Author: CNN Newsource

By Lisa Crane

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    CULLMAN COUNTY, Alabama (WVTM) — Some Cullman County residents are outraged after finding out the man who inked their bodies now faces child sex charges.

Jesse Conn is charged with two counts of sodomy involving minor children. Now, some of his former clients want to do something about the ink he tattooed on them.

Cullman’s Summer Ashley is proud of her tattoos. She said they’re all very personal, and the permanent art creates a lifelong connection with the artist. After Conn was charged with sexually abusing a child, Ashley posted on social media that she wanted to cover the tattoo she got from him.

Many others chimed in with the same feelings.

Ashley said, “You trusted this person, the same hands that touched your body and put permanent marks on your body are the same hands that allegedly did incomprehensible things to children.”

Bre Farr is an artist at Silhouette Studios in Cullman. She said she gets it.

“It’s permanently, like I said, like in your skin for the rest of your life. And if you have a bad experience with somebody, you just don’t want that on your body anymore,” Farr said.

Robby Sadler works at The Hive Tattoo Collective in Hartselle. He’s offered to help anyone tattooed by Conn.

He said, “We decided just to offer a very heavily discounted reworks, cover-ups on the work. So that way you kind of get rid of that stigma.”

Ashley and several others said they’ll take him up on the generous offer. She added, “He really didn’t skip a beat. I thought that it was great that immediately he reached out and he said, ‘If you want this covered, I’ll do that.'”

Ashley realizes Conn has not been convicted in this case, and he is presumed innocent, but she said she just doesn’t want to be reminded of these horrific allegations every time she looks at one of her tattoos.

Conn’s trial is scheduled for March.

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 Brooklyn Joyner

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    YAZOO CITY, Mississippi (WAPT) — Letisha Stuckey is mourning the loss of her son, 33-year-old Cornelius Stuckey, who was shot multiple times in Yazoo County on Saturday, according to the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department.

“When I got out there, I told them I wanted to know where he had been shot at, how many times he had been shot, and they told me to step away. There wasn’t anything they could tell me,” Letisha Stuckey said.

Cornelius Stuckey’s death comes just months after his cousin, Kenlanda Burns, was killed in September 2025. Kenlanda’s father, Isaiah Burns, said he keeps her memory alive through pictures on the wall.

“You already raise your kids, and then you have to raise your grandkids, and then it gets harder and harder,” Isaiah Burns said.

Kenlanda Burns left behind three children after she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, who later died by suicide. The family held a vigil on the steps of her apartment to honor her memory. This recurring loss has left the family feeling empty and on edge.

Letisha Stuckey said she is all out of tears to cry, remembering her son as a funny guy who loved his two children.

“I’m not feeling; I don’t feel anything; they failed him just like they did my cousin,” she said.

The family is now left with only memories of their loved ones from pictures on the wall, unable to bear the thought of losing another family member to gun violence.

“If it be another killing, everybody is going to go crazy,” Isaiah Burns said.

The family says both loved ones warned police they were in danger before they were killed. They believe their pleas for help were ignored by the Yazoo County Police Department. We reached out to the department for comment and were told they would follow up at a later date.

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 Edward Smith

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Susan Bruner won a court battle Wednesday to keep her miniature horse, Bandit, despite a new ordinance in Louisville requiring large animals to be kept on at least one acre of land.

Supporters gathered in a courtroom to show their support for Bruner and her horse. Bruner, who has kept Bandit in her backyard for 14 years, expressed relief after the court’s decision.

“I’m feeling a little at ease. I got it dismissed. So part one’s done. We’ve got Bandit safe. He’s staying where he’s at,” Bruner said.

Bruner shared that she had been anxious about the outcome, saying, “I’ve been panicking and I’ve been having, anxiety attacks. Really at the beginning, after I started getting all the help from all the community, I eased a little.”

The backlash against the ordinance led Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell to push for changes to exempt animals owned in Louisville before the ordinance passed. The court’s decision protects Bandit until the legislation is amended, but Bruner remains concerned for others who may want to own similar animals.

