Image via Complex Original
The word "ratchet" may be played out, but until the Internet agrees upon a more accurate description for these crimes, it will have to do. These stories are sad, imaginative, and they inspire us to have conversations about race, class, and the American dream.
This week’s roundup includes both an infant and a college student being set on fire, a rocket launcher, and a man bringing his mother’s corpse to the bank. Each crime is rated on our Ratchet Meter, a base-10 logarithmic scale modeled after a similar system developed by Charles Richter—except that the Ratchet Meter has nothing to do with science because it's not actually a real thing.
Read on for the best of the worst ratchet crimes in America. Proceed with caution, stay safe, don't try this at home, and send your tips to cityguidetips@complex.com.
Minnesota Man Allegedly Brought Mother's Corpse to Bank to Make Withdrawal
Date: Jan. 22
Location: Plymouth, Minn.
Crime: Neglect
Ratchet Meter: 10
Police in Minnesota suspect that a man reported his elderly mother dead after traveling to a bank with her corpse in a wheelchair to withdraw money in her name.
According to Fox 8, David Vanzo ventured to a Wells Fargo with his 90-year-old mother, Caryl, to make an $850 withdrawal. Bank employees claim that the woman's feet were dragging beneath the wheelchair, and that they were unable to tell whether or not she was breathing. Hours later, he reported her dead. However, responding police officers arrested the Plymouth, Minn. native for neglect after being shocked by the home's squalor:
But when Plymouth police arrived at the home, they were overwhelmed by the stench of urine and feces. They found the woman in bed, wearing a robe and fur coat, her boots covered in feces.
Fox 8 adds that David Vanzo was previously investigated for financial exploitation of his mother:
But authorities investigated David for financial exploitation on at least two occasions. There was a reverse mortgage his mother couldn't explain to the tune of $118,000, cash withdrawals of $47,500, and another for $25,600.
Vanzo, who insists that he withdrew the money from a joint account, maintained his innocence to Fox 8. "I gave my life to keep my mother alive," he said. "Look at my eyes."
[via Fox 8]
California Woman Arrested for Having Sex With Teenage Daughter's Ex-Boyfriend
Date: Jan. 5
Location: Escondido, Calif.
Ratchet Meter: 8
A California woman was arrested earlier this month after for having a sexual relationship with her teenage daughter's ex-boyfriend.
NBC New York reports that 38-year-old Fereshta Angel Williams of Deer Springs, Calif. maintained a sexual relationship with the 16-year-old for as long as three months. She was arrested by police in Escondido at a 24-Hour Fitness on Jan. 5 following an investigation which reportedly spanned several weeks. According to NBC New York, police declined to reveal how they learned of the relationship.
Williams was charged with having sex with a minor more than three years her junior, attempting to dissuade a witness, and oral copulation with a minor. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and has since been released from jail.
[via NBC New York]
NYU Student Arraigned After Setting Classmate on Fire, Posting Clip to Snapchat
Date: Jan. 19
Location: New York
Crime: First-degree assault, reckless endangerment
Ratchet Meter: 9
A NYU student appeared in court on Monday to face charges for setting an acquaintance on fire over the summer.
CBS New York reports that the intoxicated 19-year-old victim fell asleep in 20-year-old Jaime Castano's dorm room on Aug. 23. When she awoke the next morning, she noticed burn marks on the bed, comforter, and her body. The woman was reportedly left with scarring to her torso, and wasn't aware of exactly what happened until seeing a Snapchat video posted by Castano. Castano later admitted to setting the bed on fire and filming it while singing:
Castano also allegedly admitted that he took a cellphone video showing the woman asleep in his bed with her clothes engulfed in flames while Castano sang, prosecutors said. The video also showed the woman waking up and trying to put out the flames while Castano recorded it, prosecutors said.
Castano, who the New York Daily News reports was expelled from NYU in September, was charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The Daily News also notes that that the school neglected to report the crime to police until Oct. 27—a little more than two months after it happened.
At Castano's arraignment, a judge ordered him held on $50,000 bond.
[via CBS New York and New York Daily News]
Two Arrested in Florida After Accidentally Throwing Cocaine Onto Police Car's Hood
Date: Jan. 14
Location: Kissimmee, Fla.
Crime: Several drug offenses, tampering with evidence
Ratchet Meter: 7
A Florida man who, in a desperate attempt to dispose of his cocaine, had the misfortune of throwing it directly on the hood of the police car that was pursuing him and a friend.
The Smoking Gun reports that Kissimmee Police Officer Christopher Breuer began trailing the vehicle last Wednesday after it almost struck his police car. Despite making it obvious that he was trying to pull them over, they continued to evade him. That's when Breuer noticed the vehicle's sun roof open, a hand extend from out of it, and a plastic bag come flying backwards onto his roof. Game over.
The vehicle finally pulled over into a 7-Eleven parking lot, allowing Officer Breuer to confront the driver and his passenger. It also gave 30-year-old Luis Vazquez the opportunity to deny disposing of the cocaine, and 38-year-old Jose Vales the opportunity to rat him out.
Both Vazquez and Vales were arrested on several drug offenses, and Vazquez was slapped with additional charges for tampering with evidence.
[via The Smoking Gun]
Teachers Allegedly Had Sex With Students at California Beach
Date: Jan. 19
Location: Orange County, Calif.
Ratchet Meter: 7
A pair of teachers in Orange County California are accused of taking multiple, alcohol-fueled beach trips with a group of students and having sex with some of them.
Melody Lippert, 38, and Michelle Ghirelli, 30, allegedly met up with some students from South Hills High School at the beach last November, where Lippert is accused of giving the students alcohol and having sex with one of them.
Weeks later, Lippert made plans with some of the same students to go on an overnight camping trip to the same beach, along with Ghirelli. On that second trip, both teachers are accused of having sex with two of the students, KTLA reports.
Lippert was arrested on charges of conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while Ghirelli was arrested on suspicion of oral copulation and unlawful sex with a minor.
Lippert and Ghirelli were being held on $20,000 and $50,000 bail respectively.
[via KTLA]
Woman Charged With Murder After Setting an Infant on Fire in the Middle of the Road
Date: Jan. 16
Location: Pemberton, N.J.
Crime: Murder
Ratchet Meter: 10
Friday January 16, at 11 pm a resident called police to report a fire in the roadway. Respondents discovered that the blazing bundle was actually an infant child, which was still breathing. The child was airlifted to a hospital in Philadelphia, where it died two hours later.
Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, of Pemberton, New Jersey has formally been charged with the murder of the child after investigators determined that, "The infant had been doused with an accelerant prior to being set ablaze," according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. The details of the infant's birth are being investigated to determine age, name, and parental identity. It is currently unclear if Dorvilier was the mother, or related to the child.
Dorvilier was arrested at the scene, Friday night. She is currently being held in the Burlington County Corrections and Work Release Center.
[via NJ.com]
Police Discover Rocket Launcher While Raiding Brooklyn Home
Date: Jan. 17
Location: Brooklyn
Crime: Weapons and drug possession
Ratchet Meter: 8
Police who raided a Brooklyn home yesterday in search of guns and drugs made an interesting seizure: a rocket launcher.
CBS New York reports that officers with the 83rd Precinct received word from police in the Bronx that there was contraband inside of the Bushwick home. According to CBS New York, it was a single-use weapon which had already been used.
Police found more of what they were originally looking for, including brass knuckles and assorted drug paraphernalia. They also arrested 41-year-old Justin Garcia and charged him with weapons and drugs possession.
[via CBS New York]