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‘Shockingly unimpressed’ judge orders prison for man who killed girlfriend with spiked drink
A man found guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend died from a drug he put in her drink was sentenced Tuesday in 3rd District Court. (Yukai Peng, Deseret News)
Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
WEST JORDAN — Stacey Buchanan’s four kids had to grow up fast when she died unexpectedly in 2016 from a drink her boyfriend spiked with methamphetamine.
Aaliyah Angelique, Buchanan’s oldest daughter, told the court on Tuesday that she and her siblings were split up and sent to live with different family members, some of whom they barely knew. Angelique was close to graduating from high school at the time, and had been looking forward to sharing the occasion with her mom; when, suddenly, she was ordering flowers and doing her mom’s hair and makeup for the funeral.
Angelique said the months after her mother’s death were absolutely difficult. She couldn’t leave the house for work and school and she struggled eating and drinking, afraid it was all being poisoned. She “self-sabotaged” her relationships out of anger, and at one point was hospitalized with anxiety and panic disorder.
Eventually, Angelique said she gained legal custody of two of her siblings and has since been their sole provider — putting her own plans and dreams on hold to pay for an apartment, car, food, clothes and other expenses.
“I had to abandon my youth … because of one man’s selfish actions and decisions,” Angelique said in a 3rd District courtroom on Tuesday. “I feel as if we all died along with (my mother) that day.”
Angelique’s comments came during the sentencing proceedings for Taylorsville resident Joshua Ryan Bridgewaters, 41, who was found guilty in September of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and tampering with a witness, a third-degree felony.
Judge L. Douglas Hogan ordered that Bridgewaters serve one to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and one to five years on the witness tampering charge. The sentences will run consecutively, and Hogan will recommend Bridgewaters receive “zero” credit for the time served.
He added that while the parole board isn’t bound by his recommendations, “I don’t believe you deserve credit for any of the time served.”
Bridgewaters spent nearly five years at the county jail as he rotated through different attorneys. His trial was set 10 different times, Hogan noted Tuesday, and all but one of those date changes occurred because Bridgewaters dropped “numerous competent counsel.”
Buchanan was 33 when she died on May 29, 2016. Bridgewaters told police, at the time, that the two were drinking wine when Buchanan started to feel sick. According to the police, Bridgewaters sought help from a neighbor who was a paramedic, but the neighbor later told investigators that by the time he saw Buchanan she was not breathing and her lungs were full of vomit and fluid. Police said Bridgewaters had not called 911, despite his girlfriend’s condition.
Police affidavits said that earlier in the day, Buchanan called her mother, Robin Bingham, “and told her someone had poisoned her drink.” When Bingham was called back a short time later, she said she could hear Buchanan tell Bridgewaters to “stop it” and “stop grabbing my phone,” before Bridgewaters took the phone and told Bingham that everything was fine, according to the court documents.
Bridgewaters contacted a friend who was with them earlier that day and asked what he had told police so their stories would match, the charges state. This made the friend suspicious and prompted him to confront Bridgewaters about what had happened.
Police also found marijuana in Bridgewater’s coat, something he asked his friend to take the blame for because he was on parole and was not supposed to be around drugs, the state charges. Court records show Bridgewaters pleaded guilty in 2007 to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.
Bridgewaters was charged in 2017 with murder, a first-degree felony, along with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony, and tampering with a witness, court records show.
During his trial in September, the jury was given the option to convict Bridgewaters of a reduced charge of manslaughter, instead of murder — meaning he recklessly caused his girlfriend’s death but did not show indifference to human life or knowingly create a great risk of death. The jurors found Bridgewaters guilty of manslaughter and tampering with a witness, but not guilty of obstructing justice.
‘A piece of me that I will never be able to get back’
During Tuesday’s sentencing, friends and family members described Buchanan as “a beautiful soul,” “fun to be around” and someone with “such a big heart.”
Bingham, Buchanan’s mother, said Bridgewaters had caused her family to become additional angry by dragging out the proceedings, “keeping us from getting the justice we deserve. … He was still just looking out for himself.”
