Charged Archives - Los Gatos News And Events

Handyman, 34, charged with homicide after physique of lacking girl present in septic tank in her yard

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:53:24 +0000

Handyman, 34, is charged with murder after body of missing woman is found in septic tank in her backyard: Police believe she was killed in her house then dumped in the cesspool

Police began searching the backyard for the body of Cynthia Cole, 57, who had been reported missing since February 24
Her body was discovered submerged in the cesspool, buried in her backyard in the 4500 block of NE Skyline Drive in Jensen Beach
Her handyman, Keoki Hilo Demich, 34, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder
Demich had been hired by Cole to be her handyman for the last few years, and was the only person investigators suspicious of after she went missing

By Matt Mcnulty For Dailymail.Com

Published: 18:07 GMT, 6 March 2022 | updated: 01:26 GMT, 7 March 2022

The body of a Florida woman, who disappeared more than a week ago, had been found inside her septic tank – and her handyman has been arrested for murder.

Police began searching the tank for Cynthia Cole, 57, a few hours after arresting her handyman Keoki Hilo Demich on Friday night.

After several hours of excavation, her body was discovered submerged in the cesspool, buried in her backyard in the 4500 block of NE Skyline Drive in Jensen Beach.

Demich, 34, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Cole, who went by Cyndi, had been missing for over a week and was last seen February 24 at a Jammin Jensen event.

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Cynthia Cole, left, was found submerged in the septic tank in her backyard Saturday morning, and Keoki Hilo Demich, right, Cole’s handyman has been charged with her murder

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder and investigators dig into the backyard of Cynthia Cole on March 4 and 5, 2022, one week after the woman was reported missing

Demich had been hired by Cole to be her handyman for the last few years.

He was the only person investigators were suspicious of after she was reported missing.

‘He made several statements that we know are false so he was charged with second-degree murder,’ said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder.

Snyder added that Ring cameras and security footage near Cole’s home show Demich exiting Cole’s car near Demich’s home in Stuart on the same night when Cole was last seen.

There were several other instances of cameras catching Demich near Cole’s vehicle, according to Snyder.

Cole, who went by Cyndi, had been missing for over a week and was last seen February 24 at a Jammin Jensen event

Cole, pictured, was likely murdered in her home before her body was placed in the septic tank, authorities said

After several hours of digging, they eventually pulled Cole’s body out of the septic tank early Saturday morning.

‘I’ve been doing this 40 plus years. I’ve never seen anything like it,’ Snyder said.

Meanwhile, Snyder said detectives are still collecting evidence and added that Demich could face additional charges.

Evidence collected thus far suggests that Cole was likely murdered in her home before her body was placed in the septic tank.

The body has yet to be positively identified by the medical examiner’s office, however authorities say they have every reason to believe that they discovered Cole’s body.

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Florida lady present in septic tank, handyman charged with homicide

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 07:33:01 +0000

The body of a missing Florida woman was found in a septic tank behind her home after she was allegedly killed and dumped there by her handyman, according to police.

Keoki Hilo Demich, 34, was charged with murdering Cynthia Cole, 57, who went missing shortly after attending an art festival in Jensen Beach over a week ago, the Martin County sheriff said on Facebook Saturday.

Cops allegedly found doorbell camera footage of Demich leaving Cole’s Jeep near her home the night she was last seen and arrested him on Friday, according to WPBF News.

Police investigate the crime scene where Cynthia Cole’s body was found. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told the outlet.Facebook/Martin County Sheriff’s

Deputies searched her property and noticed the top of a septic tank in her backyard was ajar — then looked inside and found Cole’s body submerged in the cesspool, police said.

“I’ve been doing this 40-plus years. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told the outlet.

Police say Demich, who had reportedly worked for Cole for several years, likely murdered her in her home before dropping her into the septic tank.

Cynthia Cole went missing shortly after attending an art festival in Jensen Beach.Facebook/Martin County Sheriff’s

Cops allegedly found doorbell camera footage of Keoki Hilo Demich leaving Cole’s Jeep near her home.Facebook/Martin County Sheriff’s

“He made several statements that we know are false, so he was charged with second-degree murder,” said Snyder.

The body has not been positively identified by the medical examiner’s office but police said they “have every reason to believe” it’s Cole.

