Pictured: Joel Leiniz (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office). Setting: Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Google Maps).
Authorities report that Joel Leiniz, aged 38, was behind the wheel when the accident occurred. The family was heading to a local taco restaurant with his three children in tow, coming from a church concert on the night of January 17. Allegations from police indicate that Leiniz was navigating Military Trail in West Palm Beach at dangerously high speeds, while under the influence. Driving an Audi Q7 SUV, Leiniz purportedly swerved to dodge another car but instead struck a concrete pole situated on the roadway’s edge.
In the back seat during the crash was his 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, along with her siblings. Sadly, Zoe succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
His 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, was one of three children in the back seat of the SUV. She died of her injuries at the hospital.
After the crash, police said one of the three children had not been wearing a seat belt. Leiniz told police at the hospital that he “did not think he was speeding because he had kids in the car.” A witness who was working security at a nightclub near the crash location corroborated Leiniz’s account that he was trying to avoid hitting another vehicle. Surveillance video also captured Leiniz’s SUV swerving to avoid another vehicle.
Further investigation of the SUV’s event data recorder determined that Leiniz was driving at 104 mph in a 40 mph zone before the crash that killed his daughter. He appeared to hit the brakes two seconds before the crash.
Police said that blood tests and medical records showed that Leiniz had a blood-alcohol content of 0.097 at the time of the crash, making him impaired.
Local NBC affiliate WPTV reported that Leiniz served as a youth pastor and ministry director at New Covenant Church. Leiniz reportedly lost his wife to cancer about a year before the crash, and the family was living off Social Security benefits and donations.
Leiniz was charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. He was arrested on Sunday and is being held at the Main Detention Center of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on $75,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 18.
Tragic Home Invasion: Lee Gilley’s Plea for Italian Protection after Alleged Squatter Threatens Site of Pregnant Wife’s Murder
As Lee Gilley battles extradition from Italy to answer to a capital murder charge in the tragic death of his pregnant wife, a separate criminal probe has ignited over a contentious claim on the deserted Houston residence they shared.
According to confirmation from the Houston Police Department, officers were called out to Gilley’s dwelling on the 800 block of Allston Street at approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 17 due to complaints of trespassing. At the scene, an individual present insisted he was entitled to be there and expressed readiness to “go to court” if necessary to validate his stance, the authorities revealed.
Houston police reached out to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which, in turn, relegated the issue to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, categorizing it as a civil dispute. The initial police engagement concluded without pressing any criminal charges.
This puzzling property conflict emerged several months after officials claim Gilley removed his court-mandated ankle monitor and absconded from the U.S., eluding his trial on murder charges and leaving their Houston Heights home unoccupied.
In the backdrop, defense lawyer Ed McClees accompanied Lee Mongerson Gilley at the 497th District Court of the Harris County Justice Center in Houston, on October 17, 2024. Gilley faces capital murder charges for the alleged murder of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Photo by Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Records reviewed by News Media show Lee and Christa Gilley purchased the Allston Street property in 2018. However, PEOPLE magazine reported that a separate warranty deed signed May 8 and filed May 21 purported to transfer the home to Save a Life Houses LLC. Matthew Jackson signed the document as an authorized representative of the Missouri-based company, according to the outlet.
What police initially treated as a civil dispute later drew criminal scrutiny. Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen announced July 6 that his office had opened a criminal investigation into the attempted takeover.
Rosen said no one was inside when investigators entered the home and nothing immediately appeared to have been stolen. Deputies removed newly installed surveillance cameras, paperwork from the windows and at least two boxes of potential evidence, KPRC reported. A locksmith also changed the locks.
Rosen said investigators were examining whether the property claim was connected to similar claims involving other vacant homes. The Harris County Attorney’s Office was also investigating the matter on the civil side, according to KPRC. Rosen did not publicly identify Jackson as a suspect, and no criminal charges have been announced in connection with the property.
Prosecutors allege Lee Mongerson Gilley killed his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, who was nine weeks pregnant, in Houston in 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)
While Texas authorities investigated the disputed property claim, Gilley, 39, remained jailed in Italy.
Gilley is charged with capital murder in the October 2024 death of Christa, who was nine weeks pregnant. The Harris County medical examiner’s office ruled her death a homicide caused by neck compression. Gilley has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have challenged that conclusion.
