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Illinois mother charged with murder in death of 2-year-old son in case drawing comparions to Lindsay Clancy
An Illinois woman has been charged with three counts of murder in the death of her 2-year-old son in a case that has already drawn comparisons to the Lindsay Clancy trial, authorities confirmed.
Corie A. Walsh, 40, was being held for medical treatment on Friday after she was found with wounds believed to be self-inflicted but non-life-threatening when police responded to her home Tuesday, the Frankfort Police Department said in a news release.
Frankfort is about 36 miles southwest of Chicago.
Once she’s released from treatment, she will be transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility to await a hearing.
Frankfort police officers responded to Walsh’s home Tuesday afternoon and found her son unresponsive. He was given CPR and transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their loved ones and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy," Frankfort police said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. "We ask our community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy as they navigate this profoundly difficult time."
The boy was strangled, according to FOX 32.
Carolyn Pappas, who lives nearby, told NBC Chicago earlier this week that the boy’s death has left residents stunned. She told the station that the circumstances brought to mind the case of Clancy, a Massachusetts mother who admitted to killing her three children before attempting to take her own life.
"This is just absolutely devastating, that this could be another Lindsay Clancy situation in our neighborhood, in our community. You never think it's going to hit so close to home," she told the station. "And, so, yeah, that absolutely makes us think of that. And, again, just more people, I think, are struggling than we realize, and, so, we just need to be there for one another."
Three other people who were unharmed were found inside the Walsh home on Tuesday, police said, according to FOX 32.
Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Spicy Sophie Cunningham loves our vets and football season, 380-pound high school TANK & sad Rutgers fireworks
'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday–Friday on OutKick.com.
I know all eyes are on the Commonwealth today (sickening, by the way), but let's all just take a step back for a second and enjoy the simpler things in life.
We're here. An actual college football Friday. Labor Day weekend. One of the most underrated weekends of the entire calendar year.
WEEK ONE UPSET SPECIAL: THESE THREE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS SHOULD BE ON UPSET ALERT THIS WEEKEND
Football last night. Football tonight. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the day AFTER that! But wait, there's more!
After Monday, we take a full 48 hours off before the NFL season kicks off on Wednesday.
Lordy. She's here, and she's just as beautiful as I imagined. How lucky are we? What a blessing.
Let's roll.
Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where Sophie Cunningham supports the vets like a patriot, and then gets us fired up for football season ... again, like a patriot.
What else? I've got a poor woman getting trucked on the sidelines in Piscataway last night, an absolute UNIT in the high school football ranks, and the Buffaloes were FEELING it after upsetting Georgia Tech.
What a scene!
OK, grab you whatever you'd like on this first Friday of September — dealer's choice today! — and settle in for a Friday 'Cap!
There she is — your Week 1 viewing schedule. It's perfect.
Honestly, though? Not the greatest Week 1 the sport has given us. LSU-Clemson is obviously the headliner tomorrow, but there's not a ton of great games before it.
The early games are a slog (except for North Texas-Indiana on FOX, of course!). The 3:30 hour gives us Baylor-Auburn and Boise State-Oregon, for those pining for the old SEC on CBS theme song.
Not a ton of competition for LSU-Clemson in the late hour. I don't care, though. It's back. We're back. Thank God.
No more WNBA talk ...
... Unless, of course, it involves Sophie Cunningham!
She leads us off today.
"Spicy Sophie tapping in."
She just refuses to miss. Let's put Sophie in the juror pool up in the Commonwealth and see how things play out!
"It's the start of a new football season. We are hyped. We're excited. We're about to kick some butt this year. Come out, be loud, and show your Mizzou pride."
Sophie gets it. She's just as tired as we are from all the WNBA nonsense. She's ready to get this season started.
PS: Sophie welcomed veterans to Gainbridge Fieldhouse all season? Lordy. Absolute patriot. Between that and the return of college football, the left is in shambles today.
OK, let's keep this class moving right along. It's a Football Friday, after all.
Anyone catch the end of the Colorado-Ga. Tech game last night? I'm not talking about the blocked field goal.
