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Montgomery County, MD

Police & Fire
Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say
Elderly Woman Catches Fire In Maryland Home, Succumbs To Injuries, Officials Say An elderly woman died after accidentally catching fire in her Maryland home late Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed. Shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, Montgomery County firefighters were called to the 12100 block of Livingston Street in Wheaton, where a fire broke out on the first floor of a single-family home. The scene of the fire. Twitter According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service officials, the woman, believed to be in her 80s, was the only person in the house when she accidentally caught fire.  She managed to escape but sustained critical injuries. Mo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say A Long Island man is accused of orchestrating a $2.3 million gold bar scam that targeted an elderly Montgomery County mother and her daughter, police say.  Montgomery County police have charged 26-year-old Yash Shah of Baldwin, New York, in a government-imposter scam that defrauded an 88-year-old woman and her 61-year-old daughter out of millions worth of gold bars. Authorities said this is the first reported scam of its kind in the county. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the scheme began in February 2023, when the victims were contacted by someone claiming to…

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News
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light
Former Maryland Teacher Learns Fate After Years-Old Sex Abuse Case With Student Comes to Light A former middle school teacher in Maryland will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years once she completes her prison term for sexually abusing a student, authorities announced on Tuesday. Melissa Marie Curtis, 31, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all suspended but 12 months to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty in June to three counts of third-degree sex offense in connection to the abuse of a teen. In November 2023, police in Montgomery County launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse that ha…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (VIDEO) Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (VIDEO)
Transit Center Assault Caught On Camera Lands Two Behind Bars In Maryland: Police (Video) A violent assault caught on camera landed two men behind bars after they attacked their victim and robbed him in Montgomery County. Gaithersburg resident Davon Lopez, 30, and 25-year-old Anthony Tyrone Slater, Jr., of Germantown, are both facing multiple charges following an assault at the transit center earlier this week.  According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, officers from multiple agencies were called to the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road in Gaithersburg, where there was a reported robbery in progress. A witness desc…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint
First-Grade Teacher Left Classroom To Sell Drugs On School Property In Maryland: Complaint A teacher in Maryland who allegedly left her classroom to sell drugs to people on school property is facing charges for distributing a fatal dose of fentanyl, according to federal authorities. Sarah Katherine Magid, 34, has been charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and the death of a victim, according to a criminal complaint that was unsealed this week in District Court. Magid, a first-grade teacher at a Montgomery County school was arrested in August following a search and seizure warrant by the DEA and local police at her Burtonsville home fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire
Family Safe, House Destroyed By Massive Maryland Fire A fast-moving fire left a family of six displaced in Montgomery on Monday morning and reportedly caused millions of dollars in damages, officials say. Fire crews were called at around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 to the 21700 block of Peachtree Road in Barnesville, where there was a massive house fire that tore through a residence and spread to vehicles in the driveway. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO Firefighters also had to contend with trick conditions, as the home was in an area without hydrants in the area, forcing them to haul in thousands of gallons of water to help battle the blaze. Twitter/@mcfrsPI…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Maryland's Top Public Elementary Schools: New Rankings Released Montgomery County is the place to be for parents with young children according to a new Niche report listing Maryland's top elementary schools. It was a clean sweep in the top five for Montgomery County, which led the latest rankings recently released by the organization following lists for the top middle and high schools in the country.  To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche use…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police
Man Charged After Suspicious Package Delivered To Neighbor's Home In Maryland: Police A 22-year-old man is facing charges after being busted with drugs and a weapon following the delivery of a suspicious package to a neighbor's home, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Kalani Ayi Abulfata Ariyibi-Sani, of Silver Spring, was arrested on Thursday following an investigation into his delivery of a curious package to a neighbor in Silver Spring. Officers were called to the 1300 block of Alderton Drive, where there was a report of a suspicious package containing drugs that was delivered to a homeowner in the area. Police say that upon arrival, officers o…