Federal investigators allege Gilley removed his ankle monitor May 1 and fled Texas before his scheduled trial. He later arrived at Milan Malpensa Airport using a false name and forged travel documents, according to court records, and was taken into custody by Italian authorities.
Lee Mongerson Gilley, 39, is accused of murdering his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn child in Houston in 2024. (Christa Bauer Gilley/Facebook)
During a July 15 hearing before the Turin Court of Appeal, Gilley asked judges to block his return to the United States and said he was seeking protection in Italy for himself and his children, according to NBC News.
“I am seeking protection in Italy,” Gilley said, according to NBC News. “They want to punish me, and I am asking for protection for myself and my children.”
Gilley’s Italian attorney, Monica Grosso, told NBC News that Texas authorities had not provided a formal written guarantee that prosecutors would take the death penalty off the table. Grosso said the defense had instead received an embassy note offering assurances.
Grosso also told NBC News that the defense believes Christa suffered from a blood disorder and that blood found in the couple’s bedroom was inconsistent with the prosecution’s account of her death.
Lee Mongerson Gilley and his defense attorney, Ed McClees, right, are shown in the 497th District Court at the Harris County Justice Center, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. He is charged with capital murder in the death of his wife, Christa Gilley. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
On July 20, the Turin court temporarily blocked the extradition request and sought additional assurances from the U.S. government regarding the death penalty and a possible sentence of life without parole, according to Italian court records obtained by KPRC.
The court set an Aug. 31 deadline for a response and scheduled another hearing for early September, KPRC reported.
News Media has reached out to Gilley’s attorney and the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office for comment.
Beluga Whales Find New Home After Rescue From Closed Canadian Theme Park
A monumental marine mission is underway—an operation that’s truly a whale of a task.
Kicking off Monday, animal rescue teams began the formidable task of relocating nearly 36 belugas from a now-closed Canadian theme park to new sanctuaries in the United States.
Images emerging from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Monday capture the much-anticipated rescue operation, which appears to be progressing smoothly.
These graceful sea-dwelling “canaries” —some tipping the scales at a hefty 3,500 pounds—were observed gracefully being raised from their enclosures using large slings and a robust crane.
Among the whales was Sierra, a beluga who seemed unfazed by the adventure as she was transported away by truck.
Sierra is expected to be joined by Acadia, Osiris and Lilooet at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, CBC reported, while belugas Bertie Botts and Frankie are destined to be flown out to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas.
Canadian officials confirmed that Monday was the beginning of relocation efforts for all thirty of the whales.
“The first wave of the rescue mission at Marineland is underway,” Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said.
The whale’s home at Marineland had shuttered after the death of the zoo’s owners John Holer and Marie Holer in 2024, according to CBC.
Though staff continued to care for the sea creatures, the outlet reported the whales’ fate was in the balance for some time, with the belugas living under the threat of euthanasia if a suitable home wasn’t found.
But authorities in Canada came to agreements with the US and Spain over moving the whales earlier last month, saving the creatures’ lives and giving them a new home.
Tropical Storm Bertha Nears US: Preparations Underway
A tropical storm has made its presence felt along the US Gulf Coast on Monday evening, as millions of residents prepare themselves for an imminent strike and potentially perilous conditions throughout the week.
On Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) identified the disturbance as Tropical Depression Two. As the day progressed, forecasters elevated it to the second named Atlantic storm, following an increase in wind speeds exceeding 39 mph.
Now designated as Tropical Storm Bertha, it is expected to move directly toward New Orleans, with predictions placing its arrival by Wednesday afternoon.
The storm is anticipated to unleash heavy rain and sustained winds exceeding 50 mph across the Gulf region, impacting the Florida Panhandle, as well as Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.
Bertha’s east-to-west trajectory poses a significant threat to maritime activities, as boats and coastal communities face hazards from seas and waves potentially reaching heights of 16 feet this week.
AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys said in a statement: ‘Tropical systems can bring dangerous rainfall, flash flooding, and other hazardous impacts regardless of whether they receive an official designation.’
Tropical storm warnings have already been issued along the entire Florida coast by the National Weather Service, from Tallahassee to Miami, with officials saying the storm could ‘capsize or damage vessels.’
Up to eight inches of rain are expected in multiple areas, including Florida’s Tallahassee and Panama City, and in New Orleans, where nearly one million people live throughout the seven-parish metropolitan area.
