(NEW YORK) — Police are thinking differently about the undetermined death of a woman previously thought to have been killed in a rash of prostitute murders on Long Island, New York.
Suffolk County police on Friday released three 911 calls made on May 1, 2010, the day Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker, vanished near Oak Beach.
Though the 2010 search for Gilbert led police to discover the Gilgo Beach murder victims, Suffolk County police said Friday that the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit concluded that Gilbert’s death isn’t consistent with homicide.
Gilbert’s cause of death is undetermined and was most likely an accident, police said.
In the early hours of May 1, 2010, Gilbert was driven from New York City to Oak Beach to meet a client, Joseph Brewer, police said.
“Gilbert’s driver remained in the area while she met with Brewer,” police said in a statement. “During the meeting, Gilbert reportedly began acting irrational, prompting her client to contact the driver to have Gilbert leave his home.”
Gilbert called 911 from Brewer’s house. Police noted that at times on the call Gilbert spoke calmly but slurred her words. At other points on the call she was non-responsive, and at other points she screamed, police said. She told the operator, “There’s somebody after me.”
Gilbert eventually left Brewer’s home and ran to the house of another resident, who called 911. The third 911 call was made by another resident when Gilbert knocked on her door.
An investigation found Gilbert’s death “was most likely non-criminal,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told reporters Friday.
Brewer and Gilbert’s driver have been cleared of any criminal involvement in her death, police said.
However, Gilbert’s family hired a private pathologist to conduct an autopsy; while that pathologist determined there’s insufficient information to determine a definite cause of death, he found her death is consistent with homicidal strangulation, police said.
Harrison told reporters, “Shannan was a loving daughter, sister and a young woman who should have had a whole life ahead of her, regardless of the circumstances surrounding her death. Her unfortunate passing is tragic.”
Police said they are “committed to evaluating any information or evidence that the public may have to help determine a definitive cause of death.”
The investigation into the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders started more than 11 years ago when Suffolk County police, searching for Gilbert, discovered the body of Melissa Barthelemy along Ocean Parkway. The remains of 10 people were found in 2010 and 2011 in the weedy sections off Ocean Parkway near Jones Beach. At the time, police said half of the identified victims worked as prostitutes.
A $50,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest in the Gilgo Beach murders.
(NOTE LANGUAGE) When Gwyneth Paltrow‘s lifestyle brand Goop announced the Diapér [Dye-PAIR] — a luxury disposable diaper selling for $150 for a pack of 12 — it raised eyebrows.
Then again, Goop also sells that infamous Gwyneth’s nethers-scented candle for $75, so it also wasn’t exactly a surprise.
However, Paltrow took to Instagram to reveal The Diapér was just a gag, but one with a serious undertone.
Noting that “there was a lot of outrage” when Goop launched the item, Paltrow responds in a video post, “Good. It was designed to pi** us off.” The “outrageous, fake luxury diaper [was] designed to shine a light on an outrageous luxury tax” put on the real thing.
In 33 states, she comments, diapers are taxed as a luxury item. “This leaves one in three families struggling to afford them,” Paltrow says. “While eliminating the diaper tax is not a complete solution, it could allow many families to buy another month’s supply.”
“If it made you mad, good. Help us change the diaper tax,” Paltrow concludes.
(WASHINGTON) — The ongoing baby formula shortage — with nearly half of products recently unavailable, according to experts — triggered a flurry of responses from Washington this week as the Biden administration and Congress sought to address the public outcry.
“There’s nothing more urgent we’re working on than that right now,” President Joe Biden said Friday from the White House at an event that had been meant to tout public safety funding — reflecting how the lack of formula has quickly overtaken other administration concerns.
Criticism and dismay from parents grew ever sharper as families encountered more empty shelves, with an estimated 43% of formula products out of stock as of Sunday at stores across the U.S., according to tracking firm Datasembly.
The shortage — compounded by broader, coronavirus-related supply chain issues — was worsened by a recall from Abbott, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of baby formula products.