“We need the acreage taken out. If somebody owns a miniature horse, and they want to move to Jefferson County. They wouldn’t be able to,” Bruner said.

Despite her concerns, Bruner is grateful for the outcome and looks forward to reuniting with Bandit.

“I’m gonna give him a hug. I give my baby a hug and a carrot,” she 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 Caleb Califano

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    FORT PIERCE, Florida (WPBF) — An unusual underwater discovery led to a temporary beach closure in St. Lucie County over the weekend after a scuba diver found what authorities later confirmed was a World War II explosive.

The discovery was made by diver Tom Gramlich, who regularly dives along the Treasure Coast. Gramlich says he was diving near Pepper Park when he spotted an old metal object in shallow water.

“As I was coming in, I looked down, and I saw some kind of strange object,” Gramlich said. “I reached down, picked it up, had it in my hand, and I realized this looks like a World War II mortar.”

Once he realized what he had found, Gramlich says he immediately contacted authorities. Deputies secured the beach and called in the bomb squad, which moved the device to a safe area and conducted a controlled detonation.

“They put their explosives around it, filled it back up with sand, and then a short time later, they detonated it,” Gramlich said. “You saw a big explosion on the beach that sent sand and debris sky high.”

Officials say this is not the first time military ordnance has been found off the Treasure Coast. According to Andy Brady with the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, the area has deep ties to WWII history.

Brady says in 1943, the U.S. military took control of more than 20,000 acres in the region for amphibious warfare training ahead of the Normandy invasion. That training involved the use of live explosives, some of which are still occasionally discovered decades later.

“If you ever find something like this, retreat, report it, leave it alone, and call the Corps or the bomb squad,” Brady 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 Madilyn Destefano, Tony Atkins

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — A protest was organized outside of Orlando City Hall at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, where people gathered to repudiate the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

Groups including Orlando 50501, The Family Support Network, the Immigrants Are Welcomed Here Coalition and the Hope Community Center, will be there.

“Trump and his billionaire cronies will stop at nothing using ICE as a sword against the working class,” a protester said.

The incident has deeply affected Pastor Sarah Robinson of Audubon Park Church, who participated in the Orlando demonstration.

“It’s the reason I became a pastor, to love people well. To care for our community. To make, thriving, flourishing communities. What’s happening now is so antithetical to that,” Robinson said.

Wednesday’s protest was organized just two and a half hours before it took place, with organizers labeling it an emergency protest.

“This person was shot at point-blank range and the ICE agents had no justification for this killing,” Corey Hill of Orlando 5150 said.

Organizers have vowed to continue their efforts as needed in their push for change.

“Everyone is here because of their love for others. That’s why we’re here. And this is our love. Out loud,” Robinson 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 Barry Simms

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — A Maryland woman says she got a letter telling her she received unemployment and was overpaid, but there was a problem: She never applied for the benefits.

Now, she’s concerned about identity theft and proving she didn’t apply for or get the money.

“At first, I thought it was a scam,” said Donna Shoppert.

But Shoppert is one of hundreds of people who received the letter from the state.

“You received an overpayment of Unemployment Insurance benefits,” the letter reads.

Using bold print and capital letters, the state said the “Claimant filed an initial claim for unemployment benefits… but failed to supply the appropriate documentation to prove their identity…”

Shoppert’s letter said she was overpaid more than $1,400.

“I never applied for unemployment. I was employed,” Shoppert said.

Another woman, who declined to speak on camera, told WBAL-TV 11 News she did receive unemployment benefits of $13,000 from April through July 2020. She said federal and state taxes, along with social security, were deducted. Now, the state wants the money back. She is trying to work it out after receiving the funds at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, state officials said, in part: “The Maryland Department of Labor is in the process of addressing a backlog of unemployment insurance overpayments from prior years that were not pursued by the previous administration… recovering overpayments is a legally required part of the unemployment insurance system.”

The Labor Department said overpayments could have occurred for several reasons, including identity theft or fraud committed by a third party, especially during the pandemic.

