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Teddi Mellencamp Shares Emotional Update on Her Cancer Recovery Journey in Rare Video

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Teddi Mellencamp Shares Emotional Update on Her Cancer Recovery Journey in Rare Video

Teddi Mellencamp recently shared a candid and heartfelt glimpse into her journey of cancer recovery through a video that she posted online.

In a moment of raw honesty, she revealed, “This is what recovery looks like. One day, I’m hopping around doing a million things, and then the next day, I am shaking so bad I can barely get up the stairs. My anxiety is a 10.” With tears in her eyes, Mellencamp communicated her struggles on Instagram Stories, showing the unpredictability that marks her recovery process.

The former star of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” highlighted the physical toll it has taken on her daily life, mentioning that she needed both hands to stabilize her phone while filming the video, owing to severe hand tremors.

“They added in a new medication on Monday and I guess it’s just hitting me really weird,” Mellencamp clarified, illustrating the challenges of adjusting to her treatment regimen.

In a lighthearted moment amidst the seriousness, Mellencamp addressed her “Two Ts In A Pod” co-host, Tamra Judge, saying, “Tam, you’re gonna have a lot to work with today. Godspeed.” The comment showcased her enduring sense of humor and camaraderie with her co-host.

The former Bravo star subsequently posted a screenshot listing the common side effects of her medication, which includes weight gain, headache, dizziness, common cold symptoms and akathisia (an inner sense of restlessness).

“Wow. This is a blast,” she sarcastically wrote atop the screengrab.

Her last health update came in April, when she bravely showcased her brain surgery scars and shared her hair growth following several rounds of radiation therapy.

“The hair is too long for the wigs and I’m sick of the wigs. But like, what are we supposed to do here?” she asked her social media followers, looking for new tips on hairstyles.

Mellencamp announced her Stage 2 melanoma diagnosis in October 2022.

She underwent more than a dozen surgeries to address the disease, including an emergency procedure in 2025 to remove several tumors in her brain.

Last October, she revealed her cancer — which had also spread to her lungs — was “gone.” However, she previously explained that it will take some time before doctors declare that she’s officially in remission.

Since receiving the positive update on her physical health, Mellencamp has been focused on recovering emotionally and mentally as well.

“I’ve been in therapy,” she told Page Six in February. “I’ve been working really hard trying to figure out, find that peace, find that happiness, find that joy, find myself again.”

The reality star — who shares three kids with estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave — also revealed in April that she is in a new relationship with an “older man.”

Though she didn’t divulge too many details on the mystery suitor, she did gush that he makes her laugh a lot on an episode of her podcast “Two Ts In A Pod.”

Michigan Childcare Provider Fraudulently Receives $1.1M in Taxpayer Funds Without Operating

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Michigan Childcare Provider Fraudulently Receives $1.1M in Taxpayer Funds Without Operating

Michigan legislators have launched a probe into a childcare provider reportedly receiving over $1.1 million in state-funded childcare reimbursements amid suspicions it isn’t operating at its declared location.

The spotlight is on 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare based in Clinton Township. This inquiry has been initiated by the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State & Local Public Assistance Programs.

An investigative report reveals that this institution was granted $1,121,641 from the Child Development & Care (CDC) Program over the fiscal years 2023 through 2026. However, committee staff noted that repeated inspections of the site yielded no signs of childcare activities at the registered location.

The facility’s address is listed as 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, but according to investigators, this site is occupied by Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare whose state license is currently marked as closed.

Michigan lawmakers are investigating whether a childcare provider that received more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded reimbursements was operating at its listed address.

Michigan legislators are scrutinizing whether a childcare center that benefited from over $1.1 million in state reimbursements was actually functioning at its recorded address. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)

Investigators also said they were unable to locate an active childcare license for 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare.

Committee staff said they also attempted to contact the daycare during advertised business hours but were unable to reach anyone, with all calls ending at an answering service.

