Home Blog Page 94

Kim Zolciak’s Son KJ Fights to Avoid Adult Prison Sentence

0

Kim Zolciak’s 15-year-old son is seeking to have his criminal case moved out of adult court after being indicted on multiple felony counts tied to alleged sexual assault.

Kroy Biermann Jr., who goes by KJ, has remained in custody at Atlanta’s Metro Regional Youth Detention Center since he was arrested on August 17.

Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show that his attorneys filed a motion on Tuesday requesting a “transfer to juvenile court and for confidentiality proceedings.”

The filing indicates that KJ’s defense team is asking Fulton County Court to shift the matter into Georgia’s juvenile justice system, a move that would mean he would not be prosecuted as an adult and could potentially face less severe penalties if convicted.

A grand jury indicted KJ on seven felony charges: aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, three counts of sexual battery involving a child under 16, and false imprisonment.

The charges stem from an alleged encounter with a female classmate at a Life Time fitness center in Alpharetta, Georgia, on April 23.

Kim Zolciak's 15-year-old son, Kroy Biermann Jr, who is in prison after being indicted on seven felony charges in his sexual assault case, is asking to be transferred to juvenile court

Kim Zolciak’s 15-year-old son, Kroy Biermann Jr, who is in prison after being indicted on seven felony charges in his sexual assault case, is asking to be transferred to juvenile court 

Kroy Jr, known as KJ, has been held at Atlanta's Metro Regional Youth Detention Center since his August 17 arrest

Kroy Jr, known as KJ, has been held at Atlanta’s Metro Regional Youth Detention Center since his August 17 arrest 

KJ will be appearing in court on Friday, September 11, as his bond hearing is set to take place after it was suddenly canceled on Tuesday. 

Biermann’s attorney, Jason Sheffield, confirmed to Page Six that the state’s indictment of KJ filed last Thursday has become the ‘controlling action’ in the case.

As a result, the judge who was set to oversee the preliminary hearing will now be changed, hence the postponement.

Sheffield explained: ‘We will have several court dates coming up, including a motion to transfer the case to juvenile court, a bond hearing, and an arraignment on the current indictment.

‘Unfortunately, we will have to wait for our day in court where we can finally begin to level the playing field.’ 

The attorney added that the state has made it clear that it intends to try KJ as an adult, which was the matter to be litigated at today’s hearing.

‘We are expecting to enter not guilty pleas to all charges at the plea and arraignment hearing on October 14,’ he said.

‘I’m going to file a motion for the case to be transferred to juvenile court and for him to be tried as a juvenile.’

KJ had been indicted by a grand jury last week on seven felony charges, including: aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, three counts of sexual battery against a child under 16 and false imprisonment. Above, KJ with Zolciak

KJ had been indicted by a grand jury last week on seven felony charges, including: aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, three counts of sexual battery against a child under 16 and false imprisonment. Above, KJ with Zolciak

His attorney Sheffield said: ‘It is difficult to comprehend that a 14- or 15-year-old child can be held in detention for a month or longer simply waiting for a bond hearing.

‘But that detention is a direct consequence of the detective’s decision to arrest him on charges of this magnitude. 

‘Once those charges were selected, the law governing bond left little room for his age or juvenile status to meaningfully change what happened next. In that sense, the severity of the charges does not merely define the accusation – it effectively strips away many of the protections we ordinarily associate with treating a child differently from an adult.’

This comes amid news that KJ will likely endure ‘close, close monitoring’ if he’s granted bond after being taken into custody last month over sexual assault allegations made by a female classmate. 

The teenager remains behind bars. KJ has denied all the allegations against him. 

Lindsay Richards, a sexual assault case expert and former prosecutor, gave her insight into KJ’s bid to get out of jail, saying: ‘I think there’s a likelihood he’ll be released and he will have a lot of conditions of his release.

‘I think he’ll be on a GPS. He’ll probably be on house arrest, having to do school at home,’ she told Page Six.

She also said the ‘unbelievably serious’ charges could land the teen in prison for decades if convicted.

Those charges stem from an alleged encounter with a female classmate at a Life Time fitness center in Alpharetta, Georgia, on April 23. Above, KJ with Zolciak

Those charges stem from an alleged encounter with a female classmate at a Life Time fitness center in Alpharetta, Georgia, on April 23. Above, KJ with Zolciak

Richards, who is not involved in his case, said KJ may have to enroll in therapy and educational courses before he goes on trial.

Richards noted that the fact KJ remains in custody suggests the seriousness of the situation. 

‘Not releasing him into the custody of his parents with electronic monitoring of some kind, that surprises me for this young of a kid,’ Richards continued.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Zolciak, Biermann and KJ’s attorney for further comment. 

KJ was arrested in Alpharetta, Georgia, last month for the alleged April 23 offense. 

According to Fulton County Juvenile Court papers obtained by the Daily Mail, the alleged victim said she was at the gym when she saw KJ, and alleged he suggested they go into a co-ed sauna.

Per the documents, to get to the sauna, they had to walk through a family changing room, which is where the alleged incident happened.

The girl claimed KJ began to touch her and she said no. She then alleged he forced her to perform oral sex on him and allegedly attempted ‘multiple times to have sexual intercourse with her by trying to pull down her pants.’ She alleged that when she ‘finally managed to get away from him… he pulled up his pants and left.’

Zolciak branded the allegations ‘reckless and deeply troubling’ in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying: ‘He categorically denies ever being involved with this woman or engaging in the conduct she has alleged.

