The grandparents of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old cheerleader found dead aboard a cruise while on a family holiday, say that the teen was very close with her 16-year-old stepbrother, who is now a possible suspect in the case. The 16-year-old boy has not been named a suspect by the FBI, which previously confirmed to PEOPLE it is investigating the case. Kepner, of Titusville, Fla., was found dead on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship on Nov. 8 by a member of the ship’s housekeeping staff. No suspects have been publicly named. However, in court filings related to a custody dispute, Kepner’s stepmother Shauntel Hudson claimed that investigators say her 16-year-old son Kepner’s stepbrother may be subject to a criminal case following the teen’s death. (Shauntel’s last name is listed as “Kepner” in several media reports, but court documents identify her as Shauntel Hudson.) Shauntel Hudson’s ex-husband who is the 16-year-old’s biological father also said in a petition filed with Brevard County that the teen is a “suspect in the death of the step child during the cruise,” according to the filing obtained by PEOPLE. The attention on the stepbrother, however, appears to have caught the Kepner family by surprise. Kepner’s grandmother, Barbara Kepner, told ABC News in an exclusive interview that the family was close-knit especially Anna and her 16-year-old stepbrother. “They were just like brother and sister,” Barbara said, adding that they were “two peas in a pod,” “I know that those two kids cared about each other in the right way,” Barbara said, while declining to comment about the scrutiny on Anna’s stepbrother. Anna is being remembered for being a “thoughtful” and “nurturing” member of the family who took special care of her siblings, “taking them to the park, Halloween Horror Nights, or just out for fun,” her loved ones said in an online obituary. “She had a big, beautiful heart, often sending random ‘I love you’ messages or little gestures that made someone’s day,” read part of the obituary. Stepbrother of teen who died on cruise ‘does not remember’ what happened, teen’s grandmother says Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Much remains unknown about the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death and the ensuing investigation as authorities remain tight-lipped about the case.
https://people.com/anna-kepner-stepbrother-two-peas-pod-says-grandmother-11855666
Tag Archives: circumstances
How Alameda County’s stonewalling legal approach has cost taxpayers millions
A hawkish litigation strategy in Alameda County has led to costly courtroom battles that have stretched on for years, racking up millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees and incurring multimillion-dollar settlements for which taxpayers have footed the bill. There are many such expensive examples, according to numerous lawyers who’ve sued the county. In May 2023, for example, Alameda County’s lawyers sought a new trial for two sheriff’s deputies who were found to have illegally detained Aasylei Loggervale and her two daughters, who had fallen asleep in their car in Castro Valley in 2019. The officers were searching for two male suspects who had burgled cars in the area, but they detained the Loggervales and demanded the mother provide her ID. A jury awarded the Loggervale family $8. 25 million for their unlawful detention four years later, but the county’s attorney for the case, Kevin Gilbert, made a motion for a new trial, claiming senior U. S. district judge William Alsup had advocated for the plaintiffs, permitted incorrect statements on the record, and that the “totality of circumstances in the case is troubling and problematic.” But Alsup was having none of it. “I wish I could believe you. When I go through the list, you’ll see why I don’t trust almost anything you say,” Alsup said in a back-and-forth with Gilbert. The following appeal cost the county and its taxpayers an additional $3 million for a total settlement of $11. 26 million. According to the Loggervales’ lawyer, Joseph May, the initial settlement offer was approximately $750,000. In recent years, county-hired lawyers have pursued a similar litigation strategy in multiple cases, even when the outcome appeared to obviously disfavor the county’s case, according to lawyers who’ve sued the county. Cases that could have been settled quickly for a fraction of the ultimate cost have instead become years-long courtroom battles, driving millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees and million-dollar settlements with the plaintiffs, May and other attorneys said. Gilbert and the county’s legal team “took an extremely aggressive approach,” May said. “Later on, once the facts started becoming clear, (Gilbert) just kept doubling down.” Gilbert did not respond to a request for comment. In Alameda County, County Counsel Donna Ziegler and the Risk Management Unit decide how to respond to cases filed against the county, varying from alleged violations of labor laws to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fourth Amendment. With a case’s assigned lawyer, they face a choice: fight the allegation or settle. In case after case, plaintiffs’ attorneys interviewed for this story describe the county’s legal strategy as “sophomoric and unfortunately blind to obvious risk.” Inquiries to County Counsel