Shoppert said she’s going to appeal and is worried someone else got the funds using her name.

“Apparently, our ID was out there and used for this purpose,” Shoppert said.

The Department of Labor said if a person’s identity was stolen and used to commit unemployment benefits fraud, that person will not be held responsible for returning the funds.

Anyone who receives a Maryland Department of Labor notification of overpayment that was due to their identity being stolen and used to commit UI fraud will not be held responsible for returning those funds.

Anyone who receives an overpayment letter but believes they are the victim of identity theft is advised to refer to the agency’s Unemployment Insurance Fraud information page for instructions on how to report the issue for resolution.

Additionally, claimants who received an overpayment but are experiencing financial hardship may request a waiver.

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 Tom George

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    DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) — Ryan Camacho, who faces charges in Wake County for the murder of Ravenscroft teacher Zoe Welsh, has a lengthy criminal history.

Camacho had several cases in Durham, including a woman who said he broke into her home twice. She believes the Durham courts failed to take the situation seriously at the time and now worries that if Camacho had been behind bars earlier, Welsh might still be alive.

Michelle Potchak still feels the lingering effects of her shattered sense of peace within her home.

“You can still see the fingerprint dust on that window from when the cops actually dusted all those years ago,” she said.

It’s still difficult for her to talk about Ryan Camacho, the man she says haunted her for five years.

“I couldn’t sit still anymore and not say something. The justice system failed Ms. Welsh,” Potchak said.

She was out of town in 2021 when Camacho broke into her home through a window. Her brother, who stopped by to check on her home, came face-to-face with him.

Potchak said, “Ryan just walked in through the back door, took one look at (her brother) and darted out the other way.”

Camacho, armed with a knife, ransacked her house and began piling valuables and electronics, seemingly preparing to pack suitcases, before taking her car — an act interrupted by her brother’s unexpected visit.

Despite a violent history in Raleigh, including an incident a few years prior involving Wes Phillips — who lived next door to Camacho and moved after alleging his car was vandalized and his family terrorized — Camacho was able to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Potchak said she even raised the issue with Durham’s prosecutors.

“I said, ‘You do understand this man has a significant record, including gun charges?'” she recalled. “And (they) said, ‘What?'”

Despite this, Camacho ended up in jail for other cases.

Still, Potchak was so frightened that she monitored the victim information portal, fearing Camacho would return once released.

“I just always had a feeling that he would,” she said.

Just days after his release in 2024, he was back at her home again — another rock, the same window. However, this time she had security footage.

Camacho was involved in other alleged break-ins in the neighborhood, including their clubhouse. But he was again allowed to plead to misdemeanors instead of facing felony charges.

Even more chilling is what he said about Potchak’s home.

“He thought it was his house. That’s what he told his lawyer to tell the judge,” Potchak said. “I’m addressing the court. I said, ‘Look, many homeowners don’t have to deal with this once in their lifespan of owning their home. I’ve now had to live it twice by the same man terrorizing me. I have no trust.'”

Now, hearing what happened to Zoe Welsh, Potchak wonders if more had been done, might Welsh still be alive?

“It just hurt, literally hurt my heart,” Potchak said. “I couldn’t believe that it had escalated to that point. And it almost made me feel that it maybe — it would have been better for him to break into this home again instead of killing an innocent woman.”

ABC11 reached out to the Durham District Attorney’s Office for comment and are 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 Briana Smith

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    WEST WHITELAND, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — After more than 170 grueling hours of training and tests, Emily Gindele graduated from the entry-level firefighter program as a West Whiteland Fire Company volunteer firefighter on Wednesday night.

“I never thought I would see this day,” said the 26-year-old from Exton, Pa. “I’m so excited I can finally do it. After the accident, I was definitely kind of hopeless and thought that I would never get to this point, but I’m here. I did it, and I worked really hard to get here.”

It’s a miraculous dream come true for Gindele after a car crash left her critically injured and killed her boyfriend, 25-year-old Colin Reedy, two years ago.

Both of the volunteer firefighters were responding to a call at the time.

