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Lindsay Clancy Case: Jury Evaluates Psychosis Defense Claims

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For those struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for support.

In a high-profile courtroom drama, the prosecutor famous for convicting Susan Smith, who tragically took the lives of her two sons, claims Lindsay Clancy’s defense fell short of evidencing a “break with reality.” As the jury readies to deliberate after Thursday’s closing arguments, this assertion remains pivotal.

Lindsay Clancy, aged 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder related to the tragic deaths of her children—Cora, Dawson, and Callan—who were found strangled in the family home in January 2023. With the prosecution having concluded its rebuttal by Wednesday afternoon, closing arguments are set for Thursday, setting the stage for the jury’s in-depth deliberations.

Her legal defense insists that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the tragic moment she took her children’s lives, a point of contention adamantly challenged by the prosecuting team.

Plymouth, MA - August 11: Lindsay Clancy sits next to her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, during her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court on August 11, 2026. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Lindsay Clancy is seated alongside her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, during her trial at Plymouth Superior Court on August 11, 2026. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Smith, a South Carolina mother, was convicted of killing her two young sons — 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alexander — after she strapped them into her car and allowed it to roll into a lake. Prosecutors contended she killed the boys at least in part because the man she was romantically involved with did not want a relationship with a woman who had children. She received a life prison sentence.

Smith’s defense contended she was in a fragile mental state and suffered from severe depression, characterizing the act as a failed suicide attempt in which she had intended to end her own life along with her sons’.

Lindsay Clancy

Lindsay Clancy reacts as doctors testify about efforts to save her children Friday, July 31, 2026. (Josh Reynolds for Daily Mail /Pool)

As jurors begin to deliberate on Thursday, Rep. Tommy Pope, who is currently the speaker pro tempore for the South Carolina House of Representatives and prosecuted Smith, told News Media he thinks Clancy failed to prove she had a break from reality.

“So as a prosecutor, what you try to do, and you’ve seen it in this case, is the prosecutor will point out all the things that she did that it can be mundane. Sometimes people watch and go, why do they care that she ordered dinner? Why do they hear that she sent her husband away or was able to dial the phone or those things? But that’s what you’re looking at. Was it a break from reality? Or did she just commit a horrible, horrible crime and make a horrible, horrible choice?” Pope said. “In these circumstances, Clancy had, like I said, all the prior treatment. But I still don’t really see the break with reality.”

However, Pope said that one of the things that “jumps out” for him is a clear lack of motive in Clancy killing her children, which was present in the Smith murders.

Lindsay Clancy's backyard, filled with children's toys.

Exterior view of the home of Patrick and Lindsay Clancy in Duxbury, MA on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (David McGlynn for News Media)

“In this one, it’s hard to see the end game,” Pope said, referring to the murder case against Clancy. “What was her goal after? Let’s say that even jumping out the window was a suicidal gesture, which obviously went terribly wrong for her, if that was the case. But what was her end game? And that’s one disconnect I see.”

Gregory Saathoff, a University of Virginia forensic psychiatrist who consults for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, testified Wednesday that financial pressure was among the stressors Clancy faced and may help explain why she killed her children.

Lindsay Clancy holding baby

Lindsay Clancy, who is on trial for killing her three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, in a family photo entered as evidence. (Plymouth Superior Court)

Saathoff said Clancy felt her “brain had been damaged” and could no longer do the work she loved or help support her family, which left her with a sense of being a burden.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned Saathoff about his experience with terrorism, drawing from him an acknowledgment that sleep deprivation is employed as a form of torture and that severe insomnia “can actually lead to psychosis.” Saathoff confirmed the point, saying, “Yes, it’s possible.”

Unmasking Drama: ‘Mormon Wives’ Returns with Season 5

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Mark your calendars: the new season kicks off on September 10.

WASHINGTON — “There’s so much stuff the public doesn’t know,” disclosed Mormon wife Mayci Neeley in the intriguing first teaser for the upcoming fifth season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” unveiled on Wednesday.

Neeley’s statement echoes the curiosity that has enveloped the public lately, especially considering the recent cancellation of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” This season was to feature Taylor Frankie Paul, leader of the popular MomTok community.

For those unfamiliar, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is a Hulu reality series that dives deep into the lives of MomTok—a dynamic group of young mothers in their 20s and 30s, all influencers hailing from Utah. They share a collective tie to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since its debut in 2024, the show captivated audiences, catapulting its stars to new heights with enticing brand partnerships and opportunities.

For the uninitiated, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is a Hulu reality show following MomTok, a group of 20- and 30-something mom influencers from Utah, each with a connection to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series premiered in 2024 and was a smash hit, leading to lucrative brand deals and other opportunities for the show’s stars.

One of those was the casting of Paul as the Bachelorette, which was set to premiere in March following season four of “Secret Lives.” But the season was canceled when Paul was accused of domestic violence days before it was set to premiere. TMZ also published video from 2023 showing Paul throwing metal chairs at her former partner Dakota Mortensen. One of the chairs hit Paul’s 5-year-old daughter.

Shooting for season five of “Secret Lives” was momentarily paused in the wake of the scandal, leading to a lot of interest about how the show will address it.

The trailer reveals a video call between Paul and  on-again, off-again boyfriend and baby daddy Mortensen, in which Mortensen reveals he had Paul’s initials tattooed on his lip.

“It’s giving obsessed,” Paul said.

