The Media Waves

In the Night Woods - A Horror Story

2025-05-24T14:10:00.001+02:00

A creepy tale about being lost in the woods and finding shelter in a strange and impossible hut.

By: Anne Sewell

In the Night Woods

When I started the hike into the woods, I should have realized I would get hopelessly lost. Bill and I had yet another explosive fight this morning. It was the stupidest thing; we couldn’t agree on what to do on Halloween. He wanted to go to a huge costume party, but I just wanted to drive around the neighborhood and watch the kids trick-or-treating.

After our fight, I felt the need to escape. Be alone for a while, be able to breathe again. The woods seemed like the perfect place to chill out and calm down. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

As I walked, it started getting gloomy and I looked up to see a beautiful sunset through the trees. This made me realize how late it was. I really wasn't equipped for an overnight camp in the woods! All I had with me was my jacket, half a bottle of water, and a few snacks – not exactly overnight stay sustenance.

As the birds' twittering quieted around me and they drifted off to sleep, other woodland creatures awoke. Strange noises were coming from the darkness around me. Something large snuffled close by, maybe a bear, while a coyote or wolf howled in the distance. To my right, an owl hooted loudly, almost making me jump out of my skin. He seemed to be asking, "What are you doing here?" It was a good question.

****

Eventually, the moon came up, so I could at least partially see my way. I kept following the same path, occasionally tripping over a tree branch or a rock.

Around two hours later, I spotted a light in the distance. I headed towards it and discovered it was a candle, burning in the window of a tiny wooden hut. I breathed a sigh of relief at the possibility of shelter for the night.

Candle in the window

I slowly walked to the door and tentatively knocked. There was silence. I nervously cleared my throat and called out, “Hello? Is anyone in there?” There was still only silence. I peeked through the window and saw the candle was almost new – it had hardly burned down at all. There had to be someone around. Who would light a candle in the window of a wooden hut and then leave? That surely makes for the danger of a forest fire.

I decided to explore and carefully made my way around the outside of the hut. My first impression was right, it was tiny. It was about the size of a small one-car garage. There were no other windows or doors to be seen. I headed back to the front of the hut and knocked again, more loudly this time, shouting, “Hello? Is anyone there?”

By this time, it was getting chilly and damp, so I tentatively tried the doorknob. As I touched it, the door opened, creaking spookily. I quietly called out again, “Is anyone there?” Again, there was no reply.

I walked into the room and almost fell over. It was the strangest thing. While the hut looked tiny from outside, the indoors was a huge space – I couldn´t see across the room in the light of the candle. What I could see was an endless dusty floor. The room appeared to be unfurnished, except for a chair and a rickety table by the window, holding a burning candle.

I stepped further into the room. As I crossed the dusty floor, it seemed to stretch out endlessly before me. The far wall felt like it was miles away. I stopped and turned around, just as the door slammed shut. The resulting blast of air blew out the candle's flame. Now I was really freaked out.

It was pitch dark, with just a little moonlight filtering through the trees and the grimy window. At last, I found a good reason for smoking, as I had my lighter in my jacket pocket. However, despite the door being closed, the flame kept blowing out.

I then remembered my phone and used the flashlight function to try and see into the room. While I was doing that, I checked to see how many bars I had – of course, there were none. It turns out I wasn't in the best place for cell phone reception!

Not knowing what to do, I just kept walking slowly across the room, dragging my feet in the dust, but there was still no sign of the opposite wall. As I moved, I heard a distant sound, something that was either some kind of machine chugging, or, even more bizarrely, someone snoring.

****

Suddenly, the walls on either side seemed to close in on me - cobwebs were brushing my face. I now felt like I was walking through a tunnel. A few moments later, the floor dipped sharply and I was walking downwards. I wanted to stop and turn around, but something impelled me to keep on going, deeper and deeper into the earth.

Suddenly, I felt something sharp prick my left foot – when I looked down I found I was wearing no shoes. Both feet were covered in dust. Tentatively feeling the sole of my left foot, I found a piece of glass, and blood was pouring out.

Seconds later, I heard whispering voices, arguing with each other. It made the hairs on my arms rise. This instantly reminded me of the silly argument with Bill. If I could take that back right now, I would.

One voice got louder and louder. Eerily, it was calling out my name, "Anne." What the hell was going on here? I tried to run, but it felt like I was running through thick syrup. I couldn’t get up any speed at all.

Moments later, the floor seemed to fall away completely and I felt myself falling. The fall seemed to go on forever. With a crash, I finally hit the bottom and passed out.

****

Seconds later, I came to. I seemed to be lying on some kind of rug. The room was in total darkness and I had no idea where I was. I was completely terrified and unable to move an inch. Suddenly, a light came on. I looked around, totally bewildered.

I was in our bedroom at home! It was Bill who turned on the light. He called out to me, “Anne, are you OK? Did you have a bad dream?”

I was flabbergasted and probably looked more than a little weird, with my mouth wide open in shock. I turned to Bill and said, “If that was just a bad dream, it was so damn realistic.”

I told Bill how I had headed into the woods after our argument and how I came across the cottage with the candle in the window. He chuckled, brushing off my story, but in a nice way, and went on to apologize for our fight.

Bill said, “Something tells me you've already had too much Halloween and it hasn’t even started yet!” He told me to climb back into bed and he would make me some warm milk to soothe my nerves.

Was it truly a bad dream, or did this really happen to me? At every stage, the experience felt so real. Despite my doubts, I laughed, also apologizing for our silly argument.

I sat on the side of the bed, finally feeling somewhat relieved – of course, it must have been a really bad dream! However, when he left the room, I looked down, only to find my feet were covered in thick dust. Lifting my left foot, I found the sole was sticky with congealed blood.

Walt Disney Company expands its offerings with Disneyland Abu Dhabi in the UAE

2025-05-08T10:53:00.000+02:00

Photo: Abu Dhabi skyline, UAE

The Walt Disney Company is working with Miral to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

New and exciting news has been revealed by the Walt Disney Company, as it announces its collaborations with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations in the UAE. The company recently announced its agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Europe, Asia and beyond. Read on to learn more about this exciting new resort.

Walt Disney Company to open theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE

The seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with the vibrant culture of Abu Dhabi, with its iconic shorelines and breathtaking architecture. This capital of the UAE sees The Walt Disney Company join with Miral, the emirate’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.