I'm talking about what happened after the blocked field goal:
Look at those maniacs! Big win, and they let the Georgia Tech student section HAVE it. Look at the one player who actually attempts to jump into the stands.
Risky little move. He got swatted away like a bug. Probably for the best. I've seen that movie end poorly far too many times.
Speaking of last night's appetizer, let's rapid-fire this Friday class into our first BIG weekend of the year.
First up? Let's go ahead and check in with the fans up in New Jersey!
Incredible. What a game for the UMass Minutemen! First win over an FBS team since 2023! Do you know how much Rutgers paid for that shellacking?
$1.5 million. It was the second largest paycheck for a LOSS in college football history:
Goodness gracious. The accounts in Piscataway are pulling their hair out today. Just a stunning upset.
That wasn't even my favorite part of the game. Anyone here stick around for the postgame fireworks?!
Amazing. The obvious question is, why not just cancel the show? I don't know. Can you do that? Can you just cancel a fireworks show because the home team lost? I assume you can just roll them over to the next home game, right?
Yikes. Never mind. USC comes to town next. I don't see that first home 'dub coming until Howard the following week.
Put those fireworks on ice, fellas!
Next? Let's get to some reader mail on the way out. I have a loaded mailbox and it needs a good Labor Day cleaning before we start the fall season.
Yesterday, we all mocked Ryan Reynolds for his absolutely baffling comments on how tough the 1980s were to live through ... because of the Cuban Missile Crisis (which ended in the '60s).
I asked y'all if there was any truth to it.
From Jeff D:
As a kid in the 80s , I can’t say that the Cuban Missile Crisis was anywhere at the top of our minds. I do remember a couple of events that were at the top of our minds — the Challenger explosion and baby Jessica being rescued from a well.
Baby Jessica was a crazy story of a little girl falling down a well and eventually being rescued, the event really brought the country together and her rescue was a joyous moment for the country.
All in all, most memories from that period were positive and I’m pretty sure the Cuban Missile Crisis never crossed our minds.
Thanks, Jeff! Would you look at that? A child was in peril in the 1980s and the entire country rallied around her. Weird. Surely that would happen in today's world, right?
... Right?
Next? From Brian S:
Ryan Reynolds went a bit overboard with the hyperbole, but it wasn’t all fun and games in the 80’s. We 80’s kids lived under the cloud of potential nuclear war for much of the decade. There was a TV movie in 1983 called "The Day After" that terrified the nation. Truly.
I think that nuclear war "threat" fed into our, "F–k it, let’s just enjoy ourselves and have a great time" attitude. There was no Cuban Missile Crisis hangover. Vietnam though? Hell yes. Just look at all the movies about that war released during the 80’s.
Now, having said all that, I’d give anything to go back there. You often write, "What a time to be alive." Well the 80’s truly embodied that.
Thanks, Brian! I may have to look up "The Day After" this weekend. Those things always fascinate me.
Finally ... From Eric P:
The 80’s was one of the best decades in history. The best music; Cars still had a little style and nothing woke about sports. Oh, and I managed to hit a 3-pointer to win a game at the buzzer over Mark Langston in an alumni game at my college against a team of Mariners.
This Reynolds idiot was 8-9 years old and there was no strife. Won’t watch his piece of s–t movie on general principles.
Thanks, Eric! I do love the cars from the '80s. One of these day, I want an old 1980s pickup truck. It's a weird dream of mine. Just to drive around town.
One of these days.
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OK, that's it for today — and this week! It's a High School Football Friday, so let's end class with an absolute UNIT out of Alabama.
See y'all Monday.
Fine. Anymore '80s nostalgia? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.
Fonda rushes to defend Mark Ruffalo against antisemitism accusation, says Larry Ellison 'should be ashamed'
Actress and activist Jane Fonda rushed to defend actor Mark Ruffalo on Thursday after Paramount accused him of invoking antisemitic tropes, calling out Larry Ellison specifically.
