The initial images from within the ill-fated cave system in the Maldives, where five Italian divers tragically lost their lives, have now been unveiled by the recovery team.

The divers, all hailing from Italy, embarked on an expedition to explore the caverns of Vaavu Atoll last Thursday, but unfortunately, they never returned to the surface.

In a first, diving organization Dan Europe has released photographs showcasing the confined underwater corridors where the divers met their end. These images reveal how quickly light diminishes into an almost complete darkness within the caves.

The photos also capture clouds of unsettled coral sediment suspended in the water, demonstrating how visibility can vanish swiftly in these tight spaces.

Upon sharing these images on Instagram, the diving group remarked, “Natural light still pierces through the entrance before the system plunges into darkness.”

The bodies of Monica Montefalcone, 52, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 20, Muriel Oddenino, 31, and Federico Gualtieri, 31, were found near the mouth of the third and final chamber of the caves in the Vaavu Atoll, at a depth of around 50 metres.

The body of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti was found near the mouth of the Thinwana Kandu cave on the day the divers disappeared.

Mystery has clouded the tragedy, which has been called the worst diving incident in the island nation, as investigators try to determine how the group of experienced scuba divers met their fate. 

Expert divers who recovered the bodies this week have suggested the group may have taken the wrong tunnel on their way out of an underwater cave.

The first photos from inside the doomed Maldives cave system where five Italian divers died have now been released by the organisation involved in the expedition

Images published by DAN Europe show the eerie underwater passages where visibility vanished as rescuers searched for the trapped group more than 60 metres below the surface

Sharing the pictures on Instagram , the diving organisation said: ‘Natural light still filters through the entrance before the system descends into darkness’

The bodies of Monica Montefalcone, 52, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 20, Muriel Oddenino, 31, and Federico Gualtieri, 31, were found on Monday near the mouth of the third and final chamber of the caves in the Vaavu Atoll, at a depth of around 50 metres

The body of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti was found near the mouth of the Thinwana Kandu cave on the day the divers disappeared

Images published by Dan Europe show the narrow underwater passages where the divers’ bodies were found, with light quickly fading into near-total darkness

The pro-divers, working for Dan Europe, found the Italians in a corridor with a dead end inside the cave complex, Italy’s daily newspaper La Repubblica reported.

‘There was no way out from there,’ the company’s CEO, Laura Marroni, was quoted by La Repubblica as saying.

The group of five included Monica Montefalcone, a marine biology professor with many years of experience; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; two young researchers, Federico Gualtieri and Muriel Oddenino; and their Maldives-based guide, Benedetti. 

The Finnish divers found the cave near Alimatha begins with a first large, very bright cavern with a sandy bottom, Marroni told the newspaper.

At the end of this room is a corridor where there is little light, but ‘visibility, using artificial lighting, was excellent’, she said.

The corridor is almost 30 metres long and three metres across and leads to a second chamber of the cave, which is a large, round space with no natural light.

Between the corridor and the second chamber is a sandbank.

It is easy to get over the sandbank into the second chamber, but when you turn around to leave again, the bank almost looks like a wall, hiding the corridor, La Repubblica reported.

On the left of the sandbank is another corridor – only a few dozen metres long.

‘The divers’ bodies were all found inside, as if they had mistaken it for the right one,’ Marroni told the paper.

If they had taken that corridor by mistake, ‘then it would have been very difficult to return, especially with the limited air supply’, Marroni said.

The divers were using standard tanks, meaning that, at that depth, they had very little time to visit the second cave, she said.

Monica Montefalcone, 51, who died, was a respected marine biologist, TV personality and professor of Tropical Marine Ecology and Underwater Science at the University of Genoa

‘We’re talking about 10 minutes, maybe even less,’ Marroni added.

‘Realising that the path is the wrong one and having little air, perhaps after going back and forth, is terrifying. Then you breathe quickly, and the air supply decreases,’ she said.

The Finnish team was made up of three divers: one tasked with recovering the bodies, the second with operational safety support, and the third documenting the recovery and dive site.

