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Boston School Security Director Sparks Outrage After Shocking Allegations New

Boston School Security Director Sparks Outrage After Shocking Allegations

See more of our coverage in your search results. A Boston school security director has been charged with the sickening rape of a woman who was found naked and terrified on the side of a road on Martha’s Vineyard minutes after the alleged attack, officials said.Edward Brown, 27, was arraigned on Oct. 13 on a rape charge for the heinous sexual assault of the woman on Aug. 15, according to a press release from the Cape and Island District Attorney’s Office. He’s pleaded not guilty.He was arrested on Oct. 9 at Boston Latin Academy, where he works as an assistant security director, the Oaks Bluff Police Department announced.A woman was allegedly raped inside the barracks by Edward Brown, who was visiting a friend there. Boston Globe via Getty ImagesJust before 1 a.m. on the day of the alleged attack, police received two calls about a naked woman in distress on the side of the road near the Massachusetts State Police barracks — where the rape allegedly occurred.She was rushed to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where she explained to police the horrors she had allegedly endured at the hands of Brown.She said she was a bar called The Ritz with her friend when Brown approached her, groped her backside and tried buying her a drink, according to the DA’s office and CBS News. Brown was allegedly staying the night at the Massachusetts State Police barracks with his friend, who is a trooper working on the island, CBS news reported.Police said the woman told them that she remembered nothing that happened at the bar after Brown allegedly approached her, and that the next thing she said she remembered was waking up with him on top of her in an unfamiliar location.“She woke up face down and naked in a bed, she tried to get up but the man came back into the room and forced himself on her. The man held her down by the neck,” a prosecutor said in court on Tuesday, according to Boston 25 News.Edward Brown worked as a security guard at Boston Latin Academy. Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAfter she managed to escape, she claimed she ran down two flights of stairs to leave the building and ended up on the road. People found her a few minutes later.The alleged victim is from Ireland, where she has since returned, MV Times reported.During the hearing, prosecutors referenced four police reports filed against Brown from March to August, involving two harassment complaints by his ex-girlfriends, Boston 25 News reported. Both women were granted restraining orders, and one of them remains active, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also alleged that Brown had cocaine on him when he was arrested.But Brown’s attorney Anthony R. Ellison argued that he’d never before been charged with a crime and said he was an upstanding citizen.He worked at the school for two years. Boston Globe via Getty ImagesBrown has posted $10,000 bond and was released on the conditions that he stays away from the alleged victim and witnesses, and checks in with probation. He’s due back in court on Dec. 3 for a pre-trial hearing, according to the DA’s office.Brown has been placed on an administrative leave from Boston Public Schools and is awaiting a termination hearing. He has worked as an assistant security director in the district for the past two years, earning a $117,000 annual salary.“These allegations are absolutely horrific,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said, per Boston 25 News.“We need to ensure that every single one of our students and our school communities has high standards with safety and support surround them so obviously we are incredibly disturbed.”“Mr. Brown has entered a plea of not guilty and professed his innocence. There is more than one side to a story. We trust the judicial process and we anticipate presenting our case before the court,” Ellison told The Post. The Massachusetts State Police did not return a request for comment.