‘My son voluntarily took a polygraph examination regarding these allegations and passed,’ she claimed.

‘Additionally, an examination was conducted, and no DNA belonging to my son was found.’

‘We remain confident that the facts and evidence will establish the truth, and we ask that people allow the proper process to take its course rather than spreading unproven allegations.’

Per documents, an officer was dispatched to North Fulton Hospital on April 24 for a reported sexual assault.

Kroy Biermann and Zolciak have six children together - they split in 2023 after a 12-year marriage

Kroy Biermann and Zolciak have six children together – they split in 2023 after a 12-year marriage

Police said the alleged victim and her father claimed the incident occurred the day prior inside a nearby gym.

The alleged victim was examined at the North Fulton Hospital in Georgia on April 24 and, per the report, no evidence of male DNA was found in her mouth or vagina.

Police opened an investigation and an officer says he began attempting to contact Kroy Sr on May 14.

The officer says he spoke with him on May 18, and Kroy Sr said he would ‘discuss the matter with Kim.’

KJ is being held without bond at the Juvenile Court of Fulton County. 

His attorney tried to get the teenager released on bond on Wednesday afternoon.

His lawyers submitted documents arguing that the teenager isn’t a flight risk and that his strong academic and athletic record is proof of his good character.

The attorney said that Biermann Jr is ‘a high school student in good standing who has demonstrated strong academic achievement,’ on top of receiving scholarships for his athletic prowess.

They also point out that Biermann Jr never fled the state despite knowing about the charges against him back in April, and that he also submitted to polygraph testing.

The attorney is also asking to keep the proceedings confidential due to both Biermann Jr and his alleged victim being juveniles, as well as the public interest in the case due to Zolciak’s fame as a reality TV star.

KJ’s attorney Jason Sheffield told the Daily Mail last month: ‘My client is 100 percent innocent and tried to present evidence to the arresting officer, including a passed Polygraph by a notable and respected sex offender Polygrapher.

‘The fact that he’s been arrested and is being held without Bond is a tragedy. He is not only presumed innocent, but is in fact, innocent.

The couple with their children before their split

The couple with their children before their split

‘I will work tirelessly to demonstrate to the District Attorney’s office the mean-spirited nature of these false allegations and to bring a close to this matter as quickly as possible. I’m asking the Public not to presume the truth of these allegations and to give the families on both sides their space and privacy.’

In May, Zolciak, 48, who has been embroiled in a bitter child-custody row and split from Biermann, 40, celebrated KJ’s 15th birthday.

Zolciak shared multiple family photos from over the years, including snaps with KJ’s older sisters, Brielle, 29, and Ariana, 24, along with several photos that highlighted the striking resemblance he had to his younger brothers, Kash, 14, and 12-year-old Kane.

Zolciak and Biermann also welcomed daughter Kaia, 12, who is Kane’s twin.

The former Atlanta Falcons linebacker adopted Brielle and Ariana after tying the knot with his estranged wife in 2011.

The reality TV couple parted ways in 2023 and had a series of breakups and reconciliations before splitting for good.

In March, Biermann asked the court to grant him full custody of their minor children, and he accused his ex of ‘blatant mismanagement of basic parenting responsibilities’ in a court filing.

In June, a judge granted Biermann primary physical custody of their four minor children after he alleged that Zolciak was ‘unstable and unfit.’

Zolciak and Biermann will continue to share joint legal custody of the children.  

NYC Synagogue Attacker Claimed He Was God, Prosecutors Say

0

A man accused of carrying out an antisemitic attack inside a Manhattan synagogue on Shabbat declared to worshippers that he was God before allegedly assaulting two people, prosecutors said Wednesday as they disclosed new details in the case.

Larry Montes, who authorities say later told police the incident was a “racial thing,” allegedly made the disturbing claim after rushing onto the bimah inside Central Synagogue in Midtown Manhattan on Aug. 14.

“As people tried to worship peacefully, (Montes) interrupted these services by rushing towards the rabbi, screaming that he, the defendant, is the Hashem, the term for God in the Jewish community,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Philip Klindt said in court.

The allegation surfaced as Montes, 46, was arraigned before Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Ann Thompson on an indictment charging him with criminal mischief as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime.

Montes, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of entering the synagogue near East 55th Street and Lexington Avenue at the beginning of a 6 p.m. Shabbat service, prosecutors said.

The maniac then spewed obscenities that shocked the nearly 375 congregants, prosecutors said.

That’s when Montes ran toward the temple’s pulpit, knocking two religious candlesticks to the ground and causing more than $7,000 in damage, according to the indictment.

Security tried to usher him out but the violent cuckoo slugged a 63-year-old female congregant in the face with the back of his hand, causing her to fall to the ground, authorities said.

A 65-year-old security guard grabbed Montes but he lashed out again and allegedly spit in the man’s face, headbutted him — and shouted a racial slur, according to officials.

Montes, who is charged federally, was eventually physically dragged from the front of a synagogue, where an NYPD officer cuffed the hate-spewing loon as he continued to spew rant, prosecutors said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg attended Montes’ arraignment Wednesday and vowed to keep fighting antisemitism ahead of the Jewish High Holidays.

“Places of worship should be safe havens, not scenes of violence and hate,” Bragg said in a statement.

“An attack on a house of worship threatens an entire community’s sense of safety and the sanctity of these community pillars must be protected,” Bragg added. “I commend the Jewish community for its resilience amid heightened antisemitism, and I wish the victims a full recovery.”

