32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among At Least 11 Killed In LA Wildfires 32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among At Least 11 Killed In LA Wildfires
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among At Least 11 Killed In LA Wildfires A former child star and motivational speaker is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family has confirmed. Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed Rory Sykes, 32, an Australian who gained media attention as a boy for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at his family’s estate in Malibu, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yeste…
Frederick Community Mourns Beloved 27-Year-Old Who Passed on New Year’s Day Frederick Community Mourns Beloved 27-Year-Old Who Passed on New Year’s Day
Frederick Community Mourns Beloved 27-Year-Old Who Passed on New Year’s Day A Maryland community is in mourning after the sudden loss of 27-year-old Dominic Michael Valenti, a vibrant soul remembered for his compassion, courage, and love of life. Valenti, born in New Mexico on June 5, 1997, passed away on New Year's Day, leaving behind a loving family who remembered the Frederick High School graduate as "a beloved son, brother, and friend."  "(He) will be lovingly remembered for his compassion, bravery, and unfailing courage," they said. "His infectious smile, humor, and genuine nature made a lasting impression on everyone who knew him."  “Dominic w…
Young Mother Karina Amaya Of Germantown Dies Suddenly: 'Devastating' Young Mother Karina Amaya Of Germantown Dies Suddenly: 'Devastating'
Young Mother Karina Amaya Of Germantown Dies Suddenly: 'Devastating' A tight-knit Maryland family is mourning the devastating loss of Karina Elisabeth Amaya, a beloved mother of two who passed away unexpectedly, her family announced. Amaya, of Germantown, was remembered as a caring and devoted daughter, parent, and fiancée. She is survived by her mother Lucy; her two young sons, Jeremiah, 6, and Adrian, 5; her fiancé Sean; and her grandmother Ana Maria, along with her father, uncles, and cousins, according to a GoFundMe launched for her family. “Karina was a loving and kind soul who touched the lives of everyone she met,” her family said. Loved ones are ask…
Young Bethesda Couple Killed On Winter Vacation: 'They Had Their Whole Lives Ahead Of Them' Young Bethesda Couple Killed On Winter Vacation: 'They Had Their Whole Lives Ahead Of Them'
Young Bethesda Couple Killed On Winter Vacation: 'They Had Their Whole Lives Ahead Of Them' A young couple’s holiday vacation turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when William Herrera Ortega, a bicycle shop mechanic, and his wife Sonia were killed in a crash while vacationing in Colorado. Will and Sonia were in a Toyota Tundra involved in an accident with a 2024 Peterbilt Semi-truck/tractor combination the morning of Dec. 26, 2024, according to police and those who knew him. The Fraser Winter Park Police Department said the Tundra, driven by a 37-year-old Colorado man, was heading east on Route 40 when it lost control on the icy roads and rotated counterclockwise into the…
‘Devoted Father’ Succumbs To New Year’s Day Shooting, Leaving Infant Daughter Behind In MD ‘Devoted Father’ Succumbs To New Year’s Day Shooting, Leaving Infant Daughter Behind In MD
‘Devoted Father’ Succumbs To New Year’s Day Shooting, Leaving Infant Daughter Behind In MD A new father who was shot multiple times while working as a rideshare driver in Maryland died at an area hospital, his family confirmed. Oluwatosin Adetula, 36, died at an area hospital days after he was shot on New Year's Day while working in Cottage City, according to the Prince George's County Police Department. Officers were called at around 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1 to the 3300 block of Blackensburg Road, where they found the Hyattsville resident in the parking lot suffering rom multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries on Tuesda…
Construction Worker Killed In Building Collapse Dreamed Of Returning With Family To Guatemala Construction Worker Killed In Building Collapse Dreamed Of Returning With Family To Guatemala
Construction Worker Killed In Building Collapse Dreamed Of Returning With Family To Guatemala The family of a construction worker killed in a tragic building collapse in Washington, DC, last week, is working tirelessly to fulfill his final wish: returning his body to his native Guatemala for burial. Edgar Cifuentes was crushed under a two-story row house that collapsed early on Monday, Dec. 23 while working on a project in the 1100 block of V Street NW when the building came down. Cifuentes was stuck in a perilous position, and despite firefighters' best efforts, he was pronounced dead that afternoon after being rescued from the rubble. Following his death, Cifuentes was remem…
Expectant Father Gunned Down In Maryland Leaves Behind Sister Struggling To Bury Him Expectant Father Gunned Down In Maryland Leaves Behind Sister Struggling To Bury Him
