New Delhi:

New York authorities have charged five individuals for the brutal torture and killing of a 24-year-old transgender man, whose body was dumped in an empty field after going through weeks of abuse.

Sam Nordquist was subjected to relentless physical and psychological torture, according to court documents. He was punched, kicked, beaten with sticks, dog toys, ropes, canes, belts, and even assaulted with a table leg and a broomstick for weeks before succumbing to his injuries.

Nordquist, originally from Minnesota, travelled to New York in September to meet his online girlfriend and was staying at Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua, about 30 minutes from Rochester. His family raised concerns after losing contact with him.

Police launched a missing persons investigation on February 9, and on Thursday, they uncovered a “deeply disturbing pattern of abuse” at the motel, according to New York State Police Captain Kelly Swift.

“In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated,” Ms Swift said at a press conference.

The suspects arrested are:

• Precious Arzuaga, 38, of Geneva, New York
• Jennifer A. Quijano, 30, of Geneva, New York
• Kyle Sage, 33, of Hopewell, New York
• Patrick A. Goodwin, 30, of Rochester, New York
• Emily Motyka, 19, of Lima, New York

All five were arraigned and are being held without bail at the Ontario County Jail.

Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts described the case as “beyond depraved,” pointing to the unimaginable suffering Nordquist endured before his death, as per The NY Post.

“No human being should have to endure what Sam endured,” Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the New York State Police troop overseeing the Finger Lakes region, said as per the Associated Press.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime, but Capt. Swift noted that the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are also working to determine Nordquist’s exact relationship with the suspects and their connections to one another.

“This is by far the worst homicide investigation that our office has ever been a part of,” Ritts added.

Bordeaux, France:

A French court on Friday sentenced a man to 30 years in prison for killing his former partner, who had repeatedly warned authorities that she was in danger after years of abuse.

The 31-year-old victim, Sandra Pla, was found in a pool of blood at her home in Bordeaux, southwest France, in July 2021 with around 50 stab wounds, particularly to her neck and face.

Prosecutors had sought the 30-year sentence in a case that shocked the country, where on average a woman is killed every three days.

Pla had several times reported her former partner as being abusive and harassing her, even writing a letter to President Emmanuel Macron to seek help.

Mickael Falou, 40, had admitted to killing his former partner. 

But during the trial that began Wednesday, he denied premeditated murder and said he could not remember the moment he stabbed her.

Prosecutor Veronique Compan argued, however, that “he intended to go and kill Sandra Pla. He waited for her, he surprised her, he terrified her, and he killed her.”

Falou remained impassive as his conviction was announced.

“Justice has been done,” Pla’s mother, Annie Libourel, said after the verdict. 

But “nothing will bring me back my daughter.”.

‘Should I just wait?’

In 2018, a year after the birth of their daughter, Pla began to confide in those close to her that Falou was being abusive.

She left him in January 2021 and then obtained full custody of their daughter in May 2021.

She had for months complained that the father of her child was harassing her.

Compan said Pla’s murder was a clear case of femicide-the killing of a woman because of her gender, often by a partner or ex-partner-and stressed the importance of fighting “against this plague.”.

Three days before her death, Falou had been arrested and then released under judicial supervision, with an injunction to stay away from Pla.

The prosecutor said that the fact the murder occurred while Falou was supposedly being monitored looked “terrible” for the judiciary.

Elsa Crozatier, the lawyer who has been representing the mother, stepfather, and brother of the victim, said this was a predictable femicide.

She read an extract from a letter the victim wrote to the French president: “His rage is growing and increasingly threatening… Should I just wait around for something bad to happen to me?”

‘Desperate’

One of Falou’s lawyers, Elena Badescu, argued, however, that her client had not killed Pla “because she was a woman” and that he was not possessive or jealous.

Several witnesses on Wednesday recounted how terrified the victim was.

Her parents had for a few months even moved in with her, and she had installed a doorbell with a security camera.

An expert on Thursday described Falou as being “incapable of empathy” and had been trying to portray himself as a victim.

Falou said he had broken into Pla’s house at around 4:30 am on the day he killed her and hidden until she returned after taking their daughter to school.

