Category: CNN Regional

By Caitlin Ashbaugh

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    STARTEX, South Carolina (WYFF) — The body of a woman, known in the Spartanburg County community as “Ms. Startex,” has been identified after years of inconclusive investigation.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday they positively identified a Jane Doe as Jolene Lynn White, formerly of Cowpens. The match was reported to Investigator Rick Ellis, who was among the main deputies working the case from the beginning, on Aug. 27 of this year.

Investigators determined White disappeared between 2003 and 2005. Before this disappearance, it was reported she went missing another time by law enforcement.

“I was there the day we recovered her in 2011 in Startex. It’s a personal touch for me. It’s something that, as cold case people, we look for that final day,” Ellis said. “She (her mother) even after that period of time, had a hope that her daughter was going to come walking in the door. We always speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. That’s what we do. So from that aspect, I was able to bring her to the closure.”

A body was found on October 26, 2011, along South Main Street in Startex by teenagers looking for scrap metal, according to investigators. At the time, she was determined a Jane Doe, “Ms. Startex.”

Skeletal remains were submitted to Forensic Anthropologist Suzanne Able to assist with identification and possible cause of death. During the examination, investigators determined the person was a white woman between the ages of 40 and 55. At the time, the case was then ruled a homicide based on evidence from the Coroner’s Office.

Numerous attempts were made by news stories, public posters, and forensic images to determine how the person looked. DNA profiles were generated and entered into a national database for years without success.

In 2020, Ellis looked into developments in Genealogy science, consulting with the D.N.A.Doe Project to help match profiles with possibly known family members on FamilyTreeDNA.

In April 2025, a new match was entered into the database, which investigators said was a close match. From there, investigators conducted interviews to narrow the search for a potential daughter of the person who passed away. A DNA sample was submitted to the University of North Texas for familial comparison, and a positive match for White was reported to Ellis on Aug. 27.

“It’s a personal touch for me. It, it’s something that, as cold case people, we look for that final day,” Ellis said.

“He prays about this a lot, to bring these people to a positive conclusion of who they actually are and be able to return them to their families,” Coroner Rusty Clevenger said.

D.N.A.Doe Project’s Rebecca Somerholder said White had matches for Puerto Rican descent, and her mother in the United States was her adoptive parent, making the search difficult.

“Our team included numerous support staff and ten volunteer genetic genealogists who spent more than four and a half years, painstakingly researching this case,” Somerholder said. “Today, she is no longer Miss Startex. We can say her name.”

Clevenger said without them helping to investigate the case and providing the funds, White may have never been identified. He describes the 501(c)3 program as one in desperate need of funding, especially for smaller departments like in Spartanburg County.

White’s case continues to be investigated and ruled as a homicide. Investigators are unable to provide a cause of death or motive as they continue to search for a suspect.

The Coroner’s Office said it has identified several other missing persons cases like White’s under Ellis’ time as an investigator. Investigators continue to look into the cases of three unidentified people, who go back to as far as 2016.

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By Erin Lowrey

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was in court Wednesday where she entered a plea in her federal case.

Cantrell was indicted by a federal grand jury last month and became the first sitting mayor in the city to face federal charges.

She is facing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, false statements, obstruction of justice and false declaration before a grand jury.

Cantrell was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. Her next court date will be Oct. 13 with her trial date set for Nov. 17 at 9 a.m.

The allegations stem from what federal prosecutors say was a romantic relationship with her former security guard and NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie.

She and Vappie are accused of trying to cover up the alleged relationship.

Cantrell was ordered not to speak to Vappie, and has been restricted to traveling only within the state of Louisiana.

She will be released on supervision by probation and has to give up her passport to probation.

Cantrell is allowed to speak to city employees, but cannot speak to anyone on the case, including witnesses.

Cantrell is also accused of using city money for personal expenses like travel and meals on trips with Vappie.

Vappie is accused of going on trips with the mayor at least 14 times between 2021 and 2024, costing the city more than $70,000.

Federal investigators also accuse Cantrell and Vappie of using a then-city-owned apartment in the Pontalba Building as a personal residence while Vappie was on duty.

To conceal the scheme, Cantrell and Vappie are accused of using encrypted WhatsApp messages, deleting evidence, making false statements to FBI agents and giving false declarations to a federal grand jury, according to the indictment.

Cantrell’s political career began in 2012 when she won a seat on the New Orleans City Council in a special election.

She had previously run unsuccessfully for an Orleans Parish School Board seat in 2004.

Attack ads flew back in 2012, with Cantrell’s opponent hitting her for failing to file campaign finance reports after the 2004 race, a matter resolved with Cantrell paying less than half of what was owed. She was reelected in 2014 with little opposition.

In 2017, Cantrell announced her candidacy for mayor with billboards featuring only her name, LaToya.

During the runoff, it came to light that Cantrell had liens placed on her property for failing to pay taxes.

WDSU Investigates also broke the story on how she had used a credit card while on the council for what appeared to be personal expenses.

Cantrell paid the money back before she qualified to run for mayor.

