Husband charged with murder of wife missing since September

A five-month investigation into a South Florida woman’s disappearance ended with police arresting her husband Friday on suspicion of murder.

Jesus Maqueira, 54, was arrested early Friday morning and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated stalking, according to an arrest report by Miami-Dade homicide Det. Juan Segovia.

Maqueira’s wife, Raquel Maria Calderin, 42, disappeared on Sept. 4. She was last seen in a black Ford Expedition, driving away from Gloria Floyd Elementary School, where she worked as a custodian.

According to Segovia’s report, Maqueira and Calderin were married for more than 20 years. Maqueira had a history of domestic abuse, to the point that he put a GPS tracking device on Calderin’s car.

She filed for divorce last year.

The day Calderin disappeared, Maqueira showed up at Gloria Floyd Elementary and argued with her, asking her to call off the divorce and stay with him.

Calderin’s coworkers told police she was visibly upset for the rest of the day. Her supervisor allowed her to leave at 9:30 p.m.

Phone records show Calderin was still near the elementary school and talking on her cell phone at 9:36 p.m. when the line suddenly went dead. There has been no activity on her cell phone or with her bank accounts ever since, Segovia’s report states.

Calderin has not contacted any of her friends, family members or coworkers, according to the report. Friends and relatives told police she never misses special occasions like Christmas or her children’s birthdays.

Based on that information, Miami-Dade Police began investigating the disappearance as a homicide.

On Friday, Maqueira admitted to domestic abuse and stalking Calderin.

Maqueira made conflicting statements that were disproved by cell phone records and statements from his children, whom he coached on how to respond to police during the investigation, according to the report. He had also physically abused them.

Confronted with his children’s statements to police, he called them liars.

Maqueira has reportedly told people in the past that if he couldn’t have Calderin, no one could.

When police asked him why he couldn’t give explanations for evidence against him, he replied, “Look, I killed her, so take me to jail.”

He then laughed, but refused to elaborate.

Maqueira was arrested at 5:15 a.m. Friday and taken to the Dade County Jail.

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Double Take Celebrity Lookalikes

Stacy Keibler and Heidi Klum

ETonline has found the lookalikes to the stars and, it turns out, it's
their Hollywood peers. Click the pics and let us know if you think these
celebs bear a resemblance to one another. 

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Snow doesn't muzzle Staten Island gun buyback; 55 guns, including assault rifle, turned in

A gun buyback event held today in Staten Island netted a total of 55 guns, cops said.

The NYPD said today’s event, held at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in West New Brighton, brought in 33 revolvers, 14 semi-automatic pistols, and a SKS .726 caliber assault rifle with a 30 round magazine, according to police. A number of BB guns and starter’s pistols were also part of the haul.

People who brought in handguns were given a $200 gift card, while rifles and other miscellaneous weapons were worth $20.

Two of the firearms surrendered today were loaded, authorities said.

Police said that over 8,100 guns have been taken off the city’s streets since the programs inception.

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Are gun maker stocks in your portfolio?

BOSTON --
Are there guns in your investment portfolio? It’s an issue that some politicians and gun-control advocates are raising after recent mass shootings prompted calls for tougher laws.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wrote letters to six mutual fund companies asking them to sell their stock in gun manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co. It’s a critical concern in Chicago, where more than 500 people were murdered last year.

Fund companies should “send a clear and unambiguous message to the entire gun industry that investors will no longer support companies that profit from gun violence,” Emanuel wrote in his letters last week.

Other city leaders, including those in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, are considering similar steps with their pension funds.

Gun control is the kind of issue that can wake investors up to the fact that money in a fund portfolio or 401(k) affects more than just their retirement security. The financial markets support all kinds of companies, including many that an investor may believe aren’t contributing to the greater good.

But whatever one thinks about gun control, removing such an investment from a portfolio on moral grounds isn’t always a simple matter. There are potential costs from putting your principles before profits.