During a June 12 site visit, committee staff reported finding the building locked despite being open during advertised business hours. Investigators said lights were on inside but no staff or children were visible.

Lawmakers said the facility's outdoor play area appeared unused during a June site visit.

Lawmakers said the facility’s outdoor play area appeared unused during a June site visit. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)

A nearby business tenant told investigators they had never seen children at the location, though they reported occasionally seeing construction activity.

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jason Woolford conducted his own visit on June 15. According to the report, no one answered the front door despite repeated knocking.

Investigators said Woolford found an outdoor play area consisting of a fenced-in asphalt lot with grass growing through the pavement, an old playhouse pushed against the building and chairs stacked outside filled with rainwater.

Committee investigators said they found no evidence that children were being cared for at the daycare's listed address during multiple site visits.

Committee investigators said they found no evidence that children were being cared for at the daycare’s listed address during multiple site visits. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)

The report also said a rear door was unlocked, but no one responded after Woolford called inside.

Employees at a neighboring café told Woolford they had never seen children enter the facility.

According to the committee, Premier Early Childhood Education Partners LLC is a Chicago-based company that owns and operates several legitimate childcare facilities in Michigan.

The report states that one of those entities, Premier MI Network Clinton Twp, does business as 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare and received approximately $1.12 million in CDC reimbursements between fiscal years 2023 and 2026.

The oversight committee said its investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced.

News Media has reached out to Premier Early Childhood Education Partners for comment.

Venezuela Earthquake: Shocking Footage Reveals Devastating Impact

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Venezuela Earthquake: Shocking Footage Reveals Devastating Impact

Gripping video footage has laid bare the scale of devastation and disarray caused by two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last night.

The sequential tremors, measuring 7.1 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, hit near the coastline, prompting frightened residents to flee from shaking buildings. As structures collapsed, plumes of dust filled the air above the capital.

According to the US Geological Survey, there is a high probability of numerous casualties and significant destruction, with initial estimates of the death toll ranging between 10,000 and 100,000.

On Thursday, officials in Venezuela reported that at least 164 individuals had lost their lives, and many more were injured.

These earthquakes rank among the most powerful to hit Venezuela in over a hundred years, despite the rarity of severe earthquakes in the region.

In one particularly shocking video, a building’s façade collapsed on a busy street, forcing people to flee in terror. 

Venezuelan citizens were heard screaming in terror, and seen running for their lives, catching each other if they fell down. 

A huge wave of dust and debris was kicked up, seemingly blinding those on the street.

The man filming the clip was heard shouting someone’s name, apparently fearing the worst.  Car alarms were heard blaring as bricks and mortar continued to fall. 

People held onto each other and screamed in terror when the earthquakes struck

People held onto each other and screamed in terror when the earthquakes struck 

One clip showed the sun setting over a nearly-collapsed building

One clip showed the sun setting over a nearly-collapsed building 

In another clip, the top of a building appeared to fall several storeys and crash onto the street below, while in a third clip, glass could be heard shattering as buildings on a dense street were rocked violently.  

In footage from inside Simón Bolívar International Airport, a child was heard screaming in terror as many of the building’s internal structures collapsed. 

As the whole airport shook, terrified people ran for their lives. Lights flickered on and off as the quake rattled electrical infrastructure. 

Swathes of the airport’s ceiling collapsed, leaving a plume of dust from broken construction material in the air. 

Women were seen trying desperately to carry small children while guiding their families to safety. 

Following the second earthquake, rescuers jumped into action and began searching for any and all signs of life. 

In one clip shared across the world, a large group of first responders were seen working to pull survivors from the rubble of a collapsed building. 

Local residents of a collapsed building were seen working in tandem with the rescuers to get their area cleared as soon as possible, though many watched in horror from the sidelines as countless people scrambled over what once would’ve been their homes.   

Footage showed a maroon car partially buried under the remains of a building

Footage showed a maroon car partially buried under the remains of a building

People were running for their lives in Simón Bolívar International Airport

People were running for their lives in Simón Bolívar International Airport

One shocking clip showed a group of people at a baseball stadium, watching in horror as a far off building collapsed and left a mass of dust floating through the air. 

