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Woman reunites with family 50 years after her abduction

DNA testing has confirmed the identity of a Texas woman who was allegedly abducted by her own babysitter when she was 22 months old, and reunited with them after 51 long and painful years apart. The Fort Worth Police Department announced that they had “completed official DNA testing which confirmed Melissa Highsmith’s identity”, while noting their hope that “this test result will offer additional closure for the Highsmith family”. While they requested that anyone with more information come forward, the criminal statute of limitations expired 20 years after Melissa’s 18th birthday. As NBC Dallas-Forth Worth reported, Melissa’s own mother was initially suspected of possibly killing her and then covering up the crime, and the family claimed that a babysitter had been responsible for taking her back in 1971. Melissa’s disappearance had been one of America’s oldest missing persons cases, according to WFAA. And while Melissa’s family had spent decades searching for their long lost loved one, it wasn’t until November 2022 that they made their first major breakthrough, when a 23andMe DNA test presented a link between Melissa and her biological parents. It was these same results that the Fort Worth Police Department was seeking to confirm. "I feel like I am dreaming,” Melissa told WFAA upon reuniting with her parents after their life changing discovery, “and I keep having to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake.” "I’m just elated, I can't describe my feelings,” Melissa’s mother, Alta Apantenco, added, “I'm so happy to see my daughter that I didn't think I would ever see her again.” Meanwhile, her father Jeffrie Highsmith admitted that he “cried like a baby”. Melissa went on to tell her family that she had had a difficult life, even going so far as to run away from home, and that she’d done “what I had to do to get by”. “I didn’t feel loved as a child,” she said. “It was abusive, and I ran away at 15 years old.” And the whole time, she’d been living just 20 minutes from her biological family. That same family who are overjoyed to have their beloved Melissa back with them, and took to social media to update followers, sharing the delightful news that their search was - finally - over. “The results were exactly what we already knew. She was in fact Melissa Suzanne HIghsmith!” they wrote on their Facebook page. “We now have the OFFICIAL confirmation that she is ours! Our daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece. We are thrilled! We are thankful and grateful for all the love and support we have received over the years and especially since we found Melissa. “Our family is whole and we look forward to the time we will be able to spend as a family of 7!” Images: Facebook

Family & Pets

Pregnant woman argues unborn baby counts as a passenger under new abortion laws

A pregnant US woman has argued her unborn baby should count as a second passenger in her car in the wake of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/heartbroken-high-profile-women-react-to-landmark-roe-v-wade-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roe v Wade being overturned</a>, after she was fined for driving in a lane that requires at least two people in the car. Brandy Bottone of Plano, Texas, was pulled over on June 29 after driving in a high-occupancy (HOV) lane by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department looking for drivers violating HOV lane rules, as reported by <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/pregnant-woman-cited-for-hov-violation-says-her-unborn-baby-should-count-as-second-person/3010193/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC-Dallas Fort Worth</a>. HOV lanes, also known as carpool and T2 lanes, require drivers to have at least one passenger in their car when they use the lane. When an officer told Bottone about the rule and asked whether she had any passengers with her, she said she did. “I pointed to my stomach and said, ‘My baby girl is right here. She is a person’,” the 32-year-old told <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2022/07/08/pregnant-woman-says-her-fetus-should-count-as-a-passenger-in-hov-lanes-she-got-a-ticket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Dallas Morning News</a>. The officer argued that the rule applies to “two people outside the body”, to which Bottone responded that, since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, her unborn child is considered as a living person. “And then I said, ‘Well [I’m] not trying to throw a political mix here, but with everything going on, this counts as a baby’,” Bottone recounted. She said the officer told her he didn’t “want to deal with this”, insisting the law for HOV lanes required “two persons outside of the body” to be in the vehicle. While the penal code in Texas recognises a foetus as a person, there appears to be no language in the state Transportation Department’s code that recognises a foetus in the same way. Though deputies told Bottone that her case would likely be dismissed if she fought it, she still plans to fight the $215 ticket, arguing that her in-utero baby should count as another occupant. “This has my blood boiling. How could this be fair? According to the new law, this is a life,” she told The Morning News. “I know this may fall on deaf ears, but as a woman, this was shocking.” Image: NBC DFW

Legal

Woman accused of killing pro cyclist captured in Costa Rica

The woman accused of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/pro-cyclist-shot-dead-at-25-suspect-at-large" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally shooting</a> pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, 25, has been caught by police in Costa Rica after 43 days on the run. Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 34, was found at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas on Wednesday, the Marshals Office said in a news release, as they confirmed she will be deported and returned to the US. Armstrong was wanted for the shooting of Wilson, who had previously dated Armstrong's boyfriend — 35-year-old professional cyclist Colin Strickland — in what investigators believe may have been a violent act of romantic jealousy. The shooting took place outside a friend's home in Austin, Texas, on May 11th. After a week in hiding, Armstrong used a fraudulent passport to fly from New Jersey to Costa Rica, according to the US Marshals Office. Wilson’s family is still mourning the loss of their “beautiful daughter and sister,” who excelled as a biker and skier. “Moriah was a talented, kind, and caring young woman. Her life was taken from her before she had the opportunity to achieve everything she dreamed of,” the family said. Moriah was at the top of her game in the relatively new sport of gravel racing, and was just days from participating in the Gravel Locos bike race at the time of her death. The day after the race, an event organiser remembered her on Facebook as a “role model, a shy compassionate person, a spirited tactical racer and a competitor that genuinely cared about those competing against you.” Image credits: Instagram / US Marshals Office

