The life of a content creator often appears glamorous and appealing.

Influencers have the ability to earn a living simply by sharing snippets of their everyday lives. With the right content, they can skyrocket to fame almost overnight. However, the swift ascent to internet fame can just as easily plummet if they make a misstep.

For those who skillfully navigate the online world without getting ‘canceled,’ the potential for financial success is immense.

However, only a select few have truly excelled, turning their social media presences into multimillion-dollar ventures, or branching out into industries like podcasting, acting, or singing.

Influencers looking to make real money off content creation, however, must diversify and expand ‘into product lines’ if they want to ‘provide a more stable and secure long term revenue stream, global brand strategist Laura Bull, who owns the branding agency Brand Management Co, told the Daily Mail.

“Partnerships and licensing deals are the most profitable,” she explained. “This strategy is how Mr. Beast is achieving success, much like predecessors such as Jessica Simpson and the Kardashians.”

Indeed, it is not enough to simply be a social media star these days. According to Cristy Stewart-Harfmann, an influencer marketing professor at Florida Atlantic University, ‘the most successful creators transition from creator to founder.’

So, while you may know their names, do you know how much your favorite influencers are actually raking in? The Daily Mail has uncovered the details of the highest-earning women in the business, revealing how much they make and who has come out on top.

Alex Cooper

Alex Cooper shot to fame by hosting the Call Her Daddy podcast but has been embroiled in drama with her fellow influencers and former co-host ever since 

Cooper tops the influencer rich list with an estimated net worth of a whopping $60 million, according to Parade. 

The internet personality became a household name after dishing about her raunchy exploits and past relationships on her podcast Call Her Daddy. 

In 2021, Cooper, now 31, left Barstool and signed a lucrative $60 million three-year deal with Spotify before moving Call Her Daddy to Sirius XM in 2024, complete with a $125 million multi-year contract. 

But what started as a sex-focused podcast has since expanded to an interview-style show that has become a must-visit for celebrities with something to promote or tea to spill. Cooper has interviewed the likes of Miley Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and Zayn Malik, among others.

Fans of the podcast can also purchase ‘Daddy Gang’ merchandise. Cooper added to her millions by selling $800,000 worth of merch within three days of its release in November 2020. 

Although she has been embroiled in controversies over the years – first with her original co-host Sofia Franklyn, then most recently with influencer Alix Earle – her career shows no signs of stalling.

In 2023, she created the Gen Z-focused media company Unwell Network with her producer husband Matt Kaplan, which includes shows with comedian Grace O’Malley and influencer Madeline Argy. 

Then, in 2024, Cooper launched Unwell Hydration, a brand that sells low-sugar hangover drinks and is available at popular grocery chains like Target and Sprouts. In addition, she entered the world of television with her Unwell Winter Games and Love Overboard, a yacht-based dating reality series on Hulu where singles must pair up or walk the plank. 

Cooper, however, won’t just hawk anything. She previously revealed on Harry Jowsey’s Boyfriend Material podcast that she turned down an $8 million brand deal because she could not stomach ‘putting her face next to’ it, although she did not reveal what the product was.

Aside from her obvious revenue streams, Cooper’s high net worth could also be in part due to her own admitted stinginess.

She once said, ‘My friends make fun of me because of how reserved I am with money,’ and described herself as ‘spontaneously generous with money, but smart with it’ after buying her parents a house.

The star also told Entertainment Tonight she does not go on ‘crazy vacation vacations’ but buys herself a lot of Uggs and sweatpants. However, she admitted she does not check her bank account simply because she no longer needs to. 

Charli D’Amelio

Charli D’Amelio became a TikTok sensation during Covid and has since made a reported $45 million

The 21-year-old became the most followed person on TikTok in her teens after posting a dancing video in her school uniform. Soon after, Charli moved from her posh Connecticut home to Los Angeles to pursue fame and then joined the Hype House (fellow members included Addison Rae, her sister Dixie D’Amelio, her then-boyfriend Chase Hudson and singer Alex Warren). 

But while the days of dancing on TikTok and going viral might be over, she still boasts 216 million followers across social media.

At the height of her TikTok fame in 2021, she was said to be earning a whopping $47,945 per day alone. That same year, she brought in $17.5 million in branding and endorsement deals. 

Her family’s finances have long been a mystery to followers, who ran to Reddit to how the family can afford an estimated $10 million house back in 2024. 