Expectant Father Gunned Down In Maryland Leaves Behind Sister Struggling To Bury Him Justice may have been served for a single mother who suffered a tragic loss, though that won't bring her 27-year-old brother back after a midday shooting. Baltimore resident Maurice Prioleau, 28, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to the fatal shooting of DeAngelo West the day after Christmas in a case of mistaken identity, leaving his family devastated. His older sister, Yasmine Coles said that West had recently moved in with her to help provide him a good home and so he could assist with her three children. Coles said that her brother was gunned down in broad dayligh…
Journalist Richard Cohen, Husband To Meredith Vieira, Dies After Half-Century MS Battle Journalist Richard Cohen, Husband To Meredith Vieira, Dies After Half-Century MS Battle
Journalist Richard Cohen, Husband To Meredith Vieira, Dies After Half-Century MS Battle Journalist and author Richard Cohen has died after inspiring countless people through his decades-long battle with MS and cancer. Cohen, the husband of former TODAY anchor Meredith Vieira, died on Tuesday, Dec. 24, TODAY reported. The Plainview, New York, native was 76 years old. A veteran reporter, Cohen lived with multiple sclerosis for more than 50 years and overcame two cancer diagnoses during his life. He was also legally blind. Cohen, who worked for CBS News, was given his MS diagnosis in 1973.  "I was diagnosed when I was 25 years old and essentially told there is no…
Maryland's Maggie Kudirka, ‘Bald Ballerina,’ Dies at 33 Maryland's Maggie Kudirka, ‘Bald Ballerina,’ Dies at 33
Maryland's Maggie Kudirka, ‘Bald Ballerina,’ Dies at 33 The world lost an extraordinary spirit on Friday, Dec. 27, with the passing of Maggie Kudirka, lovingly known as the "Bald Ballerina. "Maggie, 33, succumbed to metastatic breast cancer at her home, surrounded by family, loved ones shared on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maggie Kudirka (@baldballerina) The Joffrey Ballet School, where Maggie trained, mourned her loss, calling her a “beautiful warrior.” “Maggie’s passion and grace will forever inspire us,” they wrote, reflecting on her profound impact on the dance and c…
'Shining Light' Killed Exiting Car At MD Food Store Left 'Lasting Impact On All Who Knew Her' 'Shining Light' Killed Exiting Car At MD Food Store Left 'Lasting Impact On All Who Knew Her'
'Shining Light' Killed Exiting Car At MD Food Store Left 'Lasting Impact On All Who Knew Her' Tragedy struck twice in four months for a family that is grappling with another heartbreaking loss after a 37-year-old woman was killed getting out of a car in the parking lot of a Montgomery County food store. Burtonsville resident Michelle Gogan, 37, was getting out of the passenger side of her parked car at Giant on Old Columbia Pike last week when she was hit by a 2023 silver Mazda CX5 around 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, Dec. 26, according to Montgomery County Police. The driver of the Mazda, who was attempting to enter an adjacent parking stall, struck Gogan, her vehicle, and another parke…
College Of William & Mary Grad Linda Lavin, 'Alice' Star Dies, 87 College Of William & Mary Grad Linda Lavin, 'Alice' Star Dies, 87
College Of William & Mary Grad Linda Lavin, 'Alice' Star Dies, 87 Linda Lavin, the two-time Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated actress whose career spanned six decades on stage and screen, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, at the age of 87, according to The New York Times. Born in Portland, Maine, Lavin studied acting at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she was deeply involved in the theater program. Her career took off with her iconic role as Alice Hyatt on the hit TV series "Alice," which earned her two Golden Globes and cemented her as a household name. A force on Broadway, Lavin captivated audiences with performances in multiple …
Jimmy Carter, Longest Living American President, Dies At Age 100 Jimmy Carter, Longest Living American President, Dies At Age 100
Jimmy Carter, Longest Living American President, Dies At Age 100 The longest living president in US history, Jimmy Carter, has died at the age of 100. The death of the 39th chief executive was announced by the Carter Center. He died Sunday afternoon, Dec. 29 at his residence in his lifelong hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he was born in October 1924. James Earl Carter Jr., was the first ex-president to reach the age of 100. Carter, then the Democratic governor of Georgia who had worked as a peanut farmer, defeated Gerald Ford in the 1976 race, the first presidential election after Richard Nixon's resignation in August 1974 following the Watergate af…
Charles Dolan, Cable TV Pioneer Who Founded HBO, Dies Charles Dolan, Cable TV Pioneer Who Founded HBO, Dies
