In a chilling sequence of events that culminated in November 2023, Tiffanie Lucas, a 33-year-old mother from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, committed an unthinkable act that led to the death of her two young sons, Maurice, aged six, and Jayden, aged nine.
The incident, captured partially on police body cams and a neighborhood Ring camera, unfolded in a tragic narrative that has since been dissected by both the media and the courts.
Tiffanie Lucas carried out the murders in her own home. Shortly after, a neighbor’s Ring camera captured the sounds of gunshots, followed by Lucas running out of her house pleading for help.
Responding officers found her collapsed in her driveway, where she confessed that her children were dying inside. The boys were discovered next to a gun, their bodies covered in blood.
Lucas’s behavior post-arrest was erratic and distressed. In a video released by Law&Crime, she is seen lying on her driveway in handcuffs, struggling to stand and insisting to the officers that she felt unwell and “not right.”
During her interrogation, her mental state appeared increasingly unstable as she fixated on minor details like an officer’s movements, and reacted strongly to sounds and disturbances, suggesting a deep psychological turmoil.
Her explanation for the murders pointed to a disturbing blend of external influences and internal conflict. Lucas claimed that the video games her children played and content they viewed on YouTube had a manipulative effect on their minds, which she felt extended to herself, leading her to believe that something had been “put upon” her house.
She told the police: “I feel like someone put something upon my house or me or something. I just don’t feel right. I don’t do this. I love my kids.”
The complexity of Lucas’s mental health was a key component of her defense. Initially pleading not guilty, she later changed her plea to guilty as her attorneys prepared an insanity defense, citing “powerful delusions” on the day of the shooting.
They argued that she was manipulated through digital means like Facebook and Wi-Fi, which they claimed influenced her actions.
This defense highlighted her vulnerability and the possible impact of her mental health on her perception and actions.
During her sentencing, the emotional weight of the tragedy was palpable. Maurice Baker Sr., father of one of the victims, expressed his profound loss and missed moments with his son, directly confronting Lucas in court.
The judge reflected on the unimaginable horror the children must have experienced, emphasizing the devastating impact of Lucas’s actions.
Tiffanie Lucas was sentenced to two life terms, with the possibility of parole in 20 years, as the community and the victims’ family grappled with the dual themes of immense loss and the critical importance of addressing mental health issues comprehensively.
Featured image credit: Bullitt County Detention Center
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Vegan extremist wanted by FBI for more than 20 years is finally captured
By stefan armitage
An animal rights extremist wanted for double bombings in California over twenty years ago has finally been captured.
On Tuesday (November 26), authorities confirmed that 46-year-old Daniel Andreas San Diego was arrested by police in Wales, UK, as part of an operation backed by counter-terrorist officers.
The suspect had been wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his suspected connection to two homemade pipe bombs that were detonated on August 28, 2003, at Chiron Corp. – a biotech company in Emeryville.
Per NBC News, he is also accused of sending a “bomb strapped with nails” to the nutritional company Shaklee Corp the following month.
The FBI revealed that they believe San Diego targeted the companies due to their connections with a lab that had conducted experiments on animals. He was the first alleged domestic terrorist to be added to the FBI’s list of most wanted terrorists.
A $250,000 bounty was offered for information that led to his arrest.
San Diego was revealed to be a computer network specialist who the FBI describes as having “ties to animal rights extremist groups” and who “is known to follow a vegan diet, eating no meat or food containing animal products”.
In response to his arrest, FBI director Christopher Wray said, per BBC News: “Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”
“There’s a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country, and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way,” Wray added.
The ‘Most Wanted’ suspect was arrested at the request of US authorities over 5,000 miles away from San Francisco. He was located at a property in a remote rural area near woodland in north Wales by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
San Diego is now facing extradition to the United States.
Featured image credit: FBI
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Scientists discover $540,000,000,000 worth of ‘white gold’ sitting beneath California lake
By stefan armitage
The Salton Sea – California’s largest lake – is now at the forefront of what could be a groundbreaking shift in the U.S. energy landscape.
Researchers in a project funded by the Department of Energy, have uncovered a massive deposit of lithium — dubbed ‘white gold’ — estimated to be worth around $540 billion, per Indy100.
Lithium, which bears the nickname ‘white gold’ due to its appearance reminiscent of white sand, is a critical component in battery production, particularly for electric vehicles.
The recent study has revealed a staggering 18 million tons of lithium at the bottom of the Salton Sea. This find significantly expands upon an earlier discovery, where four million tons were identified through initial drilling efforts.
The implications of this discovery are profound.
Michael McKibben – a geochemistry professor at the University of California, Riverside, and one of the 22 authors of the study – highlighted the global significance of this deposit. He said: “This is one of the largest lithium brine deposits in the world.
“This could make the United States completely self-sufficient in lithium and stop importing it through China.”
The potential here is not just in altering the U.S. position in the global market but transforming it into a leading lithium producer, possibly surpassing China.
