Tree Man Faces New Operations

TANJUNG JAYA, Indonesia (Reuters) - An Indonesian man dubbed the "tree man" because of the gnarled warts all over his body said on Friday his condition had worsened again although he still hoped to recover and find a job.

Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, returned home from hospital in August after six kilograms (13 pounds) of warts were surgically removed from his body and has been treated as an out-patient since.

"Those (warts) that were removed are growing again and started to reappear after I returned home," Dede told Reuters, adding that for a time he could go fishing and use a cell phone but now needed assistance again for such activity.

An American doctor has previously said the warts were the result of severe Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) infection, but the disease is not life-threatening. Doctors say his case is thought to be the worst of its type in the world. more

Prosecutors says L.A. Serial Killer may be 4 or 5

Four or more men may be responsible for the murders of dozens of women in Los Angeles in the 1980s and 1990s, in what became known as the "Southside Slayer" killings, police and prosecutors say.

Prosecutors have charged a convicted murderer already serving life in prison, Michael Hughes, with four new killings that took place in South Los Angeles between 1986 and 1993. Hughes, 52, pleaded not guilty Wednesday. His attorney, Michael Kallen, declined to comment on the case.

The killings occurred during a crime wave linked to the crack cocaine epidemic that swept through the city. Police initially believed many of the victims, often poor, drug-addicted women, were targets of a serial killer known as the Southside Slayer.

Using DNA evidence, detectives reinvestigating unsolved cases from that era now believe that many of the killings attributed to the Southside Slayer were in fact the work of several men who were stalking the same area during the same time. more

Shooting victim goes to work with bullet in head

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A man who was hit by a stray bullet in the back of the head is back at work - with the slug still stuck in his skull. E.T. Strickland, 74, a commercial real estate seller, said the bullet hurts, but not enough to keep him from his job. more

Mother and Daughter charged with battery of a police officer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A police officer at Riverside High School wound up in a fight with a mother and a student as he tried to escort them off school property today.

It all started with a bad situation that wound up getting a lot worse.

A fight broke out in the girls' bathroom about 11 a.m. today. Students had gathered to watch.

The fight was broken up by teachers, along with the on-duty school resource officer, Sgt. B.D. Reynolds, according to a statement issued by Kanawha County Sheriff's Lt. Bryan Stover.

During the commotion, a 15-year-old girl became belligerent and started cursing at one of the teachers, Stover said. The girl was escorted to Principal Paula Potter's office, where she was suspended for her behavior and aggression toward the teacher, Stover said.

The girl's mother, Tina Williams, 36, was called to pick her up from the high school in Quincy, but when she arrived she was very upset.

Williams started causing a disturbance in the school and tried to search the hallway for the teacher her daughter was accused of behaving aggressively toward, Stover said. Williams made threats toward the teacher, according to the deputy's statement.

Reynolds was able to stop Williams and escort her and her daughter out of the building. Williams refused to leave school property, and Reynolds placed her under arrest.

While Reynolds was trying to handcuff Williams, the girl approached the officer and punched him in the face. more

Colorado Doctor Finds Foot In Newborn's Brain

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A Colorado Springs family is part of one of the strangest cases in medical history.

Dr. Paul Grabb, a pediatric brain surgeon, said he discovered a small foot growing inside the brain of 3-day-old Sam Esquibel, reported KMGH-TV in Denver.

The appendage threatened the newborn's life When Grabb performed the life-saving surgery at Memorial Hospital for Children in Colorado Springs, he was in for another surprise: he also found what appeared to be parts of an intestine in the folds of the infant's tiny brain, in addition to another developing foot, hand and thigh. more

Florida Man Steals Hearse During Funeral

WEST PARK, Fla. — Authorities say a Hallandale Beach man stole a hearse as mourners attended a funeral.

The Broward Sheriff's Office reports that 18-year-old Johnny Silfrain jumped into a black hearse parked outside a West Park church Wednesday morning and drove off.

The report says Silfrain stopped at his house and asked relatives if they wanted to go for a ride in a hearse. Deputies eventually spotted the hearse heading back toward the church and began pursuit.

When deputies tried to take Silfrain into custody, authorities say he drove toward one of them. Silfrain was shot in the leg but kept driving. The service was still in progress when Silfrain got back to the church. He was arrested and taken to a hospital for his injury.

Charges are pending.

Mafia Boss Hangs Himself in Prison After Arrest

One of the Mafia bosses and clan members arrested in a major police crackdown hung himself in his prison cell in Palermo, Italy, just hours after his arrest Tuesday.

Gaetano Lo Presti, 52, who had taken over control of Mafia clans in the Porta Nuova area of Palermo and had previous convictions, was found dead in Pagliarelli prison, police said Wednesday.

Authorities had ordered the sweeping raids to prevent what they said were mob efforts to rebuild Cosa Nostra. Some 90 suspects were arrested in the blitz.

His suicide appeared to be related to clan feuds. Lo Presti took over the Porta Nuova district only a year ago, after the murder of a rival boss, Niccolo Ingarao.

In addition, investigators said Lo Presti may have feared a revenge attack after his intercepted telephone calls were used as evidence by anti-Mafia police to track down Giuseppe Salvatore Riina, son of the imprisoned Cosa Nostra Godfather, Toto Riina. Giuseppe Riina is serving a 14-year sentence for Mafia association, extortion and money laundering. more