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Suspect in 2 RI homicides found; tot still missing

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This undated photo released by the Rhode Island State Police through the Amber Alert website shows Malcolm Crowell, 22, who is sought after two people were found dead and a 2-year-old child missing from a Johnston, R.l., apartment Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013. A nationwide Amber Alert for toddler Isaih Perez was issued shortly after police were called at 5:20 a.m. to the home in Johnston. (AP Photo)

JOHNSTON, R.I. (AP) — A man suspected of killing two people at a Rhode Island home and then snatching a 2-year-old boy was captured Sunday just over the border in Massachusetts, but the toddler is still missing, authorities said.

Malcolm Crowell was apprehended at about 12:30 p.m. in Fall River after a nationwide Amber Alert was issued for 2-year-old Isaih Perez, Massachusetts State Police spokesman Dave Procopio told WPRI-TV. Isaih hasn't yet been found, Procopio said.

Police were called at 5:20 a.m. and found the two victims at a home in Johnston, a town of 30,000 residents less than 10 miles from Providence. Investigators believe that they were killed between 4:30 and 5 a.m. and that Crowell then fled the home with the child, Johnston Deputy Police Chief Daniel Parrillo told The Associated Press.

"We don't believe the child was harmed, and we're just hoping that he will be safely returned," Parrillo said before Crowell's capture.

Investigators were still working to determine the relationships among the 22-year-old Crowell, the boy and the two homicide victims, Parrillo said. It is unclear whether Crowell was living in the home, was a guest or was uninvited, he said.

"Hopefully we can answer a lot more questions once we get Mr. Crowell here," Parrillo said. "We are starting to talk to family members right now to determine what the relationship with the boy is, but we have not pinpointed that. What he was doing there, we have no idea."

Police had said Crowell, of Providence, should be considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities were also trying to obtain a photograph of the child, Parrillo said.

"We don't have a picture; we don't have any identification; we don't have anything at this time," he said.

2-year-old boy abducted from RI home found safe

5 hours agoSociety

JOHNSTON, R.I. (AP) — A 2-year-old Rhode Island boy was found wandering around a housing project miles from his home hours after his mother and another woman were found slain at their house Sunday and two men were under arrest, police said.

A patrolman in Providence spotted Isaiah Perez walking around the Chad Brown housing project by himself around 8:15 p.m., said Johnston Deputy Police Chief Daniel Parrillo. The toddler was evaluated at Hasbro Children's Hospital and had no injuries, he said.

The search for the boy began after the two bodies were discovered about 5:20 a.m. at a home in Johnston, a town of 30,000 residents less than 10 miles from Providence. Two men were arrested in the double homicide and Isaiah's abduction, while police continued their search for the child.

Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini said one of the victims was the child's mother.

Parrillo said investigators believe the victims were killed between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. and the boy was taken from the home. The names of the two dead were not immediately released.

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This undated photo released by the Rhode Island State Police through the Amber Alert website shows t …

Malcolm Crowell, 22, was arrested in Fall River, Mass., Sunday afternoon and Daniel Rodriguez, 27 or 28, was arrested that evening in Providence, Parrillo said. Both suspects are from Providence, but Parrillo would not say why police suspect the two or how they are related to each other or to the victims.

He said one or both of the suspects could be charged in connection with the crimes on Monday.

Investigators were working to determine the relationships among the boy, his abductor and the two homicide victims. Parrillo said it was unclear whether the boy's abductor was living in the home, was a guest or was uninvited.

"What he was doing there, we have no idea," Parrillo said earlier in the day.

When the boy went missing, a nationwide Amber Alert was issued that identified the child and also named Crowell as a suspect.

Instagram, used by 130 million people worldwide, is playing host to the buying and selling of unwanted animals for pets, slaughter and ritual sacrifice, and in doing so is encouraging and promoting widespread animal abuse.

The popular and trending hashtag #forsale throws up more than 1 million results, most of which are completely innocent such as clothes, shoes and other second hand goods, but riddled among the listings are thousands of live animals being offered for sale.

From household pets and exotic animals like snakes and turtles that require specialist care to sheep and goats intended to be sacrificially slaughtered for birthdays and events, Instagram is turning a blind eye to this atrocity when they clearly have full knowledge of its development.

What is supposed to be in Instagram’s own words “a beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family” has rapidly become a breeding ground for those looking to make a quick buck, with many users turning their personal accounts into streams of classified ads for animals.

Scarily, Instagram does not currently have any rules or guidelines on the advertisement of items for sale, and nowhere in the site’s terms and conditions do they mention the sale of animals. Conversly, other leading online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay strictly prohibit the sale of live animals, and animal rights campaigners are imploring Instagram to follow suit and crack down on listings.

Leading the charge is the UK’s largest animal rights group Animal Aid, who are urging Instagram, which is owned by social media giant Facebook, to put an end to this careless and harmful trading of animals.

The charity’s director Andrew Tyler said, “Animals are being manufactured and traded as products and this will encourage people to breed carelessly. The easier you make it to buy and sell animals online, the more casual and callous an approach people will take…and this will only lead to more suffering.”

Animals are not mere commodities to be bought and sold. They are living, feeling, sentient beings, and when their welfare is put second to that of profit, they will always suffer as a result.

Millions of dogs and cats are killed every year because they have no prospects for a home, and it is facilitating sites like Instagram that are the worst offenders. By providing an easy way for irresponsible breeders and pet owners to offload their unwanted animals, the mentality of viewing animals as money making machines takes a hold and exploitative practices start to manifest.

As expected, Instagram has declined to comment on this controversy, but that doesn’t mean that their silence will go unnoticed. As an industry leader, Instagram has an obligation to lead by example and they need to recognize this thoughtless and careless trading and put a stop to it before any more harm is done.

What Can You Do About It?

Let Instagram know exactly what you think.

You can get in contact with them via Twitter, Facebook and you can sign our petition.

Another way you can help is to reject the buying and selling of live animals, and instead choose to adopt from a local shelter or rescue center.

Read more: animal welfare, Instagram, pets, sacrifice, slaughter

Photo Credit: crossfirecw

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