The lien matter was resolved, and the credit card issues turned into a full-blown investigation by the state’s attorney general at the time, Jeff Landry, who chose not to pursue charges against Cantrell.

Landry claimed that the city’s policies and laws pertaining to credit card use were so vague that it would be almost impossible to prosecute her. Landry is now the governor.

Cantrell’s first term as mayor started off normally, and then the pandemic hit.

She was reelected with little real opposition in 2021, but in her second term, Cantrell was dogged by her travel to other countries, turnover in key departments like public works and what seems like a never-ending battle with the City Council.

She is serving her final year in office. A new mayor will be elected in October and take office on Jan. 6, 2026.

It is important to note that a federal trial can sometimes take years before beginning, so the indictment likely will not hinder the end of her term unless she is convicted.

Cantrell, if convicted, would face suspension without pay, according to the city’s home charter.

The home charter states the suspension would remain in place until the conviction is final and all court proceedings are exhausted.

The council could then, by a majority vote, declare the mayor’s seat vacant.

If Cantrell steps down, it’s likely an interim mayor would be appointed until the election.

Should she be sentenced to prison for any crimes, that sentence likely would not take place until after she is out of office.

She could also enter a plea, which would open her up to the opportunity of negotiating for no jail time.

It is also possible that Cantrell would face fines regardless of whether she pleads or if she is sentenced for a federal crime.

Cantrell could, and likely would, appeal any convictions she could face. If an appeal overturns a conviction, she could be owed back pay from any suspensions, and if still within her term, be restored all powers as mayor, according to the home charter.

A federal conviction would not impact her pension.

Cantrell’s pension would be 75% to 80% of her highest-paid salary over a three-year period. This would likely be her salary as mayor, which is over $150,000 per year.

Vappie is expected to be arraigned again on his charges on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to charges last year connected to the case.

The City of New Orleans issued the following statement regarding the arraignment:

“Regarding today’s arraignment, the City of New Orleans will continue to stand by its policy of reserving comment. Additionally, on the advice of counsel, the Mayor will not make any statements before or after today’s legal proceedings.”

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By Kaitlyn Hart

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    RIGBY, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — Deputies found a man’s body Wednesday night after he jumped into the Snake River during a traffic stop.

According to a news release Thursday from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Dispatch received reports Sunday around 7:45 p.m. that a man was jumping off the train bridge near mile marker 326 on U.S. Highway 20 (parallel to the Lorenzo Bridge) into the water. Callers said they were worried for his safety.

Deputies identified the man as David Randall Hicks, 41, of Rexburg, and learned he had jumped off the bridge and swam to a nearby island in the river.

Hicks hid from deputies on the island, and after several hours of searching, was still not found.

During the search, deputies learned that Hicks had multiple felony warrants for his arrest.

Around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop on a car that had run a stop sign on 4200 East and Menan Lorenzo Highway.

Hicks was driving the car, and he allegedly led deputies on a pursuit that ended at 5050 East on the Lorenzo Bridge.

Hicks then got out of his car, jumped into the river and swam away. Deputies lost sight of him and requested more assistance from Madison County, including the use of a drone, and also requested help from the Idaho State Police.

Authorities searched for Hicks until about 3 a.m.

On Wednesday, around 6:15 p.m., dispatch received reports of a body in the river near the Lorenzo Boat Dock. Deputies responded with Tech Rescue, Rigby Quick Response and Central Fire Ambulance and found Hicks’ body.

The investigation is ongoing.

“Jefferson Sheriff’s Office would like to express our condolences to the Hicks family,” according to the release. “We would also like to thank Madison County, Idaho State Police, Central Fire Ambulance and Rigby Quick Response for their assistance.”

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By Abner Sosa

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    LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas are climbing at a record pace in 2025, with patients spending more than $193 million from January through August, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the department, said the increase is notable after last year’s slowdown.

“The biggest standout in this report is the fact that if you look at this period, compared to last year, we’ve increased by more than $10 million year to year,” Hardin said. “That’s a big story because we saw a decrease last year and assumed we might be seeing a slowdown. That has simply not been the case.”

The state reports more than 109,000 active patient cards and more than 52,000 pounds of cannabis products purchased so far this year.

Taxes collected on sales have topped $21 million in 2025, with more than $5 million generated in July and August alone.

On average, Arkansans are spending about $800,000 per day on medical marijuana products, Hardin said. If that pace continues, 2025 will be the state’s biggest year yet for cannabis sales.

A new law, Act 657, redirects part of the tax revenue to address food insecurity. The money will help pay down school lunch debt and support programs such as free or reduced-price lunches and food banks.

“They’ve decided that it primarily is going to go to food insecurity,” Hardin said. “That could mean reduced or free school lunches, food banks — they can really be creative with how they use that. And when you’re talking about already this year $21 million generated, that’s going to allow them to really have an impact on food insecurity across the state.”

Since medical marijuana became legal in 2019, Arkansans have spent more than $1.5 billion on cannabis products. The state has collected more than $105 million in tax revenue over that period.

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