Kansas City, Mo.: Fake Sept. 11 report prompts fraud charges

A woman accused of making up a brother in order to defraud disaster relief organizations after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has been turned over to federal authorities.

Cassaundrea E. Montgomery, 41, of St. Joseph made her initial court appearance in federal court Thursday in Kansas City and will remain in federal custody until her next court date.

Montgomery faces 10 counts of mail fraud. Prosecutors said she called the New York City Police Department on Sept. 25, 2001, and filed a missing person report for a brother, Jeffrey David Montgomery.

Federal officials say Montgomery received about $64,000 in 10 separate payments between Oct. 23, 2001, and Dec. 26, 2001 from the American Red Cross, Safe Horizons and the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

Olathe: Preliminary hearing set in child abuse death

The preliminary hearing for a couple and their baby sitter charged in the death of the couple’s adopted son is scheduled for April 17 in Johnson County District Court.

Judge John Bennett set aside two days to hear the prosecution evidence against Neil Edgar Sr., 47, his wife, Christy, 46, and the baby sitter, Chasity Boyd, 19.

The three are charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of Brian Edgar, 9.

The Edgars, who adopted four children, operated God’s Creation Outreach Ministry in Kansas City, Kan. Five other members of their church face child abuse charges in neighboring Wyandotte County, where the church is located.

Prosecutors allege that Brian Edgar was bound and gagged when he was put to bed Dec. 29 at the family’s home in southern Overland Park. He was dead when his father brought him to a hospital the next morning.

Fort Riley: Commander leaving fort to head Army’s III Corps

Fort Riley said farewell Thursday to Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, who has commanded the Army post and the 24th Infantry Division since November 2001.

Metz is leaving for the nation’s largest Army post, Fort Hood, Texas, where he will command the Army’s III Corps.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Inge said that under Metz’s leadership, Fort Riley had played a key role in mobilizing and deploying soldiers. He said the fort’s Third Brigade, 1st Armored Division, was returning from training in California’s Mojave Desert, adding, “Who knows what missions lie before them.”

Metz returned to Fort Riley in January after three months on assignment as chief of staff of the U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Until a successor to Metz is named, Col. Frank Helmick will be the acting commander at Fort Riley.