Church says Cardinal Pell returning to Vatican in crisis

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ former finance minister, will soon return to the Vatican during an extraordinary economic scandal for the first time since he was cleared of child abuse allegations in Australia five months ago, a church agency said Monday. Pell will fly...

Abuse investigator pleads not guilty in slain boy case

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) — A former Illinois child welfare worker who investigated allegations of abuse involving a 5-year-old boy who was later beaten to death pleaded not guilty Thursday to child endangerment and reckless conduct charges. Carlos Acosta, 54, of Woodstock, entered the plea in a McHenry County...

Probe of gang rape case that shocked Egypt ensnares many

CAIRO (AP) — An announcement last month that Egypt’s top prosecutor would investigate an alleged 2014 gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at a luxury Cairo hotel marked a rare moment of triumph for human rights activists. Those hopes were quickly dispelled after authorities detained possible witnesses...

Man, 77, charged in 1974 murder of Texas teenage girl

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A man was arrested and charged in the 1974 killing of a Texas teenage girl after nearly 50 years of investigation and the advancement of DNA technology, police said Tuesday. Glen McCurley, 77, of Fort Worth, was arrested early Monday and charged with capital murder in the...

Australia state leader welcomes Israeli extradition ruling

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state leader on Tuesday described an Israeli court decision to extradite a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of molesting children as a victory for abuse victims. Daniel Andrews is premier of Victoria state where Malka Leifer is accused of molesting...

Feds indict Indian men whose cases led to sovereignty ruling

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — A member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation convicted of murder in state court and another convicted of sexually assaulting a child in cases at the center of a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tribal sovereignty are now facing felony charges in federal court, U.S. Attorney Brian...

Israel court says woman can be extradited in child sex case

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli court on Monday approved the extradition of a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of child sex abuse, potentially paving the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal battle. Malka Leifer, a former educator who is accused of sexually abusing several former...

Lawyers: Israel court agrees to extradite woman wanted on child sex abuse charges in Australia after 6-year legal battle

JERUSALEM (AP) — Lawyers: Israel court agrees to extradite woman wanted on child sex abuse charges in Australia after 6-year legal battle.

Father gets 30 years after plea in death of Illinois boy, 5

CHICAGO (AP) — A northern Illinois man who was charged with murder for his role in the beating death of his 5-year-old son pleaded guilty Friday to reduced charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. At a brief hearing, Andrew Freund Sr. pleaded guilty to felony charges of aggravated battery of a...

Ex-Illinois state worker pleads not guilty in slain boy case

One of two former Illinois child welfare workers who investigated abuse allegations involving a 5-year-old boy whose beaten body was found in a shallow grave last year pleaded not guilty Thursday to child endangerment and reckless conduct charges. Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, entered his plea during a...