In a heartfelt commemoration marking the anniversary of his niece’s passing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disclosed that her untimely demise in 2019 resulted from a fentanyl overdose.

On Friday, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary paid a poignant tribute to the memory of Saoirse Kennedy Hill. In doing so, he shared previously undisclosed details surrounding the circumstances of her death at the age of 22 in 2019.

Despite a typographical error, spelling her name as ‘Saorsie’, Kennedy wrote a touching message: ‘Remembering my beloved niece Saorsie Kennedy Hill, a luminous soul who died 7 years ago this week of an accidental fentanyl overdose.’

The tribute featured a selection of photographs capturing Saoirse’s spirit throughout her life, including joyful family portraits and opulent moments from yachting adventures. 

Shortly after sharing this heartfelt post with his millions of followers on Instagram, Kennedy opted to delete it. The reasons for its removal or his awareness of disclosing her cause of death remain uncertain.

The Daily Mail has contacted the HHS for comment. 

At the time of Saoirse’s passing in August 2019, toxicology reports found methadone, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, diazepam, nordiazepam and alcohol in her system.

Fluoxetine is an anti-depressant, and diazepam is medication to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawals. 

Saoirse – the granddaughter of assassinated presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy – was found unresponsive at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts on the night of August 2, 2019. 

She was the daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill and Paul Michael Hill, who was imprisoned in Ireland for 15 years after being falsely accused of involvement in Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombings. 

Aged just 22, the heir to the Kennedy dynasty was at home with many of her family members, including grandmother Ethel Kennedy, when she overdosed. 

She was raced to Cape Cod Hospital, and she was pronounced dead soon after. 

Ethel Kennedy, then-91, shared a heartbreaking statement following Saoirse’s death, saying that ‘the world is a little less beautiful today.’

Saoirse had been open about her struggles with mental illness, depression and anxiety, including sharing an op-ed in her student newspaper at the prestigious Deerfield Academy in 2016. 

She wrote at the time that her depression ‘took root in the beginning of my middle school years and will be with me for the rest of my life.’

The political scion indicated that the weight of her family name wore on her, as she said she suffered from ‘deep bouts of sadness that felt like a heavy boulder on my chest.’ 

Saoirse’s sudden death seven years ago marked one of the most heartbreaking chapter’s in the Kennedy family’s long list of tragedies, which have become commonly known as the ‘Kennedy curse.’

The so-called ‘Kennedy curse’ began with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, when he was gunned down in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. 

In the decades since, the family has suffered numerous tragedies and unexpected deaths, including another assassination, four fatal plane crashes, and several overdoses. 

Last year, the family was struck by its latest heartbreak as Tatiana Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s granddaughter – died from cancer aged just 35. 

What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated into a nightmarish scene when a suspect allegedly fled the scene with one police officer trapped inside his car and another being dragged alongside the speeding vehicle.

This tumultuous event took place in Eustis, Florida, during the weekend and has left the community in shock.

According to the Eustis Police Department, the trouble began in the early hours of Saturday morning. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Shakoi Donovan, allegedly drove away with one officer embroiled in the driver’s area of his car, while also dragging a second officer for about 10 to 15 feet along the road.

Footage from another officer’s bodycam captures a harrowing image of one officer lying on the ground, highlighting the severity of the situation.

It all started when the officers pulled Donovan over on suspicion he was driving under the influence. A police report says officers spotted a silver Infiniti weaving over a yellow line on a local street.

Two officers stopped Donovan and confronted him, asking him to step out of the car.

When he allegedly did not comply with the officers’ repeated requests to get out, they opened his car door and reached toward the suspect in an attempt to physically remove him while the vehicle was running.

It was right at this moment that the suspect is seen on officer-worn bodycamera video speeding away with one officer inside his car.

One officer is heard yelling, “He’s taking off Eustis 77 is in the car!”

The report said she was pinned between Donovan and the steering wheel.

The second officer was dragged by the vehicle “sending him tumbling across the S. Eustis Street asphalt, barrel rolling multiple times,” the police report said.

His “roll” was captured on camera. He was treated for injuries.

The full police report is available here:

Court records indicate this is not Donovan’s first run-in with the law. He was previously arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in May and was also arrested on burglary and battery charges in 2022, among other arrests within Lake County, Florida.

Donovan is facing a list of charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting with violence, among others.

He was still in jail as of Friday and is due in court on Aug. 24.

In a shocking suburban incident, a Detroit couple stands accused of hurling an explosive device, ominously inscribed with a two-word warning, into the yard of their unsuspecting neighbor, local prosecutors have revealed.

