‘I just want them to be there for me’: A 14-year-old North Carolina girl in foster care longs for adoption

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Audrey Biesk

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    North Carolina (WXII) — Children’s Home Society of North Carolina is actively recruiting a family to adopt 14-year-old, Zori who currently lives in foster care.

“I’m kind, I like to help and I am loving,” said Zori. “I just want people to be happy.”

Zori is a thoughtful and intelligent teen who has big plans for her future. She is on the honor roll, enjoys school and hopes to attend early college. “I got more A’s this semester than last semester, so I was proud of myself. It really showed I was working trying to improve,” Zori said.

WXII 12’s Audrey Biesk met Zori for a private soap making experience to get to know her more. The owner at Lizzie’s All-Natural Products in downtown Winston-Salem, Christen Funderburk, also known as Lizzie gave them a one-on-one lesson.

“I like the color of the flowers and the soap smell, it smells good,” explained Zori. She got to pick out botanicals and essential oils for her soap.

Click the video player above to see the whole experience. Plus, Zori got to pick out inspirational stickers to decorate the soap box with.

When asked what makes her feel the most loved. She said, “When people treat me right and be there for me when I need them.”

Zori has a deep desire to be adopted and have a forever family. “I want them to support me and I just want them to help me go through college,” she said. Zori also hopes to stay active. “I like to go out and do stuff and I like to go out to dinner and to the mall and stuff. I’ve always wanted to go to the Bahamas.”

Zoris recruitment team at CHS said she doesn’t mind having siblings in her forever home.

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Grandson tells police he killed grandmother, moved her body, and used her credit cards

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Rachael Perry

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    VERO BEACH, Fla. (WPBF) — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a disturbing confession in the death of a woman found inside her apartment.

According to court records, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check on Monday at an apartment on 5090 Fairways Circle in Vero Beach. The police report shows that the son-in-law of Patricia Dibella, 76, told dispatchers his son called him to say Dibella was dead.

Deputies responded to the community, where they found Dibella’s grandson, Nicholas Ivey, standing outside. According to the police report, Ivey told investigators Dibella was dead inside the home.

A corporal at the scene went inside the apartment, where they found Dibella lying in her bed. Based on her condition, the corporal immediately determined she was dead.

While at the scene, investigators say they informed her grandson, Ivey, that he was being taken into custody and claim Ivey then spontaneously told one of the detectives that he killed his grandmother. Furthermore, while driving to the sheriff’s office, detectives report Ivey spontaneously uttered, “She came at me with a knife.”

When they arrived at the sheriff’s office, detectives questioned Ivey, who, according to court records, told them Dibella poked him in the back with a kitchen steak knife.

According to the police report, Ivey told detectives he killed his grandmother, Dibella, on Sunday by “snapping her neck” and punching and stomping on her head while she was on the ground. He reportedly told detectives he moved her body from the kitchen floor and laid her on her bed.

Court records show Ivey told detectives he used towels to clean the blood off the kitchen floor and placed the knife in the kitchen drawer.

Ivey is quoted in the police report as saying the sweatshirt he was wearing during their interview was the one he was wearing when he killed Dibella. Detectives say he informed them that he washed the sweatshirt along with the towels because they were covered in blood.

According to the police report, Ivey told detectives he tried calling his father, but he didn’t pick up. He said he did not call 911 because he wanted to talk to his father to decide what to do first.

The police report shows Ivey told detectives that, after killing his grandmother, he went into Dibella’s closet where her purse was located, removed her wallet, and took her credit cards. The following day, investigators say Ivey drove Dibella’s vehicle to the store where he purchased cigarettes and a beer, using Dibella’s credit card.

Once he returned home from the store, investigators say Ivey contacted his father, informing him that he killed Dibella.

Ivey was booked in the Indian River County Jail on charges of grand theft auto, criminal use of personal identification, unlawful possession of stolen credit cards, and fraudulent use of credit cards.

However, Ivey has not been charged in Dibella’s death.

WPBF 25 News reached out to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office to ask why that is.

In a statement, a spokesperson said, “The pc (probable cause) affidavit reflects the facts known at the time of arrest. Formal murder charges are determined and filed as soon as certain evidence is processed. That process is still ongoing, but we expect charges consistent with murder.”

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Man receives 15 years in prison for stealing, reselling trailers meant for Hurricane Ian victims

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By James Curtis Digital Content Producer

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    CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WBBH) — A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday for stealing and reselling trailers meant for Hurricane Ian victims in Charlotte County who lost their homes.

