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“I need a future”: New details on boy kidnapped for six years

When concerned motorist Fabien Accidini <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/missing-boy-found-alive-after-six-long-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened upon Alex Batty</a> walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees in France, he had no idea of the mysterious and tragic situation he had uncovered. “I said to myself, ‘That’s strange. It’s 3am in the morning, it’s raining, he’s all by himself on the road between two villages,’” Accidini told French news outlet BFMTV. Batty had gone missing from his home in England at the tender age of 11 back in 2017. Now 17, new details have emerged about the extraordinary six-year journey that unfolded since his disappearance. British and French authorities confirmed on Friday that the teenager discovered by Accidini was, indeed, Alex Batty. The initial family holiday to Spain turned into a six-year odyssey across Morocco, Spain and southwest France, as Alex and his family embraced a nomadic, off-the-grid lifestyle. French authorities revealed that Alex and his family moved from house to house, carrying their own solar panels, growing their own food, and living with other families in what the teenager described as a “spiritual community". However, last Wednesday marked a turning point as Alex suddenly appeared on a remote road in rural France, having parted ways with his mother. According to French prosecutor Antoine Leroy, Alex decided to strike out on his own when his mother expressed a desire to move yet again, this time to Finland. Leroy stated at a news conference in Toulouse, “When his mother indicated that she intended to leave for Finland with him, this young man understood that this journey had to stop.” Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, Alex walked for four nights, resting during the days and sustaining himself with whatever he could find in fields or gardens. It was during this solitary journey that Accidini spotted him on the rain-soaked road. Accidini offered assistance, and despite initial suspicion and a false name, Alex eventually opened up during the deliveryman's rounds. “He’d had enough. He said, ‘I am 17. I need a future.’ He didn’t see a future for himself there,” Accidini recounted. In an interview with La Depeche, Accidini shared more details about Alex's arduous journey: “He told me that he had been walking for four days, that he’d left from the mountains. He didn’t really know where.” Showing kindness, Accidini provided the thirsty teenager with water and allowed him to use his mobile phone to send a message to his grandmother. The message read, “Hello grandma, it is me, Alex. I am in France, Toulouse. I really hope that you receive this message. I love you. I want to come home.” Back in the UK, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Alex had spoken with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, via video call. Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes stated, “Whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom. “Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK.” Alex is expected to return to the UK in the coming days, as the investigation into the full circumstances of his disappearance continues. Images: Greater Manchester Police

Family & Pets

Holly Willoughby delivers shock news days after kidnap plot

Holly Willoughby has made a surprising announcement, just days after a <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/plot-to-kidnap-tv-star-foiled" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disturbing incident involving a kidnapping plot</a> came to light. The popular UK TV personality and mother of three has taken to social media to share her decision to step down from her role as the host of This Morning, a position she has held for 14 years. She cited her family as the primary reason for this significant career move. In a heartfelt letter to her fans, she expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in the show over the years, acknowledging the difficulty of saying goodbye. She extended her appreciation to the production team and guests who have been part of the program, and she reserved special thanks for the loyal viewers who have been with her every day. Willoughby reflected on the legacy of This Morning and the words of former hosts Richard and Judy, who believed that the show belonged to the viewers. She expressed her honour at being a part of its history and noted that there are more chapters to come. However, she felt that the time had come for her to make this decision for the sake of herself and her family. In her own words, "I will miss you all so much." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOWaP2tr3Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOWaP2tr3Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Holly Willoughby (@hollywilloughby)</a> </div> </blockquote> This announcement follows a recent incident in which the 42-year-old was placed under police protection in her London home due to the discovery of a kidnapping plot aimed at her. Essex Police later arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the investigation. It has been a rough year for the popular daytime TV host, who previously enjoyed immense popularity in the UK. Notably, Holly Willoughby made headlines when she issued a statement on-air, publicly supporting her co-host, Phillip Schofield, amidst reports of an inappropriate relationship with a younger male colleague. Schofield eventually resigned amid <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/it-s-the-court-of-public-opinion-sarah-ferguson-condemns-phillip-schofield-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intense public pressure</a> after admitting to lying about the relationship. Willoughby explained that she too had been deceived by her co-host and would not have supported him had she known the truth. Schofield and Willoughby had co-hosted the show together since 2009 and had interviewed notable figures, including royalty. Their on-screen chemistry led to prime-time hosting opportunities such as Dancing on Ice. While Holly Willoughby has not revealed her future plans, numerous celebrity fans and colleagues swiftly offered their support and best wishes in the comments section of her post. These messages conveyed sadness at her departure and the recognition of her iconic status in the world of television. Images: Getty / ITV

