‘It’s not about my case’: Valley mother begins legislative push four years after daughter’s death

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Ashley Holden

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — One Valley mother is pushing for answers and change following her daughter’s murder. Destiny McClain was shot and killed in Phoenix four years ago.

Now, as her family works to raise awareness, they are also giving back and hoping this journey leads them to the Capitol.

“I believe that what happens in the dark will eventually come to light,” said Brena Gilliam-Miller.

Even years after losing her daughter, Gilliam-Miller holds on to that faith.

“I’ve been very emotional lately because it’s coming up on her birthday, and I don’t have that closure,” said Gilliam-Miller.

In July 2021, the 23-year-old was shot and killed while ordering at a food truck near 17th Street and McDowell Road.

“So, for me, that’s hard enough just the fact that I don’t have her,” said Gilliam-Miller. “But to have no answers, not know who did this, it’s even harder. That makes it even more difficult.”

Police released this surveillance video of a vehicle of interest seen leaving the area after the early morning shooting. Four years later, the case is still unsolved.

This Friday would mark McClain’s golden birthday.

Since her death, the family started a non-profit in her honor, “Our Destiny Our Future Foundation.” This winter, they have organized multiple events in connection with the foundation.

“Friday is the birthday tattoo event, and then Saturday we’re doing a virtual vigil,” said Gilliam-Miller.

A portion of the proceeds from the flash tattoo fundraiser will go back to the non-profit.

The virtual vigil won’t include any type of live stream, but Gilliam-Miller hopes it can serve as a time to remember and honor her daughter.

“All we’re asking is wherever you are, your time zone at 7 p.m., light a candle, take a photo of it, and upload it to social media with the hashtag #JusticeforDestiny or a light.”

Earlier this year, a digital billboard with information on McClain’s case went up here in the Valley. But Gilliam-Miller said this virtual vigil also serves as another way to raise awareness.

“Because every person who shares the story is just one extra person is going to hear about it, and that could bring us closer to answers,” said Gilliam-Miller.

She is also hoping she can spark change in McClain’s honor legislatively. Recently, she started a petition and began talking to lawmakers about a potential bill to require front plates in Arizona.

A page on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s website said front plates stopped being required in the 1990s.

“I just got a photo of a vehicle, and I have no clue what model it is,” said Gilliam-Miller. “I just know what kind of what color it is. So a plate or some type of identification on that front could have given us a lead, and maybe we wouldn’t be here four years later.”

She said she feels called to push for this legislation and hopefully help other families.

Gilliam-Miller said she knows there will be people who disagree with her push.

“But at this point, it’s not about me,” said McClain’s mom. “It’s not about my case, because it can’t help my daughter at this point. I don’t want another mother to have to go through this.”

Gilliam-Miller said she has been talking with state lawmakers and is waiting for feedback after submitting a proposal. Her hope is for a potential bill to be introduced next session.

ABC15 reached out to Phoenix police, but our team was told there’s no update on the case.

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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Woman arrested after video shows dog being thrown over fence in plastic bag in Anaheim

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By KABC Staff

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    ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) — A woman has been arrested after a shocking video showed a small dog being thrown over a fence in Anaheim.

According to the Anaheim Police Department, 30-year-old Tyler Thompson was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty.

Surveillance video shared by the University Veterinary Center on Glenoaks Avenue shows the dog inside a plastic bag being tossed over a fence, landing in the backyard area of the clinic early in the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

The dog was found seriously injured by the veterinarian later that morning.

“I can’t find words to describe why anybody would do something like that, and it’s hard to find the right words,” said Dr. Ash Hakhamian. “I mean, thrown is an understatement. He sustained mental trauma, even far beyond his physical trauma.”

Hakhamian was surprised when he discovered the dog in the back of his clinic. At first, he didn’t know how the dog ended up there.

“We decided to review the security camera footage, and to our disappointment, we found the pet was placed there by being thrown over the fence,” he told Eyewitness News.

“He face-planted,” Hakhamian added. “That’s what broke his fall, was his face.”

In addition to the trauma and severe bruising, Hakhamian said the dog was severely anemic, malnourished and was covered in fleas.

“His nails are so long, they have curled and gone back into his paw,” Hakhamian said. “That’s a type of neglect that precedes this trauma, it precedes this abuse.”