The divers ‘are highly trained’ and ‘conducted an extensive reconnaissance with us, and developed a conservative dive plan, considering that no one knew the cave well’, Marroni said.

‘This type of operation always involves a great deal of responsibility, emotional toll, and a strong desire to return bodies to their families,’ she said.

The team recovered the bodies on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow. 

In a tragic incident in Indiana, a 75-year-old woman has died following a confrontation with a manager at a fast-food restaurant. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over an order.

Anita Grayson visited a Tim Hortons in Fort Wayne on May 13, intending to resolve a dispute about an order she had received via the drive-thru, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD). The nature of the dispute and the subsequent events have drawn significant attention to the incident.

Upon entering the establishment, Grayson allegedly began verbally attacking a 17-year-old employee. This prompted the intervention of a 20-year-old manager, who repeatedly asked Grayson to leave the premises. The situation escalated as Grayson reportedly moved towards the young employee, prompting the manager to step in physically to prevent any contact between Grayson and the minor.

This unfortunate event echoes a recent incident where a dispute over duties at a McDonald’s led to a manager allegedly shooting the mother of a teen employee within the restaurant. These occurrences highlight the potential for conflicts in fast-food environments to escalate rapidly and with severe consequences.

MCDONALD’S TRASH DUTY DISPUTE ESCALATES TO MANAGER ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING TEEN EMPLOYEE’S MOM IN RESTAURANT

Anita Grayson, 75, died after a physical altercation with a Tim Hortons employee in Fort Wayne, Ind., on May 13, 2026. (Anita Grayson/Facebook)

The altercation quickly turned physical as Grayson “forcefully shoved the shift lead backward” and “then struck the shift lead on the left side of the nose with her right hand,” police said. 

The shift lead then attempted to strike Grayson, who police said grabbed the 20-year-old’s face, knocked off her glasses and grabbed her by the hair while dragging her to the ground. 

Grayson then rolled on top of the shift lead, with video footage showing her attempting to swat Grayson’s arm as she was being held by her hair.

TEXAS WHATABURGER BECOMES SCENE OF WILD BRAWL AS WOMEN TRADE PUNCHES AND PULL HAIR ACROSS THE DINING AREA 

Surveillance footage shows Anita Grayson speaking with a Tim Hortons employee to address an issue with an order in Fort Wayne, Ind., on May 13, 2026. (Fort Wayne Police Department)

Two employees jumped in to break up the altercation, in which Grayson “pulled a chunk of hair” from the shift lead’s head. 

Grayson then sat down at a nearby table and began speaking on the phone before retrieving the shift lead’s clump of hair and placing it in her purse, according to police.

Surveillance footage shows Anita Grayson in a physical altercation with a Tim Hortons employee in Fort Wayne, Ind., on May 13, 2026. (Fort Wayne Police Department)

Approximately 10 minutes later, police said Grayson laid down on the floor and was unresponsive when the shift lead came to offer her a cup of water.

FAMILY CLAIMS CASINO STAFF MISTOOK VETERAN’S ILLNESS FOR INTOXICATION, DELAYING CARE BEFORE HIS DEATH

First responders arrived at the scene and attempted to perform life-saving measures before transporting Grayson to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

GOT A TIP?

Surveillance footage shows Anita Grayson in a physical altercation with a Tim Hortons employee in Fort Wayne, Ind., on May 13, 2026, while police examine a clump of hair pulled from the employee’s head. (Fort Wayne Police Department)

Footage released by the department shows the physical altercation between Grayson and the shift lead, but does not include the moment the 75-year-old laid down on the floor. 

In a report released Tuesday, the Allen County Coroner’s Office told WANE-TV that an autopsy found “no significant contributory injuries” on Grayson’s body.

FOLLOW US ON X

Her cause and manner of death remain pending, and a completed investigative file has been forwarded to local prosecutors, according to FWPD. 

In the initial news release, police acknowledged “the public concern surrounding the case.”

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

“The Fort Wayne Police Department recognizes that any loss of life is tragic,” authorities said. “When the circumstances surrounding a death are not immediately clear, those circumstances must be thoroughly and professionally investigated.”