‘You have no idea how much brands are willing and able to pay creators,’ one Reddit user was quick to explain – and they are correct. 

Charli is said to have brought in $45 million over the years from her social media pages, brand partnerships, clothing line and reality show. Not everything has stuck, however, including a short-lived singing career and her family’s Hulu series, which was canceled after three seasons. 

Even so, Charli – who starred on Broadway in the musical &Juliet – has since become the queen of diversifying her brand, working with Amazon, Prada, Puma, Burberry, Dunkin Donuts and Kate Spade. According to Forbes, the D’Amelios rake in around $250,000 per sponsored post. 

Dixie D’Amelio

Dixie D’Amelio shot to fame alongside her sister Charli and has been making money from lucrative social media ad campaigns ever since 

While her sister may have shot to fame first, 24-year-old Dixie seemingly rode her coattails to internet stardom.

In fact, Dixie amassed a whopping $14.6 million in a year thanks to her many campaigns. Take one look at Dixie’s Instagram page and you will see a slew of sponsored content, promoting everything from Crocs to MyMuse functional soda. 

Most recently, she hit Coachella by partnering with Crocs (and yes, that did mean she had to wear a bedazzled pair). Almost every single post that she has shared recently is tagged with ‘#ad,’ as she promotes everything from Revolve to Coffee-Mate creamers.

While the Connecticut-native may have brand deals aplenty, it is possible they will dry up if she does not change her brand. 

‘The wealthiest creators have seven streams of income that will include, products, brand deals that include equity, licensing, affiliates and digital products,’ Stewart-Harfmann said. 

She added that while brand deals pay well for people with millions of followers they are ‘often are a one and done’ deal. 

Being only an influencer is precarious, she explained, because ‘at any time a social media account could be hacked or taken down,’ referencing the brief ban of TikTok in the US.

‘Compared to peers who built strong vertical ownership, her positioning is less clearly defined,’ Stewart-Harfmann said. 

Indeed, Dixie had an unsuccessful career as a singer with her song Be Happy, but still hit radio shows across the country to promote it. She and her family then kept the theme alive when they launched Be Happy Snacks Co, which sells popcorn at Walmart. 

However, she has yet to find a specialty that sticks, but that has not stopped her from raking it in as she is said to be worth an estimated $10 million – though she has previously confessed to wanting to ‘marry rich.’

Emma Chamberlain

YouTube star Emma Chamberlain has been a prominent brand ambassador and ‘friend of the house’ for Louis Vuitton since 2019, cementing her as a certified fashion it girl

Emma Chamberlain might be worth $22 million now, but she previously admitted that ‘there were hard times for our family’ when she was growing up with ‘very little money’ in California.

One of the OG YouTube influencers, Chamberlain, now 24, has distanced herself from her earlier content creation days and instead has cemented herself as a next-gen fashion ‘it’ girl. 

She’s hosted interviews on the Met Gala red carpet and has also been a brand ambassador and ‘friend of the house’ for Louis Vuitton since 2019. As such, she is often seen at Paris Fashion Week and stars in the design house ad campaigns. 

She brings in about $9 million a year thanks to her entrepreneurship, including her podcast Anything Goes and her company Chamberlain Coffee, which Forbes estimated earns $20 million a year. 

Now one of the wealthiest Gen Z stars, Chamberlain is branching out even more by acting in the movie Forbidden Fruits alongside The Summer I Turned Pretty actress Lola Tung and Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart.

Alix Earle

Alix Earle has been making millions ever since she launched her career on TikTok as a college student

Earle, said to be worth $20 million, has made her fortune from brand partnerships, her Hot Mess podcast and equity positions in companies like Poppi and SipMargs.

But before her various ventures, she quickly rose to TikTok fame as a University of Miami student, filming ‘get ready with me’ videos in her college house.

The New Jersey native, 25, has since built a burgeoning career beyond the phone screen. Last year, she made it to the finals on Dancing With the Stars, and is now preparing for the release of her family’s reality show on Netflix, just like the Kardashians. Most recently, she launched her new skincare line, Reale Actives.

Bull, who wrote the book From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand, said that ‘the key is to make sure that the personal brand is built up first in one lane before launching a brand extension,’ referencing Earle’s skincare line which is ‘rooted in her own story.’

Earle – who has been brutally honest about her acne journey – faced backlash after the launch since followers thought it was not authentic because she had previously taken Accutane. 

