A "monstrous act of cruelty" by a couple to their four children in Lancaster, California, led to a life sentence for both.

Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 39, and Natalie Sumiko Brothwell, 49, decapitated their 12-year-old boy, Maurice, and 13-year-old girl, Maliaka, in Nov. 2020.

'Two innocent children were brutally murdered, and their young brothers were left to live through unimaginable horror.'

The couple then forced their younger sons, ages 8 and 9, to view the bodies of their dead siblings and confined them to their bedroom for days without food, according to prosecutors.

"This was a monstrous act of cruelty that shattered an entire family," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman in a statement about the conviction.

"Two innocent children were brutally murdered, and their young brothers were left to live through unimaginable horror," he added. "The jury's verdict delivers justice for these victims and sends a powerful message: Those who commit such evil acts will be held fully accountable."

The two were convicted of first-degree murder as well as child abuse.

The children's maternal grandmother maintained that her daughter was innocent and accused Taylor of "ruining so many lives" in a statement read to the court.

Taylor and Brothwell were given life sentences without the possibility of parole.

"How do you put into words that two children were beheaded?" said a close family friend outside the courthouse. "This stays with all of us. This is never going to wash off."

The woman, who was only identified as Ellen, said she had urged Brothwell to leave the relationship for years because of domestic violence.

"She was doing what we were raised to believe. You stand by your man," Ellen added. "You have a family, and you raise your children."

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'Today' host Savannah Guthrie's mother, 84, vanishes from home after missing church; police warn: 'We have a crime scene'

"Today" host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. Police suspect she may have been abducted from her home in Arizona.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that the 84-year-old was last seen Saturday night at her home in Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson.

'She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly.'

During a Monday press conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that Guthrie's disappearance was first reported Sunday morning after a church friend noticed she was absent from services and alerted one of her adult children.

"The family went to the house. I'm thinking they spent some time looking for her themselves before they called us," Nanos said, according to ABC News.

However, Guthrie could not be found, and now investigators believe foul play may have been involved.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement, "All her personal belongings, to include her wallet, cell phone, and vehicle, were still there, but she was nowhere to be found."

CBS News reported that Nanos added, "We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us."

"We believe now, after we've processed that crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime, and we're asking the community's help," Nanos added.

Nanos warned, "I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can't ignore what's in front of us."

Sgt. David Stivers of the Pima County Sheriff's Department revealed that investigators found "circumstances on scene that we believe are suspicious in nature."

Sheriff Nanos told People magazine that investigators "have taken what we believe is biological DNA-type evidence, and we are submitting it to our labs."

Law enforcement sources reportedly said investigators found blood inside Guthrie's home.

The Los Angeles Times reported, "The sources, who were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said there were signs of forced entry. It's unclear whose blood was found inside the house."

Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Kevin Adger told the Los Angeles Times, "At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly [in the] middle of the night. Detectives are looking into a possible kidnapping or abduction."

Nanos said, "I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly."

The sheriff said no motive has been established, and there is no early indication Guthrie was targeted because she is the mother of Savannah Guthrie. Yet, he cautioned, "We can't dismiss that."

Nanos told CBS News that investigators "will certainly" examine the possibility that Guthrie was targeted.

The sheriff said, "Was she being stalked? Did she have some people out there harassing her or something?"

Nanos added, "We're not going to dismiss any angles, for sure, but right now, immediately, we don't know of anything like that."

Nanos urged Guthrie's neighbors to review home security cameras to see if they notice anything suspicious from last weekend.

"They still might see something," Nanos stated. "Maybe it's somebody walking by. Maybe it's some vehicle driving by at that time of day."

A search-and-rescue team is utilizing drones, helicopters, and heat sensors to try to track down the missing woman.

Two sources told CBS News that the FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Guthrie's family is working with law enforcement to help find her.

Nanos noted that Guthrie was "not of good physical health, and so naturally we are concerned," Newsweek reported. Nanos added that her physical challenges and age limited her ability to move around.

"She did not leave on her own, we know that," Nanos stated.

Guthrie's family told investigators that she did not have cognitive issues, and the sheriff added, "She's very alert, and she's of good, sound mind."

"This is not a dementia-related; she is as sharp as a tack," Nanos said. "The family wants everybody to know this isn't somebody who just wandered off."

