Cleveland, OH

How a poker game in jail could solve a missing person case in Ohio

Published

10 months ago

October 24, 2023

How a poker game in jail could solve a missing person case in Ohio

A group of Ohio activists is betting on an unusual tool to help find new leads in missing persons cases – playing-card sets that will be distributed to local jail inmates.

Cleveland Missing, a nonprofit focused on helping families of missing persons, created a deck of cards featuring 52 cases from northern Ohio.

“We picked cold cases, and tried to stay between (year) 2000 to 2017 or 2019. We wanted them to be older cases that don’t have a lot of traction anymore,” Devan Althen told Fox News Digital.

“And so from there, we narrowed it down by the ones that had the most details to be able to give out there and then picked ones where the families are still actively looking for them… I really wanted to honor those families as much as I could.”

OVER 1,000 MINORS REPORTED MISSING BY CLEVELAND THIS YEAR, INCLUDING ALMOST 50 KIDS THIS MONTH

Devan Althen, a law enforcement liaison with the nonprofit Cleveland Missing, holds up two cards.

Althen, the law enforcement liaison for Cleveland Missing, spearheaded the project – applying for the grant, creating the deck and distributing the sets to northern Ohio jails near the incident locations.

Each card includes a picture of the missing person, their age, when they went missing and the latest information law enforcement released, along with Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s tip line.

DOZENS OF KIDS REPORTED MISSING IN CLEVELAND AREA AS POLICE PROBE ALARMING TREND

The playing cards are free and given to inmates because they likely either know about crimes that happened in their community, or even got away with a crime, Althen said.

“We all know that inmates love to talk, and so the hope is that while inmates are playing with these cards, it triggers memories that they might have surrounding cases in these cards,” Althen said.

“And a lot of times too, it’s not (the inmate saying), ‘I know what happened to the girl on Jack of Hearts.’ It’s hearing other inmates make comments about a case on a card and sharing what the other inmates said with the hope of getting time off their sentence.”

Devin Althen, a law enforcement liaison with the nonprofit Cleveland missing, holds up two cards.

Devan Althen, the law enforcement liaison for Cleveland Missing, spearheaded the project.

The greater Cleveland area, including the city’s suburbs, has seen high numbers of missing persons this year, including children and teenagers who inexplicably don’t even have pictures on file.

Over 900 children are currently reported as missing from the Cleveland-Akron area, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office’s missing children website.

PROMINENT JEWISH SYNAGOGUE PRESIDENT SAMANTHA WOLL FOUND DEAD OUTSIDE HOME

Cleveland authorities have downplayed the numbers in recent interviews and press releases. “We know that law enforcement recovers 90% of the children that go missing,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told the Columbus Dispatch.

About 18,000 children are reported missing on average each year over the past decade, but the number of cases declined each year since 2017, with the exception of 2022, the newspaper reported. That year reportedly saw a slight increase from the prior year.

missing persons in greater cleveland area

Nearly 30 juveniles under 18 were reported missing in a two-week span in May 2023, and many don’t have photos, which creates problems for law enforcement. (City of Cleveland)

In 2022, the Columbus metropolitan area led the state in missing children reports, the Columbus Dispatch reported based on information from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

That’s the region where Cleveland Missing is focusing its attention with the playing cards, Althen said. “Columbus and north,” she said.

BODYCAM CAPTURES DRAMATIC SHOOT-OUT WITH MAN ACCUSED OF SLAUGHTERING FAMILY BEFORE VANISHING

“Our hope is that while they’re playing these cards, they start talking,” Althen said. “And then inmates start relaying these messages to law enforcement, and tips are being generated, so we’re able to start solving some of these cases that are on these cards.”

For Althen, and the volunteer nonprofit’s co-founder, Sylvia Colon, finding these missing kids is a personal mission.

WATCH JUNE INTERVIEW ABOUT MISSING CHILDREN

“The important thing to remember is they’re (the families) looking every single day for their loved one,” Colon told Fox News Digital. “Just because the case isn’t in the new doesn’t mean they’re not searching… There’s still an empty place at the dinner table.”

Colon rattled off several families that she knows personally who haven’t given up looking for their loved ones who have been missing for a decade or more.

BODYCAM CAPTURES DRAMATIC SHOOT-OUT WITH MAN ACCUSED OF SLAUGHTERING FAMILY BEFORE VANISHINGf

“These families’ emotions are very raw. To this day, it’s like it happened today,” Colon said. “They don’t stop looking. They don’t stop caring. They don’t stop being sad. But they also have to keep living life because other people depend on them.

