Month: January 2026

By Aaron Cantrell

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    NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — A Nashville mother said she is still searching for answers months after her son was killed in a hit-and-run — and the impact of that loss continues to ripple through every part of her life.

Anita Brown’s son, 50-year-old Mack Tyrone Cosby, was struck and killed last October while walking along Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard. Police said the driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made.

Brown said the uncertainty surrounding her son’s death has been devastating.

“This could’ve been you. It tears me up to think about that. That’s not normal. Mack wasn’t that kind of person,” Brown said.

Brown said her son lived with paranoid schizophrenia and received disability assistance, but she insists he posed no danger to anyone.

She said Cosby walked everywhere, was known for asking for a dollar often, and never caused trouble.

Friends and neighbors in North Nashville remember Cosby as someone who never met a stranger. Brown said people regularly stop her to share memories of her son and to express their support.

“When they see me, they hug me and say, ‘Miss Anita, I’m praying Mac gets justice, ‘cause we love Mack and Mack wouldn’t hurt no one,’” she said.

According to Brown, Metro Nashville Police Department released an image of a vehicle believed to be connected to the case shortly after the crash. She said she has not received any updates since.

Beyond the emotional toll, Brown said her son’s death has also created financial strain. She said the two shared a home with rent exceeding $1,200 a month, and without his income, she can no longer afford to stay.

“Rent is high here and it’s waiting lists everywhere you go, and I’m trying to get affordable housing based on my income,” Brown said. She said she has applied to several apartments and is receiving assistance from city agencies, but the process has been challenging.

Brown said no parent should have to bury their child, and while each day remains difficult, she continues to lean on her faith.

“God will answer the prayer. His timing isn’t mine, but I know he’s going to get me justice. I do believe in that,” she said.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or driver involved in the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME.

This story was reported by reporter Aaron Cantrell and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Aaron and WTVF verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Eric Pointer

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    NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — A woman on Tennessee’s death row is fighting for her life in court, claiming the state’s execution method could cause her to drown in her own blood.

Christa Pike is suing the state to halt her execution, arguing Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol would constitute cruel and unusual punishment due to her rare blood cancer that affects how her blood clots.

Pike was convicted at age 18 in 1996 for torturing and killing a girl while they were both in a job training program for troubled teens. Now 30 years later, she’s scheduled to die by lethal injection this September.

Pike suffers from a rare form of blood cancer, thrombocytosis, which causes dangerously high platelet levels. Her attorneys argue the state’s single-drug protocol using pentobarbital would cause her to suffer excessive bleeding in her lungs during execution.

A medical expert in the case says Pike would essentially drown in her own blood, making her death far more painful than intended. Pike also has difficulty with needles due to small veins, which could complicate the execution process.

If successful, this would be the first time Tennessee has had to modify its execution protocol for an individual’s medical condition. Pike’s execution would also mark the first time Tennessee has put a woman to death in more than 200 years.

The court has not yet ruled on the lawsuit.

This story was reported by Eric Pointer and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Eric Pointer and WTVF verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Lucy Yang

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    WEST ORANGE, New Jersey (WABC) — A family in New Jersey is speaking out after their car, which had priceless personal belongings inside, was stolen from their driveway.

13-year-old Leighton Malone is a synchronized skater. Think figure skater, but on a team. She leaves Wednesday morning for a big competition to qualify for nationals.

“I want to be as dedicated as I can to the team, and I think that requires doing the best that I can,” Malone said.

The 8th grader has worked so hard for the competition, but it was almost taken away.

Last weekend, someone stole her family’s BMW from their driveway in Bloomfield. The problem: Malone’s skates and equipment were in the car.

“She cried for over an hour and she was not consolable. And I, as a mother, I just went into fix-it mode,” Malone’s mother, Dawn, said.

Once the devastation settled, the family purchased another $1,000 pair of skates, but money could not put more days on the calendar to break in the skates before the competition.

Trying to cram in extra sessions on the ice, Malone came in at 6 a.m. on Tuesday to skate before school.

“I definitely want to skate really hard and take advantage of all the practices that we get before we hit the ice and really compete,” Malone said.

Her brother’s cello was also in the car — a $5,000 instrument that he no longer has for practice or performances.

Eyewitness News got a preview of the routine that Malone’s synchronized team will be performing this coming weekend.

As for the person who stole their family’s vehicle, Malone is trying to understand the situation.

“I try to be as empathetic as possible. I hope that they can understand that was something that was valuable to me too. And I really just want my stuff back,” she said.

Malone’s family tells Eyewitness News it takes a minimum of 10-13 hours to be properly break in a new pair of skates. While Malone might not have that luxury, she has something the car thieves cannot steal: her determination.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Willie Daniely

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    CARY, North Carolina (WRAL) — A routine trip to a local Home Depot turned into a distressing experience for a Cary family, as a woman reported that her father was targeted by a group of teenagers engaging in a troubling trend.

She posted in part, “A group of teens appeared to be provoking him while filming- apparently part of a disturbing trend where individuals elicit a reaction and record it.”

Dr. Alice Cheng, a professor from NC State, has conducted research into social media and its impact. She says while social media platforms may not explicitly encourage such conduct, they inadvertently create an environment where provocative content is rewarded, leading to an increase in confrontational incidents.

