Category: kifi-local-news

Curtis Jackson

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) — The Chubbuck Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding a tragic incident that occurred on the evening of December 10, 2025, in the Petco parking lot.

According to a statement from Chubbuck Police, at approximately 8:52 p.m., an adult male died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while sitting in his vehicle. The vehicle was parked in the Petco lot after being stopped by an Idaho State Police Trooper for a traffic violation.

Police report that the trooper initially observed the vehicle traveling southbound on Yellowstone Avenue without functioning taillights. After initiating a traffic stop, the driver pulled into the nearby Petco parking lot.

The trooper informed the driver of the reason for the stop and noticed that the man appeared extremely nervous. When asked to exit the vehicle, the man refused, stating he did not want to go to jail. He then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at himself.

The trooper attempted to grab the weapon, but the man resisted. The trooper stepped away from the vehicle, and moments later, the man shot himself. The trooper and other emergency responders began life saving measures.

Authorities have not released the man’s identity out of respect for his family.

Chubbuck Police are reviewing the trooper’s body-camera and in-car video footage.

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News Team

STAR, Wyoming (KIFI) — A 40-year-old man is dead, and an eight-year-old child is recovering from a gunshot wound after a domestic shooting incident turned violent in Lincoln County, Wyoming.

On the night of December 9, 2025, law enforcement was called to a home on Meadow Lark Lane in Grover, just north of Afton, after a woman and her four children fled the home due to a domestic dispute.

Upon arrival, Lincoln County Sheriff M. Shane Johnson reported that deputies discovered the eight-year-old child had been struck by a bullet. The child was taken to Star Valley Health, where she was treated and later released.

The man inside the home, later identified as 40-year-old Chazz Lilly, was suspected to be armed. Deputies made several attempts to contact Lilly but were unsuccessful. After these efforts failed, law enforcement entered the home and found Lilly dead from what officials believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No deputies or additional civilians were harmed during the response.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says it is continuing its investigation into the shooting, and no further information will be released while the investigation remains active. The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that support services and victim assistance resources have been offered to the affected family.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal and the Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) have dropped the kidnapping charges against Michael Raine, the BYU-Idaho student accused last month of kidnapping a 1-month-old child from the Idaho Falls Costco. The decision comes after the review of crucial new video evidence.

At a press conference today, December 11, Prosecutor Neal announced he would be filing the motion to dismiss the case.

“There are unquestionably ethical duties of the prosecutor not to go forward on a case that doesn’t meet the legal standard,” Neal told the press. “The analysis is really ‘Is there a rational basis for someone to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that they are to a moral certainty that this was a crime?’ And, I don’t think that we can say that.”

New Video Reverses Initial Narrative in Court Documents

The case, which gained significant attention on social media, initially rested on limited video evidence and statements from the mother, Natalie Millett. Early reports and court documents suggested Raine had “lurked” near the mother before intentionally taking her shopping cart. Furthermore, initial court documents incorrectly stated Raine did not have his own cart.

Prosecutor Neal clarified today that the initial report was made using vertical cell phone video of the security footage shot off a laptop. The full security video paints a different picture.

The full video places Raine’s own cart immediately behind the mother’s cart. Raine is captured walking past the mother, who was browsing the book section, and then pulling the mother’s cart from behind. Neal stated it is unclear if the 24-year-old ever looked inside the cart. Neal says this was further complicated as the video did not capture Raine’s actions after turning the corner.

“It’s really difficult one way or another to tell if he had seen the cart or looked into the cart,” said Neal. “The intent in this [case] has to be proven circumstantially, because we don’t have a way to peek into this person’s mind.”

IFPD 15-Point Investigation

Due to a lack of certainty from the video, the IFPD implemented a detailed 15-point investigative plan, which included a cognitive interview and a re-enactment of the incident. Neal says this approach was used to gather unbiased information, particularly since the high emotional impact of the event appeared to have affected the mother’s recollection.

After re-creating the incident with the mother and comparing it to the full security video, Neal says it became clear that some of the things the mother was remembering weren’t correct.

Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson elaborated on the challenge: “We know that’s the limitation of eyewitnesses, especially under that kind of emotional circumstance.”

Crucial New Angle

A new video, obtained by police last week, on Friday, December 5th, provided another angle of the confrontation. This footage shows the mother approaching Raine, who appears to still be pulling the cart behind him, coming to a complete stop to look at the products before she confronts him. He then follows her back to the book aisle to retrieve his own cart.

After reviewing all the evidence, IFPD detectives concluded that the evidence did not suggest any kind of stalking behavior or criminal intent.

“We have a fairly definitive narrative now of what happened after he turned that corner… it certainly seems inconsistent with an intent to take the baby and leave the area,” Neal concluded, noting that the case does not meet the legal standard to proceed. He added that the case could be refiled if new evidence emerges.

Warning Against Social Media Harm

Turning to the emotional impact and stir the case has made on social media, Prosecutor Neal voiced concerns that many of the comments have been extremely harmful to both sides of the case.

“I think that we have really come to a place, on social media, where there is a lot of thoughtlessness before posting, before the facts were known, even to law enforcement,” Neal stated. “We had plenty of people who had conclusions based on the most limited of information, and they were criticizing and making all kinds of statements that impacted this mother. I’m sure it impacted Mr. Raine, and that’s not our system. That’s not America.”

Chief Johnson confirmed that police have met with Natalie Millett and her family, who have been notified of the dismissal. The mother, while displeased, agreed to create an impact statement for release.

Millett’s full impact statement has been included below.

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ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal has announced a press conference regarding the alleged kidnapping that occurred at the Idaho Falls Costco last month.

Press Conference Details

The press conference is scheduled for 2:00 PM today and will take place in the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office conference room at 444 B Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402.

Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal will be joined by Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson to provide an update on the case.

Case Background

Michael Garrison Raine, a 24-year-old Brigham Young University of Idaho, faces one count of second-degree kidnapping after a mother allegedly caught him taking her shopping cart containing her four-week-old daughter.

Michael Raine, Courtesy Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office

RELATED: BYU-I Student charged with kidnapping infant at Idaho Falls Costco

The 24-year-old now faces one count of second-degree kidnapping. His preliminary hearing has been moved to January 7th, 2026, before Judge Tawnya Rawlings at 1 PM.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 11 DEC 25 14:45 ET

By Eric Levenson, Andi Babineau, CNN

(CNN) — Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of fatally shooting conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, appeared in a Utah court Thursday for the first time in-person since his arrest.

Robinson wore a light blue shirt, a striped tie and khaki pants, and was seen on camera speaking to his attorneys.

Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder and felony use of a firearm, as well as obstruction of justice, witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

He has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

Robinson surrendered to police on September 11, a day after the shooting. His previous public court appearances took place on video or audio.

The hearing Thursday focused on issues of transparency and public accessibility to the case.

The issues stem from an October 24 hearing, which was closed to the public, about courtroom security, media coverage and Robinson’s ability to wear civilian clothing. Media organizations have requested a transcript of that hearing, but attorneys for Robinson and for the state of Utah have proposed certain redactions to the transcript.

On Thursday, the judge closed the first part of the hearing to the public in order to freely discuss what should or should not be sealed. Other parts of the hearing will be open to the public.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has pushed for the case to be open to the public, in part to cut down on what she has called conspiracy theories about his death.

“We deserve to have cameras in there,” she told Fox News last month. “Why not be transparent?”

Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was known for his brash conservative views on hot-button partisan issues and his willingness to debate his liberal opponents, turning those arguments into content for millions of engaged followers online.

He was fatally shot on September 10 while he spoke at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem as part of his “The American Comeback” tour of college campuses.

Investigators on scene suspected the fatal shot came from a sniper on a nearby roof, and police soon released a photo from surveillance video of the suspect and asked for the public’s help in identifying him.

A charging document laid out the key evidence against Robinson, including DNA on the suspected murder weapon and a confession.