Wendy Ortega, Buchanan’s aunt, added that Bridgewaters deprived
French fusion in Boston’s Back Bay, and seafood specialties in Cambridge
French fusion in Boston’s Back Bay, and seafood specialties in Cambridge
Local restaurants build a following in the wake of the pandemic
Updated: 8:00 PM EST Nov 30, 2022
REFINED FRENCH AIR WITH A TWIST. TUCKED AWAY IN BOSTON’S BACK BAY IS A PASSPORT TO PARIS. NO PLANE REQUIRED. WE WANTED A SPACE WHERE YOU WILL FEEL WELCOME. YOU COME IN HERE AND IT IS WARM. NICE AND — ARE THE PROPRIETORS OF CAP FACE ABOLISHED. — OF CAFE SAUVAGE. ANTOINE STARTED A CAREER IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, WORKING HIS WAY UP IN THE SOUTH END, THEN CAMBRIDGE IS CO-LED –COLLETT. HE VENTURED OUT ON HIS OWN AND OPEN THE CAFE WITH HIS WIFE WHO WORKS IN DIGITAL MARKETING. WE WILL TAKE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND PUT IT TOGETHER. SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO PLAY WITH THE FRENCH DISHES AND THEN TRYING TO ADD SOME EXPERIENCE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE HAVE A CROQUE BY DOM. IT COMES WITH A CLASSIC SAUCE BUT WITH A LESS TRADITIONAL LAYER OF MUSTARD INSIDE THE TOASTED BRIOCHE BREAD. IT IS A DIFFERENT VERSION THEN YOU CAN FIND. THE MENU INCLUDES A NOD TO HER WEST AFRICAN ROOTS. MY MOM IS FROM THE CONGO. OF ROASTED CHICKEN IS MY MOM’S RECIPE. THE MARINATED CHICKEN IS SERVED WITH PLAN TEENS AND RICE AND TOP WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS. EVERYBODY SHOULD TRY IT ONCE IN THEIR LIFE. A MORE RECENT ROUGHEST STAPLE, AVOCADO TOAST COMES WITH A GARNISH OF PICKLED MUSTARD SEED AND A HARLEM BOILED A — HARD-BOILED EGG. THE FUSION FARE HAS BEEN A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SINCE IT OPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2021. WHEN WE FIRST OPENED, ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS SHOWED UP FOR US AND THEY WERE LIKE WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE. THE FRENCH WORD FOR IT WILD, THE DECOR IS SOPHISTICATED, YET SOFT LIKE THE GREEN VELVET SOFAS. I THINK THE RESTAURANT IS ELEGANT BUT CASUAL AT THE SAME TIME. A WILD IDEA DEVELOPED FROM A DREAM INTO REALITY WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. WE REALLY WANTED TO BE THE GOOD NEIGHBOR RESTAURANT. IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE BEING LIKE OK, WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU. THE OWNERS OF SOMERVILLE’S FIELD AND VINE RESTAURANT AND REBEL REBEL WINE BAR HAVE A NEW JOINT VENTURE. IT’S A NEIGHBORHOOD BAR THAT HAPPENS TO SERVE NATURAL WIND AND PESKY CARRION FOOD. THE CO-OWNERS OPENED DEAR ANNIE IN CAMBRIDGE IN NOVEMBER 2020 ONE. IT IS WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO BE. IT IS JUST A FAMILIAR SOUNDING NAME. HERE, THE COZY COMMUNAL DINING AREA FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED INTO SOMEONE’S HOME, WHERE THE WIND BEING POURED IS ALL NATURAL. WITHOUT ANY MANIPULATION, A LOT OF THE GRAPES ARE ALLOWED TO BE THEMSELVES WITHOUT FUSS. THE CAREFULLY CURATED WINE LIST IS COMPLICATED BY A MORE SUSTAINABLE LOCALLY SOURCED SEAFOOD MENU. BECAUSE IT IS A WINE BAR WE GO WITH SMALLER OPTIONS. ONE OF THOSE SIGNATURE SNACKS IS A SEASONAL NOT ATTENDED FISH REPAIRED AND PRESERVED IN ALL OF OIL. WE HAVE HAD OCTOPUS, BLUEFISH, MACKEREL, COD. MUSCLES. NOW ON THE MENU A SMOKED SPANISH MACKEREL. GARNISHED WITH PICKLED MUSTARD SEEDS WHICH GIVES IT AN INTERESTING BARBECUE FLAVOR. THEY ALSO OFFER AC DOG AND AN AQUATIC TAKE ON A HOT DOG. SEAFOOD SAUSAGE. WE USE SHRIMP, SCALLOPS AND WHITEFISH. THERE IS ALSO A CRUNCHY SALAD AND A ROTATING SELECTION OF SMALLBATCH CHEESES, SERVED ALONGSIDE THE MENUS CORNERSTONE, HOUSE MADE BREAD. WE BEG A LOT OF SOURDOUGH IN-HOUSE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO VISIT, MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. THERE IS NO SIGN IT WITH THE DEER ANY NAME. ONLY THIS SET OF NEON PEEPERS IN THE WINDOW. WHEN WE ARE CLOSED, THE EYES WILL BE SHUT AND WHEN WE ARE OPEN, THEY ARE OPEN. AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THEM A WINKING, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE OPEN EARLIER. AND THIS YEAR DEAR ANNIE WAS NAMED ONE OF THE 50 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AND BON APPETIT. SINCE WE VISITED THE CAFE THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT THE
French fusion in Boston’s Back Bay, and seafood specialties in Cambridge
Local restaurants build a following in the wake of the pandemic
Updated: 8:00 PM EST Nov 30, 2022
There’s a restaurant tucked into Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood that offers a passport to Paris – no plane required. Cafe Sauvage features a chic French fusion menu courtesy of its Parisian proprietors — husband and wife — Antoine and Anaïs Lambert. The owners of Somerville’s Field and Vine restaurant and Rebel Rebel wine bar have a joint venture: Dear Annie. Co-owners Andrew Brady and Lauren Friel opened the Cambridge eatery in November 2021 – offering cozy, communal dining with a more sustainable, locally sourced seafood menu and an all-natural wine list.
