A professor from Harding University and his family, residing in Arkansas, were startled to discover a stranger secretly living in their basement after noticing a series of unexplained disappearances of items from their home.

In an interview with KTHV, Dutch Hoggatt revealed that his suspicions were first aroused when he found a pair of shoes missing from their usual spot near the back door.

“I asked my wife if she had thrown them out, but she hadn’t,” he explained. “As time passed, we realized that chairs were being moved around, and even some of our food had vanished.”

Authorities eventually identified the intruder as Preston Landis, who had managed to live undetected in the family’s home for several days, relocating from a crawl space to the basement before being discovered.

Preston Landis, 41, spent three days stealthily residing in the Arkansas professor’s house before his presence was uncovered and he was taken into custody. (Photo courtesy of White County Sheriff’s Office)

Hoggatt and his wife then told their daughter and son-in-law, Cherisee and Mark Gregory.

“I think they thought they were both going crazy. And I’m like, ‘That doesn’t happen at the same time suddenly,’” Cherisee Gregory said.

On April 29, the family began searching the house while Dutch Hoggatt was at church, when his wife, Sharon Hoggatt, entered a storage closet beneath the basement stairs.

The Hoggatt family discovered a stranger living in their basement after noticing chairs and shoes were missing. (Dutch Hoggatt)

“She went further into the closet, and that’s when I saw her eyes get really big. She starts to back out and says, ‘There’s someone in there. I see their leg or their jeans or something,’” Mark Gregory said. 

Mark went downstairs to see for himself what was happening as the person in the closet remained silent.

“When I get in the closet, I yell at the guy to come out,” he told KTHV. “I have a baseball bat in one hand. I start hitting the door, or the frame, kind of just to scare him a little bit. And he finally says, ‘OK, I’m coming.’”

The stranger slept in a storage closet, creating a make-shift bed (pictured).  (Dutch Hoggatt)

The man, later identified as Landis, told the family he was homeless and stepped out as deputies from the White County Sheriff’s Office arrived to arrest him.

According to authorities, Landis first arrived on April 27, living in the Hoggatts’ crawl space before moving to the basement the next day, April 28, where he created a makeshift bed in a supply closet.

The sheriff’s office charged him with residential burglary and theft of property, with his bond set at $15,000.

The White County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The family emphasized that nothing was stolen from their home, and that they felt bad for Landis.

“We’re not angry at this man,” Dutch said. “I feel sorry for the man. I’m glad we figured out there was somebody living in the house because this could have gone on for much longer than it did.”

EDMOND, Oklahoma — A weekend gathering by the lake in Oklahoma turned tragic when a shooting left one person dead and 22 others injured by gunfire and shrapnel, authorities reported on Tuesday.

In a statement on social media platform X, Edmond police revealed that an 18-year-old woman succumbed to injuries sustained during the shooting, which erupted after a fight broke out at Sunday night’s event.

Although no arrests have been made yet, Edmond Police spokesperson Sgt. James Hamm assured the public that investigators have information suggesting there is no lingering threat to community safety.

The altercation occurred at a picnic pavilion near Arcadia Lake, a well-known destination for boating, fishing, and swimming located just north of Oklahoma City. The shooting unfolded just as officers were responding to a noise complaint regarding the party, according to Hamm.

Promoted extensively on social media, the event attracted a large crowd composed mainly of young people, police officials noted.

Three hospitals in the Oklahoma City area said Monday that they had treated 18 people from the party. One healthcare system said the victims ranged in age from 16 to 30.

Some of the victims suffered graze wounds and many were treated and released, he said. It’s possible that more people were hit but didn’t seek treatment, Hamm said.

Many of those shot were not involved in the fight and were “simply attending the party,” he said.

Police declined to release any information about potential suspects, how many people may have fired shots or what types of weapons were used. Hamm said the department wanted to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Edmond Mayor Mark Nash said Monday that the shooting took place at a public park where spaces can be reserved for large gatherings, but no reservation had been made.

Jeremiah Braxton, who was at the party, said two of his friends were among those shot. He said everyone was eating, dancing and having a good time until a group of girls started arguing over boyfriends.

“It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” he said Monday.

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Napa Valley’s wine producers are facing increasing rivalry from their northern neighbors, as Sonoma County tasting rooms are witnessing a surge in visitors, keeping sommeliers bustling with activity.

According to the 2026 Tasting Room Survey Report, published by Wine Business Monthly, the reduction in visitor numbers at California wineries has been less pronounced than in previous years.

Though the wine sector still faces challenges, a recent analysis offers a ray of optimism, particularly for Sonoma, suggesting that the situation isn’t as dire as it was a year prior.

The report, which examined visitor statistics for over 11,000 wineries in the county, revealed a decline in tasting room attendance last year for both Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

Nevertheless, Sonoma experienced a less significant drop. Napa Valley saw an 18% decrease in visitors in 2025 compared to the previous year, whereas Sonoma’s decline was a mere 8%.

Wineries like Caddis Winery have seen things improve at their Sonoma Plaza tasting room compared to the previous years.

Pointing to the rollercoaster the business has experienced since the debut of the tasting room right before the pandemic shut down the world in 2020, co-owner Chris Sorensen said dips aren’t as bad as they once were.

“I’ve put a lot of effort into learning how to build and maintain customer relationships, and that’s made a real difference for our business,” Chris Sorensen told the Press Democrat.

“The biggest challenge now is predicting when people will show up. That has become very unpredictable, which can make planning difficult.”

The number of American adults who say they consume alcohol has fallen to 54%, according to an August 2025 Gallup poll, a challenge the wine industry continues to navigate.