According to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Ivan Gutierrez Miranda was convicted in December 2025 of RICO, conspiracy to commit RICO, organized scheme to defraud and five counts of dealing in stolen property.

Miranda was sentenced to 15 years for each count, and they will be served concurrently.

The investigation was conducted by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. It revealed that Miranda operated in the early morning hours ands late evening to blend in during the state of emergency, where RVs and campers were being moved daily to aid people displaced due to Hurricane Ian.

The attorney general also said Miranda is a Cuban national who entered the United States illegally. After he serves his sentence in the Department of Corrections, he will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

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.

Paramedic denied bail after prosecutors come armed with new details on 23-count indictment

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Kate Amara

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    TOWSON, Md. (WBAL) — A Baltimore County paramedic was denied bail after the judge called allegations against him shocking and outrageous.

Christopher Carroll, of Pennsylvania, worked for the Baltimore County Fire Department. He’s charged in a 23-count criminal indictment that includes engaging in lewd acts at work and putting his coworkers’ health in danger.

At Carroll’s bail review, the state came armed with new details on current charges and a long list of new allegations. They said Carroll filmed himself contaminating his workplace with bodily fluids to make money and get subscribers online for $7 per month.

“Everyone wants to know why,” said Seth Okin, the defense attorney. “I don’t have the ability to answer that question right now.”

Okin spoke outside U.S. District Court in Towson on Thursday, shortly after Carroll, who has since been suspended, was denied bail.

Some allegations against Carroll include filming himself in his work uniform purposefully leaving his bodily fluids — including urine — all over the workplace, on his supervisor’s keyboard and communal coffee creamer in a fridge at the Public Safety Building in Towson, and in the large icemaker in Fire Station #2 in Pikesville.

“Urinated on ice, wiped (himself) on a scoop, and used the scoop to mix the urine throughout the ice in the icemaker before making a thumbs-up gesture to the camera,” court documents stated.

In court, the defense said Carroll has no criminal record and self-surrendered this week after his father drove him down from Pennsylvania.

Carroll’s father declined to answer any questions after the bail review.

Officials told the judge there is more video showing Carroll contaminating a carton of orange juice, hand soap in the bathroom, someone’s ChapStick, a pot of chili on the stove, a can of vegetables, an air conditioner vent in the firehouse and a can of scented room spray in his doctor’s office waiting room.

“Still reviewing,” Okin said. “It’ll be an extensive amount of review that needs to take place for this matter, so I can’t answer your question, but it is enough for anyone sitting in the courtroom to react to, as you heard.”

The defense said Carroll is in intensive mental health therapy. Prosecutors said it has been going on since at least September, and that Carroll’s DNA was found on the coffee creamer and keyboard.

Officials identified 18 people who regularly used the ice machine.

“I would tell those parties and the people that were involved, one of the first things that internal affairs and the State’s Attorney’s Office was interested in would be his medical record, to make sure he doesn’t have any sexually transmitted diseases or anything like that. That waiver has been submitted to them directly. They will handle the dissemination of that information as they see fit,” Okin said.

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Two families lose everything after apartment fire, hours after moving in

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Taylor Epps

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    BUFFALO, New York (WKBW) — It was supposed to be a fresh start for two Buffalo families. Instead, hours later, a fire destroyed the new apartments and everything inside.

“Got the U-Haul at 9 am,” said Ashley Biviano, a single mother of two. “I unloaded everything by one. Two and a half hours later, gone.”

She saw another family, the Garcia-Colons, moving in downstairs. They’re a family of six with a puppy.

“In just minutes, our fresh start was gone,” the Garcia-Colons wrote in a statement.

Biviano turned the heat on after unloading; that’s when she started smelling something off. She thought it was because no one had lived there in a while and tried to open the windows to get rid of the smoke.

“Didn’t happen. Filled with smoke. My mom texted me, all caps, ‘ Come out now,'” said Biviano. Ashley “I was told by the fire marshal that the room directly underneath me was fully engulfed.”

The Garcia-Colons weren’t home when they got back. They saw their new home, and all of their belongings had been destroyed.

“We lost everything, but we didn’t lose each other. Right now, we’re just trying to stay strong for our kids and take things one step at a time,” the Garcia-Colons wrote in a statement.

It’s not the first time tragedy has struck Biviano’s family. Her son’s father died in a house fire in 2024.

“They were watching that door, wondering if I was going to come out because they know their father didn’t,” said Biviano. “I got in my car and lost it, I was like, that’s pictures of their father when he was a kid, can’t get those back.”

There are GoFundMe pages set up for both families.