Meanwhile, the resort will be set on the waterfront on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure that will connect travelers from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, India, and beyond. Moreover, this latest Disney theme park resort will combine the iconic company’s stories, attractions, and characters with the vibrant culture of Abu Dhabi.

Artistic rendering of the Abu Dhabi, UAE, Disney theme park resort

Speaking of the new project, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Miral’s chairman, said:

Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future. The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence.
What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to be a destination of choice for the world.

More about the plans

Meanwhile, the new resort will be developed and built by Miral and Disney. Its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to launch a world-class experience.

Miral, which has developed several family-friendly entertainment destinations on Yas Island, will work in collaboration with American and European brands to operate the theme park resort.

Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, made a statement:

This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity. As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come.

Getting to Abu Dhabi

The UAE city is located a four-hour flight for one-third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE hosts the largest global airline hub in the world, seeing 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai every year.

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences said:

This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development. Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways.
This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what’s possible when creativity and progress come together.

Once complete, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, along with themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling, in a way that celebrates both Disney's heritage and Abu Dhabi's exciting, futuristic, and cultural essence.

Learn more about this exciting new and upcoming theme park on Disney’s website.

Queen guitarist Brian May involved in clean boot Boxing Day hunt in Swansea

2018-12-30T10:05:00.000+01:00

The animal rights campaigner believes sniffer dogs tracking people is the best way to keep hunting traditions alive, with no fox being torn to pieces.

Renowned guitarist for Queen, Brian May is also an active animal rights campaigner. He was recently involved in what is called the “clean boot” (i.e. boots not coated with blood) Boxing Day hunt, held in Swansea, which sees around a dozen hunters on horseback and a group of sniffer dogs, hunting a bunch of runners instead of foxes.

Wales Online reports that May believes humane (and fun) hunts like this are the best way to keep the hunting traditions alive, but with no fox torn apart in the process. He and the organisers hope the event will bring both animal rights campaigners and hunters together in the preservation of animals and tradition.

Hunters and sniffer dogs track humans

Dubbed the Three Counties Bloodhounds Annual Boxing Day Hunt, the event started shortly after 11:00 AM in Wind Street, Swansea. This hunt involves no animal scents, as the bloodhounds track humans instead of foxes. Reportedly the dogs have not been trained in fox hunting.

According to May, people who take part in the event find it a harder ride than the normal fox hunt, but there is no animal cruelty involved. He went on to say no fox gets torn to shreds and the runners who do get caught get thoroughly licked by a bunch of friendly dogs.

Queen rocker makes unusual friendship with farmer

Hunt organiser Byron John invited May, who is the founder of the Save Me Trust, to the event on Wednesday. John is a farmer who struck up a friendship with May when he attended a hunt three years ago in Swansea. Paying tribute to John, May said Byron was a very "brave man," as he has received criticism from the hunting community, and also from various animal rights groups, who have no real understanding of what he is trying to do.

This was the first event organised by John since he lost his 53-year-old son Bradley. As reported in a BBC article, Bradley took his own life as the result of bullying at school. John told the BBC they have been running the hunting event for five years and while there has been criticism in the past, John believes animal rights campaigners and hunters should come together to stop the hostility.

John said the hunting community needs to look at ways they can make the sport modern, while keeping the traditions.

Fox hunting in the UK

The traditional fox hunting methods were banned in the UK in 2004, but have been replaced by what is called trail hunting. This sees the horse riders and hounds following a pre-set trail of scents, including fox urine.

On Instagram, May wrote the events are the future of hunting in the country, where no animal will be harmed. He added that this type of hunt will not “accidentally” chase foxes.

Wales Online quotes May as posting on his Facebook page to say the public does not want to see cruelty to animals as "entertainment." He said savaging a fox or any other animal using a pack of hounds will never be acceptable. He said there will be other hunts in the coming year that do not support animal cruelty.

Waitrose magazine editor resigns in disgrace after mocking vegans

2018-10-31T17:29:00.002+01:00

William Sitwell suggested a series exposing the hypocrisy of vegans, suggesting they be force-fed meat. He also suggested killing vegans, one by one.

When a vegan pitched a series for Waitrose Food magazine, the editor totally insulted vegans. [Image @PeterEgan6/Twitter]

William Sitwell, the editor of the magazine Waitrose Food has been forced to resign following email comments to a freelance journalist. In the email he suggested the killing of vegans, one at a time, quoting their “hypocrisy” and suggesting jokingly they be force-fed meat.

Soon after Sitwell emailed the comments, they appeared in the media, leading him to instantly apologise. However, Waitrose has announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving his job immediately.

Mocking vegans and force-feeding them meat

Buzzfeed News first picked up the story. Selene Nelson, a freelance journalist and herself a vegan had pitched a “plant-based meal series” to Sitwell, which would cover meat-free dishes. Sitwell replied to Nelson’s email, thanking her and going on to make a “joke,” asking what about a series about “killing vegans, one by one.”

Sitwell then went on to ask about ways to trap vegans and properly interrogating them to expose their "hypocrisy." Sitwell then suggested force-feeding vegans meat by making them “eat steak and drink red wine.”

My friend @Selene_Nelson pitched a series of #vegan recipes to @WilliamSitwell at @Waitrose Magazine and got this absolutely mind boggling response: https://t.co/LS5WKsM7Xj pic.twitter.com/FVjNrRJ7cy
— Nick Chowdrey (@nickchef88) October 29, 2018

In a later email, Sitwell said he liked the idea of a new column titled “The Honest Vegan: a millennial’s diary of earnest endeavour and bacon sandwiches.”

Waitrose and John Brown Media, the production agency producing Waitrose Food, agreed that it would be the best decision if Sitwell stepped down from his job.

Waitrose pushing vegan food

Waitrose has this year made a push into supplying vegan food in their supermarkets and recently announced their new range of vegan products, including Christmas meals.

Sitwell had earlier this year made an Instagram post, paying tribute to the team at Waitrose Magazine and saying how proud he was last year of a special edition offering vegetarian recipes. In that edition, the magazine refused to accept advertising relating to meat-based products.

In his apology for his email remarks, Sitwell went on to say how much he had enjoyed working on the Waitrose Food magazine for the last 20 years. He also directly apologised to any vegan who had been genuinely offended by his remarks, made in an “ill-judged joke” and now reported widely in the press.

