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☆ Mother arrested in cold case death of newborn girl found in California dumpster 37 years ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The mother of a newborn baby discovered dead in a dumpster in California nearly 40 years ago has been arrested, accused of murder after she was identified using DNA technology. The newborn baby girl was found by a man rummaging for recyclables in a dumpster behind a business in the 5400 block of La Sierra Avenue in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987, Riverside Police said. The department was aided by Season of Justice, a nonprofit that provides financial aid for investigative agencies and families to solve cold cases using DNA analysis and forensic genealogy. Avila, who was 19 at the time of the child’s death, was located across the country in Shelby, North Carolina. “Thanks to the persistent efforts of our investigators and partners, this victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said in a statement.

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☆ DNA leads police to arrest of mother in 1987 California baby death
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Melissa Alonso | Steve Almasy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Cold case investigators have arrested a 55-year-old woman in North Carolina in connection with the death of a newborn girl found in a California dumpster 37 years ago, according to the Riverside Police Department. Through DNA testing, detectives identified the baby’s mother as Melissa Jean Allen Avila, police said in a Thursday news release. In 2020, the department’s new homicide cold case unit reopened the case. “Othram assisted with investigators’ reference testing efforts using (a method of testing that) allows investigators to infer kinship in closely and distantly related individuals,” the company said. “Thanks to the persistent efforts of our investigators and partners, this victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said.

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☆ Mystery deepens as friends reveal accused 'catfisher' visited longtime girlfriend in days before killing a teen's family
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

Efforts to reach Edwards’ family have been unsuccessful. Neither Gates nor the second friend knew about the trip ahead of time, a move Gates described as unusual. The second friend said he learned of it from Edwards' father after Edwards didn't let him know he was heading home. In a text message with the second close friend, the girlfriend described Edwards' trip as "spontaneous" and said everything had gone well, the second friend said. He wanted to move back to southwestern Virginia, where he could be closer to friends and family, Gates said.

☆ Authorities blame 'human error' for hiring of ex-trooper accused of 'catfishing' teen and killing her family
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Authorities in Virginia said Wednesday that “human error” led to the hiring of a former state trooper accused of killing a California family after he "catfished” their teenage relative. In a statement, Virginia State Police said an administrative review found "human error resulted in an incomplete database query" during the hiring process for Austin Edwards, 28. “The department is also proactively auditing existing personnel records and practices.”The statement added that Edwards didn't disclose anything that would have disqualified him from the job. NBC News has not confirmed the details of the report, and Wednesday’s police statement didn't address the matter. Virginia State Police previously said a background check found no “indicators of concern” when Edwards was hired.

☆ Ex-trooper bought home, blacked out windows, weeks before allegedly killing family of teen he catfished, seller says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Property records from Smyth County, Virginia, list Austin Lee Edwards as the owner of the home on Allison Gap Road. “It still doesn’t feel real," Gordon told NBC affiliate WCYB of Bristol, Virginia. A fire that authorities believe was intentionally set broke out at their home and Edwards allegedly drove off with the teen. Gordon said Edwards told him that he moved to the area because he'd grown up in the region and wanted to return. The last time Gordon said he saw Edwards was Tuesday, Nov. 22, three days before the Wineks were killed.

☆ Ex-Virginia trooper posed as teen for ‘sextortion’ in catfishing of girl whose family he killed, police say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

"Sextortion" drove an ex-Virginia trooper’s catfishing of a teen girl and killing of her mother and grandparents in Southern California last week, police said at a news conference Wednesday. “This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children,” Gonzalez said. A spokesperson for the Riverside Police Department did not immediately respond to follow-up inquiries from NBC News. Police are also are investigating what Edwards' intention was with the girl following the fire and murders, officials said. When deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department caught up to Edwards, the suspect fired gunshots at them, before being fatally shot by at least one deputy, police said.

☆ Virginia law enforcement worker killed in shootout with deputies after murdering family of teen he catfished, police say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A Virginia law enforcement worker has been killed in a shootout with deputies in California after he allegedly murdered the mother and grandparents of a teenage girl he catfished online, before trying to escape with the teen, police said on Sunday. The Riverside Fire Department arrived at the residence to find a fire on the first floor. The teen was unharmed and was placed into protective custody of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, police said. Police said it was believed Edwards had developed an online relationship with the teen and was able to obtain her personal information. It was not immediately clear what roles Edwards held with either the Virginia State Police or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

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