“It was hard. I went through a lot. My body went through a lot. I still feel pain every day. I still have cognitive issues,” said Gindele.

Despite her brain injury, broken bones, stroke and heartache, Gindele wanted to prove to herself she could accomplish her original goal.

“I did everything that I could to be like everybody else,” said Gindele.

Gindele’s parents beamed with pride as they watched her cross the stage, saying firefighting is her calling.

“She persevered and she got through this, and we’re thrilled she can pursue her dream,” said her father, Mark Gindele.

“I think she just wanted to finish what she started, and I’m just glad she’s here with us,” said her mother, Fran Gindele.

Reedy’s parents showed their support, too.

“I know that he (Colin) would be cheering. He would be screaming, ‘Come on Em. Go Em.’ I just, I could hear it in the background,” said Tracy Reedy, who is Colin’s mother.

And Colin’s not too far, as Gindele wore his Mass card in her hat, and he’s forever in her heart.

“Colin would be so proud of me,” said Gindele. “I’m really excited to see where my life goes, and I feel like I haven’t been able to say that in a really long time.”

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 Michelle Bandur

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) — The Berkeley man known as the “NorCal rapist” who terrorized women for 15 years had his nearly 900-year prison sentence reduced due to new state laws, making him eligible for elder parole and raising concerns among his victims.

New state laws were passed after Waller’s trial and prison sentence.

Two of Waller’s nine victims, each attacked in 1991 and 1992, returned to the Sacramento County Courthouse.

“I fought for 27 years until he was arrested after he committed his crimes against me, 29 years to make sure that he served the punishment that he deserved for what he had done to all of these people,” said Nicole Ernest-Payte, believed to be Waller’s first victim.

She remembers the night of her attack every day.

“Woke up at night, after it was dark and there was a masked man in my house with his arm around my neck and a gun to my head,” she said.

Over 15 years, Waller broke into women’s homes in six Northern California counties, and DNA evidence finally connected him to the sexual assaults.

He faced 46 counts, resulting in guilty verdicts and a 2020 sentence of 897 years to life.

Ernest-Payte expressed relief at the time.

“I’m done. He’s gone. I never have to think of him for one second of my life, and that is the greatest relief I could ever, ever feel,” she said in 2020.

However, the recent developments have been unsettling for her and the other victims.

“It’s intrusive. It draws a lot of things back up again,” she said.

During Waller’s appeal, one of the charges was changed from kidnapping to false imprisonment, which scheduled Wednesday’s resentencing hearing with Judge James Arguelles.

Arguelles was the trial and original sentencing judge.

With the lesser charge, the judge reduced Waller’s sentence by 39 years to 858 years to life.

Waller, 65, is also eligible for elder parole, a program that allows for the release of inmates, age 50 and older, who serve 20 years of their sentence.

“If somebody is bedbound and unable to actually do something, the Department of Corrections could release them through a compassionate release. But the legislature has an act on something called elder parole, which makes people eligible for release as young as in their 50s,” said Chris Orr, Assistant Chief District Attorney for Sacramento County.

Orr prosecuted Waller in 2020.

Waller must serve 20 years of his now 858-year sentence to be considered for elder parole.

“There’s some irony in the fact that if you’re a victim of elder abuse, you have to be age 65,” said Orr. “But if you’re somebody who commits nine different rapes over 15 years, you only have to be age 50 to be considered elderly.”

Victims are now facing the reality of Waller’s potential release in about 14 years.

“This man was caught at 58 years old. When he was arrested, he had a backpack full of equipment ready to go to rape someone else at 58. So how elderly was he?” said Ernest-Payte.

Judge Arguelles shared similar concerns.

Talking about Waller, Arguelles said, “If he’s not a danger to society, then I don’t know what a danger to society is,” and that Arguelles expressed certainty that if Waller is released, he would harm more victims.

He also had harsh words for the legislature.

“They seem to be more worried about defendants’ rights than victims’ rights,” he said in court.

Waller’s defense attorney refused comment leaving court.

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.