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Australian Women and Children Seek Repatriation from Syrian Detention Camp

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In Brief:

  • Four Australian families have left a camp in Syria in a renewed attempt to return home.
  • The families’ departure was reportedly organised in co-ordination with the Syrian government in Damascus.

In a fresh effort to bring their citizens back home, four Australian families have recently departed from a Syrian camp known for housing individuals linked to the Islamic State group. These families are making their way towards Australia, according to official reports.

Witnessed by journalists from the Associated Press, a group comprising 13 women and children was seen leaving the Roj camp, a secluded site near the Iraq border. This camp is primarily used to accommodate relatives of those suspected of being IS militants. Their exit was facilitated by a Syrian government delegation that provided transportation and security.

Lana Hussein, an official with the Women’s Protection Units of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, confirmed that this relocation was organized in collaboration with the central government in Damascus. The Syrian Democratic Forces are responsible for maintaining security at the camp.

According to Hussein, the families are scheduled to stay in Damascus for approximately 72 hours before being “deported under security procedures” to ensure their safe return to Australia.

A soldier stands guard with a weapon in a carpark as vehicles arrive.
Vehicles arrive at Roj Camp in eastern Syria, which houses people with alleged ties to Islamic State militants, to transport Australian families to Damascus as part of a second repatriation effort by Syrian authorities. Source: AAP / Baderkhan Ahmad/AP

At this time, officials from both the Syrian foreign ministry and the Australian government have not offered any public remarks regarding the situation.

A previous attempt to return 34 women and children to Australia from the camp in February was aborted after being turned back by Syrian authorities.

Australian authorities at the time said they would not repatriate the families, and the Albanese government later issued a temporary exclusion order banning one of the women from returning.

It was not immediately clear if there had been co-ordination with the Australian government before the new attempt on Friday.

Roj camp is in an area of northeast Syria controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, but the Australians had planned to fly out of Damascus.

A brick wall surrounds a tent camp housing refugees.
A brick wall surrounds a tent camp housing people with alleged ties to Islamic State militants at Roj Camp in eastern Syria. Source: AAP / Baderkhan Ahmad/AP

Camp officials said at the time that the planned repatriations were organised by family members of the returnees rather than directly by Australian authorities.

Former IS fighters from multiple countries, their wives and children, were held in a network of camps and detention centres in northeast Syria after the militant group lost control of its territory in Syria in 2019. Though defeated, the group still has sleeper cells that carry out deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq.

The larger al-Hol camp has now been closed down, while thousands of suspected IS militants previously held in Syria were transferred to Iraq by the US military to stand trial there.

The moves came after fighting broke out between government forces and the SDF in January. Government forces seized much of the territory formerly held by the SDF. Amid the chaos and clashes, many detainees fled al Hol and some prisoners escaped from a detention centre.

Australian governments have repatriated Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps on two occasions. Other Australians have also returned without government assistance.


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Tragic High-Speed Crash Claims Life of Teen Son, Father Charged

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Inset: Edgar Banuelos (Monterey County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The rural road where Banuelos allegedly crashed his car and killed his son in Monterey County, Calif. (Google Maps).

A man from California has been arrested following a high-speed crash that resulted in a fiery accident, tragically claiming the life of his teenage son, according to state law enforcement.

Edgar Banuelos, aged 37, faces charges including second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and three counts of child abuse related to endangering a minor under conditions likely to cause substantial harm. This tragic incident led to the death of his 16-year-old son, Edgar Jeremiah Banuelos-Gonzalez, as reported by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

The fatal crash took place on the night of April 3 on Meridian Road, just east of Revilla Drive in a remote part of Monterey County, approximately 20 miles northeast of the city of Monterey, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Formal charges against Banuelos were filed by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, as part of a criminal complaint.

During a court appearance on Wednesday, prosecutors disclosed additional information about the case, as reported by the Salinas-based NBC and ABC affiliate, KSBW.

“We take that extraordinarily seriously,” Monterey County Chief Assistant District Attorney Berkley Brannon said in an apparent reference to the drunk-driving allegations. “When you combine that with driving at this speed in a residential area, it constitutes murder.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty during the hearing, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.

Law enforcement claim Banuelos was driving westbound around 8 p.m., going 100 mph in a 25 mph zone, when he lost control of his Volkswagen sedan, veered off the road, and slammed into a tree.

Upon impact, the car burst into flames, authorities said.