The clinic said that due to the nature of the situation, the dog was “receiving around-the-clock care to ensure he is recovering from both his injuries and ongoing medical needs.”

The police department did not have an update on the dog’s condition when the arrest was announced on Wednesday.

“There is going to be a lot of medical care and other things involved before he is going to be made available to the public for adoption and/or foster care,” the clinic said in a statement.

After reviewing the surveillance video, the veterinarian’s office thought the woman responsible came from the apartment building across the street.

Police confirmed that’s where she was found on Thursday, Nov. 13. She was questioned but not immediately arrested as police discussed the case with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The department later announced Thompson’s arrest and charge two weeks later.

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Team effort saves high school basketball player after he went into cardiac arrest on the court

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Jennifer McLogan

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    LATTINGTOWN, New York (WCBS) — The life of a 17-year-old Locust Valley High School basketball player was saved on the court, thanks to an extraordinary team of coaches, teachers, paramedics and doctors.

There was an emotional reunion on Wednesday, a little more than a week after the student went into cardiac arrest.

Players and coaches had just gathered in the school’s gymnasium on Nov. 17 for tryouts for the upcoming season when Francesco Allocca’s heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing.

“We started tryouts and we saw Francesco on the ground,” Locust Valley basketball head coach Andrew Siegel said.

“He turned very pale. I got very scared, saw one of his arms clench. He was struggling to breathe,” teammate William Summers added.

From that moment, there was instantaneous collaboration to save Allocca’s life. Coaches described how they did just that.

“It was extremely scary. I’d say it’s surreal. You do all the training on a dummy and now you are on a real human being,” assistant coach Brian LoRusso said.

“We kept doing CPR, administered a couple of shocks from the AED, which worked great,” another coach said.

“He literally came back to life right before our eyes,” another coach said.

“It’s a miracle, but he deserves it. He’s such a great kid. He’s the best,” Siegel said.

“I rode with the student as I was trying to get ahold of his mom, in the ambulance,” added Kristen Turnow, Locust Valley’s superintendent of schools.

Coaches and paramedics got Francesco to Glen Cove Hospital within 17 minutes. He was then transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He made a stunning recovery, thanks to CPR and a defibrillator.

“I actually just purchased an AED for myself and my family, so it’s probably the best thing you can probably buy for someone for their Christmas,” said Dr. Mityanand Ramnarine, Glen Cove’s Emergency Department chair.

Francesco Allocca recognized all the people who had a hand in saving his life.

“Thank you to all the coaches, medical staff, everybody else involved from that night,” Francesco Allocca said. And without you guys, I wouldn’t be here. So, really, thank you for everything.”

“This is very emotional for us, for our family. We are very grateful for coaches and staff stepping in when Francesco was having cardiac arrest,” mother Pia Allocca said.

The holidays are taking on special significance for the Allocca family, after Francesco’s father died of cancer less than two years ago.

“It couldn’t be like a better Thanksgiving. Thanks God and the community,” Pia Allocca said.

“It’s going to be great to celebrate with the family and have everyone together,” Francesco Allocca added.

Doctors want Francesco Allocca to take his time with his recovery in the hope that he can return to the court this season.

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Cold case breakthrough: Body found in woods nearly 20 years ago identified

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Robb Coles

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    LA VERGNE, Tennessee (WTVF) — A major breakthrough has emerged in a cold case that has puzzled investigators for nearly two decades in La Vergne.

The body of a woman discovered in remote woods in November 2007 has finally been identified as Mary Alice Maloney, a 40-year-old Connecticut native who was living in Nashville at the time of her death.

La Vergne Police turned to the DNA Doe Project after years of being unable to identify the remains.

The volunteer organization uses genetic genealogy investigators to help solve cold cases involving unidentified victims.

On Nov. 14, 2007, police discovered the body in a wooded area in La Vergne.

Authorities initially believed the victim was Black or multiracial, between the ages of 25 and 49.

The DNA Doe Project uses genetic material from websites people use to trace their ancestry to help identify remains of bodies that have been found.

Matthew Waterfield with the DNA Doe Project explained how the process works.

“Every person who uploads their DNA to the databases we have access to, again, GED Match, or Family Tree DNA or DNA Justice, they could have a distant cousin out there who they’ve never heard about, never met, no real ties to, but their DNA could be what enables us to build back their family tree,” Waterfield said.

