Nation in brief: Autopsy: Picower had heart attack

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A man accused of making more than $7 billion off the investment schemes of jailed financial manager Bernard Madoff drowned after having a heart attack, authorities said Monday.

Jeffry Picower, 67, was found around noon Sunday by his wife, Barbara, at the bottom of a pool at their oceanside mansion.

An autopsy conducted Monday found he suffered a heart attack and drowned, said Dr. Michael Bell, chief medical examiner for Palm Beach County. The death has been ruled accidental.

Picower and his wife started the Picower Foundation in 1989, which has donated millions of dollars. But after the Madoff scandal broke in December, the foundation, whose assets were managed by Madoff, said it would be forced to close.

Police say a dozen watched girl’s rape

RICHMOND, Calif. – Police believe as many as a dozen people watched as a 15-year-old girl was beaten and gang-raped outside her high school homecoming dance without reporting it.

One suspect was in custody Monday, but police said as many as six other men attacked the girl over a two-hour period Friday night outside Richmond High School.

“What makes it even more disturbing is the presence of others,” said Lt. Mark Gagan. “People came by, saw what was happening and failed to report it.”

Thieves steal Shriners’ mini-cars

ATLANTA – Atlanta Shriners are dealing with a big loss after thieves made off with most of their mini-cars.

Shriners officials said thieves stole seven mini-cars from a storage facility in suburban Atlanta, leaving the charity short on vehicles for upcoming holiday parades.

Police spokesman Det. Cliff Chandler said Monday that burglars broke into the Nabbar Temple’s storage unit earlier this month.

He said they also took an air compressor, a dune buggy and a large toolbox.