Legal

Tragedy in Texas: 3 people in custody after 46 migrants found dead inside truck

Three people have been taken into custody in Texas after the bodies of 46 migrants were found dead in a truck. Authorities are continuing to work at the scene in San Antonio's south-west where the vehicle was found with the 46 people dead inside, according to Fire Chief Charles Hood. Sixteen people, including 12 adults and four children, were found alive and have been rushed to hospital. Chief Hood added that the survivors were all suffering heat-related injuries. Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed two of the survivors were from Guatemala. The truck was found next to railway track in a remote area of San Antonio, as Ebrard confirmed the vehicle had EU number plates designed to circulate without inspection. "Very likely the responsibility of traffickers," he said. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said a worker nearby heard a cry for help around 5pm Texas time and went to investigate. "(They) found a trailer with the doors partially open and opened them up to take a look and found a number of deceased individuals inside," McManus said. Chief Hood said one body was discovered outside the truck, with the remainder of the deceased people being found inside the trailer. McManus said three people have been taken into custody however it is not clear whether they are "absolutely connected or not". He also added the tragedy is now a federal investigation as police officials work to determine an official cause of death. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg called it a "horrific human tragedy". "We hope those who are responsible for putting these people in such inhumane conditions are prosecuted to the full extent of the law," he said. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Schoolgirl reveals how she survived Texas massacre

An 11-year-old girl has recalled the moment she survived the horrific Texas school shooting which saw her classmates and teacher shot dead. Miah Cerrillo, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas spoke to lawmakers in a pre-recorded interview at the House of Representatives committee on Wednesday. She explained how she smeared her dead classmate’s blood on her and played dead to avoid being shot by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos on May 24. "He... told my teacher 'good night' and then shot her in the head. And then he shot some of my classmates and the whiteboard," Miah said. Miah then grabbed her dead teacher’s mobile phone and dialled 911 - which has since seen police’s response <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/texas-police-admit-wrongdoing-following-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavily criticised</a> for not doing anything while they were being attacked. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NOOIN48HnxE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> The fourth grader fears that another mass shooting would occur at her school and called for “more security”. Gunman Salvador was armed with a gun when he stormed Robb Elementary School on May 24 and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw admitted that the tactical decisions made during the response to the events leading up to the shooting were wrong. “From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “A decision was made that this was a barricaded subject situation, there was time to retrieve the keys and wait for a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and breach the door and take on the subject at that point. “That was the decision, that was the thought process at that particular point in time.” According to audio evidence from the time of the shooting, Ramos fired almost 100 shots inside classrooms 111 and 112 about 11.30am. Two minutes later, three officers entered the school from the same back door Ramos came in from. About 12.03pm, there were at least 19 officers standing in the hallways but it was only at 12.50 pm that police used a key from the janitor to open the classroom doors. It was then they shot Ramos dead. Images: YouTube

News

Texas mum speaks out about police stopping her from saving sons from school shooting

