Man accused of kidnapping a minor

A Rome man was jailed on Tuesday on a felony kidnapping charge.

According to Floyd County Jail records:

36-year-old Dewayne Michael Pestano abducted a minor without lawful authority and was held against the will of the primary custodian.

The incident occurred between Saturday and Sunday.

Two charged with meth possession

Two Silver Creek residents were arrested on drug charges in the 1300 block of Doyle Road on Tuesday

According to Floyd County Jail records:

A vehicle driven by 56-year-old William Glenn Lands was seen crossing the center line.

During a subsequent search, suspected methamphetamine was located between the driver’s seat and center console.

A glass pipe was located between the passenger seat and console.

A passenger in the vehicle, 54-year-old Tracey Lee Sharpe, was also wanted on a warrant in connection with a shoplifting incident that occurred on May 22 at the West Rome Walmart.

She was also found with marijuana in the ashtray of the vehicle.

Sharpe is charged with misdemeanor shoplifting, possession of meth, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, and a probation violation.

Lands is charged with possession of meth, possession of drug-related objects, failure to maintain a lane, failure to appear, and a probation violation.

The search is ongoing for a new CEO of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority following the departure of Spencer Hogg after less than a year on the job.

Earlier this week, the development authority discussed compensation for the Chason Group, which has been assisting in the search for Hogg’s replacement.

“Their contract, since Spencer did not stay the whole time, discounts greatly what we paid; in fact, it’s free except for expenses,” said Jimmy Byars, chair of the development authority. “Our feeling is, this has been a lengthy investigation to find somebody—we still don’t have anybody yet—but it was not Chason Group’s fault for Spencer leaving. I’d like to ask the board to contribute $10,000 to their effort to find Spencer’s replacement.”

Hogg announced his departure in April.

He replaced Missy Kendrick in July of 2025.

Also during the recent Rome-Floyd County Development Authority meeting, a video was shown highlighting the role of a Rome manufacturing facility in the recently completed World Cup.

Souvenir cups sold during the games were made at the Ball Corporation facility in Shannon.

The cups have become so collectible that they are being resold on eBay.

Dennis Drummond

The Rome City Schools Board of Education approved a series of policy updates on Tuesday evening during its July meeting at the College and Career Academy at Rome High School.

The board also heard an overview of the district’s accomplishments during the 2025-26 school year and priorities for the year ahead.

During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Dennis Drummond highlighted progress across the district in student achievement, staff development, stakeholder engagement, and safety and operations. The presentation included student achievement gains in reading and math across multiple grade levels, expanded literacy initiatives such as Read Across Rome, continued growth in Advanced Placement and Career, Technical and Agricultural Education programs, special recognitions in academics from the Georgia Department of Education, fine arts highlights, athletic accomplishments, and the district’s second consecutive clean financial audit. The annual report demonstrated progress toward each of the Board of Education’s 11 strategic growth goals.

Dr. Drummond also outlined several initiatives planned for the 2026-27 school year, including expanded safety measures, implementation of the Disengage to Engage initiative for grades 9-12, additional classroom audio enhancement technology, and continued support for new teachers.

The Board also approved 21 revised policies following a second reading. The updates address areas including board ethics, purchasing, employee working conditions, instructional materials, graduation requirements, bullying, medication administration, parental involvement, and facility use. Several revisions align district policies with changes in state law, current district practices, and the transition to the new grade configuration at Rome Middle School.

“Rome City Schools continues to build on a strong foundation of literacy, safety, and sustainability,” Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said. “The accomplishments highlighted during tonight’s meeting and the policy updates approved by the Board reflect our ongoing commitment to moving the needle for every student while ensuring our district remains focused on excellence in every area.”

A Texas man charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse was unlawfully present in the United States, according to authorities.

The Cedar Bluff Police Department identified the suspect as 39-year-old Sudip Hamal of Corsicana, Texas. Police began investigating after responding to an incident at the Cedar Bluff Subway on Monday, July 13.

During the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Hamal was unlawfully present in the country. Officers initially took him into custody on an immigration-related matter.

Cedar Bluff Police investigators continued working on the case. Police said investigators later developed probable cause to charge Hamal with first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse.

Investigators obtained the warrants on Thursday, July 16. At the time, Hamal remained in custody at the Etowah County Detention Center.

Authorities later transferred Hamal to the Cherokee County Jail. He remains there while awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.

“Protecting the safety of our community and seeking justice for victims remains the highest priority of the Cedar Bluff Police Department,” Police Chief Jeremy Stepps said.

Stepps thanked ICE and the JSU Center for Applied Forensics for assisting with the investigation. He also said investigators worked diligently to ensure authorities filed the appropriate criminal charges.

The department plans to continue working with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office as the case proceeds through the judicial system.