“I am obsessed,” Mortensen responded in the trailer.

Obsessed or not, the two have had a rocky relationship, which lately includes a custody battle over their toddler son.

“They’re like Romeo and Juliet in the Tiktok age,” said MomTok’s Jessi Draper in the trailer.

Paul’s isn’t the only unresolved storyline in the series. Speaking of Draper, season four ended with her marriage to Jordan Ngatikaura up in the air, and Draper filed for divorce after the season premiered, according to People. Season five is expected to address that experience, as well as that of fellow MomTokker Mikayla Matthews, whose marriage was also in trouble.

“We might have to have a little drama, which is on brand for MomTok,” Draper said.

The trailer also shows glimpses of the women navigating the fame that has come from the show and social media, like once-villain Whitney Leavitt’s Broadway debut in the musical “Chicago,” and her relationship with Jen Affleck, with whom she competed on “Dancing with the Stars.”

“Four years ago, we were just making TikToks,” Neely said. “It’s just so crazy all the things we’ve been through together.”

As usual, the new season promises fights, betrayals, shocking disclosures and the ever-present question: can MomTok even survive this?

“Feels like there are no friendships left in MomTok,” said one sound bite.

The new season drops on Hulu on Sept. 10. Unlike past seasons, it will only be five episodes long.

Miranda Devine: Meet the Ultra-MAGA Architect Behind Trump’s ‘Year of Mercy’ Transformation

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Ed Martin is set to conclude his role as the pardon attorney next week. During his tenure, President Trump granted pardons to hundreds caught up in what they perceive as the Biden administration’s biased use of the justice system against Trump and his supporters. As a devout Catholic, Martin has been instrumental in restoring both the reputations and dignity of these individuals, a period he fondly refers to as “Trump’s year of mercy.”

While some critics dismiss his efforts, they are simultaneously apprehensive, recognizing Martin’s effectiveness as a driven and happy warrior who has accomplished significant achievements in his relatively short tenure.

In his additional role as interim DC US attorney, which lasted four months, Martin played a pivotal part in terminating all January 6 prosecutions following Trump’s sweeping pardons and commutations. He also dismissed overzealous prosecutors accused of misusing the law and warned Senator Chuck Schumer regarding his threats to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh during a Supreme Court abortion-rights rally back in March 2020.

Moreover, he was appointed as a special attorney for mortgage fraud at the Department of Justice. In this capacity, he spearheaded investigations involving New York Attorney General Letitia James, Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, known for his participation in the Russiagate controversy.

Adding another layer to his broad responsibilities at the DOJ, Martin served as associate deputy attorney general leading the Weaponization Working Group. This group launched inquiries into what Martin claims are the Biden DOJ’s aggressive actions against Catholics, concerned school board parents, and pro-life advocates. He accused Lisa Monaco, deputy attorney general under Merrick Garland, of orchestrating these partisan pursuits.

It rankles Martin that she has been rewarded handsomely for her conduct with a prestigious high-paying job at Microsoft as president of global affairs.

Ed Martin speaking at an event at the Capitol in Washington.

Ed Martin speaks at an event at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 13, 2023. AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades

“Lisa Monaco should not be received in polite society,” he says. “Instead she is paid tens of millions by Microsoft. When people do something wrong . . . they should be named and shamed and in a culture that values shame.”

Martin’s critics sneer at his small-town Missouri cheerfulness and the Columbo-style trenchcoat that has become his trademark, but they fear a rare man in Washington who knows right from wrong and never flinches from the fight.

Conservatives have had no better warrior since his mentor Phyllis Schlafly died in 2016, two months before Donald Trump won the presidential election in which she threw the might of the most influential social conservative movement in the country behind the showy real estate developer from Queens.

The Missouri powerhouse activist’s early support for Trump split her movement and bogged her down in lawsuits from a rogue group of Never Trumpers inside her own Eagle Forum which continue to this day.

No MAGA left behind

Martin was her protégé co-authoring the New York Times bestseller “The Conservative Case for Trump” that was published the day after her death and gave the green light to conservatives to vote for the uncontrollable Fifth Avenue billionaire. He saw firsthand how the law can be weaponized against conservatives and, most importantly, how Schlafly, by then in her 90s, remained cheerfully undeterred.

In an hour-long meeting in the Oval Office with the president last week, half the conversation was about Schlafly, and Trump’s gratitude to her and Martin.

“She never wavered,” Trump told Martin.

Neither has Martin, and Trump knows it.

“Ed Martin has been with me from the very beginning, and done an incredible job,” Trump posted on Truth Social after their meeting.

“Ed is now leaving to go outside to fight Legal Battles for the upcoming Midterm Election, and the Presidential Election of 2028. I know he will do an outstanding job, ensure Free, Fair, and Honest Elections, and strongly advance our Constitutional Rights.”

Donald Trump in a blue suit and tie, sitting with clasped hands at a desk in the Oval Office.

President Trump participates in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2026 Aaron Schwartz / Pool via CNP / SplashNews.com

Martin sees the president as “the greatest fruit of the Norman Vincent Peale American movement.”

He said Trump embraced the themes of Peale’s famous book “The Power of Positive Thinking,” and he also internalized “the Horatio Alger myth of America” popularized by Peale, which holds that “every American can pull himself up by his bootstraps . . . In the 1940s [as the] GI Bill kicked in and the greatest shift of working-class Americans into the middle and upper class happened, it was the Horatio Alger story that became the American myth.