“I was totally desperate. I was obsessed with showing that they (her family) had made up false evidence” to get custody, he told the court.

In his closing statement, Falou said he was “haunted” by having killed his ex-partner, but between two sobs, he said he felt “misunderstood.”.

He also testified that when hiding outside Pla’s home, he did not remember seeing leave a man who had spent the night with her-though investigators said he surely must have seen.

“Amnesiac when it suits him,” said Daniel Del Risco, lawyer for the victim’s father, adding that Falou “wanted to totally obliterate her.”.

In 2023, 96 women were killed by their partners or ex-partners in France, a drop of 19 percent from 2022, according to the latest figures from the interior ministry.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Two brothers allegedly stabbed their mother’s lover to death, sliced his intestines and tossed them in the air in a grisly crime in Gujarat earlier this week. The two siblings had a resentment towards the victim, Ratanji Thakor (53), as they believed that the victim’s relationship with their mother “insulted” and “dishonoured” their dead father, officials said.

The incident took place in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district on January 26 when the victim, a mason by profession, was building a house with his fellow workers.

According to the police, the accused – Sanjay Thakor (27) and Jayesh Thakor (23) – attacked Ratanji with an iron rod in broad daylight. They then stabbed him in his stomach multiple times. During this time, the victim’s intestines came out. But shockingly, the two men did not stop.

The accused took out the victim’s intestines, tossed them into the air, and sliced it.

Many people who witnessed the incident expressed massive disgust and shock. According to a senior official, some labourers tried to save the victim during the horrifying incident, but failed to do so.

The victim, a mason by profession, had an affair with the accused’s mother since many years.

The two brothers disapproved of the relationship, saying that they were facing embarrassment in the family, officials said.

According to the victim’s son, Ajay, who filed an FIR against the accused, told the police that the two brothers had warned his father to stay away from their mother earlier. They even fought with the victim many times, he said. Following a dispute, the villagers also held a panchayat on the issue but did not find any solution.

The accused fled the scene on a bike after the incident.

The police traced them down through a mobile location within a few hours after the crime and arrested them. The weapons used in the murder have also been seized, officials said.

A case has been registered against the accused for murder and inciting murder.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

New Delhi:

Delhi recorded a slight decline in crimes including murder, robbery, rape, and molestation, last year as compared to 2023, data shared by the Delhi Police said.

According to the data, a total of 504 cases of murder were reported in the national capital – down from 506 in 2023. Incidents of robbery also witnessed a decline from 1,654 to 1,510 in 2024. There were a total of 33 incidents of riots reported in Delhi – at least 10 down from last to last year.

Cases of crimes against women also witnessed a sharp decline last year.

A total of 2,076 incidents of rape were reported in Delhi as compared to the previous year’s 2,141 cases, 2,037 cases of molestation – at least 308 down from 2023, and 362 cases of eve-teasing were reported in 2024 compared to 281 in 2023, the data said.

29 incidents of dacoity were witnessed – the same as the previous year.

However, there was a sharp rise in some incidents such as fatal accidents and burglary. While a total of 1,504 fatal accidents were reported last year – as compared to 1,432 from 2023, at least 29,011 cases of burglary were witnessed – over 400 cases more from the previous year.

Also Read | How Instagram Reels Helped Solve Delhi Man’s Murder

Several incidents of gambling were reported in Delhi last year (3,556 incidents in 2024).

Apart from these, officials said that cases related to the Excise Act saw a sharp rise last year. At least 6,443 cases were reported as compared to 5,951 in 2023. This comes as many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were arrested in the excise policy cases.

Delhi saw a dip in most crimes in 2024.

Over 100 criminals arrested in 2024: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police arrested a total of 114 hardened criminals in 2024, including 40 parole jumpers and wanted offenders each. The other arrested criminals included 18 interim bail jumpers, nine proclaimed offenders, four carrying a reward on their head, and three non-bailable warrant evaders, officials said.

Additionally, six criminals were on the run for over 10 years, while three had evaded arrest for eight years.

“A year of tireless effort and precision, the Crime Branch adopted a multifaceted approach, combining advanced technological tools and traditional intelligence methods. With the use of technical surveillance, CDR and IPDR analysis, and informant networks, various dedicated teams traced and captured offenders who had evaded arrest for years,” Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava, said.

