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Crime

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Another round of cyber attacks to beware of on your personal computer.

FOX6 told you Wednesday that cyber criminals were sending out emails with malware in video of the Boston Marathon bombings. The latest cyber attack has expanded to include the explosion at a west Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday night.

"The spammers diversified the message of just focusing on the Boston explosion. Now they have added a line referring to the Texas explosion," Gary Warner, UAB's Director of Research in Computer Research, said.

Warner has been working with authorities tracking the spammers in efforts to shut them down. The crooks' goal is to download a hidden program to personal computers which in turn could cause the computer to be controlled to send out future spam. There is also another group which seeks to add a financial crime program to your computer.

Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

CLANTON, AL (WBRC)- The police chief in Clanton has a big problem on his hands. Chief Brian Stilwell says there's been a rash of armed robberies in his city.

He thinks the same crook has committed robberies in several other towns, including Hoover.

Authorities believe it is one guy acting alone in all these situations. They suspect he may be travelling up and down I-65 looking for targets.

Over the last months he's hit five Alabama towns that are as far as three plus hours away from each other. Police hope to stop him before hits more.

One of the most recent victims was a clerk at an Exxon gas station who goes by "Christina." She described what happened during the robbery.

"Was about 7:40. I was standing at the counter and I heard the door open. The guy came in, pointed the gun at me and said, where's the money?" Christina said.

Manhunt for escapee from Hamilton Work Release Center

Manhunt for escapee from Hamilton Work Release Center

By Amanda Jarrett - email

HAMILTON, AL (WAFF) - Law enforcement across Alabama are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Hamilton Work Release Center.

Alabama Department of Corrections officials say Paul Junior Breedlove was seen running from his work site around 7 a.m. Thursday. He was last seen running into a wooded area.

Breedlove is a white male, 5'5", 130 pounds, blue eyes and brown hair. He was serving a life sentence for robbery in Cullman County. Breedlove has a possible parole date in March.

Copyright 2013 WAFF. All rights reserved.

Cullman Co. murder trial set for March

Cullman Co. murder trial set for March

By Amanda Jarrett - email

CULLMAN, AL (WAFF) -The Cullman County man accused of killing his wife shortly after leaving a psychiatric facility will go to trial March 4.

Investigators say Michael Lindsay stabbed Tammy Lindsay to death in March of 2012.

According to investigators, Lindsay was not supposed to leave Walker Baptist Medical Center without a court order. It's still unclear why he was released.

A neighbor found the victim shortly after the stabbing. That neighbor told investigators Michael Lindsay walked back into the house, kissed his wife and said, "This is what she wanted". That witness says Michael Lindsay then began stabbing himself.

Investigators say Lindsay suffers from paranoia.

FBI releases national hate crime statistics

FBI releases national hate crime statistics

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The FBI today released its annual report on the number of hate crimes in the U.S.

First the good news: the FBI says nationwide, the number of reported hate crimes dropped by about 400 to 6,222 last year compared to 2010.

The FBI says of Alabama's 83 hate crimes last year, 69 were related to race or ethnicity, seven because of sexual orientation, five because of religion, and two because of disability.

But the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate crimes in Alabama and nationwide, says those numbers don't tell the real story.

Former youth minister convicted of sex abuse

Former youth minister convicted of sex abuse

By Amanda Jarrett - email

A Cullman County jury convicted a former Wetumpka youth minister of sexual abuse. John Astorga is also charged with sexual abuse in Madison County.

Astorga worked as youth Minister at the Bethel Assembly of God in Titus. He's also been convicted of sex crimes in Elmore County.

His victim in Cullman County was under the age of 12. Astorga faces up to 10 years in prison. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

Astorga has been out on an appeal bond since his conviction in Elmore County. There, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison. He's now in the custody of the Cullman County Sheriff's Office.

Astorga's trial in Madison County is set for January 7.

Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.

Elderly woman attacked in Cullman home

Elderly woman attacked in Cullman home

By Mike Brown - email

Cullman Police want answers after an 85 year old woman was attacked in her home early Monday morning.

Emergency crews were called to the woman's home around 7:30 a.m. They soon discovered that the woman was the victim of an assault, and she sustained serious facial injuries.

The woman's name and condition have not been made public, but police officials in Cullman said her injuries are not life threatening.

Police tell us the victim lived alone at a home near 4th Avenue and 14th Street, not far from Cullman High School.

If you have any information about the attack - call Cullman Police at (256) 734-1434.

Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.