Nanos said during the press conference, "This is an 84-year-old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication — medication that, if she doesn't have in 24 hours, it could be fatal."

The sheriff's department said Guthrie is 5 feet 5 inches tall, has brown hair and blue eyes, and weighs 150 pounds.

Savannah Guthrie was absent from the "Today" show Monday and Tuesday as authorities attempted to locate her mother, but the anchor issued the following statement Monday:

On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department at (520) 351-4900.

On Monday night, Savannah Guthrie asked her Instagram followers for prayers:

We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him.

Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.

We need you.

"He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord," a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us.

Bring her home.

Police are asking the public for help in locating Guthrie.

"Every detail matters. Even small tips could make a difference," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. "Please share this post to help us reach more people. Thank you for your continued assistance and support."

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for her disappearance.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department established a tip line; anyone with information is urged to contact the department at 520-351-4900.

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Video: All-out brawl erupts between adult male with MAGA hat and more than a dozen apparent HS students at ICE protest

Cellphone videos caught the moment when an all-out brawl erupted between an adult male with a MAGA hat and over a dozen apparent high school students at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest Monday afternoon in Texas.

The Buda Police Department said a Hays County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer at Moe and Gene Johnson High School in Buda indicated that students were conducting a “walkout” protest on RM967. Buda is about 20 minutes southwest of Austin.

'Hey, you want another a**-beating, come on out!'

Law enforcement personnel responded to the area to provide safety and security for pedestrians and motorists, police said.

But police added that Buda officers were dispatched to the intersection of RM967 and FM1626 for a fight in progress just before 3 p.m.

Arriving officers were notified that a female juvenile on the sidewalk and an adult male in a vehicle were engaged in a verbal argument, police said, adding that the argument escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple people.

You can view a clip of the brawl in KXAN-TV's video report about the altercation; it shows what appears to be at least a dozen apparent high school students punching and kicking the adult male, knocking him to the ground, and even putting him in a headlock until he's able to get up and retreat to his vehicle. There is no audio.

Both primary parties involved were identified, the situation remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made at this time, police said.

A Hays Consolidated Independent School District spokesperson told KXAN-TV that the district is aware of the video of the fight but said police are handling the investigation since the incident happened off campus.

Image source: Buda (Texas) Police Department

Buda Police on Tuesday told Blaze News they expect to make an arrest or arrests but have no timeline for when that will happen. Blaze News asked police if the adult male involved in the fight is a teacher — due to numerous social media posts indicating he is — but police replied, "Not that we’re aware of."

One crucial element police confirmed to Blaze News is that the adult male involved in the fight did indeed have a red MAGA hat on his person during the altercation.

There are a handful of videos of the fight apart from the clip included in KXAN's video report — and they are linked in comments under the police department's Facebook post about the brawl.

As police noted, the adult male was in a vehicle when he verbally argued with the juvenile female — and then things got physical. Indeed one clip recorded from a distance shows what appears to be the adult male on the street swinging at a female as they move from the street to the sidewalk and to the grass.

A second clip recorded very close to the fight shows what appears to be the adult male holding a MAGA hat while swinging at a female and pushing her backward as she fights back; she momentarily grabs the MAGA hat before she falls to the grass.

A third clip includes what the KXAN video shows — except with audio. Those fighting and watching the brawl are heard yelling, "What the f**k?" and "Get him!" and "F**k ICE! You're a bitch!" and "F**kin' kill yourself!"

Once the adult male is back in his vehicle — and his MAGA hat is back in his possession — one individual from the crowd is heard yelling at him, "Hey, you want another ass-beating, come on out!" The adult male eventually puts the MAGA hat on his head.

What isn't clear is why the adult male got out of his vehicle in the first place.

When Blaze News asked police if the adult male indicated why he left his vehicle and physically fought the juvenile female, police replied that it's still under investigation.

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Mob of bicycle-riding thugs gang up on, brutally beat up lone driver amid accident dispute: 'I was just fighting for my life'

A California motorist suffered a broken back and rib after a bicycle-riding mob beat him up on a Santa Clara street amid an accident dispute Saturday, KGO-TV reported.

"On my left side, I have fractured rib number 12," John Hidalgo recounted to the station. "And my number two lumbar vertebrae was fractured. You know, might not look like I'm severely injured, but, you know, I am in pain."

