Author: CNN Newsource

By Gina Tomlinson

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    FORT MYERS BEACH, Florida (WBBH) — A mysterious box floating into a marina near Fort Myers Beach has turned into a search for somebody’s loved one.

Employees at Salty Sam’s Marina say a sealed wooden urn drifted into the rocks near the docks a few days ago. When workers picked it up, they quickly realized this wasn’t just another piece of debris floating through the water.

“It’s somebody’s loved one,” said Ryan Vandenabeele, marketing director at Salty Sam’s. “It’s the remains of a person.”

The urn weighs roughly 12 to 15 pounds, has carvings of hands folded in prayer, and appears to be tightly sealed shut. But despite sitting inside the marina office for days, nobody has come forward to claim it.

There are also no labels, names, or identifying markings on the outside of the box.

“Usually, if something like this has been in the water, you’ll start to get some algae growing on it,” he said.

But Morgan McWilliams, general manager at Legacy Options Funeral and Cremation Services, says the urn itself actually appears older.’

“With the praying hands design,” McWilliams said. “If I had to guess, I would say probably the 80s or 90s.”

McWilliams also said federal regulations require cremated remains scattered at sea to be released at least three nautical miles offshore. He said families are only supposed to scatter ashes directly or use biodegradable urns designed to break down in the water.

“There should be a disc with a specific number that’s attached to the ashes inside of the urn,” McWilliams said. “You have to assign a certain disc number to the individual so you can identify them later if cases like this arise.”

Now, Salty Sam’s says if the family comes forward, the marina says it will offer a free burial-at-sea cruise to help give their loved one a proper final resting place.

Until then, the mysterious urn is safely inside the marina office and still waiting for answers.

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 James Stratton

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    BROOKFIELD, Wisconsin (WISN) — A cryptocurrency scam led police in Brookfield across the world to suspect in China, charges were filed against a man who lives there, and money was recovered for a woman who lost $55,000.

Prosecutors charged Zhao Lin, of Nanchang City, China, with two felonies of conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Though there’s a slim chance police will ever arrest him.

Prosecutors say a woman called Brookfield police, saying she believed she lost money in an investment scam. The woman told police, according to prosecutors, she met someone on Facebook, and then on WhatsApp, who she thought was helping her invest. A criminal complaint says the woman invested $55,000.

“As soon as the victim transferred the cryptocurrency from the wallet that the victim controlled to wherever the suspect wanted it, it was gone,” said Brookfield Det. Chris Foster, who investigated the case.

Prosecutors say the suspected scammers claimed her money had doubled to $117,000 in January. When she tried to withdraw it and needed to pay a fee, Foster said she believed it was a scam.

Foster and state investigators from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions were able to track down the individual crypto wallet numbers and transaction numbers. Foster then asked the crypto account company to freeze the accounts and hand over the owner’s information. Which, he says, led them to Zhao Lin.

“He was just where the money ended up,” Foster said.

He said police froze three accounts, which eventually will lead to the victim receiving roughly $31,000 back.

“It’s a big deal, it doesn’t happen often,” Foster said.

The Wisconsin DFI declined to comment on this case specifically, saying the investigation is still open, but noted the success rate for recovering stolen crypto funds is not very likely. Though they do get requests from law enforcement for help roughly once or twice per week. Often, police request help tracing crypto, including collecting information and creating affidavits.

In this case, once the accounts were frozen, police say Lin emailed them directly asking for help, saying he did not know why his account was frozen.

Foster responded, asking for his information and how he received the cryptocurrency.

Lin responded and said he couldn’t provide that information, according to an email provided by Brookfield police.

“I obtained USDT [cryptocurrency] through dozens of merchants, and I am unable to provide their information. Please restore my trading privileges as soon as possible. Thank you,” he responded, in part.

“It’s an example of the capabilities of the modern law enforcement agency,” Brookfield Police Chief Chris Garcia said. “To reach halfway across the globe and get a victim’s money back, and then seek some form of justice.”

Garcia said to verify everything before making an investment online, especially if someone contacts you directly. If you think it could be a scam, he suggests calling the police to verify first.

Wisconsin DFI said you can end the conversation by simply saying no. Or turn the tables and ask questions, DFI says a legitimate investment professional must be licensed and registered.

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 Mariana La Roche

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    BLUE MOUNDS, Wisconsin (WISN) — Animal rights attorneys are asking a Wisconsin appeals court to protect hundreds of beagles still at Ridglan Farms in Dane County.

The Nonhuman Rights Project and the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project are appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit involving the dogs.

They are also asking for a court order to stop Ridglan from killing dogs for non-medical reasons while the appeal moves forward.

Last month, Ridglan agreed to sell about 1,500 dogs to rescue groups, but attorneys say about 500 beagles remain at the facility. Ridglan has agreed to surrender its license to breed and sell dogs by July 1.

In a statement, the Nonhuman Rights Project said, “All the remaining beagles have a right to be free from cruelty. Until the Wisconsin Court of Appeals rules on this case… we are simply asking Ridglan Farms not to kill these innocent animals.”

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 Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A Kansas City man will spend decades in federal prison after admitting he helped tracked down a vehicle with a GPS device before a deadly shooting outside a grocery store.

Michael Smith, 39, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for cyberstalking resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri said in a news release on Tuesday.

