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Heartbreaking Tragedy: Man’s Violent Rampage Leaves Four Dead, Three Dogs Killed, Home in Flames

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In a chilling revenge-driven act, a California man, consumed by heartbreak, quietly waited for night to fall. Once his former boyfriend’s family had retired for the evening, he slipped into their home, fatally shooting four individuals before setting the structure ablaze, according to prosecutors.

Miguel Diego Sandoval, aged 21, has confessed to the horrific events that unfolded in November 2024. The bloodshed at a Lancaster residence tragically ended the lives of Janvi Maquindang, 21, Christine Aca-ac, 25, Edwin Garcia, 24, and Matthew Montebello, 21.

“The defendant was heartbroken after his breakup and escalated to an unthinkable act by taking the lives of four blameless people,” stated Nathan J. Hochman, the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Law enforcement leaders stand at a podium during a public announcement inside a government building.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna attentively listens as Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman delivers remarks during a Los Angeles news conference. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, File)

“This violence was premeditated and it has created a gaping void that will forever haunt the victims’ families,” Hochman continued, assuring the public. “This guilty admission ensures a lifetime behind bars for Sandoval.”

The deadly rampage was sparked by the end of Sandoval’s relationship with Aca-ac and Maquindang’s brother, and prosecutors say he came looking for revenge.

On Nov. 16, 2024, Sandoval lurked outside the North Tabler Avenue home until the occupants had gone to bed, according to prosecutors. He then went inside and opened fire, killing the four victims.

Sandoval torched the home after the shootings and fled, prosecutors said.

Janvi Maquindang, Edwin Garcia, Christine Aca-ac and Matthew Montebello were killed inside a Lancaster, California, home in November 2024

Lancaster, Calif., murder victims Janvi Maquindang, left, Edwin Garcia, Christine Aca-ac and Matthew Montebello, who were killed in a November 2024 shooting and house fire. (GoFundMe)

Amid the carnage, a 16-year-old victim trapped inside managed to call 911 from a locked bedroom. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responding to the burning home rescued the teen.

Three beloved family dogs were also killed, resulting in three felony animal cruelty counts against Sandoval.

Fundraising pages set up by the victims’ loved ones in the aftermath of the 2024 killings paint a picture of four young lives cut short and the families left reeling from the massacre.

Christine and Edwin were engaged and planning a future together, according to a GoFundMe organized by Christine’s sister. The fundraiser remembered Christine as a funny, vibrant and deeply caring older sister who served as the legal guardian and protector of her younger siblings.

Christine Aca-ac and fiancé Edwin Garcia

Christine Aca-ac and her fiancé, Edwin Garcia, were among four people killed inside a Lancaster, Calif., home in November 2024. (GoFundMe)

The same GoFundMe described Janvi, Christine’s brother, as a bright and successful young man who had graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. His younger siblings looked up to him as a role model and someone they could count on, the fundraiser said.

The fundraiser said the younger siblings escaped the attack physically unharmed, but lost Christine and Janvi, as well as their home in the fire. The fundraiser was later expanded to help them find a safe place to live, continue their education and rebuild their lives.

Matthew had turned 21 only days before the shooting, his older brother Andrew Montebello wrote on a separate GoFundMe. According to the fundraiser, Matthew was shot in the head, rushed from the scene and placed in a coma as his family desperately waited for good news that never came.

Andrew described his younger brother as talented, smart and relentlessly curious, writing that Matthew would throw himself into learning a new skill until he mastered it or moved on to his next interest.

Lawyer for Rob Reiner's accuser killer, his son Nick Reiner, Alan Jackson

Sandoval is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 17 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Superior Court of California in Los Angeles. (Derek Shook for News Media, File)

In another GoFundMe, Edwin’s mother, Yemi Olivares, remembered the 24-year-old, known to his family as Fernando or Fer, as a gentle soul who dreamed of becoming an educator in academics and music. She wrote that her son hoped to marry, become a father and teach future generations.

“As a mother, I am completely and utterly devastated,” Olivares wrote on the GoFundMe.

Sandoval pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, including special-circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait.

He also admitted to attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary and arson of an inhabited structure or property, along with two counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

The guilty plea ensures Sandoval will never walk free. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 17.

New Jersey Babysitter Faces Troubling Plea Deal After Child Assault Charges

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In a dramatic courtroom appearance on Monday, a New Jersey babysitter, facing allegations of sharing a disturbing video involving a toddler, maintained a defiant stance. Emerging details suggest she might receive a plea deal significantly reducing her potential prison time.

Victoria Anne Cranmer, aged 25, accused of child sexual assault, appeared in a Toms River court. She wore distinctive pink handcuffs and met the media’s gaze with defiance as prosecutors unveiled a possible plea bargain.

The proposed agreement involves Cranmer pleading guilty to charges of second-degree sexual assault. This was outlined by Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Lynn Juan during the proceedings.

Juan indicated that if Cranmer agrees to the plea, prosecutors would recommend a notably short three-year prison term despite the gravity of her offenses.