A mother from Uvalde, Texas, who said she was handcuffed by police while trying to rescue her sons from Robb Elementary School during last month’s shooting, has claimed she was warned by authorities not to speak to the media about her experience. Angeli Gómez spoke to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/mother-who-ran-into-texas-school-during-shooting-discusses-moments-inside/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h#x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a> on Thursday, describing how she rushed into the elementary school and was able to save her children, despite law enforcement attempting to stop her. The mother of two had been at the school earlier that day celebrating her childrens’ graduation ceremonies and was already back at work when she received a call from her mother, who told her the shooting was happening. “Right away as soon as I parked my car, US marshals started coming towards my car saying I wasn’t allowed to be parked there and he said, ‘Well we’re going to have to arrest you because you’re being very uncooperative’,” she told the outlet. “And I said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to arrest me because I’m going in there and I tell you right now, I don’t see none of y’all in there, y’all are standing with snipers and y’all are far away. If y’all aren’t going in there, I’m going in there.” Ms Gómez recalled that she was then handcuffed to stop her rushing towards the school. “I told one of the officers, ‘I don’t need you to protect me. Get away from me. I don’t need your protection. If anything, I need you to go in there with me to go protect my kids,” she said. The US Marshals Agency has previously denied handcuffing parents, telling the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/uvalde-residents-voice-frustration-over-shooting-response-11653588161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal</a> that deputy marshals “maintained order and peace in the midst of the grief-stricken community that was gathering around the school”. Ms Gómez told CBS News she convinced local police to uncuff her and she immediately jumped the fence and rushed into the school building when she was freed. According to her account, she was chased by police officers towards the building and failed to see officers when she was inside, though she could hear gunshots from somewhere in the school. When she knocked on the door of one of her first son’s classroom she recalled finding teachers and students hiding inside and that the teacher asked if they had time to get out. “Yeah, you have time; I’m going to run and get my other son,” she replied. Ms Gómez said authorities tried to escort her outside as she tried to approach her other son’s classroom, but when she saw them open the door she ran back to get him. She was captured on camera running out of the school hand-in-hand with her two sons. “Nothing was being done,” she told CBS News. “If anything, [law enforcement] were being more aggressive on us parents that were willing to go in there.” Ms Gómez, who is reportedly on probation for previous charges, also told CBS News she received a call from “someone in law enforcement” telling her she may face some kind of violation for obstruction of justice if she continued to talk to the media. According to CBS News, she said she spoke out after a judge called her “brave” and said her probation would be shortened. However, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stefficao/uvalde-mom-saved-sons-school-shooting-police" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buzzfeed News</a> reported that Ms Gómez’s account of the phone call and her probation couldn’t be independently verified. It comes after the mishandling of the shooting by law enforcement sparked outcry across the US, with footage showing authorities confronting parents asking why officers weren’t going into the school to save the kids and the Justice Department opening an investigation into the situation. As Ms Gómez recounted saving her children, she broke down in tears while considering how many other kids could have been saved if police had acted differently. "They could have saved many more lives," Gómez said. "They could have gone into the classroom, and maybe two or three would have been gone, but they could have saved the whole, more, the whole class. They could have done something — gone through the window, sniped him through the window. Something, but nothing was being done." Image: CBS News / YouTube

Caring

“How is that normal?”: Andy Murray speaks out on Texas school shooting

Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has said he “can’t understand” how nothing has changed in the US following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, with one survivor’s account being similar to his own experience 26 years ago. The shooting, which saw an 18-year-old gunman <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/victims-of-the-texas-primary-school-shooting-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storm an elementary school and kill 19 children and two teachers</a>, came just 10 days after 10 people died in a shooting in Buffalo, New York and has reignited the national debate over US gun control. The British tennis star, who survived the 1996 Dunblane massacre in Scotland, said the recent shooting made him “angry”. “It’s incredibly upsetting and it makes you angry. I think there’s been over 200 mass shootings in America this year and nothing changes. I can’t understand that,” Murray, per the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-31/murray-angry-over-texas-shooting/101115202" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/andy-murray-child.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Andy Murray, who grew up in the Scottish town of Dunblane, was at school when a gunman entered and killed 17 people in 1996. Image: @andymurray (Instagram) “My feeling is that surely at some stage you do something different. You can’t keep approaching the problem by buying more guns and having more guns in the country. I don’t see how that solves it. “But I could be wrong. Let’s maybe try something different and see if you get a different outcome.” Murray grew up in Dunblane and was hiding down the hall when a gunman killed 16 pupils and a teacher before killing himself at Dunblane Primary School, in an incident which is the deadliest mass shooting in modern British history. “I heard something on the radio the other day and it was a child from that school,” he told the BBC. “I experienced a similar thing when I was at Dunblane, a teacher coming out and waving all of the children under tables and telling them to go and hide. “And it was a kid [in Uvalde] telling exactly the same story about how she survived it. “They were saying that they go through these drills, as young children… How? How is that normal that children should be having to go through drills, in case someone comes into a school with a gun?” Image: @andymurray (Instagram)

Caring

“Our children did not deserve this”: Texas school teacher recounts harrowing events

A school teacher from Robb Elementary School has spoken about how the “longest 35 minutes of my life” unfolded during the school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. The teacher spoke to a reporter from <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teacher-uvalde-texas-describes-longest-35-minutes-life-rcna30571" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a> on the condition that she not be named, partly because district administrators asked staff not to speak with reporters, but also because she was terrified. On Wednesday night, 28 hours and 45 minutes after the gunman charged into the school and opened fire, the teacher answered her door with puffy eyes from hours of crying and almost no sleep. “What do you want me to say?” she asked the reporter. “That I can’t eat? That all I hear are their voices screaming? And I can’t help them?” She recalled how her students had been watching a Disney movie that morning as part of their end-of-year celebration. When she heard gunfire from down the hall, she knew exactly what it was, telling her kids to get under their desks and sprinting to lock the door. “They’ve been practising for this day for years,” the teacher said, referring to active shooter drills that have been incorporated into American public education over the years. “They knew this wasn’t a drill. We knew we had to be quiet or else we were going to give ourselves away.” While her students huddled under their desks, staying quiet while hearing their wounded classmates down the hall, the teacher sat in the middle of the room. She said she tried to stay calm and be strong for them. She said what followed was “the longest 35 minutes of my life”. As some of her students began to cry, she motioned for them to come sit with her and held them, whispering for them to pray silently. Without saying a word, she tried to convey to the class: ‘You’re OK. We’re going to be OK.’ When the police finally broke the classroom windows, the teacher called for her students to line up as they would every day for recess and lunch before they were helped out of the window. “After the last kid, I turned around to ensure everyone was out,” the teacher said. “I knew I had to go quickly, but I wasn’t leaving until I knew for sure.” She later reunited with her students at another school facility across town and tried to comfort those who were worried about their best friends or cousins down the hall. Then, as the toll of the shooting became clearer, some parents texted her, writing: “Thank you for keeping my baby safe.” “But it’s not just their baby,” the teacher said, sobbing on her front porch. “That’s my baby, too. They are not my students. They are my children.” Before closing her door, she had an important message to share with the reporter. “I want you to say this in your article,” the teacher said. “Our children did not deserve this. They were loved. Not only by their families, but their family at school.” Image: Getty Images