A horrified onlooker was heard exclaiming: ‘Dio mio… [My god]’ 

A clip taken in the city of La Guaira showed the sun setting over a building that had almost completely collapsed. 

Drivers were heard slamming on their horns, while people on-foot were heard mourning the destruction of their city. Smoke was seen rising across La Guaira, each tower coming from another part of the municipality. 

The camera pans to another building, this one totally destroyed. A maroon car was seen crushed, with its back end poking out from under the mountain of rubble. 

A man was seen wrapping a large strap around the wreck, setting up an attempt to pull it free with another vehicle. 

In another clip from La Guaira, a man on a motorcycle captured entire homes upended following the earthquake.

Two people were seen in the footage looking in through the fence, staring at the decimated building.  

The motorcycle driver then drove past a building that has almost completely collapsed, with just its ground floor staying upright. 

Although the epicentre was on land, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said tsunami waves were possible along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba.

The first tremor happened at 6:04pm Venezuela time about 17 miles northwest of Montalbán, Venezuela and about 104 miles west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 8 miles.

At a baseball game, a large plume of dust and rubble was seen in the distance

At a baseball game, a large plume of dust and rubble was seen in the distance 

Footage Simón Bolívar International Airport showed the internal structures ripped apart

Footage Simón Bolívar International Airport showed the internal structures ripped apart

In a clip from the city of La Guaira, a man on a motorcycle captured entire homes upended following the earthquake

In a clip from the city of La Guaira, a man on a motorcycle captured entire homes upended following the earthquake

A second powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 then struck the country just one minute later, according to the USGS.

The second quake had a depth of 6 miles and its epicentre was 10 miles southwest of the city of Morón, Venezuela.

The quakes struck while many Venezuelans were at home marking Battle of Carabobo Day, the public holiday commemorating the 1821 victory that helped secure the country’s independence from Spain.  

While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. 

Along the Pacific coast – in Mexico and Chile, for example – earthquakes are frequent; the two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire,’ responsible for 90% of earthquakes, according to the USGS.

Venezuela Reels from Powerful Earthquakes: 164 Confirmed Dead and 971 Injured, Reports Acting President

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Venezuela Reels from Powerful Earthquakes: 164 Confirmed Dead and 971 Injured, Reports Acting President

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — According to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a devastating pair of earthquakes has resulted in the deaths of at least 164 individuals and injured 971 others in Venezuela. The announcement came on Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, the country was struck by two major earthquakes, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. These tremors rank among the most significant seismic events Venezuela has encountered in over a hundred years. The impact was felt far and wide, with Brazil’s Amazon region, located approximately 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Caracas, also experiencing the shockwaves.

State television broadcasted visuals showing the rescue of three children, dusty but alive, from the debris in La Guaira state. This region, identified by Rodríguez as a “disaster zone,” suffered extensive damage due to a high number of building collapses.

Rodríguez noted that rescue personnel from across the nation were being redirected to La Guaira, a coastal area situated north of Caracas. She emphasized that efforts were being intensified during daylight to locate and save those possibly still buried under wreckage.

“Numerous buildings have collapsed there… We are actively conducting extensive rescue operations to preserve lives,” stated Rodríguez.

Rodríguez appealed to the private sector to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations, adding that search and rescue teams certified by the United Nations were on their way to Venezuela to assist.

She said the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for hospitals and homes damaged by the earthquakes and had instructed the economy and finance ministers to oversee the effort.

While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday, saying the quakes caused damage in several states.

Residents fled their homes in panic

Television broadcasts Thursday showed rescue workers using power tools to work their way into piles of rubble. Many people searching for the missing appeared to be regular people, rather than professionals. Collapsed buildings, toppled electric poles and debris blocked streets.

During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings in Caracas, many visibly shocked when they turned back to see destroyed walls that left furniture visible from the street. Columns of dust rose in two typically busy neighborhoods in the capital.