Recognize that over the last 10 years Smith & Wesson has posted an average annualized return of 17 percent, compared with the 8 percent return of the broader market. Similarly, Sturm Ruger, the largest publicly traded gun company, has returned an annualized 23 percent over that time. The vast majority of gun manufacturers are privately held.

LEGAL HURDLES

There would be other potential costs if fund companies or 401(k) managers were to sell gun maker stocks in response to the recent controversy. These companies have obligations to serve the financial interests of vast numbers of individual fund shareholders and plan participants with varying opinions about guns.

For employers sponsoring 401(k) plans, their hands can be tied unless the plan established a mandate to avoid investing in gun makers, says Kathleen McBride, founder of consulting firm FiduciaryPath.

She advises financial professionals who are fiduciaries, a legal designation requiring them to act in the best financial interests of their clients. That obligation is a chief concern cited by Vanguard, among the six fund companies that Emanuel is pressuring. A Vanguard spokeswoman said mutual funds “are not optimal agents to address social change.”

A spokesman for American Funds, which also received a letter from Emanuel, said: “If social issues may have an effect on the investment potential of a company, we take those issues into account as part of the investment process.”

For example, a stock fund manager might expect that gun laws are likely to become more restrictive. That would cut into industry sales, leading the manager to conclude that stocks of gun makers are bad long-term investments. Such a fund manager could justify selling such stocks as beneficial for shareholders. But the manager wouldn’t be justified in selling simply because of moral objections.

INDEX FUNDS

Making changes only gets more complicated with low-cost index funds, which own all the stocks in a given market index.

If such a fund doesn’t track the index closely, then it ceases to be an index fund — no matter whether some of the stocks may be viewed as morally objectionable by some investors.

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South Florida dogs aim to fetch honors at Westminster show

Even the threat of a major snow storm couldn’t keep Pippi, a “powder puff’’ Chinese Crested dog, from heading to New York on Friday for the American Kennel Club’s 137th Westminster Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday.

The tiny dog, with silky fur and pointed ears, made one of the last flights out, with her 11-year-old handler, Jolie Dreiling , of Miami Beach, Jolie’s parents Mary and Michael Dreiling, and one of her canine housemates, another Chinese Crested name Ace, who’s just along for the ride.

Until the storm put some travel plans in jeopardy, Florida planned on sending 116 dogs to the show, which will go on no matter the weather.

In all, about 3,000 dogs are expected to show, most at Madison Square Garden but some at Piers 92/94 on the Hudson.

It’s the first time any part of the show will take place somewhere other than the Garden, which is undergoing renovations.

Two newly-recognized breeds join the contest this year: the Russell Terrier and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Jolie, a Cushman School fifth-grader — along with twin brother Albert — is already one of the top junior Chinese Crested handlers in the world — also The International Brotherhood of Magicians’ 2012 Junior Close-Up Magician of the Year.

She and 4-year-old Pippi, whose AKC name is Gingery’s Wintergreen, are entered in the “toy’’ group at Westminster with nearly 40 other Chinese Cresteds, both powder puff and hairless.

Among them: two Chinese Cresteds from South Florida. Mother-daughter breeders from Sunrise, Mary Lou Patti and Jennifer Patti, are showing Barbie (Grand Champion Stillmeadow Solo in the Spotlight), an 18-month-old hairless, and her half-brother Nigel (Grand Champion Stillmeadow Looks Like a Photo Shoot), 2.

They’ve had Chinese Cresteds since the 1980s, said Jennifer, a paralegal.

“Mom showed Yorkies, and I developed allergies, so we went to hairless,’’ she said.

A perennial winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest, hairless Chinese Cresteds were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

The Ugly Dog winners are invariably geriatric and toothless.

“That’s not our breed,’’ said Jennifer Patti, 30.

Also planning to go from South Florida: Dr. Nancy Greenbarg, a Dania Beach endodontist who’s been showing for 16 years, and Rocky, one of three golden retrievers she co-owns.

Champion De La Vega Colorado Rocky Mnt. Hi, his AKC name, will compete in the “sporting’’ group with a professional handler.