After months of work in 2021 building Maloney’s family tree, one more person uploaded their DNA, marking a major turning point in the case.

“They found that a distant cousin of hers had moved to Connecticut and that she had married a Puerto Rican man. That was a real, a real eureka moment for us, because we knew that we were likely looking at somebody with one Puerto Rican parent and one African American parent,” Waterfield said.

While identifying Maloney represents a significant breakthrough, the investigation continues.

La Vergne Police confirmed there is still an ongoing cold case investigation underway.

The DNA Doe Project works with several DNA databases, including GED Match, Family Tree DNA and DNA Justice, to help solve cases involving unidentified remains.

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

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Woman opens home to support families of incarcerated veterans

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Kelsey Jones

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    NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (WTKR) — A modest home tucked away on Chesapeake Avenue in Newport News represents one woman’s promise to give back to her community through an organization called Valor Village, which provides support to families of incarcerated veterans.

Angela Johnson, the executive director and founder of Valor Village, turned her personal struggle into a mission to help others facing similar challenges. Her journey began when her son, an Army veteran, was charged with two counts of attempted murder in California years ago.

“His bail was set at two million dollars and he was facing 85 to life,” Johnson recalled. The experience of supporting her son through the legal process opened her eyes to the unique struggles families face when a veteran becomes involved in the criminal justice system.

Johnson and her family made repeated trips from Virginia to California to visit her son and attend court hearings, often facing unexpected obstacles that made an already difficult situation worse.

“We would fly back and forth to California to visit with him and we would get there and sometimes they will say the facility is on lockdown or the hearing has been continued,” Johnson explained. “So the financial struggle that ensued was just added to the grief and the helplessness of not being able to put hands on our son.”

During this challenging time, Johnson turned to prayer for guidance.

“I said Lord if you can help me just get through at least this part. Where do we stay? Where can we feel safe? How can we be there for him to let him know that he’s not alone,” she said.

Her son’s charges were eventually dismissed, but the experience left Johnson with a clear understanding of what other families in similar situations needed. That realization led to the creation of Valor Village at 505 Chesapeake Avenue.

The home that Johnson restored now serves as a center for families of incarcerated veterans, providing them with a safe place to stay and prepare for visits to Virginia prisons, jails and courtrooms at no cost. The organization aims to fill a critical gap in support services for this often-overlooked population.

“We want to make sure that they have that support and experience restorative justice,” Johnson said.

Valor Village also opens its doors to veterans themselves, connecting them with peer support specialists who understand their unique experiences and challenges. This dual approach addresses both the needs of incarcerated veterans and their families, recognizing that the impact of incarceration extends beyond the individual.

Johnson has ambitious plans for the organization’s future, looking forward to serving 15 families beginning next year. The expansion reflects growing recognition of the need for specialized support services for military families navigating the criminal justice system.

The initiative highlights the intersection of veteran services and criminal justice reform, addressing how military service members and their families can fall through cracks in existing support systems. Johnson’s personal experience gives her unique insight into these challenges and helps her provide meaningful assistance to others facing similar circumstances.

For more information to seek help if needed call 833-468-7838.

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Teen’s free food pantry becomes lifeline for neighbors in need

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Cassandra Garcia

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    FORT PIERCE, Florida (WPTV) — A teenager in the Lakewood Park community is making a big impact with a small pantry outside her family’s home. What began as a simple idea during the government shutdown has grown into a bustling, free food pantry that’s drawing gratitude and support from across Fort Pierce.

17-year-old Chloe Tucker said she launched the pantry when families temporarily lost access to SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

“It’s a way for someone to get food that they can’t normally get and I believe everyone should have access to that,” Tucker said.

The shelves are stocked with nonperishable foods and hygiene items staples Tucker says many people can’t always afford.

As the pantry has grown, so has the feedback from residents who rely on it. Tucker keeps a collection of handwritten thank-you notes, each a reminder of how far her effort reaches.

“These are little notes that we’ve gotten in our recommendations notes areas. [One says], ‘Mom of 7. Such a blessing. Happy holidays,’” she said.

Our Cassandra Garcia asked Tucker how those messages make her feel.

