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Alabama

Alabama Family Tragedy Shocks Community in Suspected Murder Suicide

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Authorities in Baldwin County, Alabama, are investigating a devastating case that left four members of the same family dead inside their Daphne home. Officials believe the incident was a murder-suicide carried out by the father, though the investigation remains ongoing.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Four people, including two children, discovered dead in Daphne, Alabama

  • Authorities suspect father Kenneth Smith Jr., 44, fatally shot his family

  • Victims identified as wife Larrica, 41, son Kristian, 14, and daughter Kensley, 11

  • Sheriff suggests possible domestic conflict may have escalated

  • Church and community members express shock and grief

  • Family lived in Daphne for more than 20 years; vigil held at their home

Capt. Daniel Steelman of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in an email to USA TODAY on Aug. 17 that investigators believe Kenneth Smith Jr., 44, shot his wife, Larrica Gaines Smith, 41, along with their two children, Kristian, 14, and Kensley, 11, before taking his own life.

Sheriff Anthony Lowery, speaking at a news conference broadcast by Mobile Fox affiliate WALA, described the tragedy in stark terms.

“It’s as tragic as it comes,” Lowery said.

The Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies had responded to the family’s home on Aug. 14 after a welfare call. Inside, they found all four victims dead from what were described as “apparent gunshot wounds.”

Lowery suggested that the shooting may have stemmed from a private family dispute.

“There seems like there might have been some kind of domestic issue that might have escalated to this,” he said.

The shockwaves from the deaths quickly spread beyond law enforcement. Local church leaders and residents have expressed deep grief as they try to comprehend the loss.

City Hope Church, where the Smith family had been active members, issued a statement on Aug. 14.

“This has shaken us deeply, affecting countless people within our church and our community,” said Pastor Trey Taylor.

WKRG reported that the Smiths had lived in the Daphne community for more than 20 years. The couple had recently marked their wedding anniversary, just two weeks before the fatal shooting. On Aug. 15, community members gathered outside the home for a candlelight vigil to honor the family.

Those who knew Larrica Gaines Smith remembered her as a gentle and kind woman. Sue Lyon, her former boss at a local real-estate brokerage, recalled her quiet nature.

“You never think something like that would happen to them because she was so quiet and polite,” Lyon told Fox affiliate WALA.

Neighbors also struggled to process the loss. Matt Russell, who lived nearby, described the family as well-loved and down-to-earth.

“Salt of the earth,” Russell said in an interview with WKRG.
“A fun-loving family. It is just a very, very tragic feeling. To say I’m in shock, yes, I’m still in shock.”

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. Officials have not released further details about what may have led to the deadly incident.

The investigation into the suspected murder-suicide remains active as authorities work to determine what may have led to the tragedy. For now, the small community of Daphne is left mourning the sudden loss of a family described as kind, devoted, and deeply rooted in the area. The incident has underscored how quickly domestic issues can spiral into devastating consequences, leaving behind unanswered questions and a community struggling to heal.

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Wynne Brothers in San Francisco Face Human Trafficking and Pimping Charges

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In a turn of events that has drawn renewed attention to San Francisco’s underworld and its unlikely connections to political circles, both Ricci Wynne — the outspoken social media figure known as “Raw Ricci” — and his younger brother, Gage Wynne, are now facing serious criminal charges.

Ricci Wynne, followed by nearly 100,000 people on Instagram under the handle RawRicci415, was arrested last November on pimping and pandering charges. Prosecutors allege he was operating paid sex services from his upscale SoMa apartment. Just four months later, his legal troubles deepened when federal prosecutors indicted him for the production of child pornography.

The irony of these allegations has not gone unnoticed. For years, Ricci positioned himself as an “anti-crime crusader,” frequently appearing on Fox News to criticize San Francisco’s crime rates, while also cultivating relationships with elected officials who publicly champion law-and-order policies.

Following Ricci’s arrest in November, his younger brother, Gage Wynne, stepped forward to defend him in the press. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle at the time, Gage said:

“It’s clear as day… there’s nothing in this case involving any minor being sex trafficked.”

A day later, the SF Standard reported Gage’s confrontational exchange with a photographer and reporter. Gage told them:

“I’m definitely not going to say anything to you, because you guys clearly have it in for my brother. You heard what the judge said? This case has nothing to do with anyone underage. You guys need to do better.”

But now, months later, Gage Wynne is the one making headlines. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office confirmed his arrest on charges of human trafficking, pimping, and pandering.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Gage Wynne charged with human trafficking, pimping, and pandering in San Francisco.

  • Ricci Wynne arrested last year for pimping; later indicted for producing child pornography.