FLORIDA MAN ATTACKS ELDERLY WOMAN, ROBS HER OF LOTTERY WINNINGS: SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE

Speaking to WPTA, Tawanda Grayson, the woman’s daughter, blasted the employees’ actions before her mother’s death.

“My mother was wronged in the worst way,” Tawanda Grayson said. “You should not enter a coffee shop for a coffee and a doughnut and come out unalived. That is diabolical.” 

A GoFundMe created by Grayson’s loved ones to cover funeral expenses described the 75-year-old as “a God-fearing woman with a loving spirit who dedicated her life to her faith, her children, and her family.”

“She was the best mother anyone could ask for — hardworking, compassionate, selfless, and always willing to help others before herself,” the fundraiser continued. “She lovingly raised four children and was the heart of our entire family. Anita’s strength, wisdom, and unconditional love touched everyone who knew her.” 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Fort Wayne Police Department, Tim Hortons and Allen County Prosecutor’s Office for comment. 

Residents and business proprietors in Los Angeles are expressing their anger over accusations that Carly Kimmel, the sister-in-law of late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, harassed a local grocer for offering cookies that supported Spencer Pratt.

In a viral post on social media, Carly Kimmel was implicated in criticizing the Spencer Pratt-themed treats available at Vicente Foods, a grocery store with a 78-year history located in Brentwood.

Kitson, a well-known fashion and lifestyle boutique in LA with celebrity clients such as Paris Hilton, Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie, and Janet Jackson, stated it had been in contact with a credible source who confirmed Carly’s involvement in the complaint.

The boutique shared images of the cookies along with a snapshot from Carly’s Instagram account.

“It seems targeting small businesses is a family trait,” the post declared, highlighting that recent legal battles involving bakeries and freedom of speech ended in favor of the bakeries at the Supreme Court. “Visit Carly’s Instagram and let her know your thoughts.”

Carly is the wife of the late-night host’s brother, Jonathan, who worked on Jimmy Kimmel’s show for years.

An employee at the store referred The California Post to a manager at the store who was unavailable at the time.

Carly and Kitson did not immediately return a request for comment.

Vicente Foods, a family-owned grocery store that has been open since 1948, says it specializes in “the finest meats, the freshest produce and fair prices throughout.”

Commenters on social media erupted at the allegations.

“Imagine crashing out over cookies,” one wrote.

“What is wrong with the Kimmels??” another added.

Many chimed in with praise for the grocer.

“I encourage everyone to go buy something from the bakery to show your support for this small business owner!” one commenter said..

“Vicente Foods has been my go to store for 40 years. I even bought those awesome cookies weeks ago when they first came out,” another said.

Pratt has seen his campaign surge in recent weeks as he takes on incumbent Karen Bass and socialist-linked Councilwoman Nithya Raman.

Donald Trump has expressed frustration with the Republican Party as it appears to be challenging his proposed $1.8 billion fund to support January 6 rioters.

“I sacrificed a lot of money to push forward the newly announced Anti-Weaponization Fund,” Trump shared on Truth Social on Friday.

“I am assisting those who were severely mistreated by a corrupt and weaponized Biden Administration to finally achieve JUSTICE!” he added.

The former president’s control over the Republican Party showed signs of weakening on Thursday evening when senators opted not to vote on a $70 billion funding proposal for ICE.

In a bold move, Speaker Mike Johnson did not attend a crucial meeting at the White House, marking a surprising act of defiance from one of Trump’s steadfast supporters.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was lashed by senators in a two-hour closed door meeting on Capitol Hill about the fund for Trump’s prosecuted political allies, branded by Republicans a ‘galactic blunder’, ‘utterly stupid’ and ‘morally wrong.’

Senator John Thune, already fuming over Trump’s endorsement of Texas AG Ken Paxton over his ally John Cornyn, pulled the vote on ICE funding and sent lawmakers home until June 1.

The impasse leaves Trump facing one of the greatest crises over his control of the Republican Party of his second term in office, with the GOP racing to push through a stack of bills central to the President’s agenda before the November midterms.

