Latest news with #HarrisCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cypress parent speaks out after daughter allegedly bullied and exploited at daycare
The Brief A Cypress mother claims her daughter was bullied and coerced into taking explicit photos at a daycare, leading to an investigation after the images were shared on Snapchat. Attorney Tasha Ricks asserts that KinderCare is responsible for the incident, while KinderCare's internal investigation found no fault with their staff. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the case. CYPRESS, Texas - A Cypress mother is speaking out after discovering her daughter was allegedly bullied and coerced into taking explicit photos at a local daycare. The incident has sparked an investigation, leaving the parent shocked and concerned. What they're saying Tenesha Whitfield, a concerned parent, expressed her dismay after learning that explicit photos of her daughter were being shared and sold on Snapchat. Her daughter, who was 7-years-old at the time, was one of three minors involved, alongside two others aged nine and eleven. "It's disheartening. Disappointing. It also gives me a feeling of disgust that a person would do this, especially with children," Whitfield said. Whitfield explained that investigators found the photos circulating on Snapchat, leading to an active investigation. "Very shocking. I was confused and it made me anxious. I was calm enough to hear what they had to say. I didn't take it very lightly," she added. Whitfield shared her daughter's emotional struggle, saying, "She thought she was the one in the wrong. After thoroughly explaining to her what took place, I had to let her know you were victimized. I feel like my daughter was handpicked because my daughter is very sweet. She's non-confrontational. And she lacks in the self-defense department, so I know she's not going to stir up anything or put herself in a predicament." Attorney Tasha Ricks stated, "As I understand it, there is a pending criminal investigation against the adult who solicited the photos." When asked about accountability, Ricks pointed to KinderCare, saying, "KinderCare because they had full possession of our client's child at the time the incident occurred. They also were the first reporting agency." The other side FOX 26 reached out to KinderCare, which stated that their internal investigation found no fault with their staff regarding the incident. "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of children in our care. As soon as we were made aware of these concerns in June 2023, we immediately self-reported to state licensing, Child Protective Services, and local law enforcement. We also conducted our own internal investigation. State licensing informed us in July 2023 that their investigation found nothing to support any claims that a lack of supervision led to this incident." What's next The Harris County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the case. The Source FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia spoke with the victim's mother, Tenesha Whitfield, the attorney representing the family, Tasha Ricks, and confirmed with the HCSO that there is an investigation. KinderCare sent FOX 26 a statement.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Driver hits big puddle, then hydroplanes into tree and dies, Texas cops say
A Texas man is dead after his vehicle hydroplaned off road and into a tree, according to police. The fatal crash happened near Katy, a Houston suburb, at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, the Harris County Sheriff's Office told KPRC. Deputies say the driver of a Dodge Challenger was exiting the Katy Freeway when they drove into a puddle, lost control and swerved into a tree, KRIV reported. The man died in the crash while a female passenger was taken to a hospital in stable condition, deputies told the station. A thunderstorm had hit the Houston area, according to the National Weather Service, which reported heavy rain and foggy conditions. When driving on wet roads, don't try to overcorrect when steering, officials warned, KTRK reported. 'Watch your speed. Make sure you're looking ahead of your vehicle. If you hit a body of water, don't steer. Just keep driving straight through it. Keep on gas, and you'll be OK,' Sgt. B. Bondurant told the outlet. Katy is a roughly 30-mile drive west from downtown Houston.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Have you seen Sharolen Roque? Texas AMBER Alert for missing girl, 15, last seen in Dallas
Have you seen Sharolen Roque? Texas has issued an AMBER Alert for a missing 15-year-old girl from Houston. Roque was last seen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 in Dallas. She is a white female with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 4'9" and weighing 110 pounds. Police are also looking for Mauricio Ramos in connection with Roque's disappearance, as the person she was last seen with. Ramos is a white male with black hair. Roque and Ramos may be traveling in a black Mazda. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Sharolen Roque or Mauricio Ramos, please contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office at (713) 274-9270. Call 911 if you see either individual. According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Sharolen Roque was last seen on the 2300 block of Hopper Road in North Harris County. .. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas AMBER Alert: Sharolen Roque missing, seen with Mauricio Ramos