“The car was going so fast, it became airborne over a small hill,” Brannon added. “He had three children in the car, three of his children. And he had alcohol in his system. And one of the kids, the 16-year-old, ended up burning in the car.”

The deceased teenager’s brothers, a 14-year-old and a 7-year-old, survived the crash and were treated at a hospital in San Jose with moderate injuries, according to the highway patrol. The defendant, for his part, suffered major injuries.

“This isn’t a story about, you know, driving under the influence, even,” the prosecutor continued. “This is a story about just a willful and wanton disregard for human life. He was very close to his house. I mean, this was totally unnecessary.”

The children’s mother has responded to the tragic news with calls for forgiveness, love and understanding.

“We don’t have room for hate in our heart,” Jessica Gonzalez previously told KSBW. “Just love and peace. I ask the community to please don’t have anger toward anyone. Toward his dad. Let’s forgive.”

Now, the grieving mother is expressing consternation at the state for the severity of the charges leveled against Banuelos.

“Honestly, like it breaks my heart to see that they’re charging him with murder,” she recently told the TV station. “Honestly, Edgar has always been there for his kids.”

In another prior interview, Gonzalez remembered her deceased child fondly, telling KSBW he was an athlete with whom she shared a special bond and spent a great deal of time with.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows how grateful me and my family and my kids are,” she said. “My baby boy Edgar. Was a really, really great kid. Who always brought a smile to everyone. No matter how upset they were, he always tried to be silly.”

The defendant is detained in the Monterey County Jail on $1.4 million bail. He is next slated to appear in court on May 6.

Alleged Cartier Heiress Stands Her Ground, Dismisses Critics as ‘Mean Girls’ in Partying Defense


Andrea Bartzen, a 60-year-old who has been accused of posing as a fake Cartier heiress, was seen last Tuesday in the softly illuminated courtyard of Bice, a restaurant in Palm Beach, Florida. Dressed in an elegant Alice and Olivia gown, she indulged in Champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

Among the high-profile attendees she mingled with were former Navy SEAL William Branum, ex-professional basketball player Gary Forbes, and Rachel Uchitel, once linked to Tiger Woods. Bartzen orchestrated the gathering as part of a “Cocktails and Conversation” event, setting the ticket price at $150 each.

“I assemble the influential and affluent under one roof,” she confidently shared with The Post, referring to her extensive network of wealthy entrepreneurs.

Nonetheless, Bartzen found herself a topic of intrigue as much as her distinguished guests, in the wake of a critical New York Magazine piece. The exposé accused her of adopting the name Andrea Cartier Bartzen, falsely claiming ties to the luxury jewelry lineage to boost her credibility and secure sponsorships for her events.

Further allegations suggested she was known for gatecrashing parties, fabricating significant details about her background, evading bills, and feigning membership in elite circles—all to amass wealth and social standing.

Her partner in it all? Matthew Rockefeller, 39, a former magician apparently now posing as an oil heir, who Bartzen met over Facebook. His real name is Matthew Tomasko, according to New York Magazine.

Bartzen says any claims of fabrication are lies, the work of a small network of people jealous of her success.

“I never go around saying that I’m an heiress,” said Bartzen, although she currently has a post pinned to her Instagram devoted to her grandmother, Mary Cartier Bartzen, who she says “was just like Jackie O.”

When asked to trace back her family lineage to the Cartier family, Bartzen provided The Post a photo of a family tree that shows she is related to a Francis Cartier of Quebec, Canada — not the Parisienne jewelry patriarch, Louis-Francois Cartier.

Still, she maintains the relationship is “indirect” — whatever that means — and her grandmother was Mary Cartier. This may be true, but The Post could not find anything relating Bartzen to the jewelry family.

At one point during her Tuesday event a party crasher called out the huge elephant in the palm tree decked courtyard, shouting: “Are you going to address the allegations of you being a fraud?”

Bartzen said the woman was escorted out and that she later apologized.

The Ohio native is adamant she won’t back down — insisting the New York Magazine story was planted entirely to damage her and her networking business.

“It was a complete mean girl, malicious intent to take me down,” Bartzen said, claiming a woman named Rolise Rachel tried to steal her high-end connections.

“She saw my life on social media. I had posted all these great things. She saw I had true established credibility in the business world,” Bartzen said.

Rachel disputes this, telling The Post: “Andrea Bartzen has this narrative in her mind that I put a group of people together [and] created the article. This is completely false.”

She also disputes Bartzen’s reputational claims, giving an example of how she reportedly crashed the wedding of a couple she did not know at Palm Beach’s Flagler Museum, claiming to be a friend of the bride.