  • DA statement: Gage linked to multiple Bay Area sex work advertisements.

  • Earlier arrest: Detained in South San Francisco after police rescued trafficking victims.

  • Bail status: Granted $500,000 bond but remains in custody; DA wanted him held.

  • No confirmed link between the brothers’ cases.

According to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco police identified “numerous sex work advertisements in San Francisco and across the Bay Area” allegedly controlled by Gage Wynne. The DA’s statement also revealed that before the local investigation began, Gage had been arrested by South San Francisco police during an operation to rescue human trafficking victims. Authorities allege that Gage was identified as the “boyfriend” of one victim and that he drove her to a hotel to engage in sex work.

“The District Attorney’s Office will move to have Mr. Wynne detained pending trial because of the public safety risk he poses,” the release stated.

Despite that request, San Francisco County Jail records show that Gage was granted $500,000 bail. As of Monday afternoon, he remained in custody, suggesting a judge may have allowed bond over the DA’s objections.

There is no immediate evidence that Ricci Wynne’s criminal charges are connected to Gage Wynne’s case. Prosecutors have not released timelines for the alleged crimes, leaving unanswered questions about whether any incidents overlap.

The Wynne brothers’ legal troubles also raise questions about Ricci’s past proximity to City Hall. A video from last year’s mayoral campaign shows Ricci alongside candidate Daniel Lurie, who is heard saying:

“Thank you, Ricci, thank you.”

In that same clip, Ricci claims that Lurie is “the only politician that has came and walked the Tenderloin with me.” Lurie does not contradict the statement. While such interactions may have been routine for candidates seeking voter engagement, they now appear more complicated in hindsight.

Today, City Hall figures are keeping their distance from the Wynne brothers, and the episode serves as a cautionary example of the risks in aligning with high-profile social media personalities whose public image may not match the reality behind the scenes.

The arrests of both Ricci and Gage Wynne mark a sharp fall from the public personas they once projected — one as a self-styled anti-crime voice and the other as his vocal defender. With both now facing serious felony charges, their cases underscore how quickly reputations can unravel under the weight of criminal allegations. As legal proceedings move forward, unanswered questions about the scope of their activities, potential overlaps in their cases, and their past proximity to political circles will likely remain in the public spotlight, serving as a stark reminder of the gap that can exist between public image and private conduct.

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Arson Shakes LVMPD Headquarters: Suspect in Custody After Fire Ignites Police Property

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In a recent development, Las Vegas Metro Police have arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for an arson attempt at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) headquarters. Christian Vegas, 35, was taken into custody following a thorough investigation by authorities.

Story Highlights

  • Christian Vegas, 35, arrested on suspicion of arson at LVMPD headquarters

  • Charges include two counts of third-degree arson and malicious destruction of property

  • Fire extinguished by Las Vegas Fire Department; no injuries or building damage reported

  • Suspect ignited foliage along west property wall, then fled towards nearby apartments

  • Police ask community to provide any additional information on the case

The fire incident unfolded on a Saturday when an LVMPD employee discovered flames along the west property wall of the headquarters. Fortunately, the fire was quickly brought under control by the Las Vegas Fire Department, with no injuries reported and no damage to the building itself.

According to LVMPD officials, the suspect has been booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He faces serious charges, including two counts of third-degree arson and one count of malicious destruction of private property.

Fire Sparks Investigation

The LVMPD detectives have been actively working to piece together the sequence of events leading to the fire. They sought the community’s assistance early on to identify the individual involved.

An official statement detailed the events:

“On Saturday, a fire at LVMPD’s headquarters was discovered by an LVMPD employee. The fire was extinguished by the Las Vegas Fire Department with no injuries or building damage reported.”

During the investigation, detectives reportedly identified a suspect seen “walking north through the south parking lot of LVMPD Headquarters.” The individual then entered the landscaping area along the west wall, which separates the police headquarters from a nearby apartment complex.

The Suspect and the Act

The suspect is said to have used “an unknown item to ignite the foliage,” which caused the fire. Following the act, he quickly fled towards the apartment complex adjacent to the headquarters.

The authorities described the suspect as “a black male, 25 to 35 years old, wearing a black and white shirt, black pants, and black shoes.”

Following the arrest of Christian Vegas, police continue to seek further information from the public regarding this case or anyone with details that might aid the ongoing investigation.

Call for Public Assistance

The LVMPD encourages anyone who might have information about the incident or the suspect to come forward. Residents are asked to contact the Fusion Watch Center at (702) 828-7777 or send an email to e9804t@lvmpd.com.

For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be reached at 702-385-5555, or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

This incident and the subsequent arrest underscore the vigilance of law enforcement and the importance of community cooperation in maintaining safety and order. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to ensure all facts come to light.