Donna Ziegler and the Risk Management Unit did not receive a response. In another case, in 2015, Daniel Ridge, a morgue employee at Alameda Health System, was working seven days a week while the hospital sought to fill a vacant attendant role. The consequences of this demanding role caused Ridge’s mental health to suffer, his attorney, Lawrance Bohm, said. When he sought treatment for “work stress,” his doctor with Kaiser diagnosed him with generalized anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD, according to court documents. Ridge eventually went on medical leave to participate in an Intensive Outpatient Program. It was during this period in late 2015 that the health system fired Ridge for failure to show up for work, despite a doctor’s note excusing him in violation of California labor law. The mortician’s mental health deteriorated further; he became estranged from his family and was homeless as he pursued the lawsuit. Alameda County “could not have had Daniel Ridge in more of a leveraged position, being in litigation for eight years, homeless, disabled, financially destitute,” Bohm said. “And they couldn’t get this case resolved, mainly because they didn’t try. Instead, they took a ‘pounds for defense, pennies for resolution’ approach.” Bohm said he had offered to settle the lawsuit for $550,000 in 2018, but county counsel sought a jury trial. And in March 2025, a jury found the hospital system had violated California labor law by firing Ridge and ordered it to pay $2. 4 million in addition to $5 million to $7 million for attorneys fees that are still being accounted for, according to Bohm to Ridge’s family, as his lawyers had told the court he could not be located. The hospital system then appealed the jury’s verdict, stating, the “plaintiff’s allegations were not supported by fact” and that “Alameda Health System defended itself from litigation in this case because it was and is the right thing to do.” But doing the right thing, in Bohm’s opinion, requires accountability. The county’s defense team instead “dug in its heels” for five years and used odd interpretations of the law to avoid taking responsibility, he said. The county “lost this case on every issue, required a federal injunction to issue, and subjected taxpayers to over $1. 2 million in avoidable legal expenses, not including the money spent on the County’s private losing defense firm,” Bohm said. “The Board of Supervisors and citizens should be outraged at this overly litigious mishandling of a meritorious civil rights issue.” But there may be more to the county’s litigation strategy, according to UC Berkeley law professor and former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. “There is a long-term strategy that many big entities, government and private, . “Sometimes it is worth paying lawyers more than it would cost us to settle a case to fight and deter future copycat litigation.” Last month, Alameda County settled a lawsuit with Lisamaria Martinez, a Union City resident who is blind and had sued Alameda County twice for failing to accommodate her disability as required by law. While Martinez’s first lawsuit against Alameda County was adjudicated within months of filing it in 2013, her second lawsuit took nearly six years to settle. Martinez had sought to establish a business name in 2019 and asked the county’s Clerk and Recorder’s Office staff to help her sign the document, but they refused and said that only the business owner could fill out the form, according to court documents. Martinez then sued the county to force it to change its policies to be more accessible, and the county once again fought Martinez’s allegations that staff had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Five years later, a federal jury in San Francisco ruled that Alameda County had discriminated against Martinez and her request for reasonable accommodation, awarding her $1. 2 million nearly all of which was for legal fees. Her attorney, Tim Elder, said the county counsel’s “overly litigious mishandling” of a foundational civil rights case should outrage the public. “Plaintiff Lisamaria Martinez was willing to resolve this case five years ago for no damages, minimal legal fees and the County of Alameda agreeing to change its policy,” Elder said. “The county refused to work with us.” In commenting on the Loggervale case, Judge Alsup emphasized how the county’s legal approach had cost the county. “In my view, the reason it’s a large verdict is the way Mr. Gilbert tried the case and not because of what actually happened. It’s quite clear to me that it was the way in which this case was tried that led to this big verdict,” Alsup said. “When I finally do this order, I want your boss to read it, because there are so many things you said in your brief that turned out to be false.”.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/24/how-alameda-countys-stonewalling-legal-approach-has-cost-taxpayers-millions/
‘Butterfly’ Fans Mourning Its Cancellation Can Still Watch Daniel Dae Kim Shine in This 10-Season Crime Procedural