A spokesman for Waitrose, the company said that due to Sitwell’s recent email remarks, they have told John Brown Media they believe his leaving is the “right and proper move.” The spokesman then said they would be working with the agency to appoint a new editor. They said they were grateful for Sitwell‘s contribution over the last almost 20 years.

Besides his work on the Waitrose Food magazine, Sitwell hosts food podcasts, comments on food issues and also edits cookbooks.

Fishermen rescued by cruise ship after boat sank in North Sea, two still missing

2018-08-26T10:12:00.001+02:00

The Pacific Princess cruise ship saw a distress flare in the North Sea and rescued three of the fishermen, while the coastguard searches for two more.

The Pacific Princess cruise ship was sailing in the North Sea when the captain spotted a distress flare. Three fishermen in a life raft were rescued by the ship after their fishing boat sank 25 miles from Great Yarmouth.

Passengers on the Pacific Princess applauded as the three fishermen were rescued. However, two further fishermen are still missing and the coastguard was alerted to search for them. The coastguard is using a helicopter and other vessels in their search for the missing men.

Pacific Princess passenger tells the story

The BBC quotes Teena Dowd, one of the cruise ship’s passengers from Canada who is who watched the rescue as it happened. Dowd said that at around 6:30 PM, the captain made an announcement to say the ship was stopping, as there was a life raft floating off the cruise ship’s starboard side. Within an hour of being spotted, the men were helped onto the ship.

Dowd said other worried passengers lined the railing of the ship, breaking into applause as the fishermen were rescued from their lifeboat. She said they were on the top deck and everyone was pretty much holding their breath and anxious as the rescue unfolded.

Dowd said the ship’s crew threw a rope out to the lifeboat to enable them to pull it closer to the ship. They then extended a ladder down to the men, so they could climb up onto the deck. One man reportedly fell back into the water as he tried to climb the ladder and had to be pulled back onto the raft before a further, more sturdy ladder was extended down to the life raft.

According to Dowd, the captain had initially said the cruise ship was going to float next to the life raft to block the wind until the Coastguard arrived. However, they managed to get close enough to rescue the men. The cruise ship remained in the area for approximately an hour before the Coastguard took the men on board. The ship then continued its journey to Dover.

Search and rescue helicopter launched

As reported by ITV, the Coastguard operations controller, Lee Duncan said they launched a search and rescue helicopter from Humberside. They said they also launched RNLI lifeboats from Gorleston, as well as other Coastguard vessels to help with the search for the two missing men.

According to Duncan, the crew of the fishing boat consisted of foreign nationals. He said the three rescued men spent four hours in the life raft before being spotted by the cruise ship. Duncan went on to say they believe the two missing crew of the fishing boat were seen entering the water

‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ will feature previously unseen footage of Carrie Fisher

2018-07-28T13:33:00.004+02:00

The actress who played Princess Leia and died in 2016 will appear in the latest ‘Star Wars’ film without any CGI.

Image Star Wars/YouTube

Film footage of the late actress Carrie Fisher taken for the 2015 film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is to be used in “Star Wars: Episode IX.” Disney confirmed that the unseen footage is to be used in the ninth episode in the sci-fi film franchise.

It turns out Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, will also be back in “Episode IX,” despite the fact that he appeared to have died in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Filming starts in London on 1 August this year according to the Disney statement. As reported by Digital Spy, the announcement was made on Friday, 27 July.

Star lineup for ‘Star Wars’ episode 9

Carrie Fisher died of a heart attack in December 2016 at the age of 60. This happened at a time when she was reviving her career in the film franchise by appearing with fellow-costars Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

The actor Mark Hamill, whose Luke Skywalker character appeared to die in last year’s "The Last Jedi," will also appear in the next movie, which will start filming in London on 1 August, Disney said in a statement.

Fisher died suddenly in December 2016, aged 60, after suffering a heart attack, just as she was enjoying a career revival with the re-invigorated "Star Wars" movie franchise that reunited her with original cast members Hamill and Harrison Ford in the 2015 film "The Force Awakens." Fisher was in “The Last Jedi” and was supposed to be a central character in episode nine. Talk had been that she would feature as a CGI character, but it turns out some previously unused footage was perfect for the task.

No ‘Star Wars’ without Carrie Fisher

The Guardian quotes “Episode IX” director, JJ Abrams as saying in a statement that they all loved Fisher, but couldn’t find a satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker story without her. He said they would never recast the role or use CGI to portray Princess Leia. However, with the blessing and support of Carrie’s daughter, Billie, they found a solution to the problem and are able to honour Fisher’s legacy in the role of Leia in the ninth episode. He said they would be using previously unseen footage from "Episode VII" for the new movie. According to Disney, the script for the ninth film was in the process of being reworked to suit.

Returning cast for ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

Besides the presence of Fisher and Hamill, Billy Dee Williams will be back as Lando Calrissian, who was last seen in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Daisy Ridley, Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega, Adam Driver and Lupit Nyong’o will also return for the film.

Filming for “Star Wars: Episode IX” starts in August 2018 and it is expected to premiere in cinemas worldwide during December 2019.

First date from hell as woman destroys Warhol art at Houston lawyer’s home

2017-12-30T14:36:00.001+01:00

First date from hell as woman destroys Warhol art at Houston lawyer’s home:

A drunken woman has been accused of damaging Andy Warhol paintings worth $500,000 each and throwing two sculptures valued at $20,000 each... read the full story here.

Watch: Viewers believe there’s an F-bomb in the latest Paddington Christmas ad

2017-11-15T18:06:00.000+01:00

An English accent can be a tricky affair, even when it involves the beloved kids’ favourite character, Paddington the Bear.

Paddington Christmas ad for Marks & Spencer [Image: M&S/YouTube]

Paddington recently starred in the latest Marks & Spencer Christmas ad and many people believe they heard an f-bomb in the heartwarming commercial.

The ad, included below, shows Paddington lying in bed on the night before Christmas, while hoping to receive marmalade. He suddenly hears a thump on the roof. When Paddington climbs up to the roof, he bumps into a character, dressed all in red, who he immediately believes to be Santa Claus. Meanwhile, said character is actually a burglar, who has been swanning around the neighbourhood, stealing families’ Christmas gifts.

