UPDATE, August 18, 2011: Quadruple homicide co-defendant gets 40 years.
_________________
UPDATE, June 10, 2011: Man gets life sentence in 4 slayings.
_________________
UPDATE, March 24, 2011: Milwaukee man found guilty of quadruple homicide, arson.
_________________
UPDATE, March 24, 2011: Quadruple homicide case goes to jury.
_________________
UPDATE: Two plead not guilty in four killings.
_________________
UPDATE: Denise Robertson doesn't believe her daughter participated in murders. Video.
_________________
UPDATE: Read the Criminal Complaint.
WARNING: It is horrific.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A criminal complaint filed Thursday charges two Milwaukee men, Desmond D. Laster, 21, and Anthony E. Barnes, 23, with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the deaths of Thompson and her sons Torian Thompson-Carter, 4, and Jaden Thompson-Carter, 3._________________
They also are charged with killing their accomplice, Brittney Robertson, 19; with setting fire to Thompson's apartment; and with being felons in possession of a firearm. If convicted of all charges, they face up to four life terms in prison plus 70 years.
Milwaukee police have named the suspects in the murders of Rachel Thompson, 23, Torian Thompson-Carter, 4, Jaden Thompson-Carter, 3, and Brittney Robertson, 19: Desmond D. Laster and Anthony E. Barnes.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Two felons from Milwaukee are expected to be charged as soon as Thursday in connection with last Friday's killings of two women and two young children, a Milwaukee police official said Wednesday.
Both men - Desmond D. Laster and Anthony E. Barnes - are in custody, arrest records show.
Police have recommended that both men be charged with homicide in connection with the four killings, police Lt. Thomas Stigler said. The Milwaukee County district attorney's office has begun reviewing the case, he said.
The killings stemmed from a robbery attempt, Stigler said. Earlier reports of a love triangle leading to the killings were false, he said.
According to Stigler:
Investigators believe that Brittney Robertson, who lived with Rachel Thompson in a duplex in the 800 block of S. 12th St., thought Thompson had a significant amount of cash in the home.
Robertson and her boyfriend, Laster, and Laster's friend Barnes went to the duplex to rob Thompson but wound up killing her early Friday.
Police have found no evidence that Thompson, 23, had a significant amount of cash and do not know why Robertson believed Thompson had the money.
Two of Thompson's sons - Torian Thompson-Carter, 4, and Jaden Thompson-Carter, 3 - were killed because they witnessed their mother's homicide.
Robertson, Laster and Barnes took Thompson's youngest child, 6-week-old Maurice Visor, and left the duplex after setting a fire to cover up the homicides.
...After leaving the duplex, Robertson, Laster and Barnes drove to a few different locations while trying to figure out what to do, Stigler said. They eventually left the baby unharmed Friday afternoon in an infant carrier on the sidewalk outside Eastbrook Church, 5385 N. Green Bay Ave., he said.
Investigators believe Robertson was killed after Barnes and Laster became nervous when her photo was broadcast Friday, Stigler said. Her body was found about 6:15 p.m. Friday in the area of attached row houses near N. 101st St. and W. Kiehnau Ave.
Police believe Barnes shot her in the back of the head, Stigler said.
Laster was Robertson's boyfriend? Not much of a boyfriend.
He didn't care about her.
And Robertson didn't care about Rachel Thompson. Robertson planned to rob her of a "significant amount of cash" she believed was in their home.
Robertson and Laster and Barnes only cared about themselves.
These people were stupid and selfish and barbaric -- thugs.
Why would they think that escalating a robbery into a triple homicide would work out well?
I still don't get why they killed the little boys. They supposedly witnessed their mother's murder, but they were so young. How could the three thugs have considered the little ones to be a threat to them?
How heartless to murder the innocent children! They were trapped. They didn't make any bad choices or use bad judgment. They were just there, in their home, where little guys like them should feel safe and be loved.
It breaks my heart.
I suppose we'll hear that Laster and Barnes had rough childhoods, that they're victims. Brittney Robertson's mother, Denise, has already relayed to the media the sob story of her daughter's short life.
I'm sure we'll hear that Laster and Barnes came from bad homes and they had no hope. I'm sure we'll be told that society failed them.
If only there had been midnight basketball to keep them from turning to crime.
If only there were stricter gun laws, Laster and Barnes would probably have been responsible individuals with a decent work ethic.
I'm so sick of people coming up with excuses for their criminal and immoral behavior, blaming everything and everyone but themselves. They refuse to take responsibility for their lot in life. Instead, they choose to exploit others, ignoring the law, having no respect for authority, and dismissing any notion of right and wrong.
This is the problem with the entitlement culture and being taught to view one's condition as hopeless. It breeds crime and dysfunction that snowballs and becomes generational.
What's horrible is that the Leftists, like Obama and the Democrats, want to create even more dependents, even more people looking to be taken care of rather than to be taking personal responsibility for their lives.