You can also donate new (not used) items to the WNY Compassion Connection, 3966 Walden Ave, Lancaster, NY 14086, on behalf of Ashley and family.

Justice, age 7: Size 6 or 7 slim in pants (athletic type for normal days, khaki joggers for school uniform). Shirts, 7/8 or navy blue polo for uniform in boys large. 13 or 1 shoe. Rockwell, age 6: Size 5 pants, size 6 shirts. 10 or 11 shoes. Ashley, 37: Pants 26in (or 2-4 depending on brand (I usually get them at Buckle, hence the inch measurement). Shirts vary…medium is safe, hoodies large. “There were moms that reached out, and they were like I have clothes your size, I have clothes the boys’ size and I was just like, this really is the city of good neighbors,” said Biviano.

The building damage is estimated at $100,000 and $50,000 for the contents, according to city officials.

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Wade Wilson’s death penalty appeal lasts just minutes before Florida Supreme Court

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Kaitlin Knapp

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    TALLAHASSEE, Florida (WFTX) — Convicted Cape Coral killer Wade Wilson continues to fight his death sentences as his legal team takes his appeal to the highest court in Florida.

On Thursday morning, Wilson’s attorneys and the state went before the Florida Supreme Court to make their cases. However, the hearing lasted only about four minutes. In October 2019, Wilson killed Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz. It wasn’t until June 2024 when he went to trial. A jury convicted him of both murders and later recommended execution. The judge agreed and sentenced Wilson to death.

Since that day in August 2024, he’s been fighting that sentence.

On Thursday, attorneys for the state and Wilson went before the Florida Supreme Court. What normally would take an hour only went on for four minutes. “I don’t intend to waste this Court’s time re-arguing things that have already been considered.,” said Michael Ufferman, Wilson’s defense attorney.

Ufferman was referring to an opinion the Supreme Court made in December about two other death penalty cases. In those cases, those attorneys argued that Florida law, which now only requires an 8-4 vote for a death penalty recommendation rather than it being unanimous, is unconstitutional. But the Florida Supreme Court said it’s legal.

According to the State Attorney’s Office for the 14th Judicial Circuit, the opinion is critical because “…the Hunt death penalty sentence is the first to be decided by the Florida Supreme Court since the Legislature rescinded the state’s unanimous-jury requirement.”

“I summarize and ask that the court affirm the decision of the lower court,” said Rick A. Buchwalter, assistant attorney general.

Since the Florida Supreme Court decided that, Wilson’s attorney didn’t make any arguments during Thursday’s brief hearing.

Now, Wilson’s attorney says he’s taking this to the United States Supreme Court. It’s not clear when they’ll hear his case or if they even will.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WFTX’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.

Florida-based aviation ministry lost contact with plane over mountains in Haiti

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Kiley Vaughan

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    TAMPA (WFTS) — Agape Flights said it lost contact with one of its flights over Haiti on Thursday afternoon.

Agape Flights, based out of Venice, is a Christian aviation ministry that provides cargo, mail and humanitarian aid delivery to missionaries in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

The group’s Facebook post said it lost contact with N316AF Embraer 110 Bandeirante over the mountains of Jeremie in Haiti on the afternoon of Feb. 5.

“We ask for prayers for the pilots and their families, and for the entire family of Agape Flights during this incredibly difficult time. We also respectfully request privacy for the families as they navigate these moments with courage and grace,” said the post to Facebook. Agape Flights has not provided any information about the individuals on board at this time.

Tampa Bay 28 previously reported on Agape flights sending relief supplies to Haiti after an earthquake in 2021, and in 2024 amid a period of unrest.

This is a developing story. Tampa Bay 28 will provide more details as they become available.

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.

‘Racist-toned’ comments under City of West Allis social post promoting Black-owned businesses spark concern

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Andie Bernhardt

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    WEST ALLIS, Wis. (WDJT) — February is Black History Month, and a post meant to celebrate local Black-owned businesses in West Allis is sparking a big reaction.

“It had a couple of likes and a couple of comments and then all the sudden, 24 hours later, it had completely exploded,” said West Allis Mayor Dan Devine.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, to mark the first day of Black History Month, the City of West Allis made a post highlighting Black-owned businesses. The post, Mayor Devine says, escalated quickly in the comments.

“We have really made strides to be an inclusive community and welcome everyone,” said Mayor Devine. “Some days you feel like you are really making progress and other days you just feel like you are spinning your wheels.”

In just 24 hours, the post gained more than a thousand comments, many of which had a racist tone. This caused major concerns for people both on and offline.

“My hope is people read that and recognize we still have a lot more work to do, and that’s evident, unfortunately,” said Mayor Devine.