You'll never unhear this! 😂 🔊

Video credit: Marks and Spencer pic.twitter.com/UXZIAr6c6A
— This Morning (@thismorning) November 8, 2017

Paddington, being the nice bear he is, offers to help Santa Claus deliver all the gifts. He recognizes many of the names on the parcels and wants to make sure they get to their rightful owners.

As the burglar and Paddington complete their deliveries, they spot a family, hugging and happy over their Christmas gifts. The burglar is apparently moved by the whole situation and has finally discovered the true meaning of Christmas.

Before he leaves, the burglar gives Paddington a huge bear hug, and says, “Thank you, little bear.” There’s only one problem – many viewers heard this a little differently and believe the burglar actually said, “F**k you, little bear.” Enjoy watching the video here, and let us know in the comment section exactly what you hear.

Naturally Twitter came alive to the story, with many funny posts, believing the burglar should be placed on Santa’s “naughty list.” However some people only heard the words “Thank you.”

I swear the burglar says "Fuck you little bear" to @paddingtonbear #fuckthebear #lovethebear pic.twitter.com/Bg28RLh9p2
— DDDDSouza (@Rob_de_Souza) November 7, 2017

The Marks & Spencer’s advert is so cute until it sounds like the burglar says “fuck you little bear” 😩😂 #MarksAndSpencer #Christmasadvert
— Chelsey Sleigh (@chelsey_sleigh) November 8, 2017

Big fan of Santa saying ‘Fuck You little Bear’ to Paddington in the M&S Christmas advert. Put the marmalade obsessed little prick firmly in his place.
— Ste Davies (@StevenD1977) November 8, 2017

I just heard thank you, nothing else. Couldn’t work out what the naught word was supposed to be. Very strange over reaction from adults.
— Kay Louise (@andyflossK) November 9, 2017

Meanwhile, the new “Paddington” film is set for release in the U.S. this coming January (with no f-bombs included).

Birmingham man dies after massive firework exploded in his home

2017-11-08T09:49:00.000+01:00

A man in Birmingham has died and his partner has suffered multiple leg fractures after an arson attack with a huge firework, leading to a murder enquiry.

Tony Nicholls' home after the arson attack - screen capture from YouTube/Showbiz Us-Uk

Tony Nicholls, 56, suffered from severe burns and smoke inhalation after a large firework, said to consist of approximately 200 tubes of explosives, was placed in his Birmingham home and set alight. The firework caused a massive blaze in the house, severely injuring Nicholls and leading to his partner jumping to safely from a window upstairs and suffering several leg fractures.

Nicholls was taken by firefighters to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Thursday for treatment for severe burns and smoke inhalation from the fire and was placed in an induced coma. However, he didn’t regain consciousness and passed away early on Tuesday morning. Birmingham police have now launched a murder enquiry into the incident.

Murder probe launched as arson attack victim dies after yobs blast his house with huge commercial firework https://t.co/NPAhX776eC
— Media Beast (@Mediabeast3) November 7, 2017

The downstairs floor of the property was left blackened by the blaze, which ripped through the home at around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Firefighters believe the massive firework likely took two minutes to fully discharge, quickly setting the home on fire.

According to a report by the Birmingham Mail, police had said in an earlier statement that the firework was a multi-shot commercial firework, around 2ft x 1ft in size and that once ignited, it would have lasted for approximately two minutes. They stated that the type of firework is normally used for an outdoor public firework display, adding that the impact inside a small house would have been terrifying.

As reported by the Guardian, West Midlands Police are urging anyone who has sold a firework of this type, or is missing one, to contact Detective Inspector Paul Joyce of the Homicide team.

Murder inquiry launched after man dies following blaze caused by firework in homehttps://t.co/csjVYAtYCe pic.twitter.com/someTTM4hY
— ITV News (@itvnews) November 7, 2017

Joyce said the huge firework would have been heavy to carry for any distance and he urges anyone who spotted a person carrying a large box in the neighbourhood to contact police. After Nicholl’s death, Joyce said they are treating the incident as a murder enquiry. He said they are following up on several active lines of enquiry and are particularly looking into CCTV in the local community, which may have picked up the suspect.

Nicholl’s partner is still in hospital, being treated for her injuries. His daughter thanked emergency services, as well as medical staff at the hospital, for caring and treating her father.

Police have asked anyone with information relating to the incident to contact police locally on 101, or to phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

New Hampshire 6-year-old boy revived with Narcan after possible opioid overdose

2017-07-21T12:12:00.001+02:00

As the opioid epidemic continues across the U.S., a 6-year-old boy had to be revived with Narcan after found unconscious from an alleged opioid overdose

Photo Narcan pen seen on sidewalk outside apartment screen capture from YouTube/WMUR-TV

In what is considered to be the first time the narcotic antidote had been used on a child in the state of New Hampshire, a six-year-old was revived with Narcan at 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after suffering a possible overdose.

Child overdoses on opioids in a Manchester apartment

Police responded to a Manchester apartment on Tuesday morning to find a six-year-old boy, lying unresponsive from a possible overdose of some kind of opioid drug. According to Manchester Police, the boy came around as soon as Narcan was administered.

Now detectives are investigating the incident as a possible overdose as Narcan will only revive someone exposed to an opioid. Lt. Brian O’Keefe told WBZ that it was “gut-wrenching,” saying it was particularly tough on their officers, who regularly respond to overdose calls, but not calls involving young children.

One of the paramedics who responded to the scene said he had never seen the anti-overdose drug used on a child in his more than two decades on the job.

In his more than two decades on the job, a New Hampshire paramedic had never seen Narcan used on a child until yesterday pic.twitter.com/HfWTV0IY9x
— David Robichaud (@RobiWBZ) July 19, 2017

So far no arrests have been made and the child was still in hospital on Thursday and in a stable condition. However the child will be placed in the care of another relative, other than those he was with when he suffered the overdose. Police have not released the type of opioid drug the six-year-old boy was exposed to, or which family members he was with at the time of the overdose. However, O’Keefe said when a young child is involved it could be something as simple as touching something in the home, like a kitchen table, sink or a doorknob. He said if there are trace amounts of an opiate derivative such as fentanyl or carfentanyl, the results could have been far worse.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, opioids are easily absorbed even with simple skin contact and the drug takes effect very quickly. They say just 2 or 3 milligrams of fentanyl could be fatal. However, when it comes to a child, it would take only 1 to 1.5 milligrams to have a fatal effect.