A high-stakes White House summit with Speaker Mike Johnson and top GOP leaders was abruptly cancelled Thursday amid a deepening rift between the President and his own party over a $1.8 billion fund critics are openly denouncing as a ‘slush fund’

The vast majority of Senate Republicans, including normally reliable Trump loyalists like Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, confronted Blanche with grave concerns that the fund could funnel taxpayer money to rioters who assaulted police officers on January 6 , 2021

Senate Majority Leader John Thune pulled the plug on the votes by sending lawmakers home until June 1

GOP senators also held a closed-door meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche where even Trump’s most loyal foot soldiers, including Alabama’s Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, broke ranks to confront him. 

Many lawmakers expressed outrage over the prospect of taxpayer money flowing to rioters who wounded police officers at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Thune told reporters the White House ‘need to help with this issue, because we have a lot of members who are concerned.’

Thune’s public break is officially tied to the uproar over Trump’s so-called ‘slush fund’ to reward political allies who claim the Biden Justice Department targeted them.

But privately, sources say the majority leader is seething over Trump’s decision earlier this week to endorse Ken Paxton over Thune’s close ally, John Cornyn, in the Texas Senate GOP primary.

When asked if he was losing control of Senate Republican in the Oval Office earlier Thursday, Trump responded: ‘I really don’t know. I can tell you I only do what’s right.’

More than half of Senate Republicans privately raised concerns about the fund in the meeting with Blanche, including many who have yet to speak out publicly, sources familiar with the session said.

‘Do you really think that the American people like the president suing himself, basically, then making a deal that benefits himself with a broad immunity, for not just for IRS dealings but anything else?’ said out-going Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.

The GOP Senate majority leader is seething over Trump’s decision earlier this week to endorse Ken Paxton over Thune’s close ally, John Cornyn, in the Texas Senate GOP primary

Utah Senator John Curtis said flatly: ‘I don’t like the fund at all.’

North Carolina’s Thom Tillis branded it a ‘payout pot for punks.’

Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told CNN: ‘Somebody described it as a galactic blunder, and I think that’s probably true.’

Earlier this week, the Justice Department resolved a $10 billion lawsuit the President had brought against the agency by establishing a $1.8 billion fund for his political allies.

It was created to issue formal apologies and monetary relief owed to claimants who were subjected to ‘lawfare’ under the Biden administration.

More than 1,600 January 6 defendants pardoned by Trump are eligible to receive payments from the fund.

Two police officers who defended the US Capitol during the 2021 riot have sued Trump in a Washington, DC, district court to block the fund.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate had its breaking point this week, simply saying, “Enough is enough.”

President Donald Trump’s attempts at political retribution were met with staunch resistance from Republican senators, who were visibly frustrated by his relentless and unusual requests. Most notably, Trump demanded a $1.776 billion fund to support January 6 rioters and others he claims were unjustly prosecuted. This week, the Senate did the unthinkable in response to these demands.

In a rare and bold move, they just refused to comply, shutting down proceedings and heading home.

This stand was both a significant and defiant act, showcasing a sudden assertion of power from a Congress that has long been seen as merely echoing the executive branch’s wishes. Traditionally, the Republican-led Senate has frequently prioritized aligning with the Republican president over challenging him.

As a result, the GOP’s primary goal of approving a proposed $70 billion budget package is now stalled. This package was intended to support Trump’s immigration and deportation initiatives until the end of his presidency in 2029. With the vote delayed until Congress reconvenes next month, Trump’s deadline to have it signed by June 1 has now been missed.

Trump, asked during an event at the Oval Office if he was losing control of the Senate, shrugged.

“I really don’t know,” the president said.

It all caps a bruising week after the president swept midterm primary elections, taking down one Republican after another — Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky, and endorsing the challenger to Sen. John Cornyn in Texas — turning the might of his Make America Great Again movement against those who have stuck to their own views, rather than yield to his.

And it wasn’t just the Senate. In the Republican-led House, for the first time this year, enough GOP lawmakers broke ranks to signal support for a war powers resolution from Democrats designed to halt Trump’s military action in Iran. House Speaker Mike Johnson postponed voting until he could ensure an outcome that avoids confronting the president.