Sneaking alcohol on a cruise: 5 reasons you shouldn’t do it even if you really want to
One of the most commonly asked cruise questions is “How can I sneak alcohol on a cruise?” Enjoying a beer or pina colada by the pool, wine with dinner or a craft cocktail as a nightcap are the quintessential cruise vacation pastimes — but the high cost of drinks on board can force budget travelers to consider alternatives. While most cruise lines allow you to carry on a bottle of wine or two, they also forbid passengers from bringing additional beer, liquor or other alcoholic beverages on board.
These policies, while understandable from a business perspective, have led to a black market of sorts, where cruisers purchase contraptions to sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship, either on their person or in containers hiding their true contents. It’s an arms race between creative cruisers looking for illegal ways to smuggle booze and the security teams on board and in port who are deputized to seek and destroy contraband alcohol.
For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.
If you are tempted to sneak alcohol onto a cruise, TPG highly encourages you to rethink your plan and to follow the cruise line rules. Not only is rule-breaking frowned upon, but there are consequences if you get caught. Here are five reasons you might want to skip trying to sneak alcohol onto your next cruise.
Your alcohol will be confiscated
If you are caught smuggling booze on board, port and cruise security staff members have the right to remove the alcohol from your possession, and they don’t have to give it back.
“Any hard liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic beverage, and non-alcoholic beverages, outside of the exceptions referred to above, are strictly prohibited (in both carry-on and checked luggage) and such items will be confiscated and discarded, and no compensation will be provided,” states Carnival Cruise Line’s contract of carriage, the rules all passengers agree to follow when they book a cruise.
Related: Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide
Royal Caribbean has a similar policy. “Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol,” the line’s online FAQs make clear.
Get caught — and yes, security staff knows where cruisers like to hide their liquor — and your attempt at saving money might become a waste of money if you never see your alcohol again.
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You’ll be called out
Travelers who are brazen enough to flout the rules might not mind being called to account for their misdeeds, but know that it will happen. If your contraband alcohol is discovered on board the ship (rather than at port security), you might get called down to a crew area to ‘fess up to your rule infractions and receive a lecture on the ship’s alcohol policy.
“If your luggage is locked, the lock may be removed by security or, alternatively, the luggage will be held by security until you can be presented for an inspection and any items in question further identified and/or surrendered,” states Princess Cruises’ passenger contracts.
Don’t want to be embarrassed or embarrassed should you get caught? Follow the rules and don’t try to sneak more drinks on board than you’re allowed.
You’ll miss out on the bar scene
The fun part of drinking on a cruise ship is checking out all the different bars, sampling classic and craft cocktails and bantering with the bartender or other patrons. If you plan to only drink your own smuggled-in booze, you’ll be relegated to toasting your buddies in your cabin or slinking around dark corners of the ship with a flask. Don’t miss out on the best cruise nightlife simply because you don’t want to pay cruise ship prices for drinks.
Related: 15 best cruise ship bars
You could get kicked off the ship
On a more serious note, smuggling alcohol on board a cruise ship can get you booted off it. This especially applies to minors who get caught sneaking on alcoholic beverages to partake in some underage drinking, or adults who sneak liquor to cruisers under the legal drinking age.
“Guests who violate any alcohol policies (over consuming, providing alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrating irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or at any other time) may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense,” reads Royal Caribbean’s online FAQs.
You do not want to risk ruining your long-awaited vacation and losing all the money you invested in a cruise just for a couple of drinks.
Related: 6 cruise mistakes that will ruin your vacation in an instant
You’ll miss out on the best beverage package prices
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