Montes faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of criminal mischief as a hate crime.

He will remain in federal custody and is due back in court Dec. 9.

NYPD Chief Says 9/11 Heroes’ Legacy Inspires New Officers

0

Nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the courage of the NYPD officers who rushed into danger remains a guiding force for the department, Chief of Department Michael LiPetri said at a ceremony unveiling a memorial wall honoring members who died that day and in the years that followed.

“No one reaches this point by themselves,” LiPetri told those gathered. “No matter the rank we earn or the command we are entrusted to lead, we do so on the foundation laid by those who came before us.”

He said the department carries forward not only their sacrifice, but also the values they left behind — lessons and examples that current and future NYPD members are now charged with preserving.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a 9/11 Memorial Wall unveiling ceremony at One Police Plaza.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks during the unveiling of a new 9/11 Memorial Wall at One Police Plaza on Sept. 9, 2026, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said more than 469 NYPD members have died from illnesses linked to their work after the attacks. LiPetri also noted that over 1,700 members have retired with disabilities connected to the World Trade Center response.

“We are still losing members to illnesses caused by their service after the attacks,” LiPetri said. “All these years later, we are still standing with families as they bury loved ones whose lives were forever changed by the work they did after Sept. 11”

People attend a 9/11 Memorial Wall unveiling ceremony at One Police Plaza in New York City.

A woman reads this histories of those honored by the new 9/11 Memorial Wall at One Police Plaza on Sept. 9, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The memorial wall at One Police Plaza honors the 23 NYPD officers killed at the World Trade Center that morning, along with members who later died from illnesses linked to their rescue and recovery efforts.

“Sept. 11 did not end on Sept. 11,” NYPD Chief Chaplain Reverend R. Bernard said during the invocation. “For many, the costs continued for years, illness endured, families impacted and lives ultimately lost.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani recalled the story of Officer John William Perry, who was at One Police Plaza preparing to resign and begin a career as an attorney when the first plane struck the North Tower. Perry asked for his shield back and rushed to the World Trade Center.

“There he was confronted with unimaginable suffering, but he did not stop with the same immense bravery and courage that was commonplace among so many that day, the kind that has long defined this department,” Mamdani said.

“Officer Perry ran into the fire. The last time he was seen he was helping a woman out of the South Tower before rushing back in to save as many others as he could. Officer Perry and 22 of his fellow officers, each with their own stories, were killed that morning. That includes 14 members of the emergency service unit, who were among the first to enter the towers.”

People gather at One Police Plaza for a 9/11 Memorial Wall unveiling ceremony in New York City.

The new 9/11 Memorial Wall at One Police Plaza was unveiled Sept. 9, 2026 by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, family members of first responders and other NYPD officers. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Mamdani noted sons of officers Ronnie Klopfer and Joseph Viviano “now carry on his legacy of bravery as valued members of this very department.”

“Every officer present that day embodied the NYPD’s creed that the duty to protect is not a job that one clocks out of, but a calling,” Mamdani said. “One answers until the very end.

“In the days and months that followed September 11th, thousands of NYPD officers and staff from across every precinct and every borough heeded that same call. They took on that same heavy and incalculable risk.”

Their sons play on the same lacrosse team Klopfer founded before the attacks.

“Their fathers are gone, but the team that Ron built is still here,” LiPetri said. “Their sons are wearing an NYPD uniform, and a connection that began years before Sept. 11 continues inside the department.”

Tisch said thousands of current NYPD officers were children on 9/11, while many others had not yet been born. She said preserving the memories of those who served is becoming increasingly important as the generation that responded to the attacks retires.

“The faces in this building will be different, but these names will still be here,” Tisch said. “The example of the men and women behind them will continue to shape the department.”

Corie Walsh Accused in Toddler’s Death Hours After Discussing Lindsay Clancy Trial, Friends Say

0

Attorneys for an Illinois mother accused of killing her toddler say she was experiencing psychosis when the child died.

Corie Walsh, a mother of four, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, Barrett. She has entered a not guilty plea.

During a Sept. 8 detention hearing in Will County, Walsh cried and lowered her head as her defense team urged the court to send her to inpatient mental health treatment rather than jail.

Judge Amy Bertani rejected that request, saying, “I can’t make this decision out of compassion or empathy. There is clear and convincing evidence that she is involved in [a] first-degree murder offense and is a clear and present threat to husband and other children.”

After the hearing, defense attorney Andrea Lyon responded to the judge’s decision outside the courthouse.

“We’re disappointed with the ruling,” she told reporters. “But we’re going to continue to work really hard to investigate this case and present the defense as correct, which is that she was psychotic and this is not a first-degree murder.” 

Court documents cited by NBC 5 Chicago noted Walsh was interested in Lindsay Clancy’s trial, claiming she “had been actively discussing the case via group text message with her friends” hours before Barrett was killed. 

However, Lyon pushed back on comparisons.  

“That it’s a copycat or anything like that,” Lyon said, “is baseless and cruel.”

According to the outlet, Walsh’s other defense attorney, Robert Kerr, called the contrast “sickening,” adding, “Describing Corie to a copied Lindsay is to take an easy bait.”

Earlier this month, police responded to Walsh’s home after a neighbor found Barrett, whose nickname was Bear, hanging from a basement rafter with a ligature around his neck, according to a petition for pretrial detention cited by NBC 5 Chicago

Barrett’s body was cold and he had no pulse, however the neighbor lowered him to the ground and performed CPR. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.  