“It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage structures, and many people stayed on the streets for hours, some sitting on the ground hugging pets as dust gathered around them. Others spent the night in parked cars, subway stations and other public places.

Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone coverage, and the earthquakes damaged and closed Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main airport, Rodríguez said.

In Caracas, subway services were suspended and natural gas shut off, she said. Classes will also be canceled for several days, and the Ministry of Education said some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers.

Roberto Gamas, another Caracas resident, said the building he was in “shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong.”

The lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the distress of many families, particularly those among the more than 7.7 million people who have left the country during its protracted crisis and who struggled to reach relatives inside the country.

Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado, herself in exile, sent wishes on X for “strength, serenity, and solidarity.”

Venezuela was hit twice by large quakes

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, hit west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas. It had a depth of 22 kilometers (about 14 miles).

The USGS reported a 7.5 magnitude earthquake just a minute later, with a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) and an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moron.

Several governments offered assistance

Offers of help poured in from countries around the world.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in a post on X early Thursday that the United States is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”

Rodríguez — who became acting president after an American military operation captured her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, and brought him to the U.S. to stand trial — thanked U.S. President Donald Trump. She said in an X post later that she spoke with Rubio by phone without sharing details. She also expressed thanks to the leaders of various nations who have sent messages of support and offers of help.

Ecuador ordered the delivery of humanitarian aid, and Rodríguez said Qatar, Mexico and El Salvador had already sent rescue personnel.

“We send you all our solidarity and our prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, once diametrically opposed to Venezuela’s government, wrote in a post on X.

Earthquakes impact the region

Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapa in Brazil’s Amazon were evacuated, according to reports on TV Globo. The quakes also were felt in Colombia’s Caribbean and northeast regions.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several tsunami alerts that were quickly lifted.

While uncommon in Venezuela, earthquakes are frequent along the Pacific coast, including in Mexico and Chile, which both sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the Ring of Fire, an area that the USGS says is responsible for 90% of earthquakes.

Unpacking the Claims: Update on Nancy Guthrie and the Controversial Note Regarding Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

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Unpacking the Claims: Update on Nancy Guthrie and the Controversial Note Regarding Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

Almost five months have passed since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, yet a series of puzzling notes continues to baffle her family, taking them on an emotional roller coaster of hope and despair.

Savannah Guthrie, co-host of the Today show, last saw her mother on January 31, when family members left her at her residence in Tucson, Arizona. The following day, Nancy was reported missing after vanishing overnight under mysterious circumstances.

Shortly afterwards, security footage from Nancy’s home surfaced, revealing a masked and armed figure interfering with her camera system. Investigators discovered that the doorbell camera had been disconnected around 2 a.m., and a short while later, communication from her pacemaker app also ceased.

In February, striking new development occurred: two notes, allegedly from those involved in Nancy’s disappearance, were sent to media outlets. Sources informed NBC News that the first note demanded a ransom, while the second ominously claimed Nancy had died.

Law enforcement has scrutinized both notes and, according to reports, deemed them “potentially credible,” fueling ongoing investigations into this perplexing case.

Here’s what to know about Nancy’s case and the notes.

Nancy Guthrie First Ransom Note Demanded Millions 

On Feb. 2, several media outlets received a note demanding money for Nancy’s return, which were forwarded to the authorities. 

KOLD News 13 anchor Mary Coleman told CNN the letter included a dollar amount and a deadline along with personal and sensitive information ”that only someone who is holding her for ransom would know.” 

TMZ also received a note on Feb. 3, claiming the sender had demanded millions in cryptocurrency to be sent to a verified Bitcoin address.

Meanwhile, in response to the letter, Savannah and her siblings Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie begged their mom’s alleged captor to come forward.

“We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah said in a Feb. 4 Instagram video. “We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.” 

A Second Note Claims Nancy Guthrie Was Dead

A second note was sent to Tucson news outlet KOLD on Feb. 6, according to NBC News. 