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News
Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate
Woman Who Sold Fentanyl To 19-Year-Old Hours Before Fatal OD In Maryland Learns Fate The woman who sold the fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose of a 19-year-old in Montgomery County will spend years behind bars, the state's attorney's office announced on Friday. Evelin Cabrera, 20, who has no known address, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for her role in the death of Daniel Pineda-Romero in December 2022, when he was found unresponsive in his family's home in Gaithersburg. According to prosecutors, on Dec. 10, 2022, a family member found Pineda-Romero unresponsive, and first responders declared him dead at the scene. "(His brother) saw him sleeping at 3 p…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race
April McClain Delaney Declares Victory In Maryland's 6th District Congressional Race Democrat April McClain Delaney has declared victory in the hotly contested race against Republican Neil Parrott in Maryland's 6th Congressional District. In her first time running for office, using a strong mail-in vote, Delaney was able to narrowly edge out Parrott, with 51.18 percent of the vote (174,514 in total) versus 48.61 percent (165,750) for her opponent, according to the Maryland Board of Elections on Friday, Nov. 8.  "I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of Maryland's 6th District have placed in me," Delaney said in a statement declaring her victory.&…

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News
District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (VIDEOS) District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (VIDEOS)
District Man Sentenced After Attempted Murder Caught On Camera In Maryland (Videos) A District man will spend decades in prison after pleading guilty mid-trial for an attempted murder that was caught on camera in Maryland, authorities announced. The 22-year-old saw the writing on the wall and admitted his guilt in the middle of a jury trial earlier this year in connection to his role in a shooting in a well-known Silver Spring alleyway following a wild chase in June 2022, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison with all but 30 to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation when he is released. …

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Police & Fire
Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney
Serial Arsonist Telling Tall Tales Admits To Setting Series Of Maryland Fires: State's Attorney A firebug responsible for a series of arson incidents in Montgomery County has copped to the crime and faces up to 80 years in prison, according to the state's attorney's office. Fernando Herrera-Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of second-degree arson in connection to multiple incidents reported in September 2023. Specifically, Herrera-Rivera admitted to lighting fires involving:  A vehicle along Russell Avenue; A Gaithersburg Police Department building on Fulks Corner; A beer and wine store in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue; A market in the 400 block…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate
Suspect Who 'Seriously Injured' Officers During Disturbance In Maryland Learns Fate The 36-year-old man who "seriously injured" two Montgomery County police officers while resisting arrest will spend decades in prison after being convicted of assault and other offenses. Gaithersburg resident Jermaine Palmer was sentenced to 38 years in prison, suspending all but 21 to serve following an attack on officers in June 2023, authorities announced on Thursday. Palmer did not go down quietly on June 30, 2023, after assaulting multiple officers who sought to take him into custody for breaking into a home, according to police. Shortly after 8 p.m. on the night of the incident, offi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police
Man Accused Of Killing Roommate, Leaving Body Behind Bus Stop In Maryland: Police Two weeks after 19-year-old Diego Edilberto Borja-Cardona was found suffering from traumatic injuries behind a Montgomery County bus stop, his roommate has been arrested for his murder, police say. Silver Spring resident Abraham Luna Perez, 26, has been arrested in connection to Borja-Cardona's death late last month after his death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. Shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to the 9300 block of Piney Branch Road, where they found Borja-Ca…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland
No Hung Jury This Time: Man Convicted Second Time Around For Killing Friend In Maryland A man previously tried last year before being granted a temporary stay of execution by a hung jury was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the death of his 33-year-old friend in 2021, authorities announced on Monday. Rockville resident Jonathan Mohelski, 39, will face a decade in prison in connection to the death of Brandon Sutherland in November 2021 following multiple trials, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. Brandon Sutherland Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office Mohelski was convicted following a 10-day trial after the jury wound up un…

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News
Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities
Father Avoids Murder Charge, Admits To Child Neglect In Maryland: Authorities The Maryland father who housed his six children in deplorable conditions in Montgomery County will avoid a murder charge after one died, but faces decades in prison for child neglect. Dominique Moore, 46, pleaded guilty to six counts of child neglect of his six minor children and will face 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in February 2025. Both Moore and his wife, Cynthia Moore, were arrested in May 2023 and initially indicted on charges that included second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect following an investigation into the death of the…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270 Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270
Driver Crashes Into Back Of Police Vehicle During Maryland Speeding Stop On I-270 One of Montgomery County's top cops got a scare on Saturday morning when a driver plowed into his vehicle as he was conducting a traffic stop. District 3 Commander Jason Cokinos stopped a driver early on Nov. 2 for driving 110 mph on I-270 near I-495 when he was rudely interrupted by another reckless motorist in a Mercedes who crashed into the back of his vehicle. No serious injuries were reported, according to the commander, who was out of his vehicle when the Mercedes caused the crash. When you see police vehicles 🚔, emergency vehicles 🚒, tow trucks, etc. on the side of the road... MO…