"Larry Ellison, because he doesn’t like Mark Ruffalo’s position on the merger, accuses him of antisemitism when he said nothing that isn’t within his constitutional right to say. It’s a tactic they’re using. He should be ashamed of himself, Larry Ellison. But there’s a lot of support for Mark. A lot of people came forward," Fonda said in an interview at Diane von Furstenberg's DVF Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
JOHN CUSACK STANDS IN 'SOLIDARITY' WITH MARK RUFFALO AMID PARAMOUNT'S ANTISEMITISM ALLEGATION
Ruffalo was previously accused of invoking "antisemitic tropes" by Paramount after the Marvel star shared a video from August of Safra Catz, an Oracle executive vice chair and Paramount board member, discussing technology Oracle used to assist Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
The actor linked Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, to financing behind the proposed acquisition and suggested the merger would be used to push "oppression."
RABBINIC GROUP ACCUSES JEWISH ENTERTAINERS OF 'WHITEWASHING ANTISEMITISM' IN MARK RUFFALO DEFENSE
"These ‘really profoundly scary technologies’ will most likely be merged into one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and one day used on you," Ruffalo said. "Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle."
Ruffalo previously told Fox News Digital in a statement that Paramount's accusation was appalling.
"The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel," he said. "To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life."
More than 180 Jewish entertainers and artists signed a letter Tuesday "proudly" voicing support for actor Ruffalo after he was accused of antisemitism in his opposition to the proposed Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount merger.
"We are Jewish artists, writers, creative professionals, faith leaders and thinkers who have, in response to the outrageous smear campaign against our respected colleague Mark Ruffalo, a simple message to share with the world: Enough!" the letter read, according to Variety.
"Enough with the false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism against those who are brave enough to point out the obvious: that the assault on the Palestinian people and the assault on our liberties at home are deeply interconnected, and there is nothing antisemitic about recognizing that fact," it continued.
CNN STAFFERS SEE PARAMOUNT MERGER AS 'INEVITABLE' DESPITE LEGAL BATTLE DELAYING ELLISON TAKEOVER
Fonda knocked the proposed merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery.
"They’re carrying so much debt. The Ellisons are carrying so much debt, and it’s being postponed now, so that they have to pay these huge sums. The merger would be terrible for consumers. Prices would go up. Thousands and thousands of people would lose their jobs, and as a creative, the fewer studios there are, the fewer places that we can take our products. We lose bargaining power. Unions lose their power," Fonda said. "There’s a very robust and growing movement to stop the mergers. It’s sad for me because I like David Ellison very much. David’s Skydance financed 'Grace and Frankie,' my 7-year-long run for Netflix. I got to know him, and I like him, but that doesn’t change things. This is not a personal thing."
Hollywood in Toto editor Christian Toto told Fox News Digital, "Jane Fonda isn't dumb. She uses some old-school misdirection to protect Mark Ruffalo from his own words. No one is arguing Ruffalo lacks a constitutional right to weigh in on the merger. What Ruffalo did with his comments is connect the merger to Israel's foreign policy."
"Ruffalo's bizarre attempt to make the deal about the Middle East, and blasting Israel as a genocidal state in the process, is what drew many people to the actor's comments. Fonda either is unaware of this or wants to fool anyone foolish enough to take her seriously," he continued.
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Fonda also declared in the interview that she's not afraid of Trump.
"I’ve had my life. [President Donald] Trump can do nothing to me. I’m not scared, but that’s not true for everyone," she said. "More and more people are speaking out because their whole lives are at risk right now. AI could take everything away, and then data centers are being put in their neighborhoods, so there’s been a shift in the U.S. Things are changing. Republicans and Democrats alike are saying, ‘No, you’re not going to put a data center in my community.’ We can see now that even MAGA members are not liking the fact that their leaders are profiting off misery and cruelty. They don’t like the chaos that’s happening."
First responders honor World Trade Center beam arriving at Boston fallen heroes memorial
The Tunnel to Towers Steel Across America tour honored fallen heroes in Boston Wednesday as part of a nationwide tour slated to finish in New York City just after Sept. 11.
The group brought a preserved 21-foot steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, which has been on tour since May, to the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston's Seaport.
"For us as first responders and veterans, what this means as we come up on the 25th anniversary is personal. It's all about educating the next generation and not forgetting the sacrifices, not only made on 9/11 but what we've endured in the 20 years after in all theaters of combat," said Dan Magoon, executive director of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes.
