Month: November 2025

By KAKE News

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    BUTLER COUNTY, Kansas (KAKE) — A woman has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing her 6-year-old adopted daughter, who was found buried in the backyard of a Rose Hill home last year.

Crystina Schroer, the adopted mother of Kennedy Schroer, was sentenced to 215 months in prison in a Butler County courtroom on Monday.

In August, Schroer was found guilty of second-degree murder, child abuse, making a false writing and theft.

In September 2024, law enforcement dug up the backyard of a home in a residential neighborhood. There, they found the remains of Kennedy Schroer, who was born with the name Natalie. Police had initially responded to Schroers’ home after Crystina had threatened to kill herself.

“She buried her. She double-bagged her in trash bags, dug a hole on her own property, and buried her right outside the master bedroom,” said Butler County Attorney Darrin Devinney. “That master bedroom… where they continued to sleep for four years, right next to the corpse of that small child.”

According to a court document, Crystina told police that years before, in December 2020, she found Kennedy in a box with blankets and other objects piled on top. She said she tried to revive Kennedy with CPR and gave her a cold shower. Upon realizing she was dead, Crystina said she wrapped the girl’s body in a sheet and put her in the car.

The document says Crystina didn’t take the girl to the hospital. But, instead, drove around with the body for several hours.

One of Kennedy’s sisters told investigators that Crystina used the box as punishment. The girl said her mother would pile objects onto the box to stop a child inside from moving. She says her mother left with Kennedy’s body and that her sister wasn’t there when Crystina came back.

A report by the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center stated Kennedy died by suffocation and that her death was likely a homicide.

Crystina’s husband, Joseph Schroer, pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated endangering a child and Medicaid fraud. He is set to be sentenced on Dec. 3.

Kennedy was born in Natalie Marie Garcia in July 2014. The Schroers named her Kennedy Jean when they adopted her in 2019.

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By Riley Rourke

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    EVERETT, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A lost Purple Heart has been returned to a Vietnam veteran in Massachusetts, just in time for Veterans Day. It’s one of six that the Unclaimed Property Division found in safe deposit boxes and the second to be returned.

U.S. Army veteran James Mooney of Everett was reunited with his medal by State Treasurer Deb Goldberg.

“Returning this Purple Heart is about more than reuniting someone with a lost possession, it is about honoring the service and sacrifice of one of our nation’s heroes,” Goldberg said in a statement.

Mooney was a large artillery gun shooter in Vietnam from 1968-69. He was awarded several other medals for his service and his marksmanship.

The family of Sgt. Thomas Lynch was given his lost Purple Heart at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House in early September.

The state is still looking for four other families so they can reunite them with their loved ones’ medals.

-Joseph Arudda of New Bedford, who fought in World War II -Edward McCabe of Worcester and Framingham, who served in World War II -William Bemis of Springfield, who fought in World War II -Robert Boquist of Rutland, who served in the Korean War

Anyone who may know these families is asked to call the Treasurer’s Office at 617-367-0400. People are also welcome to call if they’re looking for other lost military items that may have been in a safe deposit box.

A Purple Heart is the United States’ oldest military medal, created by George Washington in 1782 to boost morale. It was originally called the Badge of Merit. It features a profile of Washington.

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By Caroleina Hassett

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    SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — Sounds of pointe shoes can always be heard inside the studios of Ballet West, but you would never guess the person wearing those shoes is 23-year-old Jonas Malinka-Thompson.

His ballet journey started when he was just six years old.

“My parents had me on our kindergarten soccer team,” Thompson said, “but I was never really focused on the ball. I was always kind of off to the side, twirling and leaping around.”

When he started dancing, it felt like the right fit, but nearly 17 years later, he was cast in a role that required him to do the unthinkable.

“I had never put my foot in a pointe shoe before I learned I was doing this role,” Thompson said. “It was really just, ‘Here, you’re going to be learning this. You’re going to be doing it, so start practicing.’”

He was cast as the role of Bottom, a character who turns into a donkey during “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which requires the male dancer to go on pointe shoes — something you don’t see too often.

“Men don’t usually get to do this, and we’re usually focusing on big jumps and partnering and a lot of turns,” Thompson said. “For this role, what makes it really fun as well, is that it’s not really supposed to look like perfect ballet technique. It’s supposed to look clumsy. It’s the comedic part of the ballet.”

He started practicing back in June and was not ready for the pain that comes with it.

“The solo in the dream is a lot of just hops on pointe, and it’s not something you really learn in a beginner ballet lesson,” Thompson said. “I think as ballet dancers, we’re used to being in pain a lot and being sore, but this is a completely different feeling with blisters and bruised toenails.”

