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.

Michael Tavon Moore, 34, has been indicted on first-degree murder and weapons charges for the 2022 shooting death of James Curtis Jones, 32. He faces grand jury and term hearings on July 13 in Newport News, Va.

Blaise Taylor, a former college football player and Titans scout, faces trial for allegedly poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, who died in March 2023. Taylor is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder in connection with Benning's death and the loss of their fetus.

Broderick Maurice Falls was arrested nine years after Raymond James Johnson, a pawn shop manager in southeast Charlotte, was shot and killed on August 3, 2017. Surveillance video showed a white van and car involved in the incident, with Falls charged with first-degree murder and jailed in Mecklenburg County.

Jury selection started for Blaise Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout accused of poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, in 2023. Benning and the fetus died following the incident, and Taylor faces two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder. He was arrested in March 2024 but released after paying 10% of a $2.5 million bond.

The trial of Blaise Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout accused of poisoning his girlfriend Jade Benning with cocaine, leading to her death and that of their unborn baby in 2023, is set to begin with jury selection. Taylor faces two counts of first-degree murder and was indicted in March 2024 after a grand jury review, having posted a $2.5 million bond in April 2024.

A 51-year-old man is accused of beating a missing 15-year-old boy to death in Louisiana, with police citing evidence including bloodstains and surveillance footage linking the suspect to the crime. The victim was last seen in Baton Rouge on June 5, and the suspect had prior charges related to inappropriate behavior with juveniles.

Blaise Taylor is attempting to block key forensic evidence in a Nashville murder case just days before his trial. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder for the deaths of his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child.

Alden John Whitehead was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering his 2-year-old son, Louis Whitehead. The conviction followed a jury trial in Union County, where he was charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.

A 19-year-old accused of first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Toronto police officer made his first court appearance from a hospital bed. The incident occurred last week, leading to the charge.