Police said they will not release additional information about the victim or details of the investigation at this time. The department cited the active case, the victim’s privacy, and the need to protect the investigation’s integrity.

On the afternoon of July 21, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Floyd County Police Department officers responded to a residence in the 4300 block of Martha Berry Highway to serve child support warrants on Kyle Stamey and Sharon Stamey.

After receiving permission from the homeowner to enter and search the residence, deputies heard a gunshot and then located Kyle Stamey inside a room suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen. Deputies immediately rendered aid and applied pressure to the wound until emergency medical personnel arrived.

Kyle Stamey was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Sharon Stamey was taken into custody and booked into the Floyd County Jail on the outstanding child support warrant.

Because personnel from both the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office and Floyd County Police Department were involved in the warrant service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been contacted to conduct an independent investigation into the incident.

]]> https://www.wrganews.com/2026/07/22/authorities-man-shoots-himelf-during-execution-of-child-support-warrants/feed/ 0 https://www.wrganews.com/2026/07/21/womans-remains-identified-by-dna-in-virginia-exposing-second-alleged-murder-linked-to-same-4-suspects/ https://www.wrganews.com/2026/07/21/womans-remains-identified-by-dna-in-virginia-exposing-second-alleged-murder-linked-to-same-4-suspects/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 02:12:20 +0000 Syndicated Content 2026-07-22T02:12:20+00:00 https://www.foxnews.com/us/womans-remains-identified-dna-virginia-exposing-second-alleged-murder-linked-same-4-suspects The four suspects accused of killing a Virginia teenager are now facing charges in a second homicide after investigators identified a woman whose remains remained a mystery for more than three months, revealing what authorities say were two connected, premeditated killings.

Helen Marie Pullen Banks, 56, of Culpeper, was identified through "extensive and complex DNA analysis" completed July 7, after her remains were discovered March 27 on private property in Caroline County, according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities announced this month that Rashad Antonio Mayfield, 21, Devonti Gregory Pettaway, 19, Jaden Lamont Phillips, 20, and Kennady Jade Lambert, 18, have each been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder in Banks' death.

WOMAN FOUND IN SHALLOW GRAVE ID’D AFTER 44 YEARS AS MILLIONAIRE TIED TO ESTATE MURDER PLOT

All four suspects were already being held without bond after being charged with murder in the death of 18-year-old Jayden McComber.

Investigators say they suspected early in the case that the two homicide investigations were linked.

McComber disappeared the same day Banks' remains were discovered. His vehicle was recovered the following day in Virginia Beach with assistance from the Virginia Beach Police Department, according to the sheriff's office.

TEENS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING CONGRESSIONAL INTERN LINKED BY DNA ON SHELL CASINGS, PROSECUTORS SAY

Authorities said the vehicle was thoroughly processed and produced "valuable investigative leads" that helped investigators locate McComber's remains and identify the suspects.

McComber's body was found March 31 in a pond near the Caroline County line.

During an April 2 search of a Henrico County residence believed to be associated with Mayfield, investigators recovered personal belongings thought to have been in McComber's possession when he disappeared, authorities said.

Mayfield was arrested on charges during a traffic stop conducted while investigators were searching the residence. Authorities said a handgun was seized from his possession, though they have not disclosed whether the firearm has been linked to either homicide.

Pettaway, Phillips and Lambert were arrested during a simultaneous operation at an apartment on Kenway Avenue in Henrico. Caroline County investigators were assisted in the arrests by the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.

MARSHALS NAB TEEN WANTED FOR MURDER OF PENN STATE STUDENT 1,700 MILES FROM CRIME SCENE, 2ND SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

Following the arrests, Sheriff Scott Moser described the case as a "complex and difficult investigation" and praised the "relentless work" that led authorities to the four suspects.

The sheriff's office said ballistic testing performed with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later produced forensic evidence linking the two murders.

Investigators say both Banks and McComber knew at least one of the suspects before they were killed. However, authorities said they have uncovered no evidence that either victim had a conflict or dispute with the suspects over what investigators described as "premeditated and deliberate acts."

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or said whether Banks and McComber knew one another.

When Banks' remains were first discovered, the property owner who found them was "understandably shaken" and did not approach the body before calling 911, according to the sheriff's office.

"This is a deeply disturbing case," Moser said at the time. "The scene our deputies and investigators encountered was difficult, but they remained focused and professional from the moment they arrived."

The sheriff's office later alleged that those responsible had taken "sick and deliberate" measures to conceal Banks' identity, calling it one of the more disturbing cases investigators had encountered. Authorities have not publicly detailed those alleged measures.

Banks' identity was formally confirmed July 7, and investigators met with her family that evening to notify them.

"This case reflects the relentless commitment of our investigators to pursue the truth," Moser said after announcing the identification. "While no announcement can ease the pain of this loss, we hope today's identification of Helen Marie Pullen Banks provides at least some measure of answers for her loved ones."