New Hampshire becomes a focal point in the U.S. opioid epidemic

According to AMR communications director Kim Warth, New Hampshire has become a focal point for the opioid epidemic in America. According to CNN, there have been 176 youths from 10 to 19 years of age involved in opioid-related visits to the emergency room, while five children under the age of ten have also been hospitalized.

Children should never be exposed to opioids

Neighbors in the area are shocked and concerned over the child’s overdose incident, with Al Pellerin saying you cannot let a six-year-old be exposed to something like this and almost die from the experience.

American Airlines flight evacuated due to man passing gas? Maybe not

2017-07-18T16:00:00.000+02:00

An American Airlines flight had landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport when passengers were evacuated due to nausea and headaches.

According to an airport official at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, an American Airlines flight had to be evacuated after a man passed gas so violently it caused people to suffer headaches and nausea. However, the airline does acknowledge there was a bad odor, but says it wasn’t a passenger’s gas.

Rumors spread worldwide of American Airlines 'gassy' evacuation

These days there are many horror stories in the media about various airlines, including American Airlines. News of the latest incident soon went viral worldwide due to its almost humorous (and very human) “gassy” nature. It reportedly happened on July 16 at around 4 p.m. when the passenger on the plane allegedly “passed gas” so violently the smell was overpowering, causing fellow passengers to become ill. The RDU official reportedly said the smell was so bad, fellow passengers became nauseous and developed headaches, leading to them being rushed off the plane. While the American Airlines flight in question was not identified, it was landing at Raleigh-Durham airport to avoid being diverted.

American Airlines: A foul odor causing fliers to experience headaches and nausea wasn't "passed gas." https://t.co/HCOYI0rnhN
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 17, 2017

Officials at the airport later said in a statement that there had been a “medical issue” on the American Airlines flight after passengers suffered eye irritations and headaches, and that a passenger had been treated by Wake County Emergency Medical Services. The International Business Times reported that a lack of more information left many questions unanswered, as it is unsure whether the passenger boarded the plane in an unwell condition or became “gassy” during the flight.

Meanwhile, and as noted by the Charlotte Observer, American Airlines issued a statement to say one of their planes at the Raleigh-Durham airport was taken out of service over a bad odor, but the spokesperson said it was definitely not due to “passed gas.” Their statement said an American Airlines plane traveling from Charlotte to the Raleigh-Durham airport had landed at 2:19 p.m. and was out of service over a mechanical issue, along with a bad odor in the cabin. The statement went on to stress that this odor was not caused by “passed gas” as had been widely reported in the media.

CBS North Carolina later learned that it was crew members who complained about the odor and that this was after the passengers had left the plane. However this, along with the airline’s statement, went contrary to the earlier alleged statement by the airport official, so we’ll probably never know for sure.

‘Hey, hey, hey goodbye’ to Steam’s Gary DeCarlo at 75 years of age

2017-06-28T21:10:00.000+02:00

The singer that brought us one of the most recognized songs ever has passed away from lung cancer at the age of 75.

Photo via Wikimedia by Fontana / Fair Use

Gary DeCarlo, the lead singer of the band Steam, has reportedly passed away at the age of 75 after a battle with lung cancer.

Gary DeCarlo Dies; Leader Singer of Steam Was 75 https://t.co/OKyypYhf1B pic.twitter.com/F9AxkKVdqc
— MwBuzz Magazine (@mwbuzz) June 28, 2017

DeCarlo and his band Steam are best known for their 1969 hit song, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss him Goodbye,” which went on to become one of the most well known songs of the time.

A close friend of DeCarlo, Pat Horgan, told TMZ that he passed away in hospice care in Connecticut with his wife by his side. DeCarlo had been battling with lung cancer, which eventually spread, affecting the rest of his body.

His hit song was famously chanted in Congress recently after the House moved to pass the Obamacare repeal.

Democrats chant "na na na na hey hey goodbye" as the House passes the Obamacare repeal bill https://t.co/6KitWdxyRi pic.twitter.com/7p5zfs13F2
— POLITICO (@politico) May 4, 2017

RIP Gary DeCarlo.

Michigan man wrongfully accused of murder released after 41 years

2017-06-17T00:26:00.001+02:00

Ledura Watkins, 61, was accused of first-degree-murder in a 1975 fatal shooting and has finally had his innocence confirmed.

Ledura Watkins - screen capture from Fox 2 video

61-year-old Ledura Watkins spent four decades in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. He was convicted of first-degree murder based on a hair found at the scene and sentenced to life behind bars. Watkins was released from the Wayne County Jail in Detroit on June 15 after legal experts overturned his conviction.

41 years behind bars for an innocent man

Watkins was 20 years of age when a court found him guilty of the first-degree murder of a teacher, Yvette Ingram, 25, during a robbery at her home. His guilt was based on the hair found by police forensic analysts on the victim’s pants at the scene of the murder.

Watkins case was taken by the Innocence Project, set up by the Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School who, based on the flimsy evidence found at the scene, asked the court to set aside Watkins’ conviction in January this year.

According to the Innocence Project director, Marla Mitchell-Cichon, the hair comparison carried out at that time was not based on science. She said it was just based on a lab analyst’s opinion and that it had no place in system of criminal justice. Mitchell-Cichon went on to say a state-wide review is essential in hair comparison cases.

Once the Innocence Project took up Watkins’ case and spoke about the flimsy evidence which convicted their client, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office agreed that the evidence in the case was flawed under new FBI standards for hair comparison.

Freedom for the Michigan man at last

When Watkins was released from Wayne County Jail on Thursday, he said it felt “really surreal” and that it was unbelievable to be released after so much time. Watkins, who had always denied involvement in the crime, did say he is feeling great and that he expected it to happen, but he didn’t believe it would take so long.

Detroit man freed after 41 years In prison for a murder he didn't commit. https://t.co/8EscEg9aNt pic.twitter.com/SPuD4GQ37F
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) June 16, 2017

Watkins went on to say he was looking forward to enjoying dinner with his family and that it would probably be in a Chinese restaurant. He added that it has taken years to get to this point and he doesn’t ever want to touch a law book again.