Plot to kidnap TV star foiled

Authorities have thwarted a suspected plot to abduct well-known British television presenter, Holly Willoughby. The 42-year-old host of This Morning was pulled from her hosting duties mid-show and was placed under police protection at her residence. This development followed the arrest of a 36-year-old man, apprehended by law enforcement who had allegedly uncovered "sinister messages" containing threats to kidnap and inflict serious harm upon the mother of three, as reported by The Sun. The suspect, who is not acquainted with the television star, has since been formally charged. In the meantime, a marked police vehicle remained stationed outside the individual's ground-floor apartment, where he resides alone. One neighbour from Harlow, Essex, UK, recounted witnessing the man being escorted out of his flat in handcuffs around 9 o'clock the previous night, with a police presence continuing throughout the day, including a forensic investigation van. The precise means by which the police became aware of the alleged plot remain unclear, but it is understood that digital devices and a mobile phone were confiscated. As detectives persist in their inquiry, a round-the-clock police detail has been stationed outside Holly's London home, where she resides with her husband and children. An insider disclosed, "Investigations are continuing, but police are treating this as a credible conspiracy to kidnap Holly. There were apparently some sinister and threatening messages found on electronic devices threatening to seriously harm her." The police promptly notified the production team of This Morning about the alleged plot early the following day. Holly was informed shortly before she was scheduled to go on air, and she was described as feeling "shocked and distraught." Consequently, it was decided that she would withdraw from hosting the show. Alison Hammond was called in as a last-minute substitute alongside Josie Gibson, who had co-hosted the previous day's episode with Holly. Viewers were puzzled by the sudden change, with Josie only mentioning the situation in passing by introducing Alison. Social media buzzed with fans expressing their concern and curiosity about Holly's absence. She had originally planned to celebrate her TV producer husband Daniel Baldwin's 49th birthday with their children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and eight-year-old Chester. This incident unfolded against the backdrop of a turbulent year for the television personality, who has been a fixture on "This Morning" since 2009. In September of the previous year, both Holly and her then-co-host, Phillip Schofield, faced allegations of queue-jumping during their visit to pay respects to the late Queen. Holly later clarified that she had been there in her capacity as an accredited broadcaster for a filming assignment and emphasized that they would never bypass a queue intentionally. In May, Schofield, aged 61, resigned after admitting to an affair with a younger colleague and confessing to having lied about it when confronted by Holly. She subsequently expressed feeling "shaken and let down." Nonetheless, Holly drew some criticism for beginning the show by inquiring to the camera, "Are you OK?" ITV initiated an examination into This Morning amid accusations of a "toxic culture," sparking backlash from viewers. Just last month, Holly did not secure a National Television Award for the first time in 12 years. A spokesperson for Essex Police confirmed, "A 36-year-old man from Harlow has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap as part of an ongoing investigation. The arrest was made on Wednesday 4 October. He is currently in custody. Inquiries continue." Image: Getty

Legal

Cher accused of hiring abductors to kidnap her son

Cher has been accused of hiring professional kidnappers to abduct her son from a hotel in New York where he was staying with his wife. The allegations were contained in court documents filed by Elijah Blue Allman's wife, Marieangela King, according to reports by the BBC. The documents allege that four men "removed" him from a New York hotel room on their anniversary in November 2022. The allegations have recently come to light as part of the couple's divorce proceedings. King claimed that she and her then-husband had spent 12 days in the hotel room trying to "work out their marriage". Then, on the evening of November 30th 2022, which is also the couple's wedding anniversary, the four men charged into the room and "removed" Allman. "I was told by one of the four men who took him that they were hired by (Allman's) mother," she alleged. In the court files from last December, King said that Allman had been receiving treatment at a medical facility for months, and she was "very concerned and worried" about his wellbeing. She went on to claim she hadn't been told where he was, and was unable to contact him. Allman, 47, is the son of pop star Cher and her former husband, the late rock musician Gregg Allman. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Body of kidnapped heiress found