“So it’s that great balancing act. And then there’s guilt about the fact that you’re continuing to live a life. So it’s all those crazy emotions.”

Gina DeJesus and her cousin Sylvia Colon founded the nonprofit Cleveland Missing, which helps families of missing persons. (Cleveland Missing)

Althen said the card effort also lets families know “that their loved one wasn’t forgotten.

“There’s at least 52 families now that know that their cold case might not being talked about because time has past, but people are still trying to be able to help solve these cases for them,” she said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

To leave tips for police on missing persons in and around Cleveland, call 216-623-7697 or email helpfindthemissing@city.cleveland.oh.us.

Cleveland Missing is located at 2937 West 25th St. in Cleveland and can be reached at 216-232-6470.

Chris Eberhart is a crime and US news reporter for Fox News Digital. Email tips to chris.eberhart@fox.com or on Twitter @ChrisEberhart48.

Source link

Cleveland, OH

GCSC Summer Golf Classic | Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

Published

7 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

GCSC Summer Golf Classic | Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

Get Your Golf On!
Golfers of all abilities are invited to play in GCSC’s Summer Golf Classic presented by First National Bank on Monday, August 5, 2024 at Cleveland Metroparks Sleepy Hollow.
Join us for a day of 18 holes with cart featuring beverages, contests & prizes, lunch and a buffet dinner.
FORMAT:…

Source link

Cleveland, OH

Fatal shooting on east side after reports of large fight: Cleveland Police

Published

14 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

Fatal shooting on east side after reports of large fight: Cleveland Police

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – One man is dead after a shooting following reports of a large fight on the east side, according to Cleveland Police.

Police got reports of a large fight around 2:50 a.m. on Saturday in the 1000 block of East 71st Street.

While officers were en route, they learned that two people were shot.

Police located a 22-year-old man and a 24-year-old man who were both shot, according to a release.

Both of the men were taken to the hospital by EMS.

The 22-year-old man later died at the hospital.

The condition of the 24-year-old is unknown.

Cleveland Police homicide unit is investigating, according to police.

Source link

Cleveland, OH

WWE SummerSlam 2024 Results: Winners And Grades On August 3, 2024

Published

22 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

WWE SummerSlam 2024 results

Credit: WWE.com

WWE SummerSlam 2024 from Cleveland, Ohio advertised six championship matches. Among them was Solo Sikoa challenging Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship, LA Knight challenging Logan Paul for the WWE United States Championship, Sami Zayn defending the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Bron Breakker and GUNTHER challenging Damian Priest for the WWE World Championship.

This week’s broadcast of WWE Raw garnered 1.412 million viewers on SyFy after being preempted by the Olympics.

WWE SummerSlam Results | August 3, 2024

Liv Morgan def. Rhea Ripley | WWE Women’s World Championship
Bron Breakker def. Sami Zayn | WWE Intercontinental Championship
LA Knight def. Logan Paul | WWE United States Championship
Nia Jax def. Bayley | WWE Women’s Championship
Drew McIntyre def. CM Punk
GUNTHER def. Damian Priest | WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa | WWE Undisputed Championship

WWE SummerSlam 2024 Ticket Sales

WWE SummerSlam 2024 Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
WWE SummerSlam 2024 Tickets Distributed: 55,858
WWE SummerSlam 2024 Tickets Available: 807

WWE Money In The Bank 2024 Winners And Grades

Liv Morgan Def. Rhea Ripley

Despite all the talk of The Judgment Day competing by themselves, Dominik Mysterio accompanied Rhea Ripley to the ring.

Michael Cole noted the last time Rhea Ripley lost a singles match was 26 months ago. To Liv Morgan.

This match started as a cat-and-mouse as Liv ran away from Ripley. Fans became frustrated and booed Liv loudly.

Rhea dominated this match until Liv Morgan dodged a charging Ripley and followed up by throwing her, shoulder-first, into the turnbuckle. Ripley could be heard (kayfabe) saying “it’s out, it’s out!”

Fans were split as they made dueling chants of “let’s go Rhea/let’s go Liv!”

Liv Morgan (kayfabe) popped her shoulder back into place by running herself into the announce table and fans went crazy.

