It seems LIV Golf may be living on a prayer after reports claim Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is considering pulling funding from the tour that lured the biggest names away from the PGA just over four years ago.
The Financial Times reported Wednesday that the PIF is &#8220;on the verge&#8221; of slashing financial support for the league, while other outlets suggested LIV could be facing &#8220;imminent closure.&#8221;
The fund has poured millions in LIV Golf to rival the PGA Tour, but <a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/golf/liv-golf-saudi-funding-e7c19130?mod=Searchresults&amp;pos=2&amp;page=1">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported that financial support could end after the league struggled to attract a significant television audience in the United States.
Amid the dire reports, LIV Golf CEO Scott O&#8217;Neil told players and personnel Wednesday that the league is fully funded through the rest of the year and that reports of its imminent shutdown are &#8220;false,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.golfchannel.com/news/news/report-saudi-arabia-pif-on-the-verge-of-cutting-financial-support-for-liv-golf">Golf Channel.</a> O&#8217;Neil did not address funding beyond the 2026 season.
&#8220;Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,&#8221; O&#8217;Neil said.
The news comes as 50 players are teeing off for a LIV tournament outside Mexico City.
The potential timeline for any shutdown remains unclear, with The Journal reporting that Saudi officials are still weighing their decision. The outlet noted there is still a chance LIV could continue in some form depending on the outcome of those discussions.
The league&#8217;s undoing would be welcomed by some golf fans who have argued the rival tour has tarnished the game&#8217;s traditional reputation.
Since LIV&#8217;s launch, the league has faced government investigations, lawsuits, and other litigation, contributing to a lack of profitability on the world stage.
LIV lost nearly $600 million in 2024, according to The Journal, despite signing big names, including Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, and Phil Mickelson.
In 2o22, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addressed the mass exodus of players from his league.
&#8220;The PGA Tour, an American institution, can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf,&#8221; Monahan said. &#8220;We welcome good, healthy competition. The LIV Saudi Golf League is not that. It’s an irrational threat.&#8221;
The tone shifted a year later when Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s PIF, appeared together to announce a framework agreement aimed at ending litigation and potentially reunifying the sport.
That effort ultimately stalled, leaving both tours operating independently, with the PGA now appearing to stand the test of time.

Credit: Hector Vivas/Getty Images

LIV Golf On The Ropes As Saudis Consider Yanking Funds

Golf

News

Sports

Brian Hooker is out of jail but remains under scrutiny, as police continue to consider the 59-year-old husband of missing boater Lynette Hooker a suspect in her mysterious disappearance in the Bahamas.
Lynette has been missing since April 4, when Brian claims she &#8220;bounced off the dinghy&#8221; near Elbow Cay while the couple was returning to their sailboat, Soulmate. He was detained for five days but has not been charged with a crime.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been 10 days, it&#8217;s been a long time, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ve ever been apart from her in 25 years for this long,&#8221; Brian said in an interview with NBC News.
Brian told <a href="https://youtu.be/GQ6nE1NEcKM?si=wp6QcwoVBCUSox-q">NBC News</a> that investigators may be focusing on him due to the intense media attention surrounding the case.
The case has drawn widespread interest after Lynette&#8217;s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, and her mother, Darlene Hamlett, publicly raised questions about Brian&#8217;s account.
According to Brian, rough conditions and a strong current pulled Lynette away after she fell overboard.
However, a longtime Bahamas resident told The Daily Wire that the area where Brian claims Lynette went missing is typically calm and protected. The source, who requested anonymity, said the harbor is sheltered from rough waves and that waters between Elbow Cay and Lubber&#8217;s Island are often shallow and clear as glass, adding that land isn&#8217;t too far away.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Overboard: Off the Hook?" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Prd_3ASU2gI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Aylesworth and Hamlett have both said Brian&#8217;s version of events does not make sense, noting that Lynette was a strong swimmer.
They also pointed to the couple&#8217;s past, including a 2015 domestic violence incident in Michigan. Lynette was arrested at the time, but Hamlett said her daughter had sustained a black eye and alleged that Brian had been physically abusive during their marriage, especially when drinking alcohol.
&#8220;I think they loved each other, but they were not good for each other,&#8221; she said.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-husbands-fell-overboard-story-hits-deadline-as-texts-and-recovered-apple-watch-surface">American Husband’s ‘Fell Overboard’ Story Hits Deadline As Texts And Recovered Apple Watch Surface</a>
Hamlett told Ashleigh Banfield on the &#8220;Drop Dead Serious&#8221; show that she had long feared something like this could happen.
&#8220;With the lifestyle that my daughter and her husband live, I had been preparing for that phone call for a long time,&#8221; Hamlett said.
Despite the family accounts, Brian has denied ever harming his wife.
&#8220;I said I’d never harm Lynette, and I never would harm Lynette, and I want to find Lynette,&#8221; Brian told NBC News.
As the search approaches two weeks, the chances of finding Lynette alive are diminishing. Her daughter is expected to arrive in the Bahamas on Wednesday to assist in the search.