The body of missing heiress Eliza Fletcher has been found dumped in Memphis four days after she was violently snatched during an early morning run, Tennessee police confirmed on Tuesday. “The deceased victim that was located yesterday in the 1600 block of Victor (Street, south of Memphis’ CBD) has been identified as 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher,” Memphis Police Department <a href="https://twitter.com/MEM_PoliceDept/status/1567147974462939139" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>. According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/09/06/police-confirm-body-found-in-memphis-is-eliza-fletcher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>, Fletcher’s suspected killer and kidnapper, Cleotha Abston, 38, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping, in addition to a charge of especially aggravated kidnapping laid against her on Saturday. Authorities found the body of the mother-of-two at 5.07pm on Monday in an area near to where police say Absten was seen clearing out a vehicle seen in the surveillance footage of Fletcher’s abduction. Abston, who has previously served 20 years in prison for violent kidnapping, had refused to reveal where Fletcher was, police said at the time. His brother was among those who reported that Abston was acting “strange” and scrubbing his clothes in the hours after the abduction, according to an affidavit. After police released images of Fletcher during her 4am run around the University of Memphis on Friday, it was later revealed that the car she was forced into had been trawling the area at least 24 minutes before she ran through. Surveillance footage showed an SUV pulled up ahead of her, with a man getting out and running “aggressively toward” Fletcher before forcing her into the backseat. “During this abduction, there appeared to be a struggle,” the affidavit said, adding that Fletcher likely “suffered serious injury”. Her husband, Richard Fletcher, raised the alarm at 7am. Abston quickly became the prime suspect after a pair of shoes left at the scene returned his DNA when tested. The 34-year-old was the granddaughter of a late Memphis billionaire. Image: The New York Post

News

Woman arrested for faking her own kidnapping

A US woman has been arrested in Delhi, India, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping. According to police, the 27-year-old faked her abduction to “blackmail” her parents into sending her more money after her funds ran out. Having arrived in India on May 3, the woman phoned her mother on July 7 and said she was being assaulted by a man, per NDTV. After her family made a complaint to the US Embassy, which was forwarded on to police in Delhi, they began to investigate her whereabouts. Having traced the IP address the woman used to send an email to the American Citizen services and make a video call to her mother, police traced and arrested a 31-year-old Nigerian man, the Indian Express reported. During his interrogation, the man said the woman was staying in an apartment in Noida, on Delhi’s outskirts. “After her rescue, it was revealed that she had staged the incident to blackmail her parents,” Amrutha Guguloth, New Delhi’s deputy commissioner of police, told the Indian Express. Police said she met the man through Facebook and had been staying with him since she arrived in May. Having discovered that both the woman’s visa and the man’s passport had expired, police said they would take action against the pair for staying in India without valid documents. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Missing Wordle update sees kidnapped woman rescued

The wildly popular web-based word game Wordle has helped rescue an 80-year-old woman from an alleged kidnapping.Chicago woman Denyse Holt was asleep in her home on Saturday when a naked, mentally ill man allegedly broke into her home and held her hostage for 17 hours, as reported by the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/10/chicago-woman-rescued-from-naked-kidnapper-thanks-to-wordle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>.The key to her rescue came after she didn’t text her daughter with her daily Wordle answers, prompting her daughter to call the police, <a href="https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2022/02/08/man-charged-knapping-home-incolnwood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WBBM-TV reported</a>.The intruder - identified as 32-year-old James H Davis III - was bloodied from a broken window and reportedly slipped into Ms Holt’s bed while holding a pair of scissors.“I was in shock,” Ms Holt said, recalling that she tried to stay calm during the ordeal.“I was trying to survive, that’s all. He said, ‘I won’t harm you or molest you’.”After ordering her to take a shower with him in her nightgown, she recalled that he changed his mind.“He said, ‘No, I’m not warm enough. We have to take a bath’,” she said.Following the bath, she said Mr Davis dragged her around the house, disconnected the phones, took several knives from the kitchen, and took her into a bathroom in the basement, which he blocked with a chair.“I didn’t think I was going to live. I was doing marching and stretching as much as I could,” she recounted.Eventually, Ms Holt’s daughter Meredith Holt-Caldwell noticed that her mother hadn’t sent her a message about the word-logic puzzle as she usually would.“I didn’t send my older daughter a Wordle in the morning - and that was disconcerting to her,” Ms Holt said.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/wordle-kidnapping1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />Denyse Holt’s daughter Meredith realised something was amiss when her mother didn’t send her an update about the word-logic game Wordle. Image: CBS ChicagoAfter the family called police, officers arrived at Ms Holt’s home at about 9.40pm on Sunday.Members of a SWAT team were able to overpower the man using a stun gun following an hours-long standoff.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/wordle-kidnapping2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />The man was eventually overpowered by SWAT and police with a stun gun. Image: CBS Chicago“I never thought in a million years this is what was happening, but it was,” Ms Holt-Caldwell told WBBM.Mr Davis was later hit with several charges, including home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault against a peace officer.“I’m very lucky,” said Ms Holt, who was physically unharmed from the ordeal.Wordle, the online word-logic game developed by software engineer Josh Wardle, has become a viral trend among English-language puzzlers.Players are required to guess a five-word letter, which changes each day, in just six attempts, using letters on the board as clues.Images: CBS Chicago, Getty Images