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Police & Fire
Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County
Virginia Stabbing Suspect First To Be Convicted Based On Drone Evidence In Montgomery County For the first time, investigators in Montgomery County have secured a conviction largely through evidence collected by drones.  Fairfax County resident Jovan Ali, 45, was found guilty by a jury of second-degree assault in connection to a stabbing in April. Prosecutors say that on April 17, Ali was involved in an altercation near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring, which was witnessed by a Montgomery County Police officer. There was also a Montgomery County Police drone above that captured Ali pulling a knife from his pocket and stabbing an adult male …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (VIDEO) Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (VIDEO)
Several Residents Rescued From Two-Alarm Apartment Fire In Maryland (Video) Several people were rescued after a fire broke out inside a Montgomery County apartment building on Thursday morning. First responders were called at around 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 31 to the 3500 block of Pear Tree Court in Silver Spring, where there was a reported fire in the third floor of a four-story building. Silver Spring, MD - Aerial from the scene of a two alarm fire in the 3500blk of Peartree Court. @mcfrsPIO @DavidPazos15 @TheMoCoShow @ModeratelyMoco @CordellTraffic @HHFireProds @ArmisteadIsaac @mcpnews @mcfrs @Djp1Me @DCNewsLive @alanhenney @DCNewsNow #mcfrs @MoCoFireWire… pic.twitt…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Maryland Park Arrested In DC, Police Say Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Maryland Park Arrested In DC, Police Say
Shooter Who Targeted Pair At Maryland Park Arrested In DC, Police Say The shooting suspect wanted for opening fire in the parking lot of a Montgomery County park has been apprehended in Washington, DC, police say. Gaithersburg resident Kenneth Oates, 38, is facing multiple charges following an incident reported at Welsh Park in Rockville over the weekend, though no injuries were initially reported. Gunshots rang out at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the park, when Oates allegedly fired several shots in the parking lot and fled in a black Honda Civic that was later recovered in Frederick County. During the investigators, police say that detectives det…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Maryland's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Maryland's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Maryland's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Several middle schools in Montgomery and Howard counties are among the best in Maryland, according to a new Niche report. Cabin John Middle School in Potomac topped the list, followed by three in Howard County: Clarksville, Mount View, and Folly Quarter middle schools. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users."  The results are similar to the top public high schools in the st…

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by Zak Failla
News
Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say
Home Invader Targeting Elderly Women In Maryland Apprehended, Police Say The man who has been targeting and assaulting elderly women during home invasions in Montgomery County has been identified and arrested, police say. Silver Spring resident Devin Jones, 34, is facing charges for two recent home invasions where he exposed himself to one woman, attempted to sexually assault another, and detectives believe there could be more victims. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, at around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, officers were called to the 3700 block of Greencastle Road, where an 88-year-old woman reported that a man forced his way into…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region There will be an elevated risk of fire danger in the DMV region on Saturday due to the continued dry conditions and expected gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. An alert was issued cautioning that there will be increased fire conditions expected on Oct. 26, with relative humidity levels staying long, with winds hovering between 15 and 20 mph and gusts possibly reaching 30 mph in parts of Maryland and Virginia. The forecasted conditions "will result in the rapid drying of fine fuels like grass, leaves, and small shrubs."  In response to the expected weather, forecas…

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Business
Family Dinner Lands Lucky Lottery Player $1M Prize On Ticket Sold At Maryland Restaurant Family Dinner Lands Lucky Lottery Player $1M Prize On Ticket Sold At Maryland Restaurant
Family Dinner Lands Lucky Lottery Player $1M Prize On Ticket Sold At Maryland Restaurant What started as a routine family dinner turned into a million dollar meal for a Montgomery County woman who cashed in big on a Mega Millions ticket sold at a popular restaurant. Over the summer, the Lottery novice said that she was out with family at Quincy's Bar & Grille in Gaithersburg - a place they regularly frequent - but on July 19, they did something different. At the urging of her family, the woman said that she was coaxed into purchasing a $2 ticket for the drawing after being initially reluctant. This week, Lottery officials said that sure enough, she later returned to the re…