Cole, who went by Cyndi, was last seen with friends at the Jammin Jensen festival on Feb. 24.

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San Francisco couple charged with human labor trafficking

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 21:34:32 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has filed charges against a married couple, accused of human labor trafficking, according to a press release from her office.

“Domestic workers play an important role in our economy and like all workers should be paid fairly and protected from exploitation,” Jenkins stated in a press release. “Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking due to their isolation within their employers’ homes. Our office stands with the victim and will do everything in our power to hold Jose Aguila and Lorraine Lim accountable and send a message that this conduct will not be tolerated.”

The San Francisco couple brought a nanny, Nicel R., to the United States from the Philippines in June 2019, the DA’s office stated in the press release.

The nanny was “was forced to work seven days a week caring for the suspects’ disabled child in addition to other forced labor in and outside of the home,” she claims, and that while she was told she’d only have to be in the US for three months, that turned into two-and-a-half years.

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“The suspects allegedly isolated Nicel R., who does not speak English, through various means, including by remaining in possession of her passport, restricting her from having friends or cell service, and controlling and monitoring her ability to leave the home/workplace, ” the press release stated. “By making her dependent on the suspects for life’s basic necessities, such as food, shelter and money, Nicel R. lacked the resources to leave her employers.”

For the first several months, Nicel R. was paid $240 a month, the DA’s office stated. Then that was reduced to $40 a month, despite the fact she was required “to be available at all times, even in the middle of the night.” Nicel R. lived in a storage room without heating and stacked with clothes and boxes, the DA’s office claimed.

“Aguila and Lim also did not provide other mandatory employee benefits such as payment for the substantial overtime hours she worked, meal and rest breaks, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation insurance, and proof of wages,” the press release stated. “Nicel R. was saved in large part because of a neighbor’s call to police. Once the neighbor realized what was happening, she alerted the San Francisco Police. The SFPD Special Victims Unit rescued Nicel R. on November 29, 2021, with support from Homeland Security Special Agents. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division supported the victim since the rescue by placing her in a safe environment and providing resources for her to build a life free from abuse.”

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Aguila and Lim surrendered on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.

“Each of the suspects posted bond on $100,000 bails set by the court,” the press release stated. “Pre-trial release conditions include electronic monitoring by the San Francisco Sherriff’s Department, surrendering passports and abiding by the terms of a Criminal Protective Order which states that they must have no contact with the victim and must stay 100 yards away from her. If convicted of all charges, they face each over 19 years in State Prison.”

Anyone with information on labor trafficking is asked to call the SFPD tips line at 1-415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

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Abortion opponent charged with stalking San Francisco physician

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 04:35:08 +0000

An abortion opponent was arranged Thursday on charges of felony stalking and other misdemeanors after he targeted a physician at home and barged into the San Francisco health clinic where the physician works, frightening the doctor, patients and staff, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said.

Aaron Jonathan Hurley, 37, pleaded not guilty to charges that also included misdemeanor obstructing freedom of access to a clinic and vandalism. The Los Angeles resident is affiliated with the group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, Boudin said in a press release.

“Reproductive rights are under attack across the country — and here in San Francisco,” Boudin said. “Make no mistake: anyone who harasses, threatens, or interferes in any way with the constitutionally protected work of doctors and staff — who heroically provide care — will be held accountable.”

Allison Aranda, senior staff counsel with Life Legal Defense Foundation in Napa and Hurley’s attorney, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Boudin’s office said that Hurley and three others on March 14 used a decoy to get into the Women’s Options Center at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. When the nurse went to speak to a woman pretending to need counseling, the group barged into the clinic, began filming and chanting the doctor’s name along with: “We know who you are, we know what you do,” according to the press release .

That night, according to the press release, Hurley and the others went to the doctor’s home, placed stickers that said “a killer lives in your neighborhood” at neighbors’ houses and on the doctor’s front door. They also placed flyers with a QR code that led to a website naming the doctor, forcing the doctor to fear for their safety, the statement said.

The group also allegedly defaced a bronze statue of the Madonna and Child at the hospital the previous night, covering it with what looked like fake blood and stickers with the doctor’s name on it, said the DA’s office.

Two people both featured in the about section of the anti-abortion group’s website were cited and released after the hospital incident. The DA’s office has issued an arrest warrant for another member of the group. The investigation is ongoing.