The company pulled three of its popular brands in February and closed its plant in Sturgis, Michigan, in the wake of bacterial infections linked to two infants who died after consuming Abbott formula and a Food and Drug Administration inspection that documented problems at Abbott’s Michigan facility, including the same bacteria.
(Abbott maintains there is no evidence its products were connected to the babies’ deaths, though it has acknowledged the infractions the FDA found elsewhere at the plant.)
A complaint against Abbott was first filed in September, but the FDA didn’t investigate the plant until approximately four months later.
Now, the Biden administration is facing questions from Republicans and others about how long problems may persist and what solutions are available to the public — even as the government stresses its watchdog role in investigating Abbott.
“This is not a Third World country,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican and a new mother, said at a Thursday GOP news conference. “This should never happen in the United States.”
Responding to such criticism, Biden insisted Friday that “if we had been better mind readers, we could’ve [acted more quickly], but we moved as quickly as the problem became apparent to us. We have to move with caution as well, and speed.”
The White House has not provided a timeline for when shelves will be restocked, though press secretary Jen Psaki maintained Thursday that the government has been working “for months” on this issue as they roll out new steps aimed at alleviating the problem.
Among the fixes, as Psaki and Biden then reiterated on Friday, was supporting the ability of parents to use benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (also known as WIC) to buy formula. Abbott has agreed to provide rebates through August for WIC users to buy other products.
The administration is also calling on federal and state officials to crack down on reports of potential price gouging.
The FDA will announce next week ways that the U.S. can import more products from abroad. It remains unclear how the imports would work given the FDA’s requirements on formula packaging and vitamin content, though Commissioner Robert Califf tweeted Friday that the agency will ensure imported products meet “certain safety, quality and labeling standards.”
Biden said Friday he believed the timeline for imports would be a “matter of weeks or less.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has also unveiled a new website where parents and caregivers can go to obtain information on where to find formula and other resources.
Psaki said Thursday the White House was considering “every option,” including invoking the Defense Production Act, which gives the president substantial power over private industry. But on Friday, Psaki noted that the administration views the DPA as a potential “long-term” solution. “Our focus primarily is twofold: One is increasing supply, and the other is making it readily available,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic majority on Capitol Hill is launching investigations into the nationwide shortage. The House Oversight Committee is demanding records from four major manufacturers.
“We have asked for a briefing by the end of the month, and we’ve asked three basic questions: Do they have the supply to meet the demand? Is there a supply chain problem that can be corrected? And what can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?” Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., told ABC News.
A group of 32 Senate Democrats on Friday wrote a letter to urging the Infant Nutrition Council of America — an association of formula manufacturers — to take “immediate action” to address the shortage, though they didn’t offer any specific steps the group can or should implement.
“We are calling on you and your member companies to take immediate action and ensure that infant formula manufacturers are making every effort to mitigate this dangerous shortage and get children the nourishment they need,” the lawmakers wrote.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday the House of Representatives intends to take legislative action as soon as next week, voting on a bill that would grant emergency authority to the WIC program to address supply disruptions and recalls by relaxing certain regulations.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell addressed the shortage in his own floor speech on Thursday, calling it “outrageous and unacceptable”.
“It seems that while President Biden’s administration and the FDA … have been asleep at the switch in terms of getting production back online as fast as possible,” he argued.
Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney penned his own letter to both the FDA and United States Department of Agriculture earlier this week urging the agencies to “protect infant health by ensuring they have access to safe formula, and when crises arise, to initiate contingency plans to mitigate shortages that risk the lives of infants across the nation.”
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., announced Wednesday her panel would examine the Abbott plant in Michigan, where the bacteria was found, and the “FDA’s delayed response to this horrific incident.”
DeLauro released a whistleblower complaint last month showing a former employee of Abbot detailed concerns about alleged wrongdoing at the facility.
Abbott said it could restart operations at its Michigan facility within two weeks of getting the green light from the FDA. From there, the company estimates it would take an additional six to eight weeks to get the product into stores.