According to a report by Fox 2, under a new Michigan law, Watkins may be eligible for a $50,000 payment for every year in compensation for the time spent behind bars. Prof. Norman Fell, Executive Director of the Innocence Project said that is the next phase and as the bill has now been passed, Watkins could be eligible.

Second Michigan inmate to recently have a conviction overturned by the Innocence Project

According to a report by the IBTimes, Watkins is the second inmate in Michigan to have a conviction overturned in recent weeks. In May, Desmond Ricks was released after spending 25 years in prison for the murder of a friend. The Innocence Project also took up his case, where it was found by analysis that the two bullets removed from the victim did not match the murder weapon placed in evidence at the 1992 trial.

Woman who was suffering headaches had a spider nestled in her ear [video]

2017-06-09T20:27:00.000+02:00

Anyone who, like the writer, is scared of spiders probably shouldn't watch this video, as a doctor coaxes a spider out of a woman's ear canal.

Photo screen capture from YouTube /

A woman, named only as Lekshmi L., visited her doctor in India because she was suffering from a severe headache and tingling sensation in her head. Lekshmi lives in India and had reportedly fallen asleep on her veranda. When she awoke, she felt a painful blockage in her right ear.

When the doctor examined her, he made the shocking discovery that a spider was living inside her ear. Dr. Santosh Shivaswamy of the Columbia Hospital then used a light to slowly coax the eight-legged critter out of her ear canal. Dr. Shivaswamy filmed as the spider slowly emerges, revealing its horrific little face to the world.

As noted by the New York Post, Dr. Shivaswamy said it’s pretty common for people to visit the emergency room due to the presence of a foreign object in their ear. He said it is a simply procedure to remove those objects.

“However, when a living insect makes its way inside a human ear, the patient’s anxiety makes it difficult to continue the procedure,” he added, saying it was a rare experience to see a live spider moving around inside someone’s ear canal.

As for Lekshmi, she was naturally terrified when she could feel the movement of the spider in her ear. However the acute earache she was experiencing, followed by sharp pains was so uncomfortable that she couldn’t think of anything and had to get the doctor to do something about it.

However, she added she was petrified when the doctor confirmed there was a spider in her ear. What happened to the little arachnid after its removal is not reported.

Anyone brave enough can watch the little critter emerging from her ear in the video below.

Mississippi 12-year-old girl helps deliver her new baby brother

2017-06-09T17:35:00.001+02:00

12-year-old Jacee Carraway was in the delivery room right next to her mother when the doctor asked her if she would like to help.

Dede Carraway was in the delivery room of a Jackson, Mississippi hospital on Tuesday, about to give birth to her third child. Her eldest child Jacee was right there with her for emotional support and was following the process eagerly and with interest, ready to meet her new baby brother.

Dr. Walter Wolfe noticed the young girl’s eager interest and asked Jacee if she would like to help him bring her brother into the world. Jacee instantly agreed. The doctor then helped the 12-year-old through the entire process, even letting her cut the baby’s umbilical cord.

It turns out Jacee also wanted to help when Dede gave birth to her middle son 18 months ago, who, according to her mother, Jacee has had a close emotional bond with ever since, but at that stage Dede and husband Zack decided their daughter was too young.

However knowing that the latest baby would be her last, Carraway said she and her husband decided it was time for young Jacee to experience the miracle of childbirth.

She told Fox News that she couldn’t describe how it felt to have Jacee helping with her brother’s birth. She said if they had told her 12 years ago that her daughter would be delivering her last born son, she would have said, “Never in a million years,” adding she would have said they were crazy.

As for Jacee, the image above, posted by Dede on Facebook, clearly shows the emotion the young girl was feeling.

Brad Pitt debuts as world’s worst weatherman on ‘The Jim Jefferies Show’ [video]

2017-06-08T20:40:00.001+02:00

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies pulls no punches when giving his opinion on the Comedy Central Show. This week it was climate change.

With President Donald Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Accord, some comedians are trying to make light of the situation. Australian comedian Jim Jefferies has openly voiced his opinion on all kinds of subjects in the past including the U.S. gun debate and dubbing Piers Morgan a “human fecal sample.”

This week the Comedy Central late night show “The Jim Jefferies Show,” which debuted on Tuesday night, had a huge Hollywood star on board. Jefferies hasn’t exactly been shy about his opinion of Donald Trump in the past and his feelings came right to the fore in the last segment of his show.

Speaking of the Paris Accord, and the fact Trump has made the U.S. only one of three nations not contributing – along with Syria (who have other worries) and Venezuela (ditto) – Jefferies went on to say how the world is still grappling with Trump’s decision.

He said he wanted to address the issue one more time before he said goodnight. Jefferies then went on to say “To help us understand climate change and what it means to the world, here’s our own “Jim Jefferies Show” weatherman.”

None other than Brad Pitt (recent star of “War Machine” and former husband of Angelina Jolie) appears in a terrible suit with a graphic map of the planet on the wall behind him. Every area of that graphic is showing different levels of red, orange and yellow colours to indicate global rising temperatures.

Weatherman Pitt stood there, first indicating one side of the world and saying, “Things are going to be getting warm in this area here,” then pointed to the other side of the world and said, “and this area here.”

With a deadpan face, Jefferies then asked if Pitt had any future predictions, to which Pitt cheerfully responded, “There is no future.”

It turns out Brad Pitt is a terrible weatherman, but regrettably his weather forecast might be spot on.

UK authorities criticized by Spain over missing Spaniard in London terror attack

2017-06-08T00:40:00.001+02:00

UK authorities criticized by Spain over missing Spaniard in London terror attack

Spanish citizen Ignacio Echeverría was last seen trying to fight off several attackers
in the act of stabbing a woman in Borough Market on Saturday. He died a hero, but his family only received confirmation five days later... read more

Watch Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester benefit concert as it happened

2017-06-05T00:03:00.001+02:00

The One Love Manchester benefit concert for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and their families was streamed live this afternoon.

You can enjoy it here....

Texas teacher mock awards went beyond ‘most likely to become a terrorist’

2017-06-02T16:31:00.001+02:00

The Texas teacher who held a mock awards ceremony at a Channelview school offended more than one student.