Goldens Chelsea (Champion Nautilus Erin Go Bragh), and Juicy (Champion Cashmere Blue Sky Basin), Chelsea and Rocky’s daughter, are sitting this one out.

“These three love more than anything to show,’’ said Greenbarg, 50, public education coordinator of the Golden Retriever Club of America.

Rocky also hunts birds and competes in field trials. He can spend hours in the yard finding and fetching hidden training bumpers, prompted only by hand signals.

Mindful that no golden retriever has won Best in Show since the AKC recognized the breed in 1925, Greenbarg is hopeful nonetheless.

Rocky, she said, “has a big head and a short-ribbed back and has fabulous movement.’’

Jolie Dreiling isn’t sure that Pippi can win, but thinks showing is fun. She’s been handling for more than a year, and is accustomed to being in front of an audience, as a magician.

The point, she said, is to “have a good time.’’

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Grammy Rehearsal Preps

Music's biggest night is just two days away, and from Carrie Underwood to The Black Keys, the stars of music and rhythm are doing their last-minute Grammys sound checks and rehearsals at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles to make sure it all goes smoothly. Watch the behind-the-scenes video…

Pics: The Best Grammy Gowns of All Time!

"I hope people enjoy it, embrace it, I hope they grab those remote controls and a cold one and enjoy it," says host LL Cool J. "It's going to be fun."

In addition to a tribute to Whitney Houston, performers on Sunday's broadcast will include Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Rihanna with Bruno Mars and Sting, Jack White, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Frank Ocean, and Fun. Plus Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Kenny Garrett playing tribute to Dave Brubeck and Elton John, Mumford & Sons and more performing a tribute to Levon Helm of the Band.

Video: Adam Levine Talks Alicia Keys Grammy Performance

Stay tuned to ETonline for complete Grammy Awards coverage. The kudos air live from Los Angeles Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

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Deers of joy: Seemingly dead fawn pulled from icy waters 'licked' back to life by family of deer

It’s like the Enchanted Forest out there.

Suffolk County cops pulled a seemingly-dead fawn out of icy waters in Fire Island today — and a family of deer came up to it and licked it back to health!

Suffolk County PD

Marine Bureau officers Robert Femia and Peter Bogachunas were nearing the Davis Park Marina on their boat about 1:04 p.m. when they noticed a little baby deer’s head among pieces of ice and slush floating on the water about 30 yards from shore.

“They don’t know how long it’s been there, so they maneuver their boat close to the deer, pick it up and throw it into the boat,” said Lt. Raymond Epp, of the Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau, who met the officers on the dock as they tried to rescue the little animal.

The cops quickly covered the brown-eyed deer in several thick blankets but, despite their best efforts, the little guy remained freezing wet and motionless.

Suffolk County PD

Suffolk County police officer with the fawn.

Suffolk County PD

Suffolks County police officer feeding fawn popcorn.

“It wasn’t flailing or kicking, it was just sitting there,” Epp said. “We weren’t sure if it was in shock of hypothermia.”

That’s when the Enchanted Forest-like miracle happened: Three deer — an adult and two young babies that appeared to be members of the fawn’s family — came out of the woods and began to lick the little guy.

Slowly, he started to come back to life, first blinking its big brown eyes, then getting up slowly and moving around the dock.

The officers took the fawn over to the station house and fed it warm popcorn, which the little guy took gladly. “We had limited food,” Epp explained.

After a few minutes, the fawn started to get even more alert and ran off with the other deer.

“I couldn’t wait to go home and tell my daughter about it,” said Epp, who has an 11 year old. “It was just such a nice, heartwarming story.”

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Sign up for Feb. 21 Miami Herald Small Business Forum

Prepare your best pitch for the Miami Herald’s Small Business Forum, Feb. 21 at the south campus of our sponsor, Florida International University.

In addition to how-to panels and inspirational stories from successful entrepreneurs, our annual small business forum will include interactive opportunities with experts to learn about financing options and polish your personal and business brands.