Mind

Map drawn from memory helps man reunite with his family after 30 years

A Chinese man who was abducted in 1989 was finally reunited with his family after three decades, thanks to a hand-drawn map of his village drawn from memory. Li Jingwei, who was just four years old when he was lured from his home and sold into a child trafficking ring, shared a video of the map of his childhood village to the video sharing app Douyin late last month. From this, police were able to match the map to a small village and a woman whose son had disappeared around the same time. Following the completion of successful DNA tests, Li Jingwei was reunited with his family in Yunnan province over the weekend. Footage of the reunion showed Li Jingwei and his mother meeting for the first time in over 30 years, with Li Jingwei carefully removing his mother’s face mask to examine her face before breaking down in tears and embracing her. Ahead of the highly anticipated reunion, Li wrote on his Douyin profile, "Thirty-three years of waiting, countless nights of yearning, and finally a map hand-drawn from memory, this is the moment of perfect release after 13 days. "Thank you, everyone who has helped me reunite with my family." Li was abducted near the southwestern city of Zhaotong in Yunnan province in 1989, and sold to a family living over 1800km away. Now living in Guangdong province, he had little success asking his adoptive parents or consulting DNA databases. So he turned to the internet. In the video, Li holds up a rough sketch of his childhood neighbourhood, and says, "I'm a child who's finding his home. I was taken to Henan by a bald neighbour around 1989, when I was about four years old. This is a map of my home area that I have drawn from memory.” The drawing included features such as a building he believed to be a school, a bamboo forest, and a small pond. In 2015, it was estimated that 20,000 children were being abducted in China each year. Image: Weibo

Travel Trouble

Why Richard Gere is set to testify in Italian kidnapping trial

Actor Richard Gere has been named as a witness in a high-profile Italian kidnapping trial involving former government minister Matteo Salvini. Salvini, the populist leader of the right-wing League Party, is facing kidnapping charges for refusing to let a migrant ship dock in the country. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail and being barred from running for office. Gere was in Italy in August 2019, when Salvini refused for days to let a boat carrying about 150 migrants rescued at sea to dock in Italy. The vessel was operated by the NGO Proactiva Open Arms, and Gere visited the boat in an effort to draw international attention to the situation. Activists described the conditions on board and the Italian government’s failure to act as a humanitarian crisis at the time. Salvini has said that the inclusion of Gere in the list of witnesses proves the case against him should not be taken seriously. "Now you tell me how serious is a trial where Richard Gere comes from Hollywood to testify on how bad I am," Mr Salvini said. Other witnesses include former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, as well as other senior Italian political figures. Proactiva Open Arms told the court that Gere could give a direct account of the conditions on board the vessel, which was stranded off the Italian island of Lampedusa for 19 days before prosecutors ordered its evacuation. At present, it is not clear whether Gere will appear in person or via video. Salvini, a populist known for his anti-immigrant campaigns, argues that he was simply doing his duty as minister by refusing to allow the migrants to disembark. He said, "Defending a country's borders, security, honour and dignity is not just a minister's duty but everyone's duty. "Being put on trial for just doing my duty is surreal. A Spanish boat refusing to go to Spain commits an abuse. If Spain gives its flag to boats it does not manage to control, then there is a problem". The next hearing is scheduled for December 17. Image: Michael Loccisano/WireImage/Getty Images