'The next time it happens, are they going to kill someone? Is somebody going to be tired of what they're doing and run them over?'

Hidalgo told KGO an e-bike rider who ran a red light hit his car — and then a larger group on bikes arrived shortly after and blamed him for the accident.

Video shows the group brutally beating, kicking, and jumping on Hidalgo and destroying his car, the station said. You can view clips of the physical attack in KGO's video report.

"I was just fighting for my life, you know?" Hidalgo added to the station. "I mean, you don't really have time to think. It is unbelievable. But it's starting to become kind of the norm now."

Hidalgo told KGO he believes this group was part of a "ride out" — an informal gathering of bike riders who take over streets and sometimes perform dangerous stunts.

Woman thought she was buying a puppy — instead she's lured into an ambush, shot, set on fire in likely revenge killing: Cops

A South Carolina woman who believed she was meeting someone to buy a puppy walked into a deadly trap, according to authorities. The woman reportedly was lured into an ambush, fatally shot, and set on fire.

The Florence County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that police responded to a call of a "vehicle consumed by fire with a deceased victim inside" in Effingham on Jan. 22.

'Investigators are exploring the theory that Kinlaw was targeted in retaliation for a separate murder involving a family member in Darlington.'

Around 5:45 p.m., deputies arrived at the scene to find the car still on fire and a body inside the vehicle, WMBF-TV reported.

Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken identified the deceased woman as 40-year-old Dana Marie Kinlaw.

"Investigators allege that Iryanna Jarissa Fleming and Daquinn Taheen Thomas intentionally shot Kinlaw, resulting in her death, and subsequently set her body on fire inside the vehicle," police stated.

Florence County Sheriff TJ Joye said Fleming lured Kinlaw to a remote area.

"Supposedly they went there together," Joye said, according to WMBF. "Miss Fleming, she was 19 years of age, a friend of Miss Kinlaw, and they rode there together supposedly to buy a puppy."

Joye noted that Kinlaw was shot and then set on fire while inside the vehicle.

Authorities suspect Kinlaw was murdered as an act of retaliation over a prior homicide in Darlington County.

"Investigators are exploring the theory that Kinlaw was targeted in retaliation for a separate murder involving a family member in Darlington," Joye said.

"We believe there was a murder committed in Darlington County, which we made the arrest in Lake City that connects them to that arrest with Darlington County officials," Joye added.

Joye said investigators suspect that Kinlaw's son was involved in "some way, shape, or form, and we feel this is a retaliation to that murder."

Police arrested Thomas, 31, and Fleming on Jan. 22. They both were charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Nikko Christopher Carraway, 31, was arrested Jan. 28 in connection with Kinlaw's killing, according to WPDE-TV.

Carraway was charged with murder, first-degree arson, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

All three suspects are being held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center.

The Florence County Sheriff's Office stated the investigation is ongoing, and the suspects could face additional charges.

Citing court records, the New York Post reported that Thomas and Carraway have a "laundry list of criminal cases in Florence County dating back as far as 2014."

Thomas was hit with multiple attempted murder charges and violent armed robbery cases, according to the Post, which noted that Thomas was sentenced to nine months in prison last March for possessing a firearm as a convicted criminal.

The Florence County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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Violent repeat offenders — 1 was arrested 14 previous times — accused of attempted murder, sexual abuse in two Chicago cases

Two violent repeat offenders — one of whom had been arrested 14 previous times — are accused of attempted murder, sexual abuse, and aggravated battery in separate cases in Chicago.

The first suspect is accused of sexually abusing a woman inside a Chicago Transit Authority elevator at the Jackson Red Line station in the Loop on Tuesday, CWB Chicago reported.

Briana Bush last week also was charged with three counts of aggravated battery in connection with the stabbing of a 24-year-old man, the outlet said.

Kurtis Porter is charged with criminal sexual abuse by force and aggravated battery of a transit passenger, the outlet said.

Porter allegedly followed a 29-year-old woman into the elevator around 5:40 p.m., the outlet said, adding that police said CTA security video shows Porter obstructing the surveillance camera upon entering the elevator.

The victim told police Porter exposed himself, sexually abused her, and grabbed her face during the attack, the outlet said.

