WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida woman accused of drowning her former partner's 2-year-old daughter has pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder, WPLG-TV reported. Kimberly Lucas was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole after agreeing to a plea deal that may have spared her life. Lucas faced a possible death sentence for killing Elliana … [Read more...]
‘Light the Night’ to Underscore Need for Child Protection Reform in Domestic Violence Laws
For the last year, Ali Kessler has worked through grief to turn tragedy into action. Blocked by courts from protecting her 4-year-old son, Greyson “Gigs” Kessler, from what she knew were growing threats to his safety, she was all but helpless until it was too late. Now, one year after Greyson’s death, a developing nonprofit Kessler created will hold an event to highlight the need for court … [Read more...]
Man Wanted in Mother-Daughter Murder in North Lauderdale Takes Own Life
A man wanted for allegedly gunning down his ex-wife and teen daughter outside their North Lauderdale home last week took his own life Monday, authorities said. Friends identified the victims as Jennifer Bellony and her 15-year-old daughter, and said Anglin was Bellony's ex-husband and the father of the teen. According to court records, Bellony accused Anglin of threatening to kill her, and had … [Read more...]
Father Kills 9-Year-Old Son, Then Shoots Self at St. Pete Apartment Complex
Police said they found a father, 44-year-old Kevin Bybee, and his child 9-year-old Andres Chateau, dead in the father's apartment. Based on the initial investigation, detectives say it seems the father shot his son before turning the gun on himself. The child's mother had come to pick him up after spending the weekend with his father. When no one came to the door and she couldn't reach her … [Read more...]
Florida SB 1796 Would Solidify a Dangerous Precedent for Our Most Vulnerable Children in Family Court
Florida’s family court system already frequently defaults to equal parental time-sharing, even in cases where one parent is a convicted abuser, even without SB 1796. Family court judges are given enormous leeway in their rulings and, should SB 1796 pass, this would simply strengthen their conviction that it is in the ‘best interest’ of the child to have unsupervised time with both parents, … [Read more...]