Per ABC7, Governor Gavin Newsom has previously likened the potential of the Salton Sea in lithium production to the oil-rich fields of Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its capacity to position California – and the U.S. at large – as a powerhouse in the renewable energy sector.
“This extraordinary economic opportunity,” Newsom said.
However, the task of extracting this lithium is not without its challenges. The process involves the use of geothermal production wells to draw lithium-rich brine from deep beneath the earth’s surface.
After the lithium is separated, the remaining liquid is re-injected underground. This method, while effective, poses potential risks to the local environment and water supplies.
In January, construction started on the first large-scale direct lithium extraction plant near the lake, marking the first of seven planned phases for the $1.85 billion facility, according to ENR California.
The Salton Sea’s proximity to the Colorado River, a vital water source for the region, along with the local population of 180,000 residents, raises concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale lithium extraction.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond just economic gains and technological advancements. As Sammy Roth, a climate journalist for the LA Times, told KJZZ radio: “They found that there’s potentially enough lithium down there to supply batteries for 382 million electric vehicles, which is more, more vehicles than there are on the road in the United States today. So, if we could get all that lithium, that’d be huge.”
As the project progresses, the world will be watching closely, anticipating the potential reshaping of economic landscapes and the redefining of energy resources in the 21st century.
Featured image credit: Bloomberg Creative Photos / Getty
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Texas student suddenly dies aged 23 after eating ‘same dish’ she’d eaten at restaurant she’d visited ‘repeatedly’
By stefan armitage
A Texas student has tragically died after eating a meal at a restaurant she had visited “repeatedly”, her family has revealed.
In a heart-wrenching incident in Stephenville, 23-year-old Alison Pickering passed away after suffering an allergic reaction after the restaurant changed its recipe.
Alison, who was allergic to peanuts, succumbed to anaphylactic shock after dining at a restaurant where her family says she was a regular. The restaurant had recently changed their menu, The Mirror reports, adding peanut sauce to a dish that Alison had previously eaten safely – the mahi-mahi.
The publication adds that the servers also weren’t informed of the menu change.
The student quickly realized the grave mistake as she started to feel unwell. Alison used her Epipen and was conscious when the ambulance arrived. However, her condition rapidly deteriorated and she tragically passed away.
Alison’s sudden death unfolded just days before her graduation from Tarleton State University in May 2023. Her obituary states that she passed away after suffering an anaphylactic shock.
Despite her careful management of her allergy – including avoiding sauces and dips likely to contain nuts – the lack of information about the updated menu proved fatal and has sparked a conversation around food safety
Her parents, Joy and Grover Pickering, are now advocating for greater allergy awareness. They highlighted the dangers of menu changes in restaurants and the critical need for communication about such updates to all staff and customers.
Speaking to CBS News, her father said of his late daughter: “She would repeatedly go to the same restaurants and order the same dishes, you know. And that was a common thing.
“She took a few bites, realized something was wrong. She did her Epipen. The ambulance came. She actually walked to the ambulance talking to them, but somewhere along the way things went downhill.”
“It’s tragic and it doesn’t need to happen to anyone else,” Alison’s father added.
In response to such incidents, the Texas Legislature passed the Sergio Lopez Food Allergy Awareness Act.
Named after another young victim who died from an allergic reaction to peanuts in 2014, the law mandates increased allergy awareness. It requires the display of posters in food service establishments to educate about food allergies and proper responses to allergic reactions. Moreover, it insists that food training programs and the food manager certification exam include food allergies as a subject matter.
The Pickerings are now working “to determine what guidelines could be put in place to help restaurants have better communication to their customers as far as ingredients”, Mr. Pickering said.
“I know we’re going to save lives by doing this,” mom Joy added.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Pickering’s family and loved ones at this time.
Featured image credit: YouTube/CBSNews
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Heartbreaking words dad of missing Hawaii woman told reporters before his tragic death
By Asiya Ali
Hannah Kobayashi’s father shared heartwrenching words about the ongoing search for his missing daughter before his own tragic passing.
The 31-year-old, from Maui, Hawaii, has been missing in Los Angeles since November 11 after failing to get on a connecting flight to New York.
The aspiring photographer shared some posts during her time in Los Angeles, where she’d attended an event at The Grove but her family grew concerned when they received alarming text messages which they said did not sound like Hannah.
Family member Larie Pidgeon wrote on Facebook on November 14: “Hannah’s last message to us was alarming – she mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity.”
According to The Independent, Hannah allegedly sent a cryptic text to a friend saying she had been “tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds” to “someone I thought I loved”.
The 31-year-old was last seen at LAX on November 11th at around 4 PM. A confirmed sighting of the missing woman and an unidentified person boarding a train followed, but she has not been seen since reportedly exiting at Pico Metro station, USA Today reported.
Hannah’s father, Ryan, had joined other family members in Los Angeles to help with the search.
