Month: October 2025

By Ja Nai Wright

Click here for updates on this story

    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A Baltimore business owner says her store has been targeted by the same thief three times in eight months, with the suspect using the same method to break in each time.

Tia Hamilton, owner of DiGi Business Center on Greenmount, said the first robbery happened on February 6, when someone broke into her business through a back alley window and stole her cash register and all the money inside.

“So I was able to see how the door was open and how he came through the window,” Hamilton said.

Several months later, on September 30, the same thing happened again, with the person taking a second cash register from Hamilton.

“I noticed my register is gone; it’s the same M.O. , he’s not destroying anything over here. He comes in when you see the footage; he comes in through the back rooms, and he comes straight here,” Hamilton said.

Two days later, on October 2, a third robbery occurred. This time, the person tore open packages that were ready for shipment since they couldn’t access the safe.

Hamilton said, based on the way the building keeps getting broken into, she believes it is the same person all three times.

“There are bars on the window, so you have to be super skinny to fit through those bars on the window,” Hamilton said.

She said the reason they were able to get away with the registers is because although there are cameras, there are no alarms in the building.

“The only thing that it doesn’t have is an alarm system, because it’s office suites in here, and people can come at any time throughout the night to get in,” Hamilton said.

She said now she keeps all of the money in the safe since she no longer has any cash registers.

Hamilton said it hurts that her business keeps getting attacked.

“As much as I do for this community, as much as I be outside helping people, it’s a violation to me when you steal and when you lie,” Hamilton said.

Baltimore City Police are investigating, but so far they do not have any suspects since the person breaking in wore gloves and a face covering.

“They are trying, but I need to do my work as well to help bring justice to my business,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is encouraging the public to help police catch the person or people who are stealing from her business, a business whose services she says many people in Greenmount need.

“This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.”

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Rosemary Kelley

Click here for updates on this story

    STANTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — A man in Powell County is facing charges after his “Halloween decorations” depicted the bodies of local officials, police report.

According to an arrest citation, Stephan Marcum was arrested on Saturday and is charged with intimidating a witness in the legal process and third degree terroristic threatening.

Police report that they received a call regarding “potential witness/terroristic threatening” just after 2 p.m. at a home on Court Street in Stanton.

When authorities arrived, they saw “five “bodies” … were in trash bags,” in Marcum’s yard and all were labeled.

“The one hanging was labeled “district judge.” There was a rope around the neck of the body,” the citation wrote. “From left to right the four other bodies were labeled “mayor,” “SIS,” “C.A.” and “zoning mgr.”

Marcum informed police that he did not want to speak about the decorations. He was then arrested, and the evidence was transported to KSP Post 8 in Morehead.

He is lodged in the Powell County Detention Center.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

Click here for updates on this story

    BLACKFOOT, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — Officials are looking for information about a white-tailed deer with its head cut off that was shot and left to waste.

According to a news release from Idaho Fish and Game, a member of the public found the deer on the banks of the Snake River between Blackfoot and Firth, about a half-mile south of East River Road. Authorities believe it was left sometime between Sept. 20 and 23.

“The only hunts available for deer in Unit 68A are controlled archery-only hunts from Aug. 30 to Dec. 19,” according to the release. “The buck was illegally shot with a rifle, and only the head was removed, leaving the rest of the carcass to waste.”

“It is possible the deer was shot by someone from a boat on the Snake River or was dumped into the river after it was killed,” the release states.

Anyone with information that may be helpful in this case is encouraged to call Senior Conservation Officer Sawyer Livesey at (208) 617-0244, the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999, or report online at idfg.idaho.gov/poacher.

People providing information can remain anonymous, and information leading to charges may be eligible for a reward.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Stephanie Sierra and Renee Koury

Click here for updates on this story

    OAKLAND, California (KGO) — Authorities in Washington arrested a man for allegedly impersonating a federal agent to steal thousands of dollars from elderly victims.

But the scam is still spreading. The latest victim: an elderly Bay Area woman who was tricked into mailing $63,000 to the thieves. But 7 On Your Side got her money back.

