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8 dead at Texas walmart

d0gbreath

Yellow Dog Democrat
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8 dead, about 30 injured are found in hot semitrailer in Texas in 'horrific' human-trafficking incident - ABC News

San Antonio semi trailer with 8 dead and 30 suffering from severe dehydration.

The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

there are several other facts that have to be known before its a murder charge. but you are correct, trafficking is less severe than murder. whether its murder or not will require additional layers of facts
 
8 dead, about 30 injured are found in hot semitrailer in Texas in 'horrific' human-trafficking incident - ABC News

San Antonio semi trailer with 8 dead and 30 suffering from severe dehydration.

The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

Lots of times Trailers are picked up with cargo sight unseen and the load sealed by the shipper. Driver may not have known of the people in his trailer.
 
8 dead, about 30 injured are found in hot semitrailer in Texas in 'horrific' human-trafficking incident - ABC News

San Antonio semi trailer with 8 dead and 30 suffering from severe dehydration.

The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

just down the road form us, not the one I use, but I know where that one is.
 
8 dead, about 30 injured are found in hot semitrailer in Texas in 'horrific' human-trafficking incident - ABC News

San Antonio semi trailer with 8 dead and 30 suffering from severe dehydration.

The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

Holy Shadinski! Sad stuff.

I don't think the organizations behind human trafficking operations care about the casualties. As the article stated, this isn't an uncommon occurrence.

The refrigeration went down in the trailer so there's probably contingency plans if the goods become damaged.

In this situation, some of those captive were picked up by various cars. I guess someone forgot to lock the trailer up because that allowed some to escape and was one able to ask somebody for water.

But I agree about the driver. I'd like to know more about his story. It is pretty strange that he was even around to be arrested.
 
Driver, a James Bradley, is named in the San Antonio Express:

Police did not know the victims' country of origin, destination, or ages of the deceased or injured, according the press release.

University Hospital and SAMMC received 17 people with life-threatening injuries, police said, and 13 victims were taken to five other area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

Four males, and one female are at University Hospital. At least one person was being admitted into ICU, a hospital representative said.

The victims included adults and at least two children. The two youngest victims who are among the injured are 15 years old, police said. 8 found dead in trailer at San Antonio Walmart - Homeland Security working with SAPD - San Antonio Express-News
 
Holy Shadinski! Sad stuff.

I don't think the organizations behind human trafficking operations care about the casualties. As the article stated, this isn't an uncommon occurrence.

The refrigeration went down in the trailer so there's probably contingency plans if the goods become damaged.

In this situation, some of those captive were picked up by various cars. I guess someone forgot to lock the trailer up because that allowed some to escape and was one able to ask somebody for water.

But I agree about the driver. I'd like to know more about his story. It is pretty strange that he was even around to be arrested.

I did read where one was able to ask for water, so the trailer was unlocked. I suppose the 38 others were in no condition to climb out of the trailer. The driver was probably waiting to rendevous with the man that was going to pay him. When he realized that the refrigeration system stopped working he unlocked the trailer. He must have had that realization too late.

I would love to hear his story. He is probably pretty freaked out about this, as he should be.
 
there are several other facts that have to be known before its a murder charge. but you are correct, trafficking is less severe than murder. whether its murder or not will require additional layers of facts

They are going for the death penalty for Bradley. Trafficing people for profit resulting in death. The death toll is up to 10 with many more facing permanent brain damage. The charges are being brought by the Homeland security administration.

I just saw it on USA Today. Dunno if this link will work:

From USA TODAY

Trucker could face death penalty in Texas human smuggling case

https://usat.ly/2vSy8SR

SAN ANTONIO — A truck driver who told police he was unaware of the human cargo packed in his rig was charged Monday with illegally transporting immigrants as the death toll from a weekend smuggling tragedy rose to 10.James Mathew Bradley Jr., 60, could face the death penalty after eight bodies were discovered just before midnight Saturday in the sweltering trailer of his big rig in a Walmart parking lot. The charges include illegally transporting immigrants for financial gain resulting in death.One passenger told authorities about 100 people stuffed in the trailer took turns breathing through a hole in the wall, according to the criminal complaint affidavit. 
 
I'm sorry, but I just can't find it in me to give the driver the benefit of the doubt. He just had to know he wasn't hauling car parts. I know it was a reefer, and I know it's insulated, and I know the unit wasn't working. Nobody can tell me he didn't hear the people inside at some point. I wouldn't last long in the jury pool on this. I had a similar reaction to a federal murder for hire case when I was in the jury pool years ago. Didn't last long in the pool on that one either.
 
Lots of times Trailers are picked up with cargo sight unseen and the load sealed by the shipper. Driver may not have known of the people in his trailer.

Ditto.................sealed load.

I as the driver have no responsibility for the cargo. I am responsible for the weight & daily safety inspection of the trailer.

I used to break the seals anyways because some shippers are notorious for not securing the product.
 
It is very possible that the driver didn't even realize what was in the container.
 