Blasting News recently reported the story of Lizeth Villanueva, a student in an advanced academic program at Anthony Aguirre Junior High in Channelview, Texas. Stacey Lockett, a teacher at the school, found it amusing to hold a fake awards ceremony, handing out various certificates to students. In Lizeth’s case, she was named “most likely to become a terrorist.” This was bad enough in itself, but the fact it came a day after the Manchester Arena bombing made it even worse. At that time, no news was available of any other awards handed out at the mock ceremony, but now another story has come out.

Photo screen capture from KHOU video

It turns out Lockett gave Sydney Caesar – another seventh-grader – a similar certificate deeming her “most likely to blend in with white people.” Fox News reported that both Sydney and Lizeth were horrified by the awards they received last week. According to Lizeth, the other teachers were laughing throughout the ceremony.

Her mother commented saying, "everyone doesn't believe that this is real but yes this certificate shows that this is real..." @Fox26Houston pic.twitter.com/6Oruoxek98
— Lindsey Henry (@LindseyFOX26) May 26, 2017

Sydney’s mother, Latonya Robinson told the news station that calling a child a terrorist, or saying she is not black enough has now caused other students to give the girls that same label for the rest of the school year. According to Robinson, Sydney was so upset over the incident that she stayed away from class the next day and didn’t want to talk about the incident.

As reported by Fox News, Robinson said people don’t believe the certificate is real. But she says it is and it definitely happened. She added that there is enough bullying by students these days, but now it is a teacher that is doing the bullying. Lizeth also stayed away from school for a few days.

As noted by the Huffington Post, Lockett was suspended by the Channelview School District over the mock awards ceremony, but there is no news of any further disciplinary action against the teacher. Lockett reportedly teaches a college prep class, the Avid program. Lizeth and her mother believe the teacher should be fired.

Meanwhile the Channelview School District said in a statement that the mock awards ceremony did not reflect the many good things happening in the district. The statement said that officials do not condone the incident and are taking it very seriously.

Giraffe at New Jersey zoo dies of complications after dental procedure

2017-06-01T22:01:00.002+02:00

A well-loved 11-year-old giraffe was having problems eating and the zoo veterinarian hoped to give him a better quality of life.

Photo via Wikimedia by GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.O

11-year-old Hodari was an 18-foot-tall Masai giraffe, living at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. He died on Wednesday from complications during a dental procedure.

Hodari underwent surgery on Wednesday afternoon after exhibiting what Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said was “strange behavior.” Vets had found Hodari was finding it difficult to eat and decided to put the giraffe under anesthesia and operate on his teeth.

Zoo veterinarian Dr. Jon Bergmann said they believed the surgery would give Hodari a better quality of life and improve his general health. They hoped it would allow the giraffe a chance to thrive at the Turtle Back Zoo. However, Bergmann did say they knew there were risks when putting an animal of the giraffe’s size under anesthesia, but said they also knew fixing his teeth would be beneficial to the animal.

DiVincenzo said when Hodari went under anesthetic for his initial exam, there were no negative effects. It was the second time the giraffe went under that complications arose. Veterinarians will be performing a necropsy to determine the exact cause of Hodari’s death and results are expected to take around a month.

Hodari the Masai giraffe was born at San Diego Zoo and moved to Turtle Back with three other giraffes in December 2015 to live in the zoo’s three-acre Giraffe House.

According to a post by the zoo on Facebook, Hodari was a beautiful animal who quickly became a fan favorite. They said they, and his fans, will miss him terribly.

Las Vegas thieves make off with 30,000 condoms and dozens of sex toys

2017-05-31T21:27:00.001+02:00

Thieves took advantage of the Memorial Day weekend to steal 30,000 condoms and sex toys in two raids in 24-hours from an adult product warehouse.

What a way to spend the weekend. The Swedish adult product manufacturer LELO has released surveillance footage showing thieves robbing their warehouse over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Within 24-hours the thieves raided the warehouse twice, stealing 30,000 condoms and a variety of sex toys.

The culprits' first raid happened at approximately 7:45 pm on May 26th. Two men were seen entering the warehouse via a back gate, then helping themselves to two boxes containing more than 15,000 Lelo Hex condoms each. According to LELO it is difficult to tie down a value for the stolen condoms as they are individually wrapped. However, large packs of the condoms are normally sold at around a dollar per individual item.

In a blog post, LELO said the dumbest thing about the theft is that they are going to give away thousands of the condoms for free in a few days’ time. The statement added that if the thieves had waited, they could have asked just for the condoms like everyone else.

Thieves Made Off With 30,000 Condoms and More Than $10,000 Worth of Sex Toys https://t.co/NgxKOr0NdN pic.twitter.com/XgWpr3fH55
— Cosmopolitan (@Cosmopolitan) May 31, 2017

However, it turns out the thieves weren’t finished yet. The next morning at approximately 10:30 a.m., the thieves drove a car through the warehouse loading bay door (literally). On this occasion the culprits loaded themselves up with a more expensive assortment of toys, including 48 kegel beads and 33 HUGO™ vibrating prostate massagers. The sex toys would normally retail for around $200 each, bringing the total stolen over the weekend to approximately $40,000.

Speaking of the two separate raids of their warehouse, the sex toy company joked: "Like all true romances, they weren’t satisfied until they came twice." They also made a wish that the condom thieves, “got into a time machine, went back 18-25 years (by the looks of it), and presented them all to their own fathers.”

Their statement went on to ask the public if they have any information relating to the theft, can identify the culprits from the surveillance video or can lead the police to the stolen goods, they should get in touch with the Las Vegas Police Department. LELO said on receipt of the stolen items, the company will donate the full retail value of the products to a charity of the finder’s choice.

LELO said in their statement about the theft, “But hey, with 33 HUGO™ vibrating prostate massagers, we suppose one thing is true: these slippery crims can happily go f**k themselves.”

There’s definitely no arguing with the company’s sense of humor over the whole issue, as their blog is titled, “You might Question our Security, but You can’t Argue with Our Protection.” Nothing like plugging the business, if you'll forgive the pun.

You can watch the thieves at work in the video below.

Tasmania Police take selfie with drunk guy so he’ll know how he got home

2017-05-29T23:48:00.000+02:00

Some good-hearted cops made sure a drunk man got home safely, then took a selfie with him, using his phone, so he would remember how he got home.