An unharmed infant was also inside the home and two other school-aged children arrived when authorities were there, the outlet reported.  

Police found Walsh in an upstairs bathtub “fully dressed, surrounded by bloody water,” the petition read, with the neighbor pressing a towel to her thigh. The neighbor told investigators Walsh said she was trying to kill herself and that her son was in the basement. 

Walsh told investigators that she “did this to her baby because he was the devil and the anti-Christ,” according to court documents cited by NBC 5 Chicago. Officials noted that Walsh “later admitted in the hospital how she killed Barrett.”  

A preliminary autopsy cited by the outlet showed Barrett died of asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck.  

Prosecutors said Walsh also planned to harm her husband, who was not home at the time, and “poison him with a drink.” They said Walsh believed she had also killed her three other children.   

“It is also a tragedy that Corie herself was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time this happened,” Lyon told ABC News in a Sept. 6 statement. “It is our hope that through a thorough presentation and investigation of the facts, that all of us will come to see this heartbreak for what it is.” 

Walsh’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen. 

Trump Promises a Hot GOP Convention as Many Republicans Skip It

0

Large numbers of Republicans are choosing to sit out Trump’s midterm convention in Dallas, even as the president promotes the event as “really HOT!”

The two-day Republican gathering, designed to energize GOP voters and candidates ahead of the November elections, is scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon and wrap up on Thursday.

Trump is slated to headline both nights, while Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the crowd Wednesday evening. The program will also give several lesser-known Republican candidates a chance to introduce themselves to voters before Election Day.

“The Republican National Convention, tomorrow night in Dallas, is really ‘HOT!’ The American Airlines Center, home to the Dallas Mavericks, is totally sold out,” Trump wrote ahead of the rally.

Yet despite the buildup — and the booking of a major NBA arena for what some have dubbed “Trumpapalooza” — many rank-and-file Republicans say they will not be attending the Dallas event.

Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has sparred with Trump and is running for re-election in a toss-up race, has said she is skipping. Outgoing Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, who Trump bullied out of his Senate seat, is also missing the convention. 

So too are other senators and House members running in more moderate areas who fear that aligning themselves more closely with Trump or the event could hurt their chances at winning. 

‘The reality is that if you aren’t speaking, you’re likely in district campaigning,’ one of the midterm organizers told the Daily Mail, adding they are unsure how many Republican lawmakers will attend.  

At least 45 out of 70 Republicans recently told Politico that they would not attend or were still making up their minds. Similarly, NBC News asked over 50 members; 33 said they would not attend while just 29 said they would. 

President Donald Trump has touted the GOP midterm convention as a 'hot' ticket, but many Republicans are avoiding the two-day event

President Donald Trump has touted the GOP midterm convention as a ‘hot’ ticket, but many Republicans are avoiding the two-day event

The event will run Wednesday and Thursday and include two speeches, one each night, from the president. Some lawmakers have been stunned by the staggering costs associated with attending the convention

The event will run Wednesday and Thursday and include two speeches, one each night, from the president. Some lawmakers have been stunned by the staggering costs associated with attending the convention

First Lady Melania Trump is reportedly not going to the two-day convention in Dallas

First Lady Melania Trump is reportedly not going to the two-day convention in Dallas

Perhaps deterring some lawmakers is the reported $25,000 price tag for a VIP ticket.

For that price, lawmakers get two convention tickets, a reserved hotel room and two spots at the chairman’s welcome reception, according to a National Republican Congressional Committee memo that was distributed to lawmakers. 

While some tickets were offered for free, some VIP packages were priced as high as $100,000. 

‘It’s $25,000, apparently,’ Republican Congressman Tim Burchett said this week. ‘It’s pretty steep.’ He confirmed to the Daily Mail that he will not attend the Dallas convention.  

Dozens of GOP members have noted that they would rather use that money to put towards their own competitive races. 

‘I just felt I’d be more useful in my district,’ Congressman Tom Barrett of Michigan told Politico. ‘I can’t control what the president’s going to say at the convention, but I can control where I’m at, what I’m doing.’

But it’s not just some members of Congress who are skipping out – First Lady Melania Trump is also reportedly missing the event. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are not slated to speak, but this could be because of laws barring them from appearing at political events due to their roles. 

However, Attorney General Todd Blanche will speak in his personal capacity – sparking Hatch Act concerns. 

Trump will headline the Republican National Committee's first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration's achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3.

Trump will headline the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration’s achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3.

Republican Congressman from Tennessee Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail he will not attend after expressing that the ticket prices to attend the convention were 'steep'

Republican Congressman from Tennessee Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail he will not attend after expressing that the ticket prices to attend the convention were ‘steep’

The event’s organizers believe there will be between 20,000 and 30,000 attendees over the two-day convention. 

Just about 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to attend, in addition to dozens of Senators. 

In fact, Trump claims the event is so popular that organizers have been ordered to keep a tight guard on the speaking slots so that incumbent Republicans don’t overshadow the fresh candidates. 

‘Everybody wants to be there, but we’re really asking only those Candidates that are in tight Races, a little up, a little down, or even, to speak,’ Trump wrote.

‘We want to save the “stage” for them. We don’t need people who are up 45 points, and have been in office for 30 years, as much as we love them all!’

Why Lindsay Clancy Jurors Are Facing Furious Online Backlash

0

Three jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial are facing backlash online after saying they were “excited” to complete the verdict forms and describing her defense attorney as “entertaining.”