The judge denied the office’s request for electronic monitoring and released Hurley with orders to stay away from the doctor, said Rachel Marshall, spokeswoman for Boudin’s office. The next court date is June 13.

A leaked copy of a draft opinion made public earlier this month indicates that the US Supreme Court intends to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 ruling that guarantees people the right to terminate their pregnancy.

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Lacking Florida lady’s physique discovered inside septic tank, handyman charged with homicide

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:12:12 +0000

article

Courtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office

JENSEN BEACH, Fla. – A Florida handyman is facing murder charges after the body of 57-year-old Cynthia Cole was found submerged inside the septic tank of her Jensen Beach home, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s office.

Cole was last seen alive on Thursday, February 24, at an event in Downtown Jensen Beach.

According to the MCSO, detectives spent hours excavating Cole’s backyard late Friday night and early Saturday morning and located the body submerged in the contents of the tank about four feet underground.

Shortly afterward, detectives located and arrested 34-year-old Keoki Hilo Demich and charged him with second-degree murder. Demich performed handyman duties for Cole.

Courtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office

The medical examiner’s office is expected to positively identify the body shortly, but detectives say have every reason to believe it is that of Ms. Cole.

The case is still under investigation.

Courtesy: Martin County Sheriff’s Office

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Los Angeles anti-abortion activist charged with stalking, harassing San Francisco physician, defacing statue

Mon, 23 May 2022 15:47:46 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO — An anti-abortion activist has been charged with stalking and harassing a San Francisco doctor, including barging into his workplace and leaving messages on his and his neighbors’ homes with false and inflammatory messages, the district attorney’s office said Thursday.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said Aaron Jonathan Hurley was part of a group of four people that invaded a health care clinic on March 14 and confronted the doctor, filming patients and staff and attempting to enter operating rooms.

Later that night, Hurley and others allegedly went to the doctor’s home and placed permanent stickers saying, “a killer lives in your neighborhood” at neighbors’ houses and on the doctor’s front door. Flyers were also scattered which displayed a QR code that led to a website that provided false claims about abortion procedures and attacked the doctor for providing abortion services.

Hurley and others are also accused of defacing and damaging a bronze statue of the Madonna and Child at San Francisco General Hospital, adding fake blood and stickers with the doctor’s name on it. Other handwritten notes were added that said “harvested” and “sold $500.”

Hurley, a Los Angeles resident, is a member of the activist group PAAU (Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising), Boudin said in a press statement.

“Reproductive rights are under attack across the country and here in San Francisco. Right here in our city, doctors who provide critical health care along with vulnerable patients are being stalked at their homes and places of work,” said Boudin. “My office will unconditionally protect all medical providers and women who exercise their constitutional right to seek abortion or other reproductive health care. Make no mistake: anyone who harasses, threatens or interferes in any way with the constitutionally protected work of doctors and staff – who heroically provide care – will be held accountable. We will ensure that all patients and medical providers are safe.”

A second suspect, identified as Kristen Turner, was cited and released. An arrest warrant was pending for a third suspect identified as Lauren Brice Handy.

Hurley faces charges of felony stalking, as well as misdemeanor charges of obstructing access to a clinic, vandalism, tresspassing, and interfering with a business.

His initial arrangement was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

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Oakland man charged with distributing medicine in San Francisco

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:32:07 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO – A 26-year-old Oakland man has been charged with selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

Dixis Archaga-Reyes appeared in US District Court on Friday to face charges he distributed 40 or more grams of fentanyl and 4 or more grams of methamphetamine, prosecutors said in a news release.

The charges are laid out in a criminal complaint unsealed Friday. Written by Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer Michael Cunnie, the complaint alleges Archaga-Reyes sold drugs at least four times to an undercover officer between Nov. 2 and Feb. 4.

One of the alleged transactions took place Dec. 22 near Seventh and Mission streets. The undercover officer purchased 61.1 grams of fentanyl for $1,000 and 59 grams of methamphetamine for $500 from Archaga-Reyes, according to the complaint.

The transaction which occurred in the undercover officer’s vehicle was recorded, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Archaga-Reyes could face five to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years to life of supervised release for each of the charges.

Archaga-Reyes remained in custody Friday. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 28 for a detention hearing.

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Florida lady present in septic tank, handyman charged with homicide

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 12:59:09 +0000