Residents of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Jason Showers, 45, and Megan Showers, 38, could potentially face lengthy prison sentences if convicted. The charges stem from an unsettling encounter that occurred on Monday, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

Authorities allege that Megan Showers ignited the explosive—a distinctive red, cylindrical object marked with the phrase “BYE BYE”—before her husband, Jason, launched it into the lawn of their 72-year-old neighbor.

Fortunately, the quick-thinking neighbor managed to neutralize the threat by extinguishing the device, officials reported.

Subsequent searches of the Showers’ residence by law enforcement reportedly uncovered a cache of firearms, ammunition, and components for constructing explosive devices, as detailed by prosecutors.

“The allegations in this case are serious and especially troubling because they involve a senior member of our community. My office is committed to protecting public safety and prosecuting cases where individuals are accused of endangering others,” Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a statement.

Jason and Megan Showers are charged with placing explosives near property and possessing bombs with unlawful intent, both felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Jason Showers also faces charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

On top of that, prosecutors charged him with two counts of felony firearm possession, with each count carrying a mandatory two-year sentence that must be served consecutively to the underlying felony if he is convicted.

Since Jason Showers is a habitual offender with at least four prior felony convictions, the judge will be able to impose a life sentence if he is convicted of any one of the four top charges, prosecutors said.

The couple made their first appearance in court on Wednesday, public records show. Their first probable cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

The judge granted Jason Showers a $100,000 cash-only bond. However, records show that he is still behind bars at the Macomb County Jail.

If he posts bond, he would have to wear a steel cuff GPS tether, the judge ordered. He would also be prohibited from returning to his home or having any contact with his wife or the neighbor.

Megan Showers’ bond was set at $20,000, but the judge gave her the ability to pay 10% through a bail bondsman, prosecutors said.

The judge said she could return to her marital home, but she cannot have contact with her husband or the neighbor.

Though summer is still in full swing, one coffee chain has already set its sights on the cozy embrace of autumn.

La Colombe is ahead of the fall festivities, reintroducing its beloved Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte starting August 4—well before Starbucks unveils its fall-themed offerings later this month.

This early release highlights the competitive rush among retailers eager to tap into America’s pumpkin spice passion. According to research commissioned by La Colombe, approximately 70 percent of U.S. consumers eagerly anticipate this seasonal flavor’s yearly debut.

Based in Philadelphia, La Colombe says this year marks the earliest they’ve ever released their Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte, granting autumn enthusiasts a taste of fall even as summer heat lingers across the nation.

This version from La Colombe features genuine pumpkin purée paired with a blend of warm spices, offering a smoother and less sweet spin on the classic autumnal favorite.

The drink will be available in all La Colombe cafés from August 4.

Its arrival comes just three weeks before Starbucks officially launches its highly anticipated fall menu on August 25, when the chain’s iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) returns alongside a raft of new and returning seasonal drinks.

This year Starbucks is also introducing several new pumpkin-inspired beverages, including an Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, while bringing back fan favorites including the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai.

The coffee giant is also reviving its popular pecan-flavored drinks, launching banana bread-inspired beverages and debuting a new cider-inspired chai drink dubbed the Chaider.

But while Starbucks has become almost synonymous with pumpkin spice season, it wasn’t actually the first company to experiment with pumpkin-flavored coffee.

Independent coffee shops across the US had been serving pumpkin spice lattes for years, but Starbucks’ 2003 launch transformed the niche autumn drink into a global cultural phenomenon. 

The drink – which underwent months of product testing – was originally launched at around 100 stores before quickly expanding nationwide after proving an instant success.

The original recipe combined Starbucks’ signature espresso with steamed milk, pumpkin pie-inspired spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice. 

Interestingly, the first Pumpkin Spice Latte did not actually contain real pumpkin, relying instead on flavored syrup to recreate the taste.

That changed in 2015, when Starbucks reformulated the drink following growing consumer demand for simpler ingredients. 

Since then, the syrup has included real pumpkin puree alongside cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

More than two decades after its debut, Starbucks says hundreds of millions of Pumpkin Spice Lattes have been sold worldwide, making it one of the most successful seasonal beverages ever created.

The drink’s popularity has also helped fuel what marketing experts now call the ‘pumpkin spice economy.’ 

Every year, retailers release thousands of pumpkin spice-themed products ranging from breakfast cereals and cookies to candles, dog treats, deodorant and even Spam.

The annual return of pumpkin spice has also become something of a cultural milestone, with social media users treating the launch as the unofficial beginning of fall – regardless of what the calendar says.

Retailers have increasingly been pushing seasonal launches earlier each year as they compete to capture consumer attention, with Halloween merchandise often appearing in stores by July and Christmas products arriving before October.