Clancy, 36, stood trial over the deaths of her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.

The case ended in a mistrial Friday after five weeks of emotional testimony and more than 37 hours of deliberations, when Judge William Sullivan learned that one juror would not agree to a not-guilty verdict despite acknowledging reasonable doubt.

On Tuesday, three women from the 12-person jury spoke publicly for the first time in an interview with NBC Boston.

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson said she felt “excited” to fill out the verdict forms after the holdout juror conceded there was reasonable doubt in the case.

‘I started filling out the forms. I was so excited. There were three forms I had to fill out, and then he said, “But I’m still not going to say she’s not guilty,”‘ Carlson said.

Critics have slammed Carlson for saying she was ‘excited’ to fill out the papers for a not guilty verdict.

‘The harpies on the Clancy trial jury are lashing out at the one juror who stood in their way because “he had the hardest time getting off the fact that Lindsay viciously killed her children,”‘ failed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt wrote on X.

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson told NBC Boston that she was 'excited' to fill out the verdict forms when the holdout juror admitted there was reasonable doubt

Jury foreperson Roni Carlson told NBC Boston that she was ‘excited’ to fill out the verdict forms when the holdout juror admitted there was reasonable doubt

Lindsay Clancy, 36, admitted to strangling her children, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis

Lindsay Clancy, 36, admitted to strangling her children, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis

‘Woo boy. We are cooked.’

Another person wrote: ‘They literally just admitted that all they wanted was to go home. Pathetic.’  

‘These women are lunatics. They are getting excited about releasing a child killer. Society has some serious problems,’ a third person wrote. 

‘Disgusted. This is disgusting. “Excited” to call this killer innocent after brutally murdering her own babies,’ added a fourth. 

A fifth person wrote: ‘She was “so excited” to let a mother who strangled her three kids walk. That excitement tells you everything about how some people view child murder when the killer is a woman.’

The jurors also said they found Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, entertaining.

‘Just his whole demeanor was funny,’ Carlson said, noting there was one instance he made her laugh out loud.

‘He was entertaining, which was good because we needed some of that,’ she added, and the other jurors agreed.

Commentators slammed the jurors for saying they needed entertainment during the serious murder trial.

Carlson and two other female jurors opened up about their frustrations with one juror who refused to acquit

Carlson and two other female jurors opened up about their frustrations with one juror who refused to acquit 

‘It’s not supposed to be entertaining; it’s a murder trial. Are you kidding me?’ one person wrote on X.

A second person added: ‘If the jury is giggling about the defense while three kids are dead, the system already lost the plot.’

‘I’m so happy the jurors were being entertained. God forbid they were there for anything serious, like who murdered three innocent children?’ wrote a third.

Clancy admitted to strangling her children, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis.

During five weeks of grueling testimony, prosecutors argued the killings were intentional and well planned, not the work of someone who had lost control.

The 12-person jury, made up of nine women and three men, spent more than 37 hours deliberating if she was guilty of murder, manslaughter, or not guilty. They were not sequestered during deliberations.

On three occasions, jurors sent the judge notes saying they couldn’t reach a unanimous decision.

On Thursday, the jury foreperson sent a note claiming one juror refused to follow the law on reasonable doubt.

Clancy was on trial for killing her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months, at her Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023

Clancy was on trial for killing her three children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months, at her Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington filed a Hail Mary motion to remove the holdout, but it failed, and Judge Sullivan declared a mistrial at Plymouth Superior Court on Friday afternoon. 

As a result, Clancy faces a potential retrial and returned to Tewksbury State Hospital, where she has been held since 2023.

The judge has temporarily sealed the jurors’ names, and the holdout juror has not yet come forward with a public account of what happened inside the jury room.

Carlson also sent the judge a note complaining that a single juror wouldn´t follow the court´s instructions about reasonable doubt.

Juror Paula Devlin described that holdout juror as ‘arrogant.’

‘He really did not take anything that anybody said,’ she told the local news station.

After one juror refused to side with the others late Thursday and early Friday, defense attorney Kevin Reddington sought an emergency order to force jurors into one final round of deliberations.

But the motion failed, and Judge Sullivan declared a mistrial at Plymouth Superior Court on Friday afternoon. As a result, Clancy could face a retrial in the case.

Richard Branson’s Wife Joan Could Have Been Saved, New Claims Suggest

0

Sir Richard Branson’s wife may have survived had doctors given her blood-thinning treatment for a “massive” clot found on one of her lungs, an inquest has been told.

Lady Joan Branson died at the age of 80 in a London hospital last November, after developing complications linked to a back injury she sustained in a fall at the family’s Necker Island residence.

At Westminster Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, the hearing was told that her cause of death was a pulmonary embolism — a sudden and potentially fatal blockage of an artery in the lung — which followed deep vein thrombosis.

Joan had been admitted to The Lister Hospital in Chelsea on November 17, several weeks after falling at the private Caribbean retreat in the British Virgin Islands owned by her billionaire husband.

The inquest heard that the 80-year-old had a known history of blood clots going back to 2018 and had previously been given injections of an anticoagulant medication for flights and during earlier hospital stays.

But Professor Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Inner West London, told today’s inquest that Joan did not receive prophylactic anticoagulants, in particular Enoxaparin injections, prior to her death despite there being a ‘very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis’.

Giving her conclusion, the coroner said: ‘I do find her death would have likely been prevented and the lack of anticoagulation did cause or contribute to her death probably.’