“Within minutes of her arrival I knew that the mother of the bride was besides herself.

“I’m not sure why she would use the Cartier name except for the obvious reasons. I’ve met many heiress — this is not their typical behavior,” Rachel added to The Post.

She and Bartzen had collaborated on one event in the Hamptons,, which was, by many accounts, badly catered. It ended with Rachel out of pocket of any proceeds and with her contact book mysteriously disappeared, she claimed to New York Magazine.

Bartzen told The Post she moved to New York City in the 90s, comparing her life to TV show “Sex and the City.” She claimed to work in pharmaceutical advertising at huge agencies including McCann. 

By the 2010s, she says she had cemented herself on the socialite-decked charity benefit circuit. 

Bartzen says she now runs Global Passion Projects, a well-respected company committed to connecting “visionaries, investors, and change-makers worldwide.” She boasts they even hosted an actual event with the Cartier luxury brand.

Bartzen said she met Rockefeller, who did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment, in 2024 and they instantly connected. She had no reason to believe he wasn’t a part of the famously moneyed family dynasty.

“I met him as Matthew Rockefeller. Of course I took his word for it,” Bartzen said, although she adds the magazine story tore them apart.

“This article broke us up. It ruined both of our lives.The stress from it. We had true genuine connection. We were both dealing with the trauma of it. Who knows what will happen,” she lamented to The Post.

Rockefeller has also come on board with Global Passion Projects in the last couple of years.

One of their more notorious projects was a yacht at Miami Hedge Fund week 2024, booking sponsors for up to $12,000 and promising them access to a network of thousands of investors, according to promotional documents.

Bartzen assured “The Rockefellers are coming!” and fronted $15,000 for the venue, given by entrepreneurs whom Bartzen reportedly vowed to pay back.

After the event, at least two sponsors reportedly asked for their money back, according to New York Magazine.

Bartzen tells The Post the allegations are “a lie,” that she “personally paid for all bills and events” and she was being “sabotaged” by an anonymous group of women devoted to ruining her.  

“They tried to get venues and yachts to pull out,” she said.

She also claims the same group “ran up bills,” including an $8,000 tab at a bar inside The Ben hotel in Palm Beach.

“They put party crashers on my bills and had competing events to mine. It was one thing after another. I ended up double and triple paying for everything,” she claims.

Others told The Post Bartzen appears to be engaged in the increasingly modern practice of living her life based on her own “version” of the truth, passing off opinions as fact and choosing to interpret the events around her in the best possible light.

She says she’ll never let the cabal of alleged “mean girls” on the socialite scenes in Florida and New York stop her living the high life and from doing what she does best — partying.

“There’s no way I will let them ruin my events,” she added.

Suspected Arson Incident Strikes Popular Melbourne CBD Bar

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Three people have been arrested after an alleged arson attack on an iconic Melbourne CBD bar.
Police were notified when Melbourne City Council staff spotted a suspicious vehicle on safety cameras near the corner of Flinders and AC/DC lanes.
When police arrived at the scene they found the late night venue Bar Bambi on AC/DC Lane ablaze.
Alleged Melbourne CBD arson attack
An alleged arson attack in AC/DC Lane. (Nine)

For the second time this week, a local bar has been targeted by vandals, yet the determined owners plan to reopen tonight without fail.

The venue was bustling with patrons well into the early morning hours.

At around 5 a.m., arsonists broke through the entrance and attempted to ignite the establishment.

The culprits, a group of three, were captured by city CCTV cameras driving a Toyota ute suspiciously, leading to their swift apprehension.

Bar Bambi fire
Three people have been arrested after an alleged arson attack on an iconic Melbourne CBD bar. (9News)

This incident is the latest in a series of attacks linked to underworld activities, focusing on alcohol distributors and hospitality spots.

The bar, owned by businessman Nick Russian, was smashed into exactly a week ago.

It is one of several high-profile hospitality venues to have been targeted this month including Soho bar The Men’s Gallery and The Albion.

Nine News understands a new crime syndicate is believed to be behind the spree with possible links to Middle Eastern crime gangs.

Bar Bambi fire
Three people have been arrested after an alleged arson attack on an iconic Melbourne CBD bar. (9News)

Police are investigating whether the gang’s objective is to get a stronghold on the booze market through scare tactics and extortion, including violent kidnappings.

Victoria Police have vowed to bolster security.

Sally Curtain, CEO of Victorian Chamber of Commerce said other venues are “increasing security.”