Currently, the charges against Cranmer encompass second-degree sexual assault, the production of child sexual abuse material, third-degree child endangerment, and possession of such material. These charges collectively pose a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Cranmer allegedly sexually assaulted a girl still in diapers, recorded it and posted it to Snapchat.

As part of the proposed deal, Cranmer would also be required to register as a sex offender in accordance with Megan’s Law, would have parole supervision for life and a no-contact order with the victim, Juan said. 

Cranmer’s lawyer, Connor Kane, said he was aware of the offer but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to discuss it with his client. He said he anticipates making a counter-offer.  

Cranmer is due back in court Sept 14.

Australian Teen Attacked at NYC McDonald’s While on Vacation

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While on a trip to New York City, an Australian teenager had his journey abruptly interrupted when he was repeatedly stabbed while dining at a local McDonald’s.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, around 2 a.m., inside a branch of the fast-food giant near Penn Station on Eighth Avenue, as reported by the New York Post.

While the 19-year-old was seated, enjoying his meal, he suddenly became the victim of a stabbing, suffering wounds to his back and rib area.

According to sources linked to the publication, although there were brief exchanges between the teenager and his assailant, the attack appeared to be unprovoked.

Following the assault, the young man was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where medical professionals have confirmed he remains in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Juan Mercedes, 25, was arrested by police at the scene and charged with second-degree assault.

Regular customers told ABC7 that they stay away from the Manhattan McDonald’s during late-night hours.

‘There’s always fighting over here. There’s always arguing. You know, sometimes even in the daytime,’ said customer Tony Wright.

A 19-year-old tourist from Australia visiting New York City was stabbed multiple times while eating at a McDonald's

A 19-year-old tourist from Australia visiting New York City was stabbed multiple times while eating at a McDonald’s 

The teenager was eating at the fast-food chain on Eighth Avenue, not far from Penn Station, before he was stabbed in the ribs and back around 2am on Monday

The teenager was eating at the fast-food chain on Eighth Avenue, not far from Penn Station, before he was stabbed in the ribs and back around 2am on Monday

‘I don’t stay out here that late because every time around in the evening, at night, this is not the time for any one of us to be out here.’

The victim told the outlet over the phone that he is recovering.

It came hours after NYPD officers were forced to shoot a man wielding a butcher’s knife a few miles away in the Lower East Side.

Officers responded to multiple 911 calls about an assault in progress at an apartment building and spotted a trail of blood in the lobby leading up the staircase.

When cops ran up the stairs, the armed man came charging down with the large butcher’s knife in his hand.

Officers repeatedly demanded that the man show his hands and drop the weapon, which he refused to do.

But when the suspect lunged at the officers with the knife still in his hand, police deployed a Taser, AMNY reports.

When that didn’t work, officers fired at least four shots at the property on Ludlow Street, near Rivington Street.

Sources told the New York Post that the tourist and the attacker exchanged a few words before the attack but said the suspect was seemingly unprovoked

Sources told the New York Post that the tourist and the attacker exchanged a few words before the attack but said the suspect was seemingly unprovoked

Juan Mercedes, 25, was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree assault

Juan Mercedes, 25, was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree assault

The suspect, identified as Wei Chan, 54, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

His father, Chung Chan, 75, was found with a gash to the head in an upstairs apartment, but it wasn’t clear whether it was caused by the knife or another object during the domestic-violence dispute, according to the Post.

It comes after a madman stabbed multiple people in Penn Station at the beginning of the summer.

Hector Deleon, 51, was the alleged homeless man who attacked five people on June 7.

Deleon was indicted on seven counts of attempted murder in the second degree, one count of assault in the first degree, six counts of attempted assault in the first degree and four counts of assault in the second degree. 

According to court records viewed by the Daily Mail, Deleon was incarcerated as recently as May 26 after spending days behind bars in New Jersey on pending charges.

The victim told ABC7 over the phone that he is recovering

The victim told ABC7 over the phone that he is recovering

Deleon was also hit with assault charges in 2025. It is unclear how that case ended.

Two years prior, Deleon was found guilty of a 2022 aggravated assault attempt with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a deadly weapon in Essex County.

The stabbing threw Penn Station into a frenzy ahead of game three of the NBA Finals, which the Knicks would go on to win.  

New Study Unveils Deep Link Between Women’s Physical and Mental Health in Endometriosis

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Women dealing with endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and various hormone-related ailments face a troubling rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm, underscoring the urgent need for mental health services to be woven into women’s physical healthcare plans.

A report released on Tuesday by Women’s Mental Health Australia revealed that nearly 50% of women with endometriosis suffer from anxiety.

Women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome endure depression and anxiety at rates double those of women without such conditions.

The study exposes critical shortfalls in the healthcare system across Australia, according to Katrina Locandro, the chief operating officer.

“The scale of the issue is massive,” she shared with the Australian Associated Press.

“The government’s investing a lot in women’s health at the moment… and there is a really practical step that they could be taking to reduce that gap.”

The findings indicate that physical health conditions are associated with poorer mental health.

But the greatest psychological toll is on women living with female-specific physical health conditions, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, a broad condition involving a hormone imbalance, irregular periods and ovarian cysts.