She added: ‘This 80-year old lady was admitted to the Lister Hospital on November 17, 2025 following a GP referral after persistent pain following a fall at home two weeks earlier. Sadly she passed away in hospital on November 24.’

Sir Richard Branson and his wife Joan had three children together

Sir Richard Branson and his wife Joan had three children together 

Joan’s daughter, Dr Holly Branson, sent an email to the court ahead of the inquest in which she expressed concern at how her mother was treated in hospital, but did not want to ‘attribute blame to any individual doctor’. 

She questioned why her mother was not offered the medication, which she was said to have been ‘accustomed to’, and refused to accept that Joan refused to take it. 

Dr Branson explained that Joan used the anti-blood clot injections ‘extensively while flying and during previous hospital admissions’ and always took them when advised. 

She added: ‘The suggestion she refused Enoxaparin due to prior pain or bleeding concerns is not consistent with her usual practice or attitude.’

Dr Branson said that while she was at her mother’s side during the first two days, Enoxaparin ‘was never offered’.

‘Had I been aware she was not receiving Enoxaparin injections I would have been very concerned given her recent long haul travel and medical history,’ she added.

Dr Branson added that unless ‘the bleeding risk’ outweighed the benefit of busting clots, ‘I would have asked my mother to take it’.

She also claimed her mother had not been given anti-clot stockings to wear for up to 48 hours after her admission to hospital.

Dr Branson said: ‘I noticed she was not wearing them and asked the nurses. My impression from the doctors was that this was an oversight on their part. Of course, as soon as we discussed their importance, she wore them.’

Lady Branson, Sir Richard's partner for 50 years, died last November

Lady Branson, Sir Richard’s partner for 50 years, died last November

Dr Basir Kunduzi, who was on duty at Lister Hospital, was asked by the coroner whether he thought Lady Branson should have been on anti-coagulant injection.

‘I thought she should have been,’ he told the court, and accepted it was his responsibility to prescribe the drugs.

Asked to explain why he did not give the drugs, Dr Kunduzi said: ‘Since Lady Branson had a fall and had been mobilised since her fall, there was a risk of bleeding.’

He decided to delay prescribing anti-blood clot injections until he organised a CT scan to ensure there was no bleeding – which the drugs could worsen.

Dr Kunduzi wrote on her records that he had not given anti-clot drugs.

Asked how any other doctor would have known he had chosen not to give Lady Branson the drugs, Dr Kunduzi said he expected whoever took over from him to review his decision.

Dr Kunduzi said he now realises ‘the importance of communication between team members’ and has ‘changed’ his team practice.

He said the decision not to administer the anti-coagulants to Lady Branson would live with him for the rest of his life, adding: ‘I would like to express my deepest condolences to Lady Branson’s family.’

Dr Nevil Pavithran, who took over Lady Branson’s care, told the inquest she should have been given anti-coagulants within 12 hours of her admission to hospital.

Asked by the coroner whether it was a ‘straightforward’ decision to prescribe anti-coagulants, the doctor agreed that it was on November 18.

Sir Richard with Lady Branson and daughter Holly, who was previously a hospital doctor

Sir Richard with Lady Branson and daughter Holly, who was previously a hospital doctor

Dr Pavithran added that ‘there was no bleeding risk’ from the drugs. He also said that she was ‘not likely’ to be wearing compression stockings.

He added that during a ward round late in the evening of November 18, the consultant on duty, Dr Inaki Bovill, asked for her to wear compression stockings.

Dr Ben Thomas, a consultant anaesthetist at the Lister, saw Lady Branson on the evening of November 19.

He was considering giving her a pain-killing injection into her spine – although he did not do so – and asked if she was on blood thinners. This was important because an injection into her spine could lead to excessive bleeding, he said.

Dr Thomas said Lady Branson was asked if she was on blood-thinning drugs and she ‘denied it, she said no, she avoided them, and didn’t like the bruising from the needles, but took them for flights’.

Later, Dr Thomas said he learned of Lady Branson’s death from a news report and called his colleague Dr Bovill.

He added: ‘He sounded distressed, he gave me a brief summary of what happened. I followed up to check he was OK by text message.’

In a further message to Dr Bovill discussing the case, Dr Thomas sent a text message at 6.21pm about anti-coagulants.

Dr Thomas wrote: ‘I asked for anti-coagulant on first meeting. She confirmed not normally taken and would only take a jab when flying.’

He explained: ‘I didn’t mean she declined medication, it was that she wasn’t routinely on it but specific to flying.’

Dr Thomas added: ‘I regret not going into further detail that day.’

Sir Richard and Lady Branson with children Holly and Sam on their wedding day on Necker Island in 1989

Sir Richard and Lady Branson with children Holly and Sam on their wedding day on Necker Island in 1989

Describing how Lady Branson came to the hospital, Dr Bovill said she had had a fall at her home on Necker Island.

He said: ‘She described tripping over some slippers by her bed. She had fallen, unable to get up, was in a lot of pain and diagnosed in the British Virgin Islands having sustained fractures of the pelvis and right hip.’

Dr Bovill said he knew Lady Branson well, and also knew her daughter Dr Branson from many years ago because they worked at the same hospital trust.

He was aware Lady Branson had an umbrella-like metal filter in the major vein leading to the heart, the vena cava, to stop blood clots reaching the heart.

