Summary: This year, criminals shocked us with their dirty deeds, which in one case was literally crappy.
2015 was a shocking year in crime. We learned the sinful deeds of beloved entertainers and respected legal professionals, and we saw crazy criminals do things that we only heard of in fiction.
The following is a compilation of the 15 most shocking crime stories of the year.
15. The Affluenza Teen violates his parole
The world was first introduced to Ethan Couch, lovingly nicknamed the Affluenza Teen, in 2013. The teenager killed four people in a drunk driving accident, and his lawyers successfully argued he was not to blame for his actions because he suffered from “Affluenza.” The bogus-sounding defense worked, and he was sentenced to ten years of probation. But he just couldn’t stay out of the news. Reports surfaced that he had violated his parole by drinking at a frat party, and soon after, he and his mother fled the country. What’s truly shocking about this story is not that Couch continues to be a douche but that this spoiled rich kid may finally get punished for something. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/12/30/legal-writ-keeps-affluenza-teen-and-mom-in-mexico/
14. America’s former favorite TV dad charged with felony sexual assault
Until this year, Bill Cosby’s public legacy would have been being one of America’s favorite TV dads. But those pudding commercials and crazy sweaters masked a man who allegedly drugged and raped women for decades. After dozens of complaints, Cosby was finally charged with sexual assault in Pennsylvania. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/12/30/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sex-crime/
13. DLA piper lawyer stabbed in Washington, D.C.
In February, we reported that David Messerschmitt, a DLA Piper attorney, was killed and allegedly stabbed multiple times in his Washington, D.C. hotel room by Jamyra Gallmon. In May, Gallmon pled guilty to second degree murder. She attacked him in his hotel room after she arrived with the intent to rob him. She had learned he was staying in the hotel from a Craigslist ad he posted seeking a male encounter. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/05/28/dla-piper-attorney-killer-pleads-guilty/
12. Former Power Ranger murders roommate with sword
Ricardo Medina Jr., who once played a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, was arrested in February for allegedly murdering his roommate with a sword. The roommates got in a heated argument before Medina morphed into a ninja and stabbed his roommate in the stomach. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/02/02/former-power-ranger-charged-with-murdering-his-roommate-with-a-sword/
11. Son murders father over $200 allowance reduction
Even if Affluenza is a real thing, its sufferers should still go to prison because they are crazy as hell. Take for instance, Thomas Gilbert Jr. The 30-year-old pretty boy and Bradley Cooper lookalike murdered his Manhattan millionaire father for lowering his allowance. Yes, the thrice decades old stunner still got an allowance. But what’s even crazier is that junior was upset his father lowered the allowance by $200. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/01/06/son-murders-father-after-allowance-reduced-by-200/
10. San Bernardino shooters’ family lawyered up
In December, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, allegedly shot and killed 14 and injured 21 in one of the deadliest mass shootings the United States has seen in years. The family of the couple immediately lawyered up, and authorities stated the couple had ties to terrorist group, ISIS. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/12/04/san-bernardino-shooters-family-lawyered-up/
9. Attorney claims child porn was research for novel
Attorney and aspiring author George Bock Ditter claimed he was only surfing for child pornography on his work computer because he was researching a novel. Not sure why he needed to see the images to write the book, but that was Ditter’s story. He will be formally arraigned in January 2016. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/11/06/attorney-claims-child-pornography-images-were-research-for-sexual-graphic-novel/
8. Teen Bonnie and Clyde finally caught after crime spree
Dalton Hayes, 18, and Cheyenne Phillips, 13, took #RelationshipGoals to a new level when they went on a crime spree in Florida. The two were finally caught when someone found them asleep in their car, but there’s been no word yet whether the star cross’d lovers are still going strong. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/01/19/teen-version-of-bonnie-and-clyde-arrested-in-florida/
7. Married couple steals millions from two law firms
A husband and wife allegedly devised a billing scheme to steal $7.8 million from two law firms. They were caught, of course, but for a few blissful years they enjoyed their blinged out lifestyle so that’s all that matters, amiright? For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/08/26/husband-and-wife-take-7-8-million-from-two-law-firms/
6. Doctor arrested for fake cancer diagnoses
When people think of shitty doctors–they think of that dentist who killed Cecil the lion, the fictional doctor from Human Centipede, and Dr. Farid Fata. Fata received a 45-year sentence for treating patients for cancer–problem was they didn’t have it. Fata just wanted their money. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/07/13/farid-fata-receives-45-years-for-fraudulent-cancer-diagnoses/
5. Six cops indicted for Freddie Gray murder
These past years, it seems as if there is story after story of police killing a black civilian and then not getting indicted(See Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner), so the case of the murder of Freddie Gray was actually a surprise. The police claim he was trying to escape and they injured him during the arrest. He asked for medical assistance, which they ignored. Gray died while in police custody. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/05/22/six-police-officers-indicted-in-freddie-grays-death/
4. Karma finally gets George Zimmerman
Speaking of folks who kill black people but don’t serve time, George Zimmerman made the news again this year. This time, the murderer of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin was shot at in a road rage incident. Ironically, his shooter will claim defense, using Florida’s “stand your ground” law. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/05/12/george-zimmerman-shot-at-in-road-rage-incident/
3. Woman tries to rob store while nude
A West Virginia woman tested the theory whether or not people notice your face if your boobs are hanging out. Drema Setliff attempted to rob a convenience store while naked, but she was arrested by local police. Setliff at the time was holding a towel, which she chose to not cover her body with. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/04/03/west-virginian-woman-tries-to-rob-a-convenience-store-in-the-nude/
2. North Carolina man charged with murder of Food Network star
Cristie Schoen, a reality star on the Food Network, and her husband, Joseph Codd, were allegedly murdered by a man they hired to fix their home. In March, police arrested contractor Robert Jason Owens, 36, for their deaths. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/03/18/north-carolina-man-charged-with-murder-of-food-network-star-and-her-family/
1. Defendant eats his own feces during trial
Andrew Gilbertson allegedly robbed a bank in California, and he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. To drive home that he was insane, he pooped his pants during trial and proceeded to eat it in front of the jury. For the full story: https://www.jdjournal.com/2015/03/27/defendant-eats-his-own-feces-during-trial/