Women with that syndrome reported high rates of depression and anxiety, between 1.6 and 2.2 times higher than women who did not have the condition.

The disparity also extended to suicide and self-harm rates, reported by 10 per cent of women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and 13 per cent of women with endometriosis, compared with four per cent of women without those conditions.

The research found that one in three women are not seeking help for their mental health issues, often because of financial and stigma-related reasons.

Locandro says every woman attending a government-funded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic should receive an integrated mental health assessment and support as a standard offering.

“We’re not asking the government to build a new system, we’re asking it to strengthen an existing one by recognising that women’s physical and mental health are inseparable,” she said.

Report co-author Bronwyn Graham said that embedding integrated mental health assessment and support into existing services would be a game-changer.

“Women are being asked to manage two separate journeys, one for their body and one for their mind, and to find their own way between them at the point they are least able to.”


Luigi Mangione’s NYC Murder Trial Delayed to December Amid Double Jeopardy Debate

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In a recent development, Mangione’s murder trial in New York was postponed until December. This delay comes as his defense attorneys filed a motion to throw out the charges, citing a guilty plea to related federal charges just last week.

Initially, the jury selection was slated for a start on September 8. However, the guilty plea has brought new concerns regarding double jeopardy to the forefront.

Judge Gregory Carro has issued a directive giving prosecutors until October 9 to respond to the motion for dismissal, according to an official order released publicly on the court’s website this Monday.

unitedhealth ceo seen in inset image, with aerial image of NYC crime scene

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth, tragically lost his life to a shooting incident on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in New York City. This information has been confirmed by Fox News sources.

Then the defense will have until Oct. 30 for Mangione’s own reply.

Carro set the next adjourned date for Dec. 10.

Due to a difference in state law and the U.S. Constitution, New York’s double jeopardy rules are more favorable to Mangione with the federal case resolved.

Read Judge Carro’s order:

luigi-mangione-pleads-guilty-fox-news_004

Manhattan prosecutors, however, have said they plan to continue pursuing their case against him.

The 28-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate admitted Friday to stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson across state lines, then shooting him in the back outside a Manhattan hotel where he was supposed to meet with investors.

Paulette Thompson

Paulette Thompson, wife of late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, walks outside Manhattan Criminal Court following a hearing in the federal murder trial of Luigi Mangione, who is charged in the killing of Brian Thompson, in New York City, U.S., August 14, 2026. Luigi Mangione admitted in court on Friday to killing Brian Thompson and pleaded guilty to federal charges of stalking the executive with the intent to kill him. (David Dee Delgado/Reuters)

Thompson was a 50-year-old father of two from Minnesota.

Mangione has not yet been sentenced in the federal case. Sentencing guidelines recommend about 30 years max, but Judge Margaret Garnett is not bound by them. He could still face a maximum of life in prison without parole.

If he goes to trial on the state charges, the top count of second-degree murder carries a maximum potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Aaron Donald’s Rams Workouts Focus on Acclimation and Performance

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On Sunday, Aaron Donald took part in a second summer workout with the Los Angeles Rams, fueling speculation that a return from retirement might be on the horizon.

On Monday, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport shed light on “Good Morning Football” regarding the reasons behind Donald’s continued sessions with the team. These workouts, labeled as “official” because Donald used specific equipment at the Rams’ facilities, suggest something more than casual training.

“Once again, Aaron Donald donned helmets and pads and trained with the Rams,” Rapoport reported.

Aaron Donald wearing a Rams hat and blue shirt with a gold chain.

Aaron Donald had an official workout with the Rams. AP

Rapoport further explained that these sessions act as “tryouts” and are part of Donald’s process to assess how his body responds and adjusts.

Should all go according to plan, Rapoport mentioned, it seems likely the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who has won the title three times, will make a comeback. Donald, now 35, was with the Rams from 2014 to 2023 before retiring.

Aside from having official workouts with the team, Donald has been active on social media this offseason. He’s posted multiple videos of himself working out. Earlier this month, he was seen doing football-style drills at UCLA’s practice facility.

NFL player Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams in a blue and yellow uniform, number 99, with his arm raised and finger pointing.

Aaron Donald is pictured during a Rams game in 2023. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“The Rams have been very vocal about saying they do not have a timeframe for Aaron Donald,” Rapoport said. “…It really doesn’t have to be anytime. It has to be whenever Aaron Donald wants. No doubt the team will welcome him with open arms if he decides to play.”

After the Rams’ 20-12 preseason-opening victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Sean McVay said the team would gladly welcome Donald back.

Rams defensive end Myles Garret, who was the Rams’ big offseason acquisition, said he doesn’t want to push Donald out of retirement, but thinks the two can do “great things together” on the football field.

Authorities Investigate Downtown Raleigh Hanging as Suicide; Medical Examiner Assumes Case

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — This past weekend, a tragic discovery unfolded in downtown Raleigh when a man was found hanging from a tree, according to the Raleigh Police Department (RPD).

RPD investigators have classified the incident as a suicide, stating that there is no evidence suggesting foul play.

