The Courthouse: In fact, on the day Audrey’s ex-husband was sentenced, Judge Emmett Battles addressed the ex-cop in court, saying, “Mr. Hanney, there is your victim, forever to bear the physical and emotional scars that were inflicted at your hands.

 by: Shanay J. Campbell

Posted: Jul 7, 2016 / 11:30 AM EDT

Updated: Jul 7, 2016 / 11:30 AM EDT

wsav.com

It is her will to live, her strength in all of this that the court finds nothing short of amazing. But I’m struck by something else, the barbarity of these crimes, the viciousness, as cruel as this court has witnessed.” Audrey now works as an advocate for domestic violence victims through an organization called Breaking the Silence Against Domestic Violence. It is a passion near and dear to her heart. “I’m 7 years out, I’m still going through surgeries and I still have to work my way around the sun, I still can never sweat where I’ve been burned, so I overheat. There’s things from that injury that I’ll carry forever.”

Audrey now works as an advocate for domestic violence victims through an organization called Breaking the Silence Against Domestic Violence. It is a passion near and dear to her heart. “I’m seven years out, I’m still going through surgeries and I still have to work my way around the sun, I still can never sweat where I’ve been burned, so I overheat. There’s things from that injury that I’ll carry forever.”

When she heard about this latest case of a St. Petersburg woman with abuse eerily similar to hers, she admits, “My goal is to be there for her. I can’t believe this has happened again. We are not doing enough. We need to do more. I want to be there for Sheron. She has a long road ahead.”

So, how can this dangerous and hurtful trend be stopped? There’s one thing Audrey would like to see above everything else. She said, “Who is out there telling these men, telling these boys that you do not have the right to take somebody’s life? Someone needs to tell them that. We need to reach them before they commit crimes.  And, someone needs to tell them, if you decide to take someone’s life, really, in turn, you are going to lose yours. Cause it’s gonna be spent behind bars”

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The Courthouse: Woman whose husband set her on fire now helps domestic violence victims.

 by: Shanay J. Campbell

Posted: Jul 7, 2016 / 11:30 AM EDT

Updated: Jul 7, 2016 / 11:30 AM EDT

wsav.com

A St. Petersburg woman is in critical condition after police say she wasset on fire by her boyfriend on Tuesday.

The tragic incident is a painful reminder of what happened to another woman. Audrey Mabrey has a powerful story. While she has experienced devastating moments, she has also harnessed pure determination in her journey. Her will to survive began on a November day in 2009 when her husband, Christopher Hanney, hit her over the head with a hammer, doused her with gasoline and lit a match. Then, he watched her suffer. Audrey was in a coma for six weeks, and when she awoke, the mother of two says she saw a stranger staring back at her in the mirror.

She suffered burns over 80 percent of her body.  “What I saw in my reflection was Freddy Krueger. To be quite frank, the way had God designed me to look I was never going to look that way again,” she said.

But it was also on that same day, she discovered the power inside her.  She had a mental message for her estranged husband.  “At that same moment I said to myself, he robbed me physically, He’s not going to rob me emotionally or mentally.”

As she talks about the fateful moment that changed and ultimately shaped the rest of her life, Audrey speaks with resolve. It is clear the 33-year-old has the spirit of a warrior and heart of a mother.  She credits her faith for getting her through anguish and agony.

“It is God,” she says. “All God. He shines through me.”

Audrey recalls how she and her husband were having marital problems. The two were separated when she stopped by his home in Apollo Beach. The ex-NYPD detective forced his estranged wife into the garage, hit her with a hammer, poured gasoline on her and tossed a candle in her direction. She still remembers the fragrance of that candle, cucumber melon.  “I thought I was going to die that day,” she said.

The days, months and years that followed were filled with painful surgeries and depression, followed by determination.

“It was the most challenging thing I have ever faced in my life. It was the most painful thing I have ever faced in my life. And, I still believe today that recovering from a burn is the most difficult recovery there is,” she shared.

After a jury found her estranged husband guilty,  she spoke at his sentencing.  Audrey took back her power. “I ask that the court, your honor, not show mercy on his earthly life, because he did not show mercy on mine,” she said. The judge agreed with her, and Hanney received life in prison – thirty years for arson and thirty for aggravated battery with great bodily harm.  It is the fear of losing control, she maintains, as to what drives many abusers. “Someone who feels like they have lost everything are capable of anything. And it was a last effort to have control.”

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The Courthouse: Woman indicted for murder of mother, uncle, Chatham DA’s Office says.

 by: Natasha Young

Posted: Oct 23, 2024 / 02:55 PM EDT

Updated: Oct 23, 2024 / 02:55 PM EDT

wsav.com

 The Chatham County District Attorney’s Office (DA) announced the indictment of a Chatham County woman for the murder of two people Wednesday.