Caring

Texas police admit wrongdoing following school shooting

Texas police have admitted that key elements in their response to the shooting at the elementary school which saw 21 people die were wrong. Gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, was armed with a gun when he stormed Robb Elementary School on May 24 and shot dead 19 children and two teachers. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw admitted on Friday that the tactical decisions made during the response to the events leading up to the shooting were wrong. “From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There’s no excuse for that,” he said. “A decision was made that this was a barricaded subject situation, there was time to retrieve the keys and wait for a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and breach the door and take on the subject at that point. “That was the decision, that was the thought process at that particular point in time.” According to audio evidence from the time of the shooting, Ramos fired almost 100 shots inside classrooms 111 and 112 about 11.30am. Two minutes later, three officers entered the school from the same back door Ramos came in from. About 12.03pm, there were at least 19 officers standing in the hallways but it was only at 12.50 pm that police used a key from the janitor to open the classroom doors. It was then they shot Ramos dead. Texas Governor Greg Abbott slammed the police for their response telling them to “get to the very seconds of exactly what happened with 100 per cent accuracy and explain it to the public and most importantly to the victims who have been devastated,” “There will be ongoing investigations that detail exactly who knew what when, who was in charge and what strategy (was used), why was it that particular strategy was employed, why were other strategies not employed?” he said. “Bottom line would be, why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children.” Image: Twitter

News

Meghan Markle visits memorial of school shooting victims

Meghan Markle has visited a memorial dedicated to the 19 children and two teachers killed at school earlier this week. The victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas were between the ages of seven and 10, including teachers Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles. The Duchess of Sussex arrived at the memorial on Thursday and lay a bouquet of white roses among several others. She also walked past each of the white crossed which had the names of all the victims who lost their lives on Tuesday. Gunman Salvador Rolando Ramos, 18, was armed with a gun when he stormed the elementary school on Tuesday and killed the young victims and their teachers. He was then allegedly killed by the responding officers. The murdered children have since been identified as 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza, 10-year-old Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, fourth grader Eliahana Cruz Torres, 9-year-old Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 10-year-old Jackie Cazares, 10-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old cousins Jayce Luevanos and Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old Jose Flores, 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod, Maite Rodriguez, Nevaeh Bravo, 10-year-old Rojelio Torres, Tess Marie Mata, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, and 10-year-old Xavier Lopez. Teachers Irma Garcia, 46, and Eva Mireles, 44, selflessly put themselves in front of the children in defence but were also killed. Images: Twitter

Caring

Husband of Texas school shooting victim dies “due to grief”