But the FDA said Friday that Abbott’s plant still carried contamination risks as of March.
“The plant remains closed as the company works to correct findings related to the processes, procedures, and conditions that the FDA observed during its inspection of the facility from January 31 – March 18, 2022, which raised concerns that powdered infant formula produced at this facility prior to the FDA’s inspection carry a risk of contamination,” an FDA official said.
Abbott says they are working to address the FDA’s issues so they can resume operations.
“We are confident that we can continue to produce safe, high-quality infant formula at all of our facilities as we have been doing for millions of babies around the world for decades,” the company said in a statement.
Dierks Bentley and Elle King reunite today with the release of their new duet, “Worth a Shot.” They previously collaborated on “Different for Girls.”
Jon Pardi’s latest release, “Fill ‘Er Up,” is out now. It’s the next track to come off a new album project he’s working on, following lead single “Last Night Lonely.”
Jake Owen has been announced as the newest headliner performing this summer at The Amp at Dant Crossing in Gethsemane, Kentucky. His performance is set for September 30; go here for ticketing information.
A growing list of artists have banded together to publicly condemn the U.S. Supreme Court after a leaked opinion showed the justices are poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark opinion that declared abortion a constitutional right.
Among the 160 artists who signed the public petition are Paramore, Billie Eilish, Bishop Briggs, Clairo, GAYLE, FINNEAS, grandson, Lykke Li, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, The Regrettes, UPSAHL, Wallows and X Ambassadors.
The petition is part of Planned Parenthood’s #BansOffOurBodies campaign, which ran a Bans Off Our Bodies full-page spread in The New York Times Friday. By signing, the artists hope to encourage their fans to also speak out in defense of abortion rights.
“The Supreme Court is planning to overturn Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to abortion,” the advertisement reads. “Our power to plan our own futures and control our own bodies depends on our ability to access sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.”
The ad appears before a Saturday, May 14 Bans Off Our Bodies Day of Action, which will host rallies nationwide in defense of reproductive rights.
It’s been reported that, should the nation’s highest court strike down Roe v. Wade, about 26 states will ban or severely restrict abortions.
Young Thug’s attorneys have filed an emergency motion for a bond hearing or “more humane/non-torturous in-custody housing,” claiming the rapper is being held in “dungeon-like conditions.”
In the motion, obtained by ABC News, the attorneys say Young Thug – born Jeffrey Williams – is entitled to a bond hearing as a matter of law, citing that he is not a convicted felon, a flight risk or a danger to the community. The attorneys also state that Williams is innocent of the charges being brought against him.
The motion detailed the conditions Williams has allegedly been facing at Georgia’s Fulton County Jail, claiming he has been in solitary confinement and total isolation in a windowless cell. It says he has been given “no opportunity to exercise, shower or have human contact/interaction save his counsel, day after day.”
Williams was booked on multiple racketeering and gang-related charges Monday. He was indicted along with fellow rapper Gunna and over two dozen others.
Saturday will mark the first time both Selena Gomez and Post Malone joined Saturday Night Live as host and musical guest, respectively, which NBC highlighted in a series of promos Friday.
The first promo has actress Aidy Bryant raving that their group consisted of “two pop stars and two comedy actors.” Selena, who stars in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, corrects, “I’m actually also an actor.”
Post, who is clutching a red solo cup, chimes in with, “And I’m not really a pop star.” That leads to Bowen Yang declaring, “And I prefer drama!”
“Okay, well, I didn’t know you were also a bunch of divas,” Bryant huffs and calls everyone “rude.”
In the second promo, everyone insists Selena must be nervous about hosting SNL for the first time, but Selena keeps insisting she’s just “excited.”
“Well, you sure? You sure you don’t got ants in your pants?” Bryant insists as Post encourages her to “check to see if you actually have ants in your pants.”
A suspicious Selena asks what’s up and learns that Yang and Bryant spilled jelly on her pants, left them on the street for three days and — as a final insult, Post “spilled my ant farm on your pants.” They all say “sorry” in unison as Selena stares off in disbelief.