Indeed, Stewart-Harfmann said, ‘Influencers are under a microscope when they launch a product.’

But the Florida-based marketing professor said the media landscape changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving audiences fed up with perfectionists, which made it perfect timing for Earle to hit the scene. 

‘[They] want relatability and transparency, which is why the get ready with me style videos that feel casual and unfiltered, consistent sharing and behind the scenes in stories have lead to Alix’s success,’ she added.

Brands certainly agree, as Earle can reportedly command $450,000 for a single sponsored Instagram Story.  

Mikayla Nogueira

Beauty guru Mikayla Nogueira shot to fame and gained 17.4 million TikTok followers when she was an Ulta employee and has been raking in free beauty products ever since

Boston beauty guru Mikayla Nogueira is said to be worth almost $8 million, which she owes to numerous brand deals, including having e.l.f. sponsor her wedding.

Her brash beauty tutorials have earned her 20 million followers on TikTok and Instagram and she is said to make upwards of $500,000 per TikTok post.

However, her time as an influencer has not been without drama. Nogueira, 27, was bashed for her #sponcon wedding and faced backlash after she was accused of using false lashes to promote L’Oreal Telescopic Lift Mascara, which she later denied. 

The former Ulta employee has teamed up with Estée Lauder and Glow Recipe and even launched her own beauty brand, POV Beauty, which generated $1 million in sales within eight minutes of going live in March 2025. 

One way she saves money? She certainly does not have to splash out cash on cosmetics. Nogueira has been gifted so many free beauty products she has a ‘dream beauty room’ stocked with goodies from the brands she has collaborated with, like Rare Beauty, Benefit Cosmetics and Kosas.

Nara Smith

Model Nara Smith found fame for her cooking videos where she prepares elaborate meals from scratch while dressed to the nines  

Nara Smith became a viral internet star because of her ‘tradwife’ lifestyle – which sees the young mom cooking from scratch in lavish designer garb – and has earned her an estimated $6 million.

The 24-year-old South Africa-born beauty, who was raised in Germany, can be found packing on the PDA with her model husband Lucky Blue Smith or talking about their four children, Rumble Honey, Slim Easy, Whimsy Lou and Fawnie Golden. 

The model initially shot to internet fame for her elaborate recipes – and unique baby names – but has since become a fashion ‘it’ girl who is often found in the front row. 

While she has partnered with Ferragamo and Marc Jacobs, it appears her focus is not just on luxury fashion brands. The influencer has also worked with diaper company Coterie and launched her own smoothie at upscale grocery store Erewhon, a la Hailey Bieber. 

Although Smith has denounced the controversial ‘tradwife’ label thrust upon her by her fans – she previously told Harper’s Bazaar that her social media content is ‘not that deep’ – it has certainly stuck.

Though, Bull said, that might not be for the best.

‘If a large percentage of her followers label her a tradwife, and she rejects this notion, she needs to look at what is causing the disconnect because that will harm her business in the end,’ Bull said. 

Still, Smith is surely not losing out on cash. She is said to command between $50,000 to $100,000 per sponsored post because of her massive engagement, proving that controversy can certainly pay. 

A man reportedly wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag allegedly assaulted three Jewish men in New York City while hurling anti-Semitic slurs, according to recent reports. The suspect was subsequently apprehended by authorities.

Identified as Andrzej Wnuk, 41, from Queens, the suspect was arrested on Friday following the incident, which occurred in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. The victims, aged 48, 38, and 21, were targeted, and Wnuk now faces three charges of hate crime assault, as stated by the New York City Police Department.

The Williamsburg Shomrim Safety Patrol commented on the situation, stating, “The incident is being investigated as a hate crime. We extend our gratitude to the NYPD for ensuring community safety and to our Shomrim volunteers for their quick response and unwavering commitment.”

According to the New York City Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call reporting multiple assaults. Upon arrival, they encountered three individuals who reported facial pain. All three declined medical assistance, the police confirmed in a statement released to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

Media reports confirmed that Andrzej Wnuk, 41, was the individual wearing the shirt with the Iranian flag during the alleged attacks. (Source: X/Williamsburg News @WMSBG)

Footage taken in Williamsburg showed a male suspect wearing an Iranian flag shirt being placed into the back of a police vehicle as members of the local Orthodox Jewish community looked on. 

Sources told the New York Post that the three men were talking separately when Wnuk punched one in the back, one in the shoulder and the third in the head, while screaming “f—ing Jews.”