The following day, Savannah and her siblings vowed to pay an unspecified amount for her return. 

“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in a Feb. 7 Instagram video. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

Months later, it was revealed what was in that letter, with NBC News reporting June 22 that the note claimed Nancy was dead. The sender also indicated regret over her passing, the outlet reported.  

“The second note said, basically, it wasn’t intended to work this way but in the course of the kidnapping some things happened and Nancy Guthrie is dead,” CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller told AC360. “The thing that makes the note significant is it came from the same electronic source as the first note, which demanded the ransom.”

Miller added the second note had “a very different tone [from] that note the week before.”

Hours later, Savannah spoke out about the devastating revelation. 

“I want to just take the opportunity to ask people, to really beg people to come forward,” she said on the June 23 episode of Today. “Somebody knows something, and this is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day. And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace.” 

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Office told Oxygen that the investigation “remains active and ongoing,” adding, “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case.” 

A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment when asked by Oxygen.

ASIO Alerts: Uncovering a Resident’s Ties to Synagogue Plot and Potential Domestic Threats

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An Australian ex-pat residing in Iraq orchestrated the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue, a plot supported by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), according to Australia’s top intelligence chief.

In his annual threat briefing, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, disclosed that the individual is currently detained in an Iraqi prison. This revelation follows Australia’s public accusation that Iran was responsible for inciting a “summer of antisemitism” during 2024 and 2025.

Burgess explained that the man was recruited by local militia groups, who found value in his significant wealth and criminal connections, as he spoke in Canberra on Wednesday night.

However, after Australia’s decision to publicly hold Iran accountable last year, which included expelling its ambassador, the man’s state sponsors revoked their support, eventually leading to his imprisonment.

Burgess further confirmed that an Australian citizen based in Iran, who had coordinated an earlier attack on Lewis Continental Kitchen in Bondi, is believed to be a “senior agent” within the IRGC’s Qods force.

“We know more about him than he realises, including the name of his superior in Iran and the department he works for,” Burgess said.

He warned there was a “realistic possibility” Iran-aligned groups accused of a string of attacks across Europe could soon target Australia, conducting or inspiring “acts of arson, vandalism or even assassinations on Australian soil”.

“I do worry that one day an Australian will be killed at the hands of a foreign government here in Australia.”

In March, ASIO conducted “numerous warranted activities” to assess Australians in contact with the IRGC.

Antisemitism a complex problem, Burgess says

The annual threat assessment from Burgess was delayed by several months following the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

ASIO’s actions have been scrutinised by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is currently holding hearings.

Burgess said the agency had thwarted 31 “major” terrorism plots since 2014, but he remains “gravely concerned by its temperature and trajectory”, singling out social media and online spaces for “amplifying and accelerating” grievance narratives, and “creating a permissive environment for violence”.

He argued that people are now being radicalised in weeks in online spaces, rather than months or years in “prayer halls and backyards”.

“Instead of spending time and resources planning sophisticated attacks, radicalised individuals are moving to low-capability attacks with little or no warning,” he said.

Australia’s terrorist threat level was last raised to probable in August 2024, but Burgess conceded that ranking masked the true likelihood of acts of politically motivated violence of an increasingly varied nature.

Following the Bondi massacre, then-Opposition leader Sussan Ley called for action against “radical Islamist extremism” to be prioritised, while One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has advocated for a ban on immigration from “extremist” Muslim countries, and called for Australia to become a “monoculture”.

“In the current climate, it is too simplistic to assume there is a single terrorism threat or a most likely terrorist threat,” Burgess said.

He said a greater focus on Sunni violent extremism made sense when the self-proclaimed Islamic State group and al-Qaeda were “principal security threats, but contemporary terrorism is more complex”.

Burgess referenced the alleged neo-Nazi-inspired bombing attempt of an Invasion Day rally in Perth, and said the agency handles extremists across the ideological spectrum, including those with extreme Christian beliefs and extreme left-wing ideology.