Unlike Moore, who’s owned The Diamond Collection for five years in downtown West Allis, who says the comments were upsetting but not surprising.

“Not shocked, you know, this is what comes with the community,” said Moore. “It’s sad because it is 2026 and you will be very shocked that it’s still happening, but it is still happening. There’s nothing much you can do about it, but you know, keep working.”

Moore says people need to support Black-owned businesses and what they add to the community, not tear them down.

“I feel like it’s very important, because why not show up and show out for our month?” said Moore.

Brandon Hawthorne, who owns Twisted Plants, less than two miles away, says negative comments aren’t new and won’t stop him from providing for his community.

“For negative people and the negative comments, we try to look past it,” said Hawthorne. “You know, here we are in 2026 and it’s still some of the same old, same old, but you know, we have our head held high and just try to push forward.”

Both owners say now is not an easy time for local businesses and that every ounce of support matters.

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.

Minnesota women say they fell victim to scam trying to get loved ones out of ICE custody

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By Conor Wight

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — As thousands in Minnesota grapple with loved ones facing deportation, the fight in the immigration court system has become a critical lifeline. For at least two Ecuadorian women, their efforts to find legal assistance turned out to compound their problems, telling WCCO that they believe they’ve been scammed.

Geovana Patricia said that when ICE detained her husband, she didn’t know who to turn to; that is, until a friend, Alexandra Chorlango, recommended an attorney whom she contacted for help after her brother was detained.

Patricia called a number with a Florida area code on a digital flyer for “Inmigrate & Asociados L.LC.” A woman claiming to be an attorney, whom WCCO is not yet naming, told her that she could help, but immediately asked for a payment of $1,500 to start the process.

“I was so desperate that I sent it to them,” Patricia said. “I was scammed, maybe because I was desperate. I just wanted to help my husband.”

As the days ticked by, Patricia said that she was getting inconsistent information from the woman. At one point, she was sent a supposed document related to an order of release for her husband. WCCO found that the document had several typos and grammatical inconsistencies.

As of Thursday night, Patricia’s husband is still detained in Texas, telling her on the phone that he has never met or been contacted by the woman claiming to be their attorney.

Chorlango said she eventually ran into the same problem. After paying this woman $1,500, she said that she began to suspect she was being scammed as well, as she saw no concrete movement for her brother after he was detained in Bloomington and taken to Texas.

Chorlango said that her cousin also paid the same woman $1,500 for legal services after her son was taken from Bloomington to Louisiana. In that case, Chorlango explained that her cousin got a pro-bono attorney to step in to help. After her son was already released on a habeas corpus petition, the original woman whom she paid $1,500 to was still talking about working to free him.

WCCO spoke to this woman on the phone with Patricia. She declined to respond to scam accusations and declined to provide any proof that she was a practicing attorney.

The Minnesota State Attorney General’s Office recommends calling the American Bar Association office of the state in which an attorney claims to be practicing to check their credentials.

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.

North Texas woman sentenced to 20 years in “Angel Baby Doe” cold case, 24 years later

CNN Newsource on February 6, 2026

By S.E. Jenkins

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — The woman charged in connection with the death of a newborn baby whose body was found 24 years ago in a ditch in Johnson County has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, officials announced Thursday.

Shelby Ann Stotts, of Covington, pled guilty on Monday to manslaughter. On Thursday, a jury sentenced her to the maximum allowable sentence of 20 years in prison.

“After 24 years, 2 months, 18 days, 4 hours, and 10 minutes, justice was finally done on behalf of the infant girl whom this community named ‘Angel Baby Doe,'” Johnson County District Attorney Timothy Good said in a statement.

“Angel Baby Doe” In 2001, a newborn baby was dumped in a ditch between Burleson and Alvarado. The baby, who still had its umbilical cord, bled out because it did not receive medical care, investigators said.

Investigators have since referred to the newborn as “Angel Baby Doe.”

In 2024, Stotts was taken into custody after investigators in Johnson County received help from the Texas Attorney General’s Missing Persons and Cold Case unit. DNA technology revealed Stotts was the baby’s biological mother.

Good said the baby’s biological father was not aware that Stotts was even pregnant with the baby and only learned about the child 2 years ago. He gave an impact statement in which he named the child “Taryn Angel Moreno.”

The Safe Haven Law was in place when Angel Baby Doe was abandoned. It allows any parent to drop off an infant younger than 60 days old at a “safe place.”

That would include places like fire stations, hospitals, or EMS stations. No questions are asked and there is no threat of getting in legal trouble.

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.