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Running Point Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Niko Mijailovic: The Story Behind the Dedication

The popular Netflix series Running Point has returned for its highly anticipated second season, paying tribute to Niko Mijailovic in its latest episode.

Episode three featured a heartfelt tribute card that read, “In Loving Memory of #6 Niko Mijailovic.” Mijailovic was a talented varsity volleyball player who tragically passed away in 2025 at the young age of 15.

Attending a private school in Los Angeles, Mijailovic succumbed to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in April 2025. During his memorial service, it was shared that the last show he enjoyed with his family was Running Point. The series stars Kate Hudson as Isla, a reformed party girl who is tasked with managing her family’s professional basketball team, offering her a chance to prove herself.

In the wake of Mijailovic’s untimely passing, his older sister Mila expressed her grief and the shock that enveloped their family and friends.

MCDCOSEEC007 celebrity deaths of 2026 david wilcock

Meanwhile, 2026 marked a year of significant losses in Hollywood, with the entertainment world mourning several iconic figures. The year began with the passing of Broadway star and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford at 46. Later that month, comedy legend Catherine O’Hara died at 71. February saw the loss of Camilla Carr, known for her role in Designing Women, at the age of 83, alongside other notable figures.

“There was no warning, and as far as we knew, he was completely healthy,” she wrote via Instagram in April while showing support for the Huddle For Hearts initiative. “He was always active and played sports his entire life. He loved volleyball the most, playing both on his high school varsity team as a freshman, as well as playing club.”

Mila reflected on her bond with her brother, adding, “He was there for every single part of my volleyball career, always supporting me.”

She continued: “As an athlete, he had a lot of drive and a lot of big goals. He also wanted to play Division I volleyball one day, and I always looked forward to seeing him achieve that. He also just has always been a really bright and happy person. He always made people feel comfortable and included. He was my number one supporter.”

Mila got emotional about weathering the major personal loss.

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“He was my brother, but also my best friend,” she concluded. “Losing him has been the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, but what makes it harder is that we didn’t know anything was wrong. There weren’t any signs that something like this was going to happen, until the one morning I got the phone call that he just didn’t wake up.”

Mijailovic’s school Campbell Hall paid tribute by retiring his jersey, writing via Instagram, “Niko was a true light within our community. Niko joined Campbell Hall in Kindergarten and grew into a beloved and thriving member of our varsity boys’ volleyball team. Beyond his incredible athletic talent, Niko was known for his quiet confidence, kind heart, and deep love for his friends and family. 🕊️💙💛.”

Shane Warne’s Remarkable Legacy: The Generous Inheritance for His Three Children

Shane Warne, the legendary cricketer, ensured his legacy would endure through a substantial inheritance left for his children following his untimely passing in 2022.

Documents from Warne’s final will, drafted mere months before his death, revealed he had accumulated an impressive fortune of $20.7 million.

This wealth was divided among his three children: Brooke, aged 28, Jackson, aged 26, and Summer, aged 23, each receiving approximately $6.41 million as their share of their father’s estate.

In a heartfelt gesture, Warne designated his cherished vehicle collection, valued at $375,500, to his son and “best mate,” Jackson. This collection included a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, and a Yamaha motorbike.

The famed cricketer’s estate comprised $5 million in an Australian bank account, $514,000 held overseas, a $6.5 million beachfront property in Melbourne, nearly $3 million in shares, and $2 million in personal possessions, which notably included a jet ski.

Shane Warne (pictured) left behind a sizeable inheritance for his children after his tragic death in 2022

Shane Warne (pictured) left behind a sizeable inheritance for his children after his tragic death in 2022

Warne's final will, drafted just months before he died, revealed that the cricketer had amassed an incredible $20.7 million fortune. His children, Brooke, 28, Jackson, 26, Summer, 23, (all pictured) each inherited just under a third of their father's assets - about $6.41 million each

Warne’s final will, drafted just months before he died, revealed that the cricketer had amassed an incredible $20.7 million fortune. His children, Brooke, 28, Jackson, 26, Summer, 23, (all pictured) each inherited just under a third of their father’s assets – about $6.41 million each

The athlete had spun his stellar cricketing talent and massive personality into a hugely successful business career after his retirement from the sport in 2007. 

In 2019, he founded a gin distillery named 708 Gin, produced in Western Australia. One of his tipples won the gold medal at the Australian Gin Awards that year.

In August 2020, Warne launched a fragrance called SW23, a mix of his initials and the number he wore playing cricket for Australia. 