Youngsters in the age cohort 20-30 in Madhya Pradesh’s major cities are increasingly committing heinous crimes to sustain relationship and maintain a high-end lifestyle, shows data

Over the past three years, police records and court documents have revealed a significant surge in such cases, primarily in urban centers like Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Gwalior.

According to Bhopal district court data, the majority of offenders in murder and rape cases belong to the 20-30 age group:

In 2022: 44 convicted for murder, 11 for rape
In 2023: 46 convicted for murder, 18 for rape
Till June 2024: 24 convicted for murder, 8 for rape

For example, take the case of 27-year-old Sheetal Kaushal and her boyfriend Vinod, an MBA student. On May 15, 2024, a vacation to Manali turned tragic when Vinod allegedly killed Sheetal in their hotel room following an argument over lifestyle expenses.

Another grim incident unfolded on Valentine’s Day in 2023 when 20-year-old Raunak from Bhopal allegedly killed his mother for refusing to give him money to buy an expensive gift for his girlfriend and to attend a party.

Similarly, Neeraj Bhavnani, 30, was caught in Bhopal’s New Market while shopping with his girlfriend using stolen money. He had reportedly committed multiple thefts, including chain snatching, to fund his partner’s shopping sprees.

Police officials say these crimes often involve first-time offenders, making investigations challenging.

Speaking about the trend, Bhopal Police Commissioner, Harinarayan Chari Mishra, said, “Most offenders are from other cities, drawn to urban areas by the lure of a better lifestyle. They fall into bad company or give in to pressures, leading to serious crimes. Families and educational institutions need to monitor such behavior closely.”

Advocate Rajendra Upadhyay, a district prosecution officer, said, “Many engineering and medical students are committing crimes to sustain relationships or maintain a luxurious lifestyle. This age group, 18-30, is particularly vulnerable.”

Psychologists, too, are sounding the alarm.

“Social media’s influence and the pressure to project a lavish image are harming today’s youth. Financial literacy and emotional intelligence are critical lessons that parents and schools must impart,” Dr Vinay Mishra noted.

With the rise in such cases, law enforcement agencies are calling for collaborative efforts between families, schools, and communities to guide young individuals and deter them from criminal activities.

While authorities strive to address this growing issue, these incidents underline the urgent need for societal introspection and a stronger focus on values and emotional well-being.

Police personnel near the spot where the prime accused was shot.
| Photo Credit: –

A day after an on-duty constable was stabbed to death by three persons, the prime accused, Raghav alias Rocky, 20, was killed in an encounter in south-east Delhi’s Sangam Vihar on Sunday, the police said.

The other two suspects were arrested a day earlier and booked under Section 103 (murder) of the BNS. The three allegedly killed constable Kiran Pal in south-east Delhi’s Govindpuri around 5.30 a.m. on Saturday following an argument after he signalled them to stop their scooter.

On Saturday evening, a joint team of Delhi Police Special Cell, Narcotics Cell (South East), and the local police conducted a raid in Sangam Vihar after receiving a tip-off about Rocky’s whereabouts, an officer said.

“Close to midnight, the prime accused was identified. The officers instructed him to surrender. However, instead of complying, he opened fire from a close distance at the police party,” the officer added.

Rocky was rushed to Okhla’s ESIC Hospital, where he succumbed to the gunshot wounds. The police recovered a .32 bore pistol with two live rounds from the encounter spot.

No officer involved in the encounter was reported injured.

“All protocols as laid down by law for instances of death in police action are being followed,” said the officer.

Two brothers, under the influence of alcohol, strangled their own brother over a dispute about bringing chicken home in Indira Nagar in Bhopal’s Bairagarh area. The crime, which occurred on November 9, took a sinister turn when the mother attempted to conceal the murder weapon – a rope used in the act.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Anshul Yadav, reportedly had an argument with his elder brother Kuldeep and younger brother Aman.

According to Bairagarh police station officials, the three brothers were intoxicated when Anshul insisted on buying chicken for a party. Kuldeep and Aman, who were against bringing non-vegetarian food into the house, objected, leading to a heated argument. The dispute escalated, and in a fit of rage, the two brothers strangled Anshul with a rope.