Illustration by Daily Wire staff

Husband of Missing American Woman In Bahamas Released As Questions Emerge About His Story

Bahamas

Crime

Search

That's So Criminal

Longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini is stepping down from her senior position at The Athletic one week after <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Page Six</a> published bombshell photos of her canoodling with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Russini announced her resignation on Tuesday in a letter posted to <a href="https://x.com/DMRussini/status/2044144603536687279?s=20">X</a>.
&#8220;I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.&#8221;
The veteran reporter defended her record, citing more than 15 years in sports journalism at NBC, ESPN, and The Athletic.
&#8220;I have built a body of work I am proud of. I have broken stories, earned the trust of sources across the league and been guided by the highest standards of professional conduct. That record speaks for itself,&#8221; she wrote.
Russini said The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times, initially stood by her account of events that took place in March at a boutique hotel in Sedona, Arizona. However, she said subsequent media coverage fueled speculation she described as &#8220;unmoored from the facts.&#8221;
&#8220;This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.&#8221;
In a memo shared with The Athletic staff, Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg confirmed Russini&#8217;s resignation and said the outlet took the situation seriously from the start.
&#8220;When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,&#8221; Ginsberg wrote. &#8220;As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.&#8221;
Page Six reported that Russini and Vrabel were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-laughable-patriots-coach-mike-vrabel-downplays-poolside-photos-with-married-nfl-reporter">spotted</a> together at the Ambiente hotel on March 28. According to the outlet, they had breakfast, spent time by the pool, side-by-side in a hot tub, and were later photographed on a private rooftop area. The photos showed them holding hands and standing face-to-face, with the outlet also reporting they briefly danced together.
Russini and Vrabel are both married. Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020; the couple shares two sons. Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, after the two met at Ohio State. They have two sons as well.
In separate statements to Page Six, Russini and Vrabel both downplayed their interactions.
Russini said the photos &#8220;don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.&#8221;
Vrabel described the situation as an &#8220;innocent interaction&#8221; and called the images &#8220;laughable.&#8221;
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after a successful tenure at ESPN, where she covered the Tennessee Titans during Vrabel&#8217;s tenure as head coach.
Vrabel is coming off a Super Bowl appearance in his first season as head coach of the Patriots.