After a lot of trial and error, however, Malinka-Thompson was able to take his routine from the studio to the stage.

“I love hearing the audience laugh and respond to my acting. It means I’ve done my job. I’m being funny and portraying the story,” Thompson said. “Dancing is my passion. I love doing it, obviously, but I think acting is what really makes it fun.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at the Capitol Theatre through Nov. 15.

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By Jordan Bontke

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A Valley father left his six-figure corporate job to help some of the community’s most marginalized residents by giving haircuts.

Richard Agers, 33, traded his management position and steady paycheck to become a traveling barber who provides free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness across the Valley.

“It was a good job for my last corporate job,” Agers said as he smiled about his previous career.

The monotony of the 9-to-5 lifestyle didn’t bring him fulfillment. Instead, he found purpose in the simple act of cutting hair and listening to people’s stories.

“At the end of it, (my barber) gets a thank you every time, a hug, a see you next week that’s meaningful,” Agers said.

The career change came at a pivotal moment. Just as Agers was considering leaving corporate life, his grandfather Jimmy Leonard — a Vietnam veteran — passed away. To honor his grandfather’s memory, Agers decided to serve others, particularly veterans and those in need.

Armed with a suitcase full of scissors and clippers, Agers takes to Valley streets offering free haircuts to anyone experiencing homelessness.

“You want a free haircut? A free haircut? A free haircut!” he calls out to potential clients.

The experience goes beyond just trimming hair. Agers provides a gentle touch and a listening ear to people who often feel invisible in society.

“I’m going out and changing people’s lives in an hour. Hearing their story, how appreciative they are to me. I started posting on TikTok because it’s so viral. You won’t believe the community support,” Agers said.

Much of what’s in his traveling barber case comes from donations. Other community groups have contributed shoes and care packages to complement his haircuts.

Agers hopes to eventually expand his mission nationwide, bringing his mobile barbering services to homeless communities across the country.

The impact of his work became clear after one particular haircut. A man living in a park told Agers how his fresh cut changed his outlook.

“Now I bet I can get a job, you just changed me today, I feel so motivated, you don’t understand what you did. That’s what I want,” the man said.

For Agers, these moments of transformation make leaving his corporate career worthwhile. He’s found that sometimes a cosmetologist who listens can serve as a life coach, providing hope and dignity through something as simple as a haircut.

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

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By Richard Butler

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    AURORA, Colorado (KMGH) — Inside a room full of wagging tails at Canine Partners of the Rockies, training looks a lot like play. But every command and every treat brings these dogs one step closer to changing someone’s life.

“We are a service dog training organization that raises and trains service dogs for Coloradans living with disabilities,” said Executive Director Kyle Lephart. “We also provide facility dogs at local hospitals, schools and veterans centers to support the community.”

Each puppy at Canine Partners of the Rockies spends about two years in training before being matched with its new partner. During that time, every dog lives in a volunteer home. One of those volunteers is Bridget Domenighini, an Army combat veteran who now serves as both development director and volunteer puppy raiser for the nonprofit.

“When I found this job, it was kind of the perfect combination of getting to work with people and dogs,” Domenighini said. “I gave it a shot, and I love it, best job I’ve ever had.”

Domenighini’s first dog, Parker, recently “graduated” and now works at a counseling center for children in Aspen. She’s now raising her second puppy, Bodhi.

“It’s a big commitment, but it’s also really rewarding,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

At first, she hesitated to volunteer, worried it would be too hard to say goodbye when each dog completed training. But knowing the impact these animals have on veterans, hospitals and schools made that decision easier.

“It’s worth it because it’s what I love,” Domenighini said. “This is my place. These are my people. And I will always be a puppy raiser.”

Her coworkers describe her as the heart of the organization.

“Bridget is someone who is so authentically herself at all times,” said Miki Brewington, client services manager for Canine Partners. “She’s a staple here, someone who gives everything she has to both people and pups.”

“It’s her mentality and her drive to give back and support others that really makes her stand out,” Lephart said. “She’s got a giving nature, she’s always thinking about our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and how she can show her gratitude to them.”

That selfless spirit recently earned Domenighini national recognition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars through its “Still Serving” campaign which honors veterans who continue to make a difference in their communities long after military service.

“Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off,” said Carol Whitmore, VFW national commander. “The Still Serving campaign reminds us that veterans, to include the collective VFW, not only give back to our local communities, but we stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow veterans, helping them navigate their VA benefits, advocating for enhanced quality of life programs and resources and ensuring no one is left behind. Veterans continue to answer the call, proving every day that the spirit of service lasts a lifetime.”