According to Tasmania Police, they got a call from a taxi company, asking them to help a man get home, who was “a bit worse for wear.” Reportedly Reece Park, the man in question, was very drunk. The officers made sure he got home safely, then took the now-viral selfie, so he would know exactly how he got there. In the image the two officers can be seen in the foreground, with an intoxicated Park giving the “thumbs up” in the background.

The next day Reece was scrolling through his phone when he discovered the selfie and posted it to Facebook. He added the caption, “So was just looking through my phone and turns out these good ****s took some banger selfies after they took my drunk ass home,” adding the words “Bloody legends.” After posting the image, it naturally went viral.

In the above Facebook post, Tasmanian police took the opportunity to use that image to urge party-goers to in future “plan ahead.” "Pre-arrange a designated driver, use public transport or organise a taxi if you are intending to have a big night."

Senior Sgt. Craig Fox of the Tasmania Police explained that on this occasion, police had been called by the taxi company to help get a drunken man home. When police arrived, they found out what his address was and took him home. While they waited for a friend to arrive to look after Reece, they decided to take the selfie.

Fox did stress that police do not normally drive people home when they are suffering the effects of alcohol. However, he did say police will always look for a place of safety for anyone suffering the effects of too much to drink.

Source: Facebook / New York Post

Elvis’s private jet sold on auction after sitting on a runway for 30 years

2017-05-28T16:19:00.000+02:00

The private jet once owned by Elvis Presley and his father was sold on auction Saturday after languishing on a runway in New Mexico.

Photo screengrab from Wochit News video

The 1962 red Lockheed JetStar was previously owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley, but has been sitting abandoned on a New Mexico runway for 30 years. It was auctioned on Saturday, bringing in $430,000 at the GWS Auctions Inc. event in Agoura Hills, Calif. The auction reportedly featured celebrity memorabilia. The name of the new owner of the plane was not disclosed.

According to GWS Auctions, the interior of the plane was designed by Elvis himself and featured gold-toned woodwork, red shag carpeting and red velvet seats. However Roy McKay, a previous owner of the jet, disputes the claim that the rock ‘n roll star designed the interior. Billboard reports that McKay said he designed it himself, saying when he bought the plane the interior was two-tone gray, which he said looked like a casket.

Photo screengrab from Wochit News video

However, GWS Auctions spokesman Carl Carter told the Associated Press that they are confident the interior was designed by Elvis. According to Carter the records of the Federal Aviation Administration show no changes had ever been made to the jet’s interior.

As reported by CBC News, while the interior is still in a reasonable condition, the plane reportedly has no engine and the cockpit is in need of major restoration. The exterior of the plane also needs some work.

Elvis was 42 when he died on August 16, 1977, in Memphis.

See more of the plane in the video included below.

Pennsylania police place crack cocaine in their 'Lost and Found'

2017-05-26T15:43:00.001+02:00

Police in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania just made a very unusual Facebook post.

The police department added a rather controversial item to their “lost and found box,” in the form of a great big wad of crack cocaine. The drugs, estimated at a street value of around $1,600, were found in the parking lot of a local shopping center.

The presumably tongue-in-cheek post was made to the police department’s Facebook page on Monday, offering to return the crack cocaine to its rightful owner. You can read the full post below.

The police notice didn’t mention who found the crack cocaine, or whether they actually expect someone to come and claim it.

While on the subject of drugs, Blasting News reported today on the story of two counselors at a facility for drug addicts who recently died from a combined heroin and fentanyl overdose.

Source

Two Canadian teenage girls arrested for killing fellow student on Facebook Live

2017-05-19T09:57:00.002+02:00

Two teenage girls in Canada, aged 16 and 17, beat a fellow student to death while streaming their actions on Facebook Live.

Once again Facebook Live has been in the news for a horrific and brutal reason. Two teenage girls have been arrested in Sagkeeng First Nation, northeast of Winnipeg in Canada, on charges of second-degree murder. The girls allegedly streamed a video on the social media platform, which showed the pair beating another teenager to death.

The unidentified teenagers, aged 16 and 17, are students of Sagkeeng Anicinabe High School and are now in custody, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Teenage girls share brutal video footage via Facebook Live

As reported by the New York Daily News, the two girls shared the brutal and disturbing footage on their social media page and on a private instant messaging app, showing their violent assault of a fellow student, 19-year-old Serena McKay of Powerview-Pine Falls, Manitoba. The video footage was reportedly streaming on Facebook Live for almost four hours before it was finally taken down.

School principal believes drugs may have been involved in the attack

CBC News Manitoba reports that McKay was due to graduate this month. Her family last saw the teenager on April 23. However, that same day, the teenager was found dead near her home.

Claude Guimond, principal of the Sagkeeng Anicinab High School, told CBC News he believes drugs might possibly have been a factor in the brutal murder of McKay. He said after viewing the video footage, he believes no one in their right mind would commit such a terrible crime unless they were high and totally “out of it.”

The RCMP is still investigating the incident and is aware of the video, but would not, reportedly, confirm whether the person being attacked in the footage was McKay. According to Sgt. Paul Manaigre, authorities are reviewing the video to find out if it does form part of their investigation. Manaigre said that posting videos online is not a crime in itself. However, if someone was actively involved in a crime, that is a different aspect that would be investigated.

Two teen girls face murder charges for beating student to death on Facebook Live: report https://t.co/GShxhyaNad pic.twitter.com/9dKgQIB8Jd
— The Informer (@The_lnformer) May 4, 2017

Manaigre added that it is shocking that such violent footage is currently being shared by people on social media. He said he cannot imagine what the family and the community is going through. Manaigre added that the Internet, as it is today, can be dangerous with everything people are putting out there.

A case of mistaken identity

The RCMP is also investigating a case of mistaken identity, after officers grabbed and handcuffed the wrong 16-year-old girl at a local bus stop. Police said in a statement that as soon as it was learned she was not one of the suspects in the crime, the girl was immediately released. However that teenager’s parents have reportedly filed a formal complaint about their daughter’s mistaken arrest.

Classmates of the teenagers are in shock over McKay’s death, according to Guimond. The principal added that the students interacted with the teenagers involved in the crime on a daily basis and cannot believe that something as horrific as this could happen. He added that grief counselors are on hand to speak with the students as and when they need it.

Source