The husband of one of the teachers killed in the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/21-dead-at-primary-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mass shooting in Texas</a> has suffered a heart attack and died just two days later. Joe Garcia was married to Irma Garcia, <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/victims-of-the-texas-primary-school-shooting-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two faculty members</a> who were fatally shot by 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Two days after his wife passed away, Mr Garcia died of a heart attack. The couple had been together since high school and leave behind four children, as reported by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/joe-irma-garcia-texas-shooting-dead-b2088371.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3ME_I96lfeL_U8FWo-YXPmPGGy96juTVn8iUtWhTNN6bBS1C7T0tfLRvE#Echobox=1653590028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dallas News</a>. One family member confirmed his passing on Twitter, saying he “passed away due to grief”. John Martinez, Ms Garcia’s nephew, also took to Twitter to share his grief, writing: “EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia (aunt) Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> EXTREMELY heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief, i truly am at a loss for words for how we are all feeling, PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy <a href="https://t.co/GlUSOutRVV">pic.twitter.com/GlUSOutRVV</a> — john martinez ❤️‍🔥 (@fuhknjo) <a href="https://twitter.com/fuhknjo/status/1529870121023557632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></blockquote> “I am at a loss for words for how we are feeling,” Mr Martinez continued. “PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY, God have mercy on us, this isn’t easy.” A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/joe-irma-garcia?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=more&utm_source=customer&fs=e&s=cl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up by Ms Garcia’s cousin to raise funds for the family and her funeral expenses, describing the 46-year-old teacher as “sweet, kind, [and] loving”. “She sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom,” the page says. “She was a hero. She was loved by many and will truly be missed.” In an update, her cousin shared the news of Mr Garcia’s death. “I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life of more than 25 years was too much to bear,” she wrote. As of publication, $USD 532,553 has been donated by more than 12,000 people, surpassing the $USD 10,000 goal at least 50 times over. Ms Garcia worked as a fourth grade teacher at Robb Elementary School for 23 years before she was killed and had been recognised for her excellence as an educator. In 2019, she was named as a finalist for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, which recognises exceptional teachers in the San Antonio area. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia were two of the greatest teachers Uvalde, TX has ever known. Their classroom was full of fun, growth, giggles, teamwork, and, most of all, love. Their legacy will live in the hearts of our community forever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uvaldestrong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uvaldestrong</a> <a href="https://t.co/Es95ZIURUi">pic.twitter.com/Es95ZIURUi</a> — Natalie Arias, M.Ed. (@natariastx) <a href="https://twitter.com/natariastx/status/1529332348415795200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Eva Mireles, a second teacher killed in Tuesday’s attack, shared a classroom with Ms Garcia and worked with both English and Spanish speaking students. Her cousin and grandmother shared their grief on social media, with her cousin describing her as a “beautiful” person. “My beautiful cousin! Such a devastating day for us all! My heart is shattered into a million pieces,” Arizmendi Mireles wrote. On the school’s website, Ms Mireles described herself as a mother of a college graduate and said she loved running and hiking with her “fun and loving” family. She leaves behind her husband, Robb Ruiz, a school police officer, and their daughter Adalynn Ruiz. Image: GoFundMe

Caring

Victims of the Texas primary school shooting identified

The innocent faces of the Robb Elementary School <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/21-dead-at-primary-school-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting</a> in Uvalde, Texas, have been identified. Among the deceased were at least 19 school children and two teachers, who died at the hands of 18-year-old shooter Salvador Ramos. The children who died were between the ages of seven and 10, with some of them having just received awards for great school work. Amerie Jo Garza was one of the first children to be confirmed dead. She had celebrated her 10th birthday just two weeks ago, and was shot while trying to call emergency services. A member of Amerie's family wrote on Facebook, "Please don't take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them." Among the other young victims were 10-year-old Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10-year-old Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, fourth grader Eliahana Cruz Torres, 9-year-old Eliana “Ellie” Garcia, 10-year-old Jackie Cazares, 10-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old cousins Jayce Luevanos and Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10-year-old Jose Flores, 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod, Maite Rodriguez, Nevaeh Bravo, 10-year-old Rojelio Torres, Tess Marie Mata, 8-year-old Uziyah Garcia, and 10-year-old Xavier Lopez. At least two teachers also died during the tragedy, who have been identified as fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia and 44-year-old teacher Eva Mireles. While police continue to have the school locked down as a crime scene for their investigation, locals have begun laying flowers at the welcome sign of the school in remembrance of those who have died. In an emotional press conference about the shooting, Texas politician Beto O’Rourke erupted with anger as he called out state governor Greg Abbott for "doing nothing" to prevent the unimaginable tragedy. “The time to stop the next shooting is now and you’re doing nothing!” Mr O’Rourke shouted at Mr Abbott during the televised briefing with a slew of other Texas officials. Don McLaughlin, the mayor of Uvalde, Texas, where the shooting occurred, yelled back angrily at Mr O’Rourke. “I can’t believe that you’re a sick son of a b**ch that would come to a deal like this to make a political issue,” Mr McLaughlin said, according to the Texas Tribune. At one point, Mr O’Rourke, a Democrat who is running for governor of the state, also said that the shooting was “totally predictable”. Mr O’Rourke was then escorted out of the building, where he blasted his political rival to reporters outside. “The majority of Texas is not reflected by that Governor or those people around the table who talk about mental health care and say that this is pure evil but that it is completely unpredictable,” said Mr O’Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, Texas, who has been vocal about gun control since a 2020 mass shooting there. “This is predictable. It will happen and it will continue to happen until we change course.” Image credits: Getty Images

News

Pro cyclist shot dead at 25, suspect at large

Elite cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson was preparing to compete in a marathon race in Texas, before she was shot and killed at a friend's home in Austin. The 25-year-old athlete was hot off the trail of a series of successes in her spring season before she was killed. US Marshals are investigating her death, as they search for a 34-year-old woman suspected of her murder, while police investigators are digging into Wilson’s past relationship with the suspect’s boyfriend. Wilson’s family is mourning the loss of their “beautiful daughter and sister,” who excelled as a biker and skier. “Moriah was a talented, kind, and caring young woman. Her life was taken from her before she had the opportunity to achieve everything she dreamed of,” the family said. Moriah was at the top of her game in the relatively new sport of gravel racing, and was just days from participating in the Gravel Locos bike race at the time of her death. The day after the race, an event organiser remembered her on Facebook as a “role model, a shy compassionate person, a spirited tactical racer and a competitor that genuinely cared about those competing against you.” Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, a 34-year-old Austin resident, is wanted for homicide in the killing and is now a fugitive, the US Marshals said. Both women had recently been in romantic relationships with the same man - professional cyclist Colin Strickland - and messages and interviews with tipsters suggest jealousy could be a potential motive, according to the affidavit filed in Travis County District Court. Image credits: Instagram

