Major Human Trafficking Bust in Florida Yields 29 Arrests and Four Rescued Victims

Falls Township Fire Chief Brian Salt, 36, has been arrested and suspended indefinitely following allegations of child endangerment and aggravated assault. According to police, Salt admitted to intentionally allowing his three-month-old daughter to fall to the ground, resulting in a skull fracture. The incident occurred on March 11, and the infant was subsequently treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia after presenting with a fractured skull caused by "substantial force," alongside bruising and blood in her eye, as reported by Detective Dennis O'Connell. On March 20, Salt confessed to investigators that he became frustrated after his daughter was inconsolable, leading him to remove her from a swing and intentionally let her fall. Initially, Salt and his wife claimed they were unsure of how the injury occurred. The Falls Township Fire Company stated it is "committed to ensuring transparency" as investigations proceed, emphasizing the importance of community safety. Salt remains in custody with bail set at 10% of $500,000, and it is unclear if he has secured legal representation.

Saritha Ramaraju, a 48-year-old Indian-origin woman, has been charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son, Yatin Ramaraju, following a vacation to Disneyland in California. According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Ramaraju allegedly slit her son's throat during a custody visit, leading to a felony murder charge and a personal use enhancement for the knife involved. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life. The tragic incident occurred on March 19, 2025, at a Santa Ana motel where Ramaraju was staying with her son. On the day they were to check out and return Yatin to his father, she contacted authorities at 9:12 a.m. to report the crime and her intent to harm herself. Police found the boy deceased, surrounded by Disneyland memorabilia, suggesting he had been dead for hours prior to the call. A large kitchen knife, purchased the previous day, was recovered from the scene. Ramaraju's custody battle with her ex-husband, Prakash Raju, who alleged her unfounded accusations of his substance abuse, has been ongoing since their 2018 divorce.

A West Virginia couple, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Lantz, has been sentenced to a combined total of 375 years in prison for the severe abuse of their five adopted Black children. The couple, aged 63 and 62 respectively, targeted the children, aged 6 to 16, after adopting them from a shelter for vulnerable youth. Prosecutors revealed that the children were forced into slave labor on their farm and often deprived of basic needs. The prosecution's case was bolstered by a 2023 report from a concerned neighbor, prompting an investigation by Child Protective Services. Deputies discovered two children locked in a shed without running water, while others were found in similarly dire conditions, wearing dirty clothes. After a jury found them guilty in January on multiple counts, including human trafficking and violating civil rights, sentencing was delivered by Judge MaryClaire Akers, who described the couple's actions as creating "hell" for the children. Whitefeather received a 215-year sentence while Lantz was sentenced to 160 years. They were also ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution to each victim.