Police also told the New York Daily News that the attacker yelled out bigoted remarks.

Police in New York City are seen responding after an alleged assault on three Jewish men in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood on Friday, April 24, 2026. (X/Williamsburg News @WMSBG)

The New York Post reported that Wnuk was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Friday and remanded with bail set at $5,000 cash. 

Wnuk is now facing charges including hate crime assault, according to the New York Post. (X/Williamsburg News @WMSBG)

Wnuk reportedly is due back in court on Thursday. 

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of David Morens, a former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of concealing records during investigations into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morens, aged 78, faces several charges, including conspiracy against the United States, destruction and alteration of records in federal investigations, concealment and removal of records, and aiding and abetting.

He was a senior advisor to Dr. Fauci from 2006 until 2022.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche commented on the situation, stating, “These allegations signify a significant breach of trust during a critical time when the American public relied heavily on transparency — the height of a global pandemic.”

Blanche added, “According to the indictment, Dr. Morens and his co-conspirators intentionally hid information and falsified records to suppress alternative theories about the origins of COVID-19. Government officials are entrusted with the responsibility to deliver honest, factual information in the public’s interest, not to push personal or ideological motives.”

A peculiar conspiracy theory has gained traction in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, suggesting that the suspect, Cole Allen, may be linked to time travel.

As the public scoured social media to uncover details about the alleged shooter’s background, they stumbled upon a curious post from an otherwise inactive social media account. This discovery quickly caught widespread attention and has since gone viral.

The intriguing post, dated December 21, 2023, was made by someone using the name ‘Henry Martinez’ and simply contained the words ‘Cole Allen.’ Notably, this cryptic message stands as the sole communication ever issued from the account.

Driven by curiosity, internet detectives have embarked on a quest to uncover the identity of Henry Martinez, exploring any potential connections to the WHCD shooter and pondering whether this post somehow foresaw the events that would unfold more than two years later.

“Time travel is real,” one intrigued user commented online after encountering the enigmatic post.

‘I hope everyone is as creeped out as I am,’ another person added.

Skeptics have pointed out that the bizarre post may be an incredible coincidence, possibly done by someone who created random X accounts and guessed common names in the hopes of making a shocking prediction months or years later.

Cybersecurity expert James Knight told Daily Mail that one possibility that has already been ruled out is that someone hacked into X to make a new post mentioning Allen appear to originate from the past 

A mysterious post appeared to reference the name of attempted presidential assassin Cole Tomas Allen

Cole Allen’s social media posts have also surfaced, reportedly showing he engaged in heated political rhetoric

‘It is not possible on X to manipulate or backdate an existing post to make it appear years older than its actual creation date. Also, there are no known hacks or third-party tools for backdating,’ said Knight.

The expert from DigitalWarfare.com explained the mystery post was indeed written in December 2023 because each X post has a unique ‘Snowflake ID’ which encodes its exact creation time.

‘I believe that this is just a coincidence with someone guessing [or] posting a common name of “Cole Allen” in 2023.’

According to Social Security records and Census data, Cole has actually been an uncommon first name in the US, ranking below the top 150 names for boys. However, Allen is one of the country’s most common surnames, sitting near the top 30 family names in America.

That suspected coincidence was then amplified by the search algorithms built into X, which matched Allen’s name to the old post and showed it to the thousands, and possibly millions, of people trying to find the 31-year-old online.

Since the ‘Henry Martinez’ account was unearthed over the weekend, the dormant page has gained over 23,000 followers, and the post in question has been viewed 54 million times, even though nothing else has been shared to the account since the shooting at the Washington Hilton.

Despite Knight and other social media experts writing off the post as nothing more than a lucky guess, conspiracy theorists have pointed out a chilling link between Allen, the WHCD shooting suspect, and a real person named Henry Martinez.

It was revealed that Allen was a summer intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in California in 2014. That same year, NASA released a research paper on the Orion spacecraft, which was just used to visit the moon, written by aerospace engineer Henry Martinez.

Authorities said Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, was allegedly attempting to gain entry to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while carrying multiple weapons and shooting a Secret Service agent

A seemingly dormant social media account has gained thousands of followers after appearing to predict that ‘Cole Allen’ would be involved in a major event

‘It smells like this attack against Donald Trump had been planned for years… so many “coincidences,”’ one person claimed on X without evidence.