Oct 17, 2026
Harry Shum Jr.'s Heartfelt Call for Joy Amid DWTS Controversy New

Harry Shum Jr.'s Heartfelt Call for Joy Amid DWTS Controversy

Harry Shum Jr. is issuing a poignant message about Dancing With the Stars amid online discourse surrounding season 35. “Reminder that this is a dance show. It is supposed to be joyous,” Shum, 44, wrote via Instagram on Friday, October 16. “People are suffering in the world already, so let’s celebrate each other with more love. I’ll go first.” In subsequent slides, the Grey’s Anatomy actor paid each of his fellow DWTS celebrity contestants a compliment – or two — regarding their respective ballroom journeys. “Guillermo [Rodriguez] — how you rallied the people at home and even us on the show to celebrate what dance should mean to people,” Shum added of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality, who was eliminated during Super Bowl Night on Tuesday, October 13. “The joy was bursting through every step you took. I love you, man.” Shum further noted that he enjoys speaking to Connor Wood “about anything” before watching his entertaining routines. “It feels like a kid getting to do the thing you’ve always wanted to do, but never got a chance to,” he added of the comedian, 31, going on to praise Tatyana Ali’s focus and inspirational journey in the ballroom. “You’ve been an advocate for mothers holding on to their joy while doing one of the hardest jobs on the planet — being a mother. You continue to reveal parts of you that we may not have known. Your dances on the stage inspire so many people.” Shum also marveled at Jackson Olson for balancing DWTS with his Savannah Bananas game schedule, Maura Higgins’ onstage elegance, Amber Glenn’s commitment, as well as Tyler Cameron’s “confidence and smoothness.” He also felt “so happy” watching Julia Stiles revisit her Save the Last Dance routine on Tuesday and is completely in awe of Paralympian Ezra Frech. “I’m just blown away by your charisma and ability to move the way you do,” Shum gushed about Frech, 21. “You have an aura that oozes confidence, and the fact that you’re only 21 with this level of maturity is inspiring to many. You’re showing people that limitations exist only in your mind and you shatter those limitations every time you hit the stage.” In addition, Shum praised how “powerhouse” Jenna Dewan handles DWTS feedback. “Watching you take criticism with grace and just laying it all out on the dance floor each week, I go, ‘That’s the Jenna I know and love,’” he added before concluding with a message to himself. “[I’m] proud of you for not letting anyone take your light and spark away no matter how much they try. Keep being you.” Shum recently danced a samba with pro partner Jenna Johnson on Tuesday, inspired by Usher’s 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. The routine, however, was criticized by the judges for its technical mishaps and an illegal lift. (Two members of the troupe helped Shum complete a backflip mid-routine, moments before Johnson’s foot appeared to come off the floor while completing a one-legged spin.) After Johnson, 32, questioned whether she accidentally included a lift in the routine against the rules, judge Carrie Ann Inaba defended her take. “A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner,” Inaba, 58, read aloud a printed definition. “Yeah. Lift.” Johnson has since cleared the air with Inaba, while the two-time mirrorball champ’s husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, appeared to threaten to slap the judge in defense of his wife. Chmerkovskiy, 40, ultimately publicly apologized for his remarks. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside our internal DWTS family,” he wrote in a Thursday, October 15, statement shared via social media. “I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it. I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some.” He concluded, “I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all.” Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Oct 17, 2026
Katie Zacharia's Surprising Praise for Trump After White House Exit New

Katie Zacharia's Surprising Praise for Trump After White House Exit

See more of our coverage in your search results. Ex-White House press secretary Katie Zacharia had nothing but kind words to say about President Trump hours after she left her post following just five days in the role.“President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him,” she posted on X. “No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to. It was an honor to work for him.”The post included a photo of Zacharia smiling while standing next to Trump as he sat at the Resolute Desk inside the Oval Office during her brief tenure, with a map on the president’s desk that had its details blurred out. “President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man. I wish more Americans appreciated him,” White House press secretary Katie Zacharia captioned her post. It had 7.2 million views as of Saturday morning. In a sign of the rapid disintegration of her tenure, the post “pinned” to the top of her account Oct. 9 had screen shots of Trump congratulating her on her appointment as press secretary.She left her post Friday after a pair of shaky interviews on Fox News.On Thursday, she appeared on Sean Hannity’s program where the host said her first and only White House press briefing had been “widely panned” and questioned her decision to label herself as an “attorney” despite failing to pass the California bar after graduating from law school.During a Friday morning interview on “Fox & Friends,” she struggled to deliver talking points about the search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) home and wasn’t able to say when her next press briefing would occur.Hours later, Trump publicly urged her to reconsider her role, telling the reporters before departing the White House for a rally, “I’ve watched her for years on television, but I said, ‘Is this for you, Katie? Because honestly, you don’t need this.’”Zacharia isn’t out entirely: a source familiar with the situation said she would be transitioning to a new role, and she was to have dined Friday night with Vice President JD Vance. Zacharia during her first press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Oct. 16, 2026. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDThe Wall Street Journal reported that Zacharia was sitting with the paper for a White House interview Friday when she was summoned away to learn that her assignment had ended. She didn’t return to the interview.Among those mentioned as possible successors is CNN commentator Scott Jennings, who is close to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.Asked on air Friday if he was interested in the job, Jennings diverted, saying “I haven’t spoken to anybody about it tonight or today.”