Charles Dolan, Cable TV Pioneer Who Founded HBO, Dies Charles Francis Dolan, a pioneer in the cable television industry and founder of HBO and Cablevision, died at 98. Dolan died Thursday, Dec. 28, of natural causes. Born Oct. 16, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio, Dolan began his career producing and distributing sports and industrial films. In the early 1960s, he founded Sterling Manhattan Cable, the first company to wire buildings for cable access in New York City. This led to exclusive deals with teams like the New York Knicks and Rangers. In 1972, he launched HBO, the first premium cable channel, changing television by offering uncut movies and …
MLB Stolen Base, Runs Scored King Rickey Henderson Dies At 65 MLB Stolen Base, Runs Scored King Rickey Henderson Dies At 65
MLB Stolen Base, Runs Scored King Rickey Henderson Dies At 65 Rickey Henderson, Major League Baseball’s career steals and runs scored leader, widely considered to be one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball history, has died at age 65.  Henderson, who would have turned 66 on Christmas Day, died while hospitalized with pneumonia, according to multiple reports. Persuaded by his mother to pursue baseball over football, Henderson began a 25-year career that saw him redefine speed and swagger in the sport. Henderson debuted with the Oakland A’s in 1979, quickly capturing fans' hearts with his record-breaking stolen bases, powerful leadoff…
'Loving Spirit:' Community Honors Young Mother's Legacy Following Tragic Golf Cart Crash In MD 'Loving Spirit:' Community Honors Young Mother's Legacy Following Tragic Golf Cart Crash In MD
'Loving Spirit:' Community Honors Young Mother's Legacy Following Tragic Golf Cart Crash In MD More than $250,000 has been raised on behalf of a young family in Maryland that was suffered a tragic loss just as they were beginning to start their lives with a new house and baby in Anne Arundel County. Crownsville resident Mary Beth Blasetti had to be airlifted to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center on Saturday night after being involved in a golf cart crash, where she died two days later, officials confirmed. The 32-year-old woman leaves behind her husband, Nick, and their 2-month-old daughter, Mary Katharine Blasetti. According to organizers of a GoFundMe - …
Family Looks To Give Father Of Two 'Lit' Service After Fatal Maryland Shooting Family Looks To Give Father Of Two 'Lit' Service After Fatal Maryland Shooting
Family Looks To Give Father Of Two 'Lit' Service After Fatal Maryland Shooting Joseph "Joey" Holtz died a hero, his family says, now they are trying to rally the community to make his final wishes come true.  The 38-year-old Suitland man was fatally shot following a two-vehicle crash in Prince George's County over the weekend in the area of Suitland Road and Randolph Road in Morningside. "It’s with a heavy heart that we remember and honor Joey, known to so many as Rozay. Joey was taken from us by gun violence—not from street conflicts, but because he chose to protect others," Jamal Holtz said.  "Joey died being a hero. He was our hero, a true protector who …
Single Mother Of Two Identified By Police As Pedestrian Killed Crossing Maryland Road Single Mother Of Two Identified By Police As Pedestrian Killed Crossing Maryland Road
Single Mother Of Two Identified By Police As Pedestrian Killed Crossing Maryland Road Dinora Aleman Amaya was on her way home from work in Montgomery County when she was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing the road in Gaithersburg, friends say. Investigators have identified the 30-year-old single mother of two from Germantown as the pedestrian who was fatally struck crossing Great Seneca Highway near Kentlands Boulevard on Monday night.  Police say that Amaya was walking shortly after 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 7 when she was struck by a Honda Civic not far from Orchard Ridge Road. She was pronounced dead at the scene, now the community is rallying around her family.&…
Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police
Maryland High School Student Killed Crashing Into Telephone Pole Identified By Police The high school senior in Maryland who was killed in a crash with a telephone pole in Montgomery County had "high hopes of attending college in the fall," according to her family. Sherwood High School student Sanaa Virtue Vil, 17, has been identified by police as the person killed on Wednesday morning in a single-vehicle crash in Sandy Spring. Shortly before 8 a.m. on Oct. 2, police say that Vil was driving a red 2005 Toyota Corolla north on Norwood Road near Ashton Way on the way to school when it failed to navigate a turn and struck a wooden telephone pole. Traffic Advisory: A single-…
Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras
Man With Grill Fork Killed By Officer In MD Was Working to Aid, Reunite With Mother In Honduras A grieving family is seeking the community's assistance as thy hope to send a man to his mother in Honduras after he was killed in an officer-involved shooting when police mistook a grill fork for a weapon in Montgomery County. At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, officers were called to the 3400 block of Janet Road in Wheaton after there was an emergency call placed about an assault in progress. Upon arrival, members of the Montgomery County Department of Police spotted a man, identified as 31-year-old Wheaton resident Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz in a yard holding an object in…