Any fans mourning the recent cancellation of the spy-thriller series, Butterfly, and still want their fix of the show’s amazing star, Daniel Dae Kim, should revisit another show he starred in for seven of its ten seasons. Kim was part of the hit action-drama series, Hawaii Five-0, from the show’s 2010 debut to Season 7, when he and co-star Grace Park sadly exited the series. Despite the circumstances of his exit, Kim had a great run in Hawaii Five-0, with the series showcasing the actor in pure action-hero mode, and he was routinely a highlight of the long-running series. It’s time to unpack why Butterfly fans should check out the actor in the amazing crime procedural series. ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Features Daniel Dae Kim at His Action Hero Best Before his starring role in Hawaii Five-0, Kim was a working actor and a fixture across movies and television. He appeared in a recurring role in multiple seasons of 24 as the memorable character, Agent Baker, and also had a recurring role in Star Trek: Enterprise. Additionally, Kim was featured in bit parts in some prominent Marvel blockbusters in the 2000s, such as Spider-Man 2 and The Hulk. The actor finally landed his breakout role in the juggernaut series Lost, portraying Jin-Soo Kwon in all six seasons of the hit series. Hawaii Five-0 was Kim’s follow-up to Lost, allowing him to play a very different character, portraying the disgraced ex-Hawaii Police Department detective-turned-security guard, Chin Ho Kelly. An old acquaintance of Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) removes Chin from obscurity and recruits him to the Hawaii Five-0 task force to deal with major crimes. The premise of Hawaii Five-0 allowed Kim to stretch his action muscles once again, but this time, as a recurring fixture and lead character. Kim looks like an absolute natural throughout the action-heavy series, performing exceptionally well in his impressive action and fight sequences. Kim had the opportunity to do action scenes before in 24, but the actor truly cut his action hero teeth in Hawaii Five-0, which makes this the perfect series to watch following his stunt-heavy turn in Butterfly. Kim’s performance and believability in the action sequences elevate both the character of Chin and the overall series. Chin Ho Kelly Is the Emotional Heart and Soul of the Series Kim came off as the emotional heart and soul of Hawaii Five-0 in many ways. As someone born and raised in Hawaii, Chin has a unique connection to the islands, people, and culture. He is often seen riding his motorcycle to work, and he is well known across the islands, giving him an intimate knowledge of the community that the Hawaii Five-0 task force serves. He also speaks Hawaiian, which significantly helps the task force in their investigations. Chin’s knowledge of Hawaii, along with his experience as a police officer, reinforces his character as an invaluable member of the team. Chin was also the protégé of Steve McGarrett’s father, John McGarrett (William Sadler), who served as Kelly’s training officer at the HPD. This proves important when Steve is forming his new task force, knowing that Chin is trustworthy, due to Steve’s father serving as Chin’s mentor. Chin provides a beating heart to the Hawaiian community and people in the series, and Kim captured these aspects of his character exceptionally well. One of the best examples of Chin’s compassion and respect for others is the classic Season 4 episode, “Ho’onani Makuakane,” when he meets David Toriyama (James Saito), an elderly man who was once forced to stay in a Japanese internment camp during World War II in his youth. Toriyama is initially arrested as a suspect for attempting to murder a soldier whom Toriyama believes killed his father. Although Toriyama is suspicious of Chin at first, Chin quickly earns Toriyama’s respect by pointing out that, as an experienced soldier, David knew his gun wasn’t capable of firing, and he wanted to make a point rather than trying to kill someone. Additionally, Chin’s Japanese uncle was previously interned in the Sand Island Camp during the war. It’s a great scene that highlights Chin’s respect for his elders and historical knowledge. Chin Ho Kelly Goes Through Tremendous Heartbreak Throughout the Series At the start of the series, Chin’s reputation is in the gutter after he was falsely accused of police corruption and stealing evidence from an investigation, putting his career in tatters, before Steve brings him onto his new team. Kim exceptionally captures Chin’s trauma as he suffers from being wrongly accused of crimes he did not commit, though he creates a newfound family with the task force, who look out for and support one another. Later, Chin reconciles with his estranged girlfriend, Malia Waincroft (Reiko Aylesworth), and they get married in the second season. Unfortunately, their wedded bliss is short-lived when Malia is held hostage as part of a plot to free the corrupt police officer Frank Delano (William Baldwin). Delano ultimately forces Chin to make the impossible choice of his wife’s life or that of his cousin, fellow task force member Kono Kalakaua (Park). Ultimately, Kono is saved from a watery grave thanks to the help of her boyfriend, Adam Noshimuri (Ian Anthony Dale). Unfortunately, Delano’s accomplice still shoots Malia, and she tragically succumbs to her wounds in the Season 3 premiere. Later in the episode, Chin tracks down Delano and corners him in an alley before shooting him in cold blood with a shotgun. Chin’s execution of Delano is easily the darkest and most intense moment in the entire series. Although Chin avenged his murdered wife by killing Delano, his revenge gave him no solace