In a tragic turn of events, a fire that consumed a Michigan couple’s home, resulting in the death of a man and critically injuring his wife, is now suspected to be a deliberate act. Authorities suggest the blaze may have been a plot conceived by the husband, according to recent police statements.

Lucy Preston, 61, found herself in intensive care after the fire that erupted in their Plainfield Township residence early on Tuesday morning. Her husband perished in the flames, and the couple’s possessions were entirely destroyed in the inferno.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office now believes this heart-wrenching incident was an intentional act of arson, orchestrated by the husband as part of an attempted murder-suicide scheme.

Undersheriff Bryan Muir explained, “This is believed to be a domestic-related situation… and that the fire was intentionally set, we believe by the husband at this point, intending to be a murder-suicide,” as reported by Wood-TV.

Initial investigations suggest that natural gas was deliberately released into the basement before the explosion. However, the precise trigger that ignited the fire remains unknown, leaving investigators to piece together the final details of this tragic event.

Muir added that investigators uncovered ‘some text messages, exchanges, as well as some statements’ that led them to their conclusion, according to the outlet. 

Court documents obtained by the outlet also revealed that Lucy and Doug Scott Preston were in a divorce case, which was filed just 85 days before the tragedy. 

The pair were set to next appear in court on Friday. 

Lucy Preston, 61, seen above, and her husband were both at home in Plainfield Township when a house fire erupted at around 4am on Tuesday, leaving Lucy in intensive care and her husband dead while they lost all of their belongings

The devastating fire that ‘leveled’ the couple’s home, seen above, is now believed to have been intentionally set by Lucy’s husband in an attempted murder-suicide

The pair were going through a divorce which had been filed just 85 days before the fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Their next court appearance was set for Friday

Both were under a mutual restraining order at the time of the incident, something that legal experts told the outlet is a common practice in circumstances such as these.

Lucy had been pulled from the home by two neighbors, Tim Johnson and 17-year-old Mandrell Bryant, with severe injuries and burns and was transported to hospital. 

‘We are incredibly thankful to the nearby residents that rushed to [Lucy’s] rescue and were able to pull her from the home,’ Muir said. ‘Without their actions, it’s likely she would have perished in the fire.’

Johnson, who suffered second-degree burns on top of his head during the rescue, said he heard Lucy calling for help after the fire’s blast shook his home. 

‘I had to get in there and get her out,’ he told Wood-TV. ‘[Bryant and I] grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.’ 

Another body, reportedly that of Lucy’s husband, was pulled from the destroyed home.  

According to a GoFundMe created by Lucy’s friends, she remains in the ICU fighting for her life after enduring fourth-degree burns across her body and has been put on a ventilator. 

‘Lucy is a caring, selfless person who has always given so much to those around her,’ the fundraiser said. ‘She does so much for her community and is always willing to help others however she can. So many people know and love Lucy for her kindness, generosity and big heart.’

Investigators believe that natural gas was released into the basement intentionally prior to the explosion. Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir added that investigators uncovered ‘some text messages, exchanges, as well as some statements’ that led to their conclusion

To those affected by the tragedy, Muir shared the sheriff’s office’s ‘deepest sorrows for having to deal with a situation so tragic.’

‘We really wanted the community to know this is an isolated incident. There’s no concerns of any gas leaks or any other type of home explosions in the area.’ 

The incident was captured on a neighbor’s doorbell camera, as the flames were seen erupting in a ball of fire and engulfing the home just before 4am. 

‘It sounded like a huge bomb being dropped,’ neighbor Chanel Raddatz told Wood-TV.  ‘It’s a very traumatic experience. Shocking to think that it could happen to anybody and knowing, seeing that burst of flame, knowing that people could be inside, it was very traumatic.’ 

Kurt Dutrizac, another neighbor, told the outlet: ‘There was a massive noise, explosion, rumbling. We saw a fireball, kind of a mushroom cloud, still rising from the house.

‘And then I was able to get outside properly within a minute after that and at that point I saw that the house was on fire, kind of the backyard was on fire. There was debris strewn about and there were some screams, shouting.’ 

The incident saw around 50 calls to emergency services from nearby witnesses, the outlet reported.

‘It was a very loud explosion,’ the undersheriff said. ‘As you can see, there’s debris spread across the street and several of the area homes. It’s not something that happens very often.’

A friend described Lucy as ‘an amazing woman who has always been active in our community.’ ‘Lucy was a stay at home mom and is now facing a very long road ahead. She is going to need love prayers and financial support from all of us,’ her friend said

According to Lucy’s friends, she remains in the ICU fighting for her life after enduring fourth-degree burns across her body and has been put on a ventilator

As emergency crews arrived on scene, they found the home completely ‘leveled,’ according to Alpine Township Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly. 

