Serial burglar charged with 18 vehicular break-ins | Unsuccessful manhunt for illegal alien sex offender | Black-on-black-on-trans crime at LGBTQ nightclub
No. 138 — Aug. 17-Aug. 23, 2025
Charges upgraded to double homicide in murder of pregnant woman
A grand jury has returned an indictment to charge Noa Najee Lorenzetti, 27, with an additional count for the "murder of an unborn child" after investigators determined that 23-year-old Tyra Jalisa Bennett was pregnant when he allegedly killed her in Raleigh last May.
Although North Carolina law recognizes the humanity of unborn children as victims of homicide, manslaughter, assault, battery, etc. with the specific exception for any act "committed by a pregnant woman with respect to her own unborn child."
The law regulating physician-provided surgical or medical abortions is stricter, only allowing the homicide of unborn children by "qualified physicians" up until the 12th week (with exceptions). Despite this "ban," approximately four thousand unborn children are killed in legally approved abortions every month in North Carolina, including at the four abortion clinics in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Serial burglar charged with vehicular break-ins across state
A Florida man has been charged with breaking into a truck in a business parking lot outside of Apex last month after Pittsboro police found an item belonging to the victim in his possession, according to the Wake County Sheriff's Office.
Michael Lee Grace, 27, of Pompano Beach, FL was arrested on July 31 on at least three outstanding warrants for similar break-ins in the counties of Person, Alamance, and Sampson; he now faces charges across the state for crimes related to breaking into at least 18 vehicles in twelve counties to steal property and commit fraud with stolen credit/debit cards and stolen IDs, including the following:
a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban in Person County on June 22,
a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe in Johnston County on July 9,
a 2016 Toyota Sequoia in Chatham County on July 12,
a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado in Wake County in late July (exact date unclear)
The earliest break-in described in these charges dates back to May 30 in Moore County, just over a month after Grace was released from Florida prison after repeated convictions for similar burglary and grand theft charges including at least one vehicular break-in.
One of the Grace's charges for felony conspiracy names Marcus Lavon Felder, a fellow Florida resident and former inmate who has been charged with breaking into three vehicles in Johnston County on October 27, 2024. Although the warrants for Felder were obtained on December 30, he was not apprehended until June 26.
(An article with more details will be coming out after obtaining more information from law enforcement)
Manhunt called off after illegal alien sex offender evades arrest
Quick Hit: BOLO for illegal alien sex offender in S. Wake County - More to the Story by A.P. Dillon
Criminal illegal alien still at large after search called off in Apex - Carolina Journal
A "criminal illegal alien" previously convicted of a sexual crime against a 14-year-old girl evaded efforts by Apex Police on Monday to arrest him on new sex offense warrants, successfully escaping after a car chase and manhunt effort which included the use of "police drones and K9s."
Jonathan Escobedo-Ramirez was charged with second degree forcible rape in Orange County in 2017, but was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser crime of sexual battery and was sentenced to only 60 days time served, and was entered on the sex offender registry.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Escobedo-Ramirez was previously deported by ICE, but reentered the country where he has remained illegally for "about eight years."
Does a rising tide lift all boats? The future of "growth" in the Triangle
For a number of decades, the biggest factor in the past and future of the Greater Triangle area has been characterized by one word: "growth". Not, of course, the organic growth of parents and children, but the migration-driven growth of newcomers from across the state, across the country, and across the world.
Although the consensus position from politicians and the political establishment seems to be that such growth is "inevitable," the current "growth" status quo is questioned by some on both the left and the right, though for somewhat differing perspectives and to varying degrees.
For instance, a Clayton resident who is a "health equity" expert has written an op-ed for the News & Observer and documented her clashes with town officials over a plan by a developer whom she has noted is accused of various nefarious/fraudulent practices at "affordable housing" in Minnesota.
Personally, I would ask whether conservative values of tradition and community line up with out-of-state housing demand jacking up property tax valuations for citizens and pricing their children out of the communities they grew up in, the erosion of local culture this displacement creates, or the dilution of democratic power to newcomers who may or may not share the political proclivities of the natives.