Tropical Depression Two developed into Tropical Storm Bertha Monday evening, the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season
The storm, which is expected to bring heavy rain and sustained winds of more than 50mph, forming in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday
Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to make landfall in Louisiana by Wednesday
Meteorologists expect Bertha to continue strengthening throughout Monday, as it forms in the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The rapidly forming cyclone has sustained winds of 40mph, just over the threshold to officially be a named tropical storm.
The National Hurricane Center expected stronger thunderstorms to develop and winds to pick up to between 40mph and 75mph by early Tuesday morning, when conditions will likely begin reaching their most dangerous levels.
By Tuesday night, the threat to the US is expected to peak when winds from Bertha reach 50mph and dangerous waves form along the Gulf Coast.
‘Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions,’ NWS officials warned in a statement.
Storm models show nearly all tracks for Berth predict it will make landfall in the New Orleans area by 1pm local time on Wednesday.
The last named storm to make landfall in the US was Tropical Storm Chantal in July 2025. The last named storm to strike Louisiana was Hurricane Francine in 2024.
At the same time as Bertha gathers strength in the Gulf, millions of Americans from Minnesota to Louisiana have been dealing with skyrocketing temperatures across the Central US.
Tropical Storm Bertha formed on Monday and cross over Louisiana and Texas before weakening this week
The last named storm to strike Louisiana was Hurricane Francine in 2024, which caused widespread flooding and power disruptions
In the South, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and parts of Texas are also under a heat advisory on Monday, with the heat index expected to rise to 112F in New Orleans.
Long-range forecasters recently downgraded their predictions for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, due to the global weather phenomenon known as El Niño, which historically causes fewer major storms to form in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
On July 7, AccuWeather officially lowered its predictions for hurricane season because of the impact of El Niño, which is a natural climate pattern in which the central and eastern Pacific Ocean surface temperature becomes significantly warmer than average, flipping weather patterns worldwide.
The weather agency now believes there will be between eight and 14 named storms in the Atlantic this year, down from their prediction of 11 to 16 in March.
However, AccuWeather still predicted that four to seven of these storms will reach hurricane strength, and that three to five named storms will make landfall in the US – with Bertha likely being the first this week.
AccuWeather’s Lead Long Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok told the Daily Mail in June that this does not mean Americans should let down their guard in 2026, as a major hurricane can still reach land despite the presence of El Niño.
‘It only takes one storm, and then boom! We’re not saying that El Niño is going to weaken and dampen the Atlantic Basin season completely,’ he said.
‘There’s still a lot of warm water, a lot of potential there. So, [I] just wanted to make sure [if] people were saying, “Oh, we don’t have to worry about anything this year.” That’s not true. It only takes one storm.’
4 Bed Exercises to Quickly Boost Ankle Strength Post-65
Finding yourself a bit unsteady after reaching 65? Discover four effective bed exercises that can enhance your ankle strength and improve balance.
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Ankles often go unnoticed until they give way or cause a stumble on an uneven surface. Having dedicated nearly 40 years to personal training and co-founding TRAINFITNESS—renowned as the UK’s top personal training academy—I’ve refined techniques that can fortify ankles and boost stability. Surprisingly, performing four simple exercises before you even rise from bed can be more beneficial than complex routines.
Weakness, Stiffness, And Balance
After turning 65, it’s common to encounter issues such as ankle weakness, stiffness, and decreased balance—often they appear together. Stiffness tends to be the first symptom people experience, noticeable as a lack of smooth motion right when stepping out of bed. Weakness typically follows, particularly in the smaller muscles on the outer side of the ankle, which play a crucial role in preventing the foot from rolling on uneven terrain. Lastly, balance—anchored by those small ankle adjustments—is often compromised, forming the third pillar of ankle health.
These concerns often exacerbate one another. Stiffness diminishes the ankle’s movement range, hampering muscle activation along the entire length, which increasingly weakens them. As a result, the balance system shifts to rely more heavily on the hips rather than the ankles, leading to a slower reaction time. Over time, this pattern can culminate in falls and an inability to recover from minor stumbles.
Underneath all of that, most over 65s have shoes to blame. Decades in supportive footwear mean the small muscles of the foot and ankle have been doing very little work. When the shoes come off, and the ankle has to hold you up on its own, everything wobbles.
Why Bed Beats Bands
Resistance bands are useful, but they load the ankle before it has the movement to load. Most over 65s don’t have the ankle range for a band pull to work properly, so they end up compensating with the hip or the knee, which trains the wrong pattern.