The distressing event occurred on Saturday afternoon on South McDowell Street, near Nash Square. Upon arrival, officers attempted to revive the man after securing him from the tree, but their efforts were in vain. The individual was declared deceased at the location.

Responsibility for the investigation has now shifted to the state medical examiner’s office, which will carry out a comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding the death, as stated by Raleigh police.

While ABC11 typically refrains from reporting suicides, this case is being covered due to its public location and the broader historical implications associated with it.

RPD released a statement related to the man’s death:
“We understand that this loss may be deeply painful for those who knew and cared about the individual. We ask everyone to please be mindful of the family and friends who are grieving and to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation while investigators continue their work.”

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis — text or call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Help is available 24/7.

Download the ABC11 News app

Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

The Heartbreaking Final Days of Hayden Panettiere Uncovered

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Earlier this year, actress Hayden Panettiere opened up in a candid two-hour discussion with podcast host Jay Shetty. It was during this emotional dialogue that the depths of her troubled past came to light.

Joining the podcast to promote her memoir, Panettiere tearfully recounted the series of agonizing traumas she had endured. She spoke of losing custody of her beloved daughter, the heartbreaking loss of her brother, and a recent, seemingly unbridgeable rift with her mother. These events had cast a long shadow over her life, leaving it marked by sorrow.

Despite the turbulent past, there appeared to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

“I finally feel like I’ve shaken off all this darkness and negativity,” she shared with Shetty on the On Purpose podcast. “A door that was firmly closed has now swung open, welcoming a world of exciting possibilities. I truly believe there’s so much more life ahead of me,” she declared with newfound optimism.

Tragically, just a mere three months later, Panettiere’s life came to an untimely end.

Now, insiders tell the Daily Mail how the 36-year-old had been shunned by Hollywood, left desperate for work and was haunted by her struggles with her mental health and addiction. 

The tragic storm of personal and professional setbacks culminated this weekend, when she took a flight with her ex-boyfriend to South Carolina and was discovered ‘unresponsive’ at an apartment – believed to be an Airbnb – on Sunday. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hayden Panettiere died on Sunday in South Carolina

Hayden Panettiere died on Sunday in South Carolina 

Panettiere was found 'unresponsive' in the Judson Mill Lofts apartment where she was reportedly staying

Panettiere was found ‘unresponsive’ in the Judson Mill Lofts apartment where she was reportedly staying

The actress - who would have turned 37 on Friday - had a life marred by tragedies: addiction, mental health struggles, and more recently the death of her brother Jansen (pictured in 2019)

The actress – who would have turned 37 on Friday – had a life marred by tragedies: addiction, mental health struggles, and more recently the death of her brother Jansen (pictured in 2019)

Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to a 911 call from an unidentified ‘acquaintance’ of the actress at the apartment block in Greenville around 1:50pm local time. The acquaintance described her as ‘unresponsive’ and said she was in ‘cardiac arrest’ after a suspected overdose, according to the call recording.

Narcan – a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose – was reportedly found on a mattress at the apartment located in the Judson Mill Lofts, per TMZ, but it is unclear if it was used in an attempt to revive Panettiere.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Panettiere – who would have turned 37 this Friday – by performing chest compressions but she was pronounced dead just over 40 minutes after the first 911 call was made.

Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.’ 

On Monday, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said that an autopsy had been completed and that there were ‘no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.’ No cause of death has been disclosed.

Her father Alan Lee ‘Skip’ Panettiere announced her death in a statement: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’

He asked for privacy as the family ‘take time to process this unimaginable loss.’

The news shocked many who knew her in Hollywood. On the surface, Panettiere seemed to be in a good place. Her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May this year, reached number four on the New York Times bestseller list and she was busy celebrating its success, traveling around the US to promote it and documenting the journey on Instagram.

Her last post, a black and white picture of her posing cheekily with celebrity photographer Randall Slavin, was shared on July 27, with the caption: ‘Good times and good friends.’

Yet the smiles and recent successes now seem little more than a mask to hide ongoing pain and a life plagued by tragedy.

In a recent interview on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Panettiere she opened up about looking forward to a fresh start as she promoted her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning

In a recent interview on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Panettiere she opened up about looking forward to a fresh start as she promoted her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning

Her last Instagram post, a black and white picture of her posing cheekily with Randall Slavin, was shared on July 27, with the caption: ‘Good times and good friends’

Her last Instagram post, a black and white picture of her posing cheekily with Randall Slavin, was shared on July 27, with the caption: ‘Good times and good friends’

Panettiere was seen in LAX with crutches in March

Panettiere was seen in LAX with crutches in March

TMZ reported that Panettiere had complained of back pain in the past year, and a source close to the family told us she ‘had nerve issues that caused trauma in her leg.’

‘But that was a while ago,’ they added, saying they were doubtful it had come back and, in any case, it was ‘not something you die from.’

In March, Panettiere was seen in the Los Angeles International Airport, hobbling on crutches alongside ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson. In footage obtained by the Daily Mail, Panettiere explained that she was suffering from ‘some pinched nerves in my lower back.’ 