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Police & Fire
Teen Charged With Attempted Murder Facing New Charges For Second Maryland Shooting: Police Teen Charged With Attempted Murder Facing New Charges For Second Maryland Shooting: Police
Teen Charged With Attempted Murder Facing New Charges For Second Maryland Shooting: Police A 16-year-old already being charged as an adult for a shooting earlier this year involving a teen exiting a school bus in Montgomery County is facing new charges after being linked to a reported August shooting, police say. Clarksburg resident Jaiden Ochieng was first identified and charged following a shooting that was reported in March in the 19300 block of Archdale Road in Germantown. According to a spokesperson from the Montgomery County Police Department, at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, Ochieng arrived at a bus stop in a stolen Hyundai, and when his would-be 15-year-old v…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region
Persistent Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds Creating Elevated Risk Of Fire In DMV Region There will be an elevated risk of fire danger in the DMV region on Thursday due to the continued dry conditions and expected gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. An alert was issued cautioning that there will be increased fire conditions expected on Oct. 24, with relative humidity levels staying long, with winds hovering between 10 and 15 mph and gusts possibly reaching 25 mph in parts of Maryland and Virginia. The forecasted conditions "will result in the rapid drying of fine fuels."  In response to the expected weather, forecasters have cautions that "residents an…

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News
Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly In Maryland: State's Attorney Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly In Maryland: State's Attorney
Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly In Maryland: State's Attorney The Maryland scammer believed to be a part of an international organized crime ring targeting elderly residents will face decades in prison, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. Ravinklejeet Mathon pleaded guilty this week and will face 40 years behind bars after scheming to steal three one-kilo gold bars with an estimated value of nearly $230,000 from an elderly man in Silver Spring. "The scam is believed to be part of an international organized crime ring," prosecutors said. "Similar Gold Bar Scams have been reported here in Montgomery County and across the United…

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Traffic
Here's Why Traffic Was Backed Up On I-270 In Maryland Here's Why Traffic Was Backed Up On I-270 In Maryland
Here's Why Traffic Was Backed Up On I-270 In Maryland A multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer that leaked fuel onto I-270 tied up traffic on Tuesday afternoon in Montgomery County. In advance of the evening commute in Gaithersburg, several northbound lanes were blocked on Oct. 22 when a truck was involved n a multi-vehicle crash that resulted in fuel being spilled onto the roadway. According to a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, the crash left the truck with a ruptured fuel saddle tank. Twitter/@mcfrsPIO HazMat crews were called to the scene of the crash and were able to help mitigate the damage done by the…

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Police & Fire
Search Is On For Shooter After Man Found Dead In Maryland Apartment: Police Search Is On For Shooter After Man Found Dead In Maryland Apartment: Police
Search Is On For Shooter After Man Found Dead In Maryland Apartment: Police The death of a 37-year-old Montgomery County man remains under investigation weeks after his death was ruled a homicide when his body was found inside an area apartment, police say. A new alert was issued on Tuesday, Oct. 22 as they continue to search for a suspect connected to the death of Antoine Lavale Parker, who was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in his Montgomery Village home last month after officers visited the residence several times in one morning. Parker's body was found shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, in the same building in the 18500 block of Boysen…

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Police & Fire
Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police
Loving Father Found Stabbed To Death In Median Of Maryland Roadway: Police A 45-year-old found stabbed to death in Montgomery County is being remembered as "a vibrant man, who made everyone laugh until tears came out of our eyes (who) was the greatest story teller who could make you feel fear, happiness, and utter amazement."  Silver Spring resident Hesler Saul Sanchez Cruz was found suffering from fatal stab wounds on Sunday morning following an alleged attack by Emilio Ortiz Alba, 30, who has been charged with his murder. Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 13, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police in the area of University Boulevard an…

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Business
Maryland Grandmother Is State's Newest Millionaire After Winning Big Playing 'Cash4Life' Ticket Maryland Grandmother Is State's Newest Millionaire After Winning Big Playing 'Cash4Life' Ticket
Maryland Grandmother Is State's Newest Millionaire After Winning Big Playing 'Cash4Life' Ticket Sometimes, all it takes is a little luck. A grandmother in Montgomery County recently had a tough - but enviable - decision to make after winning a second-tier prize playing a Cash4Life Maryland Lottery ticket: a million bucks or $1,000 a week-for-life. The lucky Olney woman took the former after the drawing on Wednesday, Oct. 9, claiming the one-time payment of $1 million over the option of a $1,000-a-week-for-life annuity paid in annual installments of $52,000 a year. Winning numbers for the Oct. 9 drawing: 07-12-21-44-47 with a Cash Ball of 03.  She said that she learned of h…

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by Zak Failla