AMERICA’S HEARTLAND COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH 9/11 HISTORY AS 25TH ANNIVERSARY NEARS
Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. Winter Olympics hockey team that won the historic "Miracle on Ice" game against the Soviet Union, honored his friends who were passengers on one of the hijacked planes involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"It touched the heart of our country. It touched the souls of our country," Eruzione said of Tunnel to Towers, which helps 9/11 families, first responders and veterans rebuild in part from funds raised through nationwide charity runs.
FRANK SILLER: 'I LOVE YOU, BROTHER' — THE 9/11 LOSS THAT INSPIRED A MISSION OF SERVICE
The gathering brought together first responders from Massachusetts as well as law enforcement. Guests were allowed to approach the 16,900-pound beam and pay their respects.
"It's just crazy to think about where it once stood, the people that worked inside the buildings, the people that rushed inside to save those people and what happened when it all came down," said Daniel McCarthy, a Bostonian whose parents are from New York.
WHERE TUNNEL TO TOWERS' STEEL ACROSS AMERICA TOUR WILL STOP AHEAD OF 9/11
The beam was brought to Fenway Park Wednesday night after traveling to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Monday.
On Sept. 8, the tour will stop at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Sean McVay expects every Rams player to be on flight to Australia for Week 1, including Aaron Donald
The Los Angeles Rams won’t be arriving in Australia with the San Francisco 49ers this week, instead opting to leave Wednesday and arriving the day before kickoff.
But that’s not the biggest piece of news regarding the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia — it’s who head coach Sean McVay expects to be on the flight with him down under.
McVay told reporters on Friday that he expects every player to make the trip to Australia, including Aaron Donald, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year who came out of retirement to join what has become a Rams superteam for the 2026 season.
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Since he declared he would come out of retirement, Donald’s Week 1 status was always in the air. He didn’t get the same training camp the rest of the team had, though he is still in tremendous football shape. McVay even noted that he’s still not sure what will happen with Donald against their NFC West foe in Week 1.
But the fact Donald will be on the plane means he has a chance to play straight away for Los Angeles. In fact, McVay playing coy could just be gamesmanship for his respected colleague and fellow head coach, Kyle Shanahan.
'WE BACK': AARON DONALD RETURNS TO THE RAMS AND A DEFENSE NOW LOADED WITH MYLES GARRETT AND OTHERS
Instead, McVay said that the team is taking things "one day at a time" with the eight-time All-Pro defensive tackle who will end up in Canton one day. So, even though he should be on the flight, Rams fans should make sure "cautious" is in front of "optimism" when discussing Donald’s Week 1 status.
It’s hard for them, and football fans in general, not to be excited about No. 99 returning to the Rams this season. He spent 10 years in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl honors and creating nightmares for every offensive line and quarterback he faced.
If that wasn’t enough, Donald will be next to Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a game-wrecker in his own right, on a defensive line made straight out of a video game.
While Rams fans await the return of Donald for real on the gridiron, they’re also looking to see if top wide receiver Puka Nacua will be suiting up against the 49ers as well. McVay gave an update during Friday’s presser, saying he is "making good progress" as he’s dealt with a psoas injury (core muscle connecting the lower spine and pelvis to thigh bones).
"Been hitting some high-speed yards at a really good clip with [Rams sports medicine and performance senior vice president] Reggie [Scott] and his group. And when we get back out there, it’ll be fun to have him," McVay said, per ESPN.
The NFL is also still reviewing Nacua under its personal conduct policy regarding an off-the-field lawsuit filed against him. However, he wasn’t placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he would avoid a suspension at least at the start of the season.
GEORGE KITTLE, NICK BOSA MAKE THE FLIGHT AS 49ERS HEAD TO AUSTRALIA FOR HISTORIC OPENER: REPORTS
A woman sued Nacua in March, claiming he made an antisemitic remark during a New Year’s Eve interaction and allegedly bit her shoulder and her friend’s thumb. Nacua’s lawyer, Levi McCarthern, denied that his client made an antisemitic remark.
So, while it is still possible that Nacua doesn’t play Week 1 due to potential discipline from the league, McVay saying he expects everyone to make the flight is once again a good sign for Nacua.