Chris Applebaum, who directed her Wake Up Call music video, saw Panettiere a few months ago at a party at Paris Hilton’s house in Los Angeles and said her pain appeared to be ‘debilitating.’

‘I hadn’t seen her in a couple of years and she still had the crutches,’ he told the Daily Mail.

‘I was surprised because she didn’t have a lot of mobility and I really wanted to talk to her and catch up. She said she was struggling with it. 

‘In order for us to sit down, and chat and tell stories, she had to park herself somewhere where she was a little bit more stable and comfortable.

Applebaum noted that Panettiere – who he said she was not drinking while everyone else was – had wanted ‘to power through’ the pain to be at the party because she wanted ‘to get out and not be locked in [her] place.’ 

He added: ‘Paris’ house is really, really big so in order for her to get to where the house is, she had to be assisted and helped.’

Her pain appears to have stemmed from an injury sustained in 2005, when, in a bizarre accident, Panettiere was thrown off of a zebra while filming the movie Racing Stripes in South Africa. 

In May this year, she told Women’s Health magazine that it had left her temporarily paralyzed. The fall caused two vertebrae to be ‘pushed into [her] neck,’ she said.

‘I woke up and felt nothing but pins and needles from my waist down… I wasn’t able to bend my toes, lift my foot at all. No one was able to give me a solid answer. I was sitting there going: “Oh My God, am I going to be paralyzed for the rest of my life?”‘

Meanwhile, on July 10, she canceled a scheduled appearance at a horror movie convention ‘due to a family emergency,’ but no further details emerged.

Her mother Lesley Vogel was an actress herself, and Panettiere – a cherubic, chubby-cheeked infant – first appeared in an advert when she was just 11 months old.

There soon followed appearances as a child actor in US soap operas One Life to Live and Guiding Light as well as recurring roles in hit TV sitcom Malcolm in the Middle before she landed her first starring role in a Disney movie called Tiger Cruise.

Her breakthrough came with the NBC series Heroes in 2006, in which she played a cheerleader with healing powers. On the show for four years, she was widely regarded as destined for great things, and was next cast as country singer Juliette Barnes in the highly acclaimed musical drama series Nashville. She also landed a role in the Scream franchise.

Sadly, she could not capitalize on her newfound fame.

Panettiere first hit the spotlight at 11 months old. By the time she was five she had landed recurring roles on soap operas like One Life to Live and Guiding Light

Panettiere first hit the spotlight at 11 months old. By the time she was five she had landed recurring roles on soap operas like One Life to Live and Guiding Light

By her side was her brother Jansen. ‘She was still tortured by her brother’s death,’ our insider said. ‘Hayden and Jansen were very close. When he had a problem, she’d be the first person he’d turn to'

By her side was her brother Jansen. ‘She was still tortured by her brother’s death,’ our insider said. ‘Hayden and Jansen were very close. When he had a problem, she’d be the first person he’d turn to’

A source close to the actress previously told the Daily Mail that the estrangement from her mother was 'worse than anyone knows'

A source close to the actress previously told the Daily Mail that the estrangement from her mother was ‘worse than anyone knows’

Panettiere was close to her father Alan Lee ‘Skip’ Panettiere, who announced her death, but was estranged from her mother Lesley Vogel, who used to manage her as a child star

Panettiere was close to her father Alan Lee ‘Skip’ Panettiere, who announced her death, but was estranged from her mother Lesley Vogel, who used to manage her as a child star 

‘Hayden had mental health struggles and addiction issues going on and they played a part in why her career didn’t take off again after Nashville,’ one industry insider told the Daily Mail. 

‘When she was filming the show she had problems on the set, with execs and with her co-stars. She sometimes came to work looking like she’d been out partying. She’d often have to spend extra time in make-up to get her looking camera ready. She’d also sometimes be late for her call time.

‘She was desperate to land another series after Nashville ended, but the word had got out in Hollywood that she was a bit of a problem. Although she was considered a TV star, she still had to audition for big TV projects. She often struggled to get past the audition stage.’

They added: ‘Hayden was on a downward swing recently due to lack of decent roles.’

Her last appearance, indeed, was in the critically panned Sleepwalker, a psychological thriller released in January this year, in which she played a mother haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter.

It is a loss she knew all too well. In 2018, she handed over custody of her own daughter Kaya, now 11, to her ex-fiancé, former heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

In her memoir she recalled Kaya’s terrifying birth in 2014, how doctors called a ‘code crimson’ emergency, and she underwent a three-hour surgery after her blood would not clot following a C-section. She later learned her uterus had become infected.

Bonding with her newborn was an ‘insurmountable task,’ she wrote, admitting she ‘felt nothing’ towards her daughter – ‘a total blackout of emotion.’

Hayden turned to alcohol to cope, sometimes starting drinking as early as 6am. When Kaya was four months old, she entered treatment for her habit and was diagnosed with postpartum depression.

Medication helped but also left her sleepy – and she soon found herself returning to alcohol. From this moment on, Panettiere’s life began to spiral. 