or peace. Seeing Chin suffer through this ordeal was difficult because he stood out as such a strong beacon of good throughout the series, a pillar of his community, and always sought to help the less fortunate. Kim Departed the Series After Seven Seasons Sadly, Kim and Park both departed from Hawaii Five-0 after seven seasons following a well-documented pay dispute with CBS, as both actors sought to receive equal pay to the show’s stars, O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, who portrayed Danny “Danno” Williams. Unfortunately, new deals with the actors could not be reached, and they were written out of the show after the seventh season finale. Fortunately, even though Chin was written out of the series, the character receives a well-deserved happy ending. Early in Season 8, it’s revealed that Chin accepted an offer to head up a new Five-0 task force in San Francisco, and he moved there with his new girlfriend, Detective Abby Dunn (Julie Benz), and his niece, Sara Waincroft (Londyn Silzer), whom he adopted earlier in the show. At the very least, Chin received a graceful exit and a nice ending for his character.
https://collider.com/daniel-dae-kim-butterfly-hawaii-five-0-paramount/
Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara Take an Unabashedly Sentimental Journey in ‘This World of Tomorrow’
Are there two famous actors more effortlessly likeable than Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara? When it was announced that the two-time Oscar winner would be joined by Ms. O’Hara, one of musical theater’s greatest leading ladies and an eight-time Tony Award nominee albeit only a winner once, shamefully would be matched onstage as protagonists in a love story, I knew I’d be rooting for their characters under any circumstances. Little did I know how trying those circumstances would be though I probably should have guessed. Before Ms. O’Hara’s name became attached, it was disclosed that “This World of Tomorrow,” a new play co-written by Mr. Hanks and James Glossman inspired by short stories crafted by the movie star, published several years ago would deal with time travel, involving a scientist from the future who searches for love in the past. Mr. Hanks is, naturally, cast as the scientist, Bert Allenberry, co-founder of S. K. A. E. L. (pronounced “scale’), a technology company offering “chronometric adventures” into ancient times pre-2089, that is. Ms. O’Hara plays Carmen Perry, a recently divorced woman living with her sister’s family in the Bronx in 1939, as the New York World’s Fair is in progress just a subway ride away, in Queens. A Tony Award-winning director, Kenny Leon, known for his work with Denzel Washington Mr. Hanks’s co-star in the movie that earned him his first Academy Award, “Philadelphia” and other top stage and screen actors, has surrounded his leading man and woman with similarly appealing supporting players, among them such beloved theater stalwarts as Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Jay O. Sanders, who deftly juggles a string of colorful roles and accents. If the play itself offers an unabashedly sentimental journey, it is hardly backward-looking; the authors and Mr. Leon take pains to highlight both recurring dangers and timely concerns. “You shoulda killed Hitler,” notes Bert’s wisecracking partner, M-Dash, wittily played by Mr. Santiago-Hudson; there are additional references to the Nazi leader, and other sinister figures and developments, to reinforce how history can repeat itself. We learn that, in 2089, Bert has an “Intimate Relations Contract” with his female work partner, suggesting some creepy product of increasingly delicate, fraught gender relationships. And while he and M-Dash enjoy a loose, chummy rapport, Bert’s interaction with other colleagues can have a more clinical, detached feel, perhaps the logical extension of too much time socializing through digital devices. An A. I. figure called Elma-an acronym for Eternal Learning Machine Associate-seems no more or less human than anyone else. Little wonder, then, that Bert seeks love, and warmth, in a bygone era, and he finds it in abundance. Ms. O’Hara has generally gotten more attention for her glorious soprano than her acting chops, but her last Broadway role, that of a ravaged alcoholic in a musical adaptation of “Days of Wine and Roses,” proved a powerful showcase for the latter. In Carmen, who has her own troubles, the actress has a vehicle for the fine blend of sunniness and composure and the capacity for understated melancholy that have distinguished her acting and singing. Mr. Hanks’s Bert complements these qualities with an easy, self-effacing humor and a sense of quiet vigilance, forging a relaxed chemistry that avoids, or at least transcends, corniness. Kayli Carter makes an effervescent third wheel as Carmen’s young niece, Virginia, who accompanies her aunt to the World Fair and becomes a giddy player in the central couple’s courtship. Mr. Sanders is predictably winning as Carmen’s protective brother, Virginia’s dad, and even better as the big-hearted, observant proprietor of a Greek diner where a pair of key scenes unfold in 1953. “She is waiting for. tomorrow,” the diner owner tells Bert at one point, referring to Carmen. “And you? You are here looking for. yesterday.” And their paths cross just as charmingly as you would expect, given the company provided.