The 49ers are also benefitting from players being on the plane, as tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa, both recovering from season-ending injuries last year, made the trip to Melbourne.
Lindsay Clancy mistrial declared after jury deadlocks in killings of her three children
Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial Friday in Lindsay Clancy’s murder case after jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the killings of her three children after a week of deliberating at the Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The mistrial followed a dramatic dispute over an alleged 11-1 divide, with Clancy’s defense arguing that the lone holdout juror had acknowledged doubt but was refusing to properly apply the court’s instructions on reasonable doubt.
The alleged holdout is believed to be one of the three male jurors on the 12-person panel after defense attorney Kevin Reddington repeatedly referred to the unnamed juror as a male inside and outside court.
POSTPARTUM MOM LINDSAY CLANCY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER BRINGS COURT TO A HALT WITH SUDDEN BREAKDOWN
"[The other jurors] know that they were robbed — by one man — for whatever his agenda was, who stole seven weeks of the life of these other jurors that were so attentive, so beautiful, so wonderful and listened to this evidence," he told reporters after leaving the courthouse.
"And you could see how defeated they were sitting there. And I got a funny feeling they could go one for another week if they had to. So, I hope that guy can sleep well at night."
Also speaking outside the courthouse, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz acknowledged the victims in this case — the Clancy children: 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan.
"It is our job to make sure the victims are not invisible," Cruz said. "I am a father and a grandfather, and I cannot imagine the hell this entire family has lived through."
Clancy’s attorneys made an emergency appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in an attempt to stay the mistrial and force further inquiry into the juror. Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt denied the request Friday afternoon, clearing the way for Sullivan to formally declare the mistrial.
Clancy had been charged with first-degree murder in the January 2023 deaths of her children, each of whom had been strangled with exercise bands.
The trial centered on whether she was legally responsible for her actions at the time, and the defense argued she wasn't due to postpartum psychosis.
Her attorneys argued that severe mental illness left her unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of what she was doing or unable to conform her conduct to the requirements of the law.
LINDSAY CLANCY’S HUSBAND COULD TESTIFY FOR HER AT TRIAL OVER DEATHS OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN
Prosecutors maintained that Clancy remained criminally responsible and pointed to evidence they said showed planning, purposeful behavior and an awareness of what she was doing before, during and after the killings.
During the trial, Clancy's former husband, Patrick Clancy, testified about the day of the slayings, which happened while he was running errands that included picking up children's stool softener at a CVS store and takeout for dinner. They spoke on the phone while he was out.
Under Massachusetts law, once lack of criminal responsibility is properly raised, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant was criminally responsible.
The mistrial means the case ended without a verdict, and Clancy was neither convicted nor acquitted. Prosecutors can seek to retry her but have not yet announced a decision.
Sullivan said he wants the case retried "sooner rather than later," suggesting a new trial could potentially take place later this fall. Clancy is due back in court Sept. 29 for a status hearing, trial assignment and a defense Rule 25 motion.
All previous bail orders remain in effect.
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The mistrial followed a trial that focused extensively on Clancy's psychiatric condition in the months and weeks before the children died.
Jurors heard testimony about her treatment by mental health professionals, psychiatric medications, anxiety, depression, insomnia and other symptoms documented before the killings.
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On Jan. 24, 2023, authorities responded to the Clancy family's Duxbury home after Patrick Clancy returned and found his wife seriously injured outside the house.
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The couple's three children were found inside.
Cora and Dawson died that night. Callan was taken to a hospital and died several days later.
Lindsay Clancy survived after jumping from a second-story window and suffered injuries that left her paralyzed in a wheelchair.
The prosecution and defense offered sharply different explanations for what happened before the children were killed.
The defense had argued that the deaths occurred after months of worsening psychiatric symptoms and treatment and that Clancy's mental condition had deteriorated to the point she could not legally be held criminally responsible.
Specifically, the defense contended that Clancy heard a male voice that commanded her to kill her three children. Dr. Phillip Resnick, a forensic psychiatrist, said it was almost as if she was a "puppet."