A Facebook post described Lucy as ‘an amazing woman who has always been active in our community.’

‘Lucy was a stay at home mom and is now facing a very long road ahead. She is going to need love prayers and financial support from all of us,’ her friend wrote. 

The Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids wrote that Lucy is a ‘dedicated and meaningful part of our community.

‘We are holding her and her family close in our thoughts during this difficult time,’ the society added. 

The Daily Mail reached out to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office for comment and further information.  

NEW YORK (AP) — Happy, the beloved elephant from the Bronx Zoo who contributed significantly to scientific understanding of elephant behavior and was central to a high-profile animal rights case, has been euthanized at the age of 55, the zoo announced on Wednesday.

The Asian elephant, who had called the Bronx Zoo home for nearly 50 years, was euthanized on Tuesday. Zoo officials revealed that Happy’s health had declined due to age-related issues that worsened in recent weeks, along with indications of deteriorating kidney or liver function. A necropsy later uncovered that Happy had been suffering from arthritis and large, inoperable uterine tumors, conditions that are notoriously difficult to detect in elephants through standard examinations or imaging techniques, according to the zoo.

“She was a magnificent elephant,” expressed Craig Piper, the interim director of the zoo, during an interview on Wednesday. The staff, many of whom had cared for Happy for over three decades, were deeply saddened by her passing. “Happy was a remarkable ambassador for both elephants and conservation efforts worldwide.”

Following Happy’s passing, Patty, a 57-year-old elephant, remains the sole pachyderm on display in New York City, the largest city in the United States. Two decades ago, the zoo’s governing body, the Wildlife Conservation Society, made the decision to cease acquiring new elephants.

Happy’s journey began in the wilds of Asia before she was brought to the United States at just one year old. She was named after a character from the classic tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1977.

Happy keenly engaged with her keepers and was easy to motivate with favorite treats, such as watermelon or strawberries, said Keith Lovett, the zoo’s director of animal programs. Piper said she sometimes stashed treats in her ear to save for later.

In 2005, she showed researchers that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror — a sign of self-awareness seen in only a few other species. During the experiment, Happy faced her reflection and repeatedly used her trunk to touch an “X” painted above her eye, a mark she could see only in the mirror.

She was paired with other elephants until her last partner died in 2006. Happy then lived separately from Patty and a third elephant out of concern that they wouldn’t get along, though Lovett said the animals could see, smell and touch each other over a divider. The third elephant, called Maxine, died in 2018.

Zoo officials said the median life expectancy for Asian elephants in U.S. zoos is about 45 years. Their life expectancy in the wild is more difficult to pinpoint.

During Happy’s lifetime, zoo elephant exhibits came under increased scrutiny. Some experts said urban animal parks were too small for creatures that roam extensive distances in the wild. Animal rights activists argued that zoo enclosures were no place for big-brained, social pachyderms.

Some zoos phased out their exhibits and sent elephants to sanctuaries, though some other zoos remain committed to keeping and breeding the creatures, arguing that they help keep people interested in saving wildlife.

One activist group, the Nonhuman Rights Project, sued the Bronx Zoo in 2018, seeking to have Happy declared a “person” for legal purposes and moved to a large animal sanctuary. It was the first such case about an elephant, according to the group.

Citing a principle that’s used to challenge the legality of a person’s imprisonment, the activist group said Happy was “an extraordinarily cognitively complex and autonomous nonhuman being” who was unlawfully deprived of her liberty and suffered from being pent up in a exhibit without other elephants.

Zoo officials said Happy was assiduously cared for and had space for swimming, foraging and other natural behavior. Uprooting her from her longtime home could harm her, the zoo said.

New York’s top court ultimately rejected the activists’ claim, by a 5-2 majority. Colorado’s highest court later issued a similar ruling about five elephants in a zoo there.

Still, two of the New York high court judges wrote pointed dissents. One called Happy’s captivity “inherently unjust and inhumane” and “an affront to a civilized society.”

The Nonhuman Rights Project has continued pursuing cases about elephants in various other states.

Happy spent her final weeks, by her choice, in an off-exhibit barn and yard within her enclosure, Piper said. In a zoo version of hospice care, staffers provided hydration, nutrition and pain management, he said.

Meanwhile, Patty is doing well, the zoo said.

The Wildlife Conservation Society said in 2006 that once there was only one elephant, the animal might be moved to another zoo if circumstances were right. Piper said the zoo will be “really thoughtful and careful” in contemplating whether to move Patty from her home of 53 years.

In a moving display of patriotism and artistry, the Trump Kennedy Center was filled to capacity on Wednesday night. The event, held just days after Memorial Day, saw veterans and active-duty service members turn their wartime experiences into music during a heartfelt performance.

