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Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
Woman who allegedly murdered New York girlfriend, cut her body into 13 pieces and took on her identity arrested 18 years later
A Georgia woman was arrested for the murder and years-long identity theft of her girlfriend, a New Yorker who was found dismembered beyond recognition in a burning body bag nearly 18 years ago, according to authorities. Angel Thompson has been charged with the December 2007 murder of Nicole Alston, a 24-year-old woman from Manhattan who was discovered cut into 13 pieces, with her hands, feet, and head missing in a burning body bag on the side of a quiet Georgia road, Fulton County officials announced at a press conference on Wednesday. 'It took a true sociopath to do what happened here,' Clay Bryant, an investigator with the Troup County Sheriff's Department, said. The missing parts of Alston's body were never located, and the condition of her remains led to the 16-year lag in her identification, officials said. But, in early 2023, the case was reviewed, and DNA evidence that matched a relative helped authorities confirm the remains belonged to Alston, whose last known location was Manhattan. Investigators learned that Alston left the Big Apple in 2007 to live with Thompson, who was wanted at the time in New York for theft and identity fraud, according to documents obtained by Fox 5 News. Thompson allegedly trafficked Alston before she was murdered, and the two had an abusive, coercive relationship, authorities said. 'We believe this victim was trafficked prior to her murder, that this involved classic domestic violence, where this young lady [Thompson] was basically not going to allow both her lover and, i hate to say such a nasty term, but her cash cow, the person that was bringing her money, go,' Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said at the press conference. On the night Alston was killed, she had already begun to go on dating apps and look for other women, Detective John Nanoff told reporters. After Alston's remains were discovered, Thompson allegedly stole her identity to collect social security benefits, food stamps, and Section 8 housing under her name for eight years. She then opened bank accounts, email accounts, and even swapped Alston's photo with her picture on her driver's license in 2010, Nanoff said. 'It's astounding what she was able to do, what she did for how long she did it,' Nanoff said. 'I've never seen something so calculated and meticulous before,' he said. In 2015, when the Social Security Administration contacted her to confirm her identity to continue benefits, Thompson began using her original identity, Fox 5 reported. She collected roughly $140,000 in government benefits under Alston's identity, Nanoff said. In August 2023, Thompson was arrested for concealing Alston's death, the outlet reported. Finally, on Tuesday, she was arrested and charged with Alston's murder and two counts of identity theft, nearly two years later, records show. Sylvia Austin, the mother of the victim, said she never stopped looking for her daughter after she went missing. 'She didn't deserve this, and I wish I'd never let her come to Georgia,' she said. 'She was the life of the party. She was happy, and through all of her trials and struggles, she always made everything seem OK. She was always the one people called on to talk to,' she said. Willis indicated prosecutors will take their time with Thompson's indictment due to the elaborate nature of the case. Officials urged anyone with information about Thompson or the couple to reach out to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. The alleged killer is currently in custody at Fulton County Jail without bond, according to court records. Originally published as Woman who allegedly murdered New York girlfriend, cut her body into 13 pieces and took on her identity arrested 18 years later
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Woman who allegedly murdered NYC girlfriend, cut her body into 13 pieces and took on her identity arrested 18 years later
A Georgia woman was arrested for the murder and years-long identity theft of her girlfriend, a New Yorker who was found dismembered beyond recognition in a burning body bag nearly 18 years ago, according to authorities. Angel Thompson has been charged with the December 2007 murder of Nicole Alston, a 24-year-old woman from Manhattan who was discovered cut into 13 pieces, with her hands, feet, and head missing in a burning body bag on the side of a quiet Georgia road, Fulton County officials announced at a press conference on Wednesday. 