8 dead, about 30 injured are found in hot semitrailer in Texas in 'horrific' human-trafficking incident - ABC News

San Antonio semi trailer with 8 dead and 30 suffering from severe dehydration.

The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

I used to shop in that Walmart, lived in San Antonio for 5 years. This is not a normal occurrence for the city, and most of my friends there, are shocked and saddened that people could be treated in such a way.
 
Ditto.................sealed load.

I as the driver have no responsibility for the cargo. I am responsible for the weight & daily safety inspection of the trailer.

I used to break the seals anyways because some shippers are notorious for not securing the product.

That's why I don't do drop-and-hook. Ny company just started doing a few drop-and-hook for one of their customers. They asked if I wanted to get in on it and I passed. All the problems that arise from pulling a strange trailer from maintanance, to load securement to the possibility of some sort of contraband, it ain't worth it, to me.
 
Lets make sure the bus that takes these illegal aliens back to the Mexican border for deportation has an air conditioner that is working properly

But under no circumstances should they be released into the general population
 
I used to shop in that Walmart, lived in San Antonio for 5 years. This is not a normal occurrence for the city, and most of my friends there, are shocked and saddened that people could be treated in such a way.

Here in DFW, we had ours back in 2002 when two truckers were apprehended for two deaths in a hot semi trailer. They were sentenced to 34 years each after pleading guilty to RICO and ITAR charges. They had knowingly locked several illegals in their trailer who were trying to break out of the trailer walls at a S. Dallas truck stop. They opened the doors and let them out. They didn't know that there were 2 dead and one comatose victim still in there. The bodies were discovered at their next stop in Anna, a far north Dallas suburb, where the Highway patrol was called.
 
The trailer was refrigerated, but the system was not working. Driver has been arrested. I have to wonder why he didn't let them out. He would have received a much lesser sentencing for trafficking than he's going to get for murder.

He claims he didn't know they were there, and that honestly wouldn't shock me that much if he was telling the truth. Smugglers have been doing something similar for years. They find people that frequently cross the boarder and have a trusted status among border police. They then break into their vehicle on the mexico side undetected, and hide their cargo in the vehicle. The owner drives across the border without knowing what they have, and then once they get to the other side another set of smugglers break into the vehicle and get the cargo out. Usually it's done with drugs in the trunk of a normal car, but I could see them trying it with people.

One thing is certain, a border wall would not have prevented this. These people almost certainly passed through a guarded check point.
 
I'm sorry, but I just can't find it in me to give the driver the benefit of the doubt. He just had to know he wasn't hauling car parts. I know it was a reefer, and I know it's insulated, and I know the unit wasn't working. Nobody can tell me he didn't hear the people inside at some point. I wouldn't last long in the jury pool on this. I had a similar reaction to a federal murder for hire case when I was in the jury pool years ago. Didn't last long in the pool on that one either.

To me, knowing that the pay for hauling 100 illegals is very beneficial, there is no way that he did not know. The details at his trial are going to be thoroughly investigated. I can wait and I know that he'll be waiting too. Bail will be off the charts.
 
To me, knowing that the pay for hauling 100 illegals is very beneficial, there is no way that he did not know. The details at his trial are going to be thoroughly investigated. I can wait and I know that he'll be waiting too. Bail will be off the charts.

They should investigate how this truck got through customs at Laredo crossing.
 
He claims he didn't know they were there, and that honestly wouldn't shock me that much if he was telling the truth. Smugglers have been doing something similar for years. They find people that frequently cross the boarder and have a trusted status among border police. They then break into their vehicle on the mexico side undetected, and hide their cargo in the vehicle. The owner drives across the border without knowing what they have, and then once they get to the other side another set of smugglers break into the vehicle and get the cargo out. Usually it's done with drugs in the trunk of a normal car, but I could see them trying it with people.

One thing is certain, a border wall would not have prevented this. These people almost certainly passed through a guarded check point.

The most common method is to raft the people across the Rio Grande, have them walk for 20 miles or so to a small town, then load them into the trailer, well beyond the reach of the border patrol.
 
To me, knowing that the pay for hauling 100 illegals is very beneficial, there is no way that he did not know. The details at his trial are going to be thoroughly investigated. I can wait and I know that he'll be waiting too. Bail will be off the charts.

Yeah. It stretches credulity beyond the breaking point to claim he didn't know those people were back there.
 
Another interesting point is that the company for which he says he works claims he's an independent contractor despite photos surfacing of his wearing a company shirt.

And another is that the Zetas are part of this. (((Shudder)))
 
Another interesting point is that the company for which he says he works claims he's an independent contractor despite photos surfacing of his wearing a company shirt.

And another is that the Zetas are part of this. (((Shudder)))

The cartel gets them across the border. After that the must make it to the truck on their own. His shirt was probably from before he was forced to be an "independent contractor". I know that harbor container truckers are complaining about having to pay the truck payments, only to have it repo'd if they fall I'll or can't keep up the payments.

Jimmy Hoffa is surely spinning in his concrete tomb.
 
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