News

21 dead at primary school shooting

Twenty-one people have been killed in a deadly school shooting in the town of Uvalde in Texas. The 18-year-old gunman killed 18 students and three teachers at at Robb Elementary School, before he was allegedly killed by responding police officers. Governor Abbott said the suspect was armed with a handgun and possibly a rifle in the attack, as he posted his weapons of choice on Instagram before heading to the school. The governor identified the teenage gunman as Salvador Ramos, who is also believed to have shot his grandmother before leaving to go to the primary school, where he barricaded himself inside. “He shot and killed, horrifically, incomprehensibly, 14 students and killed a teacher,” the governor said earlier, before the increased toll was reported. "He himself is deceased, and it is believed that responding officers killed him," he added. "It is believed that two responding officers were struck by rounds, but have no serious injuries." "There are families that are in mourning right now. And the state of Texas is in mourning with them." In addition to those killed, at least thirteen children are being treated for injuries at Uvalde Memorial emergency room. The public have been asked to stay away as police investigate the crime scene. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the attack, White House officials said, and is expected to deliver remarks later on Wednesday. Mr Biden also ordered that flags on the White House and other US federal buildings be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims in Uvalde. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Terminally ill man graduates college alongside his granddaughter

A grandfather-granddaughter duo from Texas have shared a heart-warming milestone together. Melanie Salazar, 23, and her grandfather Rene Neira, 88, have both graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) alongside each other. Rene first began his higher education in the 1950s, but when he fell in love and started a family, he was unable to finish his studies in the traditional four-year span. Throughout the years, Rene took part in online classes, but decided to re-enroll in college in 2016: the same year his granddaughter began her freshman year at the same school. "It just so happened that he wanted to go back to school again at the same time that I was starting." Melanie Salazar told <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/04/us/grandfather-granddaughter-graduate-college-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>. "It wasn't intentionally planned, but it just worked out that way that we were in school at the same time." "I didn't know that we would actually get to share that moment together," Melanie said. <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/CXW-XSZrxf9/?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> <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/CXW-XSZrxf9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Melanie Salazar ♡ (@melaniesalazara)</a> </div> </blockquote> Melanie said she didn't share any classes with her grandfather due to their differing majors, but the pair would often meet up for lunches, study in the library or even carpool to campus together. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Rene suffered from a stroke and had to take medical leave from class. Unable to navigate the world of full-time online classes, Rene was only a few classes shy of completing his degree and his family rallied around him to get him the degree he has always wanted. "We, as his family, were able to advocate for him and request to see if there was any way that he could be recognised or honoured for all the work that he had done." Melanie told CNN. It wasn't until the week of graduation they found out he would be honoured. "It was definitely an early Christmas miracle that they were willing to recognize him." Salazar said. "When we walked past the curtains onto the stage, I was overcome with emotion and started to tear up because I didn't know that we would actually get to share that moment together." Salazar said, "I told him afterwards, 'You did it, grandpa! College is over!'" Melanie received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, while Rene got a degree of recognition in economics. "It's never too late to go back to school." Salazar shares. "Whatever your circumstance, there's people that are ready and willing to help you follow your dreams." Image credits: Twitter @UTSA

Family & Pets

“My darkest secret until now”: Uma Thurman’s emotional confession

Uma Thurman has shared her “darkest secret” in an emotional essay published this week in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>. The Kill Bill star criticised the Texas abortion ban after revealing she had an abortion in her “late teens”. Thurman shared her own experience in the hope of “drawing the flames of controversy away from the vulnerable women on whom this law will have an immediate effect”. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUGfL7TMVKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CUGfL7TMVKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Uma Thurman (@umathurman)</a> </div> </blockquote> “This law is yet another discriminatory tool against those who are economically disadvantaged, and often, indeed, against their partners,” Thurman wrote. “Women and children of wealthy families retain all the choices in the world, and face little risk. “I am grief-stricken, as well, that the law pits citizen against citizen, creating new vigilantes who will prey on disadvantaged women, denying them the choice not to have children they are not equipped to care for, or extinguishing their hopes for the future family they might choose.” In her story, Thurman described how she fell pregnant by accident to “a much older man” while “living out of a suitcase in Europe, far from my family, and about to start a job”. After seeking advice from her parents, including her gravely ill mother, Thurman came to the decision that she would terminate the pregnancy. Thurman noted that she didn’t have the means to provide a stable home for a newborn at the time, and that her decision then allowed her to have children when she was ready. “The abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced,” she wrote. “Choosing not to keep that early pregnancy allowed me to grow up and become the mother I wanted and needed to be. “It has been my darkest secret until now. “I am 51 years old, and I am sharing it with you from the home where I have raised my three children, who are my pride and joy.” Thurman shares two children with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, and a daughter with ex-fiancé Arpad Busson. Thurman ended the piece by appealing to the women and girls affected by the controversial new law and sharing an inspiring message. “To all of you - to women and girls of Texas, afraid of being traumatised and hounded by predatory bounty hunters; to all women outraged by having our bodies’ rights taken by the state; and to all of you who are made vulnerable and subjected to shame because you have a uterus - I say: I see you. “Have courage. You are beautiful. You remind me of my daughters.” Image credit: @umathurman / Instagram