Ripley hit the riptide, but did not pin Morgan. Instead, she grabbed a steel chair that Morgan brought into the ring. Mysterio grabbed the chair from her, which was the wise decision because she would have gotten herself disqualified. This led to an Oblivion for a nearfall and “holy s—t” chants.

Dom distracted the ref, leading to an Oblivion on the steel chair for the win. After the match, Dominik Mysterio kissed Liv Morgan and they left together.

Backstage, Damian Priest was furious with Dominik Mysterio for his actions. Finn and the rest of the Judgment Day vowed to go find him. I don’t trust them.

Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan Grade: A-

Bron Breakker Def. Sami Zayn

Bron Breakker hit his always impressive Breakkensteiner early on, then he proceeded to scream “quit!” at Sami Zayn.

Bron Breakker cut Sami Zayn off with a Spear, then he hit ayn with another Spear for the win. This wasn’t necessarily a squash match, but it was definitely a dominant win for Breakker.

Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn Grade: B

LA Knight Def. Logan Paul

Logan Paul wore a Cleveland-inspired American Flag vest and greeted two security guards on his way to the ring. One of hte security guards turned out to be Cleveland’s own MGK.

LA Knight shattered the glass on Logan Paul’s Prime vehicle before making his way to the ring.

Paul cleared the table, but LA Knight got the better of him with a modified TKO, though the table didn’t break.

Paul won these people over with a springboard moonsault on LA Knight. Though they cheered the spot, they eventually came to their senses and chanted “you still suck!”

After jumping up on the top rope, LA Knight hit a scary looking superplex. Fans chanted “this is awesome” after a nearfall.

Logan Paul borrowed brass knuckles from MGK. After a shot to LA Knight, Knight countered with a BFT.

Logan Paul vs. LA Knight Grade: A-

Nia Jax Def. Bayley

Bayley relentlessly knocked Nia Jax off her feet early in the match.

Nia Jax took control of the match, to the point where she hit the Annihilator, but Bayley kicked out.

Jax called herself “reckless” and “clumsy” while trash-talking Bayley on offense.

Bayley hit an awesome power bomb on Nia Jax from the top rope. The fans were fervently into a match that struggled to follow Logan Paul vs. LA Knight.

A Tiffany Stratton cash-in was thwarted by Bayley, but the distraction led to two power bombs and two Annihilators for the win.

Nia Jax vs. Bayley Grade: A-

Drew McIntyre Def. CM Punk

Seth Rollins walked out in a long cloak, and what was under the jacket was certain to be even wilder.

WWE used ref cameras on the referee’s ear, and there were never more ref cam shots than during Seth Rollins’ entrance.

Rollins’ referee outfit were baggy, bedazzled pants and a cutoff shirt similar to Shawn Michaels.

Fans chanted “CM Punk” to start the match as punk donned pink gear in homage to Bret Hart.

Rollins did a great job working the fans into a frenzy before ringing the bell. When the bell rang, Punk and McIntyre brawled like crazy.

Instead of counting to 10 while Punk and McIntyre were outside of the ring, Rollins instead chose to tie his shoes. Rollins also took immense pleasure in seeing Punk and Rollins beat the hell out of one another.

During an Anaconda Vice on McIntyre, Punk secured his friendship bracelet and the entire stadium celebrated.

Punk stopped his GTS on McIntyre dead in its tracks and confronted Rollins about wearing his bracelet, which Rollins picked up off the ground did wear, but out of no malice.

After a ref bump and a nearfall (followed by a second visual pinfall), Punk and Rollins got into a heated argument. Punk hit a Go To Sleep on Rollins and took his bracelet back, but it cost him the match.

Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk Grade: B+

GUNTHER Def. Damian Priest

Finn Balor wished Damian Priest luck before the match. Famous last words.

GUNTHER already had chop marks on his chest before the match even started.

GUNTHER and Priest chopped the hell out of one another to the point where GUNTHER was bleeding from the chest.

Finn Balor hit the ring, presumably to save Priest, but he ended up costing Priest the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by putting GUNTHER’s leg on the bottom rope.

After this match, Jelly Roll, The Miz and R-Truth took out A-Town Down Under.

GUNTHER vs. Damian Priest Grade: B+

Cody Rhodes Def. Solo Sikoa

Cody Rhodes ran into Arn Anderson backstage, and Anderson said he called in a few favors to a few allies of Cody Rhodes. Some of whom he knows, some he doesn’t.

For a full recap of Cody vs. Solo Sikoa in Bloodline Rules, click here.

Source link