While this marks the “Lose You to Love Me” singer’s first time hosting, this isn’t her first time on SNL. She served as musical guest in 2016.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
This Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the release of The Clash‘s fifth and most commercially successful studio album, Combat Rock.
Released on May 14, 1982, the album was the final Clash studio effort recorded by the lauded British punk band’s classic lineup of singer/guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon.
Combat Rock peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the singles “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” as well as such gems as “Know Your Rights” and “Straight to Hell.” “Rock the Casbah” became the group’s only top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #8, while “Should I Stay or Should I Go” peaked at #45 on the chart.
The music for “Rock the Casbah” was notably written by Headon on piano. The song’s popularity was bolstered by a music video that went into heavy rotation on MTV.
The album also found the band experimenting with a number of musical styles. “Ghetto Defendant” features spoken-word vocals by famed beat poet Allen Ginsberg, while “Overpowered by Funk” includes rapping by New York City-based graffiti artist Futura 2000.
Combat Rock was co-produced by The Clash and famed rock producer Glyn Johns, and was certified double Platinum by the RIAA.
As previously reported, a special expanded Combat Rock reissue, titled Combat Rock/The People’s Hall, will be released on May 20 in honor of the album’s 40th anniversary.
The People’s Hall is a 12-track collection compiled by The Clash that includes unheard, rare and early versions of songs recorded at the same time as the Combat Rock sessions. You can pre-orderCombat Rock/The People’s Hall now.
Here’s Combat Rock‘s full track list:
“Know Your Rights”
“Car Jamming”
“Should I Stay or Should I Go”
“Rock the Casbah”
“Red Angel Dragnet”
“Straight to Hell”
“Overpowered by Funk”
“Atom Tan”
“Sean Flynn”
“Ghetto Defendant”
“Inoculated City”
“Death Is a Star”
True Lies, an adaptation of the 1994 James Cameron-directed film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, is coming to CBS as a series.
The series had been in development for a while, with Cameron producing. Last year, Shameless veteran Steve Howey and forthcoming star of Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk, Ginger Gonzaga, were announced as playingHarry and Helen Tasker, the roles Schwarzenegger and Curtis respectively played in the blockbuster film.
As in the movie, Harry is hiding from his unfulfilled wife his life as secret agent for an independent spy agency. The TV show’s cast also includes Lucas Jaye, Erica Hernandez and Omar Miller.
(HOT SPRINGS, Ark.) — Police in Hot Springs, Arkansas, said they arrested a man after a shooting left one person dead and three others injured following a high school graduation.
The three injured were transported to local hospitals to be treated and suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to the Hot Springs Police Department.
Police say the shooting occurred after a large fight broke out in a parking lot across from a convention center where the ceremony was being held for Hot Springs World Class High School on Thursday night.
“During the fight, HSPD officers and Garland County deputies were on scene attempting to defuse the situation when a single gunman began shooting into the crowd. Officers of the HSPD returned fire on the suspect, later identified as Charles Johnson,” Officer Omar Cervantes, a spokesperson for the HSPD, told ABC News in a statement on Friday.
Johnson, 25, was wounded, but able to flee the scene, Cervantes said. He was later arrested while getting treatment for his wounds at a local hospital, he said. Johnson has been charged with one count of murder in the first degree and three counts of battery.
Arkansas State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay until the investigation is complete, Cervantes said.
Hot Springs Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Nehus acknowledged the incident in a Facebook update on Friday saying school counselors and staff will be working with students who witnessed events.
“We are heartbroken that these violent events took place following such a beautiful celebration for our graduates and their families. Our Law Enforcement Officers and staff will continue to do all that we can to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies/officials to complete an investigation,” Nehus said.
No current students or graduates were involved in the incident, Nehus said in an earlier post. “Our hearts and thoughts are with all individuals who suffered injuries tonight,” she said.
Hot Springs is about an hour west of Little Rock, Arkansas.
