Communities on alert after 4 women murdered

Men charged in 2 cases; 2 killings remain unsolved

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local communities are on alert after four young women were murdered within the last two weeks, in what many are calling senseless crimes.

The trend continued Thursday night when police said Lashawna Lynn Criswell-Seward was killed by her ex-husband, Adrian Seward, inside her Oak Leaf home in Clay County. Police are still looking for Seward at this time.

Three other women were also killed in the last two weeks. Amber Whited's family spent days last week searching for her before her body was found in Brunswick, Ga. Police arrested Raymond Brasiel for Whited's murder.

Metro PCS store clerk, 20-year-old Shelby Farah, was killed on the job during an armed robbery last weekend.

Police found and arrested, James Rhodes, who confessed to police that he shot Farah multiple times, killing her.

Amber Bass had gone out with friends last week. She was dropped off at home and shortly after that, officials said she was killed in the driveway of her Westside home. Bass' killer, still hasn't been caught.

Signs now cover Bass' home. Her family is still pleading for the public's help in finding Amber's killer.

"We have got to change to make our city safe for our families, because families are so important," said Amber's dad, Keith Bass.

"I think it's hard for anybody to know women are being killed and when we suspect there's domestic violence involved, it's even harder for us," said Hubbard House CEO, Ellen Siler.

Siler pointed out that while the four women who were killed in the last few weeks were all under different circumstances, the deaths do show a reality that women have to live with.

"Unfortunately women everywhere have to be more cautious," said Siler. "For our own personal safety, and we have to do a lot of things that men don't even have to think about. Sometimes it's still not enough."

With police are still looking for Amber Bass' killer, MAD DADS are trying to help.

Members of Jacksonville's MAD DADS will join with the family of a murdered 22-year-old woman Saturday to canvass a Westside neighborhood. They're hoping to uncover a lead in the shooting death of Bass.

MAD DADS will meet across the street from Bass' home Saturday at noon. They are asking anyone who knows anything, to break the code of silence.

If you can help in the investigation, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.


About the Author:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.