Based on the drug history, on the day of Lady Branson’s admission, Dr Bovill said she was not on anti-coagulants, although she was on a variety of other drugs including low-dose aspirin.

Dr Bovill saw her on November 17 and was not aware she had not been assessed for bleeding risks.

Asked if this had not been brought to his attention, Dr Bovill said: ‘I can’t recall being told about that. I can’t recall talking with Lady Branson. It was a very brief visit.’

Asked whether the VTE (Venous Thromboembolism) assessment ‘should have been carried out’ and clot busting drugs should have been prescribed on her admission on November 17, Dr Bovill replied: ‘Yes it should have been done and should have been prescribed. It was a regret it wasn’t spotted by me that evening.’

Dr Bovill said that the next day, after he finished his clinic at his NHS job at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital at around 5pm, he travelled to Lister Hospital by moped.

He said on his ward round there were ‘no contra-indications’ to give Lady Branson the anti-clot drugs with the exception of whether she might have to receive a pain killing injection in the spine.

Going back to the decision not to give drugs on November 18, Dr Bovill said his ‘recollection was not completely clear, but I was reminded when I spoke [after Lady Branson’s death] with Dr Pavithran.

‘I was very distressed at what happened. My mind was numb and could not recall in detail’.

Dr Pavithran told Dr Bovill that ‘Lady Branson had declined injections because of pain and needles and bruising,’

The coroner asked Dr Bovill why he did not ‘simply persuade her to take it knowing she had taken it previously and needed it’.

Dr Bovill said: ‘I thought long and hard about this and reflected on it… I should have perhaps been much more forceful. It’s to my great regret I did not or it appears I did not but it would have been my normal practice to do so.’

Compression stockings and low-dose aspirin ‘would not have been sufficient’ to prevent blood clots, Dr Bovill said.

Asked if he ever revisited the decision not to prescribe the anti-clot drugs, Dr Bovill said: ‘Again, with great regret, I did not.’

Dr Bovill said one issue was that the Lister had adopted a new electronic drug prescribing system called Expanse.

He added: ‘Before [the use of this system] it would have been obvious on the drug chart whether prescribed or not prescribed.’

Dr Bovill stated: ‘I should have revisited it. We are still getting used to Expanse.’

Asked whether it was the job of ‘junior doctors’ to prescribe the anti-clot drugs and carry out the VTE assessment, Dr Bovill said: ‘It is in all places I’ve worked, but ultimately the responsibility does rest with the consultants, I have to accept that.’

In a statement read at the inquest by the coroner, family members described Lady Branson as a ‘deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother and friend’ who was ‘known for her warmth, kindness and unwavering compassion for others’.

They added: ‘She was the heart of our family and played a central role in creating a close, loving environment around her. She had a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life, bringing together diverse groups of people.’

Lady Branson, born Joan Templeman in Glasgow, was described as ‘a trusted confidante to many’ known for ‘her generosity and acts of kindness’.

Describing her relationship with Sir Richard, the tribute said this was built on ‘mutual strength’ and ‘enduring affection’, adding: ‘She had a lasting impact on all who knew her.’

Virgin tycoon Sir Richard had described his wife as the ‘most wonderful mum and grandmum’ on Instagram after her death. The pair married on Necker Island in 1989.

Federal Judge Rules AI-Generated Child Sex Abuse Material Protected by First Amendment

0

The ruling stems from the 2024 arrest of a Wisconsin man who faced federal charges over allegations that he generated child sexual abuse material using artificial intelligence.

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals judge in Wisconsin ruled Tuesday that the First Amendment protects the private possession of AI-generated child sexual abuse material when it does not portray an actual person and is kept inside the home.

Judge John Z. Lee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, addressing a case from the Western District of Wisconsin, also warned that rapidly advancing technology is making it harder to apply existing laws and court precedents. “Evolving technology complicates the lines drawn,” he wrote.

Tuesday’s decision centers on the May 2024 arrest of Steven Anderegg. The Justice Department alleged that Anderegg used an AI image-generation tool to produce thousands of explicit images involving minors. Prosecutors also accused him of communicating with a 15-year-old boy and sending the images to him.

Anderegg asked the court to dismiss the possession and production counts, arguing they violated his First Amendment rights. A judge in the Western District of Wisconsin dismissed the possession charge last year, finding that the federal law barring the possession of virtual child sexual abuse material was unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

The remaining charges against Anderegg are still pending.

In affirming the lower court’s decision, Lee pointed to two earlier U.S. Supreme Court rulings, issued in 1969 and 2002.

In Stanley v. Georgia (1969), the ruling said people have a constitutional right to possess obscene material in the privacy of their own homes. 

The other, Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (2002), found that content that “appears to be” and “conveys the impression” of being child sexual abuse material is protected under the First Amendment. 

Lee urged the Supreme Court to reconsider the issue of virtual abuse material of children in the age of AI. 

“We now live in an age where GenAI models can render images depicting the abuse of virtual children that are virtually indistinguishable from those depicting the abuse of actual children,” he wrote in his opinion. “Given the relentless advancement in artificial intelligence models, we have some concerns about the lines these cases draw, but we are not free to redraw them ourselves.”

New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson to Be Honored at Tunnel to Towers Foundation Gala

0

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson will be recognized at Tunnel to Towers’ annual gala later this year, as the foundation celebrates his 10-year commitment to its mission.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, established in 2001 in support of 9/11 first responders, military veterans, and their families, is widely known for building mortgage-free smart homes for severely injured service members and providing housing assistance for homeless veterans.