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Spring shooting: Benjamin Frakes charged with capital murder of father, stepmother
The Brief A man is accused of shooting his father and stepmother to death on Fitzwater Drive in Harris County last week. Benjamin Frakes, 39, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with capital murder. The couple's SUV is still missing. SPRING, Texas - A man is accused of shooting his father and stepmother to death at a Harris County home last week. On Tuesday, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in the deaths of a married couple whose bodies were discovered in the 4000 block of Fitzwater in Spring on Friday. What we know According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Benjamin Frakes, 39, was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of his father and stepmother. The couple were identified as 72-year-old Franklin Frakes and 56-year-old Florentina Frakes. The Harris County Pct. 4 Constable's Office announced Benjamin's arrest on Tuesday afternoon and said he was found to be in possession of Xanax and cocaine at the time. What we don't know Information on his bond is not available at this time. The backstory Deputies with the constable's office responded to the home on Fitzwater Drive around 7:30 p.m. Friday. Authorities say a neighbor reported hearing gunshots in the area Thursday night and went to check on his neighbors on Friday after not hearing from them. The neighbor found the couple shot to death. At the time, the motive behind the shooting was not clear, and a suspect was not immediately identified in the shooting. What's new Following further investigation, authorities identified Benjamin Frakes as the suspect. The sheriff's office says he forced his way into his father's home and shot the couple to death. Detectives believe the shooting actually occurred on Thursday night. Authorities also believe Benjamin was wounded by gunfire by his father, who appears to have tried to defend himself. What's next The investigation into the incident continues. The sheriff's office says the Frakes' black Mercedes SUV with Texas plates LPB-2783 is still missing. Authorities believe Benjamin took it. What you can do Anyone with information about this case, or anyone who had contact with Frakes after Thursday evening, is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at (713)274-9100. The Source The information in this article comes from the Harris County Pct. 1 Constable's Office and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
He Asked a Stranger to Help Move Furniture — Then the Mover Found a Body, and Things Got More Sinister from There
Harris County police arrested Steven Eberly, 36, after a man he hired as a mover discovered a dead body The mover allegedly discovered the dead body inside a box Eberly had asked him to help move Eberly was arrested after chasing the mover, who had fled the Houston-area home in his truck after discovering the bodyA man hired to move furniture at a home in Houston made a shocking revelation last Friday, leading to the arrest of a murder suspect who allegedly chased the mover down in a hectic scene that left the suspect bloodied. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a statement over the weekend that authorities arrested Steven Eberly after receiving multiple 911 calls about a dramatic scene playing out near Eberly's home in Houston. Eberly, 36, had allegedly hired a local man 'to help him move furniture' at his house on May 16, according to Sheriff Gonzalez. The man was in the process of helping Eberly move a heavy box on his driveway when he noticed 'a deceased individual' inside the box he and Eberly were attempting to move. According to home surveillance video obtained by KPRC, the man jumped back into his pickup truck and attempted to flee the scene after discovering the dead body. Eberly then chased the man down as he was driving away, reportedly jumping onto the truck bed and attempting to break the windows of the vehicle in order to stop the man from getting away. The scene ended when the man's truck struck another vehicle, resulting in Eberly injuring and bloodying his head. Harris County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Abraham Alanis said at a news conference later outside the home that authorities took Eberly into custody as he was walking back to his house, still with blood on his head. Eberly was later taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation before being officially arrested and charged with murder, according to police. Harris County inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE show Eberly remains in custody on a $2 million bond on the murder charge. He was also charged with tampering with evidence and attempting to take an officer's weapon, county jail records show. 'This was a strange one,' Sheriff Gonzalez said in a statement Sunday, adding that officials 'determined the deceased individual at the home was a contractor who had been working at the home.' Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The victim was identified as Luis Silva Mendez, USA Today reported. The outlet added that a motive has yet to be determined by police. 'He's just somebody that's probably taking care of his family that had to do housework and had to do mowing and there's no way that what happened to him should have happened,' a neighbor told local KPRC. Read the original article on People