https://www.nysun.com/article/tom-hanks-and-kelli-ohara-take-an-unabashedly-sentimental-journey-in-this-world-of-tomorrow
JSO investigating woman found dead on 14th Street
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a woman was found dead Monday afternoon on the 1300 block of West 14th Street. JSO responded to a call about a possible stabbing around 1: 10 p. m. They found an unresponsive woman in her 50s. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. Investigators said the woman was last seen on Friday at her rooming house. Even though the call was about a stabbing, JSO says the circumstances around her death are still unclear. Detectives are working to piece together what happened. They encourage anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jso-investigating-woman-found-dead-041036911.html
Jets player ‘clings to life’ after NYC shooting, report
Here’s the stories you’ll be talking about on the New Jersey 101. 5 Morning Show on Monday: The winds were whipping this weekend and much of that wind will stay with us as we start the new week. I did my best to get our Christmas lights up outside, but it seems like as soon as I got one decoration up, the wind tore it down. When do you put up your holiday lights and decorations? If we get a mild day ahead of Thanksgiving, I prefer to get the lights and other decorations up. Sunday would have been perfect, if not for the wind. There is some good news as we begin the week: Flights should be back to normal at Newark and the rest of the nations airports. The FAA lifted restrictions that had been imposed during the government shutdown because air traffic controllers were not reporting for work. A tragedy in Somerset County: A police officer and his family are safe, but lost all their possessions in a devastating fire. There are ways you can help. And will the House vote to release the Epstein files this week? President Trump now says they should. Even if the house approves the release, there may not be enough votes in the Senate. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know to start a new week in the Great Garden State. ⬛ Reward offered after Newark shooting leaves boy, woman dead 🚨Gunfire on a Newark street leaves a 10-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman dead 🚨Authorities offer a $10,000 reward as investigators search for the shooter 🚨Newark’s mayor calls it a “dark and devastating day” following the double killing NEWARK A $10,000 reward is being offered to find those responsible for firing the shots that left a 10-year-year old boy and 21-year-old woman dead on Saturday. Over a dozen shots were fired around 7 p. m. on the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue in Newark’s South Ward, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II. The boy and the woman were pronounced dead at University Hospital. An 11-year-old male, a 19-year-old male, and a 60-year-old male were also injured. They were in stable condition as of Saturday night. At least 17 evidence markers were on the street and sidewalk following the shooting, according to a report from ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Stevens did not disclose the circumstances of the shooting or the identities of the victims. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the Essex County Sheriff’s Crime Stopper program for information leading to an arrest in the case. ⬛ New tickborne meat allergy kills NJ man in first confirmed death 🍔 New Jersey pilot becomes first confirmed fatality from alpha-gal syndrome 🍔 The man collapsed and died just hours after eating a hamburger 🍔 Lone star ticks are spreading, with established populations in 12 counties A pilot from New Jersey is the first confirmed death from a disturbing new meat allergy spread by the lone star tick, according to a study. It explains why the 47-year-old man died on his bathroom floor just hours after consuming a hamburger in September 2024, according to University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers. First documented fatality from alpha-gal syndrome in the U. S. The report was published According to the report, the man had no significant past medical history that would explain his death. Several details, including the victim’s name and where he lived in New Jersey, were not released in the study. It’s only been publicly released that his family lived in the suburbs. ⬛ Jets player ‘clings to life’ after NYC shooting, says report 🚨 NY Post reports Jet’s cornerback Kris Boyd was shot in NYC. 