Johnson’s longtime charitable work with Tunnel to Towers dates back to 2014, when he contributed $1 million to the organization’s Building for America’s Bravest initiative.

Most recently, Johnson joined Tunnel to Towers last month to present Command Sergeant Major William “Bud” McElroy with a new mortgage-free smart home, delivering a life-changing surprise to the veteran.

“Tunnel to Towers’ extraordinary work is a constant reminder of the importance of honoring the memory of the heroes who demonstrated courage and made the ultimate sacrifice for this country,” Johnson told Fox News Digital. “Over the past two decades they have channeled grief into action, and it’s a privilege to be recognized by such an honorable group.”

“Woody Johnson has been standing with our families for more than a decade, and he’s never once asked for anything in return,” Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said in a statement. “Because of Woody, his family, and the Betty Wood Johnson Foundation, six catastrophically injured veterans are living in specially adapted smart homes today, and first responder families across this country are keeping their homes.”

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is being honored at Tunnel to Towers’ annual gala, being held later this year, for his decade-long partnership with the organization. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO Frank Siller, and others surprising Command Sergeant Major William "Bud" McElroy with a mortgage-free smart home.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO Frank Siller surprise Command Sergeant Major William “Bud” McElroy with a mortgage-free smart home on Friday, August 14, 2026. X/@nyjets

“My brother Stephen ran toward people who needed him without asking what it would cost him — Woody has been doing the same thing for twelve years. There’s no one more deserving of the Follow the Footsteps Award, which we will be presenting to him at our gala in December,” Siller added.

The gala honoring Johnson will take place in December.

Johnson previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom during the first Trump administration and is a founding trustee of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Police Chief in Blue City Faces Backlash for Calling Gun Violence Suspects Trigger Pullers

0

Seattle’s interim police chief described known gun violence suspects as “trigger pullers” during a Labor Day weekend news briefing, as he addressed three separate shootings and outlined how the Seattle Police Department is responding.

The shootings unfolded within a 24-hour period, leaving three people dead and three others wounded, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

Interim Chief Andre Sayles said Seattle police are stepping up patrols, working closely with local business owners and using the department’s community response group and gun violence reduction unit in an effort to prevent further violence.

“We’re looking at ways to where we can identify individuals that are known, we call trigger pullers, in our community,” Sayles said during a Sept. 7 briefing. “Identifying them, making sure that we’re putting cases on those individuals working with King County Prosecutor’s Office, to bring these individuals to justice, because the families that lost loved ones, throughout the year and years past, deserve justice.”

Seattle Police investigating a mass shooting

Seattle Police investigate a mass shooting in the city. (KCPQ)

The term drew pushback from local commentators who said it softened the description of violent suspects.

“So in Seattle we aren’t calling them ‘shooters’ anymore? Now they are ‘trigger pullers’?” local radio host Ari Hoffman posted on social media following Sayles’ remarks.

The phrase is not new to law enforcement. In 2022, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray used the term during remarks to the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies.

“You all know what’s driving the violent crime in your states,” Wray said. “Whether it’s a community where a disproportionate amount of gun violence takes place or rival gangs wreaking havoc in a particular region or a handful of well-known trigger pullers who keep finding their way back to the streets, no matter how many times they’re arrested, at the FBI, we want to be your integral partner in the fight against violent crime.”

Seattle shooting scene

Seattle police work at the scene of a shooting. (KCPQ)

Sayles said investigators did not believe the three shootings were connected and that none appeared to be linked to the deadly July shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival.

The first shooting occurred early Sunday near Denny Way and Clay Street, where a fight following a street takeover escalated into gunfire, killing a 20-year-old man and injuring two others, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

About an hour later, a gunman fired multiple shots into a vehicle near Third Avenue and Blanchard Street, fatally wounding a 23-year-old woman.

Before midnight, a third altercation near Elliott Avenue and Bell Street left a 17-year-old dead and a 21-year-old seriously injured. Investigators did not immediately identify a clear gang connection in that case.

The Space Needle

Three people were killed and three others were injured in shootings over a 24-hour stretch in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

No arrests had been made in the three shootings when Sayles spoke with reporters. He said investigators were working with witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, including about 450 hours of video in one case.

Sayles also acknowledged questions about whether police resources had been strained by the shootings and a series of street takeovers over the weekend.

“That’s something I have to look at. I haven’t really dove into what the staffing numbers looked like,” Sayles said. “And if that was the case, then we will do what we need to do as a department to make sure that they are not overwhelmed.”

Sayles said the department’s intelligence unit was working to identify where street takeovers were being organized and that officers would coordinate with regional, local and federal partners.

“We have officers in these dedicated areas,” he said. “They’re a block or two away, and it’s one of those incidents where we respond to violence on a daily basis. It’s not like we can be there and stop it, but our goal is to be there and stop it.”

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson listens to an attendee at a vigil.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson listens to an attendee after a vigil a day after the Bite of Seattle food festival shooting at Seattle Center on July 27, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. Three people are dead and four are wounded. (Getty Images)

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson offered condolences to the victims’ families during a public appearance, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

“This weekend, we’ve seen three people die, which is incredibly tragic, and my heart goes out to the victims and their families,” Wilson said.

Seattle police told the station the department was seeking tips, photos and videos from the shooting scenes that could help lead to arrests. Investigators continue to pursue leads in all three cases.

News Media has reached out to the Seattle Police Department and the mayor’s office for additional comment.