Kim Stare Wallace, the president and second-generation owner at Dry Creek Vineyard, another winery in the county, said they are finding creative ways to bring people in.

“People are being more selective in what they purchase, but they’re still willing to spend money on quality wine and experiences that feel special,” Wallace told the outlet. 

“We’ve seen strong interest in our limited releases and programs that give them a reason to come back and try something new.”

Meanwhile things are more bleak for the wine industry in Napa, where foot traffic dropped sharply from the growth of 3% it reported in 2024, the outlet noted.

Despite fewer visitors to its tasting room, Mike Desilets, operations manager at Titus Vineyards in St. Helena, said business is good.

“Tasting room traffic has been fairly flat, but those who do visit spend more,” he told the outlet. “One new approach we’re trying is offering one-day wine club perks to partner wineries.”

“We’re not sure about the long-term gains, but customers are very excited about it.”

One of the reasons for different figures between the counties could be the massive cost for wine-lovers to sample the goods.

In Sonoma county, a median wine tasting flight will run a person $40 dollars a head, with speciality experiences jumping to $90, a jump of 44% compared to 2024, the report noted.

However, those out for a tasty wine experience in Napa Valley can expect to pay a median cost for a wine flight of $75, up 15% from a year ago. And experiences that offer specials can run a whopping average of $150 a head.

On top of the higher cost of living in the state, California wineries have to pay workers a whole lot more in order to run those tasting rooms. 

The Wine report found that the median hourly wage for staff in Napa costs $26 in 2025, compared to the $20 national average.

The Post reached out to Sonoma and Napa Valley wine industry for further comment.

A former prominent Trump ally who once roamed the halls of Washington has clinched a spot in the Ohio gubernatorial race, marking his return to his home state.

Vivek Ramaswamy, known nationally for his outspoken stance against “woke” culture and a brief presidential run in 2024, has emerged as the Republican candidate for governor in Ohio.

The Associated Press announced Ramaswamy’s victory shortly after the polls concluded on Tuesday evening.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Indian immigrant parents, Ramaswamy stands out as a non-traditional Republican. He is a first-generation American and a Hindu who built his fortune in hedge funds and investment banking.

However, Ramaswamy faces challenges in gaining support from evangelical Christian conservatives, a key Republican voter base. Whether these voters will rally behind him in the November election remains uncertain.

Amy Acton, who led the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be Ramaswamy’s general election opponent as she’s expected to secure the Democratic nomination. A Democrat hasn’t won a governor’s race in Ohio since 2006.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Chair of the Republican Governors’ Association, celebrated Ramaswamy’s win while blasting Acton, noting that she ‘will treat taxpayers like an open checkbook, implementing the same failed tax-and-spend policies that led to crushing inflation and smaller paychecks.’

There’s some trepidation among Republicans that Ramaswamy’s nomination could spell trouble for the party holding the governorship in a state Trump carried by 11 points in 2024.

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Warren County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio, Friday, April 10, 2026

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy fills out his ballot at his polling place at the Burbank Early Childhood School in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during the primary election

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy talks and records into his phone after voting at his polling place in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during the primary election

‘Thank you, Vivek supporters. You surrendered our state to the left,’ lamented Derek Yohe, a self-described Christian from Ohio wrote on X before Tuesday’s vote was tallied.

Matt Gaetz, a former Republican member of Congress, shared the Polymarket odds that show Democrats winning the general election, noting on X that ‘the Ohio backslide is a big story.’

In a video clip that resurfaced earlier this month, Ramaswamy explained that he doesn’t believe Jesus is ‘the’ son of God, something that could further imperil the Republicans’ prospects and lead to a lack of evangelicals wanting to turnout for him in November.

A Bowling Green State University poll showed Ramaswamy leading Acton by a single point, 48 percent to 47 percent. A Quantus Insights poll found Acton ahead 46 percent to Ramaswamy’s 45 percent.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio resident himself, was in state on Tuesday to cast his ballot alongside his son, also named Vivek.

In a post on X from his personal account, Vance shared that he supported ‘Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor, Jay Edwards for State Treasurer and Eric Conroy for Congress (OH-1).’

He urged his supporters to follow his lead, adding, ‘I hope you’ll do the same, Ohio!’

US Vice President JD Vance alongside his son Vivek, casts his ballot at a polling location at St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church as he votes in the state’s primary election, on May 5, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Vance stopped in Ohio to vote in the state’s primary election before heading to Iowa to speak at a manufacturing facility in Des Moines

Vice President JD Vance and his son Vivek, walk off Air Force Two upon arrival at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Vance is stopping in Ohio to vote in the state’s primary election before continuing on to Oklahoma and Iowa

Kalshi and Polymarket gave Democrats more than a 50 percent chance of winning in November as of Tuesday evening, even as Trump easily carried the state in his three elections.

Ramaswamy, who previously ran for president, entered the governor’s race after quitting his role with DOGE last year. He was initially hoping to be appointed to Vance’s seat in the US Senate, but pivoted to the governor’s race when Governor Mike DeWine chose his lieutenant governor.

Another notable factor at play in the state will be the re-emergence of former US Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who lost his last race in 2024.

Brown is running for the Senate once more against Republican Senator John Husted, the state’s former Lieutenant Governor, who was appointed to fill the US Senate seat vacated by now-Vice President JD Vance. 

Brown is aiming to flip the seat back into Democratic hands in a race that could prove vital in the effort to flip the US Senate back from GOP control. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the upper chamber on Capitol Hill.