 ScamStop 901: Preventing Elder Abuse and Exploitation
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Wednesday, June 15th, we gathered with our Coordinated Response for Elder Abuse (CREA) Partners and fellow elected officials to address the neglect and exploitation of older adults in Memphis and Shelby County.
More than 14 percent of Shelby County residents are over age 65, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Elder abuse is neglect, and/or physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse of someone over 60 years of age. According to the National Council on Aging, up to five million older Americans are abused every year, often by someone they depend on for care.
At the press conference, we launched our new prevention initiative, ScamStop901.
ScamStop901 will:
- Educate seniors, vulnerable adults, and their families about scammers’ tactics.
- Advise them on how to detect and deflect potential scammers.
- Inform them about who to call if they think they’ve been the victim of a scam.
We need your help spreading the word about ScamStop901. Over the next couple of months, we’ll be sharing a series of six social media graphics. We ask that you like and share the posts in this series, and help us stop scammers in their tracks.
In addition, in coordination with the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, we'll be rolling out this campaign statewide under the name ScamStopTN.
Congratulations to the 70 new members of the Memphis Police Department and to Asst. Dist. Atty. Steve Ragland who was the designated class honoree Thursday, June 30th at the 136th Basic Police Recruit Class graduation at Bellevue Baptist Church.
Steve is assigned to our Crime Strategies and Prosecution Unit which handles cases including gang-related homicides, carjackings and kidnappings.
He also represents the office at weekly meetings with the MPD Command Staff and at frequent meetings with MPD investigative units. Steve facilitates communication between law enforcement and our office regarding charging decisions and case handling, as well as advising MPD’s Violent Crimes Unit and the newly formed Gun Crimes Unit.
His name and biography will be placed on the wall of the MPD Training Academy.
And again, congratulations to the new officers.
I got to spend an evening ringside with some royalty of Memphis boxing at the MidSouth Golden Gloves Regional Boxing at the Pipkin Tournament. From the left are Ike Griffith (director of City of Memphis Youth Services), Deputy DA and former amateur boxer Ray Lepone, and Robert Mitchell, son of renowned Memphis boxing coach Pete Mitchell who passed away last year. The weekend tournament was dedicated in memory of Coach Mitchell.
On Sunday, June 12th, we observed Women's Veterans Day, celebrating the achievements of all women veterans, especially SCDAG's own Vanessa Murtaugh. Vanessa works as an ADA with the DUI Unit, which prosecutes all DUI and vehicular homicide cases in the Criminal Court Divisions.
Vanessa served as Petty Officer 3rd Class in the US Navy from 1999 to 2005. She worked as a Fire Controlman, trained to shoot Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. She was stationed in San Diego.
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 Look Before You Lock!
According to noheatstroke.org, 914 children have died due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) in the U.S. since 1998. Tragically, we have already lost a child to PVH in Shelby County this summer. These deaths are entirely preventable, and it's our responsibility as parents and caregivers to make sure this never happens. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides tips to prevent PVH deaths:
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even if the windows are open and/or the air conditioning is on.
- Always check your entire vehicle front to back before locking up and walking away: "Park, Look, Lock."
- Ask your child's care provider to call you immediately if your child does not show up as expected.
- Place a personal item, such as a purse or wallet, in the back seat to remind yourself to check.
- Store keys out of children's reach, and ensure they know that a vehicle is not an area for them to play in.
- If you see a child unattended in a car, immediately call 911.
Click here for more information.
 Welcome, Summer Interns!
Starting on May 31st, we welcomed a skilled and diverse team of interns to the SCDAG Office for the summer. Our interns come from law schools and universities all over the country including the University of Memphis, University of Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Chicago School of Law, UT Knoxville, Texas Tech, University of Alabama, Baylor, Rhodes College, and even Trinity College of Dublin, Ireland.
They will be working with prosecutors in each of our Vertical Teams, our Victim Witness Unit, Administrative Services, and with the Criminal Investigative Division and the West TN Drug Task Force. Welcome to the team!
In the News
Convictions, Sentencings, and Guilty Pleas
Customer Convicted of Groping Hair Stylist
A 67-year-old Cordova man has been convicted of having unlawful sexual contact with a hair stylist who had just given him a haircut. A Criminal Court jury convicted Danny Silsbe of the felony offense of sexual battery. He remains free on bond and is set for sentencing on July 6.
Man Convicted of Murder in Woman’s Death
A southeast Memphis man who said he shot a woman in 2019 because she disrespected him has been convicted of second-degree murder and three felony counts of aggravated assault. He remains in the Shelby County Jail and will be sentenced in July.
Millington Man Admits Stabbing Attack
A Millington man pled guilty to attacking a health care provider with a kitchen knife in 2019 at a facility he had set fire to two years earlier. Darryl D. Evans Jr., 40, was sentenced in Criminal Court to 25 years without parole for attempted first-degree murder.
Man Convicted of Stalking Woman, Daughters
A Criminal Court jury convicted a 54-year-old man of stalking a North Memphis mother and her three juvenile daughters for more than a year. Defendant Durrell James was convicted on three felony counts of aggravated stalking and a misdemeanor count of stalking the mother of the victims. He remains in jail on $40,000 bond and will be sentenced July 18.
Man Returns to Prison for Assaulting Officers
A Memphis man who served most of a 40-year-sentence for a 1984 conviction for kidnapping, rape and robbery is going back to prison for pulling a gun on two police officers. Defendant Layton N. Ford, 60, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty last week in Criminal Court to two counts of aggravated assault against first responders attempting to discharge their duties, and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Babysitter Convicted of Raping Child
A jury deliberated just 20 minutes before finding a north Shelby County man guilty of sexually molesting a 7-year-old girl he was babysitting for family friends in 2019. Travis Ruzicha (aka Ruzicka), 22, of Drummonds was convicted of rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery after a four-day trial. Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft revoked his bond and set sentencing for August.
Third Shooter Pleads Guilty in Murder Case
The third of three teen homicide defendants has pled guilty to killing one man and wounding another in 2018 after opening fire on them near Shelby Drive and Riverdale Road in southeast Memphis. Christian Key, now 21, pled guilty Thursday in Criminal Court to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, and was sentenced 20 years in prison without the possibility for parole.
Milan Defendant Convicted in 2016 Murder
A Milan, Tenn., man was convicted in a 2016 home-invasion shooting in which a man was killed and his girlfriend was shot 11 times and critically injured. Uel Pearson, 40, was convicted on counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Indictments
Five Indicted in Shooting at Funeral
Juvenile Indicted in Robbery, Murder
Juvenile Indicted in Parkway Village Homicide
Shooting Suspect Indicted in Homicide
Concerned Citizen Indicted as Killer
Woman Indicted in Stabbing Death of Boyfriend
Boyfriend Indicted in Killing of Woman’s Son
Rooming House Manager Indicted In Fatal Machete Attack On Tenant
Husband Indicted in Woman’s Death
Two Indicted in Robbery, Murder Of Victim Who Tried to Flee
Man Who Fired Into Group of Teens Indicted on Murder, Other Felony Counts
Mother Indicted in Baby Son’s Murder
Man Indicted in Shooting Deaths Of His Father and Grandmother
Man Indicted in Kidnap-for-Ransom Case That Ended With Victim’s Murder
Man Indicted in Shooting Death Of Child in Booster Seat
Fugitive in Motel Murder Found, Indicted
Other News
I-40 Traffic Stop Yields $500K in Cocaine
Live At 9: Shelby Co. District Attorney General on ‘Truth in Sentencing’ Legislation
Live At 9: Shelby County's New Community Justice Panels Resolve Cases out of Court
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