Credit: Cindy Ord/ustin Casterline via Getty Images

Married NFL Reporter Resigns After Poolside Photos With Coach Spark Scrutiny

Mike Vrabel

New England Patriots

An American man will soon learn whether he&#8217;s being charged in the recent disappearance of his wife while they were boating in the Bahamas.
Brian Hooker has been in custody in Freeport since Wednesday, when authorities arrested him in relation to his missing wife, Lynette Hooker. Brian claimed that she fell overboard from their small dinghy on April 4 at sunset. Since extending Brian&#8217;s custody an additional 72 hours on Friday, Bahamian officials have a deadline of 7:20 p.m. local time to either release Brian or charge him in connection to his wife&#8217;s disappearance, according to his lawyer, Terel Butler.
From the beginning, Brian has denied any foul play and insisted that Lynette simply fell overboard due to rough seas near Elbow Cay. Elbow Cay is a five-mile long cay in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, known for its shallow, clear waters where tourists and locals alike drop anchor and spend a day on the water.
&#8220;He definitely denies causing her death, and he still asks about her and is hopeful that she will be recovered,&#8221; Butler said Friday.
Brian reportedly called fellow sailors, Marnee and Blaine Stevenson, a day before his arrest and explained what had happened as the couple headed back on the dinghy to their sailboat, Soulmate.
&#8220;She basically just bounced off the dinghy in the middle of a little blow, like 20-something knot winds that popped up,&#8221; Brian said.
Marnee and Blaine recorded the April 7 phone call with Brian and posted the video on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ICXVVWrgDc">YouTube</a> account. Marnee also shared text messages with CBS from a conversation with Lynette, during which the 55-year-old told Marnee she could not be out on the water with Brian.
&#8220;We were married 21 years. Our marriage lasted 6 weeks cruising,&#8221; Lynette wrote in the texts. &#8220;It was real bad. I can’t be out there with him.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Overboard: Lynette Hooker is Missing" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/86t8y3CshQc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
A flotation device has been recovered and since Lynette disappeared — and according to Lynette&#8217;s mother, Darlene Hamlett, her daughter&#8217;s Apple Watch was recovered — but Lynette still has not been located.
Brian&#8217;s lawyer said authorities are &#8220;close to a decision&#8221; on whether or not to charge Brian with a crime, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/bahamas-authorities-race-deadline-charge-cut-loose-husband-missing-american-woman?intcmp=xpal_truecrime">Fox News</a>.
&#8220;Even if they decided to charge him, it&#8217;s highly unlikely that he would go to court today,&#8221; Butler said. &#8220;So we will know by 7:20 p.m. today what their decision will be &#8230; It is possible that when a person has completed their time, that when they walk out, they can be re-arrested and time starts again.&#8221;
Butler said her client is &#8220;drained&#8221; from the interrogations and that he is &#8220;just hoping to have closure to be released so that he can continue to search to find out what has happened to his wife.&#8221;
Lynette&#8217;s mom joined the &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el7hVYiIy-U">Drop Dead Serious</a>&#8221; podcast, describing in detail how her daughter was repeatedly abused by Brian over their more than 20-year marriage.
&#8220;He has two sides to his personality, he can be very pleasurable, pleasant and he can be very vicious,&#8221; Hamlett said. &#8220;He threw her down on this bench &#8230; the boat has a little bench where you sit around the table in the galley. She landed on that, he was on top of her, he was choking her, and she felt something crack in her neck. She was so stiff-necked for a long time. I don&#8217;t know how or why, but she stayed on the boat that night &#8230; one of the conversations that they had while they were on the boat the next morning is he told her that he wished he had finished the job and thrown her overboard.&#8221;
Stories like the one Hamlett shared are why she, along with her granddaughter, Kylie Aylesworth, wanted a thorough investigation into Lynette&#8217;s disappearance.
Lynette has reportedly left Brian several times during their marriage and often documented the abuse with photos to help her not go back to him, according to Hamlett. Her daughter would often come stay with her in Florida when things with Brian were tumultuous, and every time Lynette returned to the Bahamas Hamlett said she believed it could be the last time she saw her daughter.
The 76-year-old said she doesn&#8217;t want to talk to Brian, but if she could talk to Lynette she would tell her daughter this: &#8220;I love you, and I wish you would have come home.&#8221;
The Daily Wire reached out to the United States Coast Guard, who is looking into the incident, and officials with the Coast Guard told us &#8220;we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.&#8221;

Credit: Lynette Hooker via Facebook

American Husband’s ‘Fell Overboard’ Story Hits Deadline As Texts And Recovered Apple Watch Surface

Michigan

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/the-masters">Masters</a> Tournament is arguably the best week of the year. Every year in April, the grass looks a little greener, the air feels a little warmer, and baby fever is out of control thanks to the Masters Par 3 Contest.
The Par 3 Contest takes place every year at the beginning of tournament week. It&#8217;s the day where the professional golfers battle in a friendly nine-hole competition with their families as the caddies. No offense to the golfers — by the way, no Par 3 winner has ever gone on to win the Masters — but that competition is all about the kids dressed in their mini Augusta caddy outfits golfing with Dad, and my heart can barely handle the cuteness.
Seeing the pros go full-on &#8220;dad mode&#8221; makes me eager to make those memories one day with my family, not at Augusta obviously (my husband is more of a track guy), but in general! And I&#8217;m not the only one swooning over these adorable scenes. Here are the best moments from this year&#8217;s family-focused event.
Let&#8217;s tee off with none other than returning Par 3 Contest caddy Frankie Fleetwood and his post-round interviews.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;I&#8217;d like to thank everyone right now, I don&#8217;t know their names.&#8221; 🥹
Frankie Fleetwood will be back at the Par 3 Contest 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/hSE8Rq2WBz">pic.twitter.com/hSE8Rq2WBz</a>
— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2041994964800794858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
At this point, everyone is looking forward to the Par 3 Contest to see what Tommy Fleetwood&#8217;s eight-year-old son, Frankie, has to say. The guy takes his golf game seriously, and the kid has the swing to back it up. Fans chanted his name as he tried to clear Ike’s Pond at Augusta National.
&#8220;This afternoon I&#8217;m feeling good, so I feel like I&#8217;ve got a chance,&#8221; Fleetwood said ahead of hole 9.
And Frankie nearly did clear the pond!
&#8220;I’d like to thank everyone right now,” he said after his round as his father proudly looked on. &#8220;I don’t know their names, but yeah, I’d like to say thanks.&#8221;
Another moment that wowed is Meredith Scheffler showing up for her family just 12 days postpartum.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hat tip to Meredith Scheffler.
Gave birth 12 days ago. Out walking the Par 3 Contest at Augusta today. <a href="https://t.co/jPoHNrY5ZG">pic.twitter.com/jPoHNrY5ZG</a>
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamierkennedy/status/2041926909903122503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
Scottie Scheffler is a pro&#8217;s pro, but so far this week his wife, Meredith, is the real MVP walking the course with their 12-day-old son, Remy! The newborn couldn&#8217;t miss out on the Par 3 fun with his family, including brother Bennett who turns two next month. Meredith wore the famous caddy outfit alongside her two-time Masters champion husband as they watched Bennett chop away at the ball like I&#8217;ve never seen a toddler do before!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Scottie and Bennett Scheffler ❤️
Like father, like son 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/P4FaJhKZr0">pic.twitter.com/P4FaJhKZr0</a>
— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/2041939922546721164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
The kids&#8217; putting champion of 2026 has to go to Cooper Harman, the daughter of Brian Harman. Cooper nailed an absolute laser of a putt, and her celebration where she runs straight into her dad&#8217;s arms will melt your heart.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cooper Harman puts her putting skills on display for dad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/themasters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#themasters</a> <a href="https://t.co/itAzwEu9Uo">pic.twitter.com/itAzwEu9Uo</a>
— The Masters (@TheMasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMasters/status/2041959463695896874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
You know you&#8217;re feeling good about the putt when you can happily skip away.
The Masters may be one of the most publicly pro-family sporting events. You see professional golfers when they&#8217;re in the zone, but you rarely see into their personal lives as husbands and dads. The Par 3 Contest showcases not just the love of the game, but also the joys of sharing life&#8217;s moments with the ones you love the most.