“Trump lived that from his own family and those around him that’s what he’s trying to get America to be again.”

In a way, Schlafly and Martin forged the origin story of MAGA.

“No MAGA left behind” was Martin’s motto as pardon attorney.

Thus Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former lawyer, Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff, election lawyers John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis and Christina Bobb, and Tina Peters, a Colorado clerk caught up in another election witch-hunt, were all pardoned.


Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington on ‘Pod Force One.’ Subscribe here!


So was Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner who was targeted by the same Biden DOJ that was protecting the then-president’s son. Where there was injustice, abuse of the system and unequal treatment, Martin set about putting things right.

He said as soon as the Democrats lost in 2016, they embarked on a decade-long operation to take down Trump and his world. Once in power under Biden, they weaponized the DOJ to attack Trump and protect Joe Biden.

“When the system is lacking in transparency and the rules change depending on who you are, this is not just unfair but a problem of the administration of justice,” he said.

The system is working against the citizen.

Ready to ‘fight’

“Reagan used to say ‘trust but verify’ about Soviet communism. My experience after all of this, when it comes to the government in this era of lawfare, is ‘distrust and rectify.’ ”

Of course, Martin is attacked daily by Deep State exiles like disgraced former FBI Deputy Director and Russiagate plotter Andrew McCabe and Liz Oyer, Joe Biden’s pardon attorney.

Oyer criticizes Martin on lefty podcasts over pardons of conservative Trump allies, despite the fact that on her watch, Biden pardoned his son. Not to mention the autopen.

Oyer calls Martin “one of the most dangerous people in the Justice Department,” a criticism he wears like a badge of honor, although his boss, AG Todd Blanche, was discomfited by his cowboy ways.

But Martin appears to hold no ill will and is focused on his next task: energizing a moribund MAGA base to get out and vote at the midterms.

His prime vehicle is also his favorite cause: defending the Second Amendment. One of his last acts as pardon attorney was to oversee the new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration rule, which allows non-violent felons to request clemency “so that they can once again protect themselves, their families and businesses, and know again the joys of gun collecting, target range practice and hunting.”

“The Second Amendment is so important that it trumps a felony conviction,” he said. It “is the stabilizer for our American nation.”

He said 30 million Americans, including felons, have lost their Second Amendment rights in a concerted encroachment over more than 30 years.

He said he won’t be trying to speak to swing voters or soccer moms but to MAGA people, to get them to understand what Trump has achieved.

“I want to fight, fight, fight for the midterm elections. Get out the vote of conservatives and Second Amendment supporters.

“Midterm elections are always tough, but we have a great argument to make about what we’ve done.”

Court Lifts Mail-In Voting Block, Warns of Potential Chaos

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President Donald Trump addresses attendees during an event at the General Motors Proving Ground on Monday, July 27, 2026, in Milford, Michigan. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya).

In a recent legal tussle, the Trump administration successfully overturned an injunction that had previously prevented the enforcement of an executive order, which sought to bolster federal oversight of mail-in voting processes.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, appointed by Barack Obama, issued a nine-page memorandum and order on Wednesday. The decision came swiftly—albeit not quite as promptly as the government’s expedited timeline demanded.

Earlier in the week, on Monday night, the Trump administration submitted an emergency motion urging a reassessment of the injunction that had been active since August 11. They pressed for a decision from Judge Talwani by Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, the court addressed concerns raised by the plaintiffs regarding the government’s adherence to the terms set by the injunction.

Over the weekend, the government told Talwani that it had issued a final rule — and published it on the Federal Register. The rule purports to give the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) control over several aspects of mail-in voting and would punish noncompliant states.

The plaintiffs in the case, the League of Women Voters, quickly protested, telling the judge the USPS had “flouted” the court’s order “by sending for publication a final rule with immediate effect” that violated the injunction, as Law&Crime previously reported.

On Tuesday night, Talwani agreed with the plaintiffs.

The Tuesday night ruling was something of a wash for both parties. Talwani found the Trump administration in violation of the injunction but declined to issue any remedy “other than identifying the violation.” At the same time, the judge offered the plaintiffs a road map for further litigation — based on the fact of the USPS issuing its final rule and therefore rendering its arguments “no longer hypothetical.”

But the chaotic state of the litigation was not limited to the government’s rulemaking in violation of the injunction.

Also on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a substantially similar injunction issued by Talwani in a separate but related case — one brought by several states challenging Trump’s USPS order.

This shadow docket ruling was not a merits decision and conceded that it “does not mean that any measure taken by the Government to implement the Order will necessarily be lawful.”

In essence, the nation’s high court gave the government a chance to try to implement the executive order while appeals play out.

In its late Monday order requesting reconsideration, the government came armed with the shadow docket ruling in Talwani’s other case, arguing that “the Supreme Court has repeatedly instructed that district courts must follow its interim orders in similar cases.”

On Wednesday, the judge agreed with the Trump administration.

“[T]his court is compelled by the Supreme Court’s ruling to grant Defendants’ Motion to Reconsider and vacate the preliminary injunction obtained by the Plaintiff Organizations,” Talwani wrote.

For the second time in two days, the judge pointed out that the justices had nothing to say about the government violating the injunction.

“The Supreme Court accepted the government’s feigned compliance,” Talwani observed in a footnote to her Tuesday order.