Legal

“Every second feels like hours”: Amazing moment a kidnapping is foiled

Terrifying bodycam footage has been released by US authorities of the moment police foiled the kidnapping of a six-year-old girl. The video shows the moment when Jason Burba, an officer from the Louisville Metro Police Department, approached a red sedan after the suspect was in custody, opened the passenger door and found the child who had been snatched from her bike and thrown into the car. After saying “hello”, the officer began to reassure the little girl. “It’s OK,” he told her as he picked her up. “Come here, it’s OK.” Burba is then seen walking to a police vehicle while the child, who was not physically harmed, can be heard crying, “I want my daddy.” During a police press conference, Burba, who is a father of four, admitted the cry went straight to his heart. “It was tough,” Burba told WAVE 3 News while fighting back tears. “You have kids.” Burba’s sergeant, Joseff Keeling, is also a dad to a young child. Both officers said they felt the same panic as any parent would if their child had been kidnapped. Keeling said all police units stopped what they were doing when they received reports a man had pulled a child off her bike before throwing her in the back of his red vehicle by her collar. Neighbours who had followed the car wrote down three of the digits on the licence plate and gave them to police. “It’s like the world stops,” Burba said of the search. “Like every second feels like hours.” Keeling told radio station WHAS that he saw the car and followed it as it pulled into a driveway. In Keeling’s bodycam footage, he can be seen pulling the vehicle over and ordering the driver to get out of the car with his hands up. “When I approached the vehicle, I didn’t know what was going to be behind that door,” he told WAVE. “The windows, the tint was so dark.” Robby Wildt, 40, was arrested, charged with kidnapping a minor, and booked into Louisville Metro Corrections on a US $1 (AUD $1.34) million bond. In an interview with WHAS, Keeling credited the witnesses for providing a good description of the car and recording part of the number plate. Image: Louisville Metro Police Department

Legal

"I was petrified": Rebel Wilson reveals she was kidnapped at gunpoint

Rebel Wilson has spoken about the horrifying moment she was kidnapped at gunpoint by a group of men in rural Africa. The Australian actress appeared on the UK TV special Ant Middleton & Rebel Wilson: Straight Talking, where she was interviewed by SAS Australia instructor Ant Middleton. Speaking to the 40-year-old, Wilson was asked about the moment where she felt the most fear in her life. She revealed that she had been travelling with a group of women in Mozambique when they were ambushed by armed men. “We were on this cattle truck and these men came on another truck with a lot of guns. (They pulled up beside us) with the big guns and they were like, ‘Yeah, you’ve got to get off your truck.’” she said. Wilson said the group was taken to a house and held hostage overnight. “I felt like I was very good in the crisis. I was like a team leader,” she added. “They sat us down, and I said, ‘Everybody link arms,’ because I was petrified in the night that they might want to take one of the girls or something.” They were allowed to leave the next day. “They came and said, ‘Your truck is ready now. You can go, go, go,’” she said. “We just got back on that truck and got out of there and crossed the South African border a few hours later.” The Pitch Perfect star still doesn't know the reasoning behind the kidnapping, but she's developed her own theory. “I think maybe those guys, maybe, used us to smuggle illegal things in the bottom of the truck,” she added. She did not specify when the incident happened.

Travel Trouble

New evidence suggests Madeleine McCann’s suspected killer didn’t act alone

New evidence in the case of Madeleine McCann suggest that her suspected killer did not act alone and could have received help from an “insider” the night she went missing. Speaking to 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes, experts said they now believe Madeleine’s suspected killer - convicted rapist Christian Bruckner - was assisted by someone who may have been at the tapas bar where Kate and Gerry McCann dined the night their daughter was taken. "Christian Brückner couldn't have acted alone," Portuguese TV journalist Sandra Felgueiras told 60 Minutes. "I think that someone must have been implicated. It's very difficult to understand he could have done this by himself." The evidence was first discovered by German police who tracked down a mobile phone number to someone with a criminal record for child sex offences in their country. The number belonged to Bruckner, and in his mobile data was a call that linked him to the missing girl. The call that was made on May 3, 2007 is believed to have been made near the scene of Madeleine’s abduction - the Ocean Club in Praia Da Luz. "We know that the phone number, which was used by our suspect on the 3rd of May, 2007, was connecting in the mast [that] belongs to the Ocean Club in Praia Da Luz," German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told Hayes. But now Felgueiras believes the call is evidence of not only his involvement in the abduction but also that he was working with an accomplice. "That was the phone call that he was doing to someone that helped him that night," Felgueiras told 60 Minutes. There is speculation that an insider at the tapas bar where the McCanns were having dinner tipped off the criminal. "I think that this is the strongest lead I've ever seen since the first beginning of this investigation," Felgueiras said.