The endgame leaves Trump and the party exposed in new ways.

While the president is winning with his handpicked candidates, many are untested heading into general elections this fall. Trump’s own approval rating sits at a low point, and he is spending his political capital, alienating his would-be allies and threatening to derail GOP priorities as they try to persuade voters to keep them in office.

Anger in the Senate over Trump’s ‘payout for punks’

Trump’s announcement of nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund for those the president believes were wrongly prosecuted came with little warning, and less support, blindsiding senators already fuming over his push for $1 billion to provide security for his new White House ballroom.

The audacity of the arrangement — Trump negotiating a settlement to his own lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service that would set up the compensation fund for those perceived to be wrongly prosecuted — proved too toxic for the Senate to bear.

“Under what circumstances would it ever make sense to provide restitution for people who were either pled guilty or were found guilty in a court of law?” steamed Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

Tillis derided the White House move as “stupid on stilts” and a “payout for punks.” Trump fired back Friday morning, accusing Tillis of “screwing the Republican Party” in a lengthy social media post.

GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader, who tends to keep his own counsel, issued his own a statement in the aftermath.

“So the nation’s top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong — Take your pick,” McConnell said.

The political calculations were becoming apparent: The more Trump bullies and badgers the Congress, the more they are left questioning what they have to gain, or lose, from trying to appease him, especially for those already heading for the exits.

“I think it’s hard to divorce anything that happens here from what’s happening in the political atmosphere around us,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met for hours behind closed doors with senators over the compensation fund, but left without a resolution.

Afterward, Thune said the discussion likely left the administration’s team with “an appreciation for the depth of feeling on the issue.”

Trump’s victories come at a cost

While Trump-backed candidates defeated Republican incumbents in the House and Senate this week, showing his command of the party faithful, some in Congress saw the defeats of their colleagues differently.

“You don’t want to have a totally loyal party that’s in the minority. And that’s maybe where we’re headed,” said Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring at the end of his term.

It began Saturday, when Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in his Senate impeachment trial after Jan. 6, lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger in Louisiana. He returned to Washington days later noticeably more eager to criticize Trump — and more willing to vote against him.

“Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” Cassidy said Monday. A day later, he joined Democrats in voting to rein in the war in Iran.

Then came Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over Cornyn in Texas, a move many Republicans viewed as both personal and politically reckless. Trump said Cornyn “was not supportive of me when times were tough.”

“There’s a lot of folks in our conference that are disappointed because we appreciate working with John Cornyn,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

Others worried the divisive Texas primary could jeopardize a seat Republicans cannot afford to lose.

“He made the wrong pick,” Tillis said. “It’s going to be a lot more expensive to hold that seat.”

Frustration extends beyond the Senate

In the House there were also signs of Republican discontent.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., joined Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi in introducing legislation that would block taxpayer dollars from being used for Trump’s proposed “anti-weaponization” compensation fund.

Fitzpatrick also drew Trump’s ire after the president complained publicly that the congressman “likes voting against Trump” and warned, “You know what happens with that?”

But Fitzpatrick insisted the backlash inside the party was driven by policy concerns, not political fear.

“People have the right to free speech in this country,” Fitzpatrick said. “But what we do here is all about policy.”

At the same time, Fitzpatrick and Republican Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett were expected to side with Democrats in voting for the war powers resolution to rein in Trump’s military campaign in Iran.

GOP leaders pulled the measure at the last minute when it became clear Republicans lacked the votes to defeat it.

Bacon, who spent some 30 years on active duty in the Air Force, said he believed much of the Republican pushback to the war could be resolved if Trump consulted Congress more.

“You sit down with somebody, and work with them instead of threatening, bully and yelling,” said Bacon. “It don’t work.”

A suspect from Minnesota, accused of engaging in fraudulent activities, has been apprehended after attempting to escape law enforcement. This was confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.

“Following today’s collaborative press conference, which unveiled 15 indictments related to public healthcare fraud in Minnesota, we have successfully arrested Muhammad Omar,” Patel shared in a statement on Thursday via X, referring to the individual who initially evaded capture during the FBI’s raid.

