Nation in brief: Carnival ride collapse injures 17

A carnival ride spinning with people collapsed at a county fair Friday night, injuring at least 17, including three seriously, an emergency official said.

The ride has arms that fling out as they spin around an axis, said Dennis Townsend with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention. He didn’t know what might have caused the collapse or have details about the condition of those injured.

Three people with serious injuries were airlifted to hospitals, Townsend said. Fourteen others were treated for minor injuries.

The fair remained open but the carnival area was shut down following the accident, said Laurie Giannini, the fairground’s marketing director.

The annual Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee draws thousands of people to the fairgrounds just outside the Gold Rush-era town of Angels Camp in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 80 miles southeast of Sacramento. It bills itself as an “old-fashion county fair” with exhibits and a variety of entertainment.

Fresno, Calif.

Scientist gets life in acid-vat killing

A biochemist was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for killing her estranged husband by knocking him out and stuffing him into a vat of acid, possibly while he was still alive.

Larissa Schuster was convicted in December of murdering Timothy Schuster with the special circumstance that the murder was committed for financial gain. At the time of his death in July 2003, the Schusters were in the middle of a divorce after nearly 20 years of marriage.

Just days after Timothy Schuster was reported missing, his half-dissolved remains – intact from only the belt buckle down – were found inside a 55-gallon barrel concealed in a storage unit his wife had rented.

Kristin Schuster, the couple’s adult daughter, told the judge that she felt safer knowing her mother would be behind bars.

“I’ve been living for five years not knowing if I would have to worry for my own safety,” she said.

Jonesboro, Ark.

Candy bar helps turn up suspect

Police say DNA found on a half-eaten candy bar helped them zero in on a robbery suspect.

Detective Jason Simpkins said Brian D. Bass’ DNA matched the sample found on the bar left on the counter at Cato Animal Hospital during a January robbery. Bass was being held in jail Friday on $50,000 bond.

Bass was on probation after he served time on a firearms possession charge. Simpkins said the state had his DNA on file.

Police say Bass is facing felony commercial burglary and theft charges.