News

A hero no more? Why princess Anne's kidnapping saviour must give up his medal

The man who aided in helping Princess Anne from being kidnapped has been forced to give up a medal he received in recognition of his incredible bravery over 46 years ago. The Queen’s daughter was only 23 at the time and on her way to Buckingham Palace after s charity event when her car was suddenly cut off in the middle of the road by another vehicle. Jumping out of a car, stepped Ian Ball, gun in hand, who proceeded to shoot the royal's chauffeur and security officer before telling Princess Anne she had to go with him. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OG-MBHe1U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OG-MBHe1U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dix Noonan Webb (@dixnoonanwebb)</a> on Feb 6, 2020 at 1:30am PST </div> </blockquote> In a 1980s interview about the kidnapping attempt, the Royal Princess revealed she took a surprisingly no-nonsense approach with her attacker. "He opened the door, and we had a sort of discussion, hah, about where or where not we were going to go," she admitted calmly in the interview as she recalled details. "He said I had to go with him, can't remember why. I said I didn't think I wanted to go. I was scrupulously polite, because I thought 'it's silly to be too rude'. "We had a fairly low-key discussion about the fact that I wasn't going to go anywhere, and wouldn't it be much better if he moved away and we'd all forget about it?" Interestingly enough, Princess Anne was not rude until Ball accidentally tore her gown when she was stepping out of the vehicle and Anne got angry. However, he was not forced to face the wrath of the royal as out of nowhere, 6'4 former boxer Ronald Russell took a swing at the back of Ball's head and distracted him. Ball took off running as more police arrived and was later arrested in part thanks to Russell's well-timed punch. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OYRRAnDll/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8OYRRAnDll/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dix Noonan Webb (@dixnoonanwebb)</a> on Feb 6, 2020 at 4:01am PST </div> </blockquote> Princess Anne left the incident without a scratch on her and Russell was later awarded the George Medal from bravery by the Queen, who was beyond grateful that her daughter was safe. "The medal is from the Queen, but I want to thank you as Anne's mother," Her Majesty told Russell as she presented him with the medal. Sadly, 46 years later Russell is being forced to let go of the medal, something he said he “would never ever do”. Following years of declining health, the 72-year-old has decided to sell the royal memento, which could go for as much as $38,000. However, he has a simple request for the person who buys the keepsake. "What I would like is whoever does eventually buy the medal, I would hope they might invite me somewhere to tell them about what happened on the night," he told the BBC. Russell recalled Princess Anne remained calm and collected when Ball confronted the royal with a gun, telling her assailant: "Just go away and don't be such a silly man." Moments later Russell made a move to protect the princess, and squared up against Ball despite the danger he’d be putting himself in. "Ball stood there glaring at me with the gun and I hit him," Russell said. "I hit him as hard as I could, and he was flat on the floor face down."

Retirement Life

Lifesaving advice that prevented the kidnapping of 4-year-old boy

Children are constantly curious and have the urge to explore. Children can also wander off and get lost from time to time. Almost everyone has experienced the horror of losing sight of a child, although on this family outing, things took a terrifying turn. In June last year a UK woman recalled her actions when her 4-year-old nephew Jake went missing and published them on a now viral blog post. Vicky Hamilton-Ross recounted the events of the day when her sister Lucinda, her nephew Jake and herself attended a beach event in Bournemouth, England. Vicky’s sister Lucinda turned away from her 4-year-old son to pick something up and in less than minutes, Jake had vanished. Army cadets were chaperoning the event and quickly advised Vicky and Lucinda to start yelling descriptions of the boy, what he looked like and what he was wearing. “‘We are looking for a boy. He is four years old, blond and in a red t-shirt. Have you seen him?’ … they repeated this loudly and consistently as they covered areas nearby,” Hamilton-Ross wrote on the blog. After 15 minutes of searching, Jake was found on the beach. Hamilton-Ross explained that by loudly yelling a description, any perpetrator would have been scared off or identified. “It meant the guy couldn’t leave the beach without being spotted, so he just left Jake and walked away,” she explained. It was that advice that saved his life. Once safely reunited with his mother and aunty he told them, “There was a bald man in a white t-shirt, he said he would take me to see a real rocket ship.” Hamilton-Ross further praises the advice she was given. “I would urge every parent to do this immediately, even if you suspect they are just around the corner. What’s the worst that could happen, you are slightly embarrassed because they hadn’t gone anywhere? It’s well worth that risk.”

