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Husband Of 'Top Chef' Star Dies
The husband of "Top Chef" star Leah Cohen and co-founder of a popular New York City restaurant has died at 44 years old, leaving behind his wife and their two young sons.
Ben Byruch, who records show lived with Cohen in Union City, NJ, died Monday, Nov. 10, according to a Maplewood, NJ-based GoFundMe campaign launched by Lonny Sweet and Cassandre Pallas to support his family.
Byruch was the creative force behind Pig & Khao, the Southeast Asian restaurant he built alongside Cohen, who finished sixth on Season 5 of Bravo's "Top Chef," which aired from 2008 to 2009.
The couple …
NYC Building Collapse: 8 Victims ID'd, Search Of Site Ends, Reports Say
Authorities have identified all eight people killed in a Brooklyn building collapse, including two children ages 9 and 10, and rescue crews have finished searching the rubble, according to reports.
The three-story building at 1321 Flatbush Ave. collapsed into a neighboring construction site just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, killing eight people and injuring 19 others, as previously reported by Daily Voice.
The NYPD has now released the names of all eight victims, ABC7 reported. Those killed were identified as:
Nicole Daniela Salvada Rodriguez, 9;
Kevin Santiago Reyes Gon…
Child Porn Tip Leads To Saratoga County Man’s Arrest, Police Say
A Capital Region man was busted on child pornography charges after a tip from a national child protection organization, authorities said.
Keegan J. Gallagher, 25, of Halfmoon, was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 10, New York State Police said.
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a cyber tip to law enforcement, state police said. The probe led to Gallagher’s arrest in Wilton, authorities said.
Gallagher was charged with possession and promotion of child porn and arraigned in Halfmoon Town Court, officials said. He was released under the supervisi…
Rape Suspect Identified After Being Shot Dead By NY State Trooper: Police
The rape suspect who was shot and killed by New York State Police was identified Thursday, Nov. 12.
Zachary J. Strough, 41, of Natural Bridge, pointed a gun at state troopers before one trooper shot him dead Wednesday, Nov. 11 in Carthage, New York State Police said.
Strough was wanted on a bench warrant after skipping his court date Tuesday, Nov. 10, prosecutors told News Channel 2 in Utica. He was allegedly set to take a plea deal at the hearing.
The case stemmed from a May 23 incident in Natural Bridge, when Strough hit a woman, dragged her out of a car and into the woods, and raped her…
Forged Check Victim In Critical Condition When Saratoga County Woman Stole Money, Police Say
A New York woman stole from a person she knew while the victim was hospitalized in critical condition, police said.
Sharon M. Passaretti, 50, of Ballston, was arrested Friday, Nov. 6 in the theft dating back to January, New York State Police said.
State troopers began investigating on Tuesday, Oct. 6 after receiving a complaint from a Fulton County resident about fraudulent activity on their bank account, authorities said.
Passaretti forged a check for more than $900 from the victim’s account in January 2026, while the victim was hospitalized and unable to consent to such activity, investi…
Online Game Chats Lead To Capital Region Woman’s Arrest, Police Say
A Capital Region woman shared indecent material with a child she met through an online game, police said.
Ansley J. Pope, 22, of Schenectady, met the under-17-year-old victim through online gaming and “communicated online with the child in a sexual manner,” New York State Police said.
State troopers began investigating on Thursday, Oct. 15 after learning about the communication, and Pope was arrested Friday, Nov. 6, according to state police.
She was charged with first-degree sharing indecent material with a minor and child endangerment, authorities said. Following her arraignment Saturday…
Tanker Hauling 6,000 Gallons Of Yogurt Sludge Crashes In New York: State Police
A tanker truck carrying 6,000 gallons of yogurt sludge crashed in New York on Thursday morning, Nov. 12, police said.
The sludge shifted in the back of the truck while it was traveling through Chenango County, causing the big rig to tip over onto its right side around 7:20 a.m. Thursday, New York State Police said.
A 30-year-old Hubbardsville man behind the wheel was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
The truck was traveling on Interstate 88 through Chenango, near the interchange with Interstate 81, when the load-shift caused the wreck, police said.
After t…
Deceased, Missing Victims Identified In Long Island Bridge Construction Tragedy: Police
The deceased and missing victims of the scaffolding collapse at a Long Island bridge construction site were identified Thursday, Nov. 12 by police.
Kleiton De Madeiros, 39, of Montclair, NJ, was killed Wednesday, Nov. 11 in the shocking collapse at the Loop Parkway bridge over Reynolds Channel on Long Island’s South Shore, New York State Police said.
Diogo De Oliveira, 38, of Elizabeth, NJ, remained missing Thursday, state police said. Search efforts continued in hopes of finding him.
De Madeiros and De Oliveira were both members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, ac…
8 Dead In NYC Building Collapse: Construction Site Had History Of Violations, Report Says
UPDATE: A Brooklyn construction site next to a building collapse that killed eight people and injured 19 others had a history of safety violations, stop-work orders, and concerns about protecting neighboring buildings, according to reports.