Credit: Kieran Cleeves/Augusta National/Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Image

Top Moments From The Masters Par 3 Contest Will Bring On Baby Fever

family

The Masters

Upstream

An American man has been arrested in the Bahamas in connection with his wife&#8217;s disappearance, putting his account of what happened the day she went missing under intense scrutiny. He has not been charged.
Brian Hooker was arrested Wednesday night by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Brian&#8217;s wife, Lynette Hooker, has been missing since Saturday night — when her husband claims they were in a dinghy near Elbow Cay and she fell overboard, getting swept away in the current. He said that at the time, they had been traveling back to their yacht, &#8220;Soulmate.&#8221;
Brian also told police that the &#8220;strong currents subsequently carried her away,&#8221; and that she was swimming toward the shoreline when he &#8220;lost sight of her.&#8221; Police said Lynette was reportedly wearing a lanyard that held the keys to the vessel, causing the boat to lose power when she went overboard — which was why her husband had then tried to paddle back to shore.
Brian&#8217;s lawyer, Terrel Butler, says that his client &#8220;categorically and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing&#8221; and has been cooperating with authorities, however, Lynette&#8217;s family is glad Brian is being questioned in the case.
&#8220;After learning of the arrest last night, it appears this matter is getting the attention it deserves,&#8221; Ron Marienfeld, the attorney for Lynette&#8217;s daughter, told CNN.
Karli Aylesworth, who is Lynette&#8217;s daughter, has been calling for more attention to this case from the beginning. She told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZAe2I2_EdA">Fox News</a> her stepfather has a history of violence toward her mother, adding her mother is an experienced boater who wouldn&#8217;t &#8220;just fall overboard.&#8221; The concerned daughter also explained how the couple didn&#8217;t get along, especially when alcohol was involved.
&#8220;There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation. If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it,&#8221; Aylesworth said. &#8220;However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.&#8221;
Lynette was arrested in 2015 for domestic violence according to court documents obtained by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lynette-hooker-woman-missing-bahamas-was-previously-arrested-domestic-rcna267417">NBC News</a>. The police report stated both Lynette and Brian accused each other of assault during the February 2015 altercation in their home state of Michigan, but only Lynette stayed the night in the county jail. NBC reports she was arrested on charges of assault and battery/simple assault, however the the warrant was denied after &#8220;insufficient evidence as to who started the assault.&#8221;
Aylesworth said that Brian called to tell her that her mother was missing, describing his demeanor at the time as &#8220;monotoned&#8221; and &#8220;relaxed.&#8221;
In a voicemail obtained by Fox News, Brian could be heard explaining to Aylesworth the latest on her missing mother.
&#8220;Hello, honey. I just got a call from Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and they found a flotation device that I threw to Mom when she fell overboard,&#8221; Brian said. &#8220;So &#8230; they haven’t found her yet, but they can now focus all of their efforts in a smaller area, and they’re still out there searching today. So I just wanted to update you and let you know. I love you. I’ll talk to you later. Bye-bye.&#8221;
Lynette was not wearing a flotation device at the time she went missing, according to a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/09/us/lynette-hooker-bahamas-husband-arrest-hnk">CNN</a> report, directly conflicting with what Brian told Karli in his voicemail.
Brian and Lynette were avid boaters, documenting their journeys on their YouTube page &#8220;The Sailing Hookers.&#8221; Lynette&#8217;s daughter told CNN that her mother and Brian had been in the Bahamas for about a month.
The last video shared to the page was a meme video where Lynette joked about &#8220;getting sick&#8221; of her husband.
The video shows a person dancing alongside another person singing under the words &#8220;don&#8217;t you two ever get sick of each other? &#8230;&#8221; followed by &#8220;me and my husband:&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dance party 😎 #bahamas" width="422" height="750" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N-bkP-iboZg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Other family members are demanding justice — and also questioning Brian&#8217;s account of what happened last weekend. Lynette&#8217;s mother, Darlene Hamlett, told CNN the family is in shock.
&#8220;We have many unanswered questions,” Hamlett said. &#8220;We are still holding on for a positive outcome to this tragedy.&#8221;
The U.S. Coast Guard told The Daily Wire that a criminal investigation has been launched with regard to Lynette&#8217;s disappearance. The Daily Wire has reached out to Aylesworth and the Hope Town Fire Department for more information on this case.

