Latest news with #We-TipHotline
USA Today
15-07-2025
- USA Today
A teddy bear appeared to be wrapped in human flesh. Turns out it was a prank.
'They're Selling a 'Human Skin' Teddy Bear on Etsy… And You're Still Calling Us Crazy?' In what police called 'a very bizarre incident,' officers arrested a man after what appeared to be a teddy bear wrapped in human flesh was left outside a Southern California convenience store. Hector Corona Villanueva, 23, of Victorville was arrested in connection to the macabre prank on charges of reporting an emergency knowing it to be false and intentionally and wrongfully planting evidence to falsely present as real, the San Bernadino Sheriff's Department reported. Just after noon local time on Sunday, July 13, the sheriff's department said, Victorville Police Department officers responded to a suspicious circumstances call at the AMPM gas station on Bear Valley Road. "Callers indicated a teddy bear made of what looked like human flesh was left in front of the business," the sheriff's office wrote in a news release. An investigator with the San Bernardino County Coroner office responded and collected the teddy bear, officials said. Gas leak disaster: House explodes during New Jersey flooding, nearby homes damaged Teddy bear found with 'human flesh' examined by coroner After further examination, officials said, the sheriff-coroner department's office determined the teddy bear "is not made of any type of human remains or skin." A motive in the case was not immediately known. As of July 15, Villanueva was not listed as an inmate in the local jail. It was not immediatly known whether he had obtained legal counsel in the case. "Incidents such as this take up valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, possibly delaying response time to legitimate calls for service," the department wrote. "We would like to thank those that reported information that was helpful during the investigation of this case." Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Victorville police at 760-241-2911 or sheriff's office dispatch at 760-956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME or visit website at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Married couple, daughter accused of ‘severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children
Married couple, daughter accused of 'severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu Southern California authorities this week announced the arrest of three family members who they accuse of repeatedly torturing six foster children, one as young as age 5, for years. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, in mid-February, the agency began an investigation into the "severe and prolonged abuse and neglect" of six children, ages 5 to 16, at a home on Helena Drive in Victorville. The city is about 35 miles north of the city of San Bernardino. The investigation led to the May 12 arrest of Kenneth Key, 60, his wife, Tina Key, 60, and their daughter, Katlynn Key, 23, the sheriff's office said. According to the sheriff's department, deputies arrested all three on a torture charge. As of May 14, it is unclear if any of the relatives have legal counsel. Children have been removed from Victorville home Mara Rodriguez, a sheriff's department spokesperson, told USA TODAY that the agency would not release details about the torture but said the children "were subjected to severe trauma and physical abuse." The children were removed from the home at the start of the investigation, Rodriguez said. Officials confirmed some of the alleged torture may have occurred as far back as when the children were first placed into the family's home at least 10 years ago. USA TODAY contacted the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office on May 14 but has not received a response. 'We're deeply disturbed': Amazon driver caught pooping and peeing on customers' property Relatives held on $1 million bond each On May 14, a San Bernardino Superior Court clerk with the Victorville District told USA TODAY that the three relatives had not yet been formally charged. Officials said they are being held at the Central Detention Center on $1 million bond each. Court records do not show when their next hearing is. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Foster children were tortured for up to 10 years inside Victorville home, authorities say
Six children were allegedly tortured by their foster parents and another adult at a Victorville home, with some of the abuse going back at least a decade, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Authorities arrested Kenneth and Tina Key, both 60 years old, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, on Monday in connection to the alleged abuse. The foster children at the home ranged in age from 5 to 16, department officials said in a news release. Investigators with the Sheriff's Department's Crimes Against Children unit launched their investigation on Feb. 13, looking into reports of severe and prolonged abuse at a home in Victorville. The children were taken out of the home shortly after the investigation began, sheriff's spokesperson Gloria Orejel said. All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of torture and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday and have not been formally charged by the San Bernardino County district attorney's office, but authorities expect charges to be filed before the end of the day. There were no additional details about the alleged torture, Orejel said, and there were no reports of abuse prior to the start of the investigation. Some of the alleged abuse may have been going on since the children were first placed into the Keys' home, going back at least 10 years, according to Orejel. Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be made with the We-Tip Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Foster children were tortured for up to 10 years inside Victorville home, authorities say
Six children were allegedly tortured by their foster parents and another adult at a Victorville home, with some of the abuse going back at least a decade, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Authorities arrested Kenneth and Tina Key, both 60 years old, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, on Monday in connection to the alleged abuse. The foster children at the home ranged in age from 5 to 16, department officials said in a news release. Investigators with the Sheriff's Department's Crimes Against Children unit launched their investigation on Feb. 13, looking into reports of severe and prolonged abuse at a home in Victorville. The children were taken out of the home shortly after the investigation began, sheriff's spokesperson Gloria Orejel said. All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of torture and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday and have not been formally charged by the San Bernardino County district attorney's office, but authorities expect charges to be filed before the end of the day. There were no additional details about the alleged torture, Orejel said, and there were no reports of abuse prior to the start of the investigation. Some of the alleged abuse may have been going on since the children were first placed into the Keys' home, going back at least 10 years, according to Orejel. Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be made with the We-Tip Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 accused of torturing 6 children in San Bernardino County
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. - Three suspects accused of neglecting and abusing six children in Victorville have been arrested, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. What we know On February 13, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department conducted an investigation into severe abuse and neglect of six children in Victorville, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Investigators from the Crimes Against Children Detail and the Victorville Sheriff's Station identified Kenneth Key, 60; Tina Key, 60; and Katlynn Key, 23; as suspects in the case of prolonged abuse and neglect involving six children aged five to 16. The suspects were arrested and booked at the Central Detention Center. SUGGESTED: Toddler left alone in front of SoCal police station The suspects face charges of torture, with bail set at $1 million. What we don't know Details regarding the specific nature of the abuse and neglect, as well as the current condition of the children involved, have not been disclosed. The relationship between the suspects and children is unclear. What's next The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking additional information from the public. SUGGESTED: Investigators believe 3 kids ingested fentanyl-laced pills at California daycare The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Katie Merrill at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted via the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or through the We-Tip website at The Source Information for this story is from a press release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department published on May 13, 2025.