Oct 17, 2026
Bonnie Wright Welcomes Baby No. 2 and Shares Heartfelt Message New

Bonnie Wright Welcomes Baby No. 2 and Shares Heartfelt Message

Bonnie Wright and her husband, Andrew Lococo, are celebrating a magical new addition following the birth of their second baby. "Say hello to our son Aster Sky Wright Lococo born at home on the 28th September ���� named after the star-shaped flower," Wright, 35, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, October 17, introducing her newborn. "Our little star has been showered in love by his big brother Elio. Thank you universe for my loving bundle of boys! Wright — who is best known for her role as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise — announced in April that she was pregnant and expecting baby No. 2. “Two babies on my lap ��,” she captioned an Instagram photo of son Elio lying on her as her growing bump peeked out from beneath her T-shirt. “Our second little earthling [is] joining us this autumn!!” The following month, Wright shared an update on her pregnancy journey. “Second pregnancy definitely hits different,” she wrote in a May Instagram post. “My energy being pulled in one direction by my toddler and the other by growing tiny organs in my body. Doubling the blood flowing through my body. Feeling nauseous or dizzy. Searching for connection … Waiting for them to connect with me. Show me who they are and who they are expanding me to become. All an unknown. An unravelling. A never ending journey ��.” Wright and Lococo — who tied the knot in March 2022 — became first-time parents when they welcomed son Elio in September 2023. “Say hello to Elio Ocean Wright Lococo, [he was] born at home on Tuesday 19th September,” she announced via Instagram at the time. “We’re all healthy and happy. Andrew and I are so in love with our sun! So grateful for our birth team that have held our hands throughout and made the journey so joyous and expanding.” After declaring that “birth is the wildest experience,” Wright credited Lococo with being her “rock” throughout the delivery. “I squeezed onto you so tight and you never wavered,” she added. “Elio has the most tender loving papa.” One year later, Wright revealed that she hoped her son would explore the world of Harry Potter at some point in the future, though she had one condition for him watching the beloved films. “I mean, I can’t force it on him, but I’m definitely gonna positively encourage reading it,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2024. “I hope to read it to him … but I definitely will make sure we read the books before we watch the movies. Could be like reading a book, [then] watching a movie. But I’m definitely gonna make sure we go through the books. I also remember growing up with the audiobooks, so maybe the audiobooks would be nice.”

Oct 17, 2026
Tragic Encounter: 71-Year-Old Fisherman Killed by Massive Alligator in Florida New

Tragic Encounter: 71-Year-Old Fisherman Killed by Massive Alligator in Florida

A 71-year-old man was fatally savaged by a 12-foot alligator while fishing on the shoreline in Florida on Friday afternoon.The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden, according to FOX35.Emergency crews rushed to the scene at around 5 p.m. after Hamilton was mauled by the beast while on the shoreline of Lake Apopka, 15 miles northwest of Orlando. A 71-year-old fisherman was killed by a 12-foot alligator while standing on the shoreline in Winter Garden, Florida.Other active alligators were in the water, making it difficult to rescue Hamilton, whose body was recovered at 7 p.m, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told the outlet.The 11.8-foot alligator was captured and killed by FWC trappers. Reporters claimed they heard a “loud bang,” which Winter Garden Police Captain Michael Mason said was the noise of the alligator being “removed as a danger to the public.”Lake Apopka is home to one of the largest American alligator populations in Central Florida.

Oct 17, 2026
Melissa Gilbert's Cryptic Message After Timothy Busfield's Case Dismissal Sparks Buzz New

Melissa Gilbert's Cryptic Message After Timothy Busfield's Case Dismissal Sparks Buzz

Melissa Gilbert shared a cryptic message with her followers amid a fresh update in her husband’s legal proceedings. The same day that news broke on Friday, October 16, that a judge had dismissed Timothy Busfield’s indictment on child sexual abuse charges, Gilbert, 62, took to social media. “So shines a good deed in a weary world,” read a message shared via her Instagram grid on Friday. Posting to her Instagram Story, Gilbert also shared the New York Times’ coverage of her husband’s case. The publication’s headline reads, “Judge Dismisses Child Sexual Abuse Charges Against Timothy Busfield.” According to court documents obtained by Us on Friday, Judge Joseph Montaño granted Busfield’s motion to quash the indictment on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. “The prosecuting attorney failed to act in a fair and impartial manner, including the failure to properly instruct the grand jury on the law for calling witnesses and in instructing the grand jurors on a procedure that effectively withheld requested witnesses,” the judge wrote in court documents, citing prosecutorial misconduct and errors that compromised the legal process. “In doing so, the grand jury proceedings were conducted in a manner that violated grand jury statutes designed to protect the structural integrity of our grand jury system and the presumption of prejudice applies.” However, the state remains free to institute new criminal proceedings against Busfield, 69, per the filing. “Our office has received the order and is evaluating our options to determine how we will proceed,” Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Nancy Laflin said in a statement to People. Us has reached out to Busfield’s team for additional comment. Gilbert has been supportive of Busfield, who was first indicted on child sex abuse charges by a grand jury in February. The actor was accused of touching a child actor inappropriately in incidents that allegedly occurred on the set of The Cleaning Lady between late 2022 and early 2024, according to the Albuquerque Police Department affidavit obtained by Us. (The West Wing actor has pleaded not guilty to the charges.) Shortly after her husband’s arrest, a rep for Gilbert said, in a statement, “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.” Gilbert also defended Busfield in an interview with Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos in April. “[He’s] the last person in the world who would hurt a child. And believe me, if I thought for a second that Tim Busfield hurt a child, he’d have a lot more to worry about than prison,” Gilbert said at the time. She added, “I am 100 percent confident he will be exonerated.” If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Oct 17, 2026
Why One in Four US Teachers Are Considering Quitting New