4 Angel Thompson has been charged with the December 2007 murder of Nicole Alston, a 24-year-old woman from Manhattan who was discovered cut into 13 pieces in a burning body bag on the side of a quiet Georgia road. Fulton County Sheriff Advertisement 'It took a true sociopath to do what happened here,' Clay Bryant, an investigator with the Troup County Sheriff's Department, said. The missing parts of Alston's body were never located, and the condition of her remains led to the 16-year lag in her identification, officials said. But, in early 2023, the case was reviewed, and DNA evidence that matched a relative helped authorities confirm the remains belonged to Alston, whose last known location was Manhattan. Advertisement Investigators learned that Alston left the Big Apple in 2007 to live with Thompson, who was wanted at the time in New York for theft and identity fraud, according to documents obtained by Fox 5 News. Thompson allegedly trafficked Alston before she was murdered, and the two had an abusive, coercive relationship, authorities said. 4 Nicole Alston had been using dating apps to look for a new partner on the night her girlfriend allegedly killed her. Fulton County Sheriff 'We believe this victim was trafficked prior to her murder, that this involved classic domestic violence, where this young lady [Thompson] was basically not going to allow both her lover and, i hate to say such a nasty term, but her cash cow, the person that was bringing her money, go,' Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said at the press conference. Advertisement On the night Alston was killed, she had already begun to go on dating apps and look for other women, Detective John Nanoff told reporters. After Alston's remains were discovered, Thompson allegedly stole her identity to collect social security benefits, food stamps, and Section 8 housing under her name for eight years. She then opened bank accounts, email accounts, and even swapped Alston's photo with her picture on her driver's license in 2010, Nanoff said. 4 After Alston's remains were discovered, Thompson allegedly stole her identity to collect social security benefits, food stamps, and Section 8 housing under her name for eight years. Fulton County Sheriff Advertisement 'It's astounding what she was able to do, what she did for how long she did it,' Nanoff said. 'I've never seen something so calculated and meticulous before,' he said. In 2015, when the Social Security Administration contacted her to confirm her identity to continue benefits, Thompson began using her original identity, Fox 5 reported. She collected roughly $140,000 in government benefits under Alston's identity, Nanoff said. 4 Thompson allegedly trafficked Alston before she was murdered, and the two had an abusive, coercive relationship. Fulton County Sheriff In August 2023, Thompson was arrested for concealing Alston's death, the outlet reported. Finally, on Tuesday, she was arrested and charged with Alston's murder and two counts of identity theft, nearly two years later, records show. Sylvia Austin, the mother of the victim, said she never stopped looking for her daughter after she went missing. 'She didn't deserve this, and I wish I'd never let her come to Georgia,' she said. Advertisement 'She was the life of the party. She was happy, and through all of her trials and struggles, she always made everything seem OK. She was always the one people called on to talk to,' she said. Willis indicated prosecutors will take their time with Thompson's indictment due to the elaborate nature of the case. Officials urged anyone with information about Thompson or the couple to reach out to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. The alleged killer is currently in custody at Fulton County Jail without bond, according to court records.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers will now have to pay a toll to leave this N.J. expressway service area
Drivers who used a backstreet at the Garden State Parkway's Connie Chung service area to avoid a toll or get a meal have hit the end of the road. The surreptitious route between the service center and a Bloomfield neighborhood is officially off limits to drivers using it as a way to beat the southbound Parkway toll, officials said. The change was first reported by Fox 5 news, which said the driveway off Broad Street was used by residents to go to the service area for a snack, but it was also discovered by drivers looking to beat the toll instead of getting off at the next exit. That driveway behind the service area had been closed off by a gate to prevent cars from exiting onto Broad Street in Bloomfield until Aug. 17, 2022, Tom Feeney, a spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority told NJ Advance Media. That's when the service area was closed for renovations, he said. 'When the new building opened on Aug. 9, 2023, the driveway between the service area and Broad Street was two-way, cars could enter or exit,' he said. But some drivers learned they could use that hidden driveway to avoid paying the $1.15 toll at Exit 151 Toll Plaza. The Turnpike Authority did a traffic analysis and 'discovered that a large number of vehicles were leaving the southbound Parkway and cutting through the service area to exit onto Broad Street to avoid the toll' at the Watchung Avenue exit, Feeney said. How much was lost in toll revenue wasn't calculated, but the added traffic put pedestrians on local streets at risk, he said. 