A bolt-action rifle, towel, a used cartridge casing and three unused cartridges were discovered in a wooded area near the crime scene, and DNA on several of those items were consistent with Robinson’s, according to the document. The cartridges were engraved with phrases from internet memes and video games.

The following day, Robinson, his parents and a family friend went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to turn himself in, the document states. His parents had recognized their son from the surveillance photo, it said.

In texts to his roommate and romantic partner, “a biological male who was transitioning genders,” Robinson appeared to confess to the killing, according to the document. “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” Robinson wrote of his motive.

Robinson’s mother told investigators her son had become “more political” and “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented” over the last year, according to the document.

Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty in his case.

Kirk’s latest book, “Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life,” was released earlier this week.

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Seth Ratliff

NAMPA, Idaho (KIFI) — Confessed killer and inmate Bryan Kohberger is reportedly considering desperate measures to force the Idaho Department of Corrections to move him from his current prison block. According to a report by the Daily Mail, the former University of Washington student is threatening self-harm if the IDOC does not move him out of J-block in the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna.

In July, Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences for the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. After pleading guilty to the murders, he was transferred to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna.

Past Allegations of Harassment and Transfer Requests

Kohberger has submitted several requests to be moved from J-Block, alleging harassment from the other inmates. The 31-year-old made his first request to be moved only one day after arriving in the facility.

In each case, the former PHD student and confessed killer gained little sympathy from the online and professional community. In an interview with Fox News Digital, former prison pastor Keith Roverea told the outlet that Kohberger is only making the situation much worse by complaining.

RELATED: Taunted in Prison? Confessed killer Bryan Kohberger requests transfer, alleging sexual harassment

Former Detective Weighs In

In interviews with the Daily Mail and Court TV, Chris McDonough, a retired homicide detective and Cold Case Foundation director, told the outlets that Kohberger is resorting to new tactics to be moved after his complaints to the IDOC failed.

“The question is, is he using a threat about harming himself as leverage to get out of J-Block? Or does he really feel he’s going to harm himself? He’s not saying ‘I’m going to kill myself,’ it’s ‘I’m going to harm myself,’” McDonough told the outlet.

Local News 8 has reached out to the IDOC regarding its policy and response when an inmate makes threats of self-harm, and will update this article as we receive a response.

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Danielle Mullenix

Eastern Idaho (ID) — Families of Kratom victims are taking a stand to expose the serious dangers of Kratom and advocate for awareness and change. Kratom products continue to be sold and marketed heavily around Idaho, despite the official FDA warnings of the drug’s life-threatening effects. Now, officials and the victims’ loved ones are speaking out.

In the last 18 months, the Bonneville County Coroner’s office has investigated six kratom-related deaths. A staggering four of the fatalities were determined to be solely due to the acute drug toxicity of mitragynine, the primary active compound found in Kratom. One of these four victims was 23-year-old Kielee Rustici of Idaho Falls.

Kielee was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) in 2022 and started taking Kratom after being informed that it would help alleviate her muscle pains associated with the condition. After years of taking the herbal substance, Kielee had unexpectedly passed away in March of 2025. The Bonneville County Coroner’s investigation into the death revealed that mitragynine – the primary active compound of Kratom – was the only substance found in Kielee’s system. Tia Matlock, Kielee’s mother, now makes daily efforts to fight for legislative consequences.

Kielee Rustici, a 23-year-old victim of a Kratom overdose in Idaho, and her mother, Tia Matlock

“My way of processing and working through it is education,” Matlock said. “Losing a child is the hardest thing you will ever go through, and I want to bring awareness to everyone else.”

Kratom is an herbal substance derived from the tropical leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, the Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom contains two primary psychoactive compounds: mitragynine and its more potent alkaloid, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which bind to the brain’s opioid receptors similarly to prescription painkillers.

The drug is often used to self-treat conditions such as fatigue, coughing, pain, anxiety, diarrhea, opioid use disorder, and withdrawal, with regular kratom users self-reporting using less than 6g of botanical kratom per consumption, per several recent studies.