After the incident, Kuldeep, Aman, and their mother Anita took Anshul to the hospital, claiming he had fallen unconscious upon returning home.

However, police grew suspicious after noticing rope marks on Anshul’s neck.

When questioned, Anita initially tried to mislead the investigators, claiming Anshul lost consciousness after coming back from outside. It was later discovered that Anita had hidden the rope to protect her sons.

“The argument about non-veg food escalated to the point where Kuldeep and Aman killed their brother in a drunken state. The mother has also been made an accused for attempting to hide the crime,” Bairagarh police station in-charge Kamaljeet Randhawa said.

The family hails from Kheri in Vidisha district, where they own farmland.

Anshul and his brothers worked at a shop in Bairagarh.

The market was closed on the day of the incident, which is why Anshul was adamant about hosting a party at home.

According to the police, the three brothers frequently fought, often fueled by their addiction to alcohol and drugs.

The police have arrested the two brothers and filed a case against them and their mother for hiding evidence and culpable homicide.

New Delhi:

A woman’s body was retrieved from near the Kanpur District Magistrate’s bungalow, four months after she was allegedly murdered.

The accused Vimal Soni, a gym trainer in the Green Park area, confessed during questioning by the police that he had buried the body of the businessman’s wife in an area which comprises bungalows allotted to government officials. The man, a resident of Kanpur’s Raipurwa locality, informed the police about the spot from where the body was found after digging the ground.

The woman had gone missing on June 24 and subsequent probe had found that she was dead.

DCP (North Kanpur) Shravan Kumar Singh told reporters said that the woman was allegedly upset over the man’s wedding getting finalised. On the day of the crime, she had come to the gym after 20 days and the duo had gone into the car to have a conversation. An argument ensued during which he punched her in the neck, following which she fainted. He then murdered her.

Mr Singh said it was difficult to trace the man as he did not use a mobile phone. He added that teams were sent to Pune, Agra and Punjab for investigation. He added that they are yet to ascertain if he took the jewellery that the woman was wearing.

Legal action in the matter, registered at the Kotwali district police station, is being pursued after probing all possible angles in the case.

Melody Sasser, a 48-year-old Tennessee woman, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for attempting to hire a hitman to kill the wife of a man she met on a dating website. According to People, Sasser used the dark website “Online Killers Market” to seek a hitman, offering $9,750 in Bitcoin for a “random” or “accident” killing. According to court documents, Sasser met David Wallace on Match.com and became obsessed after he revealed his engagement. 

Mr Wallace told investigators that their relationship was limited to hiking companionship. Sasser had assisted him on an Appalachian Trail hike and they had also explored trails together in the Knoxville area before he relocated to Alabama and married his now-wife.

However, Sasser’s interest evolved into an unhealthy obsession. After learning of his engagement, she showed up at his Alabama home, making disturbing threats and beginning a campaign of harassment against his now-wife. Sasser monitored the couple’s activities using a fitness app and harassed the wife with six phone calls in one day.

”It needs to seem random or accident. or plant drugs, do not want a long investigation. She recently moved in with her new husband,” she wrote on the website, including details such as the couple’s license plate numbers and the wife’s workplace. 

Sasser also notified the website administrator when he left her home for a mere two-mile walk.

“I have waited for two months and 11 days and the job is not completed. 2 weeks ago you said it has been worked on and would be done in a week. The job is still not done. Does it need to be assigned to someone else? Will it be done? What is the delay? When will it be done,” Sasser wrote in a follow-up message to the website’s administrator.

Ultimately, the plan was unsuccessful. During the search of her home, law enforcement uncovered incriminating evidence, including a journal detailing multiple hitman websites and a handwritten account of her communications with the notorious “Online Killers Market”. Additionally, investigators found a stash of cash hidden beneath a sticky note bearing a Bitcoin address. 

As a result, a federal grand jury indicted Sasser in June last year for utilising interstate commerce facilities to facilitate murder-for-hire. Sasser ultimately accepted responsibility for her crimes through a plea deal. On Wednesday, she received her sentence: 100 months in prison, accompanied by an order to pay over $5,300 in restitution to the victim.