In conclusion, the swift response by the Las Vegas Fire Department and the diligent investigation by LVMPD detectives led to the quick arrest of the suspected arsonist, Christian Vegas. While no injuries or structural damage occurred, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement. Authorities continue to urge anyone with further information to come forward, ensuring that justice is served and the safety of the community remains a top priority.

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Harlem Fitness Trainer Found Dead in Stabbing Amid Abuse Allegations

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In the early hours of Aug. 1, the life of Jacob Zieben-Hood, a Harlem-based fitness trainer and social media influencer, came to a violent and tragic end. Police found the 40-year-old in the bathroom of his W. 138th St. apartment, just off Frederick Douglass Blvd., bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to his leg.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Victim: Jacob Zieben-Hood, fitness trainer and influencer

  • Location: W. 138th St., Harlem, near Frederick Douglass Blvd.

  • Date & Time: Aug. 1, about 4 a.m.

  • Cause of Death: Multiple stab wounds to leg, suspected severed artery

  • Suspect: Husband, Donald Zieben-Hood

  • History: Alleged past abuse, multiple violent incidents, order of protection in place

  • Evidence: Multiple knives recovered, victim sent photo of wound before death

  • Status: Death under homicide investigation by Manhattan DA’s office and medical examiner

Jacob frequently attributed the marks on his face and arms to bad falls or street fights, according to coworkers. But several believe he concealed a years-long pattern of abuse from his husband while trying to present an image of a perfect life.

“It’s one of those crimes, where you might not know this person well, but you read about it, you see the picture-perfect relationship—always together, always holding hands—and then you realize it’s all made up,” said Irina Caisin, manager at CompleteBody gym. “It’s not the happy relationship they’re trying to portray.”

Police found Jacob’s lifeless body around 4 a.m. on Aug. 1 in the bathroom of his W. 138th St. apartment near Frederick Douglass Blvd., after his husband, Donald Zieben-Hood, told 911 operators that Jacob had attacked him, prosecutors said.

Donald had three cuts requiring stitches, while officers found Jacob slumped on the floor, covered in blood with head injuries and multiple stab wounds to his leg — including one to the back of his calf that penetrated muscle. Authorities believe one of the wounds severed an artery, causing fatal blood loss. Multiple knives were recovered from the apartment.

Pathologists at the city medical examiner’s office are awaiting further investigative details before ruling on the cause of death. Prosecutors earlier this week confirmed the death is being investigated as a homicide.

According to prosecutors, Jacob had called his father before his death. The father overheard Donald shouting insults and was told his son was being threatened with a knife and prevented from leaving the apartment. Jacob also texted a photo of his wounded leg from the bathroom. Police say Donald waited almost nine hours before calling 911.

An order of protection had barred Donald from the apartment and from contacting Jacob after at least two violent incidents in the past six months, authorities said. Police noted that Donald raised the order of protection as one of his first concerns when speaking to them.

Jacob Zieben-Hood’s death has left his friends, clients, and colleagues grappling with shock and unanswered questions. What appeared, from the outside, to be a life built on discipline, health, and a seemingly affectionate partnership is now under the scrutiny of homicide investigators. As the medical examiner works to determine the official cause of death and prosecutors piece together the events of that August night, the case stands as a stark reminder that outward appearances can conceal private struggles — sometimes with fatal consequences.

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Bryan Kohberger Faces Justice as Families Slam Idaho Killer in Court

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In a startling courtroom climax, Bryan Kohberger—the man behind the shocking 2022 University of Idaho student murders—has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. The once-expected high-drama trial was abruptly replaced by a quiet plea deal on July 2, where Kohberger confessed to the brutal killings of four students. As the judge delivered four back-to-back life sentences plus ten years for burglary, the air turned still. With chilling evidence, twisted turns, and a plea that silenced the trial, justice now enters a locked chapter—final, firm, and forever sealed.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 in a deal to avoid the death penalty

  • Sentenced to four consecutive life terms plus 10 years for burglary

  • Victims were four University of Idaho students killed in November 2022

  • Evidence included DNA, cellphone records, and surveillance footage

  • Trial had been expected in August but was averted with the plea

In a long-awaited moment that brought some measure of closure to a case that gripped the nation, Bryan Kohberger—the man who admitted responsibility for the 2022 slayings of four University of Idaho students—was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentencing took place after Kohberger, 30, entered a guilty plea earlier this month, thereby avoiding a high-profile trial that had been scheduled to begin in August.