New, updated report - NYC Building Collapse: 8 Victims ID'd, Search Of Site Ends, Reports Say
The collapse happened at 1321 Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to the FDNY.
As of Thursday, Nov. 12, the death toll had risen to eight, with two of the 19 injured people in critical condition, ABC7 rep…
Woman Rescued From Domestic Attack On Saratoga County Road, But Crazed Ex Chases Down Car: SP
A New York man chased down his ex-girlfriend, who was desperately trying to escape him with help from a stranger, and caused a car crash, police said.
Anthony S. George, 24, of Fort Ann, fled the scene of the final car crash on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but he was later tracked down and arrested, New York State Police announced Wednesday, Nov. 11.
George was also facing a court order to stay away from his ex-girlfriend, a 30-year-old woman, following a third-degree assault conviction in 2025, according to court documents.
The Incident
George and his ex-girlfriend were inside George’s pickup truck a…
Online Dating Nightmare: Capital Region Man Busted In Sex Assault Case, Police Say
A Capital Region man sexually assaulted someone he met through an online dating app, according to state police.
Caleb Tollisen, 27, of Colonie, was cuffed Monday, Nov. 9 following a month-long investigation, New York State Police announced Wednesday, Nov. 11.
State troopers began investigating Tollisen following a sexual assault report on Thursday, Oct. 1, officials said.
Police determined that in September 2026, Tollisen met his victim through an online dating app, then sexually assaulted and forcibly touched their intimate parts without permission while in the town of Sand Lake, accordin…
NJ Bank Robber Who Fled To War-Torn Ukraine Now Charged In Capital Region Heist, DA Says
A New Jersey bank robber who fled to Ukraine has now been charged with another robbery in New York, authorities announced Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Edward Deveaux, 31, of Berlin Township, has been tied to the robbery of TD Bank in Colonie on Sept. 14, 2022, the Albany County District Attorney’s office said.
Deveaux was extradited from New Jersey state prison to Albany for his arraignment Tuesday, then held in Albany County jail without bail, according to online records and the DA’s office.
Details of the robbery were not released, but online court records indicated Deveaux displayed a firearm and …
Renowned Cardiologist, Dad Of 2, Found Dead After Vanishing On Bike Ride
A missing Massachusetts cardiologist and father of two was found dead near a cow pasture after vanishing during a weekend bike ride, authorities said.
Dr. Daniel Arnett, 44, of Beverly, Massachusetts, was last seen around 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in Newbury. His body was discovered shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday near the Tendercrop Farm cow pasture, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday.
The discovery came after a search for Arnett, who had left home without his cellphone.
Police had described him as an "overdue cyclist" after he failed to return from his ride. …
Ex-Cop Guilty Of Killing Pregnant Woman He Groomed As Teen, Faces Life In Prison
A former Massachusetts police officer accused of grooming a young girl, sexually abusing her for years, and killing her after she became pregnant with his child has been found guilty of murder, federal authorities said.
A federal jury in Boston convicted Matthew Farwell, 41, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, of killing Sandra Birchmore, 23, and her unborn child.
The former Stoughton officer was found guilty of killing a witness, victim, or informant and causing the death of an unborn child during a federal crime, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Farwell fac…
Driver With 43 License Suspensions Flees Saratoga County Car Crash, Police Say
A Capital Region man who fled the scene of a car crash was busted with 43 license suspensions, police said.
Thomas R. Loehr, 43, of Schenectady, was hit with a felony charge following an otherwise unspectacular collision Monday, Nov. 9, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office.
Loehr was driving a 2017 Mazda northbound on U.S. Route 9 through Malta when he tried to change lanes and struck a 2022 Ford from behind around 1:15 p.m. Monday, investigators said.
There were no injuries in the crash, but Loehr fled the scene, and the other driver called the cops, according to authorities.…
Victim Kidnapped, Assaulted In Saratoga County Sex Abuse Case, Police Say
A New York attacker held a victim against their will in the Capital Region and sexually assaulted them, police announced Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Mitchell G. Brabant, 32, of Seneca Falls, was charged with kidnapping and sexual abuse for the incident in Malta in October 2026, New York State Police said.
State troopers received a sexual assault report on Friday, Oct. 23, when the victim said they’d been sexually assaulted sometime prior in October, investigators said.
Police determined Brabant held the victim against their will and committed sexual assault, authorities said. He was charged with fir…
Child Predator With Zip Ties And Sex Toys Captured In Saratoga County Sting Operation, Cops Say
A would-be child predator flew from Colorado to New York with plans to sexually assault multiple children but was instead busted by a “predator hunter” group, police said.
Preston Purdy, 42, of Boulder, CO, traveled to Malta, NY, with plans to abuse a 3-year-old girl, an 8-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy on Monday, Nov. 9, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office and the group New York State Predator Alert.
Instead, Purdy walked into a sting operation and shared disturbing details of his plans with the predator hunters.
“To say that Purdy’s intentions were unspeakable, horri…
