Don Babwin, Author at Concord Monitor

Concord Monitor

The Concord Monitor is a Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaper and website located in the capital city of New Hampshire. The Concord Monitor is Central NH's dominant media with more than 70 percent household penetration. The Monitor is a key source of news and information for Concord, NH.

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John Geddert watches his students during practice in December 2011. Geddert, a former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar, killed himself Thursday, hours after being charged with turning his Michigan gym into a hub of human trafficking by coercing girls to train and then abusing them.

News

Former U.S. gymnastics coach commits suicide; human trafficking charges novel approach in case

by Don Babwin Associated PressFebruary 28, 2021

The human trafficking case brought against a former U.S. Olympics women’s gymnastics coach hours before he killed himself could signal a new approach to policing a sport already dogged by a far-reaching sexual abuse scandal involving a one-time team…

Smollett

News

Actor Jussie Smollett faces 6 new charges

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Herb McCann Associated PressFebruary 11, 2020

Chicago Police Department Supt. Eddie Johnson looks back at his wife and 10-year-old son as he announces his retirement during a press conference Thursday morning.

News

Chicago’s top cop retiring after turbulent 3-plus years

by Don Babwin Associated PressNovember 7, 2019

In this Tuesday, April 10, 2018 photo, Marshfield High School Principal Robert Keuther displays vaping devices that were confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at the school in Marshfield, Mass. Illinois health officials are reporting what could be United States' first death tied to vaping. In a Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, news release, the Illinois Department of Public Health says a person who recently vaped died after being hospitalized with "severe respiratory illness." The agency didn't give any other information about the patient, including a name or where the person lived. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

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Illinois patient’s death may be first in U.S. tied to vaping

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Mike Stobbe Associated PressAugust 23, 2019

This Jan. 29, 2019, image made from police body cam video provided by the Chicago Police Department purports to show Jussie Smollett, with a white rope wrapped around his neck, talking with police officers in his apartment in Chicago. Chicago police on Monday, June 24, released hundreds of files from the investigation into Smollett's claim he was attacked by two men, including releasing the video footage for the first time of the "Empire" actor wearing the thin white rope wrapped around his neck that he told detectives was a noose. The footage from the Chicago police blurred out Smollett's face because, police explained, he was considered a victim at that point. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

News

Police release more than 1,000 files from probe of ‘Empire’ actor

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Sophia Tareen Associated PressJune 25, 2019

FILE - In this March 26, 2019, file photo, actor Jussie Smollett smiles and waves to supporters before leaving Cook County Court after his charges were dropped in Chicago. A judge has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the decision by Cook County prosecutors do dismiss all charges against Smollett. On Friday, June 21, 2019, Cook County Judge Michael Toomin suggested Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx mishandled the case by recusing herself and then ordering a top assistant to handle the case. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

News

Judge orders special prosecutor to examine probe of ‘Empire’ actor

by Don Babwin Associated PressJune 21, 2019

FILE - This combination of booking photos provided by the Chicago Police Department on Thursday, May 16, 2019 shows from left, Pioter Bobak, 40; Clarisa Figueroa, 46; and Desiree Figueroa, 24. Spokeswomen for the family of a slain Chicago woman whose baby was cut from her womb with a butcher knife says the infant boy has died. Family spokeswoman Cecilia Garcia confirmed a family statement posted on Facebook that 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez's baby died Friday, June 14 at Christ...

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Family: Baby cut from slain woman’s womb dies

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Rick Callahan Associated PressJune 14, 2019

CORRECTS VICTIM'S LAST NAME TO OCHOA-LOPEZ INSTEAD OF OCHOA-URIOSTEGUI - This undated Chicago Police missing person flier shows Marlen Ochoa-Lopez. Ochoa-Lopez, who had gone to a Chicago home in response to a Facebook offer of free baby clothes, was strangled and her baby cut from her womb, police and family members said. (Chicago Police/Chicago Tribune via AP)

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Pregnant Chicago woman slain, baby cut from her womb

by Caryn Rousseau Associated Press, and Don Babwin Associated PressMay 16, 2019

Linda Ramirez stands in front of her house in Aurora, Ill., Thursday, April 4, 2019, where she is waiting to learn if a 14-year-old who told police he is Timmothy Pitzen and had escaped kidnappers in the Cincinnati area is really him. Authorities conducted DNA testing to try to determine Thursday whether a teenager found wandering the streets of a Kentucky town is who he claims to be — an Illinois boy who disappeared eight years ago around the time his mother took her own life. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)

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Family of missing boy was elated, then devastated by hoax

by Carrie Antlfinger Associated Press, and Don Babwin Associated PressApril 5, 2019

This undated photo provided by the Aurora, Ill., Police Department shows missing child, Timmothy Pitzen. Police in the Chicago suburb of Aurora say the department is sending two detectives to the Cincinnati area to investigate a missing child report that could involve the Aurora boy who disappeared in 2011. Aurora Police Sgt. Bill Rowley said Wednesday, April 3, 2019 that the department knows there is a boy involved but they don't know who he is or if he has any connection to the Timmothy Pitzen case. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

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Police, FBI trying to verify teen is boy missing since 2011

by Dan Sewell Associated Press, and Don Babwin Associated PressApril 4, 2019