“It’s nice, it makes me realize that just because I’m doing this and I’m helping a couple of people, it’s helping a lot more people because I’m helping their family, their kids, the people that love them,” Tucker said.

Among the visitors Wednesday morning were Richard and Jeanette Chausse, who say fixed incomes and rising prices are hitting seniors particularly hard.

“We bring stuff home and then we bring it to other people in our neighborhood because we live in a 55+ community and there’s a lot of people that can’t get out of their homes, so we bring it to them,” Jeanette Chausse said.

Tucker’s mother, Amanda, said the response has been overwhelming.

“I didn’t expect it to take off the way that it did, as fast as it did. It makes me not only proud of her, but the community,” she said.

“It’s great to see how well a community can come together to help one another just to help one another when they all see what good it could do,” Chloe added.

The pantry is located at 6803 Citrus Park Boulevard in Fort Pierce. It’s filled with items such as lentils, beans, jasmine rice and holiday stuffing, along with hygiene essentials. Tucker restocks it using overflow supplies stored inside her home, but says keeping up with demand will take the community’s help, especially during the holiday season.

“This over here is our overflow pile, we have a lot of canned goods, hygiene products. We are looking for more hygiene products, specifically soaps and shampoos,” she said.

For Tucker, the effort is all about giving back to the neighborhood she cares so much about.

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Military charity Miles for Military reunites airman with family for Thanksgiving holiday

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Ja Nai Wright

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    GLEN BURNIE, Maryland (WMAR) — A U.S. airman is spending Thanksgiving with her family for the first time in over a year, thanks to a new military charity that helps service members afford flights home.

Victoria Sanders flew from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to Maryland the day before Thanksgiving, reuniting with her parents and grandparents she hadn’t seen in more than three years. Her trip was made possible by Miles for Military, a charity founded by Maureen Byrne.

“It’s pretty pricey flying back nowadays,” Li Davis said, explaining why many young service members go months or even years without seeing family.

Byrne created Miles for Military after her son joined the military and she realized how many service members couldn’t afford to visit home.

“It’s a big deal and we don’t think about it. I didn’t even think about it until my son joined the military that these kids are sitting in their barracks and they are not home with their families,” Byrne said.

The charity provides free flights home to service members from all branches who complete 25 hours of community service. Sanders qualified for the program and was able to surprise her family with the visit.

“It was a surprise to us when she told us like hey mom I can get home and I got a free ticket. I was like how,” said Li Davis, Sanders’ mother.

For Sanders, the break from military life means everything.

“It means taking a break from just working, working, working all the time and just being around people I love. It’s very comforting,” Sanders said.

Byrne emphasized how important these family visits are for those serving the country.

“To be able to get a break to go see family especially when they haven’t been home in two, three years, even a year, even six months it’s a really long time so we’re just doing our part,” Byrne said.

Sanders praised the charity’s simple application process and encouraged other service members to take advantage of the program.

“It’s a very easy, simple process and I recommend it. I recommend it to anyone who has completed those 25 hours of volunteer work,” Sanders said.

Sanders will spend the next two weeks with her family before returning to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

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.

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Couple carries on late son’s legacy of public service

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Sharon Chin

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    FAIRFIELD, California (KPIX) — Nearly two decades after a popular Fairfield councilmember was gunned down in a case of mistaken identity, his mother and stepfather are carrying on his legacy of public service.

Together, Teresa and Raymond Courtemanche have walked a horrific journey in memory of their son, Matt Garcia.

“He loved his community. He loved Fairfield,” Teresa Courtemanche said.

Garcia had just made headlines in 2007. At age 21, he was elected the youngest city council member in Fairfield and one of the youngest in California history. Then, 10 months later, at the age of 22, he was shot to death, apparently mistaken for a drug dealer.

As his mom Teresa and his stepdad Raymond grappled with their grief, they vowed not to let go of Garcia’s dream.

“Matthew was a donor, so we were talking about his organs to meet needs. And it became real crystal clear to me, ‘Keep the dream alive,” said Raymond.

Teresa added, “We need to invest in our young people. That’s what he did, and we just want to keep that going.”

Three months after Garcia died, the Courtemanches began a nonprofit in his name. The Matt Garcia Foundation continued the work of the Fairfield native who declared as a sixth grader that he would one day hold public office.