He bought, renovated and sold at least five homes in trendy Brighton, Melbourne – in one case buying and selling a mansion twice between 2001 and 2018 and earning $18.8 million.

Another property he bought for $3.7 million in 2007 and sold for $6.7 million two years later, while he made a similar profit on a $7.5 million property, which he sold for $10.8 million four years later.  

Warne also has an apartment in the $540 million dollar Saint Moritz complex in St Kilda, which he is said to have purchased in 2018 for $5.4 million. 

With 93 per cent of his $20,711,013.27 assets going to his three children, the remaining seven per cent was distributed among his brother Jason (two per cent) and his brother’s children, Sebastian and Tyla (two and a half per cent each). 

His ex-wife Simone Callahan, who he was married to for 15 years, was not listed in the will. 

Warne requested his prized $375,500 vehicle collection - including a BMW, Mercedes-Benz and a Yamaha motorbike - to be left to his son and 'best mate' Jackson

Warne requested his prized $375,500 vehicle collection – including a BMW, Mercedes-Benz and a Yamaha motorbike – to be left to his son and ‘best mate’ Jackson 

One of Warne's property investments involved buying and selling a huge bluestone mansion twice between 2001 and 2018, earning $18,888,888

One of Warne’s property investments involved buying and selling a huge bluestone mansion twice between 2001 and 2018, earning $18,888,888

It comes after Jackson revealed how his new career move is ‘therapy’ to help him cope with the loss of his father. 

He has launched his new podcast, Warnes Way, and explains how he pays tribute to his dad on set. 

‘We’ve got a studio we’ve set up which is in dad’s old office so it feels like he’s there,’ Jackson told the Herald Sun. 

‘We’ve got all his memorabilia, his book, his ashtray, it’s really special.’

Jackson says that he and his dad had originally planned to do a father-and-son podcast together back in 2018, but it never happened. 

With guests who knew his dad – such as Eddie McGuire and Mark Howard – Jackson says the podcast has served as a means of healing his grief.

‘I’m also treating it as a bit of therapy for me,’ the professional poker player said. 

‘I don’t see a therapist, but when I talk to people like Mark Howard and Eddie McGuire it’s so personal and we talk about stories with dad.’

Jackson has revealed how his new career move is 'therapy' to help him cope with the loss of his father. He has launched his new podcast, Warnes Way, and explains how he pays tribute to his dad on set

Jackson has revealed how his new career move is ‘therapy’ to help him cope with the loss of his father. He has launched his new podcast, Warnes Way, and explains how he pays tribute to his dad on set

Jackson announced the new podcast in an Instagram post earlier this week.  

‘First episode goes live Monday the 11th of August. Listen and watch on YouTube and Spotify,’ he explained in his caption. 

Guests will include Aaron Finch and Andrew Bassat. 

The podcast is edited and filmed by Jackson’s girlfriend, Kiah Broadsmith.

Legendary cricketer Shane Warne died aged 52 from a heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand.

 

 

Emails Uncover Reality TV Crew’s Exclusive Access to Sheriff Heading Nancy Guthrie Investigation

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EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: The Pima County Sheriff’s Department collaborated extensively with a reality TV crew, offering them video footage and access to deputies. This included capturing arrest scenes and use-of-force situations that later prompted internal scrutiny, as revealed through emails accessed by Fox News Digital.

These emails further disclose that the head of the department’s homicide and cold case divisions had been reassigned in the year preceding the alleged abduction of Nancy Guthrie from her residence in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills. Guthrie, aged 84 and the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reportedly kidnapped months after the reality show’s filming concluded.

On June 18, 2025, producer Amanda Riley reached out seeking contact details for the sergeants overseeing various units. In a response dated two days later, Capt. Robert Koumal noted that the department had undergone several rotational reassignments since the previous year, indicating that the leaders of all requested teams had been changed.

Pima County deputies examining a flyer taped to a mailbox outside Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson

Pima County deputies were seen examining a flyer attached to the mailbox at Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home on February 23, 2026. Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been taken from her home during the early hours of February 1.

Over 220 pages of correspondences between PCSD officials and the show’s producers reveal behind-the-scenes interactions in the production of a reality series that highlighted a sheriff’s department, later thrust into the public eye due to the unfolding Guthrie case. As of Friday, her location remained a mystery.

Some incidents included use-of-force and other behavioral concerns, including discussions over whether to provide bodycam where deputies were swearing to the show. In one case, authorities appeared concerned about an altercation in which the involved deputy didn’t start recording until after the fight with a suspect had ended.