🚨 His injuries are said to be critical. New York Jet’s cornerback Kris Boyd was involved in a shooting early Sunday morning in New York City, the New York Post is reporting. The Post says the 29-year-old was shot in the abdomen and was “clinging to life” at a city hospital. Police have not confirmed any of the details of their investigation. A representative of the Jets said they were “aware of the situation” but offered no further comment. Boyd is in his first year with the Jets, but has not seen playing time since suffering a shoulder injury during a preseason game. According to the Post, Boyd was with two other Jets players at a trendy restaurant in Manhattan because he “felt the vibe was off.” The shooting took place just moments after the three players left. ⬛ Community rallies around local cop and his family who lost everything in a fire 🔥 Fire totally destroyed the home of a Somerset Count police officer 👮♂️ Officer Vito Spadea and his family are o. k. ♥ Community members rally around the family to offer help A devastating fire destroyed a home in the Martinsville Section of Bridgewater Township this weekend. The fire has left a Somerville Police officer and his family with nothing. The community has rallied around officer Vito Spadea, who lived with his wife and two young daughters in the home. The family is safe, but they lost everything in the fire. An online fundraiser has raised close to $100,000 for the Spadea family. There is no word on a cause of the fire. ⬛ FAA lifts order slashing flights ✈ Flight restrictions had been in place during the government shutdown. ✈ Commercial airlines are allowed to resume their regular schedules. ✈ Airline leaders expressed optimism operations would rebound in time for the Thanksgiving travel period. Airlines can resume their regular flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a. m. EST, the agency said. The announcement was made in a joint statement by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Citing safety concerns as staffing shortages grew at air traffic control facilities during the shutdown, the FAA issued an unprecedented order to limit traffic in the skies. It had been in place since Nov. 7, affecting thousands of flights across the country. ⬛ In reversal, Trump says House Republicans should vote to release Epstein files ❎ After fighting it for months, President Trump says Epstein files should be released. ❎ Trump says, ‘We have nothing to hide.’ ❎ The House is expected to approve the release this week. There may not be enough votes in the Senate. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said House Republicans should vote to release the files in the Jeffrey Epstein case, a startling reversal after previously fighting the proposal as a growing number of those in his own party supported it. “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on social media late Sunday after landing at Joint Base Andrews following a weekend in Florida. Trump’s statement followed a fierce fight within the GOP over the files, including an increasingly nasty split with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had long been one of his fiercest supporters. The New Jersey 101. 5 Morning Show airs from 6 10 a. m. on New Jersey 101. 5. Join the conversation by calling 1-800-283-1015 or download the NJ101. 5 app. You can reach him at eric. scott@townsquaremedia. com.
https://nj1015.com/jets-chris-boyd-shot/
How a father’s injury led his son to help others in his career
When Garreth Bell was asked in a fourth-grade school assignment who his hero was, he didn’t hesitate to say: his dad, Stephen.
Garreth had a question for his dad: Why are you in a wheelchair? The answer dates back long before Garreth was born.
In 1992, Stephen was just 22 years old when he woke up with extreme back pain between his shoulder blades. It turned out that a blood vessel had burst in his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.
“I was in rehab for about two months, learning how to just live again. I gained a whole new perspective on the world,” Stephen recalled.
In his school assignment, Garreth wrote, “It’s like he’s still walking because he takes care of himself and the family.” Those words profoundly changed how Stephen felt about himself.
In an email to CBS News contributor David Begnaud, Stephen explained how much Garreth’s words meant to him.
**Son gives dad a special memory**
“When I read it, I felt seen for the first time in a long time. It was as if he understood what I had gone through and how I battled daily to continue to provide for our family regardless of the circumstances,” Stephen wrote.
The assignment also shaped Garreth’s future. He wrote, “Poppa, I’ve been watching you suffer my whole life. I should become someone who can do something about it so that others don’t have to go through what you went through.”
True to his word, Garreth went on to pursue a path to help others. He attended the University of Miami and became a physical therapist. Today, he helps run adaptive beach days—events that assist people with disabilities in getting into the water.
Recently, Garreth helped his dad experience the ocean firsthand for the first time in more than 25 years.
“They had to keep me from jumping out of the chair and swimming,” Stephen said. “It was just like heaven for me.”
“It was the biggest smile I’ve ever seen,” Garreth added, grateful for the special moment.
