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'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA 'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA
'Groomer' Admits Filming 12-Year-Old Girl In Bathroom, Buying Her Sex Toy: Capital Region DA A man from the region has confessed to secretly filming a 12-year-old girl in the bathroom and engaging in other “grooming” behaviors, prosecutors said. Schenectady County resident Ramar Martin, of Niskayuna, pleaded guilty to felony unlawful surveillance in Schenectady County Court on Monday, March 11. According to prosecutors, Niskayuna Police began investigating when the young victim, who is known to Martin, came forward with several disturbing accusations against the man, including that he had purchased her a sex toy and lingerie. The girl told police that Martin also spoke to her whil…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Update: Woman Found Dead At Cemetery In Capital Region ID'd As 20-Year-Old Update: Woman Found Dead At Cemetery In Capital Region ID'd As 20-Year-Old
Update: Woman Found Dead At Cemetery In Capital Region ID'd As 20-Year-Old Authorities have identified a young woman who was found dead near a cemetery in the region. The discovery in Rensselaer County was made at around 6:15 p.m. Sunday, March 3 in Troy, just outside the Oakwood Cemetery. Troy Police said a passerby called 911 after spotting what they believed to be a body deep in a wooded area west of the cemetery entrance. Earlier Report: Woman's Body Found Near Cemetery In Troy On Tuesday, March 12, police identified the woman as 20-year-old Sierra Kautzman-Boehlke, of Troy.  Detectives said they’re still waiting on autopsy results, but they do no…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Capital Region Man ID'd As Victim In Deadly 2-Vehicle Crash Capital Region Man ID'd As Victim In Deadly 2-Vehicle Crash
Capital Region Man ID'd As Victim In Deadly 2-Vehicle Crash A 64-year-old man from the region has died following a two-vehicle crash in New Jersey. The wreck happened at around 5:45 p.m. Sunday, March 10, on Route 78 in Warren County. Carmen Berretta, of Albany, collided with another vehicle while driving eastbound on Route 78 in Pohatcong Township, authorities said. He was taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. The coroner's office and New Jersey State Police are investigating the crash.

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by Michael Mashburn
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'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions 'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions
'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions In just over a month, what's being called the astronomy event of the decade will occur when a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Many are planning road trips to places where the best viewing conditions are expected for what space.com says will be "the longest and most visible for the US in 100 years," with a four-minute totality duration beginning…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Dismembered Remains Case: ID Released For 1 Of 2 NY Victims Dismembered Remains Case: ID Released For 1 Of 2 NY Victims
Dismembered Remains Case: ID Released For 1 Of 2 NY Victims For the first time, police have publicly identified one of two murder victims from Westchester County whose mutilated remains were found strewn across Long Island, reigniting the debate over bail reform laws. In an update to the case Monday, March 11, Suffolk County Police identified the female victim as 59-year-old Donna Conneely, whose last known address was in Yonkers. The identity of the male victim is still pending confirmation from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office. Earlier Report: Dismembering Dead Body Would Be Felony Under NY Bill Meant To Remedy 'Ill-Conceived D…

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by Michael Mashburn
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New Details: Mom Threw Infant Daughter Down Utility Shaft, Killing Her, Capital Region DA Says New Details: Mom Threw Infant Daughter Down Utility Shaft, Killing Her, Capital Region DA Says
New Details: Mom Threw Infant Daughter Down Utility Shaft, Killing Her, Capital Region DA Says This story has been updated. A New York mother is being charged with murder after throwing her infant daughter down a utility shaft, prosecutors allege. Schenectady Police said search crews found the body of 11-month-old Halo Branton at the bottom of an 8-foot utility shaft on GE’s Old River Road campus on Sunday afternoon, March 10. The discovery came hours after police issued an AMBER alert for the child, who was last seen at around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, March 9, near Campbell Avenue and 12th Street. In an update on Monday, March 11, Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said a security…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Triple-Fatal Crash: National Guard Solider, Trooper From Capital Region Both ID'd As Victims Triple-Fatal Crash: National Guard Solider, Trooper From Capital Region Both ID'd As Victims
Triple-Fatal Crash: National Guard Solider, Trooper From Capital Region Both ID'd As Victims A National Guard soldier from New York has been identified as one of the victims of a helicopter crash that killed three people. Click here for a new, updated story: National Guard Soldier From NY ID'd As Sole Survivor Of Triple-Fatal Crash The incident happened around 2:50 p.m. Friday, March 8 while the UH-72 Lakota chopper was flying over the US-Mexico border near Rio Grande City, Texas, according to the Joint Task Force North. National Guard soldier Casey Frankoski, age 28, who grew up in Rensselaer County, was a graduate of Columbia High School in East Greenbush. …