In the Wednesday order, she wrote: “The [Supreme] Court’s order made no reference to the USPS’s publication of the final rule that prior Friday night.” In another footnote, she noted that the high court issued relief to the government because the other injunction “prevents the Postal Service from so much as initiating a rulemaking.”

The government, of course, did exactly that — by ignoring the injunction, the judge pointed out.

The judge then went on to review the differences between the earlier state-initiated case and the case brought by the League of Women Voters — largely focusing on the nature of the plaintiffs’ claimed injuries.

“The court finds it likely that the Supreme Court would apply the same reasoning here, despite the different injury,” Talwani observed.

The judge also reiterated the admonishment she received from the conservative majority: “Federal courts review final rules, not proposed rules — and certainly not antecedent internal directives to propose a rule.”

Then, Talwani criticized the high court again:

Plaintiffs note that the “final rule” to which the Supreme Court referred was published by the USPS late Friday night, on August 21, 2026. And that late publication answers in the affirmative the question of “whether the agency would issue a final rule.” But even this promulgation may not be good enough, for regardless of what chaos may be unleashed as litigation is pending, by declining to differentiate ripeness and standing, the Supreme Court appears to be implying that ripeness must also be measured when the suit is filed.

“In sum, the court finds that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. California, Plaintiff Organizations are not likely to prevail as to ripeness without amending their complaint to reflect the fact that a Final Rule has now issued,” the court’s order concludes.

The plaintiffs filed an amended lawsuit reflecting the final rule within minutes of Talwani’s order being released.

“That uncertainty is gone,” the 31-page supplemental complaint reads.

The post Judge begrudgingly dissolves injunction in Trump admin’s favor over federal mail-in voting takeover, warns that ‘chaos may be unleashed’ first appeared on Law & Crime.

Daveigh Chase Estate Battle Intensifies as Former Manager Enters Legal Fray

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A fierce legal skirmish has erupted over the $400,000 estate of late actress Daveigh Chase. In a dramatic twist, her former manager has waded into what has already become a contentious standoff between her estranged parents, all vying for control of her remaining assets.

This unusual probate conflict comes in the wake of the passing of the former child sensation, best known for haunting audiences as Samara in ‘The Ring’. Tragically, Chase passed away at just 35, her life marred by tumultuous bouts with addiction and a heartbreaking stint without a home in Los Angeles.

Living in an RV amidst the struggles of Skid Row—a neighborhood infamous for its homelessness—Chase was elusive, as her loved ones tirelessly searched for her during those final months.

According to findings from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Chase’s death on June 16 resulted from a dual affliction: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and complications from polysubstance abuse.

Despite the hardships that defined the end of her days, court filings have disclosed that Chase left behind an estate her mother appraised at about $400,000, as reported by documents acquired by the Daily Mail.

Despite being unhoused in her final months, control of that money and Chase’s remaining assets has become the focus of an increasingly bitter legal fight involving her mother Cathy Chase, estranged father John Schwallier – and her former manager John Ryan.

At a hearing on Wednesday at a Downtown LA courtroom, Daveigh’s parents and their attorneys told a judge that they plan to move forward with competing petitions to each take over their daughter’s estate.

Cathy told the Daily Mail that Daveigh also had residuals that she never collected from her work in various commercials, film and TV shows.

Late actress Daveigh Chase had an estate valued at $400,000, according to a court filing from her mother in the wake of The Ring star's tragic death at 35 in June of this year

 Late actress Daveigh Chase had an estate valued at $400,000, according to a court filing from her mother in the wake of The Ring star’s tragic death at 35 in June of this year

Cathy spoke to the Daily Mail from a $1.5 million, four-bedroom home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles

Cathy spoke to the Daily Mail from a $1.5 million, four-bedroom home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles

Daveigh, who died at 35, is seen with her mother Cathy as a child during happier times (2002)

Daveigh, who died at 35, is seen with her mother Cathy as a child during happier times (2002)

John Schwallier, who has not seen Daveigh since she was a child, initially told the Daily Mail he would rather have a fiduciary, Megan Boling, be appointed by the court to deal with settling the estate affairs.

He also filed paperwork asking a judge to approve Boling as administrator to Daveigh’s estate.

Then, in a surprising turn of events, another name came forward to obtain a piece of Daveigh’s earning. 

An attorney representing Daveigh’s former manager also told the judge that his client, John Ryan, had filed paperwork in support of Boling as the administrator.

Ryan had publicly criticized Daveigh’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, for setting up a GoFundMe for the actress, calling it ‘fake’ and warned the public not to donate to the crowdfunding site.

‘That GoFundMe is not going toward ANY expenses for Daveigh,’ Ryan said in a statement. 

‘Myself, her father, her uncle and all of us close friends who knew her for decades are encouraging people not to donate to this page. This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue. 

‘Daveigh’s actual family is handling all arrangements, we have contacted go fund me to let them know this man started this page on his own under Daveighs name when she was already unresponsive and urging people to report the page and not donate.’

Chase had been unhoused and was known to have stayed in an RV in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood, pictured, before her death

Chase had been unhoused and was known to have stayed in an RV in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood, pictured, before her death

Daveigh in 2011 at the peak of her career following a string of high profile movie and TV roles

Daveigh in 2011 at the peak of her career following a string of high profile movie and TV roles

Attorney Richard Pershing, who represents fiduciary Megan Boling, told the judge he met with Cathy Chase’s attorney, but they could not ‘find a resolution.’

