It’s a sad truth that criminal acts have been part of human history since the dawn of time. Whether driven by nature or nurture, people are capable of unspeakable acts. Discovering the depths of human depravity, especially when children are involved, is often disturbing. Seeing children’s toys or clothes at crime scenes can be particularly unsettling.
Gonzalo Carreno Nieto
Sometimes, people go to extreme lengths to get what they want. Gonzalo Carreno Nieto, a 43-year-old man, used a toy hand grenade to hijack a Boeing 727 on a Colombian flight from Medellín to Bogotá. Nieto claimed he was terminally ill and needed $100,000 to live out his days in Cuba. He threatened to blow up the plane if his demands weren’t met.
The pilot, Luis Eduardo Gutierrez, remained calm and even advised Nieto. After releasing 130 passengers, Nieto ordered the pilot to fly to Panama and Aruba for the money. Gutierrez convinced him that Cartagena was a better option, and Nieto agreed to land after a 12-hour flight. Nieto jumped out and hid in a swamp, but Colombian navy personnel found him the next morning. Officials noted Nieto suffered from drug addiction and mental issues after prison.
Andri Lynn Jeffers
It’s hard to believe someone could mistake a stuffed animal for a bomb, but Andri Lynn Jeffers tried to rob a gas station with a stuffed penguin in Yavapai County, Arizona. She told the clerk she had a bomb under her sweater and demanded money. The clerk, noticing the odd lump, refused, saying the safe couldn’t be opened.
Jeffers threatened to blow up the station. She grabbed a bag, ordering the clerk to fill it with money. The clerk stood firm, ignoring her demands. Jeffers fled, but the clerk noted her license plate. Police apprehended her at home, where she confessed and revealed the “bomb” was a toy penguin.
Brown-Haired Gunman
Sometimes, toy guns are modified to cause harm. On Forth Road Bridge, a 35-year-old toll booth operator, Lynda McArthur, was attacked by a brown-haired man with a water gun filled with solvent. The man leaned out of a blue van and sprayed the liquid into her eyes.
McArthur’s eyes burned, and she was rushed to the hospital. Police believed it was a prank gone wrong, but security was tightened. McArthur suffered no permanent damage, but the incident was terrifying.
Jose Vaszquez
In Times Square, several costumed characters have behaved inappropriately. Jose Vaszquez, 44, dressed as Woody from “Toy Story,” groped and assaulted multiple women. Police sent undercover detectives to arrest him.
Vaszquez was charged with multiple counts of sexual misconduct and banned from future public appearances as Woody.
Raquel & Martin Barreras
Child-related crimes are deeply disturbing. Raquel and Martin Barreras could be considered among the worst parents. They abused their 3-year-old son, Roman, while treating their other four children well. Roman was kept in a separate building and not allowed to eat with the others.
Roman died of starvation. Instead of alerting authorities, the couple dumped his body in a toy chest in the backyard. After the family was evicted, the landlord found the remains and called police. Raquel was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse, while Martin was charged with child abuse.
Amy Zielinski
Robbing stores with a toy gun is foolish, but Amy Zielinski took it further by going on a spree. She began at a BP Amoco station, robbing it with a toy handgun. Next, she targeted a pecan vendor, pretending she had a gun but fleeing when she found the wallet empty.
Zielinski then tried to rob a Variety Store, demanding cash but running off when the clerk didn’t see a gun. Police later pulled her over and found the toy gun in her car. She was charged with armed robbery and attempted robbery.
Edwin Tobergta
Sexual crimes are heinous, and Edwin Tobergta’s misconduct is particularly bizarre. The 35-year-old was caught engaging in sexual acts with inflatable items four times. In 2002, he was found with an inflatable pumpkin. In 2011 and 2013, he was caught with a neighbor’s pink pool raft. His latest incident was in 2014, with a pool raft by a public road. His shirt appropriately said, “I’m out of my mind. Please leave a message.”
William “Bill” Philippi
William “Bill” Philippi, 85, a toy shop owner, allegedly used his store to abuse an 11-year-old girl. The girl reported the incident a year later, claiming it occurred at Philippi’s store, Toys ‘N More. Some residents defended the “nice” Bill Philippi, while others claimed he had committed similar acts before. Philippi was charged with five counts of sexual abuse and two counts of penetration.
David Rennie
Preying on others is terrible, especially when the victims are children. David Rennie, 51, executive director for a Salvation Army warehouse in Toronto, stole over 100,000 items. Police found a warehouse filled with nearly 150 pallets of toys and baby furniture.
Rennie was fired, and the goods were recovered before the holidays. He had stolen over $2 million in toys with the help of his girlfriend, Xiao “Diane” Wang. Rennie was charged with possession of stolen merchandise, breach in confidence, and theft, while Wang was charged with conspiracy and possession of money used in a crime.
Jason Lee Vickery
Florida is known for bizarre news stories. Jason Lee Vickery broke into a St. Augustine house to masturbate. He got distracted by a remote control helicopter and played with it for a long time. He then ate a salad he had brought with him before heading to the bathroom.
Deputies arrived after a disturbance call. Vickery had marijuana, chewing tobacco, a towel, and a wig. He was charged with theft and larceny.
These crimes, each involving a child’s toy, showcase the disturbing capacity for human depravity. From hijackings to robberies to abuse, these stories remind us of the importance of vigilance and justice.
What are your thoughts on these shocking crimes? Leave your comment below.