“I don’t really feel like I do a lot,” she said. “But it’s an honor to be picked, and I’m thankful that they did.”

Domenighini is also pursuing her master’s degree in social work and hopes to expand Canine Partners’ veteran programming, including more therapy dog visits for those recovering from traumatic brain injuries.

For her compassion, leadership and lifelong commitment to service, Denver7 and Levine Law recognized Domenighini as this week’s Denver7 Everyday Hero.

Canine Partners of the Rockies is always seeking volunteer puppy raisers and donors to help train service dogs for Coloradans living with disabilities. Learn more at Canine Partners of the Rockies website.

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By Allie Triepke

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    BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — Mark Cronjaeger tells Idaho News 6 he was driving through Boise, heading home to Texas from Oregon, when just after 9:40 p.m., another car slammed into him on the Connector.

He says he’s lucky to be alive.

“All of a sudden there’s a black sedan, at [my] 10 o’clock, pushing the front end of my car across [the lane],” said Cronjaeger.

He said his car spun into the median before coming to a stop.

“The car came to a stop. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m still alive.’ There was smoke coming out of the hood, so I just jumped out of the car, and then I was like, ‘What the heck happened? Why would somebody do that to me?’” Cronjaeger recounted.

Several drivers stopped to help, including the McDaniel family from Meridian, who saw Cronjaeger’s car hit the inside median. They said the impact was so intense, they feared he had been seriously hurt.

Cronjaeger said he’s lucky to have walked away with only minor injuries. “That’s a first-degree airbag burn there, and then a big chunk of skin came off on that side. I’m okay,” he said.

His car, however, is now totaled. The McDaniel family stayed with him as police and fire crews arrived, and later drove him to the hospital, making sure he wasn’t alone in a place where he didn’t know anyone.

Witnesses told Idaho News 6 they believe the car that hit Cronjaeger may have been racing, possibly going around 100 miles per hour, along the stretch of the Connector where the speed limit drops from 60 to 45.

Cronjaeger said he’s concerned reckless driving may be common in the Treasure Valley, but he’s grateful he was wearing his seatbelt — and especially thankful for the McDaniel family.

“I’d walk away from Boise thinking I never want to come back here based on the [first] part of the experience. Now, I hope they come to Dallas, or I’d love to meet them again. It restores your faith that there are good people,” added Cronjaeger.

The scary experience has inspired him to help others and pay it forward should he ever come across a crash in the future.

Idaho News 6 has reached out to local and state law enforcement for information about the crash and any ongoing investigation, but has not yet heard back.

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By Michael Abeyta

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    Colorado (KCNC) — A Colorado runner has finished seven World Marathon Majors in a single year. That makes him one of only a handful of people to accomplish that feat. He completed the seventh marathon just last weekend.

Max Fulton from Golden showed off his newest hardware on Sunday: all seven of the finishers’ medals for the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors.

“It was interesting. It was hard,” Fulton, 49, said.

It’s a feat only a few have done, because before this year, there were only six marathon majors: Chicago, New York, Boston, London, Tokyo, and Berlin. Abbott, the company that hosts the races, added Sydney to the lineup for the first time in 2025.

That was all the motivation Fulton needed to attempt his feat of endurance.

“A lot of people try this and it takes them, you know, 5 or 6 years to get accomplished,” said Fulton. “And I’m like, ‘wait, what if I did them all in one year? And what if I’m the first person to do it?’ Because Sydney is being added as the seventh World Marathon next year, so there won’t be anybody that has done that before.”

But Fulton is no novice. He has a lengthy and accomplished running career, including 10 Leadville 100 finishes, but he says this was a challenge not only of endurance but also of patience and perseverance off the course.

“The hardest part, actually, was getting into all of them. Even though you qualify, it may not get you into the race,” he said.

He pulled it off by qualifying, running for charity, marathon tours, or travel companies, and winning lotteries for race entries.

He says his family was supportive but “my wife thinks I’m crazy. My daughter’s probably with her. My son thinks it’s awesome.”

Fulton says now it might be time for him to spend more time on the bike, but Abbott is adding South Africa and Singapore to the list of majors.

“I don’t know,” Fulton said. “Maybe, you know, running nine of them.”

He says there is no official list of people who completed all seven Marathon Majors this year, but in his research, he has found fewer than 10 other runners worldwide. And according to race organizers, around 20,000 people have done all six of the races previously offered — over the course of their entire lives.

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