Why One in Four US Teachers Are Considering Quitting

See more of our coverage in your search results. A class of their own.One in four US public school teachers said they are likely to quit within the next year — as only a third of them feel appreciated, according to a concerning new survey. Just 35% of K-12 educators say they “matter a great deal” at their school, while almost one in five (19%) say they don’t matter much or at all, according to a report released Wednesday by the Walton Family Foundation, Gallup, and the Mattering Institute.Among those teachers who feel like they don’t matter, more than two-thirds (68%) described themselves as frequently burned out, and fewer than half planned to remain in education, the survey found.Teachers at private, independent, or charter schools, meanwhile, were far more likely than their public school counterparts to believe they matter a great deal. Only a third of public school teachers feel they “matter a great deal,” a new survey found. Ivan – stock.adobe.comEducators who teach special education were also more likely than those teaching other subjects to feel they matter a great deal.Age was also a major factor in job satisfaction among teachers.Almost half (47%) of teachers 60 or older said they mattered a great deal, compared with 31-to-34% among younger age groups.An astonishing one in four public school teachers said they were either very (12%) or somewhat (13%) likely to leave their current job within the next year.Just over half (52%) of educators said they plan to remain in the classroom for the rest of their careers, while 12% said they don’t plan to remain in the profession and 24% said they were unsure.The study found that those teachers who felt like they mattered were far more likely to say they wanted to stay in the field throughout their careers. Half of educators plan to quit the profession. Framestock – stock.adobe.comOver a third (41%) of educators with low investment scores said they were likely to leave, compared with 24% with moderate scores and just 12% with high investment scores.“The findings of our study reveal a troubling gap,” said The Mattering Institute founder Jennifer Wallace.“Too few of America’s K–12 educators feel they truly matter. But they also point to a path forward, with simple, research-backed practices that school leaders, parents and communities can use to help educators feel valued, supported, and able to see the difference they make,” she went on.“The people who help our children know they matter deserve to know they matter, too,” Wallace added.

Oct 17, 2026
Brooklyn Store's Unexpected Drama with Kelly Clarkson Sparks Public Debate New

Brooklyn Store's Unexpected Drama with Kelly Clarkson Sparks Public Debate

Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin is taken aback by the impact of Kelly Clarkson’s critical post on his Brooklyn home store. “Honestly, I have no experience with this. I have no idea how we move forward with it,” Rubin said in an interview with 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM on Tuesday, October 13. “I just want to say we hold no ill will against Kelly Clarkson. We invite her to come back and enjoy the store. But, we find her gross abuse of power completely reprehensible, and she should face social consequences.” On Saturday, October 10, Clarkson, 44, first spoke out about her experience visiting Art of Play in New York. “Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” Clarkson wrote via X. “But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman. For sure, check it out ��.” A back-and-forth proceeded with Clarkson and the store sharing their own recollection of events. While The Voice coach hasn’t spoken out since Sunday, October 11, Rubin’s latest interview indicates her words are still having an impact. “We have to turn the phone off,” he claimed. “A regular customer couldn’t get in touch with us if they wanted to. Superstars, they should be held responsible for yielding their power against someone who is just a normal person.” Clarkson — who has not asked her fans to do anything to the store — has maintained that a mechanical singing bird hanging on the wall of the store had a price tag of $15,000. Rubin, however, claims the bird is not for sale. “We work directly with these artisans. If somebody is interested, we can reach out to this artisan and talk about maybe then getting a similar version,” he claimed, recalling his exchange with the first-ever American Idol winner. “These things take years to build. They’re not sitting in a warehouse somewhere. They don’t have next-day delivery. That conversation was had. Clearly, there was some miscommunication.” In a separate interview with USA Today, Rubin said the mechanical singing bird, which is named Molly, now has an eight-figure price tag and costs $15 million. “We’ve raised the price due to popular demand,” he told the publication.