As to the inevitability of mass migration, I would suggest that the "invisible hand" of the free market is not as uninfluenceable as some might assume.
Whether it's left-captured organizations like the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce advertising migration to the Triangle in blue-leaning metros, economic growth incentives by our state government, or the large number of legal and illegal foreigners in our state (and certain communities in particular), the current state of affairs has been influenced by decision at the private, local, state, and federal level.
In fact, the reported shrinkage of the total US immigrant population under President Trump's second term may impact the Triangle both directly as well as indirectly, given that the states of New York, Florida, and California, from which the most domestic migrants to North Carolina are coming from (often for economic reasons), are also three of the four states in which over 20% of the population is foreign-born.
Given the titanic effect of migration on our local communities, culture, politics, etc. it seems surprising to me that there is not much more granular research done into exactly who and for what reason people are coming here.
I'm currently working on a report synthesizing available federal and state data, which I hope will give a bit of insight into how and how fast migration trends are changing the residents of the Triangle area. (I have more ideas as well; if any of y'all are realtors who host open houses, please reach out.)
Sneak peek:
Black-on-black-on-trans crime at LGBTQ nightclub
After assault at Raleigh nightclub, trans women urge community to speak up - N&O
Transgender women say man threw beer bottle at them in Raleigh nightclub assault - WRAL
A transgender-identifying man who claimed to have been "sexually assault" at the Legends LGBTQ nightclub in Raleigh by being hit in the head with a bottle after stepping in to protect a fellow transgender posted a video to Instagram accusing the presumably woke staff and patrons of such an institution with failing to intervene on behalf of "trans people of color": "When you see something happening to a person who is trans, a person of color...speak up, say something!"
The News & Observer ran with this intersectional angle, citing "hate crime" statistics and quoting an "LGBTQ+ advocate" on "marginalized communities."
However, what Jobani "Poison" Leon failed to mention in bringing up the race of himself and his companion "Lotus Lolita" as "brown" and "black" respectively is that the alleged perpetrator, who has been charged with sexual battery and simple affray, is also a "person of color:" a black man.
According to Raleigh Police, Derron Ramont Corbitt, 43, of Jacksonville "slapped the butt three times" of a third party, "threw alcohol from [a] bottle at Mr. Leon," and "Mr. Leon choked Mr. Corbitt resulting in punches and slaps being thrown from both parties."
Although the charges against Corbitt largely align with Leon's claim of intervening to protect a victim of sexual assault, police charged Leon with simple affray as well.
RPD does not appear to have clarified why Leon was charged with using force against someone they themselves accuse of committing repeated sexual battery; North Carolina law allows for the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or another from the "imminent use of unlawful force:"
§ 14‑51.3. Use of force in defense of person; relief from criminal or civil liability.
(a) A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat in any place he or she has the lawful right to be if either of the following applies:
(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another.
(2) Under the circumstances permitted pursuant to G.S. 14‑51.2.
Leon has raised over $10,000 so far in a fundraiser for himself and "Lotus".
Follow-up
Domestic Terrorism charges dismissed against UNC antifa
Judge drops domestic terrorism charges against Atlanta ‘Cop City’ protester - The Guardian
A Georgia judge has dismissed domestic terrorism charges against James "Jamie" Marsicano, a transgender-identifying antifa from North Carolina. Marsicano still faces RICO conspiracy charges for a 2023 black bloc attack on the "Cop City" law enforcement facility under construction.
Marsicano, a UNC Law student, was banned from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus due to the pending domestic terrorism charges, but was allowed to complete his degree by taking classes at Duke.
Previous coverage:
UNC students protest decision to ban ‘Cop City’ activist (No. 15 — Apr. 15, 2023)
Durham Residents Prepare for “Stop Cop City” Weekend of Action (No. 40 — Oct. 7, 2023)
Antifa UNC Law student dances into Georgia arraignment (No. 45 — Nov. 11, 2023)
UNC students protest in favor of antifa law student banned from campus over "domestic terrorism" charges (No. 67 — Apr. 13, 2024)
Alleged domestic terrorist receives UNC award (No. 68 — Apr. 20, 2024)