He spoke about the search with Inside Edition reporters, expressing his heartbreak over his missing daughter.
“I’m really just twisting and turning for the last week about what’s going on,” he said. “It just seems like everything’s coming at a blur and it’s just so overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
Watch the interview below:
Tragically, the 58-year-old father was found dead in the early hours of Sunday (November 24) morning. The L.A. County medical examiner has now confirmed that Ryan died by suicide.
According to the medical examiner’s report as cited by PEOPLE, his cause of death was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries with his location of death listed as a parking lot near LAX airport.
A spokesperson had previously told the outlet that law enforcement was called to the parking structure for “an apparent suicide”, with Hannah’s aunt and Ryan’s former sister-in-law Larie Pidgeon claiming he’d had a mental health emergency brought on by the stress of her disappearance.
In a statement released through a nonprofit group helping with the search for Hannah, the family said: “The Kobayashi family suffered a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably,” they added.
Pidgeon told CNN that Ryan “died of a broken heart,” adding: “As you can imagine, the family is devastated.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for Ryan’s fiancée Li, in which his niece Emi Ko wrote: “He has been living his absolute worst nightmare, since Hannah’s disappearance, and now, with his passing, our family is grappling with unimaginable grief.”
She went on to describe him as “a truly remarkable person who lit up every room with his positivity and kind heart,” adding: “Ryan’s love for his family was boundless, and he would do anything to protect and care for his daughters.”
Our thoughts are with Ryan’s loved ones at this time.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
Featured image credit: Facebook/Missing People in America
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CEO fires 90% of his staff with a brutal message after they missed a morning meeting
By stefan armitage
I’m sure many of us have been tempted to “rage quit” our jobs, but this may be one of the biggest cases of “rage firing” in history.
Baldvin Oddson – who is the CEO of a Wyoming-based musical-instrument online storefront, the Musicians Club – has fired approximately 90% of his staff after they failed to turn up to a morning meeting.
As reported by Fortune, Oddson hastily dismissed 99/110 of his employees and freelancers after missing their scheduled morning meeting at 8:30AM on November 15.
Some disgruntled former staff members have opened up about the experience on social media, but Oddson has stood by his decision and slammed those attempting to “cancel” him.
On Reddit, one former employee revealed: I joined an internship, and an hour later, the entire team got fired”.
What’s more, Oddson reportedly informed the staff members that they no longer had a position in the company via a message on the workplace chat platform Slack.
“For those of you who did not show up to the meeting this morning, consider this your official notice: you’re all fired,” Oddson wrote in the company-wide Slack group. “You failed to do what you agreed to, you failed to complete your part of the contract, and you failed to show up for the meetings you were supposed to attend and work for.”
Those affected – all of whom work remotely – were then instructed to sign themselves out of any relevant work accounts and return any company property they may be in possession of.
The reported Slack message continued: “I gave you an opportunity to make your life better, to work hard, and to grow. Yet, you have shown me that you don’t take this seriously.
“Out of 110 people, only 11 were present this morning. Those 11 get to stay. The rest of you are terminated. Get the f**k out of my business right now.”
The former intern recalled on Reddit how everybody went into a “frenzy” and that some of those let go had worked at Musicians Club for “literal years” before being fired with “no warning”
Oddson has since taken to the professional social media platform LinkedIn to address the incident, and it’s safe to say he isn’t going to apologize.
“Over the past weekend, I’ve received an overwhelming amount of attention — both positive and negative,” he wrote. “While some attempted to ‘cancel’ me, it has completely backfired.”
Oddson then boasted that the company’s “traffic has surged to over 20,000 views” and “sales are at an all-time high”.
What’s more, he claims to be “receiving hundreds of applications daily” from potential candidates.
“I’ve had more than 300 messages, including inquiries from CEOs, industry leaders, and major newspapers requesting interviews. I will do my best to respond over the next few days,” he continued. “I stand by my decisions and the values we uphold.
“Firing those individuals was the right move for our organization, and we are stronger than ever.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out and supported us through this. The momentum is undeniable, and we are excited to keep moving forward.”
Somewhat ironically, Oddson’s LinkedIn profile picture is adorned by the “#HIRING” banner.
Fortune has reported that many of those who were dismissed were unpaid remote part-timers working in roles aimed at classical music students attempting to acquire work experience.
An online job listing previously shared by the company promised that the role would provide an “in-depth understanding of e-commerce operations within a competitive market” and could lead to a potential “full-time paid” role in 2025.
One former intern wrote on Reddit, per Fortune, that the company “relies on remote interns” or are unpaid.
“A big problem was that because all of the workers are unpaid and remote, they all had different schedules, so apparently it was difficult to set a specific time for attendance, which was what the CEO was so mad about,” the intern wrote online.
And, in this case, it seems like the CEO go what he paid for.
Talk about a bad day in the office.