'That was not just a toll revenue issue, but also a safety issue,' he said. 'The parking lot and driveway in the service area are not designed to serve as a Parkway exit ramp.' Three months ago, the driveway at the rear of the service area was converted to one-way, and traffic was prohibited from exiting onto Broad Street, Feeney said. Residents can still go to the service center for food but to get home, they'll have to 'tip' the Parkway a $1.15 toll at the next exit. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@ Follow him on X@CommutingLarry and on BlueSky@ Solve the daily Crossword
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Gulf Coast Stapletons influencer DEFENDS shamed husband after he plead guilty to 20 counts of having child abuse images
Wife Brittani said she and her husband are 'still happy' despite the vile charges STANDING BY Gulf Coast Stapletons influencer DEFENDS shamed husband after he plead guilty to 20 counts of having child abuse images AN INFLUENCER has defended her husband online after he was sentenced to prison for child abuse images. Joshua Stapleton, 39, and his wife Brittani, 31, document their Gulf Coast travels across social media, posting what on the surface seems like a perfect life - but it's far from the truth. Advertisement 6 Joshua Stapleton, 39, and his wife Brittani, 31, document their Gulf Coast travels across social media Credit: gulfcoast_stapletons 6 The pair have amassed over one million likes across TikTok and Instagram Credit: gulfcoast_stapletons 6 Stapleton received a 20-year sentence Credit: Bartow County Sheriff's Office Jail 6 Wife Brittani has made it clear she stands with her husband in a TikTok video Credit: gulfcoast_stapletons The pair have amassed over one million likes across TikTok and Instagram with more than 81,000 followers, sharing workout videos, meals and vacations. But their popularity has certainly diminished since investigators made the heinous discovery that husband Stapleton had downloaded child abuse images, Fox 5 News reports. Over four years since authorities initially launched their investigation, Stapleton received a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children. Five years are to be served in custody and the remaining 15 on probation. Advertisement But wife Brittani has made it clear she stands with her husband and posted a lengthy TikTok video addressing frequently asked questions on the harrowing situation. She started the video by threatening legal action against anything spreading what she called "false" statements being spread about her husband that are "damaging" to his reputation. Brittani said she knew about the charges against her husband, who wed in 2023, as they were friends before they started dating. She said: "When the charges occurred, we were friends. [...] I have a really good judge of character and I knew something was up. I knew that was not Josh. Advertisement "We had already been on several trips together beforehand. I'd spent pretty close time with this guy and I was like, hmm, something's wrong here. "Josh was absolutely upfront with me about everything in the charges. There were no secrets." Brit, 22, arrested at Disneyland Paris after 'trying to marry girl, 9, in bizarre ceremony at Sleeping Beauty castle' Stapleton's arrest followed an investigation launched by the Cartersville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, supported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Homeland Security. The investigation was launched based on a tip submitted through the Internet Crimes Against Children program. Advertisement It was during this probe the 39-year-old was exposed for downloading numerous child abuse images between 2018 and 2020. Addressing another question from concerned social media users, Brittany defended that the couple's friends with children are aware of the charges against Stapleton. She said: " We've always been absolutely upfront with everyone. And guess what? "A lot of these people have our backs because they have personally witnessed Josh around their children and know that there's no issue." Advertisement Stapleton was originally charged with 15 counts of child pornography possession, but was later indicted on a harrowing 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children. He ultimately accepted a non-negotiable plea deal and pleaded guilty to 20 counts, while the remaining 20 charges were dropped. Brittani shockingly rejected the claim that child images were on his "work laptop," slamming them as "false". She ranted: " Josh could not possibly have that on his work laptop because if you have