Caring

“Refuse to have sex with men”: Bette Midler’s response to new Texas law

Bette Midler has advised women to not have sex with men following the recent introduction of strict abortion laws in the US state of Texas. Midlers’ stern statement comes as the new law renders abortions “illegal” after six weeks. “I suggest that all women refuse to have sex with men until they are guaranteed the right to choose by Congress,” Midler tweeted. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I suggest that all women refuse to have sex with men until they are guaranteed the right to choose by Congress. — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1433626916003586053?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2021</a></blockquote> High profile stars shared their praise for Midler’s stance, with singer Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra’s daughter, replying “my dad actually suggested that decades ago”. Midler continued to speak about the issue, writing, “this isn’t about guns, speech, money or war. It’s about women, their lives, their bodies, and their autonomy.” “That’s what allowed the court to do shoddy work, with careless disregard, because who’s going to stop it? They only did the thing in the dead of night, without care or effort, because they believe women are so used to being gaslit that of course, they’ll just tolerate it,” she said. “They did the thing in the dead of night, without care or effort because they genuinely believe that they’re only women, and they deserve what they get.” The new law, known as SB8, prohibits abortions beyond the point where medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, which usually occurs at around six weeks, before some women know they’re pregnant. The law also does not make exceptions for those who are pregnant as a result of incest or rape. Private citizens are allowed to sue abortion clinics if they suspect them of performing illegal abortions under the new law. Many celebrities have spoken out against the bill, with singer P!nk writing, “I stand in solidarity with people in (Texas) who, as of today, face an extreme 6-week abortion ban”. “The ban… will be the blueprint for bans across the US. Unless we do something about it,” she added. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Baston wrote: “It’s pretty simple. We should all be able to make decisions about our health & future. “But between (Texas’) extreme abortion ban & states passing a record number of abortion restrictions this year, we have to fight for everyone’s reproductive freedom.” The outcry from Midler and other celebrities comes as the US Justice Department sues Texas over the new law, arguing the law was enacted “in open defiance of the Constitution”. Image: Getty

Relationships

First COVID cruise death since restart of cruising scene

Carnival cruises has marked their first death since the cruise scene kicked back up, after a 77-year-old woman died from contracting COVID-19. The woman departed on the Carnival Vista with her family on July 31, to sail to Belize, and soon tested positive for the novel virus after experiencing respiratory complications. 27 people tested positive over two weeks in late July and early August – the highest number of cases since cruises begun sailing again. The New York Times reported she was a great-grandmother from Oklahoma. The woman was admitted to a hospital in Belize and was put on a ventilator before being evacuated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and undergoing treatment. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843412/g.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3be7c24f240b449da71e788aa5c08365" /> Images: Getty Images The outbreak aboard the ship was discovered on the fourth day of an eight-day cruise. Twenty-six of those who tested positive were all crew members except for one passenger. The Texas Governor, Greg Abbott previously signed a law banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination, however more than 96 per cent of passengers and all but one crew member on the Carnival Vista were fully vaccinated. Authorities are unsure if the woman who has since passed was fully vaccinated or not. “We are very sorry to hear about the death of a guest who sailed on Carnival Vista,” Carnival said in a statement. “Regrettably, there is a fair amount of disinformation about the circumstances of this matter. “The guest almost certainly did not contract COVID on our ship, and she was assisted with expert medical care on board and was ultimately evacuated from Belize after we provided a resource to her family. We have continued to provide support to her family and are not going to add to their sadness by commenting further.” Carnival has updated its vaccination policy that states a majority of guests will be required to be vaccinated. They must also present negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within three days before boarding a ship. Carnival has also states all passengers are required to wear a mask while indoors from August 7. “We have always required vaccinations. From our restart in July, 95+% guests have been vaccinated. We meet the definition of a vaccinated cruise,” a Carnival spokesperson said. “And we added the testing requirement on July 28. (August) 28 is when new guidelines for the Bahamas go into effect.”