During our finance panel, audience volunteers will be invited to explain their financing needs to the group. During our box-lunch session, they will be invited to pitch their business or personal brand to our coaches.

Those who prefer just to listen will be treated to a keynote address by Alberto Perlman, co-founder of the global fitness craze Zumba. Panels include success stories from the local entrepreneurs who founded Sedano’s, Jennifer’s Homemade and ReStockIt.com; finance tips from experts in small business loans, venture capital, angel investments and traditional bank loans; and insiders in the burgeoning South Florida tech start-up scene.

Plus, it’s a real bargain. $25 includes the half-day seminar, continental breakfast and a box lunch.

Register here.

Program

8 a.m.

Registration and continental breakfast, provided by Bill Hansen Catering

8:30 a.m. Welcome

Host: David Suarez, president and CEO, Interactive Training Solutions, LLC

•  Jerry Haar, PhD, associate dean & director, FIU Eugenio Pino and Family Global

Entrepreneurship Center

•  Alice Horn, executive director, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE South Florida)

•  Jane Wooldridge, Business editor, The Miami Herald

Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge Overview:

•  Nancy Dahlberg, Business Plan Challenge coordinator, The Miami Herald

8:45 a.m. Session I – Success Stories

Moderator: Jerry Haar, PhD, associate dean & director, FIU Eugenio Pino and Family Global

Entrepreneurship Center

Speakers:

•  Jennifer Behar, founder, Jennifer’s Homemade

•  Matt Kuttler, co-president of ReStockIt.com

•  Javier Herrán, chief marketing officer, Sedano’s Supermarkets

10 a.m. Session II – All about Tech

Moderator: Jane Wooldridge, Business editor, The Miami Herald

Speakers

•  Susan Amat, founder, Launch Pad Tech

•  Nancy Borkowski, executive director, Health Management Programs, Chapman Graduate School of

Business, Florida International University

•  Mark Slaughter, CEO, Cohealo.com

•  Chris Fleck, vice president of mobility solutions at Citrix and a director of the South Florida Tech Alliance

11:15 a.m. Keynote

Speaker: Alberto Perlman, CEO and co-founder of Zumba® Fitness

Introduction: Jane Wooldridge, business editor, The Miami Herald

11:45 a.m. Session III – Show me the money: Financing your small business

An interactive session featuring audience volunteers who will be invited to make a short investment pitch before a panel, including experts in microlending, SBA loans, traditional bank loans, venture capital and angel investing. Audience volunteers should come prepared with a two-minute presentation that includes details about current backing, how much money they are seeking and a brief synosis of ow that money would be used.

Moderator: Melissa Krinzman, founder and managing director, Venture Architects

Panelists:

•  Marjorie Weber, chairman, SCORE of Miami-Dade

•  Cornell Crews, Jr., program director, Partners for Self Employment

•  Darius G. Nevin, co-founder, G3 Capital Partners, a mid-market and early-stage investment company

•  Boris Hirmas Said, chairman of the board, Tres Mares S.A. (Santiago, Chile) and entrepreneur in

residence at the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center

1 p.m. Lunch session - Polish your Pitch, Brighten Your Personal Brand

An interactive session featuring audience volunteers who will be invited to make short pitches about their businesses and themselves. Audience volunteers should come prepared with a two-minute presentation.

Coaches: Melissa Krinzman of Venture Architects and Michelle Villalobos of Mivista Consulting

advise audience volunteers on how to best pitch themselves and their products.

Box lunch provided by Bill Hansen Catering

All speakers confirmed unless otherwise noted. Agenda is subject to change without notice .

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Miami judge calls child support prosecutor’s actions ‘reprehensible’

When his ex-wife falsely accused him of shirking on $3,632.25 in child support, Miami businessman Tony Schehtman discovered that the government had stripped him of his passport.

That sparked a lengthy legal dispute that ended in unusual fashion: a Miami-Dade judge chastised prosecutors for going along with the claim, then ordered them to pay Schehtman’s legal bills.

The judge’s unusually scathing order sanctions prosecutors and Schehtman’s ex-wife, ordering them to each pay $7,645 in legal fees. Circuit Judge Pedro Echarte, in his Jan. 8 order, called their actions “reprehensible” and “irresponsible.”

The judge said that even though Schehtman had proven he was not in arrears, the prosecutors failed to correct the wife’s claim, instead quibbling in court for months and hindering Schehtman’s ability to travel for work.

“This court finds that the State Attorney’s Office engaged in pointless litigation,” Echarte wrote.

Prosecutors have decided against asking a higher court to review the judge’s decision.

“We are not appealing the judge’s order despite a belief in the merits of our position,” said spokesman Ed Griffith.

The legal clash stems from a bitter divorce between Schehtman and former wife, Lina Maya-Schehtman. Together, they have a 6-year-old son.

Schehtman describes himself as the CEO of International Technologies Marketing, a tech sales firm focused on Latin America.

The State Attorney’s Office, through Florida’s Department of Revenue, is tasked with enforcing the payment of child support.

In December 2010, Maya-Schehtman went to the State Attorney’s Office and filed a routine sworn-affidavit alleging her ex-husband was late on child support.

Schehtman, the judge later found, filed documents with the court and prosecutors showing the affidavit was wrong. Prosecutors nevertheless “certified” the delinquent child support, reporting it through a computer system to the Florida Department of Revenue.

In Tallahassee, any “non-custodial” parent who owes more than $2,500 in back support is then automatically reported to a federal child support office, which then notifies the U.S. State Department — which then freezes the person’s passport.

Schehtman — who says he travels often to Latin American for business — did not know the document had been frozen until he went to renew his passport. He was out of work for several months, his lawyer say.

“This is one of the most egregious cases I have ever witnessed in 19 years of practicing family law,” said Schehtman’s lawyer, Jonathan Jonasz.

A slew of court hearings followed. Prosecutor Stephen Glazer told the judge that as they soon as they learned the wife was wrong, they tried to amend the affidavit. Echarte didn’t buy it.

The State Attorney Office’s said the case has sparked change in internal politics. Now, the office does not report back child support payments to Tallahassee based only on a sworn affidavit — instead, prosecutors wait for a court order.

“We acknowledge that no system is infallible,” spokesman Griffith said. “The State Attorney and her leadership team are constantly seeking ways to improve the process. This case has afforded such an opportunity.”

Schehtman has since hired San Francisco lawyer John G. Heller to explore a civil lawsuit.

“The State Attorney deprived a law-abiding citizen of a fundamental liberty: his freedom of movement,” Heller said. “We will do what it takes to make sure this never happens again.”

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Mindy McCready Admitted to In-Patient Facility

Following the death of Mindy McCready's boyfriend David Wilson on January 13, ET has now learned that the country star has been admitted to an in-patient facility.

RELATED: Last Year's Biggest Celebrity Scandals

A rep for McCready confirmed the news today, going on to add: "While taking appropriate, much needed and deserved time to grieve, [McCready's] sons have been placed in foster homes where they are comfortable and cared for. We have no further statement at this time."

McCready has two sons: 6-year-old Zander (fathered by McCready's ex Billy McKnight) and 9-month-old Zayne (who she had with now-deceased boyfriend David Wilson).

This news comes after McCready spoke to Today last week, denying any involvement with the shooting that resulted in Wilson's death.

RELATED: Mindy McCready Denies Killing Boyfriend

Wilson, a record producer, was initially rushed to the hospital after suffering a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound that did not immediately kill him. McCready recalled how she discovered him after the shooting. "I just started screaming, calling 911. I laid down next to him and just pleaded with him not to die." The singer said Wilson "was responding" after the shooting, but only making sounds, not words.

McCready, 37, had several successful country albums in the '90s, but her career was later overshadowed by domestic abuse issues, drug and DUI arrests and a suicide attempt.

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