Coffee chains are no exception.

By unveiling its Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte on August 4, La Colombe has beaten Starbucks to market by three weeks – potentially tempting eager fans who simply can’t wait until the coffee giant’s traditional late-August launch.

Alongside its drinks, Starbucks will also introduce new seasonal food items this year, including a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket, a Hedgehog Cake Pop, and the returning Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin. 

The company is also releasing a new collection of pumpkin-themed merchandise for self-proclaimed members of its ‘PSL Society.’

Whether La Colombe’s head start proves enough to lure loyal Starbucks customers remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: pumpkin spice season has officially arrived – even if summer hasn’t quite left yet.

In an unsettling incident just outside Detroit, a suburban couple is facing serious charges after allegedly launching an explosive with a menacing message into their neighbor’s yard, local authorities revealed.

Jason Showers, aged 45, along with his 38-year-old wife, Megan Showers, of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, are each facing potentially lengthy prison sentences if found guilty of the allegations stemming from Monday’s alarming occurrence, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors allege that it was Megan Showers who ignited the red, cylindrical explosive device, ominously inscribed with “BYE BYE,” before it was hurled by Jason Showers into the yard of their 72-year-old neighbor.

Fortunately, the neighbor managed to successfully extinguish the device, averting what could have been a dangerous situation, authorities stated.

Law enforcement officials later searched the Showers’ home, finding “firearms, ammunition, and materials for assembling explosive devices,” according to prosecutors.

“The allegations in this case are serious and especially troubling because they involve a senior member of our community. My office is committed to protecting public safety and prosecuting cases where individuals are accused of endangering others,” Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a statement.

Jason and Megan Showers are charged with placing explosives near property and possessing bombs with unlawful intent, both felonies that each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Jason Showers also faces charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

On top of that, prosecutors charged him with two counts of felony firearm possession, with each count carrying a mandatory two-year sentence that must be served consecutively to the underlying felony if he is convicted.

Since Jason Showers is a habitual offender with at least four prior felony convictions, the judge will be able to impose a life sentence if he is convicted of any one of the four top charges, prosecutors said.

OLD TRAILS FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED TO SETTING 25 FIRES; JUDGE DOUBLES BAIL TO $2M

The couple made their first appearance in court on Wednesday, public records show. Their first probable cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14.

The judge granted Jason Showers a $100,000 cash-only bond. However, records show that he is still behind bars at the Macomb County Jail.

If he posts bond, he would have to wear a steel cuff GPS tether, the judge ordered. He would also be prohibited from returning to his home or having any contact with his wife or the neighbor.

Megan Showers’ bond was set at $20,000, but the judge gave her the ability to pay 10% through a bail bondsman, prosecutors said.

The judge said she could return to her marital home, but she cannot have contact with her husband or the neighbor.

The Eastern Seaboard and Ohio Valley are bracing for another bout of severe weather, with potent thunderstorms predicted to roll through from Friday to Sunday. This weather system threatens to unleash torrential downpours, heightening the risk of flash flooding in regions of the Northeast already drenched earlier this week.

This turbulent weather pattern is fueled by a high-pressure system off the coast, which is pushing abundant moisture northward into these areas.

As this high pressure draws Atlantic moisture inland, a looming cold front promises to stir up showers and thunderstorms across the eastern United States, ensuring a weekend of changeable weather.

Starting Friday afternoon, a cold front will extend from the Great Lakes region down into the central Plains, triggering storms as it moves southeast toward the Northeast. This will likely lead to increased atmospheric instability, setting the stage for widespread showers and thunderstorms.

During the most intense storms, rainfall could reach up to 2.5 inches per hour. Given the already saturated ground in many of these areas, the risk of flash flooding remains significant, demanding vigilance throughout the weekend.

A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk is in place across much of the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Southeast through Saturday. This includes major cities such as New York City, Washington, DC, Charlotte, and Atlanta.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has also issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms beginning Friday afternoon across a corridor from the tip of southwestern Connecticut and New York’s Lower Hudson Valley through eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey to the Delmarva.

This includes the I-95 corridor from New York City to Washington, DC. Damaging wind gusts are expected to be the main threat.

However, not everyone along the East Coast will experience heavy rain. Areas that miss out on the storms will instead contend with hot and humid conditions.

Heat alerts have been issued from Philadelphia to Boston, where heat index values could climb above 100 degrees in some locations. Those alerts could be extended into Saturday.

Residents across parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic should expect widespread rainfall totals of 0.5 to one inch, with localized amounts of one to two inches or more where thunderstorms repeatedly track over the same locations through Saturday and Sunday.

