough justice for the loss of their loved one.
Her daughter, Katlin Lasky, told reporters: “I think he should have gotten the full 40 and plus some.” She described sleepless nights and the profound impact on her and her younger brother (who was 10 at the time of the killing), saying they “lost what was equivalent of everything.” Lasky honors her mother by wearing her jacket, getting a matching tattoo, and keeping her memory alive.
LaPorta’s father, Tim Pounsberry, delivered a victim impact statement calling the murder an “absolute destruction” to the family. “He murdered my daughter,” he said, adding that 23 years “is just not enough.”

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano previously stated after the conviction: “Kate should still be with us today. Max Nguyen’s needless actions stole a daughter from her parents…”

Josh Elkin

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