Those scrutinizing the mystery X account also noticed that the profile’s background displayed the same 3D image used by a website called the Time Machine.

‘I only have two words to say – time traveler,’ one social media user said.

Despite wild claims that the X user was trying to hint they traveled back through time to warn about the assassination attempt, the Time Machine website is actually the official site for a European Union research project on digital cultural heritage.

The goal has been to create a massive digital ‘time map’ of Europe’s past so people can explore and learn from it online.

As for the claims, the lone post on this social media account linked the same Allen charged with opening fire at the Washington Hilton and the Lockheed Martin engineer who contributed to NASA. There has been no evidence confirming these are the two individuals being mentioned.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s largest defense contractors, for comment.

NASA has confirmed that Allen was part of the JPL Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 2014, and the space agency’s Technical Reports Server continues to list the contributions of Martinez online.

The X account allegedly belonging to Henry Martinez shared the same profile background as a website known as the ‘Time Machine’

On Monday, federal officials announced that Allen had been charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and transporting arms and ammunition across state lines.

The 31-year-old is believed to be the lone gunman who opened fire outside the gala just after 8.30pm ET Saturday night, while Trump and the other guests were inside the main dining room.

Approximately 3,000 journalists and White House officials had gathered inside. The gunman struck a Secret Service agent with one round at close range, but the officer was hit in their bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery.

Screenshots circulating online appeared to show posts from November 4, 2024, attributed to an account believed to be linked to Allen, including one message stating, ‘So exciting this week, we’ll either have the first woman president or the end of America.’

That post was allegedly followed the next day, with one stating the user had voted for Kamala Harris.

Other resurfaced posts attributed to the same account appeared to show heated political rhetoric, including comparisons between modern officials and notorious figures from authoritarian regimes throughout history.

Investigations are underway at the University of Arizona concerning three fraternities accused of severe hazing activities, which have reportedly led to student hospitalizations. University officials have expressed concerns that these groups present a “substantial risk” to the safety and well-being of the campus community.

The fraternities in question—Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Chi, and Phi Delta Theta—are currently under scrutiny and facing potential disciplinary measures, as indicated in letters from the dean of students acquired by Fox News Digital.

Particularly, the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been subjected to an “interim loss of recognition.” This status prohibits them from utilizing campus facilities for any events until the ongoing investigation reaches its conclusion.

This action follows serious allegations brought forth by new fraternity members who claim they were subjected to harmful hazing practices. These practices allegedly included being burned by hot liquids, coerced into excessive alcohol consumption, and experiencing alcohol poisoning and blackouts. Such incidents reportedly led to the hospitalization of some Sigma Alpha Mu members, as outlined in the university’s notification.

The move comes amid allegations from new members that they “experienced burns from hot liquids, forced consumption of alcohol, alcohol poisoning and blackouts, resulting in the hospitalization of Sigma Alpha Mu members,” according to the notice from campus officials.

The University of Arizona’s Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been placed on interim loss of recognition, barring it from using campus facilities for events during an ongoing investigation. (Google Maps)

The allegations were submitted to campus authorities on April 22, the letter said. 

A second fraternity, Sigma Chi, has also been placed on an “interim loss of recognition,” according to a separate letter obtained by Fox News Digital. 

The letter states the chapter is accused of hosting two events this month in which UA students “were provided with and consumed alcohol, and were knowingly and unknowingly given drugs,” allegations that directly violate the Arizona Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct.  

Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Arizona has been placed on interim loss of recognition due to alleged hazing violations. (Google Maps)

As a result of the alleged alcohol and drug consumption, several UA students were reportedly sent to the hospital, according to campus officials.

UA officials have also placed Phi Delta Theta on an “activities suspension,” meaning the organization is only permitted to conduct business meetings, after hazing allegations surfaced, according to a third letter obtained by Fox News Digital. 

Campus officials allege that between the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters, Phi Delta Theta’s new members were “subjected to forced alcohol consumption, degradation, humiliation, hazing, and other threatening and endangering behaviors,” according to the notice.

University of Arizona officials placed the Phi Delta Theta fraternity on an activities’ suspension, allowing only business meetings, after hazing allegations surfaced. (Google Maps)

Sigma Alpha Mu and Sigma Chi are scheduled to meet with the dean’s office this week to learn if the chapter’s loss of recognition is permanent, while Phi Delta Theta was set to meet with campus officials on April 15. 