ever worked for a corporation or any big company or anything along those lines, you know how secure those computers are." Advertisement Brittani also pushed back against accusations that they were merely showing "fake lives" across their social media platforms, and said they are "still happy" as a couple despite the vile charges. She rambles: " We are still happy. He and I have no issues. He has been fully transparent and honest with me. "Therefore, I know everything. I have been to court. I know everything. I can assure you that nothing about us was fake." Stapleton will have to abide by multiple "sex offender" conditions upon his release. Advertisement Bartow County authorities haven't released additional information about the plea proceedings. Stapleton is currently being held in the Bartow County Sheriff's Office Jail. 6 Stapleton (R) was originally charged with 15 counts of child pornography possession, but was later indicted on a harrowing 40 counts of sexual exploitation of children Credit: gulfcoast_stapletons 6 Stapleton (R) ultimately accepted a non-negotiable plea deal and pleaded guilty to 20 counts, while the remaining 20 charges were dropped Credit: gulfcoast_stapletons
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
College students, agitators and a Hamptons brat among 86 arrested at rowdy NYC anti-ICE protest
They shouldn't have trouble making bail. Cops cuffed 86 demonstrators at a rowdy anti-ICE rally in Lower Manhattan Tuesday, among them the daughter of a Moroccan actor, a self-proclaimed poet from an upscale college and a coed whose family owns a posh home in the Hamptons, The Post has learned. 'My sense is, the vast majority of the 2,500 people that were there, were there to protest peacefully,' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Fox 5 News. 'There was a smaller group of a few hundred where we did have to make arrests. Some of them were looking for trouble.' The protest in Foley Square against deportation arrests by federal immigration agents began peacefully but grew increasingly violent shortly after 5 p.m., with the mob hurling bottles at cops and throwing traffic cones into traffic, an NYPD spokesperson said. Of the 86 who were charged, 52 were issued summonses for disorderly conduct and other minor charges, while 34 were arrested and charged with more serious crimes, including felony assault. Among those busted was Vega Gullette, a 19-year-old student at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers who describes herself as 'a Moroccan-American writer, artist, and lover of junk.' The teen, who was charged with attempted assault in the second-degree and obstructing government administration, is the daughter of Sean Gullette, an actor, screenwriter and director whose credits include the Darren Aronofsky films 'Requiem for a Dream' and 'Pi.' Gullette had a group of friends show up to her court hearing on Wednesday in a show of support, some of whom draped themselves in keffiyehs, which are associated with pro-Palestine political movements. Also among those charged was Rachel Schreiber, 22, of Brooklyn, who is facing resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and attempted assault charges in the melee. She smiled when she saw the large group of friends, some of whom wore masks, who showed up for her hearing in Manhattan criminal court. 'So many,' she said to herself while she walked out of the courtroom. Records show her parents own a $3 million home in Westhampton Beach. 'I'm not giving any reaction,' her mother told The Post Wednesday. 'I'm not ready to talk about this with the press.' Some of the pinched protesters are no strangers to Big Apple demonstrations. Robert Mills, 40, who was charged with reckless endangerment and issued a disorderly conduct citation in Tuesday's scuffle, was charged with obstructing governmental administration in April during an anti-Israeli protest in Brooklyn, the Jewish News Syndicate reported. Tabitha Howell, 40 — who was cited for disorderly conduct — was among those injured when a crazed Queens woman drove into a Manhattan Black Lives matter protest in 2020. 'It's one thing to face physical recovery,' Howell, who said she suffered five bulging discs in her back and a traumatic brain injury in the incident, told The Post at the time. 'It's another to try to process what happened mentally and emotionally.' Meanwhile, Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams gave assurances this week that the city will not devolve in to chaos like Los Angeles, where ICE agents sparked outbreaks of violence that required the National Guard to step in to try to restore peace. 'Watching what was going on in California, I spent the weekend on the phone with our federal partners in New York City — the head of the FBI in New York, federal protective services, homeland security investigations,' Tisch told MSNBC's 'Morning Joe. Additional reporting by Kevin Sheehan