“What we are seeing here from my view is a collision between viral attention incentives and the real-world risk,” Cheng said. “Teenagers are treating public spaces like social media platforms, but the consequences offline are far less predictable.”

Cheng told WRAL News that when teenagers see certain content go viral, they often seek to recreate it even if it could be damaging.

“They (social media platforms) do reward the content that triggers a strong reaction and that creates an incentive structure where confrontation feels profitable sometimes even,” Cheng said.

This incident is not isolated, as similar occurrences have been documented, some gaining millions of views online. The impact of these trends has prompted some users to reconsider their engagement with social media, opting to distance themselves from platforms that appear to reward negative interactions.

The Cary Police Department is currently investigating the reported assault, adding that they are trying to contact the man who was allegedly assaulted by the teens. A Home Depot shopper emphasized the unpredictability of human reactions, urging teenagers to exercise caution and awareness of the possible repercussions of their actions.

“You’re not in a controlled environment; you don’t know how someone is going to react, you don’t know if someone has PTSD or if someone has anger management issues,” the shopper said. “So you do have to be careful when you are interacting with strangers.”

As of now, the incident remains under investigation. WRAL News has reached out to Home Depot for a comment and is waiting to hear back.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Eric Miller

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    WILSON COUNTY, North Carolina (WRAL) — Cody Aliff says he doesn’t know how, but he knew something was wrong.

It was early in the morning on January 2nd. 14-year-old Cody and his older brother, Hunter, were in rural Halifax County, hunting ducks. Then Cody heard a splash.

“I heard a beaver splash originally, whenever we were walking in the swamp,” Cody said. “It just sounded different. So I called for Hunter, and he didn’t answer.”

Cody rushed over to find his brother face down in the water.

“All I could see was waders,” Cody said.

Cody credits God with giving him the strength to pull his brother out, and then to perform CPR on him, he says, for two full minutes

It’s a skill he’d learned just months prior, as part of a class at Springfield Middle School in Wilson County.

“I wasn’t really expecting having to use it, but it was really helpful,” Cody said.

After getting pulled out of the swamp, Hunter was rushed to Wilson Medical Center. He says his brother’s quick thinking saved his life.

“Well, at first, I was still shocked. I didn’t really know what happened, but I did thank him and told him I loved him many times,” Hunter said.

Both brothers say they’re now sharing their story, hoping it will inspire others to get CPR certified.

“We’re very proud of Cody, you know, the fact that he did not freeze. He did what was needed to be done,” said Barbie Aliff, the boy’s mother, and a registered nurse who is herself CPR certified for work.

“Our goal is to just spread awareness. If our story encourages just one person to take CPR, then something good can come from a very scary moment,” Barbie said.

Barbie says the staff at Wilson Medical Center also played a key role in saving her son. She says she’s also incredibly thankful for the outpouring of love and support that’s come from family, friends and the community.

For his part, Hunter says he doesn’t remember how he ended up in the water that day. He says now he’s just thankful for the brother who knew how to step in when the worst happened

“It’s a miracle that I’m still here,” Hunter said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Joi Fultz

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    HOPEWELL, Virginia (WTVR) — Inside Cawson Street Church of Christ in Hopewell Saturday afternoon, guests arrived for a celebration seven decades in the making.

“Hey buddy, it’s a big decision, are you sure you want to get married? I think I will,” joked 91-year-old Harold Pugh, all set to say “I do” to his 90-year-old bride, Frances.

When asked if she stole his heart, Harold replied simply, “Yep. That’s a special girl.”

“I just feel so blessed,” Frances said.

It’s a love story that began in the 1950s. The two met at a skating rink and then eloped in their twenties. Now, having made it to their 70th wedding anniversary, friends and family felt it was only fitting they renew their vows with the wedding they never had.

“Look at my handsome husband up there,” Frances said as she prepared to walk down the aisle.

“After all these years, I still love him, I cherish him, I appreciate all he’s done for me over these years,” she said.

For the first time ever, the pair met at the end of the aisle, re-exchanging those very precious promises with each other.

“Will you continue to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, continue to be faithful to her, so long as you both shall live?” the officiant asked.

“I do!” Harold responded.

“I do,” Frances said when asked the same question.

The ceremony celebrated thousands of memories leading up to this meaningful moment.

“Traveling, riding roller coasters in your 90s, hosting Bible studies in your home, we see in you a pair blessed by God with years of life and the wisdom to take advantage of every opportunity to live,” the officiant said.

Loved ones served as witnesses to the deep love they’ve had all these years, not just for each other but for their community.

“They would deny themselves everything and give to anyone that needs,” one guest said.

“They just are a wonderful, wonderful couple and they just have inspired me,” another added.

Having overcome several health scares, the pair stood hand in hand at the altar, grateful to be joined by their friends and extended family.

“I’m thankful for every year, for every day we have together,” one of them said.

Their advice to other couples hoping to make it to this monumental mark? “Pick the right person as you will spend the rest of your life and I think the second thing is just as important, put God first,” they said.

“What God has joined together, let not man separate. Harold, you may now kiss your bride,” the officiant declared.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you a 70-year commitment to a covenant made before God and man, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Pugh,” he announced.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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.