Burgess said countering antisemitism was more than a “single, or simple, intelligence problem”.

He said the views shared by neo-Nazis and Islamic extremists can also be shared by anarchists and revolutionary groups.

“Australian companies with perceived links to Israel are being subjected to repeated acts of vandalism and arson by far-left activists,” he warned.

“I recognise criticism of the government of Israel is not of itself antisemitic, but some of the threatening statements made by the perpetrators go well beyond political protest or commentary.”

He said the groups vary in ideology and “for the most part, they despise each other”, but “they are united by a common hatred”.

Coerced repatriation

Burgess revealed five countries had engaged in “coerced repatriation” where foreign governments attempt to force or intimidate individuals, often dissidents, to leave Australia.

In 2023, one “particularly active” country forced at least eight people to leave, including five citizens or permanent residents, with three never returning.

In one case, a man faced a ten year campaign of intimidation to his birth country on unspecified corruption charges, which sending an official on a tourist visa to try and escort him in person, and detaining relatives.

Those regimes were often turning to private investigators and lawyers to monitor potential victims, warned by Burgess to “do your due diligence” if they feel they may be abetting foreign interference.

The spy chief described cyber sabotage as an “evolving threat”, detailing one incident where hackers acquired login details and passwords for a critical infrastructure supplier.

He also repeated past warnings about the interest, including from “friendly” nations, around the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact.

In one incident, a foreign spy posed as a consultant to try to gain access to information about the technology from a security clearance holder, who informed ASIO of the attempted infiltration.

Veteran Hollywood star best known for work alongside Dick Van Dyke spotted in rare public appearance at 85

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Veteran Hollywood star best known for work alongside Dick Van Dyke spotted in rare public appearance at 85

British Influencer Faces Murder Charges in Dubai at Age 23: A Shocking Turn

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British Influencer Faces Murder Charges in Dubai at Age 23: A Shocking Turn

A British TikTok influencer, charged with the murder of a man in Dubai, alleges she was enticed to the region with the promise of a lavish lifestyle and a modeling career, only to have her passport taken away.

Brooke George, 23, previously employed as a shop assistant for John Lewis in Gravesend, is accused of fatally stabbing the 26-year-old fellow Briton in his upscale apartment using a kitchen knife.

The Daily Mail has identified the man as William Treeby, also a native of Kent. However, the Foreign Office has indicated that local authorities have not yet formally identified the victim.

Reports suggest that his death followed an alleged assault. The human rights organization Detained in Dubai claims that George was punched before she allegedly defended herself by grabbing a kitchen knife, ultimately leading to his fatal stabbing.

Treeby’s family expressed their devastation over his death through heartfelt tributes. His sister, Esther, shared on social media, “He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill.”

Miss George’s loved ones say she met the 26-year-old during an earlier trip to Dubai in May after striking up a relationship on Facebook. Mr Treeby, who appears to have driven a Rolls-Royce, was ‘very nice’ to her and arranged a professional photoshoot of her posing on a beach in front of the city skyline.

But on her return to the UAE in June, she is said to have accused him of booking her a one-way ticket, taking her passport and launching a violent attack when she asked for it back and tried to return to the UK.

Her mother has said her ‘absolutely terrified’ daughter was ‘desperate to get home and away from whatever had happened to her’.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is supporting Miss George and claims she faces the death penalty.

‘She reached for a knife after being attacked and punched in the face. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate,’ she said.

Miss George was arrested as she tried to board a flight back to Britain three days ago.

A Foreign Office spokesman said today: ‘We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities.’