The investigation has also involved the Caroline County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, FBI and ATF. Authorities said they are not searching for any additional suspects, though the case remains active.

The sheriff's office said Banks' family was notified of her identification on July 7 after DNA testing confirmed her identity.

Banks was born in Charlottesville and lived in Rixeyville, according to her obituary. She is survived by five children, her mother, two siblings, 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a large extended family.

"Helen was so much more than the circumstances surrounding her passing," her family wrote in a GoFundMe established to help cover memorial expenses. "She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother."

McComber's family also remembered the 18-year-old in a GoFundMe created after his death, describing the week-long search for him as "a nightmare no family should ever have to live through."

"Jayden was so deeply loved," his family wrote. "He had the biggest heart and made sure the people around him knew it. He never missed a chance to say 'I love you,' and those words mean everything to us now."

The investigation remains active, though authorities say they are not seeking additional suspects.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, the Caroline County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the FBI, ATF, the Virginia Beach Police Department and court officials for additional information.

A Massachusetts man known for roaming in a black-and-white mime costume is accused of frightening women for months at a popular state park, where prosecutors say he allegedly stripped to his underwear, slathered himself in cooking oil and worked out near female employees before later collapsing in court as the allegations were read aloud.

Hernan Villagran Lux, 29, of Framingham, is facing criminal harassment charges after three female state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) employees had up to over 50 encounters over the past two months at a Natick state park near Boston.

Prosecutors said all three women knew Lux by name and appearance, and one reported more than 50 encounters that authorities said escalated over time, eventually leaving employees afraid to work around him.

FLORIDA MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY LURED WOMEN WITH DATING APP COULD HAVE MORE VICTIMS: AUTHORITIES

The allegations have also sparked warnings on social media, where people across several Massachusetts communities said they recognized the suspect and claimed he had approached or followed women on a nearby rail trail.

Authorities arrested Lux Sunday night on the Cochituate Rail Trail, after multiple women and park workers alleged he repeatedly approached them, stared at them and refused to leave despite repeated requests, according to Boston 25 News.

"The women report an extensive number of contacts with the defendant involving him staring at them, smiling in what they describe as 'a really unnerving and frankly terrifying manner,'" Framingham District Court Supervisor Andrew Mange said during Monday's court hearing.

MAN ACCUSED OF REPEATEDLY TRESPASSING AT CIA HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA

Mange said the encounters became increasingly bold. In one incident, prosecutors allege Lux "stripped down to his underwear, slathered cooking oil all over his body and began working out right by their staff area."

The women also reported that Lux repeatedly refused to leave the park after being asked to do so, according to the station.

Prosecutors also alleged Lux complimented one employee's appearance, commented on her lips and refused to leave as she and coworkers abandoned their work area because they felt unsafe.

Boston 25 reported that numerous people posted on social media saying they had spotted a man matching Lux's distinctive mime-like appearance throughout Framingham, Natick and Wayland. 

Several women also claimed a man fitting the same description approached and followed them on the Cochituate Rail Trail.

"I spotted him, he looked kind of odd but I thought he was just dressed in a costume," neighbor Nancy Dlott told Boston 25. "It's kind of upsetting, especially if you're walking alone," she added.

"I just don't understand what goes through someone's head to do that," Christopher Labella told the station. "I hope this guy gets the help that he needs."

As prosecutors continued reading the allegations in court Monday, Lux fainted and was treated before proceedings resumed, according to Boston 25.

When court resumed later in the afternoon, the judge ordered Lux to undergo a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.

The frightening encounter comes weeks after a hiker was airlifted from a remote Ventura County trail following a rattlesnake bite.

Earlier this year, Ventura County firefighters told Fox News Digital they had responded to seven rattlesnake bites in roughly a month, and officials attributed the increase to warmer weather that has driven snakes out earlier than usual.

Manuel Barajas said his daughter, Addy, ran outside after her mother told her an Amazon package had been delivered and tossed over the family's front gate. As the 3-year-old reached for the padded envelope, a Southern Pacific rattlesnake concealed beneath it bit her on the left hand.

TOURIST DIES AT LUXURY RESORT AFTER COBRA FROM SNAKE SHOW CLIMBS UP PANTS, BITES HIM: POLICE

Her mother rushed Addy to a nearby grocery store parking lot, where paramedics met the family before transporting her to a hospital. She was later transferred to a pediatric intensive care unit, where she spent two days receiving additional doses of antivenom.

Wildlife experts say an unusually warm spring has fueled increased rattlesnake activity across California this year, contributing to a rise in snakebite incidents and three reported snakebite deaths statewide.