Police and CTA distributed an internal bulletin that included images of Porter, the outlet said, adding that a CTA supervisor recognized Porter hours later and notified nearby patrol officers.

Judge Shauna Boliker on Friday ordered Porter detained, the outlet said. Cook County Jail records indicate that Porter — a 30-year-old — is behind bars on no bond.

Employee at disabled adult care facility accused of twerking near faces of helpless patients

A female employee at a disabled adult care facility in Florida was arrested last week after she allegedly twerked in the faces of patients in the Panama City facility, WMBB-TV reported.

Panama City Police got a tip on Jan. 15 about possible abuse and exploitation of disabled adults, the station said, citing court documents.

Authorities told the station that the patients in the video appear to be nonverbal, infirm, and incapable of providing consent.

Authorities said a video they received showed four women dancing in a sexually explicit manner known as twerking in front of disabled patients, WMBB reported.

One female in the video was seen making physical contact with a patient by "placing her breasts in the face and also one leg on the patient" while twerking, the station said, citing court documents.

Josalynn Janeice Hart, 29 — a facility employee at the time of the incident — can be seen in the video dancing on a sink and twerking on a table where at least two disabled patients were sitting, WMBB said, citing authorities.

The station said Hart was not seen in the video making direct physical contact with any of the patients, but she's allegedly seen witnessing the other females continuously making physical contact with a patient while Hart danced and twerked near the faces of two disabled patients.

WMBB said it was alleged that Hart failed to report the physical contact with a patient.

Authorities told the station that the patients in the video appear to be nonverbal, infirm, and incapable of providing consent.

Hart was charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition of an elderly or disabled person, failure to report abuse, and neglect of a vulnerable adult, WMBB reported.

The station said it's unknown if Hart still is employed at the facility or if the other females seen in the video are facing charges; the name of the facility wasn't reported.

WMBB said Hart was arrested Tuesday and released Wednesday from Bay County Jail on her own recognizance.

Some commenters on the station's Facebook post about the incident wondered why the other females in the video aren't also in trouble:

"If you arrest one, why not all?" one commenter asked.
"Why is she the only one being prosecuted?!" another user inquired.

One commenter simply wondered, "What happened to professionalism?"

A year ago, a Georgia health care worker was accused of twerking on the head of a disabled patient and then posting video of the act on TikTok for social media likes. The arrested female smirked for her mugshot.

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Mainstream Media Breathlessly Covered an Alleged Hate Crime in Which White Kids Forced a Black Classmate To Drink Urine. It Was a Giant Hoax.

It was a story that received blanket media coverage in March 2021. It alleged that white middle schoolers in Plano, Texas, viciously "tortured" SeMarion Humphrey, their black classmate, forcing him to drink their urine at a sleepover as they shot him with BB guns. A Black Lives Matter activist group charged the local public school district with doing "nothing" to stop "this racially motivated hate crime" as violent protests broke out outside the home of Asher Vann, the white child alleged to have organized the brutal attack.

The post Mainstream Media Breathlessly Covered an Alleged Hate Crime in Which White Kids Forced a Black Classmate To Drink Urine. It Was a Giant Hoax. appeared first on .

5th-grade teacher — accused of having 'sexual conversation' with child under 12 — now slapped with far more shocking charges

A Kentucky school teacher — who is accused of having a "sexual conversation" with a child under the age of 12 — has been hit with more severe additional charges, according to authorities.

Sydne Graf is a 36-year-old 5th-grade math teacher at Smyrna Elementary School in Louisville.

'Graf is now facing serious and shocking child sex abuse charges.'

The arrest citation obtained by Blaze News said that police determined that a "5th-grade math teacher engaged in sexual conversations with a 5th-grade student."

WDRB-TV reported that the Jefferson County Public Schools Police informed the Louisville Metro Police Department that Graf "engaged in sexual conversations" with the student during a "nontraditional instruction day" with remote learning.

"Detectives were able to review conversations between the juvenile victim and suspect," the arrest citation states.

"Screenshots and video recordings of the conversations depict images of the suspect as well as her name, Sydne Graf, displayed in the top left corner," the arrest citation notes.

According to WDRB, "LMPD detectives reviewed the conversations between Graf and the student, which included discussions of oral sodomy with the student."

Police said Graf was arrested when she attempted to pick up the young student near his home on Dec. 15, 2025.