The murders took place in the early hours of November 13, 2022, inside a quiet rental home just steps away from the University of Idaho campus. The victims—Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were found stabbed to death, shocking the small college town of Moscow and sparking an investigation that quickly drew national media attention.

“Justice today means four life sentences for four young lives lost far too soon,” said Judge Steven Hippler as he handed down the decision. The courtroom remained heavy with emotion as families of the victims listened quietly.

The investigation into the killings had stretched on for weeks before Kohberger, then a Ph.D. criminology student, was arrested in December 2022. Prosecutors presented a carefully constructed web of evidence connecting him to the crime scene—most notably, DNA found on a knife sheath left near one of the bodies, surveillance video showing a vehicle matching his car near the victims’ house, and cellphone data tracing his movements before and after the attacks.

“At first, we had no answers. Just fear and grief,” said a spokesperson from the Goncalves family. “Now we have accountability.”

Kohberger’s plea deal, entered on July 2, removed the possibility of a capital punishment trial, which had been shaping up to be one of the most publicized court proceedings in recent history. Instead, he chose to admit to the crimes in exchange for life imprisonment without the chance of parole.

“His admission spares the families a long and painful trial,” prosecutors stated outside the courtroom, “but it will never replace what was taken from them.”

The sentencing includes four consecutive life terms, one for each life lost, and an additional 10-year sentence for burglary, which stemmed from Kohberger’s unauthorized entry into the rental home.

Though Kohberger remained mostly silent during the sentencing hearing, his guilty plea marked a dramatic shift from his earlier not-guilty stance. Legal analysts suggest that overwhelming evidence and the emotional weight of the trial may have played into his decision to accept the plea agreement.

“While this is not justice in the purest sense, it is the maximum closure that the legal system can provide,” remarked one legal expert familiar with the case.

The quiet college town of Moscow will likely never forget the events of that night in 2022. But with Kohberger now behind bars for life, the families of the victims—Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan—can begin the slow and painful process of healing.

As the courtroom doors closed on Bryan Kohberger’s fate, the echoes of anguish from the victims’ families lingered—raw, unfiltered, and unforgettable. The life sentence may never mend the deep wounds left behind, but it draws a final line under a case that stunned the nation. With justice now formally served, the four young lives lost in silence are honored through the voices that rose in court. In the eyes of the law, the chapter ends here—but for those left behind, the story remains painfully alive.

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Deadly Silence in Southeast D.C. as Police Identify Slain Man

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A 50-year-old man, identified as Lawrence Meekins of northwest D.C., was shot dead in a quiet Southeast Washington neighborhood early Tuesday. The Metropolitan Police Department responded to the 1800 block of E Street SE around 2:05 a.m., where Meekins was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save him, he died at the scene. No suspect has been named. Authorities now seek public help, offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. A silent street turned crime scene—raising fresh concerns over rising city gun violence.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • 50-year-old Lawrence Meekins found shot multiple times in southeast D.C.

  • Shooting occurred around 2:05 a.m. Tuesday on the 1800 block of E Street SE

  • Police attempted life-saving measures, but the victim died at the scene

  • No suspects identified as of now; investigation remains open

  • MPD offering $25,000 reward for tips leading to arrest and conviction

A quiet D.C. neighborhood was shattered by gunfire in the early hours of Tuesday when a man was found shot multiple times in the 1800 block of E Street SE. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirmed the victim as 50-year-old Lawrence Meekins, a resident of northwest Washington.

The incident, reported just after 2 a.m., has left many in the community unsettled, with authorities still searching for answers.

According to MPD officials, officers responded to the scene at approximately 2:05 a.m. after receiving a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Meekins suffering from several gunshot wounds. Officers immediately attempted life-saving measures, but Meekins succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported for further medical care.

“He was pronounced dead on the scene,” a police spokesperson said, confirming the fatal outcome of the shooting.

At this stage of the investigation, no suspects have been identified, and police have yet to establish a motive. The area was quickly secured by law enforcement, and investigators began canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses or surveillance footage that might offer clues about what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting.

In a public appeal, MPD urged anyone who may have information to come forward.

“We are actively seeking the community’s assistance in gathering any information that could help solve this case,” the department said in a statement. “Even the smallest detail can make a difference.”

The department also reminded the public about a standing reward: “MPD offers a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for this homicide.”

Those with information are encouraged to contact detectives directly at (202) 727-9099.

As the investigation continues, neighbors and local officials alike are expressing concern about rising violence and the impact it has on residents’ sense of safety. While authorities remain tight-lipped about the specifics of this case, it is now part of a broader effort to address ongoing gun violence in the District.

The name is known, but the killer is not. As police search for answers, the silence around Lawrence Meekins’ death grows louder.

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