PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. (TCN) -- An investigation in Georgia has uncovered a methamphetamine trafficking operation at a fruit stand. Two suspects have been arrested, and authorities are searching for a third.

On Oct. 24, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Northwest Georgia Task Force, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and the K9 division searched a fruit stand located along a rural highway. 

They seized 270 grams of methamphetamine during their search, WSB-TV reports. Some of the drugs were hidden among the fruit in a doughnut bag from Krispy Kreme. 

Authorities arrested Melvin Stevens, 37, and Athena Alloway, 49, CBS News reports. Alloway was charged with four counts of trafficking methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine, while Stevens was charged with five counts of trafficking methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine. 

Authorities are still searching for a third suspect, Crystal Ballweg, 39. 


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WEST BEND, Wis. (TCN) -- A Wisconsin man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of several cats found sealed in a plastic container and placed next to a dumpster. 

The West Bend Police Department said officers were called at 12:32 p.m. on Nov. 2 when a container of cats was found, the Washington County Insider reports. Seven of the eight cats were already dead, but one had survived. She was transported to an emergency veterinary clinic and is being cared for at the Washington County Humane Society, WITI reports. 

Investigators located and arrested a 26-year-old man, who was taken to jail on seven counts of mistreatment to animals causing death, WITI reports.

He reportedly admitted to authorities that he had placed eight of his 11 cats in the container when his girlfriend was out of town because they could not afford to feed them all, the Washington County Insider reports. His girlfriend found out what he had allegedly done when she returned home.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office will determine charges once necropsies of the cats are complete, WTMJ-TV reports.

The Washington County Humane Society said it is “nothing short miraculous” that one of the cats survived, WTMJ-TV reports. The cat, now named Helena, is eating and drinking and interacting with shelter volunteers. 

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TCN) -- A man accused of killing and dismembering his mother and storing her remains in a freezer has been arrested and taken into custody. 

Leroy Vallejos, 49, was charged with first-degree murder, battery, battery of a household member, and tampering with evidence on Nov. 5, WFLD reports.

The body of 69-year-old Ernestina Lucero was found on Oct. 28 when officers arrived at her home for a welfare check. Her son, Vallejos, allegedly said he had not seen his mother for a week and told a home health care company he still wanted to be paid for her care, KRQE reports.

When officers arrived for the check, Vallejos told them his mother had gone to Mexico. Officers then searched the home and found a freezer with garbage bags containing human remains, according to the Office of the Medical Investigator, KRQE reports. 

Detectives later learned that another relative had also reported Lucero missing on Oct. 23. 

The Albuquerque Police Department said Vallejos told an officer he had fatally choked his mother three weeks prior and alleged she was conspiring against him with a group of people “giving their lives to darkness.”

Vallejos remains in custody at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.        

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