Bed exercises train the ankle through its natural range without any load. That sounds like less, but for a stiff, deconditioned joint, it’s exactly what’s needed first. The muscles wake up and start firing through their proper range, the joint fluid gets moving, and the small stabilizers relearn their job.
Bed exercises also let you feel the ankle working. Bands often mask that because the tension of the band takes over the sensation. When your foot is moving through the air against nothing but its own weight, you can feel every fiber engaging, which is how the brain learns to control the joint.
Resistance work comes later. Once the ankle has the range and the neural control from a fortnight of bed exercises, bands or bodyweight loading make sense. Starting with resistance and skipping the movement work is the mistake I see over and over.
Why Doing Them In Bed Works
The biggest barrier to daily exercise in this age group is getting started, and doing it in bed removes every excuse. No shoes, no clothes, no floor space, no cold room. The exercises are done before your feet ever touch the carpet.
There’s a physiological reason too. Overnight, the ankles stiffen up more than any other joint, especially if you sleep in a position where the foot points downwards. A few minutes of gentle movement before you stand up primes the ankle for the first steps of the day, which is the moment most falls happen.
And the pattern of doing something small every day beats doing something big once a week. The ankle responds to daily practice better than to intensity. Ten minutes on Monday morning is worth more than an hour on a Saturday.
Fiery Exchange: Tom Homan Takes on CBS’ Margaret Brennan Over Deadly Houston ICE Incident
During a discussion on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” White House border czar Tom Homan stood by the use of unmarked vehicles by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Homan sparred with host Margaret Brennan on whether officers employed emergency lights during the pursuit of a Houston man who was subsequently fatally shot.
Homan contended that unmarked vehicles are essential for officers to locate suspects effectively. He asserted that compliance in certain situations could prevent tragic outcomes.
“Ultimately, the investigation will provide clarity, but these individuals would still be with us if they had just complied during a vehicle stop orchestrated by federal law enforcement. Adherence is key,” Homan commented.
Brennan expressed concerns about the implications of using an unmarked vehicle in the incident leading to the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE officer.
According to Salgado’s family, he mistook the ICE officers for robbers rather than recognizing them as federal agents.
“Well, the family of the man in Houston said that he thought he was being robbed because it was an unmarked vehicle,” Brennan said.
“Not that it was law enforcement at all.”
Homan maintained that ICE vehicles contain equipment allowing officers to identify themselves during stops.
“They had emergency lights. They activate emergency lights. Blue lights,” Homan said.
“You know, in my vehicle I drive, where I’m with my security detail, we have emergency lights.”
Brennan challenged Homan to substantiate that claim, noting that publicly available videos did not appear to show emergency lights and the officers involved were not wearing body cameras.
“That there were lights, because the videos that we’ve seen there aren’t, and because there weren’t body cameras,” Brennan said.
“It is hard to substantiate some of what you are saying.”
Homan acknowledged that he had not reviewed the videos of the Houston incident.
“OK, well, I have not seen the videos,” Homan said.
The border czar qualified his earlier claim, saying the vehicles should have contained lights and sirens but acknowledging that he could not confirm whether officers used them.
“Now, if they didn’t activate the lights, again, I haven’t seen that video,” Homan said.
“If they didn’t activate the lights, then there’s an issue there, right?”
“A lot of police departments, I’m in New York City right now, a lot of NYPD officers are driving unmarked vehicles, and that helps them find people that don’t want to be found, right?”
He backed the nationwide deployment of body cameras, arguing that the footage would allow the public to see encounters from an officer’s perspective.
“I think body cameras are the way to go,” Homan said.
“I think body cameras let the American people know what that officer sees when he takes that action.”
Homan said ICE had purchased cameras and was training personnel to deploy nationwide.
The agency will require officers to record vehicle stops with at least one body camera.
Salgado was not the intended target of the Houston operation, federal officials acknowledged.
ICE initially said he rammed a federal vehicle and attempted to run over an officer, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense.
Witnesses in Salgado’s van disputed the agency’s account.
Six days later, an ICE officer fatally shot a Colombian driver in Biddeford, Maine, who also was not the operation’s intended target.
DHS said the officer opened fire while “fearing for public safety” as the driver attempted to flee.
Investigations into both shootings remained underway.
A third man, a 28-year-old Mexican national, was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer after fleeing federal immigration agents in St. Augustine, Florida.