"Not only did she hear a command, but she felt that her body was taken over by an external force where she was in a dream state and did not have control of her own body. It was almost like she was a puppet, and someone else was pulling the strings," Resnick said.
However, prosecutors rejected that claim, and their experts argued Clancy deliberately created an opportunity to be alone with the children and intentionally killed them.
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Gregory Saathoff, a forensic psychiatrist at the University of Virginia who consults the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, told jurors Clancy's self-described auditory hallucinations were "very unusual."
"What was significant to me is that she had not spoken about hearing voices before to any of the mental health professionals, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physicians and staff in the emergency department or at McLean," Saathoff said.
"This was the first time she reported that, and that she experienced an auditory hallucination, according to what she told me. So, that was unusual. And then what was very unusual was the fact that the voice stopped with the strangling of her youngest son."
During the trial, members of Clancy's family revealed they were "very concerned" about her mental health in the months before she killed her three kids.
Susan Clancy, Lindsay's mother-in-law, told jurors she was concerned about Lindsay's mental health during the holiday season in 2022 but said she was a caring mother.
"Lindsay was struggling. We were all very concerned," Susan Clancy said. "She was very nurturing, very loving. She was a wonderful mother. Wonderful.
"She was begging for help."
Paula Musgrove, Lindsay Clancy's mother, also told jurors about the mental health problems. In an Oct. 20, 2022 text message, Lindsay Clancy asked her mother for help.
"Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit? I'm really sick. Something is wrong. I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I am going to get through the day. ... It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone," the text read.
Fox News' Michelle Langer and Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
West Virginia principal suspended after recording devices found in girls’ locker rooms
School administrators immediately suspended a West Virginia high school principal Wednesday after officials reportedly discovered recording devices placed in multiple locker rooms.
The criminal investigation involves Eric James, 53, who served as principal of Brooke High School in Wellsburg.
Officials said four devices were found in the female physical education locker rooms, including a separate locker room and another dressing area used by the school's dance team, according to WTOV 9.
"Yesterday, after students were released, Brooke County Schools was informed of a criminal investigation into allegations that a recording device was placed in a locker room at Brooke High School," a Thursday memo from the school system said, according to Lede News.
LOUDOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACCUSED OF FILMING STUDENTS IN BATHROOM UNDER INVESTIGATION
The devices were removed from campus with the help of school security officers, staff and law enforcement, according to reports.
Additional devices were reportedly confiscated at James' home, officials said.
James is being held at the Northern Regional Jail in Marshall County, West Virginia, on $100,000 bond, according to the state Magistrate Database and the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority.
He was charged Thursday with two felony counts, including one count of intentionally intercepting or attempting to intercept wire, oral or electronic communications and one count of breaking and entering a nonresidence.
The school system said it "will be meeting with students, parents, and staff to offer supportive measures while the investigations continue," according to Lede News.
"The safety, security, and privacy of our students are fundamental responsibilities of our school system. Conduct that compromises those responsibilities will not be tolerated. The school system is cooperating fully with law enforcement and is also conducting its own investigations into the matter," the school said.
Ocasio-Cortez calls focus on Hasan Piker 'absolutely ludicrous' as some Democrats demand distance
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., brushed off far-left streamer Hasan Piker's role in American politics on Thursday, questioning why people were focused or devoting time to him.
"It is absolutely ludicrous that so much oxygen from sitting elected officials in the United States Congress is being dedicated to discourse around a Twitch streamer for young people," Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the progressive Squad, said according to The Hill.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., also didn't dismiss him outright, telling the outlet she wouldn't defend all his views.
MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT DEMANDS REPORTERS STOP ASKING 'ABOUT HASAN PIKER' AHEAD OF SENATE RACE
"That's for him to do," Jayapal said.
"I don’t know why, all of a sudden, the standard is you have to agree with everything he said."
HASAN PIKER IS BECOMING THE 'FACE OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT,' FORMER DEMOCRATIC OPERATIVE WARNS
Jaypal told the outlet Democrats needed to reach Piker's voters.
"I think that we have been talking about how we need to reach out to all parts of our party and also how difficult it is sometimes to get people to pay attention to politics, and, so, streamers are important in that," Jayapal said.
