First-degree murder

Jesus Vargas was sentenced to life in prison without parole for stabbing a man to death in 2022 and attempting to cover up the murder. The conviction occurred in March, and the case is in Lake County, Illinois.

Trevin Beemer, a Shelby Township man, was charged with first-degree murder and multiple weapons offenses after allegedly shooting his stepfather inside their shared home and attempting to prevent a witness from contacting police. He faces additional charges including felony firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and interfering with electronic communications, and was denied bond.

Edgardo Luis Perez, accused of killing Gordon Machek in Farmington Hills in 2001, was arrested in Guatemala after evading capture for nearly 25 years. Perez, who faces charges including felony murder and first-degree murder, was extradited to Michigan and denied bond during his arraignment.

Dennis Michael Sochor, a Florida death row inmate convicted of murdering an 18-year-old woman in 1981, is scheduled for lethal injection and has requested Gov. Ron DeSantis attend his execution. Sochor’s execution would make him the 10th person executed in Florida this year, with DeSantis’s selection process for executions criticized for lacking transparency.

Larry Millete was found guilty of first-degree murder in the disappearance of his wife Maya Millete, who has been missing since January 2021. Her family remains seeking closure until her body is found.

A San Diego County jury found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 disappearance of his wife, Maya Millete, whose body has not been found. Prosecutors presented circumstantial evidence, including his use of 'spellcasters' and internet searches about poisons, to argue he killed her after she planned to file for divorce.

A North Carolina man broke into his ex-girlfriend's apartment, fatally stabbed his 5-year-old son, and was later arrested at a Taco Bell. He has prior criminal history including assault convictions and is being held without bond.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national charged with first-degree murder for killing a West Virginia National Guard member in Washington, D.C., was hospitalized after refusing food while in pretrial custody. Prosecutors stated his condition is life-threatening, prompting an emergency court hearing to address his medical care and access to recent records.

A 31-year-old man in Mecklenburg County allegedly broke into an apartment, entered his 5-year-old son's room, and inflicted fatal injuries before fleeing. The boy died at the hospital, and the father was arrested nearby and charged with first-degree murder.

A 5-year-old boy was killed by his father, Jehaaz-Akil Khaliq Echoles, at Pineville Place Apartments in Mecklenburg County. Echoles was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Larry Millete, accused of murdering his wife Maya Millete, is defended in court as a victim of emotional abuse by his wife. The defense argues that circumstantial evidence and his obsessive behavior stem from her infidelity and psychological turmoil during the pandemic. Prosecution lacks concrete evidence of his involvement in her disappearance.

A Texas mother was found guilty of first-degree murder after intentionally leaving her toddler in a hot car for over two hours and stopping at a McDonald's before taking the child to the hospital.

A man was arrested after a deadly shooting at an apartment complex in Gaston County. James Lewis, 45, is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the death of Terrill C. Gilmore, 34. The shooting occurred at Greenview Meadows Apartments, and Lewis was later found holding his 3-year-old child at Hudson Landings Apartments before surrendering peacefully.

Four suspects charged with the death of 18-year-old Jayden McComber are now facing additional charges, including first-degree murder.

Andrea Shaw, a 23-year-old mother from Idaho, was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her 18-month-old twins, who died in May 2025. Days after their deaths, Shaw and her husband appeared on a podcast produced by the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, suggesting the twins’ deaths were linked to vaccinations.

Andrea Shaw was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly suffocating her 18-month-old twins. The case involves accusations that she killed her children, contrary to her initial claim that they died after vaccinations.

Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two from Maysville, disappeared in 2020 and her remains were found in 2023. Her husband, Barry Morphew, faces a first-degree murder charge and is set for a retrial on July 19, 2027, after a judge granted a delay requested by defense attorneys. The case involves evidence of sedatives found in her system and a prior dismissal in 2022.

Zeff Nikollbibaj, 34, was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing his 78-year-old grandmother, Ana Nikollbibaj, at their shared home in Farmington Hills. A judge denied bond, citing public safety concerns, and prosecutors described the case as a shocking example of domestic violence.

Sierra Rodriguez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the June 24 stabbing death of 74-year-old Michael Shelton in his east Austin home. Austin police confirmed the arrest and charge related to the incident.

Zeff Nikollbibaj, 34, was denied bond after being charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm for allegedly killing his 78-year-old grandmother, Ana Nikollbibaj, in their Farmington Hills home. The judge cited public safety concerns, and prosecutors described the case as a 'reminder that domestic violence takes many forms.'