Cathy Chase, who was on the video call, remained quiet. Her ex-husband, however, spoke to the judge in frustration.

‘Ultimately, I would like a court-appointed person,’ said Schwallier as he rubbed his brow. 

‘I’ve got nothing but ill representation from my ex-wife and I don’t see her treating this fairly. That is why I want a fiduciary person to do it.’

Attorney Cliff Melnick, who represents Cathy, said he was concerned with the amount of time it could take to argue over the competing petitions.

‘Your Honor, I am concerned about the length, time and expenses this is going to take,’ Melnick said. 

‘There are so many competing petitions. And as far as Ms. Boling is concerned, my client clearly has priority over Mr. Schwallier’s nominee.

He continued: ‘I guess my overall worry is that we’re just going to keep pushing this. A resolution is important to my client. It’s a tough situation, and under these very difficult circumstances, I am further worried that we are being engaged in discovery. 

‘It’s going to become some form of a fishing expedition. There is nothing in any of the papers that I’ve seen indicating Cathy Chase should be disqualified for any reason whatsoever.’

Chase's estate reportedly includes money connected to her years working in movies, television shows and commercials. Chase is pictured in 2012 in LA

Chase’s estate reportedly includes money connected to her years working in movies, television shows and commercials. Chase is pictured in 2012 in LA

Chase began acting as a child and built a career that included major film and television roles; Chase is pictured in 2008 in LA

Chase began acting as a child and built a career that included major film and television roles; Chase is pictured in 2008 in LA

Before the 15-minute hearing ended, Schwallier told the judge he also plans to file his own petition.

He told the judge, ‘If you are not going to grant [Boiling to take over] or a court-appointed fiduciary today, I will file a competing petition.’

The judge told Schwallier to file his petition by January 8. The hearing was continued to February 10, 2027.

In June, Cathy Chase told the Daily Mail about the harrowing moments she experienced upon learning of her daughter’s death via online news alerts.

‘I was devastated,’ Cathy said. ‘It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly.’

She continued, ‘I let out this guttural scream and I just was running. And these weird sounds were coming out of me, these kind of, like, primeval sounds.

‘And I went out into the backyard, and I was screaming, “No, no, no, no!” I am in so much pain but I hope her soul heard me.’

Cathy told the Daily Mail she had said a prayer for her late daughter when she identified her at a Los Angeles hospital early June 18.

She said a chaplain joined her as they ‘were able to lay hands and pray.’

Aged 12 in 2003, she won the 'Best Villain' MTV Movie Award for her turn in The Ring. Ashton Kutcher and Sean 'Diddy' Combs presented her with the award

Aged 12 in 2003, she won the ‘Best Villain’ MTV Movie Award for her turn in The Ring. Ashton Kutcher and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs presented her with the award

Chase became internationally recognizable as a child actress for playing the terrifying Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror movie The Ring. Chase is pictured in The Ring with Naomi Watts

Chase became internationally recognizable as a child actress for playing the terrifying Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror movie The Ring. Chase is pictured in The Ring with Naomi Watts

Cathy added, ‘We were able to lay hands and pray. Technically, we were touching the glass, but it’s as close as we could get, so we were able to lay hands and pray for her.

‘It was a beautiful experience, and, I feel very blessed to have been able to share that with my daughter.’

Daveigh Chase was best known for her work in films such as The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, both of which had been released in 2002.

The Las Vegas-born actress had previously appeared in the 2001 film Donnie Darko and 2003 series Oliver Beene.

Broadway’s ‘Rocky Horror Show’ Honors Tim Curry with Heartfelt Tribute, Celebrating His Legacy

Broadway’s “The Rocky Horror Show” took a heartfelt turn on Wednesday night, as its cast honored the memory of Tim Curry.

The iconic British actor, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80, originally brought the character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter to life in the 1975 cult film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the 1973 London stage production.

During the curtain call, Paul Soileau, the actor currently embodying Frank, poignantly paid homage to Curry, reflecting on the legacy of the role he pioneered.

“The way Frank-N-Furter survives is that he finds vessels and he goes into them, and he takes them over, and he keeps moving and moving all around,” Soileau remarked to the crowd gathered at Studio 54.

“But if you trace it all back, 53 years ago there’s one home and one vessel; one mothership that Frank-N-Furter can actually call home. And it’s Tim Curry.”

The standing crowd burst into applause and broke into a chant of “Tim! Tim! Tim!”

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Soileau went on. 

“[Writer and composer] Richard O’Brien laid a piece of paper in front of Tim Curry with ingredients on it. And he took all of those ingredients, and he created this beast that everyone found something within and could see a piece of themself inside of it,” he said. 

“Just as Richard O’Brien created ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ to find something more about himself, you can also say that Tim Curry created Frank-N-Furter to express and find something deeper about himself. And somehow it resonated for this long with this many people in this room here right now.”

Soileau added: “Obituaries always say that he didn’t have children. And that’s bulls–t, because he has so many children in this world. Tim Curry has more family than I think any of us could ever imagine.”

He then called onto the stage Tony Award nominee Luke Evans, the first actor to play Frank in this revival, and Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, who will step into the stilettos on Sept. 11. 