The latest incident follows several other serious encounters this year. In May, a woman hiking in Ventura County was airlifted to a hospital after being bitten by a rattlesnake on a remote trail. A Thousand Oaks woman also died in March after being bitten while hiking at Wildwood Regional Park.

TICK BITE ER VISITS HIT HIGHEST SEASONAL LEVEL IN YEARS AS DOCTORS WARN OF DISEASE SURGE

Health officials say anyone bitten by a rattlesnake should seek emergency medical care immediately, remain as still as possible and avoid attempting home remedies that can worsen the injury.

Barajas told Nexstar's KTLA he hopes sharing his family's experience will encourage others to stay vigilant around their homes and know which hospitals are equipped to treat pediatric snakebite emergencies.

"She’s doing great now. She’s, I want to say, about 70% recovered," Barajas said. "She’s still bruised on her left hand where she was bitten. Her spirits are high, her demeanor is great, but she keeps asking why she was bitten by a snake."

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family cover Addy's medical expenses and lost income while she continues to recover.

Andrew Arrabaca, 43, appeared in a Manhattan federal court Tuesday for his alleged actions outside 26 Federal Plaza that injured three people before he was subdued. 

He did not enter a plea.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky, noted that the attack could have ended tragically.

"The crime you’re charged with is troubling," said Tarnofsky, who immediately conducted a bail hearing and ordered Arrabaca to be released to a mental health facility. The judge said the alleged attack was "planned over time" and "wasn't something that was done on a Sunday."

FBI ARRESTS PROTESTER WHO THREATENED TO KILL ICE OFFICER'S FAMILY AT NJ DETENTION CENTER PROTEST, BLANCHE SAYS

Arrabaca, who served as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems in the Army, harbored anti-ICE and anti-government views, James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, said Monday.

"He is an anti-American, anti-government extremist," Barnacle told reporters at the scene.

Voter records show he has registered as a Democrat and was a member of the left-wing Working Families party.

Arrabaca "came armed with bad intentions" and was found with a range of weapons, including a pellet gun, knives, a hammer, and a machete. Authorities said the upstate New York resident arrived at the federal building sometime around 8:30 a.m. and lit a large firework before pouring a liquid that ignited a fire.

Videos and images from the scene showed a fire with a plume of smoke and bright orange flames near a building entrance, as well as law enforcement officers restraining the suspect.

VIDEO SHOWS MOMENT CHICAGO MAN ALLEGEDLY USED SUV AS WEAPON AGAINST ICE AGENT, PROSECUTORS SAY

In addition to allegedly setting the fire, Arrabaca also fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle toward the building, Barnacle said. He was arrested by federal officials a short time later and has been in custody since.

He made several anti-government and anti-ICE statements during the incident and said "he was okay if he hurt or killed people going in and out of the building, whether they were federal employees or civilians," the FBI said.

Upon his arrest, authorities said they found Arrabaca with two axes, a hammer, a machete and three knives.

Prosecutors said he had arrived pulling a four-wheeled utility wagon bearing a sign that read "ICE Off Our Streets," which also contained BB and pellet rifles, fireworks and a consumer firework labeled "Nuclear Warhead." Arrabaca was also wearing a helmet bearing several phrases, including "Kill yourself," according to the criminal complaint

Federal prosecutors said he had been planning the attack since January, when he began buying supplies and visiting sites around New York. 

Arrabaca allegedly told law enforcement that he went to several other sites around the city bringing materials and considered attacking them. After months, he decided to attack the federal building near the courthouse.  

On Sunday, he made his way to Lower Manhattan with the weapons and other items used during the attack, prosecutors allege. He spent the night in a park and arrived at the building on Monday morning.

He told law enforcement he targeted a specific entrance because it was busy and employees were heading to work and members of the public were heading inside.  

Arrabaca admitted that he was aware people could be hurt and was willing to accept the risk, said prosecutors, who described his actions as "calculated." He was also aware he could die.

Surveillance images included in the complaint show people standing just feet from the entrance when Arrabaca allegedly ignited the flammable liquid, while prosecutors say at least one victim suffered a gash to the back of the head after being struck by debris from the fire or explosion.

Defense lawyer Jennifer Brown said Arrabaca has mental health issues, and asked that he be placed in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health hospital for evaluation and treatment. Prosecutors noted that Arrabaca does not have a stable residence or employment and was living out of a car before the attack.  

"The mental health issues that are quite likely the cause of the behavior, I seriously considered the alternatives proposed by Ms. Brown, but I had to reject them because I don’t think it’s sufficiently clear you would comply with treatment," Tarnofsky told Arrabaca. 

The federal building in Lower Manhattan has been the scene of protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency charged with enforcing the nation's immigration laws amid the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

One of two people hurt during Monday's incident was an immigrant who appeared at the building for a hearing, the FBI said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4. He faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison. 

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.