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by Joe Lombardi
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NY State Police Trooper From Capital Region Killed In Helicopter Crash NY State Police Trooper From Capital Region Killed In Helicopter Crash
NY State Police Trooper From Capital Region Killed In Helicopter Crash A New York State Police trooper was among three people killed in a National Guard helicopter crash. Click here for a new, updated story - Triple-Fatal Crash: National Guard Solider From NY ID'd As One Of Victims The incident happened Friday, March 8 while the chopper was flying over the US-Mexico border in Texas. The trooper, John M. Grassia III was 30 years old. Another National Guard soldier and a Border Patrol agent also died in the crash. Grassia joined the New York State Police in April 2022 and was most recently assigned to Troop G (Latham). in Albany County. "Trooper Grass…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Capital Region Woman Admits Stealing $300K From Father, Including Military Pension Capital Region Woman Admits Stealing $300K From Father, Including Military Pension
Capital Region Woman Admits Stealing $300K From Father, Including Military Pension A woman from the region is facing years in prison after confessing that she stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from her veteran father. Schenectady resident Elaine Perkins, age 61, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Schenectady County Court on Monday, March 4. Prosecutors said Perkins stole more than $300,000 from her elderly father over the course of several years after he was diagnosed with dementia and named her as his power of attorney in 2018. Relatives grew concerned after the woman placed the victim in a rehabilitation home in December 2021. That’s when they started noticing tax…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says
Avoid Scams: These Are Top 10 Consumer Frauds Of 2023, NY AG Says To honor National Consumer Protection Week, New York Attorney General Letitia James has revealed the most common fraud complaints faced by residents during 2023.  In an announcement on Monday, March 4, James said that these common complaints ranged from price gouging of much-needed goods and services to housing issues, online banking fraud, and even travel-related issues.  The top ten most common consumer complaints of 2023 in New York were:  Retail Sales: (Online purchases, price gouging, retail sales, defective merchandise, poor customer service, pet stores, animal breede…

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by Ben Crnic
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32-Year-Old Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Capital Region 32-Year-Old Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Capital Region
32-Year-Old Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash In Capital Region A 32-year-old man was killed in a late-night crash in the region. The Saratoga County incident happened at around 1 a.m. Friday, March 8, in the town of Greenfield on South Greenfield Road. Sheriff’s officials said Justin Germain, of Greenfield, was driving a 2006 Ford pickup truck when he lost control on a curve. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Germain was pronounced dead at the scene by the Saratoga County Coroner’s Office. He was the sole occupant of the truck, and no other vehicles were involved in the crash. Deputies said a preliminary investigation found that speed …

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by Michael Mashburn
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22-Year-Old Struck, Killed By Amtrak Train In Capital Region 22-Year-Old Struck, Killed By Amtrak Train In Capital Region
22-Year-Old Struck, Killed By Amtrak Train In Capital Region A 22-year-old man has died after being struck by a train outside a business in the region. The Rensselaer County incident happened at around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, in Schodack. New York State Police said Kevin Ackerman, of Castleton-on-Hudson, was walking near the intersection of River Road and Hamilton Way when he was struck by an Amtrak train. The train immediately stopped and contacted emergency services. Ackerman suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The incident happened just yards from the Hudson River Foods warehouse. It was not immedia…

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by Michael Mashburn