What began as a beautiful fall morning turned into one of the worst days ever for Judith Rosenberg of Oakland.

“I was devastated, I couldn’t believe it, ” Rosenberg said. “I was so shaken by this I couldn’t even talk.”

It began with a text, claiming someone stole her Apple ID.

“‘You have to call this number and someone will help you…’ So that was when this officer David Freeman… he picked up the phone,” Rosenberg said.

The man said he was a federal inspector general. He texted a photo, saying it was his badge and ID. And he said Judith was in big trouble.

“Criminals had taken out nine different accounts using my name and my Social Security number,” Rosenberg said.

“They had set up all sorts of drug cartels… throughout the country and perhaps abroad… ‘Have you noticed anybody trying to follow you?’ And so he’s already really got me really scared,” she said.

The man said Rosenberg had to quickly move her money into a protected account.

“I want you to go to the bank and keep your phone on in your purse so I could hear the conversation,” Rosenberg said she was told.

The man swore her to secrecy as she drove to bank of America in Oakland and requested a cashier’s check for $63,000.

“The teller asked me, ‘Is anybody forcing you to do this?’ and I didn’t quite know how to handle that, so I sort of nodded, no,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg was supposed to deposit the check at Citibank in Hayward. But tellers there got suspicious and turned her away.

The man on the phone got angry.

“‘You didn’t sound convincing enough and you said the wrong thing…'” Rosenberg said he said.

He told Judith to mail the check instead to an address in San Lorenzo.

“I sent it off overnight. They charged me $31,” she said.

Rosenberg told a friend what happened. Then the shock.

“She said, ‘Judy this is a scam,'” Rosenberg said.

Turns out that same badge and ID photo has been used in many imposter scams across the country. Law enforcement has tried to send alerts about it to the public.

“I said oh my goodness what have I done?” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg called the B of A fraud department that very night. But they could not stop a cashier’s check.

She rushed to the bank the next morning.

“I said I’ve been a victim of fraud, of a scam. And you have to cancel that check,” she said.

The tellers said it wasn’t so easy. A manager had to approve it.

“And they couldn’t get a hold of her for three hours because she was at a meeting…” Rosenberg said.

The manager eventually refused to stop the check.

“And so I was devastated…” Rosenberg said.

But the bank said she could declare the check as stolen. That could stop the payment.

It was a race against time. Two days had passed. The check was still uncashed.

Quickly, Rosenberg filled out the necessary forms, and kept her fingers crossed.

But it was too late.

“Friday morning they called me to say, ‘Oh we’re so sorry but they just cashed the check,'” Rosenberg said. “And I’m… I’m just so furious.”

So 7 On Your Side contacted Bank of America, asking why the bank didn’t act faster to stop the thieves from cashing that check.

Bank of America looked into the case. And soon after, Rosenberg got a call.

“I am… stunned!” she said.

Bank of America restored all $63,000 into Rosenberg’s bank account, telling 7 On Your Side: “We reviewed the circumstances of this situation and will fully reimburse our client in this matter.”

“I am very grateful to you and your team on 7 On Your Side… so thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Rosenberg said.

The bank is urging customers to review the alerts on its website to recognize the most common signs you are being scammed.

For example, as in this case, no one from the government would ever ask you to move money from your account and put it somewhere else.

And remember, sending a cashier’s check is just like sending cash. You can’t stop payment like a regular check.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kendall Keys

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — The halls of Froedtert Hospital filled with applause, tears and hugs of support for the Freeze family in an honor walk on Sunday.

The family could be seen walking behind a team of doctors and nurses who led the organ retrieval and transplants for 16-year-old Grant Freeze.

The 16-year-old Nicolet High Schooler was in a head-on crash with a dump truck last Wednesday on Pioneer Road near North Klug Lane in Mequon. Freeze, of Fox Point, was on his way to a swim practice in Cedarburg at Ozaukee Aquatics.

Flight For Life airlifted Freeze to the hospital. He remained on life support for days but ultimately did not survive. Staff at Froedtert work with Versiti, which coordinates organ donations and helps connect the donor to potential recipients.