Read the emails:

The emails were shared between members of the PCSD, its public information office, and producers from Twenty Twenty Productions, who worked on the A&E show, “Desert Law.” The series focuses on law enforcement in Pima County’s Sonoran Desert.

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies standing outside Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies stand outside Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Ariz., after the 84-year-old woman went missing on Feb. 12, 2026. Nancy Guthrie is the mother of journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie. (Rebecca Noble/Reuters)

While the TV crew went on a series of ride-alongs with PCSD patrols, show producers were generally interested in bodycam and other police-obtained video. They asked for a public information officer to be available to drive a marked SUV in order to create background footage, known as “B-roll.” Koumal agreed in a July 1 email, suggesting a deputy “take our new Tahoe.”

The producers also requested information from an infamous local case, the 1996 murder of Gary Triano.

Pima County sheriff and FBI agents examining a gray Range Rover in a Culver’s parking lot in Tucson

Pima County sheriff and FBI agents examine a gray Range Rover in a Culver’s parking lot in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 14, 2026, as part of the Nancy Guthrie case investigation. (Ty ONeil/AP)

Triano died in an explosion in the Catalina Foothills after his wife, Pamela Phillips, hired a hitman to plant a pipe bomb in his Lincoln Town Car. It exploded while he was driving home from a golf course. Friends and family were waiting to surprise him with a birthday party.

She was convicted in 2014 and is serving a life prison sentence, as is the bomber, Ron Young, who was arrested after a 2005 episode of “America’s Most Wanted.”

Koumal, the captain overseeing the sheriff’s community services division and records management, also sent out a note encouraging deputies to proactively reach out to the show producers “if any incidents occur.”

A Pima County Sheriff's Department member standing by a truck looking at Nancy Guthrie's house in Tucson

A member of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department stands by his truck looking at Nancy Guthrie’s house in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 9, 2026. (Ty ONeil/AP)

Producer Tom Olney praised the cooperation, writing, “thank you as ever for all your continued support, its amazing and absolutely the best I’ve ever received from any law enforcement department!”

He also repeatedly voiced concerns about the wait time for bodycam records and offered to discuss ways to expedite and prioritize the footage to meet show deadlines. In some cases, he asked for his newer requests to be replaced ahead of older ones, a request that officials granted at least once.

Savannah Guthrie smiling with her mother Nancy Guthrie at the TODAY studio

Savannah Guthrie smiles with her mother Nancy Guthrie at the TODAY studio on June 15, 2023. (Nathan Congleton/NBC)

It’s unclear from the provided emails whether any of the TV crew’s requests took priority over those from the public.

It would be unusual for records keepers to allow certain requesters to skip the line. Typically, agencies process public records requests on a first-come, first-served basis.

The emails were sent between July and December 2025, well before the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, whose Feb. 1 disappearance from her home in the Catalina Foothills remains unsolved. PCSD is the lead agency on that case.

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Tragic Loss: Community Mourns Beloved Teacher in Fatal Stabbing Incident

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A tragic incident unfolded in California when a cherished elementary school teacher was fatally stabbed, and her daughter was left injured, after an intruder forced his way into their residence.

On Monday, Arti Varma, 59, and her daughter Meera, 25, were attacked in their Burbank home. Sergio Fraire, 30, has been apprehended and charged with Varma’s murder.

The teacher from Bret Harte Elementary School tragically succumbed to her injuries later that day, while her daughter is currently hospitalized and recovering, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Burbank Police Department Lieutenant Brent Fekety shared with the publication that both witness accounts and surveillance footage were crucial in leading to Fraire’s arrest.

Lieutenant Fekety revealed that security footage captured the suspect walking approximately three miles to Varma’s home before making a forced entry between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Neighbor Victor Goli told ABC 7 that Varma’s husband and Meera’s father was away in India when he heard the news. ‘He couldn’t even speak right… he was crying,’ Goli said.  

Fraire’s relationship with Verma remains unclear, however police noted that her sister works as a special education teacher for transitional kindergarten and first-grade students at Bret Elementary School, the Times reported. 

The suspect’s sister, who has not yet been identified, was also arrested on Thursday and charged with murder and other crimes, as police said they are continuing to investigate her, NBC 4 reported.  