American Man Claims His Wife ‘Fell Overboard’ In The Bahamas. Now He’s Under Arrest.

Investigation

Nancy Grace is the host of &#8220;Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,&#8221; and she’s been bringing justice to victims of violent crime for years — both through her television programs and before that in court as a prosecutor. She&#8217;s opinionated and thorough. Empathetic and vulnerable.
In an interview with me yesterday, she didn&#8217;t hold back on her thoughts on how the Nancy Guthrie case is being handled in Pima County — but first, Grace dove into the new ransom notes sent to her friend Harvey Levin at TMZ.
&#8220;I think the last two are bids for money by hyena,&#8221; Grace told me Tuesday.  &#8220;Is it real? If it is real, why don&#8217;t they just accept the 1.2 plus million dollar reward for information leading to Miss Guthrie&#8217;s whereabouts?&#8221;
The &#8220;Crime Stories With Nancy Grace&#8221; host did not like how the author of the recent notes sent to TMZ insinuated the Nancy Guthrie case was going cold.
&#8220;Just because some &#8216;a-hole&#8217; out of nowhere that floats down out of the ether says it&#8217;s cold does not mean it&#8217;s cold,&#8221; Grace said.
TMZ received two more ransom notes from a repeat sender claiming to know where the 84-year-old is. The other ransom notes that came with a deadline to TMZ are from the kidnapper, according to what the FBI told Levin. Grace has her theories on those notes, too.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Talking with the True Crime Queen Nancy Grace" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oCCroSuhz3k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;I think one likely scenario is that Miss Guthrie passed away before they could see a proof of life,&#8221; Grace said. &#8220;I thought there was a good chance the deadlines were the kidnapper. Then Savannah confirmed that when she said she believed it. Now why would Savannah believe it? Savannah is very smart. I worked with her at Court TV. She&#8217;s not just a pretty face. She&#8217;s genuine. She&#8217;s real. What you see on TV is real. She really is very kind and gracious, but she&#8217;s also a trained lawyer. So for her to come out and say she thought the two ransom notes were real tells me that the FBI and that Harvey Levin is correct. The FBI does think they&#8217;re real, because I&#8217;m sure Savannah consulted with them and is convinced that they are real. Now, I don&#8217;t think that bodes well for Ms. Guthrie. It does not mean she&#8217;s passed away, all right, but it does not bode well.&#8221;
Grace has been following the Guthrie case as she&#8217;s followed thousands of cases over her decades-long career. The one case she may be best known for is the Casey Anthony case. Grace covered that case on HLN every day, fighting for justice for two-year-old Caylee Anthony, whose remains were found in December 2008 — months after the toddler was reported missing, which itself came 31 days after she was last seen.
&#8220;I felt like someone needed to be the voice for Caylee, because all the focus was on &#8216;Tot Mom,&#8217; Casey Anthony, and Caylee seem to be just like a peripheral player. And I didn&#8217;t like that,&#8221; Grace said.
Grace herself was the victim of a crime when her fiancé was murdered in 1979. The mom of twins — who has been married to her husband since 2007 — still battles the grief and emptiness from the crime that ultimately changed the trajectory of her life.
After her fiancé&#8217;s death, Grace went back to school to become a prosecutor. She worked in inner-city Atlanta, and she says on a &#8220;fluke&#8221; landed a TV show with Johnnie Cochran, the famous defense lawyer for O.J. Simpson, who led the &#8220;Dream Team&#8221; that got Simpson acquitted of murder.
&#8220;Cochran and Grace&#8221; aired on Court TV — and the rest is history.
For the full interview, be sure to check out &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/tsc-260407?elementPosition=9&amp;row=5&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">Talking with the True Crime Queen Nancy Grace</a>&#8221; on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThatsSoCriminalShow">That&#8217;s So Criminal</a>.

