Wilmington Police and the Delaware Department of Justice have announced the arrest of Taushia Mitchell, 18, of Wilmington the person believed responsible for the July 23rd homicide of James Rogers, 29, of Wilmington, in a home in the 500 block of West 4th Street in Wilmington.

After an extensive investigation involving the Wilmington Police Department, the Delaware Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Taushia Mitchell was arrested in New York City. Mitchell is being held on charges relating to the theft of the homicide victim’s vehicle.

Further investigation by the Wilmington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division led to the State of Delaware Department of Justice authorizing arrest warrants for Mitchell for charge of Murder in the First Degree late this afternoon. Mitchell is expected to face extradition next week from New York to Delaware.

Each year, I enjoy visiting the Delaware State Fair to meet with Delawareans enjoying the festivities with friends, speak with students who are displaying agricultural projects, I see our youth compete in various competitions and I eat wonderful local food and fruit. The Fair is also an opportunity to highlight the vibrancy of our agricultural community, a huge sector with an $8 billion economic impact. Our farmers are some of the hardest-working and most efficient in the nation. Their products are in demand around the world and agriculture is vital part of our state’s push to increase international trade – forging bonds between Delaware and our friends and neighbors in countries near and far. At this year’s fair, I was pleased to meet with fruit and vegetable growers from Chile and fresh produce buyers from Canadian grocery stores. All spent time this week visiting Delaware farmers and grocery stores and making connections that will benefit everyone involved. We also celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Delaware FFA, which today represents more than 4,200 students learning about agribusiness, science, technology and leadership. All of these initiatives have tremendous potential to bear fruit immediately and for decades to come. Whether it’s through our students laying the groundwork for their education and careers; or more imports of Chilean produce through the Port of Wilmington to increase choice for American and Delaware consumers during the winter months; or it’s more exports of Delaware produce to Canada to benefit Canadian shoppers and our hard-working farm families – we are ensuring that our farmers will continue to thrive, support their families, and grow the state’s economy. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

“The Fair is an opportunity to highlight the vibrancy of our agricultural community, a $1.2 billion sector with an $8 billion economic impact,” said Governor Markell. “Our farmers are some of the hardest-working and most efficient in the nation. Their products are in demand around the world and agriculture is vital part of our state’s push to increase international trade – forging bonds between Delaware and our friends and neighbors in countries near and far.”
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Celebrating Ongoing Agricultural Efforts at the Delaware State Fair

The Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice have announced the indictment and arrest of two women in Sussex County believed to be responsible for the deaths of children in two separate cases. Both were indicted by a grand jury on Monday and have been arrested.

Valorie Handy, 51 of Millsboro, was indicted Monday, July 27, 2015 on one charge of Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st Degree in the death of a 10-month old victim in her daycare in January. The case had been ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday January 28, 2015 around 2:15 p.m., troopers were dispatched to Handy’s Little Disciples daycare located at 28194 Layton-Davis Road after a 9-1-1 call was received from the home stating a 10 month old was unresponsive. Preliminary investigation suggests a daycare worker attempted to wake the 10 month old male from a nap, and upon doing so, observed the infant unresponsive. The young child was transported by EMS to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes where he was eventually pronounced dead.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Handy was taken into custody near her residence and presented before the Sussex County Superior Court and was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of $100,000 cash bond.

Detoshia Spence, 23, of Laurel was indicted on Monday, July 27, 2015 on the following charges: Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st degree, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 2 counts of Child Abuse 2nd, and Offensive Touching in the death of her 3-year old daughter in April.

The preliminary investigation started on Friday, April 17, 2015, at approximately 7:17 p.m., after a call was received by the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center reporting CPR in progress. The Laurel Police Department, Laurel Fire Department, and Sussex County Paramedics were dispatched to the 900 block of Daniel Street, Carvel Gardens Laurel, DE. The victim was turned over to the Division of Forensic Sciences where an autopsy was performed. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Spence turned herself in at DSP Troop 4 and then presented before Sussex County Superior Court. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of an $111,100.00 cash bond.

“The deaths of children at the hands of those who are supposed to be caring for them are tragic and heartbreaking cases,” Attorney General Matt Denn said. “The police and prosecutors in these two cases spent months investigating the cases and reviewing evidence, including complex medical evidence about how each of these children died. I am proud of how a team of DOJ criminal prosecutors and DSP troopers in Sussex, led by Deputy Attorney General Melanie Withers, worked through these tough cases to get to these indictments.”

Dover –  A total of 90 people were arrested statewide last week for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. Statewide, there have been 2,250 DUI arrests made in Delaware this year.

DUI checkpoints continue and are scheduled for:

Friday July 31 –  Wilmington – (New Castle County DUI Taskforce)

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide.  Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.ArrriveAliveDE.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.