Tennessee man arrested for stabbing wife, setting house on fire

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, a 56-year-old Reading man, will serve 14 to 46 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl more than 20 years ago.

Ayala-Velasquez was arrested last year following a grand jury investigation that recommended sexual assault charges against more than a dozen members of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to five counts, including rape of an unconscious person. He was sentenced Wednesday in Northampton County Court. Upon his release, Ayala-Velasquez will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Attorney General Henry commended the victims for their courage. “The courageous victims who came forward and told grand jurors their horrific stories of abuse led to charges against predatory defendants,” she said. “The abuse in this case began decades ago, but the courageous victim and the diligent efforts of the agents and attorneys in the Attorney General’s Office ensured that justice was served and, finally, the defendant was held accountable.”

The charges were brought by the 49th Investigative Grand Jury and were filed and prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. The crimes took place at Ayala-Velasquez's home in Bethlehem, beginning in approximately 2001 and continuing into the victim's adulthood.

He attacked the victim while she was sleeping.

Dickson, Tennessee — A Tennessee man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing his wife and leaving her in a burning building, authorities said.

Zachary Mowel, 28, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault (domestic) and domestic assault, as detailed in a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

The incident happened Monday night when firefighters responded to a house fire on North Charlotte Street in Dickson, a small town west of the Nashville metro area.

An investigation by local police and state agents revealed that Mowel assaulted his wife, doused her with gasoline and set their home on fire. The TBI confirmed these details after investigating the incident.

A family member of the victim said the severity of the crime is even greater than what law enforcement has publicly disclosed.

Hackensack, New Jersey — Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of Frank A. Salcedo, 43, Francisco Sandoval, 42, and Brian Arias, 40, on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, weapons possession and other related offenses. The arrests follow a months-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, led by Chief Matthew Finck, and the Teaneck Police Department, led by Chief Andrew McGurr.

On Friday, January 12, at approximately 2:58 p.m., Teaneck Police Department officers responded to an armed invasion at a private residence on East Tryon Avenue. Since 10:30 a.m., two adult victims had been restrained with zip ties by three masked, armed male suspects. Later, two additional adult victims arrived and were also restrained at gunpoint.

During the few hours of captivity, one victim was assaulted with a hammer and the suspects threatened to torture and kill one of the victim's minor children if she did not hand over the money. The suspects ransacked the residence, causing significant damage in search of the hidden money. After the suspects left, one victim managed to free herself and call the police.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Team and the Teaneck Police Department launched a joint investigation. They identified two suspect vehicles and discovered a GPS tracking device attached to one of the victims' vehicles. Detectives ultimately identified the suspects as Frank A. Salcedo, Francisco Sandoval and Brian Arias.