“I mean that’s what you really think of when you think of fraternities, not so much sororities in my opinion, but not a surprising thing to know they’re still doing all that despite it being banned most everywhere I want to say,” UA freshman Acacia Fernandez told 13News.

People walk through campus at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Oct. 8, 2022. (Joel Angel Juarez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“I do feel bad for the students who were affected by the hazing, just, you know, the social pressures that people have to go through to fit in, I feel bad for them honestly,” Fernandez reportedly said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a UA spokesperson confirmed the investigations being conducted into the three frats.

“The university takes these issues seriously, and they are currently being investigated by the Dean of Students Office,” the spokesperson said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Chi and Phi Delta’s local and national chapters for comment. 

Phi Delta Theta’s local chapter declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Taylor Swift recently stepped out in public with her father, Scott Swift, and her close friend, Ashley Avignone, as she prepares for her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.

Captured by Page Six photographers, the trio was seen arriving at the exclusive San Vicente West Village, a private members’ club in New York City, on Monday.

Taylor was the first to exit the vehicle, pausing to join her father and Avignone before they all made their way into the upscale establishment.

The acclaimed singer was dressed in a stylish blue-and-white striped sundress by Staud, priced at $325, paired with brown Christian Louboutin sandals costing $1,195, and carried a rare mini Dior handbag valued at nearly $10,000.

This marks the “Cruel Summer” artist’s first full public appearance since late March.

At the time, she nearly ran into her ex John Mayer at Paul McCartney’s concert in Hollywood, California.

In the pictures, obtained by Page Six, Taylor wore a black dress and choker while chatting with fellow singer Olivia Rodrigo.

When the pop star and her fiancé, Kelce, had a date night out to NYC hotspot Casa Cipriani on April 17, they were both concealed by black umbrellas.

Taylor, 36, also hid behind black umbrellas when she visited the Kansas City Chiefs star, also 36, at the Plaza Hotel in NYC ahead of Kelce’s Tommy Hilfiger photoshoot.

Earlier this month, Page Six exclusively reported that the couple — who went public in 2023 — are slated to tie the knot in the Big Apple on July 3.

While the “Blank Space” singer and the tight end had been planning an intimate Rhode Island wedding in June, Page Six reported in November 2025 that they were considering scrapping the idea to go “all out” with more guests.

Several stars are rumored to be attending the star-studded wedding, including Zoë Kravitz.

A decades-old mystery has finally found resolution as a popular podcast played a pivotal role in solving a 40-year-old cold case in Louisiana. The tragic story began when the lifeless body of 16-year-old Roxanne Sharp was discovered in the woods of Covington on February 12, 1982.

The brutal murder and sexual assault of Sharp left her family devastated and searching for answers for years. Despite relentless efforts, law enforcement agencies struggled to gather sufficient evidence or leads that could crack the case.

Enter the podcast, ‘Who Killed Roxanne.’ This investigative series breathed new life into the case, uncovering crucial information, leads, and witness testimonies that had previously eluded investigators. The renewed attention and insights ultimately led to the breakthrough arrests of four suspects connected to Sharp’s harrowing murder.

On April 21, a collaborative effort involving detectives, Louisiana State Police troopers, SWAT, and the Covington Police Department culminated in the arrest of 62-year-old Billy Williams Jr. at his Covington residence, marking a significant step toward justice in this long-standing case.

Detectives, Louisiana State Police troopers, SWAT and the Covington Police Department arrested Billy Williams Jr, 62, at his home in Covington on April 21. 

Williams was charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder and booked into the St Tammany Parish Jail, according to a release from the LSP. 

‘At the same time, in a coordinated effort, agents with the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation located and arrested Darrell Spell at a residence in Dayton, Ohio,’ the release stated. 

Spell, 64, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana.

Roxanne Sharp, 16, was found murdered and raped in a wooded area in Covington on February 12, 1982. Now, over 40 years later four arrests were made thanks to a local podcast

The ‘Who Killed Roxanne’ podcast, produced by local radio host Charles Dowdy, was a six-part series that aired in 2025

Billy Williams Jr, 62, and Darrell Spell, 64, were both arrested in connection with Sharp’s murder and charged with aggravated rape and second-degree murder

On April 22, law enforcement made contact with Perry Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, who were already being held at the Louisiana Department of Corrections on unrelated charges. 

All four men face the same charges. 