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Nancy Grace Is The Queen Of True Crime And I Got To Ask Her Everything

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The successful architect turned gruesome serial killer described before a New York court how he had murdered eight women, changing his plea to &#8220;guilty&#8221; on Wednesday.
Rex Heuermann, known as the &#8220;Gilgo Beach&#8221; serial killer, told the courtroom how he strangled and dismembered eight sex workers before dumping their bodies on barren stretches of land on Long Island, ending the mystery that haunted loved ones and the public for decades. This revelation comes after he originally pleaded not guilty to the crimes.
The guilty plea included seven women with whom Heuermann was charged with killing since 1993, in addition to an eighth victim who was only recently linked to him.
The victims are Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Valerie Mack, and most recently Karen Vergata whose remains were identified in 2023 after being reported missing in 1996. Vergata&#8217;s feet and legs were found later that same year on Fire Island in New York, but her skull was found five years later in 2011.
As part of the plea deal, Heuermann won&#8217;t be charged for killing Vergata, but has agreed to be studied by the FBI and work with the FBI&#8217;s behavioral unit.
Audible gasps could be heard throughout the chamber as the 62-year-old recounted the heinous murders in front of the families of the victims. Heuermann then confessed that he had dismembered the women and tied them up in burlap.
&#8220;He will serve three consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole,&#8221; prosecutors said.
The now-divorced father of two was arrested in 2023 — after a three-decade search for answers — when detectives linked DNA from pizza crusts outside of Heuermann&#8217;s office to one of his victims.
After his arrest, a neighbor described Heuermann to NBC News.
&#8220;You know, the regular guy who goes to work, has kids in the local school and in a good neighborhood, but he’s killing people on the side,&#8221; the neighbor said.
Heuermann&#8217;s former wife, Asa Ellerup, was in the Suffolk County courtroom Wednesday, visibly on edge during her husband&#8217;s hearing.
Afterwards, she spoke to reporters outside the courtroom offering condolences to the families of the victims.
&#8220;My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Their loss is immeasurable,&#8221; Ellerup said.
Prosecutors told the media Ellerup and other family members weren&#8217;t around during the killings.
&#8220;She never wanted to believe the man she was married to for 27 years, the father of Victoria, was capable of these heinous acts,&#8221; Ellerup&#8217;s attorney, Bob Macedonio, said. &#8220;Rex Heuermann and Rex Heuermann alone is responsible for these crimes.&#8221;
The successful businessman went under the alias &#8220;Thomas Hawk&#8221; when communicating with dozens of sex workers and had amassed a large collection of &#8220;torture pornography,&#8221; according to <a href="https://abc7ny.com/post/gilgo-beach-suspected-serial-killer-rex-heuermann-expected-plead-guilty-death-8th-woman-court/18855571/">ABC7 New York</a>.
Prosecutors said he kept a &#8220;blueprint&#8221; of his killings that included a list of supplies and the locations of where he had dumped the bodies — and his notes even included reminders to &#8220;burn gloves&#8221; and &#8220;consider a hit to the neck next time,&#8221; the outlet reported.
Heuermann will be sentenced on June 17.

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Gilgo Beach Killer Rex Heuermann Enters Plea, Describes Gruesome Murders