Kratom is a commonly listed ingredient in energy drinks, tea, capsules, as a raw powder form, and as a liquid extract. It’s marketed as a natural pain reliever, but as Mallory Johnson of Eastern Idaho Public Health explains, the science is mixed—and without regulation, users can’t know what they’re getting.

“The FDA actually hasn’t approved it for medicinal use, but it’s not illegal in Idaho,” Johnson said. “So people can still add different and unknown substances.”

The FDA has not approved the product for medical use, yet it remains readily accessible in Idaho convenience stores and smoke shops. Brickhouse Recovery President Jason Coombs shared the risk of Kratom being readily available at stores without proper labels or warnings.  

“People don’t realize that it carries the same addictive risks as opioids,” Coombs said. “In fact, a lot of people see it next to the energy drinks and sodas, and so it gives a dangerous sense of normalcy.”

The effects of Kratom are complex and often unpredictable, acting as both a stimulant at low doses and a depressant at higher doses. Users of the drug become at risk of serious adverse events, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.

Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez, who examined Kielee Rustici’s body, says these risks are leading to a dangerous pattern of young victims in her investigations.

“The deaths that I’m seeing related to Kratom are in our very young population,” Coroner Sanchez said. “The substance is readily available, in areas like tobacco shops and vape stores, and things the younger demographic has easier access to.”

In 2021, the FDA estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older were actively using kratom, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

For Tia Matlock, that lack of oversight feels personal.

“With it being so unregulated, we don’t know what they are putting in it,” Matlock said. “I just want people to know how addictive and dangerous it is.”

Tia Matlock is one of many grieving family members, Kratom recoverists, and other experts from around the area who are now pushing lawmakers for change—hoping Kielee’s story will prevent another tragic use of Kratom.

“I just want people to know she wasn’t abusing any drugs,” Matlock said about Kielee’s legacy. “She was doing Kratom for the right reasons, and she didn’t know the dangers.”

Coroner Sanchez, along with other coroners around the state, has launched an ongoing investigation into the dangers of Kratom. She hopes their research on the substance can help in the campaign to introduce legislation in Idaho.

“How many deaths do we need before we recognize a serious trend?” Coroner Sanchez stated. “I am in discussions with the community, my fellow officials, the sheriff, and their departments. We need to inform the public and raise awareness that there are still significant dangers associated with what is being marketed as a natural remedy.”

Results of a 2025 survey conducted by Renaissance Recovery. According to the results, 43% of Idahoans believe the sale of kratom products should be banned.

The growing awareness of Kratom’s effects has prompted many states to implement regulations regarding the substance. Now, families in Idaho who have been affected by Kratom are coming together to advocate for similar legislation in their state. In fact, a survey conducted by Renaissance Recovery involving 3,003 respondents found that 43% of Idahoans support an outright ban on Kratom, which is in line with the national average of 43%.

The Bonneville County Coroner’s office emphasized that the “natural” label on unregulated products doesn’t guarantee safety and released an official statement urging the public to discontinue their usage of Kratom in November 2025.

For those who are interested in learning more about Kratom, you can view research articles by the Drug Enforcement Advocacy by clicking here. To visit the “Justice for Kielee” Facebook page, click here.

Brickhouse Recovery President Jason Coomes recommends anyone who is struggling with Kratom usage or addiction to find a local rehabilitation center or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s website here.

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Danielle Mullenix

Moderate wind speeds continue to breeze through Eastern Idaho and western Wyoming as a west-coast weather system pushes inland from the Washington area. Most precipitation lingers north of our region for the remainder of the week.

While most places in the valley and Snake River Plain will remain dry, a few light wintry mixes may occur over the eastern highlands, including areas like Island Park. There also remains a slight chance of rain or snow across the Wyoming and Montana borders. This is mainly due to the high-pressure system in the Pacific that is steering the bulk of the wet weather around our region.