She lost a lucrative contract with the US skincare brand Neutrogena and her once-loving relationship with Klitschko broke down. Despite fighting to retain custody of her daughter, the Ukrainian boxer eventually won and Hayden signed Kaya over to him, initially believing the switch to be temporary.

‘I remember every second of that day. Every f*****g second,’ she wrote. ‘No mother could forget a single thing about the day she signed her child away.’

She continued: ‘Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it.

‘She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.’

Panettiere was engaged to Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whom she granted full custody of their daughter Kaya in 2018

Panettiere was engaged to Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whom she granted full custody of their daughter Kaya in 2018

'Hayden's been racked with guilt about not being the mother she wanted to her child and allowing her ex-fiancée to bring up Kaya,' our insider said

‘Hayden’s been racked with guilt about not being the mother she wanted to her child and allowing her ex-fiancée to bring up Kaya,’ our insider said

Reliving some of her darkest moment for the memoir has been cause for concern for some of those closest to her. ‘She was reliving a lot of the bad stuff over and over again,’ our insider said. ‘It probably wasn’t healthy for her, and it’s doubtful it put her in a good place’

Reliving some of her darkest moment for the memoir has been cause for concern for some of those closest to her. ‘She was reliving a lot of the bad stuff over and over again,’ our insider said. ‘It probably wasn’t healthy for her, and it’s doubtful it put her in a good place’

‘Hayden’s been racked with guilt about not being the mother she wanted for her child and allowing her ex-fiancé to bring up Kaya,’ one insider told me. ‘She didn’t believe she was in the right mental state to be a good mother at the time. It bothered her greatly.’

There seemed to be little sympathy from her own mother, who once described her daughter as a woman who ‘does not want to be saved.’

Some of the more harrowing moments from Panettiere’s memoir are about their troubled relationship and estrangement.

After one audition – for an advertisement for Kodak when she was four years old – Panettiere recalled how she froze and couldn’t perform. The only fate worse than this on-stage humiliation, she wrote, was having to break the news to her mother, who was also her manager.

‘When she was so angry that my best option was to hide under my bed, her lower jaw migrated a few centimeters forward,’ Panettiere wrote.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she claimed that Vogel ‘groomed’ her to be a ‘little soldier’ when it came to performing, putting pressure on her to succeed to keep the family financially stable.

When she decided to drop Vogel as her manager at age 19, she claims her mother spat: ‘You owe me.’

Yet it was Vogel who decided to cut all communication with her daughter last year. ‘We each are entitled to choose our path in life,’ Vogel told the Daily Mail in May, claiming the relationship with her daughter had broken down altogether. ‘After 20 years of trauma, chaos, addictions, accusations, I felt I had no other option but to choose no contact.’

She added: ‘There will forever be a lingering hope that she will find her own path to inner peace.’

At the time a separate source close to the actress told the Daily Mail that the estrangement from her mother was ‘worse than anyone knows.’

Neither her mother – nor ex Klitchko – had commented on her death. The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Panettiere for comment.

Other shocking stories from her memoir include the time Panettiere claimed an industry friend – referred to in the book under the pseudonym Stella McAmis – essentially delivered her to a naked British male singer on a yacht when she was just 18. She left before anything could happen.

She also opened up about the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Hickerson. The pair dated on and off between 2018 and 2022 but seemed to have established a friendship in recent years, with the actress believed to have flown with him to his hometown of South Carolina from Los Angeles on Saturday.

The actress is believed to have flown with her ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson to his hometown of South Carolina from Los Angeles on Saturday, the day before she died (pictured together at her brother's memorial in 2023)

The actress is believed to have flown with her ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson to his hometown of South Carolina from Los Angeles on Saturday, the day before she died (pictured together at her brother’s memorial in 2023)

The pair dated on and off between 2018 and 2022 but seemed to have established a friendship in recent years

The pair dated on and off between 2018 and 2022 but seemed to have established a friendship in recent years

Back in 2021, the aspiring actor and property developer was sentenced to 45 days in county jail after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring Hayden. 

He publicly admitted abusing her, telling TMZ earlier this year of the time he was ‘drunk,’ holding a phone in his hand, and told Panettiere: ‘Hayden I’ll give you ten seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you.’

‘The idea that I could allow something like this to happen to me blew my mind,’ Panettiere told a magazine of their volatile relationship. ‘It blew the minds of the people that knew me best.’

Reliving some of her darkest moment for the memoir has been cause for concern for some of those closest to her.

‘A few months ago, she was reliving a lot of the bad stuff over and over again in interviews,’ our insider said. ‘It probably wasn’t healthy for her, and it’s doubtful it put her in a good place.’

One particular tragedy she was still battling to come to terms with was the death of her brother Jansen, also child actor, who died unexpectedly aged 28 in 2023. A user of heroin and crack cocaine, Jensen died – perhaps significantly – because of an enlarged heart, known as cardiomegaly, and aortic valve complications. ‘As far as I know Hayden didn’t get tested for any heart conditions following her brother’s death,’ our insider said.

And yet Jansen’s death was a source of huge guilt.