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Mike Vrabel is executing a different type of defense this week as the New England Patriots coach and former Super Bowl champ responds to photos capturing him in a pool with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel and Russini, both married, were caught holding hands, hugging, and lounging in the water recently at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and top NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini hold hands and hug at luxury hotel <a href="https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ">https://t.co/BpPD0ScwBQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/xrdqqmgDUC">pic.twitter.com/xrdqqmgDUC</a>
— Page Six (@PageSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PageSix/status/2041644814626615436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
The pictures, first published by the New York Post&#8217;s Page Six, appear to show more than an off-the-record conversation between the NFL coach and the reporter for The Athletic, though both deny any wrongdoing.
&#8220;These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,&#8221; Vrabel told the <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/04/07/celebrity-news/new-england-patriots-mike-vrabel-and-top-ny-times-nfl-reporter-dianna-russini-hold-hands-and-hug-at-luxury-hotel/">Post</a>. &#8220;This doesn’t deserve any further response.&#8221;
A &#8220;Page Six Spy&#8221; reported Vrabel and Russini had breakfast on the patio of the Ambiente Sedona luxury resort on March 28 before hitting the pool and lounging together in a hot tub.
Russini&#8217;s representative says she was in Arizona on a girls&#8217; trip with a group of friends, though no one else is visible in the published images.
&#8220;The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,&#8221; Russini told The Post.  &#8220;Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.&#8221;
Russini, who worked for ESPN for years before joining The Athletic, has been married to Shake Shack exec Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020. The couple has two young sons.
Vrabel has been married for more than two decades. They have two sons; the oldest played for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots coach and NFL insider have a long professional history, too. Before taking over in New England, Vrabel spent six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the team Russini regularly covered in Nashville during her time at ESPN.
The Athletic is standing by its senior NFL insider, who also hosts the &#8220;Scoop City: Inside the NFL&#8221; podcast.
&#8220;These photos are misleading and lack essential context,&#8221; Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, told The Post. &#8220;These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.&#8221;
After the weekend in Arizona, both Vrabel and Russini attended the NFL&#8217;s annual meetings in Phoenix.
Russini later filed a report to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7167284/2026/04/02/annual-nfl-coaches-photo-2026-edition-plus-no-1-qbs-pro-day/">The Athletic</a> about her interactions with NFL coaches in Arizona. The first line of the piece reads: &#8220;The NFL offseason means … controversial headlines.&#8221;
The NFL offseason drama now involving Vrabel and Russini continues as the league moves toward Draft Day later this month.

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‘It’s Laughable’: Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Downplays Poolside Photos With Married NFL Reporter

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Sunday marked Easter and the day before the 2026 College Basketball National Championship game where the UConn Huskies are taking on the No. 1 seeded Michigan Wolverines. Huskies head coach Dan Hurley spent his Sunday in that order —  observing Easter came first, then it was time to game plan.
&#8220;Once I got out of Mass this morning, now it&#8217;s preparing for Michigan,&#8221; Hurley said Sunday.
The two-time national champion is getting UConn ready for their third title game in four years. A dynasty in the works. Though Hurley leans on his faith to get through the grueling college basketball season, he&#8217;s not praying for a positive outcome on the court.
&#8220;I’m praying for strength, for all the people that I’ve lost, and I pray to God for wisdom,&#8221; Hurley told <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/interview/dan-hurley-uconn-basketball-faith-and-family#:~:text=Hurley%20says%20that%20he%20models%20his%20faith,meditation%20practices%20with%20his%20players%20*%20Journaling">National Catholic Register</a> after his second championship. &#8220;And I do ask that we could be at our best. But I don’t ask to win the game. I ask for everyone to be at their best.&#8221;
Psalm 23 is what Hurley says he prays every day.
&#8220;The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name&#8217;s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever,&#8221; the passage states.
&#8220;I pray every morning because maybe of the line of work I’m in: the stress level and intensity of it. I’m an intense person, and that really resonates to me,&#8221; Hurley said. &#8220;I also like the Proverbs, the Our Father, Hail Mary and the &#8216;Serenity Prayer.'&#8221;
He&#8217;s a man who sticks to his routine, especially on game day. Monday, he will know nothing more or less than he does for every game day as he sets his eyes on a third title, and sixth overall, for Connecticut.
UConn is the underdog, but Hurley said his team is ready to take on a &#8220;dominant&#8221; Michigan team, adding that sometimes, the best team doesn&#8217;t cut down the nets at the end of the NCAA Tournament.
&#8220;You’ve just got to be better for one night, and obviously for us, we need to play the game a certain type of way where we obviously can’t get into a certain type of game with Michigan. They’re an incredibly dominant team,&#8221; Hurley said.
&#8220;There are no holes in their attack, they&#8217;re an elite defensive team, they&#8217;re an elite offensive team. They crush the glass.&#8221;
Michigan head coach Dusty May gave credit to Hurley and his team&#8217;s ability to fight till the end.
&#8220;They take what the games give them, they ride a hot hand &#8230; so there&#8217;s just a number of challenges,&#8221; May said. &#8220;You can&#8217;t go into this game saying if you do this, we are going to win &#8230; even if we do that well, they&#8217;re going to pivot, and we are going to have to find a way to counter that pivot.&#8221;
UConn and Michigan tip off at 8:50 p.m. ET.