The entire cast, which also includes “Saturday Night Live”’s Rachel Dratch, joined the three Furters in a rendition of the song “I’m Going Home.”

Out in the lobby at Studio 54 on Wednesday night was a memorial picture of Curry as Frank, surrounded by electric candles.

Curry actually played the role on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre back in 1975.

The director of that production as well as the movie, Jim Sharman, told me from his home in Australia, “He was a unique talent, a lovely person and a tough cookie.”

“Lipstick traces of him remain in the movies that will outlive him.”

Anna Kepner’s Stepbrother Cites Family Tensions in Bid to Delay Murder Trial Amid Approaching Plea Deadline

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Content warning: This article contains details that may be distressing to some readers, including descriptions of sexual assault.

Attorneys representing Timothy Hudson, the teenager implicated in the brutal slaying of his 18-year-old stepsister Anna Kepner, point to a “unique—and very unfortunate—family dynamic” as justification for requesting more time before his federal murder trial commences.

In response to the defense’s call for delay, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom acquiesced, agreeing to postpone the trial, which was initially scheduled for September, to kick off during a two-week period starting November 2, 2026.

Hudson, 16 at the time of his alleged crime against Kepner in November 2025, faces adult charges of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Kepner, a senior and cherished cheerleader at Titusville High School, met her tragic end aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise vessel. Hudson has entered a plea of not guilty.

Timothy Hudson exits federal court

A federal judge ruled that Timothy Hudson can remain out of jail and on bond before his trial, with certain restrictions. (Matthew Symons for News Media)

In an Aug. 24 motion, Hudson’s attorneys said they need additional time to complete their investigation of issues they said could affect the resolution of the case.

The defense cited the seriousness of the allegations, Hudson’s status as a juvenile and family circumstances that have limited the lawyers’ access to certain relatives. His attorneys said they were “purposefully being vague” because of intense media scrutiny surrounding the case.

“Although substantial progress has been made, more still needs to be done,” the filing states. The lawyers said the additional time would allow them to complete their investigation and properly advise Hudson about “the options available to him to resolve the pending charges.”

The prosecution did not oppose the request.

Anna Kepner wearing a black top and jean shorts while sitting at a beach parking lot

Anna Kepner, 18, was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship on Nov. 7, during a vacation with her family. (Anna Kepner/Instagram)

Bloom wrote that the interests of justice served by the continuance outweighed speedy-trial concerns.

The court’s deadlines report lists Oct. 23 as the deadline for any plea agreement.

When asked about a potential plea deal, Hudson’s attorney told News Media that they were “still not in a position to make a statement.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida declined to comment.

A calendar call is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m., and the jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 2, at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami.

Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother arrives at federal court in Miami, Florida, Feb. 6, 2026. The teen is accompanied by his attorney. (Fox News)

Prosecutors say Kepner left dinner because she wasn’t feeling well, saying that she had mouth pain from her braces and an upset stomach, and returned alone to cabin 8343.

CCTV allegedly shows Hudson entering the cabin.

CCTV allegedly shows Kepner entering the same cabin. Prosecutors say she was never seen leaving again.

Kepner’s 13-year-old brother briefly entered the cabin and later told investigators he saw her alive.

Prosecutors say Kepner and Hudson were alone in the cabin for roughly three hours.

10:13 p.m.: Prosecutors say Hudson exits the cabin and looks left and right down the hallway.

10:53 p.m.: Prosecutors say Hudson places the privacy sign on the cabin door and goes back inside.

Kepner’s younger brother returns briefly to the cabin. He later tells investigators he did not see her inside.

The brother returned again. Prosecutors say Hudson blocked him from entering, told him he was changing and made him wait outside for a couple of minutes.

The brother said the bathroom and closet doors were open, and the cabin lights were on.

The Kepner family in an undated photo

Timothy Hudson is accused of sexually assaulting Anna Kepner and intentionally killing her on Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon ship. (Shauntel Kepner/Facebook)

Prosecutors say Kepner’s phone, which was missing from the cabin, was tracked by ship Wi-Fi/router data moving along the same path as Hudson.

Prosecutors say CCTV and router data placed Hudson, and allegedly Kepner’s phone, near the jogging track, smoking area and later near the trash-bin area where the phone was found.

Cabin attendants discovered Kepner’s body, prosecutors say, wrapped in bedding and partially hidden under a bed, with a box of life vests positioned to obscure it.

NYCFC Strengthens Defense with Tayvon Gray Contract Extension

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Tayvon Gray, the hometown defender for New York City FC, has inked a new contract extension ensuring his presence at the club until the 2028-29 season.

This fresh agreement, unveiled on Wednesday, includes a potential extension option for the 2029-30 season. Gray stands as one of the select few core players retained, having been part of the squad that clinched the MLS Cup in 2021.

Expressing his enthusiasm through a club statement, Gray stated, “I’m grateful and honored to continue my journey with New York City FC. This is my Club, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, but I’m hungry for more. I want to keep winning, continue helping this group, and be part of this next chapter as we look ahead to Etihad Park.”

New York City FC defender Tayvon Gray (24) kicks the ball against FC Cincinnati in the second half at TQL Stadium.

New York City FC defender Tayvon Gray kicks the ball during their loss to FC Cincinnati on Aug. 19, 2026 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Gray’s previous contract nearing its conclusion, NYCFC’s sporting director Todd Dunivant had previously remarked at a Manhattan media event that renewal discussions were “absolutely ongoing.”