Oct 17, 2026
The Shocking Truth Behind the Great Wolf Lodge Tragedy New

The Shocking Truth Behind the Great Wolf Lodge Tragedy

Metallica Rose Harrison allegedly drained her husband’s 401(k) account to pay for their family’s trip to Great Wolf Lodge, where she ultimately killed him and their 3-year-old son. Metallica, 27, was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal homicide after she allegedly stabbed her husband, Charles Harrison, and their son, Tristan, in the chest during their trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Charles’ stepmother, April Thetga, claimed to the New York Post that Metallica had tapped her son’s retirement account to pay for the three-week trip to the resort, which she said was an early Christmas present for Tristan. Additionally, she allegedly used her husband’s money for a kitchen remodel and other expenses. The family arrived at the resort on September 21. They extended their reservation on October 5 and planned to check out on Tuesday, October 13. “It was definitely odd, but they’d taken their 401(k) out. … There was nothing we could do about that,” Thetga said of the family’s recent financial decisions. Thetga added that she didn’t know whether the couple had borrowed against the retirement account or withdrew the money outright. Despite the risky financial move, Therga said that her family wasn’t too concerned with Metallica and Charles’ trip. She said that they even had a video call with Metallica the day before the murders. “She had called, and we’re video-chatting, and then she says she loved us very much, just like she normally would,” Thetga recalled. While speaking to the outlet, Thetga said that Charles, 36, was a devoted husband and father. “He was a fantastic husband. She definitely got lucky when it came to him. He just was good. He was a good father,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him fight.” Thetga added that they were “a loving family” and she was “shocked as everybody else” by the killings. “We’re not evil people. We want answers. They were always happy,” Thetga said. Authorities learned that Metallica had killed Charles and Tristan when she reportedly called 911 around 3 p.m. on Monday, October 12, saying she wanted to die and that her “husband and son are already gone.” Charles and Tristan were found dead inside their hotel room, and Metallica was found suffering from wounds to her wrist and neck. Authorities said the father had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, while the boy was stabbed one single time in the chest. Investigators searched the hotel room and found two knives, which staff members confirmed were not from the resort. Authorities also reported finding several bottles of medication and two containers of what appeared to be blood at the crime scene. When Metallica was taken into custody, she reportedly told officers that she “wanted to be with her husband and son.” It is not currently clear whether Metallica has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The investigation into the case remains ongoing. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Oct 16, 2026
Florida Man's Violent Rampage: Girlfriend Shot and Run Over New

Florida Man's Violent Rampage: Girlfriend Shot and Run Over

See more of our coverage in your search results. A Florida man is facing charges after deputies say he shot his girlfriend and then proceeded to run her over with his vehicle while his child was in the car.It happened after the couple allegedly got into an argument across the street from a bar in Safe Harbor, Florida.The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said Christopher “Dodge” Smith, 40, is the man behind the attack.Deputies named his girlfriend Jessica Antolini, 30, as the victim.According to a criminal complaint, Smith showed up at a bar on Tuesday just before 9 p.m. and appeared to be “hunting” the victim down, witnesses said, adding he looked “possessed.”The complaint says once the suspect found his girlfriend, they got into an argument outside the bar where he allegedly shot her in the face.Christopher Smith was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly shooting his girlfriend and running her over with a child in his SUV. Pinellas County Sheriff's OfficeDeputies named his girlfriend Jessica Antolini, 30, as the victim. Jessica Antolini / FacebookAfter gunning her down, deputies say he ran her over with his SUV and sped off from the scene with his 5-year-old child also in the car — leaving the victim behind.“Detectives say multiple 911 calls reporting the shooting were received from witnesses who also provided information about Smith’s vehicle,” the report says.Responding to those numerous calls, deputies arrived on scene and later located Smith’s SUV and tried to pull him over.He did not comply, deputies say, to which his “vehicle was immobilized.”Smith showed up at a bar on Tuesday just before 9 p.m. and appeared to be “hunting” the victim down, witnesses said, adding he looked “possessed.” Pinellas County Sheriff's OfficeSmith was arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse following the pursuit. Pinellas County Sheriff's OfficeBodycam, dashcam and aerial video released by PCSO appear to show a deputy vehicle successfully pulling off a PIT maneuver of his SUV.He was arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse following the pursuit.His girlfriend is still in the hospital in critical condition; the child inside the vehicle was not injured in the incident and was reunited with family.Smith is sitting inside a Pinellas County jail cell with no bond due to the charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Oct 16, 2026
Heartbroken Family Seeks Answers After Father's Tragic Park Stabbing

