Crime
Two Dead, One Injured in Northfield Township Shooting and Abduction; Three Suspects Charged
Three suspects, all from Detroit, have been taken into custody.
A violent incident on Wednesday night in Northfield Township has left two people dead, one injured, and two children briefly abducted.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three suspects in connection with the crime, which authorities describe as a targeted attack.
Police were dispatched around 8:30 p.m. to a residence on Nollar Bend Road, near US-23, in response to reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers discovered:
- Jennifer Bernhard, 50, and Stevie Ray Smith, 74, deceased from gunshot wounds.
- Jeffrey Alan Bernhard, 53, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital and is now in stable condition.
During the attack, two young girls, aged 7 and 4, were abducted from the home. With assistance from Michigan State Police and Ann Arbor Police, the children were located safely in Ypsilanti Township.
Both were taken to the hospital, where their conditions remain undisclosed but are reported to be stable.
Three suspects, all from Detroit, have been taken into custody:
- Shuvonne Vinson, 42
- Gregory Callhan, 37
- Keith Finley, 60
The suspects face an extensive list of charges, including:
- Two counts of open murder
- One count of assault with intent to murder
- Two counts of child kidnapping
- Conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping
- Home invasion
- Weapons-related offenses
Additional charges against Vinson include assaulting police officers and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Finley faces an extra charge for possession of a firearm as an ineligible person.
Vinson and Callhan were arraigned Friday and denied bond, while Finley will face arraignment Saturday.
All three suspects remain in custody at the Washtenaw County Jail.
During her arraignment, Vinson caused a disruption, shouting profanities and justifying her actions. “Them [expletive] deserved to die,” she yelled, referring to the victims.
Authorities have confirmed that the abducted children were foster children residing with the Bernhard family. One of the suspects is reportedly a relative of one of the children.
The tragic events have shaken the Northfield Township community. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the Bernhard family during this difficult time.
Law enforcement continues to investigate the motives and circumstances surrounding the incident. Sheriff’s deputies have assured the public that there is no further danger.
This shocking case highlights the need for continued vigilance and community support in the wake of such a targeted and violent crime. Additional updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.
Crime
St. Petersburg doctor 59-year-old Stephen Andrew Leedy arrested after allegedly instructing young girls to film sex acts while injuring themselves
St. Petersburg, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Stephen Andrew Leedy (59, St. Petersburg) on charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material and coercion of minors to engage in sexual activity.
The Charges:
- Three counts of production of child sexual abuse material
- Two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity
Potential Penalty:
- Life in federal prison, if convicted on all counts
Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay area, allegedly used the online alias “maximumuncle#9112” to exploit and abuse approximately ten minors.
Through online interactions, Leedy is accused of instructing these minors to produce sexually explicit content and to engage in self-harm, including cutting, choking, and hanging.
Tragically, one of the victims, identified as Minor Victim 1, was found deceased by hanging in November 2021, in a manner consistent with Leedy’s prior instructions.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing, and Leedy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
This case is the result of a collaborative effort by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Tampa Office, with assistance from the St. Petersburg Police Department, the FBI’s Atlanta Office, and the Holly Springs Police Department.
The prosecution will be handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood 1 unites federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children and to rescue victims.