The Hill cited multiple Democrats who have dismissed Piker, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who told the outlet, "Not only should people not be on stage with him or take his support, they should condemn his views and what he has said.
"And I think anything short of that is unacceptable."
Piker has campaigned with several Democrats this midterm election cycle, including Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for Senate in Michigan. Other Democrats have expressed the importance of reaching Piker's listeners, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Sanders was asked about Piker's past statements on 9/11, which the streamer has since walked back.
Sanders condemned the comments and told CNN in August, "He has a whole lot of followers and a lot of things that he's saying that are making sense to a lot of people. I think, you know, we have to get above cancel culture. You know, when you're doing radio, whatever they do, podcasts three hours a day, you say dumb things."
ABDUL EL-SAYED PLAYS DOWN HASAN PIKER TIES AFTER STREAMER’S VIRAL ANTISEMITISM FIRESTORM
Speaking to Stephen A. Smith during his show, "Straight Shooter," El-Sayed said this week he was trying to reach Piker's listeners.
"What I'm saying is there are 3 million people who listen to Hasan," El-Sayed said. "I want to offer them a pathway into an electoral movement where, rather than sit outside of the electoral system, they see a pathway around the things that they agree with that he says that I agree with and a pathway that disavows the things that I disagree with. And, so, it's important."
Smith summarized El-Sayed's strategy as an effort to win over Piker's audience rather than an endorsement of the streamer personally.
"So, you're not thinking about him. You’re not thinking about him. You’re thinking about the 3 million people that support him, and you're trying to get those votes. That's what you're saying?" Smith said.
DEM CANDIDATE ERUPTS IN PROFANE DEFENSE OF HASAN PIKER AS PARTY FIGURES DISTANCE THEMSELVES
"Exactly," El-Sayed said.
Fox News Digital reported last week that El-Sayed attempted to put distance between his campaign and Piker after the streamer faced backlash over comments about American Jews and Israel. Piker endorsed El-Sayed and appeared at multiple campaign events, including his primary night gathering.
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff told Fox News Digital in a statement, "A lot of these folks are being rather disingenuous. Yes, media is running wild, arguably disproportionately so, with this Piker story, but a big reason for that is El-Sayed’s hard to understand refusal to create more distance between himself and the streamer or just flat disavow him.
"You can’t have it both ways. Either he is just some random streamer or he is a critical figure for the left’s political movement. His refusal to … denounce him suggests the latter, though strategically it seems Piker is more of a liability than a help. Recent polling showed the vast majority of Democrats don’t like him."
Schroff said Democrats like him have been consistent in calling out President Donald Trump for "dining with Nick Fuentes and bringing Laura Loomer into his inner circle."
"And the reason certain candidates do have the burden to disavow Piker is not because he is some influencer who boosts them. … They have actively sought him out, campaigned with him and joined his streaming platform," he added. "Normal Democrats do not want to be associated with the insane things Piker has said."
"AOC, Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed rolled out the red carpet for Hasan Piker, but now that voters are catching on to how insane his views are, they've developed a sudden case of amnesia," RNC spokesman Max Lippel told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"Piker has always been an America-hating extremist, and if they didn't want to answer for his disgusting views, they should have never requested he campaign with them to begin with."
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The account then followed up with a post calling Piker "our Twitch streamer."
Fox News' CJ Womack contributed to this report.
Americans headed for high-risk nation urged to prepare wills, leave DNA samples ahead of time
Americans who may be planning a trip to Libya are being urged to reconsider those plans, as the U.S. State Department has issued its strongest possible travel warning.
The department recently updated Libya's Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory, warning Americans not to visit the country for any reason due to crime, terrorism, health concerns, unrest, kidnapping and landmines. The overall advisory level did not change.
"Do not travel to Libya for any reason," the advisory states.
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The State Department warns that clashes between armed groups and government-aligned forces can break out at any time — while weapons are widespread throughout the country.
"Prepare a will and end-of-life instructions," the advisory states. Travelers are also advised to designate insurance beneficiaries or draft a power of attorney.
Criminal organizations are known to be involved in drug and human trafficking and other smuggling activity, while targeted kidnappings and assassinations are common, according to the advisory.