Roma Daravi, vice president of communications for the Trump Kennedy Center, expressed her admiration for the performers. “These are veteran independent artists, and it was an honor to have them perform for a full house at the Trump Kennedy Center,” she shared with Fox News Digital.

Daravi emphasized the significance of supporting veterans, especially in the wake of Memorial Day, as the nation reflects on those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom. “Supporting our veterans is especially important coming off the Memorial Day weekend as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” she stated.

The event, aptly named “From Military to Music,” highlighted the talents of Brooks Herring, Brennan Clements, Jackson Perkins, and Torv. These veterans and active-duty musicians delivered songs that echoed their experiences with combat, trauma, and healing, captivating the audience at the Millennium Stage of the Trump Kennedy Center.

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Veteran musicians perform during the “From Military to Music” showcase at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., following Memorial Day weekend. (Official Trump Kennedy Center Photo)

“Art remains essential to the fabric of our nation, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Daravi said. “We are proud to honor its role in our 250-year history through veteran shows here at America’s cultural center.”

Audience members packed the venue for the intimate performance, which blended live music with personal reflections on military service, loss, resilience and recovery.

CreatiVets, the nonprofit behind the event, works with veterans struggling with trauma and the difficult transition to civilian life by pairing them with professional songwriters and artists.

TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER’S BOARD VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE $257M RENOVATIONS AND TWO-YEAR CLOSURE

Audience members fill the Millennium Stage during the “From Military to Music” veterans showcase at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (Official Trump Kennedy Center Photo)

The showcase comes during a major transition period for the Trump Kennedy Center as leadership prepares to temporarily shutter the iconic arts institution for a sweeping $257 million renovation project tied to broader restoration efforts ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebration.

The Trump Kennedy Center’s board voted unanimously earlier this year to approve the renovation project and a planned two-year closure beginning after July 4.

Officials have described the overhaul as a long-overdue restoration effort aimed at addressing decades of deferred maintenance, including deteriorating infrastructure, water damage, failing HVAC systems and structural concerns throughout the building.

TRUMP LAUNCHES MASSIVE ‘FREEDOM 250’ PUSH TO IGNITE AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Veteran and active-duty musicians perform during the “From Military to Music” showcase hosted by CreatiVets at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (Official Trump Kennedy Center Photo)

Fox News Digital previously obtained images and internal materials showing rusted electrical systems, cracked concrete with exposed steel supports and extensive water infiltration beneath the facility.

President Donald Trump has framed the project as part of a broader mission to restore the Kennedy Center to what he called the “highest level of success, beauty, and grandeur.”

“Subject to board approval, I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of success, beauty, and grandeur, is to cease entertainment operations for an approximately two-year period of time,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this year.

The administration and Kennedy Center leadership have increasingly emphasized patriotic programming as part of a broader effort to reshape Washington’s cultural landscape ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.

“From Military to Music” streamed live from the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C.

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers has shared his thoughts on the hot topic of flopping within the NBA, confirming on “The Pat McAfee Show” that this tactic is indeed being “for sure” taught to players.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is frequently spotlighted for allegedly flopping to earn foul calls, Haliburton suggests that this practice extends far beyond just one individual.

“Absolutely, it’s being instilled,” Haliburton remarked on ESPN. “It’s not so much the head coaches, but more about player development. Even before reaching the NBA, it’s something players naturally start to practice. Typically, the top scorers are the ones who earn the most free-throws. They definitely focus on it, even during pickup games, honing their skills to draw fouls. It’s undeniably a component of the sport.”

Concerns about flopping have continued to permeate around the NBA, with Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh going as far as to do an extensive breakdown of Gilgeous-Alexander’s attempts to sell foul calls. 

His report found that Gilgeous-Alexander fell down 51.4 percent of the time when a foul was called. 

“I think more times than not there’s embellishing going on, more so than falling over out of nowhere, but does it happen? Of course it happens and it’s talked about, no question,” Haliburton said. 

The Pacers star wasn’t the only one to address the flopping issue on McAfee’s show. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, during his appearance on the Worldwide Leader, made the distinction between trying to embellish contact to draw a foul and trying to trick the officials. 

“Even as I sit in the stands at games, players may be falling down, players may be reacting to a call,” Silver said. “But to me, if they’re not fooling the referees, it’s OK.

“Players are taught to sell calls these days.”

Spencer Pratt, often labeled as a reality TV antagonist, claims he’s assembling an impressive alliance to challenge Karen Bass in the race for the mayoral seat of Los Angeles.

Despite his contentious reputation, Pratt is making significant inroads against both Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman as the primary election approaches in liberal LA.

“I keep telling Heidi that I’m already halfway into this new chapter, which is why I confidently assert that I will be the next mayor,” he explained.

“Energetically, it feels like I’ve already stepped into this new reality,” he continued.

In a detailed interview with Vanity Fair, the star from ‘The Hills’ shared insights into the diverse support network rallying behind him for the forthcoming election.

