Lauren Silver

Dedicated journalist with more than 15 years experience in newsrooms and the digital space.

Court TV •

Austin Ford's mother sentenced for taking photos of jurors

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (Court TV) – The mother of a man tried twice for murdering his best friend will serve time herself after she took photos of jurors in court during her son’s trial.

Austin Ford, 21, was tried in April and August on murder charges in the death of his friend, 18-year-old Tori Lang. After two mistrials because juries were unable to reach unanimous verdicts, prosecutors announced Wednesday that they would not seek another trial against Ford.

“Unfortunately, there was a lack of di
Court TV •

Home owned by Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom at center of lawsuit

LOS ANGELES (Court TV) —Pop star Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom’s attempt to buy a home in California is at the center of a lawsuit heading to trial.

The lawsuit, filed by Carl Westcott, a property owner who had agreed to sell his home to the celebrity couple, claims that the 80-year-old was not of sound mind when he agreed to the sale. Perry, whose legal name is Katheryn Hudson, and Bloom are not named in the suit, which instead was filed against their business manager, Bernie Gudvi.

West
Court TV •

Alexee Trevizo, charged in infant's death, suing hospital

ARTESIA, N.M. (Court TV) — A New Mexico teenager, charged with her infant son’s death, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital where the child was found in a trash can.

Alexee Trevizo is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of her newborn son, named in the lawsuit as Alex Ray Fierro.

Trevizo went to the emergency room at Artesia General Hospital just before midnight on Jan. 26, 2023, complaining of lower back and abdominal pain.

The lawsuit
Court TV •

Exclusive: Gary Oliva's newest letter and ongoing JonBenét Ramsey obsession

BOULDER, Colo. (Court TV) — More than 25 years after JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered in her Colorado home, a man who confessed to the crime but was never charged in connection with the case is continuing to talk about his obsession with the child.

JonBenét Ramsey was 6 years old on Dec. 26, 1996, when her parents reported her missing. Her body was later found in a room in the family’s basement, and investigators said that the child, who had competed in beauty pageants, had been bludgeoned an
Court TV •

Ex-Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs sentenced in fatal DUI case

LAS VEGAS (Court TV) — Former top wide receiver Henry Ruggs III has been sentenced to three to ten years in prison months after pleading guilty in a fatal DUI crash that killed a woman and her dog.

Ruggs, 24, was driving a reported 127 mph with a blood alcohol level of 0.161 on Nov. 2, 2021, when caused the crash that killed Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog. He pleaded guilty in May as part of a plea deal.

At the time of the accident, Ruggs was a wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, having bee
Court TV •

Leah Remini says Scientology began attacking her after Shelly Miscavige's disappearance

LOS ANGELES (Court TV) — In a lawsuit filed in California, actress Leah Remini is accusing the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, of harassment, stalking, infliction of emotional distress and interfering with her ability to work.

The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 2 in the Superior Court of California, alleges that the Church of Scientology institutionalizes retaliatory activities against those it deems “Suppressive Persons,” who speak out against the organization.

The Church of Sc
Court TV •

Adam Montgomery denies killing daughter Harmony during sentencing

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Court TV) — Addressing the judge before he was sentenced on weapons charges, Adam Montgomery denied killing his daughter, Harmony, and asked the judge not to consider that pending case during the sentencing.

A jury convicted Montgomery in June on eight charges related to the thefts of two firearms in 2019.

Montgomery asked to address the court prior to hearing his fate. WMUR was in the courtroom and recorded Montgomery as he spoke about his daughter, who has not been seen sin
Court TV •

Woman to plead guilty in murder-for-hire scheme targeting ex

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Court TV) — A Colorado woman is scheduled to plead guilty on Thursday to charges she tried to hire a hitman to kill her ex-boyfriend days before a scheduled custody hearing.

Vanessa Rae Lavaty, 34, was charged with solicitation, conspiracy and criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder after allegedly asking her live-in boyfriend and an undercover officer to kill Timothy Hanes, her ex and child’s father.

Hanes and Lavaty shared custody of a 2-year-old girl, and the
Court TV •

WI v. William Zelenski: Stolen Reptile Murder Trial

WAUPACA, Wis. (Court TV) – A Wisconsin man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s son was sentenced to life in prison on Friday when he faced a judge.

After a sentencing hearing on July 28, Judge Raymond Huber ordered William Zelenski to spend the rest of his life in prison, but that he will be eligible to apply for extended supervision after 35 years. The judge noted no credit would be given for the 1,013 days Zelenski already served.

On June 23, a jury deliberated for several hours before fin
Court TV •

Court documents reveal Taylor Schabusiness' past

GREEN BAY (Court TV) — A Wisconsin woman convicted of murdering her lover before dismembering and scattering his body, is also a wife and mother, according to court documents.

Taylor Schabusiness pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to Shad Thyrion’s murder. Prosecutors said Schabusiness choked Thyrion during sex, then used a bread knife to dismember his body and put pieces of him into multiple receptacles, including a bucket and backpacks.

In court documents filed shortly after her arrest