‘She was still tortured by it. Hayden and Jansen were very close. When he had a problem, she’d be the first person he’d turn to.’

‘I was shocked that it had gotten that bad,’ she said of his drug use. ‘When he said that he had put those two substances in his body, I was floored. I should have understood better than anybody what he was going through. And of all the people that could have saved him from passing away, it should have been me.’

And now she too is gone after a life plagued by tragedy and heart-break. 

Who knows what she suffered in the end or why she died – but the pressures of early fame, and the breaking apart of her family, were perhaps in the end more than she could take.

Tone Arms Fast with 3 Chair Exercises in Just 21 Days

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Struggling with sagging arms at 60? Discover these 3 chair exercises that can help transform them in just 21 days.

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With nearly four decades of experience as a personal trainer, and 25 years as a co-founder of TRAINFITNESS, the UK’s premier fitness education company, I’ve consistently encountered sagging upper arms as a major concern among women in their 60s. Yet, by committing to a simple routine of three chair exercises over the course of 21 days, many have achieved noticeable improvements in arm tone without ever stepping foot in a gym or lifting weights.

The term “bat wings” refers to the loose skin and relaxed tissue on the back of the upper arm, a common complaint among women in their 60s. More often than not, the issue isn’t with the skin itself but with the underlying muscle that has diminished, causing the skin to slacken.

The triceps, located at the back of the upper arm, are notorious for shrinking quickly when they aren’t actively used. While our biceps get plenty of exercise during daily activities like lifting and carrying, the triceps are often neglected. Consequently, the front of the arm maintains its structure, while the rear becomes slack. This muscle area turns into empty space, creating a softer appearance over time.

Additionally, as we age past 60, we lose about one percent of our muscle mass annually if we don’t engage in regular training, which particularly affects the arms. The back of the arm, having begun with smaller muscles, is especially impacted. Combined with skin that has lost elasticity from years of weight fluctuations, you get the classic bat wing look that many seek to remedy.

The good news is that the muscle underneath responds very well to training, even in the 60s and 70s. New muscle fills out the arm from underneath, which tightens the whole look even before the skin has had time to adapt.

Chairs give you a stable platform that lets you load the triceps without asking the shoulders or the trunk to hold everything else together. That means the arms can do harder work than they could in a standing position, which is what actually builds the muscle.

There’s also the safety angle. The wrists, shoulders and elbows in this age group are often more sensitive than they were, and chair exercises let you find a starting angle that doesn’t aggravate any of them. Progress from there is gradual and predictable.

And chair exercises can be done in the home, in ordinary clothes, without going anywhere. Consistency is the biggest predictor of change in this kind of program, and the routine has to fit into daily life to happen daily. A chair, a couple of water bottles, and 10 minutes is all it takes. These three chair exercises can help you smooth bat wings in just three weeks.

Chair Tricep Dip

This is the most direct exercise for the back of the upper arm. It loads the triceps with a portion of your body’s own weight, which is more than most other tricep exercises can manage, and it does this in a position that spares the shoulders.

How to Do It:

  • Sit on a sturdy chair with hands gripping the front edge of the seat, fingers pointing forward
  • Slide your bottom off the front of the chair
  • Walk your feet out a foot or so, knees bent
  • Slowly bend your elbows and lower your bottom towards the floor
  • Stop when your elbows are at 90 degrees
  • Push through your hands to lift back up
  • Do 8 to 12 reps

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t let your shoulders shrug up towards your ears at the bottom of the dip. Keep your shoulders pulled down and back throughout. If they shrug, you’ve dropped too far. Come up higher.

Sets and Reps: 8 to 12 reps per set.

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Seated Overhead Tricep Extension

This trains the long head of the tricep, which is the part that sits along the back of the arm and gives the arm its shape. This is the exercise that most directly tightens the bat wing appearance.

How to Do It:

  • Sit tall on a sturdy chair, feet flat on the floor
  • Hold a 500ml water bottle in both hands, gripping it above your head with your arms fully extended
  • Slowly bend your elbows and lower the bottle behind your head
  • Stop when your elbows are at 90 degrees
  • Extend your arms back up, squeezing your triceps at the top
  • Do 12 to 15 reps
  • Progress to a heavier bottle as it gets easier

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t let your elbows flare out to the sides as you lower the bottle. Keep your elbows pointing up towards the ceiling throughout. If they flare, the exercise stops loading the triceps and starts loading the shoulders.

Sets and Reps: 12 to 15 reps per set, progressing to a heavier bottle as it gets easier.

Seated Bent-Over Rear Raise

This works the rear delts and the muscles between the shoulder blades, which fill out the back of the upper arm and the shoulder area. This is what gives the whole back-of-the-arm view a firmer look, not just the tricep on its own.

How to Do It:

  • Sit tall on a sturdy chair, feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart
  • Hold a 500ml water bottle in each hand, palms facing each other
  • Hinge forward from your hips until your chest is at about 45 degrees to the floor
  • Let your arms hang straight down from your shoulders
  • Slowly lift both arms out to the sides until they are level with your shoulders
  • Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top
  • Lower with control
  • Do 12 to 15 reps

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t use momentum to swing your arms up. The value is in the muscle doing the work, not the swing. Slow the lift down to 2 seconds up and 2 seconds down, and you’ll feel the difference immediately.

