I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 4: “Justified.” During a tragic incident in February, an off-duty sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an off-duty fireman in their upscale Swansboro subdivision. The fireman was [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 5: “Unsealed.” While this story didn’t quite grab everyone like I thought it would, there is no denying its lasting impact on local law enforcement. No [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 6: “Gavel to Gavel.” My publisher once told me the life’s blood of a community newspaper was local trial coverage. This year was a good example. [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 7: “In the public eye part IV – Jail House, Not.” The past year proved troublesome for local government officials as the City of Jacksonville was [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 8: “Marine Behaving Badly.” Taking a pleasant break from murdering women, Marines who allegedly committed criminal acts this past year were accused of some silly shenanigans. [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 9: “Dogs Out” From deputies being attacked to children being mauled, pit bulls continued to live up to their reputation as an aggressive breed. The problem, [...]

I have compiled what I believe to the 10 most captivating local crime stories of the last year. These are the crime stories that got our readership talking. No. 10: “Party Rock.” The year began with a bang. A shooting at The Rock sent two people to the hospital, a man to jail and caused [...]

I’m always amazed that in a modern-day shootout so many bullets are wasted. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anyone getting shot, but when 20 bullets fly between five people and only one person gets hit, it makes you wonder what’s going on. Read the news. Mike McHugh and I went to the scene [...]

A former officer with the North Topsail Beach Police Department is accused of peeping into the bedroom of a nude teenage girl while she toweled off and put on her bra and panties. Read the news here. I spoke with the district attorney late Tuesday, after deadline, and he said the case would be handled [...]

Maria Lauterbach was murdered four years ago this month. Just imagine, she was killed on Dec. 14, and most likely buried the following day. Her body was not discovered until mid-January while her killer went on with his life. I have written a column about people associated with the case moving on. Read it here. [...]

The Guardian has a new, in-depth article online which looks at rape in the U.S. military. Read the story. The article refers to “the case of 24-year-old lance corporal Maria Lauterbach, a marine preparing to testify that she was raped by fellow marine, Cesar Laurean, when she went missing in 2007. Although it was never [...]

A Newport couple have been charged with skinning a puppy. Read the news. Warning: the photograph below this line is graphic and may disturb certain readers. The picture is provided to demonstrate the serious nature of the charges. ——————————————————- ——————————————————- GRAPHIC IMAGE ——————————————————- —————————————————— Photo of skinned puppy provided by Carteret County Sheriff’s Office:

- Looks like this guy may have been planning a little Pearl Harbor of his own. Mr. Austin was loaded for bear but didn’t make it to his destination because Carteret County Sheriff’s deputies stopped him. Read the news. – The N.C. Court of Appeals has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Jarrell Wilson. Read [...]

While one alleged crook was robbing delivery drivers in Jacksonville another was beating up a store clerk with a framing hammer. Is it Black Friday all over again? Read about the guy accused of ordering pizza and Chinese and jacking the delivery drivers. McCarty: Read about the still-at-large suspect accused of robbing the Gum Branch [...]