Stable families are crucial to maintaining an orderly society.
Without strong, intact families that teach self-respect as well as respect for authority and for others, crime and chaos reign.
11 comments:
Yeah, Obama wants to create more child killers. Get a clue, Mary, and leave politics out of this. How horrific that you would use this beastly story to chirp political and near-racist ideologies. Do the Madoffs of the world take “responsibility” for their actions? There’s always going to be idiots and animals who do wrong, no matter what side of “entitlement” they cross the line from. Shame on you for those little boys’ sake. Shame on you, Mary. No respect for authority? You do not have the authority to turn those poor little lives into a cold suburban soccer mom rant. Take responsibility for YOUR lot in life and stop blaming others, like Obama, for causing others to act out of evil. You take responsibility, Mary. And show those little boy' souls some respect.
You obviously didn't understand my post at all if you think I have no respect for the dead little boys.
Actually, I think you understood it. You just enjoy saying "Shame on you, Mary." You try to come up with a silly argument to afford you that opportunity. In the process, you show your lack of respect for the precious lives lost in this crime.
I believe that we are ALL responsible for our actions -- rich or poor. Everyone.
What you are choosing to ignore is the horrific consequences that the victimhood/entitlement culture, fostered by liberals like Obama, has created.
It certainly hasn't empowered individuals or helped to create stable families where children are nurtured and loved and taught that they can go as far as they can dream.
It's so lame for you to tell me to take responsibility for my lot in life. It's laughable.
As I said, I think this is just a game with you. You're a troll trying to bug me.
You lose in that game.
Please see the Comment Policy.
If you'd like your comment to be published, do NOT select "anonymous" as your profile when submitting your comment. Please provide a user name or URL. "Anonymous" comments may not be published.
That's right, "anonymous," you can pick any name you'd like.
When there is a string of "anonymous" comments, it becomes difficult for readers to differentiate, as well as making it difficult for readers to address the authors of the comments. Back and forth discussion becomes messy.
Plus, choosing a screen name does serve as reminder to commenters that they're not really posting anonymously.
It's not as if I can't identify you via your IP.
You're posting from the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Is leaving comments on blogs part of your job?
My apologies for not signing in, wanted to get my comment in quickly and did not know the stringent comment policy so simply chose anonymous. Way to skirt the issue/my comments and simply point the finger at me and my workplace. That's mature/intelligent.
Have a swell life. Just remember what I said about that mirror.
All right, restory, here are your TWO comments:
You obviously didn't understand my post, Mary. Why turn a horrific happening into political blame games? How does a liberal or a conservative have control over what some kid does on the street or some country clubber does on the fairways? This is all so silly from both sides, each blaming the other. It makes me sick. Be a good person, a good parent, a good friend and own up to your mistakes, learn from them and be better person tomorrow. To sit here online and say liberals foster this or that is of no help to anyone. It's useless. You want to make a difference, then do it every day with actions, not words.
Speaking of, that was kinda weird (but kinda fun in a Harry Potter way) referencing trolls. Didn't know they were of the bugging nature. More like clubbing, i suppose. Back to our argument, you blame Obama, then you'll blame the next guy and the next and it will never end. Do you think liberals or anyone really awakes each day saying "Let's create some badness today and let's make sure it's realllllly expensive for taxpayers and let's make sure it creates a century or two worth of malaise, discontent and overall squanders our self reliance." Do you really think people operate with those intents? Blame the individuals, Mary. Most of all blame the parents. It all starts with parenting, no matter which side of the aisle people stand on.
Still can't believe the troll comment. That's classic.
Posted by Anonymous to FREEDOM EDEN at 10:57 AM, March 09, 2010
Ha! So, what's the difference if I'm logged in as Marcus Welby or anonymous? Weak. Be a good person. Look in the mirror every morning and every night. That's all. Troll out.
Posted by Anonymous to FREEDOM EDEN at 12:14 PM, March 09, 2010
You can mock my "stringent comment policy," but perhaps you would view it differently and show some understanding if you read the vile stuff that people submit under the guise of anonymity.
About the issue--
Of course, I hold the individuals accountable for their actions. If you were at all familiar with my commentary, you would know that I believe in personal responsibility and frequently talk about the importance of good parenting.
But there also is a social element to address. Thus, I refer to the perpetuation of the culture of victimhood/entitlement and its consequences.
My discussion about government policies that don't solve problems but instead serve to create more suffering and heartache is based in my concern for others.
Mary,
The others who's post criticized you I believe fell short of Identifying who you are. You are a racist of the worst kind. A racist woman who are so wicked as to use a crime as tragic as this for her political ploy. The only reason the president's name was even mentioned in your comment is the fact that two of the three perpetrators are Black. A crime initiated by Miss Robertson or Hendricks(which they named her on ID). What's even more sad is that you're probably being paid for this slander.
Why do you people always blame Presudent Obama for things he clearly has nothing to with. Ignorance at its best. Smh
Post a Comment