Freeze’s swim coach at Ozaukee Aquatics, Steve Keller, said his decision to check that box on his driver’s license not long ago will go on to change the lives of five others, with matches found for Freeze’s heart, lungs, pancreas, liver and kidneys.

“He, you know, at 16 years old, made it a point to sign the back of his card that he would be an, an organ donor,” Keller said.

Keller spoke with WISN 12 News Friday, recalling a conversation he had with Freeze’s mother.

“His mom said it yesterday. She was so happy that he took that decision away from them. That he made the decision, so this is how it was going to be. Mom and Dad, you didn’t have to worry about it. And I got this,” Keller said. “Grant’s gonna continue to support people even in his death.”

The organ donation Sunday went off without a hitch. Keller received a piece of Freeze to hold close, too. Family offered him a vial with an EKG strip of his heartbeat inside.

“At least I’ll have a piece of him,” Keller said.

Grant’s mother, Kellie MacDonald Freeze, wrote in a statement to WISN 12 News, “We are so moved that hundreds of Grant’s friends, family, coaches, teammates, classmates and neighbors, as well as countless medical & hospital staff joined us as we cheered Grant into the operating room. It was a profound and life-affirming moment that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but that we are honored to have been a part of. It was his final race and he is forever victorious and forever our champion. Grant’s major organs have been successfully transplanted, and we pray for the recovery of the recipients of Grant’s gifts. We hope that when the time is right, the recipients agree to communicate with us so we can get to know them. Grant is part of them, and they are a part of us. We are a family. We also continue to pray for the recovery of the other victim in the crash. If people are moved into action and are able to donate blood, we would be honored if they would do so in Grant’s name. The blood units Grant received were lifesaving in unimaginable ways. Scott, Connor and I look forward to continuing Grant’s legacy. We’re not quite sure what that means, but we will likely establish scholarships in Grant’s name.”

In a statement to WISN 12 News, Versiti Organ and Tissue said, “We hold the Freeze family in our thoughts and express our deepest gratitude for Grant’s life-giving gift. Their selfless act has brought hope and a new lease on life to those in need.

“Choosing to donate is a deeply personal act that offers enduring hope in the midst of profound loss. A donor’s gift can transform lives; one donor can save up to eight people through organ donation and help many more through tissue donation.

“Every day, 13 people die waiting for an organ transplant, with a new person added to the national waiting list every eight minutes. In Wisconsin, approximately 1,200 people are waiting for a kidney, the organ in the highest need.

“Organ donation can restore strength and daily functioning for those with advanced heart failure, and improve breathing, exercise capacity, and quality of life for lung recipients. It can free a kidney recipient from daily dialysis, stabilize blood sugar for a pancreas recipient, and relieve debilitating symptoms for someone receiving a liver.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mariana La Roche

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A 19-year-old Milwaukee woman faces first-degree reckless homicide charges after allegedly stabbing her cousin to death during an argument over employment at a Taco Bell restaurant.

Rae’Jianna D. Hall is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, domestic abuse with use of a dangerous weapon in the death of her cousin, Jaquveon Wright, at their shared residence on Milwaukee’s south side.

According to the criminal complaint, the incident began when Hall and Wright argued about Hall getting a job at the Taco Bell where Wright worked. The situation escalated when Hall pepper-sprayed Wright and later armed herself with a knife.

After Wright ‘s parents arrived at the scene, Hall allegedly made threats while wielding the knife, according to the complaint. Witnesses report Hall saying, “I’m going to stab you, I’m going to kill you,” before the fatal confrontation in Hall’s bedroom, where she allegedly stabbed Wright in the neck.

In a Mirandized interview, Hall acknowledged the knife could cause death but claimed self-defense, stating Wright had punched her. She told detectives she was scared but also described the stabbing as accidental.

According to court documents, Wright ran outside after being stabbed and collapsed. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

If convicted, Hall faces up to 60 years in prison for the Class B felony, with a possible additional 5 years for using a dangerous weapon. She remains in custody pending court proceedings.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.