In a plot twist, he even got the support of his sister Stephanie Pratt, just months after she called his candidacy a ‘vote for stupidity.’ 

In February, Stephanie said ‘Spencer has done great work for the palisades. But LA does not need another unqualified and inexperienced mayor. A vote for him is a vote for stupidity.’

When questioned by Vanity Fair, however, Stephanie admitted she has been proven wrong and now supports her brother. 

‘I admit I was the first person to tell people that they were idiots if they voted for my brother,’ she said. 

Reality TV villain Spencer Pratt says he’s building a remarkable coalition to win the LA mayor’s race

However, one of Pratt’s biggest wins was getting sister Stephanie on his side in a matter of months 

‘Wow, was I wrong. He has spent every day since the fires finding the facts, the mistakes, the negligence, and uncovering the truth that they never wanted us to know.’ 

More importantly, Pratt plans to bring together a shocking diversity of Angelinos to beat Bass and Raman. 

Pratt even quipped that he’s popular with two of Los Angeles’ most dangerous street gangs.  

‘I’m meeting with the Bloods next week. I’m cool with Crips and Bloods,’ Pratt said.

The profile noted that one of Pratt’s recent rallies in South Central LA contained everyone from a former Playboy Playmate to someone who had been at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

He also claimed that he wants ICE out of Los Angeles, while still being in favor of Donald Trump’s vow to get rid of the worst of the worst illegal migrants.

‘I’ve said a million times, I don’t want ICE here, but I want to get the murderers and rapists out. I’ve eaten more Mexican food than any white person in Los Angeles,’ he said. 

‘I love Mexican people… I ate Mexican [food] three days a week for literally maybe 10 years.’

While being endorsed by Donald Trump, registered Republican Pratt has maintained his independence and even expressed support for transgender rights. 

‘It’s common sense for people to do whatever they want with their own body and identify however they want. That is America,’ he said.

He also claimed that his wife, fellow ‘The Hills’ star Heidi Montag, is a gay icon. 

While being endorsed by Donald Trump, registered Republican Pratt has maintained his independence and even expressed support for transgender rights. He also claimed that his wife, fellow ‘The Hills’ star Heidi Montag, is a gay icon

View of Spencer Pratt cookies are seen ahead of a recent rally 

Pratt’s comments come as he fights to overtake his main opponents in the mayoral race, incumbent Bass and Raman. 

The primary is on June 2, with Bass considered the favorite to win. Current polling indicates the race may go to a November 3 runoff since none of the candidates have an outright majority. 

Pratt recently appeared to keep Trump at arm’s length after Trump praised the former TV star on Wednesday.

The reality TV veteran has also pushed that he is not MAGA. 

Naughty But Nice Substacker Rob Shuter reported that Trump was mulling a Pratt endorsement.

‘Trump loves celebrity candidates, and Spencer knows exactly how to dominate headlines,’ a Republican insider told Shuter. ‘The idea of endorsing him has absolutely been discussed.’ 

Shuter also reported that Pratt was trying to walk a fine line – attract conservative voters but not get too tied up in national politics.

A Trump endorsement would void the latter.

Pratt’s comments come as he fights to overtake his main opponents in the mayoral race

The controversial candidate has taken on haters from throughout liberal LA to challenge Mayor Karen Bass (pictured left) and leftist Councilmember Nithya Raman (pictured right) in the upcoming primary

The President didn’t officially endorse Pratt on the JBA tarmac, but he indicated his seal of approval.

‘He’s doing well,’ Trump told reporters.

The President then floated that Pratt could lose due to a ‘really rigged vote in California.’

‘You have a rigged vote out there,’ Trump said.

‘If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California,’ Trump claimed. 

‘Because I do great with Hispanics, but it’s a rigged vote,’ he added.

Trump has long falsely claimed that he has more support in California – and other blue states – than reported, due to the states’ use of mail-in ballots.

Pratt has drawn comparisons to the president by his former aide, Steven Bannon. 

Republican firebrand Bannon, who served in the first Trump administration as the White House chief strategist, said that Pratt was ‘probably the most Trumpian candidate we’ve ever seen in terms of house style.’

‘Trump’s superpower was bringing in people into politics who hate politics, and that’s what [Pratt] is doing online right now,’ Bannon, 72, told NPR.

Pratt’s political run picked up steam as he targeted incumbent LA mayor Karen Bass for how she managed the Palisades Fire last year, which burned his own home down.

The mayoral hopeful has recurrently highlighted the high levels of drug use and rampant homelessness in LA during his campaign, promising a three–week ‘grace period’ to warn criminals, drug users and homeless people to leave the west coast city.

‘Pratt knows it’s not politics, it’s drama,’ Bannon said. ‘He’s got a warrior mentality.’