Since that first swim, Stephen has returned to the beach several times. He considers his son’s compassion and empathy his greatest qualities.
“I was surprised that he said I’m his hero because looking back, if I had to say it again, I’d say I want to be like him when I grow up,” Stephen said. “I strive to be the person that he actually sees.”
For Garreth, the answer to who his hero is remains the same today.
“He taught me how to be a man. He was my role model growing up, and he still is,” Garreth said.
—
David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and continues to highlight everyday heroes in his exclusive CBS Mornings series, *Beg-Knows America*. Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear.
Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dad-inspires-son-career-injury/
Man pleads guilty to Japan ex-prime minister’s murder: “Everything is true”
The gunman accused of killing Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty Tuesday, three years after the assassination in broad daylight shocked the world. The slaying forced a reckoning in a country with little experience of gun violence and ignited scrutiny of alleged ties between prominent conservative lawmakers and a secretive sect, the Unification Church.
“Everything is true,” Tetsuya Yamagami said at a court in the western city of Nara, admitting to the murder of the country’s longest-serving leader in July 2022. “There is no doubt that I have done all this,” Yamagami added, according to the Japan Times.
The 45-year-old was led handcuffed into the room with a rope around his waist. When the judge asked him to state his name, Yamagami, who was wearing a black T-shirt and had his long hair tied back, replied in a barely audible voice. His lawyer said they would contest certain charges, including violations of arms control laws for allegedly using a handmade weapon.
More than 700 people lined up to be one of the 32 allowed in a lottery to sit in the courtroom’s public gallery for the trial, the Japan Times reported. Yamagami pleaded guilty on the same day that two of Abe’s former allies, incumbent Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting U.S. President Donald Trump, met in Tokyo.
Yamagami’s trial had been a long time coming after the discovery of a suspicious item—later found to be harmless—caused its last-minute cancellation and the evacuation of the Nara court building in 2023.
One issue central to the case was whether extenuating circumstances applied due to “religious abuse” in Yamagami’s childhood stemming from his mother’s extreme devotion to the Unification Church, according to Japanese media reports. In a recent interview with TBS News, cited by the Japan Times, she said her faith grew even stronger after her son assassinated Abe.
Prosecutors told the court that Yamagami started building up resentment toward the church, which he thinks derailed his life. “He began to think he needed a gun” to attack church executives, but having failed to procure one, “he decided that he had to make one himself,” a prosecutor said.
Yamagami “thought he could draw public attention to the church if he killed someone as influential as Abe,” the prosecutor added.
Some Japanese expressed sympathy for Yamagami, especially those who also suffered as children of followers of the Unification Church, which is known for pressuring adherents into making large donations and is considered a cult in Japan. The former prime minister had spoken at events organized by some of the church groups and received some criticism for doing so.
“Life was ruined by the church.” Yamagami reportedly resented Abe for his perceived ties to the Church, which was established in South Korea in 1954 and whose members are nicknamed “Moonies” after its founder Sun Myung Moon. The Church has been accused of fomenting child neglect among its members and financially exploiting them—claims it denies.
Yamagami’s lawyers on Tuesday said his life collapsed because of the sect, with his mother convinced that “throwing all her money and assets into the Church will salvage her family” after the suicide of her husband and the illness of one of her sons. In the end, she donated around 100 million yen ($1 million at the time) to the sect, the lawyer said.
Yamagami gave up on advancing to higher education and joined the military instead, while his mother declared bankruptcy, according to the lawyer. He also attempted suicide in 2005.
“He began to think his whole life was ruined by the church,” the lawyer said.
Investigations after Abe’s murder led to cascading revelations about close ties between the Church and many conservative lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, prompting four ministers to resign. Earlier this year, the Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order for the Church’s Japanese arm, saying it caused “unprecedented damage” to society.
The assassination was also a wake-up call for a nation with some of the world’s strictest gun controls. Gun violence is so rare in Japan that security officials at the scene failed to immediately identify the sound made by the first shot and came to Abe’s rescue too late, a police report after the attack said.