“So, the idea is ‘community’ for us, really. That’s Matt’s message. Period,” said Raymond.

Teresa and Raymond organize volunteers a wide range of activities, from arts and crafts events, to grocery giveaways, to monthly downtown cleanup days, all funded by proceeds from an annual golf tournament.

The foundation works to support organ donation and gun buyback programs, and fight youth homelessness and human trafficking. Once a month, Teresa helps lead a Homicide Survivors Support Group, the only one of its kind in Solano County.

Licensed clinical social worker Patty Ayala comes alongside the participants and says the meetings foster hope and resilience.

“They say hurt people hurt people. And it doesn’t have to be like that. People who are healing can share their healing with other people,” Ayala said.

The foundation also presents thousands of dollars in scholarships to about a dozen students a year, including volunteer Autumn Carabajal. She’s thankful to the Courtemanches for the financial aid that allows her to study at community college and follow her dream to become a paleontologist.

“They’re really supportive with everyone around them. There’s no judgments. There’s just lots of love,” Carabajal said.

The foundation’s logo, “FFINEST”, for “Fairfield’s Finest”, was Garcia’s personalized license plate. It now embodies his parents’ hope for the lives they touch.

“That’s really the theme behind it – encouraging people to be the finest that you can be. Your friends, your family, your future,” said Raymond.

When asked what Matt would say to what his parents are accomplishing in his name?

“I feel him all the time, and he’s so proud,” said his Mom. “We can stand up in the most devastating of times and make change for the better.”

For carrying on Matt Garcia’s legacy of service to their community, this week’s CBS News Bay Area ICON Award goes to Raymond and Teresa Courtemanche.

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Eaton Fire victims move into their fully rebuilt home

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Laurie Perez

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    PASADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — After losing their Pasadena home in the Eaton Fire, Jun Li Lujan and her husband were among the first to finish rebuilding their home and move back in time for Thanksgiving.

“I’m a fighter,” Lujan said. “I fight back to my house.”

She’s thankful not only for a new home but also for a new beginning. Lujan’s rebuilding process in the fire zone was made a lot easier thanks to her expertise as a home builder and designer.

It has not been as smooth for many others. Los Angeles County’s recovery dashboard shows that officials have received more than 2,400 rebuilding applications, 367 of which are under construction. Other than Lujan’s, only one other home has finished rebuilding.

Lujan said she designed her home to be fire-resistant, with new aluminum siding, non-flammable furniture and a metal roof.

“That’s a big lesson for me,” she said. “When I design the new house, the first thing I think about, I need a metal roof.”

On Tuesday, Lujan and her husband hosted an open house for their neighbors, fellow fire survivors and city leaders.

“My house burned down, I never cried,” Lujan said. “Yesterday, I see them all come, I have tears.”

Hanging on Lujan’s fence is a sign that she found just weeks after the fire. It reads, “And so they built a life they loved.” The couple said they knew they would put it up once they rebuilt.

Lujan hopes the sign and the house inspire others to rebuild.

“If I can do, they can too,” she said.

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8-point deer illegally killed in Pennsylvania, Game Commission says

CNN Newsource on November 27, 2025

By Michael Guise

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    SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — An 8-point deer was illegally killed in Susquehanna County, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said.

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, the Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief said an 8-point white-tailed deer was found dead near the intersection of Wolf Lake and Richardson roads in Harford Township on the night of Nov. 21.

Investigators said the white-tailed deer was most likely killed from the road with a crossbow at close range around midnight. The animal was left to waste, the Facebook post said. No other information was released on Wednesday by the Game Commission.

Anyone with information in connection with the illegal killing can call the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region at 1-833-PGC-HUNT or the hotline for Operation Game Thief at 1-888-PGC-8001 or use the online portal.

“Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping to protect Pennsylvania wildlife,” the Facebook post said.

Operation Game Thief is a witness anti-poaching program that the Pennsylvania Game Commission says encourages people to report any suspicious activity. The toll-free hotline is available 24/7, officials said.

Pennsylvania’s statewide firearms deer season begins on Saturday and runs through Dec. 13. It includes two Sundays: Nov. 30 and Dec. 7. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill in July that repealed what lawmakers called the “outdated” ban on Sunday hunting.

The Game Commission expects that more than 500,000 hunters will be out and about during firearms deer season.

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