Earlier at the news conference, FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia detailed that the fugitive had made a dramatic escape by leaping from a fourth-story balcony as authorities closed in.

15 CHARGED IN ‘SHOCKING’ $90 MILLION MINNESOTA FRAUD SCHEMES; ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ RINGLEADER SENTENCED

Surveillance footage released by the Department of Justice shows Minnesota Medicaid fraud suspect Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar evading FBI agents. Omar is accused of orchestrating a $3.3 million fraud scheme, which involved submitting false Medicaid claims through two home health care companies. This occurred prior to his disappearance amidst a widespread DOJ operation targeting fraudulent activities.

Federal Bureau of Investigations Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia addresses the media to announce actions to combat fraud in Minnesota at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota on May 21, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (David Berding/Getty Images)

“He is charged with healthcare fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349, 18 U.S.C. § 1347) involving a Housing Stabilization Services company — with fraudulent claims for services not provided and diverting the proceeds for personal benefit,” Patel’s post stated regarding Omar. “Subject was located arrested within 2 hours.”

MINNESOTA FRAUD MASTERMIND GETS NEARLY 42 YEARS IN PRISON IN MASSIVE $250M ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ SCHEME

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel prepares to testify for a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar, 32, of Roseville, Minnesota, and Ibrahim Bashir Abdi, 25, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and four counts of health care fraud in connection with a scheme to submit $3.3 million in fraudulent claims to the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Program of Minnesota Medicaid, of which approximately $3.2 million was paid,” according to the Justice Department.

OWNER OF DAYCARE IN VIRAL NICK SHIRLEY VIDEO CHARGED IN $4.6M DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME, PROSECUTORS SAY

“As alleged in the indictment, Omar and Abdi co-owned and operated North Home Health Care LLC (NHHC) and Omar individually owned South Home Health Care LLC (SHHC). Omar and Abdi, through NHHC and SHHC, submitted claims to the HSS Program for services that they did not provide and for more services than were actually provided to Medicaid recipients. Omar and Abdi then created records falsifying the services that they claimed to have provided to Medicaid recipients and provided those records to insurers to justify their fraudulent claims,” the DOJ asserted.

In a separate legal development, a Colombian national received a severe sentence for his crimes in Missouri. Authorities confirmed that Brayanne Escobar-Guarnizo has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a minor, a 12-year-old girl whom he raped and impregnated.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office arrested Escobar-Guarnizo in September 2024 after receiving reports about the girl’s pregnancy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that investigators found incriminating evidence, including photos and messages, indicating that Escobar-Guarnizo repeatedly pursued the child and solicited explicit photos and videos.

Escobar-Guarnizo was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in September 2024 after authorities received a report alleging he had impregnated the girl.

DHS said investigators uncovered photos and messages allegedly showing that Escobar-Guarnizo repeatedly made advances toward the child and requested nude photos and videos.

MAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO RAPING 12-YEAR-OLD RELATIVE IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM HONDURAS, DHS SAYS

Brayanne Escobar-Guarnizo was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl in Missouri, authorities said. (Department of Homeland Security)

According to DHS, Escobar-Guarnizo pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor in August 2025. He was initially charged with production of child pornography.

He was sentenced Monday to 300 months, or 25 years, in prison.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis praised the sentence in a statement.

ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY INVOLVING OWN RELATIVES: ‘MONSTER’

Photos and messages showed Escobar-Guarnizo repeatedly made advances toward the child and requested nude photos and videos, according to investigators. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)

“This dirtbag was charged with production of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor after he raped and impregnated a 12-year-old girl,” Bis said in a statement. 

According to DHS, Escobar-Guarnizo illegally entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration.

“Thanks to the investigative work of ICE law enforcement officers and our state and local partners, this child predator has now been sentenced to 25 years behind bars,” Bis said. “This illegal alien NEVER should have been allowed into our country by the Biden Administration.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at work. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“Under Secretary Mullin, we will continue to target criminal illegal aliens and get them OUT of our communities,” she added.

DHS said the sentencing followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with state and local law enforcement agencies.

<!–>