National news briefs

Police arrest man at airport in 4 murders

FARMVILLE, Va. (AP) — A California man who rapped about murder in songs posted on his MySpace page was arrested Saturday by investigators who suspect him of killing four people in a central Virginia college town.

Richard Alden Samuel McCroskey III, 20, of Castro Valley, Calif., was taken into custody at Richmond International Airport, where authorities believe he tried to catch a flight back to California. Officers found McCroskey asleep in the baggage claim area, Farmville police Capt. Wade Stimpson said.

McCroskey is being held in Farmville, where he faces charges of first-degree murder, grand larceny of an automobile and robbery, Stimpson said. McCroskey is scheduled to appear Monday in court, when he can either hire an attorney or have one appointed.

Officers found the bodies Friday afternoon in the home of Debra S. Kelley, an associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies at Longwood University, school spokeswoman Gina Caldwell said Saturday.

Authorities are awaiting identification of the dead from the state medical examiner's office, but that isn't expected until Monday.

4-year-old gives day-care friends cocaine

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey police say a 4-year-old boy shared cocaine with his friends at day care because his father told him it was candy.

Newark police say 25-year-old Shaheed Wright of East Orange put several baggies of cocaine inside his son's jacket after police nearly caught him with it. The boy shared the drugs with three other 4-year-olds at his day-care center Friday.

A teacher spotted a girl with a baggie in her mouth and called authorities after seeing the white powdery substance.

The children were taken to a hospital, but none were injured. Police found more baggies of cocaine after searching the boy's pockets.

Wright was charged with four counts of child endangerment and drug offenses.

Dead body of naked woman found in N.Y.

NEW YORK (AP) — The body of a naked woman with her throat slashed and a knife sticking out of it was found Saturday at a luxury hotel next to Central Park, police said.

Investigators looking into the death at the Jumeirah Essex House hotel, on the park's southern edge, said the woman appeared to be in her 30s, but they didn't disclose any other details.