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UConn Coach Dan Hurley Went To Mass On Sunday — But He Didn’t Pray To Win The National Championship

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Savannah Guthrie returned to NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Today&#8221; show Monday as the search continues for her missing 84-year-old mother, Nancy.
&#8220;We are so glad you started your week with us, and it is good to be home,&#8221; Guthrie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3owh3HXBz-g">said</a> at the top of the broadcast.
Savannah&#8217;s co-anchor Craig Melvin welcomed her back, telling her, &#8220;Yes, it is good to have you at home.&#8221; Both wore yellow as a symbol of hope, matching the yellow ribbons and flowers outside of Nancy&#8217;s home.
Savannah seemingly resumed her hosting duties effortlessly, covering the day&#8217;s news and conducting interviews, including a segment on the rescue of a missing Air Force officer in Iran.
Outside Rockefeller Plaza, fans gathered holding yellow ribbons, flowers, and signs of support, including messages reading, &#8220;We love you, Savannah,&#8221; and &#8220;We love you, Nancy.&#8221;
&#8220;These signs are so beautiful, you guys have been so beautiful,&#8221; Savannah told the crowd of supporters, at times appearing emotional. &#8220;I&#8217;ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my whole family. We feel it. We feel your prayers.&#8221;
During commercial breaks, Savannah interacted with her fans, taking photos and thanking them for their encouragement.
In a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWyvv8ME_Tb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">video</a> message shared on Easter Sunday with her church, Guthrie reflected on faith and hardship.
&#8220;Perhaps this is too dark a message to share on Easter morning, but I have long believed that we miss out on fully celebrating resurrection if we do not acknowledge the feelings of loss, pain, and yes, death,&#8221; Savannah said in the video. &#8220;It is the darkness that makes this morning&#8217;s light so magnificent, so blindingly beautiful. It is all the brighter because it is so desperately needed.&#8221;
&#8220;So, I close my eyes this morning and I feel the sunshine. I see a bright vision of the day when heaven and earth pass away because they are one on earth as it is in heaven. When we celebrate today, this is what we celebrate. And I celebrate too. I still believe. And so I say with conviction — Happy Easter.&#8221;
Nancy Guthrie was last seen ten weeks ago on January 31. Authorities in Pima County, Arizona, said she was forcefully taken from her home overnight. The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery, in addition to rewards offered by the FBI and Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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‘It’s Good To Be Home’: Savannah Guthrie Returns To ‘Today’ As Search Continues For Missing Mother

The ESPN studios are usually filled with stats, stories, and opinions, but on Thursday during NFL Live, the set was filled with tears as host Dan Orlovsky&#8217;s son, Madden, delivered an inspiring message for World Autism Awareness Day.
The 14-year-old, who has autism, appeared against a backdrop of his artwork and spoke about his love for sports and his family.
&#8220;I want to tell this to Hunter, Nolen, Lennon, and Mom if they&#8217;re watching this. Mom, I love you. Hunter, you&#8217;re my favorite twin. Noah, I do like you and Lennon, you&#8217;re a good sister,&#8221; Madden said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Madden Orlovsky had a heartfelt message for his family and friends in honor of World Autism Awareness Day 🥹
This was a special moment for all of us at ESPN. Thanks, Madden and <a href="https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danorlovsky7</a> ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/BnWu7cSXmV">pic.twitter.com/BnWu7cSXmV</a>
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/2039819469111849435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a>
&nbsp;</blockquote>
The moment moved Orlovsky to tears.
&#8220;Are you crying? Madden asked his father.
&#8220;Yeah, because I love you,&#8221; he told his son.
Madden has appeared on the show before, including during last year&#8217;s World Autism Awareness Day broadcast, where he was introduced as the &#8220;NFL Live resident artist.&#8221;
ESPN host Laura Rutledge praised Madden during the segment.
&#8220;I just want to tell you how inspiring you are to so many people,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of people watching right now that may think they can&#8217;t do something like this, or they can&#8217;t go on TV and talk and sing, and you&#8217;re up here being absolutely awesome.&#8221;
During the appearance, Madden shared some of his favorite things, including his devotion to the Philadelphia Eagles and his favorite foods.
&#8220;I have great artwork, great coloring, great handwriting,&#8221; Madden explained. &#8220;I love other things. I love playing video games. I love the Eagles &#8230; I love eating pizza, cheeseburgers, french fries, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets.&#8221;
The Eagles super fan got a big surprise during his appearance when his favorite player, wide receiver Devonta Smith, and the Eagles Autism Foundation surprised him with a gift basket full and a note from the Eagles, which Madden read out loud:
<blockquote>Madden,
Happy Autism Acceptance Month. It was so great to have you at our All Abilities Clinic. We are so excited to celebrate you, not only this month, but 365 days a year. Please enjoy this box of swag to rock and wear proudly as a member of our community.
Best,
Eagles Autism Foundation</blockquote>
According to Autism Speaks, 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental condition. Madden&#8217;s enthusiasm stole the show and swelled the hearts of viewers as he raised awareness for kids like him.
&#8220;Thank you all for supporting me,&#8221; Madden said.

Credit: ESPN

WATCH: ESPN Anchor Breaks Down In Tears After Autistic Son’s Powerful On-Air Speech

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