Additional heavy rainfall could impact communities that experienced significant flash flooding last month.

For example, Bridgeport, CT, has recorded more than seven inches above average rainfall this year, while Albany, NY, is running more than five inches above average, leaving both areas more vulnerable to additional flooding.

Lara Trump has fiercely defended herself against allegations that she appeared disengaged by checking her watch during the funeral of Lindsey Graham.

The widely respected South Carolina Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, sadly passed away on July 11. Lara, age 43, joined mourners at his memorial service held on July 28 at the esteemed Washington National Cathedral.

Following the ceremony, a social media uproar ensued as footage captured Lara glancing at her timepiece during the heartfelt tribute.

Observers quickly criticized her actions, with some suggesting that her behavior implied reluctance to attend, while others commented on an apparent lack of interest, deeming it ‘inappropriate.’

Addressing the online backlash head-on, Lara shared her perspective on her show, The Right View With Lara Trump, advising critics to ‘not take themselves too seriously.’

‘We went to the funeral. My kids are in camp in New York for the summer and obviously I was in Washington, D.C., for the funeral,’ she explained.

‘Sometime around the middle of this whole thing – it was about two hours plus that we were there – on my Apple watch, I start getting phone calls, several, from the camp that my kids go to.

‘Well, any parent knows that’s not good, that means there’s a problem and they may need to reach me. That means someone is hurt or something. 

‘So, I did what any parent would do, and I tried to, very discreetly, inquire as to what was going on so that I could at least know that I had the ability to stay seated in the funeral. 

‘But the only thing you’ll see [online is], “Lara Trump checks her watch,” like I’m checking the time. Get over yourselves.’

Lara, who shares two kids, daughter Carolina, eight, and son Eric, six, with her husband, Eric Trump, 42, said it was an example of how ‘so much of what you see out there is manipulated.’

‘It just shows you don’t have the full context when you hear these crazy people railing on us online,’ she added. ‘You don’t know what’s going on.

‘And by the way, we were there for again over two hours, so if that’s the only thing you got out of that whole thing… if the only mistake anybody made in our family – of course, we will always make mistakes for the lunatics out there – was that I happened to glance down and try to figure out like what’s going on with my kids then I think we’re doing okay.’

Fortunately, she said both of her kids were ‘okay.’ 

‘But there was a situation, hence, the need to contact me in the middle of this,’ she went on. 

‘Any parent knows how that feels and would do the same thing. I was as discreet as possible.’

Lara was joined at the funeral by her father-in-law, President Donald Trump, who praised Graham as a ‘legend’ who rose from humble roots to become a powerful force to be reckoned with in the US Senate during a speech.

‘He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart,’ Trump said of Graham. ‘Until that heart itself just gave out.’ 

The late South Carolina Republican died unexpectedly at 71.

‘While he was always quick to laugh, no one ever doubted the gravity of his mission to build a strong America,’ Trump continued.

‘There’s probably not a single town in South Carolina where Lindsey did not help repair a bridge, expand a school, improve a hospital, or recover from a disaster.’

After footage of Lara checking her watch went viral on X, viewers were quick to slam her. 

‘She did not want to be there,’ one user theorized.

‘This is never a good look,’ another chimed in.

‘She is bored,’ replied a third person.

‘You bored Lara?’ asked someone else.

Others, however, defended her. 

‘As a mother, I frequently check my watch if a message comes up to ensure my kids are okay,’ read another reply.

‘She’s wearing a smart watch. More than likely she is reading a text message and probably one that pertains to her children who did not accompany their parents to a funeral,’ penned someone else.

‘So what? She checked a message on her smart watch. She’s got little kids. Completely acceptable,’ agreed a different viewer.

Authorities are on a manhunt for a suspect considered “armed and dangerous” in relation to a recent homicide and subsequent house fire in upstate New York.

Officials from the New York State Police issued an alert early Friday morning, urging the public to keep an eye out for 32-year-old Thomas David Ryan. He is sought in connection with a murder that took place in a Greenville residence.

Law enforcement suspects this murder is linked to a house fire that ignited Thursday on Greenville Turnpike. As reported by FOX 5 New York, Orange County firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after 7 p.m. to combat the flames.

The identity of the victim has not yet been disclosed by investigators, and it remains unclear whether the murder took place before or subsequent to the fire.

The suspect may be driving a 2016 gray Toyota Prius bearing NY license plate HNH-7671, police said.

“Ryan is 6’2″ 200 lbs and was last seen in the area of Greenville [Turnpike] wearing black sweatpants and a black t shirt. Anyone coming in contact with Ryan is advised to use caution,” NYSP said.

Police said if you see the suspect do not approach him, instead call 911.