Federal court documents say it was part of a murder-for-hire plot that began in early 2019.

Court records state that Smith and co-defendant Dontay Campbell placed a GPS tracker underneath the victim’s red Chevy Tahoe on March 5, 2019, allowing them to monitor the movements around the region.

Smith used the tracker multiple times to locate the victim before the killing.

On March 16, 2019, Smith followed the victim to a Kansas City grocery store. As the victim returned to the Tahoe, Campbell and another co-conspirator pulled up in a Chrysler Sebring.

Authorities said the gunman jumped out and fired a Ruger .40-calier handgun.

The shooters than circled back through the parking lot and fired additional shots into the SUV before fleeing the scene.

Campbell also attempted to remove the GPS tracker from the victim’s vehicle, but was unable to do so.

Smith later admitted he was paid cash for helping carry out the killing. Campbell has also pleaded guilty and is still awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City Police Department.

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 Chloe Godding

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    Kansas (KMBC) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was taken into custody in Texas after allegedly violating his probation.

Jail records show that Rice was booked into the Dallas County, Texas, jail on Tuesday. Court records say Rice tested positive for THC.

He was ordered to serve 30 days in jail, which was previously ordered in July 2025, and is set to be released on June 16, 2026, records show.

Rice earned a five-year probation, plus 30 days in jail, for his role in a crash in Texas that led to serious injuries.

His attorney released a statement from Rice after he received his probation, admitting his involvement in the high-speed crash.

Rice was suspended for a portion of the season but returned to play in 2025.

The Chiefs have OTAs May 26-28 and June 1-3. Mandatory minicamp is June 9-11.

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 Jeffrey Lindblom

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    SALINE, Michigan (WXYZ) — Upwards of 17 million birds are moving across Michigan right now during peak spring migration season, and the state’s largest specialty bird rehabilitation center is working to keep them on course.

Marissa Jardine, clinic manager at the Bird Center of Michigan and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said the season is a rare opportunity for bird enthusiasts.

“This time of year is an amazing time for birding. If you are wanting to see some birds that you wouldn’t typically see, now is an amazing time to do it,” she says.

Michigan sits along two major migration corridors — the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways — making it a prime passage point for birds traveling from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds.

“And that’s due to us being across two different fly-away migration routes,” Jardine said.

Most migration activity happens during middle to late May, driven by longer hours of daylight. Birds return in the fall in search of better food resources and warmth.

“Michigan is in a unique position to get tons and tons of birds each spring and fall,” Jardine said. “They’re going to go to places I’ve never seen before, and it’s really amazing to be a part of that. A single bird can go up to 14-thousand miles round-trip in a single migration.”

For birdwatchers like Nicole Kvasnobsky, the season is a chance to spot species rarely seen throughout the rest of the year. She recently spotted 5 birds she had never seen before.

“It feels like you’re seeing a celebrity,” Kvasnobsky said.

Kvasnobsky said the appeal of birdwatching goes beyond the hobby itself.

“I do like birds. They’re these small animals that in the wild — most people wouldn’t even think about them,” Kvasnobsky said.

Most migrating birds fly overnight, so early mornings offer the best viewing opportunities. Local parks and preserves are good places to start.

The surge in migration also brings challenges. The Bird Center of Michigan is currently caring for 250 birds — a 200% increase since the start of May. Jardine said collisions are a contributing factor, often caused by birds becoming disoriented by bright lights.

“Sometimes upwards of a billion birds per year are hitting these windows and suffering,” Jardine said.

Jardine encourages residents to turn off lights that are not in use to help reduce the risk of collisions during migration season.

———

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ’s editorial team 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 Gina Tomlinson

Click here for updates on this story

    FORT MYERS BEACH, Florida (WBBH) — A mysterious box floating into a marina near Fort Myers Beach has turned into a search for somebody’s loved one.

Employees at Salty Sam’s Marina say a sealed wooden urn drifted into the rocks near the docks a few days ago. When workers picked it up, they quickly realized this wasn’t just another piece of debris floating through the water.

“It’s somebody’s loved one,” said Ryan Vandenabeele, marketing director at Salty Sam’s. “It’s the remains of a person.”

The urn weighs roughly 12 to 15 pounds, has carvings of hands folded in prayer, and appears to be tightly sealed shut. But despite sitting inside the marina office for days, nobody has come forward to claim it.

There are also no labels, names, or identifying markings on the outside of the box.

“Usually, if something like this has been in the water, you’ll start to get some algae growing on it,” he said.

But Morgan McWilliams, general manager at Legacy Options Funeral and Cremation Services, says the urn itself actually appears older.

“With the praying hands design,” McWilliams said. “If I had to guess, I would say probably the 80s or 90s.”

McWilliams also said federal regulations require cremated remains scattered at sea to be released at least three nautical miles offshore. He said families are only supposed to scatter ashes directly or use biodegradable urns designed to break down in the water.

“There should be a disc with a specific number that’s attached to the ashes inside of the urn,” McWilliams said. “You have to assign a certain disc number to the individual so you can identify them later if cases like this arise.”

Now, Salty Sam’s says if the family comes forward, the marina says it will offer a free burial-at-sea cruise to help give their loved one a proper final resting place.

Until then, the mysterious urn is safely inside the marina office and still waiting for answers.

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.