The debacle prompted lawmakers to pass a bill in 2024 further strengthening arms controls to prevent people from making homemade guns. Under the new rules, uploading tutorial videos on making firearms and propagating information about gun sales on social media can result in a fine or imprisonment of up to one year.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shinzo-abe-murder-suspect-pleads-guilty-japan/
“You are obviously going to be rusty” – Former India coach’s blunt take on Kohli & Rohit after AUS vs IND 2025 1st ODI
Former India coach Ravi Shastri defended Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s underwhelming performances during their international return in the first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium on Sunday, October 19.
The veteran duo failed to reach double figures, getting dismissed early as India suffered a rain-curtailed seven-wicket loss against Mitchell Marsh and his team.
Rohit Sharma showed some promise by striking an early boundary after India opted to bat first in Shubman Gill’s debut match as ODI captain. However, the explosive opener was soon caught in the slip cordon, dismissed by a rising delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, appeared boxed in by the Australian seamers and strategic field placements inside the circle. He struggled to get off the mark and was eventually dismissed for an eight-ball duck, caught at point by Cooper Connolly off Mitchell Starc’s bowling.
Reflecting on their challenging return, Ravi Shastri explained that the experienced pair faced tough conditions and circumstances in their very first game after a long hiatus.
“I mean, they came back, they got caught on a dodgy pitch. It was a good toss to win for Australia and then the weather was such that it was not easy. When you come back from a long layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty,” Shastri said on ICC Review ahead of the second ODI.
He added, “It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia, say, two days prior to a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away—especially when you have that extra bounce and are playing against quality fast bowlers. But I think only time will tell. They’ll go to Adelaide, have some time off to get into the nets, get their minds sorted, and get back into action.”
Shastri also highlighted hunger and passion as critical factors for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the latter stages of their careers. He stressed that it would be unwise to rush into judgment based on just one game since their return.
“So I’m in no hurry to judge, but it’s when you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger is there and passion is left in you to play the game. So if you tick the boxes in two out of those three, especially the enjoyment part of it, then you can give them both time because they’ve got class, they’ve got experience, and a little bit of time will sort things out. But I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately,” he elaborated.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to feature in the upcoming second ODI against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23. The hosts currently hold a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
### “He’s brutal on himself at times” — Ravi Shastri on workload and high expectations driving Virat Kohli into early Test retirement
With Virat Kohli having retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket, ODI cricket remains his sole focus. He stepped away from T20Is right after the 2024 T20 World Cup, while his surprising decision to retire from red-ball cricket came midway through the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), ahead of the England tour.
Ravi Shastri reflected on Kohli’s self-demanding nature amid a hectic workload, which ultimately influenced his early retirement from Tests.
“Virat Kohli does not leave any stone unturned when it comes to preparation. He’s brutal on himself at times, and that might have taken its toll over a span of time that stretches back to 14-16 years of cricket. Then that enjoyment factor, that hunger factor, the same focus doesn’t exist. He does not have the appetite to put in the same amount of work day in day out and hence, that might have prompted him the decision (to retire), right or wrong, only time will tell,” Shastri said.
Virat Kohli concluded his illustrious Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. His last Test appearance came during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series finale at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-you-obviously-going-rusty-former-india-coach-s-blunt-take-kohli-rohit-aus-vs-ind-2025-1st-odi
Limp Bizkit band members say bass player Sam Rivers has died
Sam Rivers, the bass player in the nu metal band Limp Bizkit, died on Saturday, according to social media posts by his bandmates. The band did not disclose where Rivers died or the circumstances but praised him as “pure magic” and “the soul in the sound.”
“From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced,” they wrote in a group Instagram post. “His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
Fred Durst, the band’s frontman, posted a video recalling how they met at a club in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, before going on to music stardom and performances around the globe.
“He really did have an impact on the world, and his music and his gift is the one that’s going to keep on giving,” Durst said. “I just love him so much.”
Rivers had spoken publicly about heavy drinking that had caused liver disease. He left the band in 2015 and received a liver transplant before reuniting with Limp Bizkit three years later.
Limp Bizkit has scheduled a tour of Central and South America beginning in Mexico City in late November.
With roots in Jacksonville, Florida, Limp Bizkit emerged in the late 1990s with a sound that melds alternative rock, heavy metal, and rap. Their off-the-wall sense of humor is reflected in the titles of their mega-selling 2000 album, *Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water*, and a single released last month, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen.”
https://wsvn.com/entertainment/limp-bizkit-band-members-say-bass-player-sam-rivers-has-died/