Beloved Bret Harte Elementary School teacher Arti Varma, 59, was fatally stabbed in her Burbank, California, home on Monday

Beloved Bret Harte Elementary School teacher Arti Varma, 59, was fatally stabbed in her Burbank, California, home on Monday 

Varma's daughter, Meera, 25, was injured during the incident and remains in hospital recovering from her wounds

Varma’s daughter, Meera, 25, was injured during the incident and remains in hospital recovering from her wounds

Suspect Sergio Fraire, 30, was arrested and charged with special circumstances murder, attempted murder and first-degree residential burglary. He pleaded not guilty

Suspect Sergio Fraire, 30, was arrested and charged with special circumstances murder, attempted murder and first-degree residential burglary. He pleaded not guilty

‘Detectives continue to investigate the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims, as well as the motive,’ Fekety told the Times. 

Fraire was arrested and charged with special circumstances murder, attempted murder and first-degree residential burglary. He pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars where he is being held without bail, the outlet reported. 

‘Arti was a fantastic teacher and sweet lady,’ neighbor Emma Strattan told the Times.  ‘The community feels her loss especially at Bret Harte Elementary.  

The beloved teacher was described by her friend, Cristina Strattan, as ‘an amazing teacher’ who ‘loved being a teacher,’ ABC 7 reported. 

‘She was such a bright light. She was always so joyful, so proud of her kids,’ she continued. 

Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi said the news of Varma’s death is ‘deeply painful and difficult to process.’

‘The tragedy which claimed the life of a beloved teacher at Bret Harte, Arti Varma, and left her daughter, Meera, several injured, has left us all carrying a heavy, collective heartache,’ Takahashi wrote on Facebook. 

‘We are heartbroken for this loss, as we are all navigating together waves of shock and heavy grief. For the family and friends of Arti and Meera, I want to send my deep condolences for your loss,’ she continued. 

The Burbank Arts and Education Foundation described Varma as a 'cherished teacher' who 'touched so many lives with her kindness, compassion and dedication'

The Burbank Arts and Education Foundation described Varma as a ‘cherished teacher’ who ‘touched so many lives with her kindness, compassion and dedication’

Surveillance footage allegedly saw the suspect walking around three miles to Verma's home before breaking in between 3am and 6am

Surveillance footage allegedly saw the suspect walking around three miles to Verma’s home before breaking in between 3am and 6am

The suspect's sister, who worked at the same school but has not yet been identified, was also arrested on Thursday and charged with murder and other crimes

The suspect’s sister, who worked at the same school but has not yet been identified, was also arrested on Thursday and charged with murder and other crimes

Meera, seen above, was the youngest speaker in TED x UCLA history in 2023, she took part in a mental health summit at UCLA with Oprah Winfrey and she was invited to speak at the White House

‘For the students and educators who knew Arti, I recognize the loss of a mentor who poured so much care into our children is a unique kind of trauma.

‘For my colleagues in the mental health and healthcare community, I understand that seeing a fellow caregiver targeted and harmed in their own home is particularly jarring.

‘In the immediate aftermath of acute trauma such as this, our connection is our greatest path toward supporting one another through this difficult time. Thank you all for honoring her memory and coming together in our supportive and warm community.’

The Burbank Arts and Education Foundation described Varma as a ‘cherished teacher’ who ‘touched so many lives with her kindness, compassion and dedication.’

‘Her absence will be deeply felt across the BUSD community. We hold her family, students and colleagues in our thoughts and send our deepest condolences during this time of profound grief,’ the foundation wrote on Facebook. 

In a statement to ABC News, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said: ‘Arti Varma was a deeply beloved elementary school teacher who was senselessly taken from her family and community in an act of horrific violence, leaving an entire community grieving in its wake.’

‘I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims’ family, Bret Harte Elementary School’s staff, students and parents and the entire Burbank community,’ he added.  

Varma’s daughter was a nationally recognized mental health activity, the Times reported. 

Fraire now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole should he be convicted in Varma's murder

Fraire now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole should he be convicted in Varma’s murder 

Fraire was accused of sexual assault in 2019 while employed at World Market. He denied the accusations and the case was withdrawn with both agreeing to stay away from each other

Fraire was accused of sexual assault in 2019 while employed at World Market. He denied the accusations and the case was withdrawn with both agreeing to stay away from each other

Meera was the youngest speaker in TED x UCLA history in 2023, she took part in a mental health summit at UCLA with Oprah Winfrey and she was invited to speak at the White House, her website stated. 

Fraire, who attended Burbank High School, was known as a role model who ran cross-country until he graduated in 2013, the Times reported. 