Heartbroken Family Seeks Answers After Father's Tragic Park Stabbing

See more of our coverage in your search results. A caring father who first took his children to the park before going to grab them drinks and snacks was brutally stabbed to death in Orange County’s San Juan Capistrano.Valentin Onofre Martinez, 31, was walking back to his kids from a store when he was stabbed multiple times in a neighborhood near Calle Santa Barbara and Los Rios Street around 8:10 p.m. on Oct. 7.First responders rushed Martinez to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police detained several people at the scene, but no arrests have yet been made. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has ruled the stabbing a homicide and assigned its Homicide and Gang Enforcement Team to the investigation.First responders rushed Martinez to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. ABC 7Martinez’s grieving fianceé, Mia, says she hauntingly realized something was wrong when she heard sirens in the distance and got a phone call. She rushed to the scene. ABC 7Martinez’s grieving fianceé, Mia, says she hauntingly realized something was wrong when she heard sirens in the distance and got a phone call. She rushed to the scene.“When I got here, everything was already completely blocked off with the caution tape. Hundreds of police,” she told ABC 7.She discovered her fiancé and father of their children was dead. Mia had to tell her children that their father wouldn’t come home with them. ABC 7She discovered her fiancé and father of their children was dead. Mia had to tell her children that their father wouldn’t come home with them.“They just keep asking for their dad. When is daddy coming back? And I just have to keep telling them that he’s not coming back,” she said.The stabbing was not gang-related, she said, and sought to dispel misconceptions that her fiancé may have been gang-affiliated.“They’re trying to paint this as something that it’s not, which is gang-related. And if it is then it’s only on one side and it’s not his side,” she said.She believes her fiancé was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. ABC 7She believes her fiancé was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.“I need the answers because I’m just not going to be able to move past it and find closure or anything until I have all the answers and for them as well because they’re going to need answers too,” Mia said.Mia said her fiancé cared for his three children, aged 3, 5, and 7 years old, closely. He also worked at Home Depot, she said.“A father that was there every day of his kids life. He never missed a day. He took them to school, picked them up, went to work. He worked at Home Depot nights and still got up to take his kids to school,” Mia said.A GoFundMe has been organized for Martinez’s funeral expenses with a goal of $15,000.The victim’s mother said her son was a good person.“He was a hardworking man, and he took so much care of his family,” she said in the fundraiser.Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!

Oct 16, 2026
Former Cheerleader Laken Snelling's Sentencing Shocks Community After Tragic Event

Former Cheerleader Laken Snelling's Sentencing Shocks Community After Tragic Event

Former University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader Laken Snelling has been sentenced to prison after causing the death of her newborn baby boy last year.  Snelling, 22, received a 10-year prison sentence on Friday, October 16. She faced a possible sentence of 13 years after pleading guilty in August to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. At the plea hearing, Snelling told the court, “Instead of helping him, I ended his life.” Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield sentenced Snelling to 10 years for manslaughter and one year each for the other charges, but ordered the sentences to run at the same time, rather than one after the other. Snelling, a former member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheerleading team, was arrested in August 2025 after her roommates discovered a “blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth” in Snelling’s closet. The roommates called the police after finding the newborn’s body, which was cold to the touch. When Snelling was initially questioned by police, she “admitted to giving birth” and “concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel.” Moments after giving birth, Snelling told authorities she had passed out on top of the baby’s body, waking up to find it “blue and purple.” When she was questioned by medical staff at the University of Kentucky Labor and Delivery, Snelling said “the baby made a ‘whimper,’ and that she ‘guessed’ the baby was alive,” according to a police report.  After being arrested and released on house arrest, Snelling was hit with an additional manslaughter charge in March after it was determined that her baby was alive at the time it was born. The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby’s cause of death was “asphyxia by undetermined means.” Prosecutors did not charge Snelling with murder due to the “extreme emotional disturbance” she was under at the time, according to an indictment obtained earlier this year by Us. Snelling “intentionally abused the infant and thereby caused death to a person twelve (12) years of age or less, or who is physically helpless or mentally helpless,” per the indictment. At the time of her arrest, Snelling was a student-athlete at the University of Kentucky, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. Shortly after, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to Us that she was no longer enrolled.

Oct 16, 2026