Sets and Reps: 12 to 15 reps per set.

The 12-Minute Chair Routine That Restores Leg Muscle Faster Than Weight Training After 60

How Often to Do This

Days 1 to 7: Do the three exercises once a day, one set of each, at the rep counts described. This builds the movement patterns and gives your muscles a chance to wake up without any soreness.

Days 8 to 14: Add a second set of each. Rest 30 seconds between sets. The routine now takes about 12 minutes and starts producing measurable strength gains.

Days 15 to 21: Add a third set, and either increase the water bottle size to 750ml or slow the tempo to 3 seconds on the way down. This is where the visible change accelerates.

Do the routine six days a week, with one rest day. If you’re sore in the first few days, that’s normal and it fades within a fortnight. If it lingers beyond that, drop the volume by one set until it clears.

6 Bed Exercises That Restore Hip Strength Faster Than Gym Sessions After 60

What to Expect

By day 7, most people notice their arms feel firmer to the touch, even if the mirror doesn’t show anything yet. That’s the muscle waking up and holding tension.

By day 14, the mirror starts to catch up. The back of the upper arm sits tighter, the underside is less wobbly when the arm is raised, and the shape from the shoulder down looks more defined. Not a dramatic change, but a real one.

By day 21, most clients report a visible improvement that other people notice. The bat wing softness is meaningfully reduced. Not gone, especially for anyone who’s had a lot of weight loss and gain over the years, but noticeably firmer and more contoured than it was three weeks earlier.

The bigger changes come with the next 60 days. Muscle takes months to fully build, and skin takes even longer to adapt to the new underlying shape. Twenty-one days is where the routine proves itself. The next three months are where the arms genuinely change.

Chronic Offender with 7 Convictions Arrested Thrice in 12 Days for Alleged Women’s Attacks

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In a troubling sequence of events, an Oklahoma man faced three arrests within a brief span related to sexual assault charges. The individual, accused of attacking several women, encountered law enforcement once more days later on a new charge of first-degree rape.

According to jail records, the suspect is identified as 26-year-old Jeff Kufi Asare, who was taken into custody on August 12 and held on a hefty $75,000 cash-or-bail bond. The record doesn’t specify when he might be released. Local news outlet KOCO, an ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City, reported that his arrest was triggered after firefighters spotted him allegedly holding a woman against her will along the Lake Hefner Trail and promptly notified police.

This detention comes after two prior arrests in just over a week’s time. On August 1, Oklahoma City police acted on a 911 call reporting a potential rape, subsequently arresting Asare on grounds of probable cause for felony sexual battery and indecent exposure.

An incident report acquired by News Media outlines charges including attempted forcible rape and forcible fondling as part of the alleged criminal acts.

Booking photo of Jeff Kufi Asare.

The booking photo of Jeff Kufi Asare provided by the Oklahoma County Jail (Oklahoma County Jail)

Five days later, officers arrested Asare after responding to reports of sexual assaults involving multiple women at a downtown park. Police booked him on probable-cause allegations of attempted kidnapping and felony sexual battery. He also received two city assault-and-battery citations.

News Media has requested the Aug. 12 incident report, which Oklahoma City police said was not yet complete for release.

All three cases involve Asare, but state charges have not been filed because Oklahoma City police are still investigating and have not yet presented the cases to prosecutors, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office told News Media. The office said it expects to file state charges after receiving the cases from police.

Judges set Asare’s bond at $50,000 on Aug. 5 and again on Aug. 10. After his third arrest, prosecutors asked a judge to raise his bond from $50,000 to $75,000, court and jail records show.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This aerial view shows downtown Oklahoma City, where police arrested Jeff Kufi Asare in connection with recent alleged sexual assaults involving multiple women. (iStock)

Since January 2023, Asare’s name has appeared in at least 18 Oklahoma County court dockets, a News Media review found.

The total includes early probable-cause proceedings, misdemeanor cases and a pending civil lawsuit. Some of the probable-cause files are tied to later criminal cases stemming from the same arrest.

The court records also show at least seven misdemeanor convictions. Three were for breaking and entering. The others were for resisting an officer, shoplifting, trespassing and marijuana possession.

Police lights flashing at night

Police in Oklahoma City arrested Jeff Kufi Asare three times in less than two weeks in cases involving alleged sexual assaults against multiple women. (iStock)

Asare pleaded guilty to resisting an officer, shoplifting and trespassing in September 2023. He later pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and marijuana possession in November 2024, then in two additional breaking-and-entering cases in October 2025 and April.

He received 45 days in jail in the October case and 30 days in the April case, with credit for time served in both. He also enrolled in a court-ordered outpatient program after prosecutors dismissed a 2025 trespassing and obstruction case.

In a separate 2024 case, he missed a hearing, and a judge issued a bench warrant.

News Media has requested comment from prosecutors and asked ICE whether it has custody, detainer or immigration-status information involving Asare.