Andres Pulgarin, a former school peer, told the outlet: ‘I had only positive experiences with him. He was always a person who would cheer teammates on – both on and off the field. He was a high achieving student who took Advanced Placement classes all of high school.’

But Pulgarin said he looks completely different than his high school days, and added that he seemed ‘disheveled.’ 

Fraire was accused of sexual assault by a female coworker in 2019 while employed at World Market and working toward his degree in psychology, the outlet reported. 

He denied the accusations, and the case was eventually withdrawn with both parties agreeing to stay away from each other.  

Fraire now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole should he be convicted in Varma’s murder. 

The Daily Mail reached out to Bret Harte Elementary School for comment.  

Gunmen Launch Coordinated Attacks in Bamako and Surrounding Areas in Mali

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On Saturday morning, the Malian capital of Bamako and several other regions experienced a series of attacks, which the Malian army described as a coordinated effort by multiple militant groups.

Witnesses reported hearing two loud explosions and continuous gunfire just before 6 a.m. near the Kati military base, located outside Bamako. In response, soldiers swiftly moved to secure the area by blocking off roads, according to observations from Reuters.

Simultaneously, similar disturbances broke out in the central town of Sevare, as well as in Kidal and Gao in northern Mali. “Gunfire can be heard everywhere,” noted a witness in Sevare, highlighting the widespread nature of the unrest.


A Malian soldier stands in position with his weapon during an attack on Mali's main military base Kati on April 25, 2026.
A Malian soldier stands in position with his weapon during an attack on Mali’s main military base Kati on April 25, 2026. REUTERS

Mali is currently facing challenges from insurgencies led by groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State in West Africa. Additionally, the nation is dealing with a longstanding Tuareg rebellion in its northern territories.

The Malian army issued a statement confirming that unidentified “terrorist” factions had launched attacks on several locations, both in the capital and across the country, although it did not specify exact sites. The statement urged residents to remain calm as fighting continued.

Mali’s military leaders took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security, but militants continue to stage frequent attacks on the army and civilians.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-dominated rebel alliance, said on social media its forces had taken control of multiple positions in Kidal and Gao.

Reuters could not independently verify this claim.

Four security sources said the regional al Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) was also involved in Saturday’s attacks.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from JNIM, which frequently stages attacks on military installations throughout much of Mali, or from Islamic State ​in the Sahel Province (ISSP).

A government spokesperson and a spokesperson for Mali’s army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

GUNFIRE HEARD NEAR AIRPORT, RESIDENT SAYS

Gunfire could also be heard early on Saturday near a military camp close to Bamako’s airport that houses Russian mercenary forces, a resident said.

“We hear gunfire towards the military camp. It’s not the airport itself, but the camp that secures the airport,” said the resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

The government led by Assimi Goita has leaned on Russian mercenaries for security support while initially spurning defense cooperation with Western countries.

Recently it has pursued closer ties with the US.

Reuters reported in March that Mali and the US were nearing a deal that would allow Washington to resume flying aircraft and drones over the West African country’s airspace to gather intelligence on jihadist groups.

Dramatic Bodycam Footage Captures Antioch Officer Trapped in Suspect’s Escape Vehicle During Robbery Chase

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ANTIOCH, Calif. — The city of Antioch, California, has unveiled body camera footage capturing a dramatic police pursuit that erupted following an armed robbery. The situation intensified when an officer was dragged into the suspect’s escape vehicle.

The chaotic events unfolded on February 20, after officers were dispatched to a grocery store in response to reports of an armed robbery.

Surveillance footage reveals the suspect’s vehicle reversing forcefully, crashing into the store. It also captures the moment officers engaged with a suspect shortly after arriving at the scene.

In a previous incident, Antioch police reported that an officer had discharged a firearm at a Food Maxx robbery suspect while trapped inside the getaway car.

During the confrontation, one officer was involuntarily taken into the suspect’s car as it accelerated away, escalating into a high-stakes confrontation within the moving vehicle.

In audio captured on the body camera video, the officer can be heard warning the suspect, saying, “stop …stop the car or I will shoot you.”

SEE ALSO: Family calls for body camera footage release as Boston police officer faces manslaughter charge

The suspect can be heard saying, “I’m gonna go like 10 miles an hour,” and “put the gun down, I don’t trust you.”

After several warnings, the officer fired a shot, intentionally striking the suspect in the leg, police said. The suspect then crashed into a parked car.

Authorities said the suspect got out of the vehicle and attempted to run away, but was captured and arrested shortly afterward.

The officer was not injured.

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