Pastor Remembered As 'Man Of Service, Love, Family, Friends, Church' In Maryland Pastor Remembered As 'Man Of Service, Love, Family, Friends, Church' In Maryland
Pastor Remembered As 'Man Of Service, Love, Family, Friends, Church' In Maryland Pastor Jeff McKeon was a leader, a preacher, a coach, a father, a husband, and now the Baltimore man is healed and whole following his death. Weeks after the Greater Grace Church pastor passed away, support is still swelling for his wife and daughters as they continue to cope with the loss of their beloved patriarch, who was a true pillar of his community. "Jeff worked three jobs to keep our family above water. Now I feel like I am drowning," wife Robin McKeon said.  "My daughter doesn't want to go back to work, at the hospital where she walked into a room where her lifeless Father la…
Truth Tillman, Rigger In DMV For Decades, Remembered As 'Bright Light Extinguished Too Soon' Truth Tillman, Rigger In DMV For Decades, Remembered As 'Bright Light Extinguished Too Soon'
Truth Tillman, Rigger In DMV For Decades, Remembered As 'Bright Light Extinguished Too Soon' A man who had his fingerprint on the pulse of the DMV is being remembered as "a bright light extinguished too soon following his unexpected death. Truth Tillman, 38, a beloved family member and friend to countless people throughout the region, was killed on Saturday, Sept. 7 in a reported crash on I-295. The Severn resident was described as "a rigger in the DMV since he was 17 years old" by a loved one, as his family looks to start filling the hole his unexpected passing left in their hearts. "(He) was a husband, father, uncle, brother, and friend to anyone who had the pleasure of spe…
Motorcyclist Killed In MD Crash Weeks Before 25th Birthday Motorcyclist Killed In MD Crash Weeks Before 25th Birthday
Motorcyclist Killed In MD Crash Weeks Before 25th Birthday A 24-year-old motorcyclist who was killed in a Maryland crash is being remembered by his family as a doting son and loving big brother to his siblings. On Saturday, Aug. 31, Isaiah "Zai" Noble was riding his Suzuki GSXR-600 along Route 301 when he was involved in a fatal crash with the driver of a Toyota RAV4. He was just weeks away from his 25th birthday. Isaiah Noble Facebook via Isaiah Noble "For those of you who were blessed to know Isaiah knew how genuine and caring he was for each person in his life," Monique Noble said. "From a young baby, Isaiah was always so sweet and silly,…
Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says
Volunteer Firefighter, Chief In PA, MD Dies Suddenly, Fund Says A volunteer firefighter serving in Maryland and Pennsylvania for over 40 years has died "unexpectedly", a GoFundMe launched to help launch his family announced on Saturday, Sept. 7.  Chief Tracy L. Tomlinson, 57, of Kirkwood, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 5, according to his obituary posted on Shivery Funeral Home, Inc.'s website. He was born in West Grove and was a graduate of Solanco High School. The Robert Fulton Fire Company explained his career as follows: "He became a member of Robert Fulton Fire Company in September of 1983, joining…
Man Killed In Chain-Reaction I-95 Maryland Crash Shared Touching Moments With Wife Before Death Man Killed In Chain-Reaction I-95 Maryland Crash Shared Touching Moments With Wife Before Death
Man Killed In Chain-Reaction I-95 Maryland Crash Shared Touching Moments With Wife Before Death Sifrido Villalobos' final moments were like something out of a movie before his death in an I-95 crash. The Silver Spring resident was heading home from work early on Thursday, Aug. 29 in the area of Jessup when he was involved in a chain-reaction crash involving he and three other drivers.   Villalobos suffered critical injuries in the crash, and was unable to get out of his vehicle, according to organizers of a fundraiser on behalf of his family. Realizing his fate, Villalobos "immediately called his wife (Bianca) to tell her what happened and that he knew he wouldn't make…
Maryland Woman Killed At Rice University 'Was Beacon Of Light, Source Of Inspiration' Maryland Woman Killed At Rice University 'Was Beacon Of Light, Source Of Inspiration'
Maryland Woman Killed At Rice University 'Was Beacon Of Light, Source Of Inspiration' The Maryland woman who was killed in an apparent murder-suicide shortly after returning to Rice University for the new semester is being remembered as a "vibrant soul who brought warmth and joy wherever she went."  This week, Nottingham resident Andrea Rodriguez Avila was identified as the person found during a welfare check by campus police at the university, where she was an incoming junior. University officials confirmed that Avila was found dead in her Jones College room, along with another man who suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was not a member of the Rice community a…