Cruising

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

In 1985, Terry McKirchy was given a light sentence of attempted murder for shaking five-month-old Benjamin Dowling so severely, he suffered permanent brain damage. But the baby never recovered from his injuries and lived his entire life with severe disabilities. He was never able to communicate, needed metal rods inserted near his spine to keep him upright and used a feeding tube to eat. In 2019, a medical examiner from Florida said Dowling finally succumbed to his injuries and died, aged 35. At the time of the incident, McKirchy, 59, told his parents Dowling had fallen off the couch, according to Fox News. The baby was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with shaken infant syndrome. When his mother, Rae, saw him on the night he suffered his injuries, she told police her boy's hands "were clenched and he was turning blue," according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Ms Dowling and her husband, Joe, said their first son never progressed past a five-month-old after suffering his injuries and continued to depend on his family and others for support all his life. The couple said in a statement: “Benjamin never crawled, fully rolled over, walked, never talked, never fed himself, he never enjoyed a hamburger or an ice cream cone, he could never tell us when he had an itch or anything hurt." “When he cried in pain, we as a family and caregivers had to guess as to what was wrong and hope that we could satisfy his need,” they added. The babysitter spent weekends in jail as part of her sentence but a Broward County Grand jury recently indicted McKirchy as guilty of first-degree murder and she is now jailed near her home in Sugar Land, Texas, pending her return to Florida. Confusion as to why McKirchy wasn't charged with a harsher sentence at the time centres around the fact she was pregnant at the time. David Weinstein, a Miami defence lawyer and former prosecutor who's not involved in the case, said perhaps witnesses were not available or the available medical evidence was not strong. Now the homicide case appears stronger because the medical and scientific evidence has progressed. As prosecutors said in a statement: “The passage of time between the injuries sustained and the death of the victim were considered by the forensic experts who conducted the autopsy and ruled the death was directly caused by the injuries from 1984." “This case was presented to the grand jury, which determined that this was a homicide.” Mr Dowling’s parents said their son “would never know how much he was loved and could never tell others of his love for them.” “Benjamin did smile when he was around his family, although he could never verbalise anything, we believe he knew who we were and that we were working hard to help him,” they said. Image credit: AAP

Legal

The moment Tom Hanks helped man pull off surprise proposal

When Nikki Young decided to visit a question and answer session with Tom Hanks, who was promoting his new book Uncommon Type: Some Stories at the Texas Book Festival, she had no idea she would walk out with a diamond ring. Nikki’s partner, Ryan McFarling, had secretly enlisted the help of the Hollywood legend to propose in the sweetest way. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5amNXrzPgFc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> And she said yes! According to AP, Hanks hugged Nikki and gave the newly-engaged couple his best wishes. It seems the Cast Away star has a soft spot when it comes to romance. Just last year, <a href="/news/news/2016/09/tom-hanks-crashes-wedding-photos/" target="_blank">he crashed a couple’s wedding snaps</a> in New York’s Central Park. He even offered to perform the ceremony, only to learn they had already exchanged their vows! Tell us in the comments below, do you have a memorable engagement story?

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Woman reunites with family 50 years after her abduction

Pregnant woman argues unborn baby counts as a passenger under new abortion laws

Woman accused of killing pro cyclist captured in Costa Rica

Tragedy in Texas: 3 people in custody after 46 migrants found dead inside truck

Schoolgirl reveals how she survived Texas massacre

Texas mum speaks out about police stopping her from saving sons from school shooting

“How is that normal?”: Andy Murray speaks out on Texas school shooting

“Our children did not deserve this”: Texas school teacher recounts harrowing events

Texas police admit wrongdoing following school shooting

Meghan Markle visits memorial of school shooting victims

Husband of Texas school shooting victim dies “due to grief”

Victims of the Texas primary school shooting identified

Pro cyclist shot dead at 25, suspect at large

21 dead at primary school shooting

Terminally ill man graduates college alongside his granddaughter

“My darkest secret until now”: Uma Thurman’s emotional confession

“Refuse to have sex with men”: Bette Midler’s response to new Texas law

First COVID cruise death since restart of cruising scene

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

The moment Tom Hanks helped man pull off surprise proposal

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Woman reunites with family 50 years after her abduction

Pregnant woman argues unborn baby counts as a passenger under new abortion laws

Woman accused of killing pro cyclist captured in Costa Rica

Tragedy in Texas: ﻿3 people in custody after 46 migrants found dead inside truck

Schoolgirl reveals how she survived Texas massacre

Texas mum speaks out about police stopping her from saving sons from school shooting

“How is that normal?”: Andy Murray speaks out on Texas school shooting

“Our children did not deserve this”: Texas school teacher recounts harrowing events

Texas police admit wrongdoing following school shooting

Meghan Markle visits memorial of school shooting victims

Husband of Texas school shooting victim dies “due to grief”

Victims of the Texas primary school shooting identified

Pro cyclist shot dead at 25, suspect at large

21 dead at primary school shooting

Terminally ill man graduates college alongside his granddaughter

“My darkest secret until now”: Uma Thurman’s emotional confession

“Refuse to have sex with men”: Bette Midler’s response to new Texas law

First COVID cruise death since restart of cruising scene

Babysitter charged with murder of baby 35 years later

The moment Tom Hanks helped man pull off surprise proposal

Tragedy in Texas: 3 people in custody after 46 migrants found dead inside truck