Brutally Tortured Teen Tied to Tree Dies From Dehydration

MACCLESFIELD, N.C. — A 13-year-old left tied to a tree as punishment for 18 hours in June had been badly beaten and likely died from dehydration and heat stroke, an autopsy report showed.

The report, made public Monday, also says Tyler McMillan's body was covered with insect bites and he had bruises caused by a rod-like instrument and flesh missing from his buttocks. Marks on his wrists and ankles show he may have been restrained with plastic ties.

Authorities say Tyler McMillan's parents found him unresponsive on June 12 after he had been tied to a tree overnight as punishment. His father, Brice McMillan, and stepmother, Sandra McMillan, have been charged with murder and felony child abuse.

Autopsy results were released after Raleigh television station WRAL challenged a judge's order to seal the results based on a defense motion. Attorneys for WRAL wrote Superior Court Judge Franklin R. Brown in late October to challenge his ruling. The station received a copy of the autopsy on Monday, along with an order from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch Jr. The station provided a copy to The Associated Press.

The report says Tyler McMillan's body temperature was 105.6 degrees when he arrived at the hospital. Brice McMillan told a deputy the teen was tied to a tree and forced to sleep outside on June 10 because he was being disobedient. Tyler McMillan was released the next morning, but again tied up that night for bad behavior. more

Man loses arm in watercraft accident off

POMPANO BEACH - A 22-year-old man's arm was severed in a personal watercraft accident Saturday near the Hillsboro Inlet.The man had been riding on an inner tube that was tied to the personal watercraft with a rope, which he had wrapped around his arm. A large wave apparently struck the watercraft and inner tube with such force that the rope tightened around the man's arm and cut right through, authorities said. more

Criminals received invitation to take part in "scratch off" for cash

CHICAGO — There's more than one way to catch a fugitive. Turns out a promise of extra holiday cash makes an effective trap this time of year.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said Sunday that a fugitive sweep led to the arrest of 230 suspects on warrants for forgery, aggravated battery and other crimes.
More than 60 of those suspects fell for a ruse with a holiday theme. They got invitations to take part in a survey to help retailers figure out the needs of holiday shoppers.
Included was a "scratch off" card redeemable for at least $500 if they brought it along to the hotel where the survey would be conducted. Those who showed up were taken into custody.
One of the fugitives arrived with marijuana in his pocket. Possession of cannabis was added to his charges.

Neighbor makes fake 911 calls because she wanted to know what neighbors were doing

Just after 8:30 this morning, Temple Terrace police say they received a call that the resident of a home on 5400 E. Busch Blvd. was injured and that a man was in the yard firing a revolver.

When police arrived at the scene, they saw a familiar figure walking from a payphone at a nearby Kmart where the calls were made, according to a report.

According to the report, police questioned Lorrie Ann Fernandez, 39, who denied making any calls. Then the officers recognized Fernandez.

Last month, she called 911 to report that someone was possibly injured and that she heard gunshots. At the time, she told police that she called 911 "because she wanted to know what her neighbors were doing." more

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