Since stepping onto the field with his first Homegrown contract in 2019 at just 17, Gray has made 178 appearances across all competitions, solidifying his role as a key player in the team’s lineup.

Since then, he’s scored three goals and recorded 13 assists in an NYCFC jersey. 

Speaking with reporters during a World Cup event earlier this summer, Gray acknowledged that he still had “aspirations to go to Europe” in his career, but said his team had been talking with the club about a new contract and “seeing what the next step is for me.” 

In the short term, NYCFC is trying to move up in the table as they cling to a playoff spot. 

A New York City FC player jumping to head the ball during a game against FC Cincinnati.

New York City FC defender Tayvon Gray kicks the ball against Evander during their loss to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Aug. 19, 2026 in Cincinnati. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The club will play an important game on Saturday, facing a Toronto team that is chasing them in the standings.

Heartless Crime: Duo Charged After Ransacking Home of Helicopter Crash Victims

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In a shocking twist of events, a pair is accused of swooping down on the residence of a Florida couple who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash, making off with valuable belongings merely days after the disaster.

Authorities have charged Geybert Alexander Garcia, aged 40, alongside Melany Perdomo, 24, for allegedly burglarizing the South Florida home of Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra. These men were among the seven who perished in the August 19 helicopter crash in northern Kenya.

The ill-fated Eurocopter EC130 B4 was on its way from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro region in Kenya when it tragically went down near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County.

The suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday, facing charges such as burglary of an unoccupied home, grand theft of a vehicle, and grand theft, as detailed in arrest documents reviewed by NBC.

Law enforcement officials, speaking to NBC, stated that the suspected break-in occurred between August 20 and August 22, at the Valencia Avenue property in Coral Gables, soon after news surfaced of the tragedy overseas. The incident came to light on August 23, courtesy of a report from the housekeeper.

Police say the Valencia Avenue home had been left in complete disarray, with valuable artwork, jewelry, electronics and personal and business documents allegedly stolen.

Even the victims’ prized vehicles were allegedly taken: a Range Rover and a Porsche Taycan.

However, investigators eventually managed to trace one of the victims’ stolen Apple MacBooks to an address in Hialeah. 

Melany Perdomo,24

Geybert Alexander Garcia, 40

Melany Perdomo, 24, and Geybert Alexander Garcia, 40, were arrested Tuesday on charges including burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft of a vehicle and grand theft, according to arrest reports.

The South Florida couple was married in 2017 and enjoyed traveling the world. Hlavaty was the co-founder of Market Group, a real estate development and branded design company and Parra was an aviation software executive from Miami and served as president of the Bimini Bay Homeowners Association

The South Florida couple was married in 2017 and enjoyed traveling the world. Hlavaty was the co-founder of Market Group, a real estate development and branded design company and Parra was an aviation software executive from Miami and served as president of the Bimini Bay Homeowners Association

Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra were killed in the helicopter crash in Kenya on August 19. Just days later, police say their Coral Gables home was broken into as a thieving duo made off with their prized possessions

Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra were killed in the helicopter crash in Kenya on August 19. Just days later, police say their Coral Gables home was broken into as a thieving duo made off with their prized possessions

When police arrived to execute a search warrant, Garcia allegedly tried to hide in a bedroom closet. Perdomo was found upstairs. Both were then taken into custody according to the arrest reports.

During the search, authorities allegedly discovered numerous documents belonging to the deceased couple, the Range Rover key fob and several pieces of their valuable artwork.

While the arrest reports do not identify the victims by name, they reference the date of the crash and say the homeowners had been ‘tragically killed in an unforeseen fatal accident while away from the residence.’

The homeowners are being remembered by loved ones as a ‘loving couple who cherished their time together, especially traveling, making memories, and enjoying life with their family and friends.’

Reverend Eddie Rodriguez, the interfaith minister who officiated their wedding, told WPLG that some couples remain with you long after the ceremony.

‘There are couples that stand out for you, and they certainly did,’ Rodriguez said.

During Garcia’s bond hearing on Wednesday, shocking accusations came to light when prosecutors pointed to his criminal past.

The Eurocopter EC130 B4 was flying from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area when it crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, according to Kenyan authorities. All six passengers and the pilot died. Five victims were US citizens

The Eurocopter EC130 B4 was flying from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area when it crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, according to Kenyan authorities. All six passengers and the pilot died. Five victims were US citizens

Although the reports do not identify the victims by name, they reference the date of the crash and say the homeowners had been 'tragically killed in an unforeseen fatal accident while away from the residence,' as per NBC reporting

Although the reports do not identify the victims by name, they reference the date of the crash and say the homeowners had been ‘tragically killed in an unforeseen fatal accident while away from the residence,’ as per NBC reporting

The theft was reported to police by the home's housekeeper on August 23, investigators then traced one of the victims stolen MacBooks to a Hialeah address where they located Garcia and Perdomo attempting to conceal themselves

The theft was reported to police by the home’s housekeeper on August 23, investigators then traced one of the victims stolen MacBooks to a Hialeah address where they located Garcia and Perdomo attempting to conceal themselves

Garcia appeared in court for his bond hearing on Wednesday but the proceedings took a unual turn when Garcia's attorney presented a notarized document that he said came from Garcia's family from one of the victims. The document purportedly gave Garcia permission to enter the victims home and make use of their vehicles

Garcia appeared in court for his bond hearing on Wednesday but the proceedings took a unual turn when Garcia’s attorney presented a notarized document that he said came from Garcia’s family from one of the victims. The document purportedly gave Garcia permission to enter the victims home and make use of their vehicles 

‘Your honor, you’ll see that the defendant’s got prior felony convictions for burglarizing homes, money laundering, dealing in stolen property,’ a prosecutor told Judge Mindy Glazer.

