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Friday, mar 7

Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

News

Sex Offender Who Raped, Groomed Minor In Virginia Gets Life In Prison: Police A Virginia man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted raping a minor he was reportedly in a relationship with, authorities in Culpeper County announced. Christopher Craig, 38, was sentenced to life in prison by a judge after being found guilty of aggravated sexual battery and object sexual penetration at trial in November 2024. The Culpeper Police Department launched an investigation in May 2023, after receiving a credible report about an ongoing physical relationship between Craig and a juvenile victim in the Town of Culpeper, officials said. Detectives le…

by Zak Failla

03/07/2025

Police & Fire

Life Cut Short: Victim Slain In Severn Shooting Leaves Unfulfilled Dreams Behind Derrick "DRose" McDonald had "so much life ahead, so many dreams left unfulfilled, so much love still to give" before he was gunned down in Severn, loved ones say. Officers with the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded around 7 p.m. on Monday, March 4, to reports of gunfire in the 8100 block of Meade Village Road. Upon arrival, they found the 23-year-old McDonald suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, and a second victim, Mack Galloway, 28, was rushed to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Two others were struck in the quadruple shooting but suffered less seve…

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Police & Fire

Predator Lied About Age To Gain 'Carnal Knowledge Of Child' In Virginia, Police Say A 20-year-old Virginia man is behind bars after authorities say he lied about his identity and age to engage in a sexual relationship with a juvenile. Reydy Caal Butz was arrested Wednesday, March 5, following an extensive investigation that began in August 2024, when police received reports of an inappropriate relationship between a 17-year-old and a juvenile victim, according to the Culpeper Police Department. Detectives later determined that Caal Butz had falsely presented himself as a 17-year-old when he was, in fact, 20, police said. "Modern technology, investigative techniques, …

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Obituaries

Teen Killed Near Landsdowne HS Brought Laughter, Smiles To Family, Friends A Maryland family is mourning the tragic loss of a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed outside Lansdowne High School, leaving them devastated and searching for justice. Kamau Campbell, a talented football player, devoted son, and loving brother, was gunned down just before 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, near the 3900 block of Hollins Ferry Road, according to Baltimore County Police. Officers initially responded to reports of a shooting in a shopping center parking lot near the school, but when they arrived, they found Campbell collapsed outside the school, suffering from multiple gunsho…

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Police & Fire

Man Found Unresponsive In Car Pronounced Dead In Seat Pleasant: Police (Developing) A death investigation is underway after a man was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in Seat Pleasant and later pronounced dead, authorities said. Officers responded to the 6300 block of Addison Road around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, after receiving reports of an unconscious man inside a vehicle, according to Seat Pleasant Police. When officers arrived, they found the man unresponsive and immediately began life-saving efforts, including CPR and the use of agency-issued AEDs. Despite their attempts, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS crews arrived and ultimately pronounced the man dead …

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Police & Fire

Home Destroyed, Cat Pulled From Rubble Of Loudoun County Fire On Jonella Farm A Loudoun County family lost their home after a devastating fire tore through their house, leaving them displaced and pets unaccounted for, officials said. Firefighters responded to Jonella Farm on Thursday, March 6, where they arrived to find heavy flames engulfing the first and second floors, according to a Loudoun Fire Rescue spokesperson. The two adults and two children who lived in the home were not there when the fire started, and no injuries were reported among firefighters or civilians. However, two family pets initially were reported missing in the aftermath of the fire. In…

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Obituaries

Mom's Sudden Death Sparks Outpouring Of Support: 'The Glue' Of Frederick Family A Maryland family is still in shock following the unexpected loss of a woman remembered for her boundless love, compassion, and selflessness. Alysha Ann Dennings-Georg, 56, of Frederick, passed away suddenly on Friday, Feb. 28, leaving behind a heartbroken family and a legacy of kindness that touched all who knew her, according to her obituary. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dennings-Georg was raised in Annandale, where she graduated high school in 1987 before relocating to Frederick, where she built a life devoted to her family, friends, and beloved pets. "Alysha was the heart of her …

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Business

Teen Burglars Released Following Multi-Month Maryland Theft Spree: Police Two of the three teenagers accused of terrorizing Bethesda neighborhoods with a months-long burglary and auto theft spree are already back on the streets after their arrests, Montgomery County authorities said. Casey Jones, 19, of Bethesda; Caleb Taylor, 19, of Rockville; and Arden Gormley, 18, of an unknown address, were taken into custody after allegedly breaking into a home on Massachusetts Avenue and stealing property and a vehicle, according to Montgomery County Police. Investigators say the trio is responsible for a burglary wave stretching from April to December 2024, targeting homes…

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

Traffic

Route 17 Closed Following Violent Stafford County Crash (Developing) A serious crash on Route 17 (Warrenton Road) in Stafford County has shut down all lanes in both directions after power lines came down, officials said. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office reported the closure near Lichfield Boulevard on Thursday, March 6, urging drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Fredericksburg confirmed the extended closure, stating that their crews are on the scene setting up detours while Dominion Energy works to address the downed power lines. In photos released by VDOT, crews can be seen working on the…

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

News

Watch Events Leading Up To Police-Involved In-Custody Death In Hagerstown (Video) New bodycam footage has been released by the Maryland Attorney General's Office that shows the final moments of Kelvin Lashawn Baker's life before he died in police custody. The 46-year-old was placed in handcuffs and into the back of a police vehicle in Washington County as officers planned to executive a search warrant at his Hagerstown home. According to investigators, at approximately 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2024, members of the Hagerstown Police Department executed a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of East Washington Street, where they found Baker outside with another woman. …

by Zak Failla

03/06/2025

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