Police: Lynchburg mom faces charges after toddler is abused and dies
Fantasia Lane
Lynchburg police say a 22-month old child is dead, and her mother faces additional charges as a result. Officials say 20-year-old Fantasia Lane brought the toddler to the hospital last Saturday and was subsequently charged with felony child abuse. Police say the child died from her injuries yesterday at UVA Medical Center, and more charges are pending.
From Lynchburg Police: On August 11, 2018, officers responded to the Lynchburg General l Hospital for an injured child who had been brought there by her mother. Based on initial findings, members of the Criminal Investigations Division responded and began to look into the events that preceded the child’s arrival at the hospital. Due to the extent of her injuries, the 22-month-old child was then transported to UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA for further treatment. Based on the preliminary investigation and the extent of the child’s injuries, Detective Tucker sought charges on the child’s mother for Felony Child Abuse. Fantasia Ashante Lane, a 20-year-old resident of Lynchburg, was arrested and transported to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail where she was held without bond. On August 16, 2018, the 22-month-old child succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. Additional charges are now pending in this case. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with further information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Tucker at (434) 455-6116. You may remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900, by visiting the Crime Stoppers website at www.cvcrimestoppers.org, or by using the P3 app on your mobile device.
Recent revelations lead to a look at how Bitcoin is spent
The recent reveal of Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s investment in cryptocurrency has left some asking, why? WLNI’s Ian Price takes a look into how some use Bitcoin:
08-17 Cybercurrency WLNI-WEB-WRAP
Study: Uber had no impact on some crash rates in Virginia
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) – A recent study finds no evidence that ride-hailing app Uber reduced the number of serious car wrecks in Virginia. The research also found no change in the likelihood that a fatal crash involved alcohol. The College of William & Mary said in a press release earlier this month that one of its economic majors had looked into the matter. Uber has claimed that its presence in cities helps reduce drunken driving. William & Mary student Brittany Young reviewed accident data in the Virginia counties that have Uber and the counties that don’t. She found no evidence that hospitalizations from car crashes dropped. Chances that alcohol was involved in a fatal wreck also did not change. A 2017 New York Times article reported that studies across the country have been contradictory.
Former Rockbridge jail officials indicted on federal charges
From the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia: A federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke has returned an indictment charging two former Rockbridge County Regional Jail officials with federal charges related to federal civil rights violations and falsifying documents to obstruct justice. First Assistant United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. An indictment returned under seal August 14, 2018 and made public today following the arrest of both defendants charged as follows:
John Marshall Higgins, 61, of Lexington, Va., is charged with four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, specifically denying a detainee medical care of his serious medical needs, resulting in bodily injury. Gary Andrew Hassler, 58, of Lexington, Va., is charged with two counts of falsifying documents in order to obstruct a federal investigation.
Three Va. schools cancel varsity football, cite lack of interest
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — Three Virginia high schools are canceling varsity football programs, citing a lack of interest. Media outlets report that Charles City is canceling its entire program and other schools are canceling varsity schedules. Park View High School in Sterling canceled its varsity schedule after only 18 players reported for tryouts. Manassas Park High School Principal Pamela Kalso told parents Tuesday that they’ll play a junior varsity schedule after practices routinely drew only 15 players. The Virginia High School League recommends against playing varsity football with fewer than 25 students. The declines come amid concerns about injuries, rising equipment and participation costs and demographic shifts. The National Federation of State High School Associations says high school football enrollment dropped 4.5 percent nationwide from 2006 to 2016.
4 children died in Virginia this year after being left in hot car
Reports say there is no acceptable amount of time to leave a child alone in a hot vehicle, as WLNI’s Ian Price reports:
