Faking a Death to Avoid Paying Bills?

This unbelievable story, happened right here in my hometown of North Charleston, SC. To keep the bill collectors at bay, Melanie Grant submitted a fake obituary to a funeral home that was published in the local newspaper The Post and Courier. In the obituary, Melanie Grant said her daughter Melissa Grant a US Airforce officer was killed in Iraq. The problem is not only didn’t Melissa Grant die and was not a US Airforce officer, Melissa Grant DOES NOT EVEN EXIST!!!! From The Post and Courier:

Melanie Grant, 39, said she thought she could buy time with creditors if she told them her daughter had died. A paid obituary published Thursday and Friday in The Post and Courier stated Lt. Melissa Hope Grant, 24, died May 11 in Iraq. “I just made it up. Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking,” a tearful Melanie Grant said. A photograph accompanied the obituary. Grant said she tore the photo from the pages of a bridal magazine.

This is who the obit named as the relatives of the imaginary Melissa Grant:

“…the beloved daughter of Mrs. Melody Grant and Mr. Michael “Candy” King,step-daughter of the late Mr. Marcus Grant; sister of Kelondria Pendergrath, Kelvin Pendergrath, Raheem Brown, Akhaeem Brown, and Becole “Cola” Scales; granddaughter of Mrs. Darnell Grant and Mr.Henry “Muffin” King; niece of Shirline Denise Wright, Quindella “Que” Simmons, Meka Butler, and Marvin “Butter” Myers; cousin of Xavier D. Stewart, Sr., Karin L. Bland and Mercedes A. Jones.”

Take a good look at those names. Now here is the picture that was printed in the paper as “Melissa” that was taken from a bridal magazine.

Now Ms. Grant’s race wasn’t mentioned in the article but names like Kelondria, Raheem, Akhaeem, Becole, Quindellla, and Shirline don’t necessarily conjure up images of white folks. If anyone knows any white people by those names please email me. Apparently the funeral home director never met the mother and only spoke to her on the phone. He did meet with two women who claimed they were the aunts of “Melissa”. Maybe he thought the white girl in the picture was biracial, adopted, or REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, light-skinned.

Ms. Grant claims to be on disability and raising two grandchildren and one stepgrandchild. However, Ms. Grant has a criminal record (Of course) that includes convictions on “loitering for the purpose of prostitution” and a pending fradulent check charge.

I am sorry to hear about Ms. Grant’s financial difficulties, but claiming your imaginary child died in the Iraq war just to get out of paying some bills is taking it a bit too far.(source)

It’s About Time!! R. Kelly Trial Starts Today

Finally, the R. Kelly pornography trial starts today. I can’t believe it took SIX YEARS for this trial to finally begin!!!!! He obviously has the best attorney his money can buy. These cats are on the Johnnie Cochran level of criminal attorneys. Here’s the story from the Associated Press:

R. Kelly arrived at a Cook County courthouse Friday to face child pornography charges filed after a videotape allegedly showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13.
The Grammy-winning R&B singer didn’t acknowledge the crowd as he walked with several other people and a videographer. Raucous onlookers shouted “I love you” and “R. Kelly’s a pedophile” as he walked up a special walkway.

Jury selection was scheduled to start Friday in Kelly’s trial, which has been delayed for six years.
Another delay was possible after defense attorneys filed a motion Wednesday seeking to postpone the trial again. Judge Vincent Gaughan could rule on that request Friday.

The reasons for the motion were being kept secret, but it came as publicity surrounding the case heats up and some media speculated about who might testify. Prosecutors will have to surmount several hurdles if they hope to prevail. Chief among them is that the alleged victim, now 23, says it wasn’t her. And Kelly’s lawyers — including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson — haven’t admitted it’s Kelly in the video.

The 41-year-old Kelly, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The centerpiece of the trial is the video footage, which Gaughan ruled may be shown in open court. Prosecutors claim the videotape was made sometime between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the girl was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.

It is unclear whether prosecutors have asked — or would be allowed — to tell jurors about accusations that Kelly allegedly had sexual relations with other minors, because some of the trial proceedings have been kept secret by the judge. Media outlets, including The Associated Press, have filed a motion seeking to get court records and hearing transcripts unsealed. Gaughan said Thursday he would rule on that motion May 16.

Once the trial gets under way, it is expected to last at least several weeks.

I’m guessing with the alleged victim denying it was her and not cooperating with the prosecutors, this will be a short trial and Kelly will get off. Which is a shame, because I believe there is something truly wrong with that man. Anyone who knowingly marries a 15-year-old when he’s 25 has some serious issues.

Black Women, Bad Choices & Our Children

Earlier this week here in Charleston, a 1-year old girl was hospitalized after swallowing crack that she found the floor of the apartment she shares with her parents. Thankfully the child will survive and the parents have been charged with neglect. The mother is in jail and the father (of course) is missing and the police are still looking for him. Click here to read the entire story.

At first glance this looks like another one of those trifling parent stories, with black folks in the starring role. However, it may be also another case of a black woman who makes bad choices in men and the children end up suffering. The parents were married. The mother had steady job working at a local car dealership. She was described as “bright, energetic, and well-liked”. The father, it seems doesn’t have a job, but he does have a rap sheet that includes robbery and drug-trafficking (which may be why there was crack in the house). Their relationship has been described as good girl attracted to the bad boy. And now a toddler is in the hospital and will probably be put in the foster care system unless someone in the family steps up.

I don’t want to judge a sista, I’m sure she’s worried about her daughter, and the guilt is eating her alive. However, as a mother, you have to put the child first. Even before your husband/baby daddy. If I knew my husband was doing something that could hurt our daughter or land us in jail and her in the foster care system, he’d have to go. And if he wouldn’t go, I’d report his ass to the police myself. No man is worth losing your child or your freedom over.