‘These arrests highlight the continued commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice, regardless of how much time has passed,’ the release stated. 

LSP added that advancements in investigative techniques and ‘strong interagency cooperation’ has meant that ‘cases once thought unsolvable can still be brought to resolution.’

The podcast, produced by local radio host Charles Dowdy, was a six-part series that aired in 2025. 

Marc Gremillion, a spokesperson for the LSP, told the Associated Press: ‘It helped our investigators piece together where Roxanne was days before to the time she died, to where we’re at now.

‘It was a very large help with getting that message out to the public, and then, therefore, those witnesses getting back to us,’ he added. 

Dowdy told the outlet that, when the podcast first aired, they ‘thought nobody cared.’

On April 22, law enforcement made contact with Perry Taylor, 64, and Carlos Cooper, 64, who were already being held at the Louisiana Department of Corrections on unrelated charges

‘We were quickly corrected,’ he said. ‘A lot of people stepped up and said they knew Roxanne, they remembered her, they were friends with her.’

According to Gremillion, Sharp was an acquaintance of all four men and had been known to frequent the neighborhood they lived in. 

Michele Lappin, Sharp’s niece, told AP in a statement on behalf of her family: ‘We appreciate the hard work and love that has been showed to Roxanne Sharp’s case. 

‘We hope that with justice will come healing and closure for our family, her loved ones and the community.’ 

Justin Joiner, a St Tammany Parish resident, said that his father had worked on the case and was one of the first police officers who arrived at the scene where Sharp’s body was discovered. 

‘It’s been a big black cloud on the community,’ Joiner said, adding that his father kept a briefcase full of notes on the case until his passing last year. 

‘Nobody would talk about it – it was hush, hush, you talk about it in your house, not in public.’

Covington Police Department Chief Michael Ferrell said the solving of the case is a ‘testament to what happens when dedicated law enforcement officers refuse to let a victim be forgotten.’

District Attorney Collin Sims, seen above, echoed similar sentiments and said that the case served as a ‘powerful example of what persistence, collaboration and advancements in investigative technology can accomplish’

‘Cold cases don’t close themselves. They close because people show up, year after year, and refuse to quit. That is exactly what our agencies did, and today, Roxanne and her family finally have the justice they have waited so long for,’ he said in the release. 

‘We are proud of the work done by every investigator who touched this case and deeply grateful for the partnership that made this moment possible.’

District Attorney Collin Sims echoed similar sentiments and said that the case served as a ‘powerful example of what persistence, collaboration and advancements in investigative technology can accomplish.’

‘For more than four decades, this victim and her family have waited for answers. Today’s arrests reflect our unwavering commitment to pursue justice—no matter how much time has passed—and to hold those responsible fully accountable,’ he added.  

Williams’s son, however, said his father is protesting his arrest and added: ‘He thinks they’re putting him in for something he didn’t do. He says he would never in his life hurt anyone.’

It remains unclear if any of the four suspects have obtained legal representation for comment.  

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a troubling discovery has prompted a wildlife investigation: five bald eagles have been found dead over a two-week period, with officials suspecting illegal activity rather than natural causes.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported that the eagles were found between April 3 and April 17 in Delta County, close to Big Bay de Noc and the shores of Lake Michigan.

Authorities have ruled out natural factors, predators, and vehicle collisions in the deaths of these birds of prey, leading to suspicions of foul play.

“We are appealing for the public’s assistance in resolving this case,” stated 1st Lt. Mark Zitnik, a supervisor with the DNR Law Enforcement team. “It has been confirmed that these eagles did not perish due to natural causes, predators, or vehicle collisions.”

Conservation officers from the Michigan DNR are seeking any information that could shed light on the deaths of these five eagles found in the Garden Peninsula area of Delta County from April 3 to April 17.

Bald eagles are protected under both state and federal law, making it illegal to hunt or harm them.

Violators can face criminal charges, including a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per eagle and restitution of $1,500 per bird.

Bald eagles are a protected species under federal law. Those found in violation can face fines or even jail time. (iStock)

The DNR is urging anyone with information to contact the Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest and prosecution.

A bald eagle, a bird of prey native to North America, perched on a branch. (iStock)

Bald eagles have made a strong recovery in Michigan, growing from the edge of extinction with just 52 breeding pairs in the 1960s to about 900 pairs by 2023, Bridge Michigan reported. The birds are now found across the state, particularly near large lakes and rivers. 

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