Father Of Four Killed In I-95 Dump Truck Crash In Maryland 'Was Pillar Of Family,' Wife Says Father Of Four Killed In I-95 Dump Truck Crash In Maryland 'Was Pillar Of Family,' Wife Says
Father Of Four Killed In I-95 Dump Truck Crash In Maryland 'Was Pillar Of Family,' Wife Says A father of four who had a 1-year-old child before a fatal dump truck crash on I-95 in Maryland is being remembered by his family as a man who was "full of life, always smiling and making others laugh."  At around 9:15 a.m. on Aug. 20, several lanes were closed on the interstate near Brooklyn Bridge Road in Laurel, when a driver crashed off the roadway and had to be airlifted to an area hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Aerial of the scene of a crash involving a dump truck on I-95 #Laurel that required a medevac landing. @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 #mcpd @TheMoCoShow @Mode…
'I Lost My First True Love:' Victims Of Deadly I-81 Crash Remembered 'I Lost My First True Love:' Victims Of Deadly I-81 Crash Remembered
'I Lost My First True Love:' Victims Of Deadly I-81 Crash Remembered The lives of two Maryland men were cut short in a crash on I-81 last week in Pennsylvania, and now, their loved ones are rallying to give them proper burials. Diamonte Drequan Disney, 25, and Tiheen "Tizzy" Justice Nathaniel Matthews, 20, both of Hagerstown, MD, both died in the crash Wednesday, Aug. 21 in Antrim Township, as previously reported by Daily Voice. The pair were in a black 2012 Infiniti G37 that lost control, left the roadway, hit the guidewire in the median, and then rolled over, PA State Trooper Ruiz said. Disney and Nathaniel were among the four people who were ej…
Football Player Who Died During Medical Emergency At Maryland HS Remembered As Gentle Giant Football Player Who Died During Medical Emergency At Maryland HS Remembered As Gentle Giant
Football Player Who Died During Medical Emergency At Maryland HS Remembered As Gentle Giant The death of a 16-year-old in Baltimore has left a hole in the hearts of his friends and family as big as the holes he opened up for his team on the football field. During a summer practice on Wednesday, Aug. 14, first responders were called to Franklin High School in Reisterstown, when Leslie Noble suffered a medical emergency.  He was rushed to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, leaving his loved ones reeling. "Leslie was known for his outgoing personality and his talents on and off the football field," Tekeiska Perry said.  "His infectious laughter, his unw…
Fatal Maryland Crash 'Completely Shattered Lives Of Those Who Knew' Beloved Motorcyclist Fatal Maryland Crash 'Completely Shattered Lives Of Those Who Knew' Beloved Motorcyclist
Fatal Maryland Crash 'Completely Shattered Lives Of Those Who Knew' Beloved Motorcyclist The 30-year-old Montgomery County motorcyclist who was killed in a crash is being remembered as "the most solid, consistent and loving son, brother, partner, cousin, friend and so much more."  Christian Ronaldo Guillen leaves behind a lasting legacy of love after the Silver Spring man crashed into a metal light support pole in White Oak, causing catastrophic injuries that claimed his life on Saturday, Aug. 10 in the area of Lockwood Drive and Columbia Pike. Since his death, friends, well-wishers, and the community are rallying around Guillen's family as they continue reeling from …
Grandmother Killed In Head-On Maryland Crash Was Newlywed, Mother Of Two Grandmother Killed In Head-On Maryland Crash Was Newlywed, Mother Of Two
Grandmother Killed In Head-On Maryland Crash Was Newlywed, Mother Of Two The 56-year-old West Virginia woman who was killed in a head-on crash near the Howard and Montgomery County line leaves behind a new husband, two children, and a beloved grandchild, friends and family say. Angela Marie Brill, of Martinsburg, was died following a crash involving her Chevy Malibu and a Toyota pick-up truck after being airlifted to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Investigators said that the driver of the Toyota was traveling south on Georgia Avenue when, for reasons that are still under investigation, crossed the centerline and struc…
Child Killed In Tragic Bounce House Accident Remembered By Maryland Community Child Killed In Tragic Bounce House Accident Remembered By Maryland Community
Child Killed In Tragic Bounce House Accident Remembered By Maryland Community Declan Hicks had a passion for dinosaurs, loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and had a penchant for "crazy socks" before he was killed in a freak accident at an independent baseball game over the weekend. The 5-year-old boy from La Plata was playing in a bounce house on Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf when it was swept away by wind and flew approximately 15 to 20 feet into the air before landing on the field, officials said. Another child also suffered injuries during the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs game on Aug. 2. Both were airlifted to area hospitals by state po…