Temperatures will remain mild throughout the weekend. Expect temperatures in the 40s this Thursday morning as you commute to work or school. Highs in the mid- to lower 50s will reach Eastern Idaho by noon and linger until around 4pm. By Thursday evening, temperatures will drop back into the upper 30s.

Wind speeds from the Southwest remain in the teens and low 20s, causing a slight chill in the air. Overall, skies in the region will be clear with partly cloudy coverage. Expect more sunny skies by Friday afternoon and into the weekend.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The “Fill the Ambulance” toy drive is wrapping up, literally, and Idaho Falls firefighters need your help delivering Christmas magic to kids this holiday season.

Firefighters are more than halfway toward their goal of filling an entire ambulance with toys to deliver to children and teens at the Ronald McDonald House and Idaho Falls Rescue Mission this year.  

Idaho Falls Firefighter Donovan Hendrix spoke with Local News 8 today as the drive works to help as many kids as possible.

“The goal is really just to fill that ambulance from the bottom to the top — stuffed full of items for children,” Hendrix said. “So a lot of times people will give gifts for younger kids, and this year we’re looking at getting gifts for ages 10 to 18.”

The firefighters are collecting items of all sorts for both boys and girls — from bicycles to makeup to basketballs. Gifts should be new and in the original packaging, as many will be given to kids in the hospital and need to be sanitary.

“The best part about it is honestly just seeing all kinds of people come together to help support kids in need,” Hendrix said.

If you would like to assist, gifts can be dropped off at any Idaho Falls Fire Station, Firehose Car Wash or Maltese Crossfit.

A Final Push

The drive to fill an ambulance with toys ends Friday with a fun event at Fixxology on Northgate Mile (by Fred Meyer) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those that donate a new, packaged toy can receive a a free 20 ounce drink or 15 percent off their order.

On Saturday, firefighters will deliver the toys to the Ronald McDonald House in a Light Parade and Ugly Sweater Car Show. The car show begins at 4 p.m., and the Light Parade starts at 5 p.m. at Teton Toyota, ending at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Help make a child’s Christmas by bringing a gift to your local Idaho Falls Fire station.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Impact fees were the center of debate during the recent Idaho Falls city elections, and now city officials are asking community members to weigh in on proposed updates to the impact fee ordinance and the capital improvement plan.

“Tomorrow’s meeting is basically, a meeting that’s open to the public to discuss the changes to the capital improvement plan and the ordinance that the city is looking to adopt and change impact fees for 2026,” TJ Nottestad, a member of the Idaho Falls Impact Fee Advisory Committee, said.

Capital improvement plans correlate with impact fees.

“Before you [can] collect impact fees you have to have a capital improvement plan done. And so the city commission’s an outside source to look at areas of the city that growth is affecting. And they can collect these fees to help support, some of the shortfalls that are caused by growth related issues,” Nottestad said.

Last year, Eastern Idaho Housing Builders Association filed a lawsuit against the City of Idaho Falls to overturn the City’s impact fee ordinance.

“The EIHBA is not opposed to impact fees. We support fair, lawful fees that help maintain service levels as our community grows. However, we cannot support the City’s current proposal because it introduces inflated project costs, removes affordable-housing tools, and disproportionately increases impact fees on single-family homes. Please see our attached full statement,” said the EIHBA Legal Action Committee in a statement.

The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2025 at 7:30 P.M in the City Council chambers, 680 Park Ave in Idaho Falls.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The reported break-in of a rent drop box has tenants worried they might have to repay December’s rent. Rooftop Rental tenants say they may be forced to repay money that went missing, prompting frustration as deputies launch an investigation.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says the incident was reported on December 9.

“I hope everyone who put the money in the box over the weekend will get it figured out, and all we can do is pray that they waive our rent for this month, otherwise we all have to come up with over 1200 dollars again when most of us barely scrape by…” said a disgruntled tenant on Facebook.

According to the tenant, who chose to remain anonymous, Rooftop Rentals will waive any late fees, but not waive the lost payments for tenants who paid in cash. Local News 8 has reached out to Rooftop Rentals but has not yet received a response.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the matter.

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