The arrest citation stated that Graf confessed to having the "previous mentioned conversations" with the minor when questioned by police.

Graf was initially charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means.

However Graf is now facing serious and shocking child sex abuse charges.

Citing court documents, WLKY-TV reported that Graf was indicted on charges of first-degree rape of a victim under 12 years of age, first-degree sodomy of a victim under 12 years of age, unlawful transaction with a minor, and possession of a controlled substance on Jan. 20.

WHAS-TV referenced the arrest citation, which said officers searched Graf's vehicle and discovered hydrocodone and Adderall pills.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that Graf pleaded not guilty to all of the charges on Jan. 21.

Graf is on house arrest with a cash bond set at $500,000.

A judge ordered Graf to have no contact with minors unless supervised by another adult and to have no internet access except on her phone.

According to WAVE-TV, Smyrna Elementary Principal Amanda Cooper sent a letter to parents regarding the situation.

"We have been made aware that the Crimes Against Children’s Unit (CACU), JCPS PD, and LMPD are investigating an allegation involving one of our staff members," Cooper told parents.

Cooper said Graf has since been reassigned by the school, and she will not have any contact with students during the investigation.

Cooper noted that she "cannot disclose anything more at this time" because it is an active investigation.

Cooper urged any students with anxiety about the arrest to utilize the school's mental health practitioner or counselor.

According to the alleged X social media account of Smyrna Elementary School, Graf was previously involved with the school's wrestling team.

A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department informed Blaze News that there are no further updates at this time.

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Repeat offenders charged with murdering elderly woman; one suspect was on bond and skipped court days before fatal shooting

Two repeat offenders, a male and a female, have been charged with murdering an elderly woman in Houston earlier this week — and the male suspect reportedly was out on bond when he skipped a court appearance just days before the fatal shooting.

Tajuana Thomas, 38, and Richard Mouton, 34, are charged with capital murder in the shooting death of a 72-year-old woman, police said, adding that the shooting took place in the 4000 block of Lockwood Drive just before 2 a.m. Monday.

'It's always disturbing that you could be on parole, get a felony conviction, and still be on parole and not have your parole revoked.'

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at the residence and located three people suffering from gunshot wounds, police said, adding that responding Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Thomas and Mouton were hospitalized, police said, adding that video shows they were involved in the shooting.

KPRC-TV, citing law enforcement sources, said witnesses told police that Thomas had been upset with the victim — identified in court records as Linda Martinez — because she previously refused to bail Thomas out of jail, and the two "argued about it all the time."

Law enforcement sources also told the station that Thomas previously lived at the residence where the shooting took place, and the suspects entered the home through an unlocked back door.

Once inside, the suspects — who were wearing masks — allegedly found Martinez asleep on a couch, and sources told KPRC the pair demanded her jewelry while pointing an AR-style rifle at her.

The elderly victim apparently had plenty of fight in her.

A law enforcement source told the station that Martinez used a revolver to shoot Mouton in the face and Thomas in the hip.

Court records also revealed criminal histories for both suspects, KPRC reported.

Thomas was on bond for misdemeanor terroristic threat, the station said, after a victim in 2022 reported that she had been fired from her job, showed up again, and allegedly told the victim she was going to "beat his ass."

California couple sentenced for 'monstrous' abuse of sons after decapitating other two children

'Today' host Savannah Guthrie's mother, 84, vanishes from home after missing church; police warn: 'We have a crime scene'

Video: All-out brawl erupts between adult male with MAGA hat and more than a dozen apparent HS students at ICE protest

Mob of bicycle-riding thugs gang up on, brutally beat up lone driver amid accident dispute: 'I was just fighting for my life'

Woman thought she was buying a puppy — instead she's lured into an ambush, shot, set on fire in likely revenge killing: Cops

Violent repeat offenders — 1 was arrested 14 previous times — accused of attempted murder, sexual abuse in two Chicago cases

Mainstream Media Breathlessly Covered an Alleged Hate Crime in Which White Kids Forced a Black Classmate To Drink Urine. It Was a Giant Hoax.

5th-grade teacher — accused of having 'sexual conversation' with child under 12 — now slapped with far more shocking charges

Repeat offenders charged with murdering elderly woman; one suspect was on bond and skipped court days before fatal shooting

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