Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.

Josh Lanier's Contributions

Putnam, CT

Obituaries

Beloved Putnam Speech-Language Pathologist, Mom Of 3, Remembered For Love Of Her 'Kiddos' A beloved elementary school worker who helped students find their voice is being remembered for the care and compassion she showed every child she met. Maura Babbitt, of Putnam, died Saturday, July 11, her family said on social media. The wife and mother of three boys was a fighter, they said. She survived leukemia in her 20s and later beat breast cancer. Her family did not disclose the cause of her death. "My mother was dealt cards that no one should’ve been dealt, but she took them, played them, and continued to prioritize everyone else around her before herself," her son Aidan Babbitt wr…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Bridgeport, CT

Police & Fire

Bridgeport Elementary Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Teen Paraprofessional: Police A Connecticut elementary school teacher is facing multiple felony charges after authorities accused him of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old school paraprofessional. Investigators say a student with special needs was present during the alleged assaults. Christopher Verras, a teacher at Thomas Hooker School, was arrested last week after Bridgeport police opened an investigation in May, according to published reports. Police allege Verras sexually assaulted the paraprofessional on more than one occasion. Authorities also allege a student with special needs was present during the incidents.&nb…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Milford, CT

Police & Fire

Stamford Woman Killed When Truck Tire Bounces Over I-95 Median, Smashes Into Her SUV In Milford A 24-year-old Connecticut woman was killed after a detached truck tire crossed the median on Interstate 95 and crashed through her SUV's windshield, according to police. Catherine Margaret Palaia, of Stamford, was driving south on I-95 around 10:23 p.m. Sunday, July 13, in Milford when the crash happened. Connecticut State police identified the victim on Monday. Investigators said Palaia was driving a 2020 Toyota RAV4 when the front left tire of a northbound 2012 Ford F-250 detached from the truck. The tire struck multiple vehicles before bouncing over the concrete median barrier…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Thomaston, CT

Police & Fire

CT Man Killed After Harley Crashes Into Guardrail On Route 8 In Thomaston A 68-year-old Connecticut man died after a motorcycle crash on a Route 8 exit ramp in Thomaston, authorities said. John Kastanaras, of Easton, lost control of his 2004 Harley-Davidson FXSTDI while riding on the Route 8 South Exit 40 off-ramp around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12, according to Connecticut State Police. His motorcycle crashed into a metal guardrail. Kastanaras was taken to a Waterbury hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said. The crash remains under investigation, according to state police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop L at (860) 626-7900.

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Norfolk, MA

Obituaries

'Unimaginable Void': Family Honors Fall River Man Found Dead After Swimming It State Forest A Massachusetts community is coming together to support the family of a man who disappeared while swimming and was later found dead at a state forest. Loved ones remember him as a compassionate grandfather and a devoted family man who loved his family, the outdoors, and sports. Jonathan Maynard, 52, drowned Wednesday, July 9, at Charge Pond in Myles Standish State Forest. Plymouth Police responded to a report of a possible drowning shortly after 2 p.m. Search efforts continued until the victim was found at about 3:45 p.m. in water measuring between 17 and 19 feet deep. He was pronounced dea…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Southbury-Middlebury, CT

Obituaries

'A Funny And Bright Young Man': Recent High School Grad ID'd As Teen Killed In Middlebury Crash Police have identified an 18-year-old man killed in a Middlebury moped crash over the weekend as a recent Pomperaug High School graduate. David Young, of Southbury, was involved in a crash while riding his moped around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11, on Middlebury Road, police said. Investigators said Young's scooter was involved in a crash with a pickup truck. Paramedics took Young to Waterbury Hospital, where he died from his injuries. The pickup truck driver, a New Hampshire man, was not hurt. He stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, police said. Authorities ha…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Waterbury, CT

Police & Fire

2 Juveniles Charged In Fatal Waterbury Double Shooting That Killed Young Father, Teen Girl Police in Connecticut have arrested two juvenile suspects in connection with the deadly shooting outside a Waterbury nightclub over the July Fourth weekend. Trevon Dunbar, 22, and Zaniya Dawkins, 18, both of Waterbury, were shot outside LA 42 Night Club in Waterbury just after midnight on Sunday, July 5, police said. Both were taken to area hospitals, where Dunbar died Monday, and Dawkins succumbed to her wounds Tuesday. It's unclear who they were aiming at or why. Waterbury police said investigators identified the shooting suspects as two juveniles and arrested them Friday, July 10,…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Orange-Athol, MA

News

Skydiver Dies After Wind Gust Disrupts Parachute At Skydiving Company In Orange A 28-year-old Boston man died over the weekend in a freak skydiving accident in Western Massachusetts, authorities said. Police in Orange were called to the popular Jumptown Skydiving in Orange around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, to reports of a serious incident. A preliminary investigation found the man fell about 30 feet when a sudden gust of wind interfered with his parachute during landing. Paramedics took him to Athol Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police have not released the man's identity as of Monday morning. Massachusetts State Police detectives, …

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

Putnam, CT

Police & Fire

15-Year-Old CT Girl Dies After Falling Into Eastford Pond; Appeared To Have Medical Emergency A 15-year-old girl died after falling from a paddle board in a Connecticut pond over the weekend. The unidentified East Hampton teen was paddling at Crystal Pond in Eastford on Sunday, July 12, when she fell into the water around 12:15 p.m., according to the Environmental Conservation Police. Witnesses told investigators the teen appeared to suffer a medical emergency before she fell into the water, authorities said. A good Samaritan jumped into the pond to pull her from the water. Rescuers treated her on shore before responders rushed her to Day Kimball Hospital in Putna…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

East Haddam, CT

Police & Fire

Friend Charged Months After 20-Year-Old Woodstock Native Died In CT Canoe Accident A 20-year-old Connecticut native who died after a canoe capsized was the kind of person coaches called "the kind of player every younger athlete looked up to, the kind of teammate who made the dugout lighter, and the kind of person you never forget." Months later, the friend who was with him on the water has been charged with boating under the influence, police said. Dominick Joseph Tocci, a Woodstock college student, died after the canoe overturned on Lake Hayward in East Haddam on March 21, police said. Michael Collins, 20, of Mineola, New York, was charged with boating under the inf…

by Josh Lanier

07/13/2026

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