Brooke George, 23, a former John Lewis shop assistant from Gravesend, is accused of killing a 26-year-old fellow Brit she met online with a kitchen knife. She claims he was kind when they first met but on her second visit confiscated her passport

Brooke George, 23, a former John Lewis shop assistant from Gravesend, is accused of killing a 26-year-old fellow Brit she met online with a kitchen knife. She claims he was kind when they first met but on her second visit confiscated her passport

The Daily Mail understands the man she is accused of murdering is William Treeby, pictured, who is also originally from Kent but lives in Dubai

The Daily Mail understands the man she is accused of murdering is William Treeby, pictured, who is also originally from Kent but lives in Dubai

British TikTok influencer Brooke George has been thrown in jail in Dubai, according to a human rights group

British TikTok influencer Brooke George has been thrown in jail in Dubai, according to a human rights group

Brooke claims she was swept off her feet by the man on her first trip to the emirate - but on the second she says he took her passport and became controlling and violent

Brooke claims she was swept off her feet by the man on her first trip to the emirate – but on the second she says he took her passport and became controlling and violent

Brooke’s family claim she was first wooed by the man she stabbed to death before being exploited by him, alleging he prevented her from returning to the UK.

Ms Stirling said Brooke is being held in custody at the Bur Dubai Police Station and should be granted bail by authorities in the emirate.

‘Her world has been shattered and her family left in tears,’ she added.

Ms Stirling said the case reflects a disturbing pattern of young British women being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to be exploited – sometimes sexually.

Brooke’s mother says her daughter was changed and terrified by her experience in Dubai, where she is now in custody

Brooke’s mother says her daughter was changed and terrified by her experience in Dubai, where she is now in custody

Brooke’s mother, Thereza George, said she spoke to her daughter before and after the stabbing.

She said: ‘The day before the incident, she wasn’t herself. She was quieter than usual but wouldn’t tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai.

‘When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and beginning to close.

‘As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was trying desperately to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.’

Campaigners say Brooke met the 26-year-old man during an earlier trip, when he allegedly arranged a photoshoot and appeared ‘very nice’.

But on her return, he is accused of taking her passport and launching a violent attack.

She claims he assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat.

Fearing for her life, Brooke says she grabbed a kitchen knife ‘within her grasp’ and stabbed him.

She took back her passport, left the flat and later tried to flee the UAE but was arrested at Dubai airport and charged with murder.

Brooke is now being held in custody at Bur Dubai Police Station.

Her family claim she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers, denied legal representation and left unable to understand proceedings due to a language barrier.

Brooke apparently fell for the man after he wooed her on her first trip to Dubai, where he also organised a photoshoot for her in the city including this shot on a beach

Brooke apparently fell for the man after he wooed her on her first trip to Dubai, where he also organised a photoshoot for her in the city including this shot on a beach

Brooke claims the man she stabbed was initially very kind and loving but changed when she visited him for a second time

Brooke claims the man she stabbed was initially very kind and loving but changed when she visited him for a second time

Brooke's family insist that she was 'terrified' and acted in self defence

Brooke’s family insist that she was ‘terrified’ and acted in self defence

They say she had earlier raised the alarm with loved ones in the UK after discovering he had only booked her a one-way ticket and had become controlling and abusive.

Friends helped her arrange a flight home – but she returned to the flat to retrieve her passport, where she alleges she was punched again.

Ms Stirling said the case highlights growing concerns around influencers and young women being ‘lured’ to the emirate under false pretenses.

She said: ‘Brooke maintains she acted in genuine fear for her safety after a violent assault.

‘We will ensure her rights are protected and that she receives a fair trial.’

She added that there have been increasing reports of women being drawn to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work or romance – only to later allege sexual exploitation, coercion and violence.

‘Those closest to Brooke feared she had been targeted,’ she said.

‘Their concerns were fuelled by his sudden change in behaviour, the one-way ticket, the photoshoot, the alleged withholding of her passport and her growing fear she needed to escape.’

Ms Stirling also called on UAE authorities to examine all devices and communications linked to the man to determine whether others may have been victims.

‘Multiple witnesses saw visible injuries immediately after the incident,’ she said.

‘Investigators must consider the possibility Brooke was a victim of serious violence, not just a suspect – and ensure she receives medical care, legal support and immediate British consular assistance.’
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