Jalen Pendergrass, the ex-boyfriend of 17-year-old London Thomas, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in her 2025 death. His mother, Charla Pendergrass, faces separate charges of first-degree murder and other offenses in the case.

A man from Carpentersville was convicted of first-degree murder in a 2023 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old. The conviction relates to a fatal incident involving a drive-by shooting.

A 33-year-old man in a wheelchair was found tied to his chair with plastic bags and died in extreme Phoenix heat. Police arrested one suspect for kidnapping and murder, with a second man believed involved. The victim had diabetes and a recent leg amputation, and witnesses reported seeing him tied up earlier.

A 33-year-old man in a wheelchair, Aaron Goodyke, was found dead outside in Phoenix after being tied to his chair with plastic bags. Police arrested Hector Corrales on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, and an unidentified man is also suspected. Goodyke, who was diabetic and had a recent leg amputation, was seen tied up and mumbling earlier by witnesses before his death.

Sidney Terrance Johnson, a Los Angeles man charged with first-degree murder in the 2021 death of Bertha Hernandez on the Foothill Freeway, will return to court for a pretrial hearing in Pasadena. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in Department F of the Pasadena Courthouse.

A 22-year-old was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed in Petersburg. The incident occurred earlier this month.

Christopher Leahy, charged with first-degree murder in the killing of UW student Juniper Blessing, was found not competent to stand trial and will receive mental health treatment at Western State Hospital.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Bellevue woman. He is being held on $5 million bail.

The father of an infant killed by a 10-year-old in St. Louis was arrested and charged with second-degree felony murder and endangering the welfare of a child. The 10-year-old, who shot the 7-month-old infant, was charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court, making him potentially the youngest person in Missouri history to face such charges.

A 32-year-old man, Slava Pak, was charged with first-degree murder after his mother, Larisa Pak, was found shot to death in Union County, North Carolina. Deputies were called to a home after Slava reportedly turned himself in and admitted to committing a crime, leading to the discovery of his mother's body with multiple gunshot wounds. He is also a suspect in a separate shooting in Chester County, where the victim survived.

A United States Postal Service worker, Brandi Byrd Reynolds, was shot and killed in Wilkes County, North Carolina, on June 26. William Craig Durham, 56, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the case. Authorities are continuing the investigation with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.

A 16-year-old boy is accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old girl in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, leading to the boy's arrest and charge with first-degree murder. He is currently held at Dyer County Juvenile Hall awaiting a hearing.

Blaise Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout, is on trial for first-degree murder after being accused of spiking his pregnant girlfriend Jade Benning's drink with cocaine, leading to her death from acute cocaine toxicity. The prosecution presented testimonies from witnesses, including a detective and Taylor's former girlfriends, while the defense challenged evidence and Taylor's state of mind.

A Joliet man has been sentenced to 73 years in prison for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and other charges.

Kamari Porter, an 18-year-old wanted in a February 1 double homicide in Concord, turned himself in to authorities and faces two counts of first-degree murder and other charges. Four other suspects in the case have already been arrested, and two victims were killed while two others were hospitalized. Porter is being held without bond, with a court date set for Monday.

A 14-year-old teen was found guilty of first-degree murder for beating and stomping Davy to death outside a church in Oxnard on June 4, 2025. Surveillance footage captured the incident, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

A Royal Oak nanny, Samantha Booth, faces trial for first-degree murder and other charges after being accused of stabbing 83-year-old David Ong over 40 times. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, including a neighbor comparing the event to a horror movie, and a family member encountering Booth covered in blood during the confrontation.

Florida executed 74-year-old Dusty Ray Spencer for the 1992 murder of his wife, making him the oldest person executed in the state's modern history. He was put to death via a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison, and the execution marked the ninth this year in Florida.

Connie Graham, the stepmother of missing Robeson County woman Sara Graham, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, and stealing, altering, in connection with Sara's disappearance and death. The case also involves Sara's two sons, who were arrested alongside her.

A Crime Stoppers tip helped identify 19-year-old Kmari Knotts, charged with first-degree murder and four counts of assault after a shooting at a Charlotte pool party that killed 20-year-old Richard Thomas and injured four others. Knotts was arrested on May 16 and denied bond, while the victim’s mother, Shonda Seals, expressed partial relief but sought justice through the legal process.