35-year-old Holly Scott has been indicted on charges of murder in connection with the deaths of James Doulin and Shirley Doulin, the DA’s Office said. Shirley was the mother of Scott and James was her uncle.

The incident occurred on July 31, 2024, in Bloomingdale, Georgia.

Scott is facing charges of malice murder and felony murder related to this double homicide, the DA’s Office said.

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Law Enforcement: Premature baby taken from Paris region hospital found in Amsterdam and his parents were detained.

 Updated 2:28 PM PDT, 

October 25, 2024

ap news.com

A prematurely born baby who was abducted from the maternity ward of a Paris-region hospital earlier this week has been found in an Amsterdam hotel, police in the Dutch capital said Friday.

Amsterdam police released few details because the investigation was led by French officers. They confirmed that the baby was Santiago, the name released by Paris police Tuesday when they issued an alert with appeals for information.

“Following an international search warrant, we arrested a man and a woman in a hotel in the center of Amsterdam today on suspicion of kidnapping their premature baby,” police said on X. “The baby is currently in a hospital to receive the care he needs.”

French authorities said Santiago, who was 17 days old when he was abducted, needs constant medical care. It said he has blonde hair and was dressed in white velvet pajamas and an oversized brown T-shirt when he was taken late Monday night from a hospital in Paris’ northern suburban region of Seine-Saint-Denis.

The police alert identified the baby’s 23-year-old father and 25-year-old mother as the only suspects and included photos of them both.

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Police Department: Statesboro man sought for allegedly shooting ex-girlfriend.

 by: Molly Curley

Posted: Oct 24, 2024 / 12:08 PM EDT

Updated: Oct 24, 2024 / 12:08 PM EDT

wsav.com

A 41-year-old Statesboro man is wanted, accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend.

According to the Statesboro Police Department, just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to the Bobby Donaldson Avenue area on a report of a female who had been shot.

On the scene, officers located the 24-year-old woman and rendered aid until she could be transported to a local hospital. The victim was later flown to Savannah for treatment and then released.

Statesboro Police said detectives determined that the victim had been shot by her former boyfriend, Akeino Dickerson.

After a search warrant was served at his home, detectives recovered vital evidence, Statesboro Police said, though Dickerson was not located at the residence.

Police are encouraging anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact their local law enforcement agency or Senior Det. Ben Purvis at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip online.

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Police Department: Woman Arrested in Storm Lake Iowa for Allegedly Stealing Cash/Jewelry.

 By ryan@stormlakeradio.com

October 25, 2024

storm lake radio.com

A woman has been arrested in Storm Lake Iowa in connection with the alleged theft of jewelry and cash valued at over 100 thousand dollars.

On Monday of this week, the Storm Lake Iowa Police Department was called to a residence for a belated report of cash and various jewelry items taken from the home. An investigation identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shari Bents of Rossie, who was employed as a caretaker at the victim’s residence.

On Thursday, Storm Lake Iowa Police served multiple search warrants at properties connected to Bents in Albert City, Peterson, and Rossie. Police allegedly seized multiple items connected to the investigation at the properties.

Bents was charged with 1st Degree Theft, a class C felony…and Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a class B felony. She was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a 250 thousand dollar bond. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible.

The Storm Lake Iowa Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

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Collision Records: On-board video of out of control Seattle bus crash.

 By Shawn Garrett, KIRO 7 News

July 03, 2024 at 4:16 pm PDT

kiro7.com

A terrifying look at the moment a Sound Transit bus sped out of control on a downtown Seattle street and slammed into a building on June 22.

Fifteen people on the bus were hurt during the crash, and the bus driver suffered a broken hip.

Initial details revealed the bus brakes failed, but Sound Transit has told KIRO 7 that the investigation into the cause could still take weeks to complete.

The video shows the driver and the passengers knew something was wrong, and they barely had time to brace for impact.

Two videos, one from the front of the bus and one from inside the bus, were released to KIRO 7 on Wednesday.

The driver’s view shows the bus making a right turn onto 5th Avenue. Right away, the driver starts to turn the wheel. The bus begins to sway to avoid hitting anything or anyone, including pedestrians.

The driver blows through a red light, steers to avoid cars, swerves across all lanes, takes out a tree, hits a set of stairs, and slams into the building.

The second video shows passengers, and nothing initially appears to be wrong.

But as the bus picks up speed and begins to veer, they realize it is careening out of control.

They barely have time to brace against the handrails when the violent impact sends them flying into each other and the aisle.

The incident quickly turned into a triage scene, where a lot of passengers were hurt.

KIRO 7 also received photos of the aftermath, showing the bus mangled from the impact.

A 54-year-old man was treated at Harborview Medical Center for severe injuries.

The bus driver, who was a Metro Transit bus driver contracted for that Sound Transit route, took a drug test and was shown not to be impaired.

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