"Kidnapping is widespread, and victims have included U.S. citizens," officials warn.
Americans could also have limited options for help in an emergency.
"There is currently no U.S. Embassy in Libya," the advisory states.
It added that the U.S. government cannot provide emergency services to Americans in the country because of the security risks.
The State Department also warns that terrorist attacks could occur with little or no warning, while demonstrations can turn violent and disrupt transportation and other essential services.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance pose another danger throughout the North African country, with officials warning that their locations are often unmarked or difficult to recognize.
Travelers are advised to avoid roadside ditches, shoulders and unmarked trails and never touch anything that could be unexploded munitions.
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For Americans who decide to travel to Libya despite the warning, the State Department recommends having a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government assistance.
Officials also advise travelers to share important documents and login information with loved ones, develop a communication plan and consider hiring a professional security organization.
The State Department further recommends establishing a "proof of life protocol" with loved ones in case a traveler is taken hostage.
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"Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them for identification purposes," the advisory states.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for further details.
The warning comes as U.S. officials continue issuing travel and security advisories for destinations around the world.
Fox News Digital recently reported that Americans who are planning to travel to Israel are urged to reconsider their plans due to terrorism and unrest, with certain areas carrying the highest Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning.
Those areas include locations near the Gaza Strip, the Israel-Egypt border and parts of northern Israel due to armed conflict.
‘Fiesta Mexicana’: El-Sayed campaign plans festive 9/11 while remembrance is missing from public schedule
While Americans prepare to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Abdul El-Sayed’s public campaign schedule for that day makes no mention of a remembrance event, but includes a Mexican festival, a farmers market and a county fair.
As of Friday morning, El-Sayed’s campaign website listed staff and volunteers for Grand Rapids’ Fiesta Mexicana, a nearby farmers market and the Allegan County Fair, while El-Sayed himself was scheduled to make a stop on his "Shouldn’t Be This Hard" tour.
After Fox News Digital asked about the lack of a 9/11 remembrance on the public schedule, El-Sayed’s campaign said the Democrat nominee "will be attending a 9/11 remembrance memorial event that day," though the event was not listed on his campaign website.
The events listed on the campaign schedule have a notably more festive tone.
Fiesta Mexicana, for instance, describes itself as "three days of mariachi, folklórico and forty-some vendors" that uses "music, food, dance and good company" to "make sure Mexican culture is known, understood and celebrated in West Michigan — on our own terms." El-Sayed’s campaign instructs supporters to "bring some Mexican swag" and "go inside to enjoy the music and get some food."
The Allegan County Fair, meanwhile, features live entertainment, food, games and rides.
El-Sayed’s campaign pointed out, that of the four events flagged by Fox News Digital — Fiesta Mexicana, the farmers market, the county fair and the candidate’s tour event — the Senate candidate would not be attending two of them, though would not specify which ones.
The campaign did not explain why El-Sayed's website did not list the 9/11 remembrance memorial event on his list of upcoming events, but it did underscore in a comment to Fox News Digital that El-Sayed views 9/11 as a horrific moment in history.
"The September 11th terrorist attacks were an evil attack on America's freedom and he will be joining Michiganders in remembering the 25th anniversary," El-Sayed’s spokeswoman told Fox News Digital.
BIDEN-WORLD VETERAN ISSUES STARK WARNING ABOUT ABDUL EL-SAYED AS HE CROSSES PARTY LINES
The Michigan Senate hopeful has a complicated relationship with 9/11.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, whom El-Sayed had campaigned alongside, caused him a headache early in the campaign when a clip of the streamer saying that America "deserved 9/11" resurfaced. El-Sayed called the statement "dumb," though did not disavow Piker.
Later, old blogs and social media posts where El-Sayed made controversial statements about the terrorist attacks began to surface.
Fox News Digital previously reported that El-Sayed equated 9/11 with Jan. 6 and President Donald Trump with Osama bin Laden on a now private blog. In social media posts, he called on Americans to bring the same outrage to the COVID-19 pandemic that they felt for 9/11 and mourned the deaths of those killed in America’s War on Terror.