Kenosha Fire; Homicide Charge Pending; New Charges For Looting Suspect

Feb. 23, 2021 9:15p 

From WGTD News:

A man with a criminal history that includes domestic violence is expected to be charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend. 39-year-old Gia Martin was reported missing in late January. On Valentine's Day, police found her body in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend. That man--39-year-old Roderick Smith--had been jailed on a probation hold since shortly after her disappearance. Police are now recommending charges of 1st degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, felon in possession of a firearm and obstructing. The cause of death has not been revealed.

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A 40-year-old Twin Lakes man is facing a charge of first degree reckless homicide for allegedly supplying drugs that killed another Twin Lakes man, 34-year-old Anthony Winkler. The death occurred last summer in the home of Winkler's mother. Investigators found numerous drugs. Text messages reportedly tied Winkler to the defendant, Jose Gonzalez. A criminal complaint says the cause of Winkler's death was "acute mixed drug intoxication." 

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A 25-year-old Kenosha man who was accused last week of being one of the looters who entered an uptown business during the riots last summer allegedly entered two other businesses and stole things. According to criminal complaints, Antoine Simpson, a resident of the area, admitted upon questioning to taking part in the looting of Family Dollar, Open Pantry and Uptown Beauty. The additional charges were filed Tuesday. Simpson is in jail on a $15,000 cash bond and a probation hold. Meanwhile, one of five Illinois residents who were named in arrest warrants issued last month for allegedly looting a Sheridan Rd. pawn shop during the riots has been picked up. Mischawn Billups is being held in the Kenosha County Jail on a $15,000 bond. 

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The state announced Tuesday that community-based COVID vaccination clinics will open in four additional counties, including Racine. Details haven't been worked out yet. The clinics will work hand-in-glove with existing vaccine dissemination points. A community clinic that opened last week in Rock County was the state's first. Meanwhile, the Kenosha County Health Department announced that this week's shipment of vaccine is expected to arrive in time for Wednesday's appointments at the Job Center. Tuesday's appointments were canceled because of delivery problems due to the weather. 

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Kenosha County hit a grim milestone yesterday with the daily COVID report from the state indicating that 300 people have died from the disease in Kenosha County. The toll in Racine County stands at 314. In Walworth County, the death count is 125. Statewide, 33 deaths were reported yesterday, following a zero increase in deaths from the day before. Officials say the statistical reports lag behind the actual dates of death because the medical reports need to be reviewed and signed off by medical examiners. 

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Nearly a dozen people were displaced by a fire in Kenosha's uptown area Tuesday. The blaze in one of three apartments at 2023 61st St. broke out in an enclosed porch. Flames spread into an adjacent bedroom and into the attic. No one was home in any of the three apartments at the time, The Red Cross was called in for housing assistance. An electrical malfunction is being investigated as a possible cause. 

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