The prosecutor also raised the disturbing possibility that the victims’ deaths had been known to whoever entered their home.

‘I don’t know if this home was specifically targeted because I believe it was in the media that the victims passed away,’ the prosecutor said.

Garcia’s attorney, Paul Basile, however, offered a startling explanation.

He produced a notarized document that he said came from Garcia’s family and allegedly authorized Garcia to enter the home and use the victims’ vehicles.

The document immediately drew skepticism from the judge.

‘Oh I gotta see this,’ Glazer said. ‘Really?’

She questioned why the victims would have supposedly handed over access to their home and luxury cars to Garcia, given his criminal record.

‘Before they went on their vacation, they decided to give Mr Garcia authorization to use their vehicles, Mr. Garcia, who has a criminal history?’

Judge Mindy Glazer remained skeptical of the documents and and ordered a probable-cause hearing. Later that afternoon when the hearing resumed, Garcia was ultimately ordered held without bond. Perdomo remained behind bars on an immigration hold.

Judge Mindy Glazer remained skeptical of the documents and and ordered a probable-cause hearing. Later that afternoon when the hearing resumed, Garcia was ultimately ordered held without bond. Perdomo remained behind bars on an immigration hold.

Basile said he could only rely on information provided by Garcia’s family.

But Glazer made clear she was unconvinced.

‘Yeah, I would not give that much weight,’ she said.

Basile further claimed that the notary was a friend of one of the victims.

The judge refused to decide the matter without hearing directly from investigators and ordered a probable-cause hearing.

That afternoon, a detective and a friend of Hlavaty and Parra both testified and both said they believed the purported authorization document was fraudulent.

The victims’ friend also described the damage allegedly left behind after the break-in.

The front door was reportedly destroyed, while a camera and part of the home’s security system were allegedly ripped out.

For Glazer, the circumstances surrounding the alleged burglary were particularly troubling.

‘I’m not going to address anything until I hear from the officers for the probable cause hearing,’ she said. ‘But I mean, it’s pretty egregious to break into somebody’s home of victims who had just perished.’

Following the afternoon hearing Garcia was ultimately ordered held without bond.

Perdomo remained behind bars on an immigration hold.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Garcia’s attorney, Paul Basile for comment.

Teen’s Fatal Change of Plan: From Massacre to Matricide

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In a tragic turn of events, a Georgia teenager has been convicted for the horrific murder of her mother, a crime that came to light after her abandoned scheme to execute a school shooting. Authorities reveal that the young girl had developed a disturbing fascination with mass casualty incidents.

The young girl, Lilyana Rose Wagner, aged 16, received a life sentence after admitting to charges of murder and aggravated assault. This grim plea pertains to the November 2024 killing of her 51-year-old mother, Rachel Wagner, according to a statement from Tifton District Attorney Patrick Warren on Tuesday.

The disturbing incident unraveled when a then 14-year-old Wagner crashed the vehicle belonging to her mother. In the aftermath of the accident, she told officers who arrived on the scene that she lived alone with her mother.

Prompted by Wagner’s comment and her mother’s unexplained absence from work and failure to answer phone calls, officers conducted a welfare check at their residence. Tragically, they discovered Rachel Wagner’s lifeless body, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound to the back of her head.

Lilyana Wagner mugshot

Lilyana Wagner, now 16, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her mother, Rachel Wagner. Obsessed with the notion of carrying out a school shooting, she ultimately abandoned that plan, opting tragically to take her mother’s life instead, authorities disclosed. (Tifton District Attorney Patrick Warren; iStock)

Investigators found that the teenage Wagner had become obsessed with school shooters and mass shootings, developing an online and social media reputation as someone interested in planning and executing a mass casualty event.

In a handwritten confession, the teen described the decision to kill her mother instead.

“This whole thing was a last-minute choice,” she wrote. “I was going to commit a school shooting at my old middle school but chose this instead. Although I didn’t commit a school shooting, the whole event was inspired by these people.”

She then listed the names of six different school shooters from memory.

A gavel, legal books, and a statue of Themis on a judge's desk.

Authorities said the teen named half a dozen school shooters in her confession. (iStock)

In the months before the killing, officials said Wagner communicated via apps with anonymous people who encouraged her to plan and commit murder.

Investigators later found that Rachel Wagner had purchased the gun her daughter used at a pawn shop a month before the killing. She allowed the teen to keep the weapon and ammunition in her bedroom, prosecutors said.

In a statement, Warren warned parents to monitor the content their children view online.

“I urge you to never underestimate the influence that exists behind your child’s screen,” Warren said. “In the courtroom, I see the consequences after the messages and the online encouragement from strangers have already turned into real-world crimes.”

“By then, remorse for your actions cannot erase the damage, and a prosecution cannot give victims back what was taken,” Warren added. “It is your duty to know who is influencing your child, and it is your duty to know what they are being taught to believe is acceptable.”

Lilyana Wagner will serve 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.