Family & Pets

Strong new lead blows Madeleine McCann case wide open

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Legal

60 minutes crew, Tara Brown, Sally Faulkner leave Lebanon

After two weeks inside a Beirut prison Australian mother Sally Faulkner, 60 minutes reporter Tara Brown, and her crew Stephen Rice, David Ballment and Ben Williamson are free. The unexpected release comes after hours of tense negotiations where Nine Network reportedly paid a multi-million dollar sum to have the charges dropped. Ali Elamine denies receiving any payment, saying it was the anguish of cameraman Williamson and sound recordist Ballment at not being able to see their children that led him to drop the personal chargers against his estranged wife and the 60 Minutes crew. He also told the court he did not want his children to think he had left their mother in jail. Some of the crew were in tears when they were freed from jail. The five departed Lebanon on a flight to Australia on Wednesday night, local time. Speaking with Nine on their way to the airport, Brown said the first thing she did upon being freed was to “call home straight away” and speak with husband John McAvoy. “But not the kids yet, I can’t wait to speak to them obviously, although they have no idea about any of this,” she said. Faulkner also called home, telling Nine: “It’s great to talk to home and it’s great to be going home.” She added, “I mean they treated us well, I can’t complain about that, it’s just the uncertainty that sort of kept me awake at night, not knowing if it was going to be a life-long sentence or what. “I’m just so glad to be out of there.” As part of the agreement for release, Faulkner must grant Elamine a divorce and custody of their two children, Lahela, 5 and Noah, 3. She has also relinquished her right to bring her children to Australia, and can only see them in Lebanon or a third country. Faulkner will remain in Beirut and meet with her husband, their children and the judge on Thursday for a custody hearing. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/">Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/5-types-of-grandparents/">There are 5 different types of grandparents – which one are you?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/parents-and-kids-who-look-identical/">10 pics of parents and kids who look identical</a>

News

60 minutes reporter Tara Brown pictured for first time since arrest

60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown has been pictured for the first time since her arrest in Lebanon on April 7. The dramatic photos show a handcuffed Brown being pushed into a police car to take her back to the prison where she, along with her crew and Sally Faulkner, has now been kept for nearly two weeks. Brown, her 60 minutes crew and Faulkner had just preparing to hear their fate in a Beirut court on Monday, but the matter was adjourned until Wednesday. Judge Rami Abdullah, however, told reporters, “This is not a custody case… They are charged with kidnapping two kids.” Brown, the 60 Minutes crew and the child recovery agency are all facing charges of kidnapping and being part of a criminal gang. They face a maximum sentence of three years and 10 years respectively. Earlier in the day, Faulkner’s estranged husband, Ali Elamine, said he would press charges against everyone involved in the failed abduction, but also admitted his children “want their mother”. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/04/will-and-kate-recreate-princess-diana-taj-mahal-photo/">Will and Kate recreate Princess Diana’s iconic Taj Mahal photo</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/04/parent-share-kids-unintentionally-inappropriate-drawings/">Parents share kids’ unintentionally inappropriate drawings</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/04/alligator-devours-smaller-gator/">Massive alligator devours smaller gator</a>

News

Baby orangutan recovering after kidnapped

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News

Boy abducted found alive 13 years later

A boy who was kidnapped by his dad when he was only five years old has been found alive 13 years later. Julian Hernandez was abducted by his father in 2002. Now 18, Julian has turned up alive in Ohio. The most amazing part of the story is the fact that Julian discovered the mystery himself. He was in the process of applying for university, when he found out his Social Security number could not be verified. One of his teachers then found him on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database and contacted the FBI. Since locating Julian, his family, as you can imagine, have been emotional. "Our family was overjoyed this week to locate Julian and learn that he is safe," the family said in a released statement. "We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during Julian's disappearance. Although we appreciate the interest our story has generated, we will have to decline any requests for interviews or additional information at this time. We ask that the media respect our privacy as we focus on Julian's well-being during this difficult time in his life." Julian’s father is currently under arrest.

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